The Best Motor Race in The World: The Le Mans 24 Hour Race
Le Mans, in France, is famous for the 24-hour race, which is a favourite of many British car racing and classic car enthusiasts. Various classes of sports car compete in a battle of reliability, attrition, fuel efficiency and speed during one weekend a year in mid June (13-14 June 2009). It is a full weekend event; the race starts on the Saturday afternoon at 2pm and runs continuously for 24 hours, but for the average British person the fun begins some days before at the start of the road trip to France. And there are some races and testing in the days leading up to the race weekend. The race is organized by Automobile Club de l'Ouest and the official web site is www.lemans.org and is held at the Circuit de la Sarthe starting at 14:00
Table of Contents: Le Mans 24 Hour Race
- The Road-Trip
- Map of Le Mans, France
- Books: Le Mans 24h
- LM 24
- The Race
- Le Mans Games
- Ferrari Books
- The Cars I Have Taken To Le Mans
- Alfa Romeo
- Things to do...
- Essential Photographic Equipment
- Cameras
- Current Weather in Le Mans, France
- Different Classes of Cars
- CafePress
- The Marcos Team
- Computer Games: Motor Racing
- Other European Road Trips and Destinations
- My Ferrari 308 GTS QV (1985)
- Le Mans 1999 Merceded CLR-GT1 (Crash)
- Conclusion
- My Other Classic Cars
- Who Won Le Mans 2009?
- Please Leave Some Feedback
- More Classic Cars
- About Me
- European Photo Gallery
The Road-Trip
I have been to this event several times, in a variety of classic and not so classic cars: the last few times I took my old Ferrari 308 (the Magnum car) or Alfa Spider (similar to the one Dustin Hoffman drove in The Graduate), but the majority of the British contingent have classic British sports cars. It is traditional to stock up with supplies (i.e. Beer and in my case a tent due to lack of boot space) at a local Supermarche, then camp with the cars near the race track and try to build a wall round the tents and cars out of small empty French beer bottles.
Books: Le Mans 24h
Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans
Amazon Price: $17.16 (as of 11/11/2009) 
Le Mans 24 Hours: The Complete Story of the World's Most Famous Motor Race
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Le Mans 24
Amazon Price: $18.95 (as of 11/11/2009)
American Le Mans Series 2008 Season Yearbook (American Le Mans Series 2008 Season)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Le Mans '55: The Crash That Changed the Face of Motor Racing
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
LM 24
The Race
Despite the beer-fuelled hoards the atmosphere is generally jovial and good-natured. There is plenty to do before and during the race (including watching the cars go round if you like that sort of thing) There are fairground attractions and plenty of places to eat and drink, although food quality is generally fairly low by French standards and toilet facilities are very sub-standard and if you want a shower at one of the camp-sites you may have to queue for a while.
Le Mans Games
Le Mans 24 Hours
Amazon Price: $57.98 (as of 11/11/2009)
Test Drive Le Mans
Amazon Price: $72.90 (as of 11/11/2009)
Ferrari Books
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams & Reaching Your Destiny
Amazon Price: $10.79 (as of 11/11/2009)
Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans
Amazon Price: $17.16 (as of 11/11/2009)
El Monje Que Vendio Su Ferrari (Spanish Edition)
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 11/11/2009)
Finding Nouf
Amazon Price: $10.04 (as of 11/11/2009)
Ferrari: A Complete Guide to All Models
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 11/11/2009)
The Cars I Have Taken To Le Mans
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Alfa Romeo Spider (The Star of The Graduate Film)
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The Alfa Romeo Spider was the beautiful star of the 1967 film, The Graduate, (also staring Dustin Hofman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross...) It was designed and manufactured by Pininfarina in Grugliasco Italy from 1966 to 1993 and its longevity was d...
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Ferrari 308 - Affordable classic (Magnum's car)
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The Ferrari 308 is an affordable Classic car; inexpensive to run and purchase, but with looks that still turn heads. And of course you will look like Magnum star, Tom Selleck! The Ferrari 308 and the almost identical 328 that followed were mid-engi...
Things to do...
Some people go to Le Mans 24 hr race to watch the cars and follow the various teams' performance and, even if you have been tempted by the culinary delights, Ferris wheel or dodgem cars, you can keep track of the progress on the local radio station which is broadcast in English for the benefit of their British guests.
Essential Photographic Equipment
Cameras
Compact Camera Suggestions
Digital SLR Camera Suggestions
Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/11/2009)
Canon Powershot G10 14.7MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Amazon Price: $429.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
Panasonic DMC-LX3K 10.1MP Digital Camera with 2.5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
Amazon Price: $479.90 (as of 11/11/2009)
Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 11/11/2009)
Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
Amazon Price: $599.95 (as of 11/11/2009)
Current Weather in Le Mans, France
What is the climate like in France?
Current weather conditions in Lyons-la-Foret, France
Local Pollen Reports
7°C (Feels like 3°C)
Last update: 11/11/09 11:30 PM Local Time
Humidity: 100%Visibility: 7.0 km
Dew Point: 7°C
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 1004.1mm steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 23km/h From: Airport Conditions
Tonight
Low
Low: 7°C
Sunrise: 7:59 AM
Sunset: 5:17 PM
Thursday
Nov 12
N/A
High: 13°C
Low: 11°C
Sunrise: 8:00 AM
Sunset: 5:16 PM
Friday
Nov 13
Showers
High: 14°C
Low: 12°C
Sunrise: 8:02 AM
Sunset: 5:15 PM
Saturday
Nov 14
Showers
High: 13°C
Low: 9°C
Sunrise: 8:03 AM
Sunset: 5:13 PM
Different Classes of Cars
There are usually some smaller races before the main event, but the actual 24 hour race is a fairly complex affair with several competitions between different classes of car all running on the same track at the same time: LMP1, LMP2, GT1 and GT2. The LMP cars are purpose built racing cars with very high top-speeds and the GT cars look like normal roads cars: Corvettes, Aston Martins etc. and the rules change each year. The race consists of some sections of normal road, closed to traffic for the event and some sections of racetrack complete with grandstands, pit-lanes etc. The object of the race is to go as far as possible during the 24 hours, so this is as much about fuel efficiency, reliability and just staying awake as it is about speed. The drivers can be swapped during pit stops.
CafePress
The Marcos Team
Computer Games: Motor Racing
MotorStorm
Amazon Price: $20.34 (as of 11/11/2009)
Dirt Thrills Bundle
Amazon Price: $13.73 (as of 11/11/2009)
Slide America
Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
ABC Sports Indy Racing: Road to the Indianapolis 500 Official Strategies & Secrets
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Forza 2 (Platinum Hits)
Amazon Price: $19.49 (as of 11/11/2009)
Other European Road Trips and Destinations
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Tuscany, Italy: Beautiful Countryside, Art, History and Wine
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Tuscany is beautiful part of Italy; a favourite destination for British and American tourists. The many picturesque medieval hill towns are relatively close together, separated by beautiful countyside, rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards making...
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France in a Ferrari: Loire Valley, Brittany
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The Loire Valley is a wonderful part of France, with many old picturesque towns and villages, beautiful architecture including some very impressive chateaux and of course fantastic food and wine. Brittany, by the coast and not far from Cornwall in t...
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European Hotel Reviews
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Here is a selection of otel reviews and recommendations from my many travels (both business and pleasure) around Europe: UK, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Italy, Sweden, Estonia, Poland and Russia and many other countries. In England, a beautiful old...
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European Travel Highlights
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A quick photographic tour of Europe to some of my favourite bits and links to a few more of my more detailed european travel articles, including: Tuscany in Italy Loire Valley and Brittany, France Gibraltar, U.K. (Near Spain) Richmond, London, Engla...
My Ferrari 308 GTS QV (1985)
Le Mans 1999 Merceded CLR-GT1 (Crash)
Conclusion
This is a fun event, a bit like The Glastonbury Festival, but with less music and mud, and more cars. I would only recommend camping at the racetrack if you can survive without the finer luxuries (like a shower or clean toilets) but it is possible to stay in an hotel a few miles away, if you book some time in advance.
My Other Classic Cars
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Bad guys drive Jags: Jaguar XJ12/Daimler Double Six
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The Jaguar XJ12 (AKA Daimler Double Six) is a beautiful big British luxury car with an enormous smooth powerful V12 engine and acres of leather and walnut inside. It's like a bargain Bentley, with the performance of a new Porsche Boxster (if not the...
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Budget Supercar: Jaguar XKR
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The Jaguar XKR is now a used car bargain. A supercar as good in many ways as an Aston DB7 but far more affordable. The DB7 was supposed to be the new Jag coupe, to replace the old XJS, but was launched badged as an Aston Martin (both companies were...
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Fiat 500 - Classic Italian Car
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The Fiat 500 is a new retro-styled car based on the style of old classic 1960s car of the same name. This article is about the new Fiat 500 a modern interpretation of the classic Fiat 500 of the 1960s and a look at the original car, many of which st...
Who Won Le Mans 2009?
Peugeot finish 1st and 2nd ahead of Audi
All of whom have driven in "Formula One" in the past
Peugeot 908s came in first and second ahead of an Audi R15. At their third attempt these diesel cars managed to beat the almost invincible Audis. The second place #8 Peugeot 908 driven by Sébastien Bourdais, Franck Montagny & Stéphane Sarrazin was just one lap behind the winning car.
In the other classes of car racing:
Please Leave Some Feedback
Nic wrote
WoW...I shopped around for a new DSLR for over a month and I ended up with this one because it is the best camera out right now for you're money. It is easy to use and lightweight compared to other dslr's. I feel I made a wise purchase and would recommend this camera to anyone on a tight budget but looking for a real dslr. It was just released on the market 3 days ago so you'll have a modern product. Buy this camera! www.moonsmiles.com
Posted September 21, 2009
KimGiancaterino wrote...
In August, my husband's racing club is doing "24 Hours of Le-Mons," a race with clunkers that cost under $500. I need to do a lens about it. Nice lens, as always. Congrats on the purple star. Squid Angel Blessed.
Posted June 20, 2009
AndyPo wrote...
Hi Shelly,
Thanks for all of the kind comments.
I don't think I could ever be a racing driver, although I have tried racing go-karts. Le Mans would be such a hard race. I have driven round the track (slowly) in a couple of my cars, which gives a good impression of what the drivers go through during a race.
I'm glad you enjoy the English English - The auto industry is one area where English English and American English are very different: Cars have boots instead of trunks; shock absorbers instead of dampers; silencers instead of mufflers; bonnet = hood; bumper=fender. What a colourful language we have - a huge catalogue of small variations.
[in reply to Shelly]
Posted June 15, 2009
Shelly wrote
I wonder with all your enthusiasm if this is something you would like to participate in some day--is it on your dream list? I've always found the Le Mans fascinating and have thought, "What a good reason to skip sleep.", everyone probably has a hard time getting any sleep for several hours after the race is over.
You're gradually teaching us your British lingo as in if one wants to shower, "you may have to queue for a while". queue: primarily British: A line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended of to proceed. Thank goodness for Webster's!
As ever, you provide an absolutely delightful AndyPo eye view to us!
Posted June 13, 2009
sukkran wrote...
what a lovely lens. there is no way to give you more than 5*. selected it my fav and rolled in some of my lenses.
Posted June 12, 2009
Tipi wrote...
I just stopped by to see how in heck you are doing with this lens. Looks like its getting up there in rank a bit more. It is a great lens! :) - I really should check out more Auto Lenses one of these days, that would be a lot of fun. - Lensmasters just share so much about themselves too! - Its very good to know you!
Blessed by a Susie
Posted June 07, 2009
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About Me
Lensmaster AndyPo, aka Andrew Porter, has been a member since July 7 2008, has rated 1,864 lenses, favorited 1,773, and has created 159 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Best Digital Compact Camera: Canon Powershot G10, G11". See all my lenses
My Bio
Hi, I am Andy. I live in the U.K. but have worked and travelled all over the world. I am a semi-professional wildlife and travel photographer (i.e. I sold a couple of photos once), semi-retired consultant physicist (i.e. unemployed bofin) with a keen interest in finance (i.e. get rich quick..ly):
My Home Page, More About Me!, My Blog and My other publications
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Volterra in Italy
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Lens Of The Day (Twice) and a purple star: "Rain Forests of Borneo" - 20th AND 30th November 2008
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