[LM24] Le Mans 2024 - 15/16 June 2024 - Who is Going?

[KlBD]

Having missed out on attending this year's edition and with all the buzz about another sell out next year, I'm considering ACO membership to get a chance at presale tickets. They have this tier for USA-based members, but having already traveled to Le Mans in person once before, I'm not sure if the extra merchandise/streaming/etc. is necessary over the regular €68 membership. Does anyone here have experience with this US membership, or is that a relatively new product?

[Aysedasi]

I must admit I didn't know there was a separate US membership.... It is worth paying the extra for the members area access (if that is what bumps the price up).

[KlBD]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I must admit I didn't know there was a separate US membership.... It is worth paying the extra for the members area access (if that is what bumps the price up).

After clicking around the checkout process, it appears that you can purchase access to the members' area for yourself and 1 other person with the regular ACO membership, so it seems like that might be the way to go. From your experience, is the value of the members' area down to the creature comforts that help to get you through the race? I wasn't even camping the year I went but I remember shambling back to my lodging in a pretty sorry state at around 2am

[Peter Mallett]

The T17 cafe is a boon, together with decent toilets and if you wish, showers. La Chappelle is an oasis on a hot afternoon. Reasonably (for Le Mans) priced fresh food and cold or hot drinks. Sometimes difficult to find a seat in front of or near a big screen but still a great place to relax and they'll recharge your phone or (in my case) headphones.

[GT6]

it can good value if you have nowhere else to retreat too during the race but you can purchase access to the area's during the race if you are a member, i did not bother this year as our campsite overlooks the track so i can go there for a rest at anytime. If you have grandstand seats it the ACO stands 17 and 18 you can use the facilities there anyway without paying the extra.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by GT6

it can good value if you have nowhere else to retreat too during the race but you can purchase access to the area's during the race if you are a member, i did not bother this year as our campsite overlooks the track so i can go there for a rest at anytime. If you have grandstand seats it the ACO stands 17 and 18 you can use the facilities there anyway without paying the extra.

Not sure I'd bank on that Simon, I don't think you can get into the T17/18 facilities at all without a wristband now. It makes sense, it is supposed to be for members and their (paid) guests only. Much easier to pay for the access for yourself and your guest up front - much quicker too.

This year our grandstand seats were an absolute Godsend.

[GT6]

Not the case at the classic for certain we had no problems if you had a grandstand ticket then you have the right to use it wether you have paid extra for the other area's or not. If the aco sells a grandstand ticket to members then they must allow them in the extra payment is just for the other members area's.

[Aysedasi]

Not sure it works like that any more.... The Classic is different anyway. At certain points during the week, people with tickets for the grandstand were actually being turned away inside as they didn't have the blue wristbands. It probably needs to be clarified....

[Peter Mallett]

Definitely needed a wristband to enter the T17 cafe area.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Definitely needed a wristband to enter the T17 cafe area.

They check them at the outer entrance, then at the bottom doors as well.

[GT6]

Well i walked into the t17 area during the main 24 hour race no problem,just showed my card. but as i did not have a GS ticket i could not go out into the stands. However the confusion everywhere as to who has access to which area's was seen at other times. Also went to the chappel ACO welcome meeting (free beer, cups and lovely cakes by the way) and without a paid extra wristband after the meeting went into that area no problem.

[rdjones]

I am heading abroad during race week just not to Le Mans as I am heading to Amsterdam on cruise however we get back to Southampton early Saturday morning so I should be home in time for the start of the race.....

[clkgtrlm1]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

I saw plenty of people having 'computer says no' issues at the race proper, but sensed the gate staff had pretty much given up at The Classic, a quick visual check of the e-ticket and waved on through.

I shall persevere with e-tickets again next year, they worked perfick for me personally.

We had problems with e-tickets for the first time this year.
Our group had 15 tickets in total, 3 x Wimille and 12 x Chinetti (all with GE) and none of them worked at any gates.
We were advised to take these to the box office by the main entrance (Nord), just before you go in, opposite Musee (on the left under the gantry). I flashed a few membership cards and they re-printed them all as lanyard tickets.
At least I have an actual souvenir ticket for the 100!

[Aysedasi]

As I've said before, I would always prefer to have a 'real' ticket..... well worth the extra postage to me....

[clkgtrlm1]

That box office will certainly be our first stop next year, exchange for real tickets, then next stop, check Jannines's - see how massively the ACO have managed to mess that up..........

[GT6]

Well just renewed my membership Euro 68 basic price.

[claude2cv]

Can anyone remember what date tickets went on sale to members last year (for this year's race) please?

Sean

[Peter Mallett]

I think it was October. Just checked with First Tickets and they expect to be opening their packages in November.

[claude2cv]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I think it was October. Just checked with First Tickets and they expect to be opening their packages in November.

Thanks Peter, agree on October but need the,exact date

[Gerard C]

They have already have a good idea of the entry list announcing the "return" of Alpine, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Glickenhaus, Lamborghini, Peugeot, Porsche and Toyota hypercars (Isotta Fraschini is missing). Very promising.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by claude2cv

Can anyone remember what date tickets went on sale to members last year (for this year's race) please?

Sean

Yes, being the anorak that I am, I have the dates noted down in my impending 2023 'story'.

Members ticketing for entry and grandstand was 18th October.

Members ticketing for camping and parking was 29th November.

From memory (or rather assumption), non-members ticketing was a week later than each of these dates. Non-members ticketing may be later this year as ticketing for La Sarthe residents will now take place after members, according to the ACO. Only after members and residents will tickets go on sale to the public. 1st Tickets have already mailed customers to reserve their 2024 allocation.

I have my fingers crossed that the ACO see sense this year and put all tickets up on the same date rather than splitting them like last year.

[AstonGeoff]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I have my fingers crossed that the ACO see sense this year and put all tickets up on the same date rather than splitting them like last year.

Yup, let's hope that last year was the outlier on splitting ticket sales and that they revert to the previous method of putting everything on sale at the same time.
I'm guessing that the issue last year was sorting out extra camping sites, so if they don't need to do that as it's probably the same for this year then there is no reason not to sell camping/parking at the same time as GA/Grandstands.

They will want to get our money sooner rather than later of course!

[Aysedasi]

Of course!

[claude2cv]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Yes, being the anorak that I am, I have the dates noted down in my impending 2023 'story'.

Members ticketing for entry and grandstand was 18th October.

Members ticketing for camping and parking was 29th November.

From memory (or rather assumption), non-members ticketing was a week later than each of these dates. Non-members ticketing may be later this year as ticketing for La Sarthe residents will now take place after members, according to the ACO. Only after members and residents will tickets go on sale to the public. 1st Tickets have already mailed customers to reserve their 2024 allocation.

I have my fingers crossed that the ACO see sense this year and put all tickets up on the same date rather than splitting them like last year.

Thanks Andrew. I am planning a week in Cornwall, if dates are same then it will be the week before ticket sales. Otherwise I will be a favour from a friend while I am down there

Sean

[RL17]

Deposit paid for trackside camping - probably Portsmouth Caen for a change (this time both ways)