Trip Planning....Petit Le Mans....

[RacingManiac]

Very priliminarily I am planning a trip to go down to Petit to do my lion watching(lol), I am wondering what to expect and what to lookout for. Any experience and advice in terms of what hotel to stay at and how much I'll be looking at paying for it. Other advice such as good photo spots for spectators without photo passes and whatnot are welcome too...

And of course if you want to offer me photo access I'll take that too....

[Kitdy]

Mosport is so much easier, but PLM will be sweet this year so have a good time and give us a good tale of your trip there - if you go. Georgia is a long way to go if you plan on driving but it could be a fun trip.

Are you gonna attend Mosport? I seem to recall reading somewhere that you weren't.

[RacingManiac]

No I won't be making the Mosport race this year...timing just doesn't quite work for me. I am getting free tix to go to the Belle Isle race at Detroit(I work in Detroit area now, which is why going to Mosport is a pain), so that I guess will be nice, though I doubt that it'll be anywhere near as good to watch the race and shoot pics as Mosport. Which is also why I wanna make the PLM trip as it'll be a true road course, a 10 hours race, and with very good field this year(Peugeot, Acura, Porsche, Audi, plus whatever other Europeans that decide to come, BMW might have the new M3 out by then...etc).

I'll most likely be flying though. probably take the Friday off work and leave on Thur evening....

[Turbo.Jenkens]

I always camp so I can't recommend a good hotel. Unless you plan on doing a good bit of driving I'd book ASAP, I wouldn't expect enough accommodation in the the Brazelton/Gainesville area to meet the demand.

Congratulations its a wonderful race, and I'm sure you'll start making it a yearly event. Bring some comfortable shoes. It seems everywhere you walk will be uphill, but its the elevation changes that make it such a cool track. The nightlife is much more tame than Sebring, but we always manage to have a good time.

Turns 6 & 7 are a good place for pictures because it is a relatively slow part of the track and you can get really close too. Spectator hill, which overlooks turn 5 and the esses, is probably the best view, but it stays pretty crowded and you'll need a serious zoom. There's always some passing going on in 10a & 10b. The rotors get really hot here, so you can find me there during night practice & dusk.