Le Mans Classic

2023 was the 100th anniversary of the 1st Le Mans 24 hour race, Jake and I went to the race but three weeks later we went back in our Mini and MG Midget together with David and his son in his Triumph Herald. Our fifth person was our mutual friend Martin who Jake and I picked up on the way down to our first night in Bournemouth.

Next morning we got the ferry from Poole to Cherbourg with lots of other classic cars. A lovely afternoons drive in sunshine to Vire where we stayed at the lovely Hotel de France.

Next morning it was another 100 miles to Le Mans where we arrived mid afternoon after stopping at a large supermarket with evidence of riots and looting that was sweeping across France. Once in the circuit we set up our camp.

An incredible array of all makes of classic cars and racing cars which was almost too much to take in! We had paddock passes so were able to wander around each of the 'plateaus' (cars grouped according to their age).

Its a huge event and it took the whole weekend to look around but I'm sure we missed some things. Very atmospheric during the night when groups of classic racing cars came back to the paddock.

We left on Sunday afternoon for a 180 mile drive back to Dieppe which was really easy on the quiete 'route national' and we got back to Dieppe in time for a meal before getting on the ferry back to Newhaven. This was probably the worst aspect of the trip because the ferry arrived at about 4.30am leaving Jake and I rather tired to drive the 200 miles back to Chesterfield and drop Martin off near Oxford.