Anyone been to the Le Mans 24 hour race?

[Mike73]

I've just bought a 300D+kit lens and I'm going to Le Mans in June. I can't wait and the camera is definately coming with me!

I have two questions though:

1) How close to the action can I get with just General Enclosure access? Lots of tall fences? Sadly, there will be no pit access for me :cry:.

2) Can anyone recommend some gear to save up for between now an then? I want to get some decent shots of the race cars (zoom tele?) but maybe also photograph the human wild-life (nutters) that attends this event (some kind of fastish lens for night-time walkabouts).

Thanks for you help folks and see you in Beausejour if you go!

[PeterTaylor]

Yes I went way way back in 1991, was on assignment for a Photo agency.
You will need a good fast long lens, I was working with both 300mm F2.8 and 500 mm F4, I found that in some pleases I needed a 1.4 converter. I will dig out my notes from this event at the weekend, as they are right at the back of the filing cabinet. I will also did dig out some work and scan the slide film (Oh yes pre digital by a long way) to give you an idea of what to expect. Sorry I can not help right now.

[Littlenose]

Mike... not going to the 24 hour, but heading over in May for the motoGP... so i'll let you know how things are once i get back.
not the best of pics, but here's a pic looking down the start/finish i took with the ixus from the main stand a couple of years back.

[hgb]

A look at http://www.clubarnage.com/yabbse/index.php will answer most of your questions. Beausejour is very close to the Porsche curves and not too far from Arnage which is a very good viewing area. Unfortunately, it's quite a long way to main viewing areas (Start/Finish, Esses, Tertre Rouge). I would definately invest in a tele lense, the bigger the better. Also, take enough CF cards or a portable harddisk of some kind. Have fun and enjoy the best weekend of the year.

[Mike73]

Thanks for your feed back. I'll have a look at that club-arnage web site and start saving - might even spring for some grandstand seats.

Peter, I'ld still love to see your pic's from '91 if you find them!