I read something recently that stated the Le Mans round of MotoGP was even more nuts than Mugello. Can anyone back this up?
Mugello is a lot of fun, A lot. But LeMans is in a different league all together. Its the sort of event where a week later people are still staggering out of the woods dazed, confused, and not entirely sure where they are or why they're there other than a vague recollection of motorcycles going in circles. Imagine combining an old school carnival circus with a GP race weekend and then sprinkle the whole thing with magic mushrooms and homemade pastis. Then have David Lynch direct it and you'd be halfway to how surreal and awesome the LeMans GP is, or was the last time I went. Mugello is better for general admission spectating and hotels. Both should be experienced by any GP fan.
Depends on what you mean by rowdier. My experience is that the crowds in Southern Europe are more exuberant during qualifying and racing than the crowds in Central Europe; however the nighttime shenanigans at Central Europe tracks are less restrained than in Southern Europe. The Italian and Spanish crowds are into happy fun at night - the crowds farther North are crazy. Assen in particular is quite the wild party. Having said that, if no-restraint madness is what you’re looking for, the campgrounds around the track in Czech Republic are scenes of extreme chaos, decadence, and debauchery
I cant speak for Le Mans GP but the 24hrs is nuts. If you are into racing cars or bikes it ahould be on you bucket list.
Both cases have significant chances of you seeing fat, hairy drunk/high Europeans wearing Speedos. Depends if you prefer them to be French or Italian
I took a tent and sleeping bag, jumped on a train and went to the German GP one year. It was f@ckin rowdy all night there. Fireworks, burn out pits, big tents like they have at the beer fests with scantily clad/sometimes topless girls dancing on stage. There were dirtbikes ripping through the campgrounds all night weaving between tents and a huge long trough that someone hung on a chain link fence for everyone to go piss in lol. I've been to races in a few different countries but that was the best party scene i've encountered.
Not debating which one has the longer history, I'm trying to answer the OP's question. And I think he was asking about motorcycle races.
I will have to agree with @cpettit Sachsenring was by far the highest level of escalation at night. I mean just the beer tent and the strippers. Germans know how to “make party” Spectators might be more enthusiastic in Southern Europe but after the races... yup. And then there’s the 24h of the Nürburgring... that’s 10 levels up