It is an annual pilgrimage and usually takes place on the second weekend of June and is considered the biggest British sporting event held on foreign soil. Thousands of perfectly rational Englishmen (and a few ladies) stuff a small amount of belongings into a classic sports car or sports car and head south.

It’s a time of year when the cargo from the cross-channel ferries is more valuable than the ferry itself. Many locals line the path and watch the constant procession to the place affectionately known as La Sarthe. If you haven’t noticed, I’m talking about the city of Le Mans, 3 hours by land from the north coast of France where the most famous car race in the world called Les Vingt Quatre Heures Du Mans is held. If you can’t speak French, that’s the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race for you and me.

I try to go every year and the first thing I pack is my portable BBQ grill. There is a fantastic atmosphere in the crowd and as qualifying and the race take place there are lots of barbecues, corks, fireworks explosions and a general party atmosphere. Food is an important part of my life, which is probably why my classic car is not only beautiful but extremely practical.

Many fans are so tight on space that they buy their barbecues when they get there and these can range from a full barbecue to those disposable barbecue grill pans.

Whatever the style of barbecue, one thing remains common to all my friends and neighbors at camp: they don’t know how to cook. For this reason, I’ve decided to put together my own list of Le Mans BBQ recipes to make sure I set a good example.

One of the menus this year I’m going to start with the full English and for that I’ll have to bring the bacon with me because bacon in France just isn’t the same, but having said that I can’t wait to put some French sausages with it. Finally sausages that are filled with meat instead of cake and breadcrumbs. The big challenge in making the Full English is of course the egg and to get it right I fry them on the charcoal grill in homemade foil pans. A little homemade barbecue sauce and it’s the perfect way to start race day.

I have already expressed delight in trying French sausages again and there are many others like Merguez (spicy) and Saucisses De Toulouse (herbs and garlic) that will go great on a baguette for a great BBQ variation on the hot dog. Just avoid the sausages called andouillette unless you like tripe!

For dinner I’m going to keep my Le Mans BBQ very simple with a grilled, paprika-dusted, boneless lamb shoulder served with a roasted red pepper salad.

I hope some of my Le Mans BBQ recipes will catch on with my fellow motorsport enthusiasts… well, we’ll just have to wait and see.