Silverstone, the death of British Motorsport

[havoc]

entropy said:

Big disappointments for the weekend were:

1. Pit-walkabout was for pass holders/VIPS. Loads of disappointed people got turned away.

2. Non-appearance of the XKRs in the GT3 races, though credit to Apex for doing demo laps and allowing the punters get real close to the actual car.

3. Poor grid for GT90s revival. I know there were problems but its a shame we didn't see the McLaren F1s and 9ll GT1.

1) Glad I slept in then...was p'd off at missing it, but if I'd rushed and been turned away, I'd have been even more annoyed.

2) Agreed...on both points. What exactly was the homologation problem?

3) Oh Deliberately saved camera battery with the aim of going silly taking snaps of the Maccas, F40s and the GT1 911 and Elise. 1 out of 4 isn't much cop...

[vetteheadracer]

Pit walk should be free to all as per ALMS.

Advice to anyone turned away would be try sneeking through the back of the garages or ask one of the mechanics if you can look at their car then when finished exit through front of garage.

[andy 308gtb]

corozin said:

It just seems to me that Silverstone (and for that matter Brands Hatch) need to work on this aspect and just get some more racing onto the programme for the paying spectators to watch. Waiting 45-60 minutes between races probably doesn't seem like a long time if you're a driver or a guest, but if you're in the stands it's a long time.

I do have a problem with Silverstone and stay away for many of the reasons that you have mentioned. However, I don't think Brands Hatch can be lumped in here.
I have tried to go to Brands Hatch every month or so for the last few years - and I am a huge fan of the work that has been done there. The recent A1GP meeting certainly didn't feature huge gaps between races, 10-15 minutes was about the norm as I recall.

[Chris Patey]

I have to admit silverstone is one of my favourite tracks, the viewing i think is very good, the main stand on the straight and down at bridge and abbey, plus the rest of the circuit isnt bad but yes the fences get annoying when standing on the banks, but this weekends racing was brilliant except the GT90s where i was dissapointed with the lack of grid numbers, but the GT1 and GT3 race grids where full of some spectacular cars. And the open paddock was very good, and yes you couldnt get near the GT1 cars but the GT3 cars where all about and parc ferme was very good. And as for food pack a box of sandwiches saves buying all the pricey burgers. I think oulton park is a very good track as its a proper british track but silverstones great and cant wait for the 1000KM!!

[c9/89]

Of course you all know the best way to watch the racing without the fences in the way is to volunteer to be a marshal! I did this year and I should have done it years ago! Probans dont cost much and offset them against all the free entry passes (plus the occasional goodies, cap and T-shirt thanks to the FIA GT's). I cant recommend the experience enough! Try it! You'll be amazed at the closeness of the cars(at some circuits VERY close!)and absolutely no fences, apart from the protective ones!


typo: could never spell volunteer!

Edited by c9/89 on Friday 11th May 21:39

[corozin]

andy 308gtb said:

corozin said:

It just seems to me that Silverstone (and for that matter Brands Hatch) need to work on this aspect and just get some more racing onto the programme for the paying spectators to watch. Waiting 45-60 minutes between races probably doesn't seem like a long time if you're a driver or a guest, but if you're in the stands it's a long time.

I do have a problem with Silverstone and stay away for many of the reasons that you have mentioned. However, I don't think Brands Hatch can be lumped in here.
I have tried to go to Brands Hatch every month or so for the last few years - and I am a huge fan of the work that has been done there. The recent A1GP meeting certainly didn't feature huge gaps between races, 10-15 minutes was about the norm as I recall.

I said what I said about Brands based on my experience there at the DTM last year. The organisation of that was at times a complete clusterf**k. Specifically :
a) 45-60 minute delays between races on the Sunday
b) The screwup with the pits walkabout session on the Saturday
c) They shoved a bagpipe band onto the startline on Sunday afternoon, at almost exactly the same time as a amplified rock band kicked off on the stage by the startline (you should have heard the din)
d) The parachute display didn't kick off as planned because Sky TV had a helicopter flying in the way and seemingly no-one knew how to get the copter out of the way. When they finally did do the skydive (25 minutes later) the poor parachutists had to come in while the F3 cars were going round!

The racing was good and the facilities were pretty ok actually, and at least the bloody place isn't filled with needless fences everywhere like Silverstone is (it's not the safety fences I'm talking about). My main point about both places is that as a spectator waiting an hour between races isn't good enough.

I have to say I've been to other events at Brands where that was less hanging about waiting for the action to start. With Silverstone every single meeting I've been to has these huge bloody gaps in the programme all day, regardless of whether it's FIA GT, BTCC, Britcars or whatever.

[cerb speed six]

corozin said:

I have to say I've been to other events at Brands where that was less hanging about waiting for the action to start. With Silverstone every single meeting I've been to has these huge bloody gaps in the programme all day, regardless of whether it's FIA GT, BTCC, Britcars or whatever.

Looking at the schedule for the Silverstone Classic, all it shows for which count as gaps in the programme are parades and parachute displays.

Edited by cerb speed six on Monday 14th May 19:04

Edited by cerb speed six on Monday 14th May 19:04