Silverstone Festival (Classic) August 2023
Discussion
stevemcs said:
Watching the parade lap, how does a mk7 golf GTi and GT86 get in on the act ? Neither are exactly a classic. I'm glad I didn't go. Silverstone only seem to car about the F1.
That was the Retrorun, who invite you to apply if your car is over 20 years old or newer but "interesting"AllezWasps said:
Sadly it seems it’s all about making a fast buck now for Silverstone. The quality experience of the past seems to have been largely forgotten.
£13 for a burger and a "polite notice" in the foodie tent asking you not to eat anything you had bought while at the circuit would suggest so. I wonder how much Liberty Media are charging them for the F1?I get it isn't what it was, and my uncle who had an ice cream pitch one summer in the 60s would definitely think that. At the moment this felt very scatter gun and not joined up, compared to both Goodwood events. But if AutoAlex can sell 5000 tickets for Shedfest having started his YouTube channel 12 months ago, albeit he had a presence already, and Caffiene & Machine can open a second location despite the impact of the pandemic there's a demand for something, and plenty of PetroPounds to go round. I hope Silverstone can find a way to make a successful event out of what they have, but it wont be this without significant improvement.
I can’t disagree with any of the feedback here. The event was completely underwhelming in so many ways.
The Classic as was had certainly grown a bit stale and did need to evolve but it did still have some charm and interest.
The latest iteration being rebranded as a festival and the date being moved to the Bank Holiday weekend just does not work.
Why schedule it for a Bank Holiday but end it on Sunday with nothing on the BH Monday?
Under the Classic banner we used to get music from a range of tribute and cover bands that added something to the atmosphere. They’re now gone. Shame as we saw AC/DC, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, The Eagles, Elvis, Pink Floyd and of course the mighty Jedward.
Blocking access to the pit garages was ridiculous and a huge backwards step.
The food and drink offer was dire and stupidly expensive. £12 for a small bowl of curry? No thanks, we popped home for lunch and didn’t spend anything on food at the venue.
The Village Green used to be a decent place to sit for lunch and a pint, Again that was a shadow of its former self.
As others have mentioned the layout was a mess. Too much prime space given over to the EV stuff. The retail offering used to be varied and interesting. Now it’s one level above a car boot sale.
The car club area featured more daily drivers than before. The car park at a Bicester Sunday Scramble is more interesting.
And my final whinge.... the heavily publicised auction that you can’t access even to view without paying to do so. Why hold it at a public event then not make public access easy? Let Mathewsons run an auction there and let Joe Public in. I’m the sort of mug who’d buy something on a whim.
Sorry but the Festival doesn’t work. Not sure what it’s trying to be but it needs to be better than it is.
The Classic as was had certainly grown a bit stale and did need to evolve but it did still have some charm and interest.
The latest iteration being rebranded as a festival and the date being moved to the Bank Holiday weekend just does not work.
Why schedule it for a Bank Holiday but end it on Sunday with nothing on the BH Monday?
Under the Classic banner we used to get music from a range of tribute and cover bands that added something to the atmosphere. They’re now gone. Shame as we saw AC/DC, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, The Eagles, Elvis, Pink Floyd and of course the mighty Jedward.
Blocking access to the pit garages was ridiculous and a huge backwards step.
The food and drink offer was dire and stupidly expensive. £12 for a small bowl of curry? No thanks, we popped home for lunch and didn’t spend anything on food at the venue.
The Village Green used to be a decent place to sit for lunch and a pint, Again that was a shadow of its former self.
As others have mentioned the layout was a mess. Too much prime space given over to the EV stuff. The retail offering used to be varied and interesting. Now it’s one level above a car boot sale.
The car club area featured more daily drivers than before. The car park at a Bicester Sunday Scramble is more interesting.
And my final whinge.... the heavily publicised auction that you can’t access even to view without paying to do so. Why hold it at a public event then not make public access easy? Let Mathewsons run an auction there and let Joe Public in. I’m the sort of mug who’d buy something on a whim.
Sorry but the Festival doesn’t work. Not sure what it’s trying to be but it needs to be better than it is.
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