Santa Pod - 'Euro Finals' - Newbie?!
Discussion
Never been to Santa Pod before but looking at going to the Euro Finals in a couple of weeks time..
Probably the Sunday. Any advice for a newbie?
Do you need grandstand tickets?
If you don't get them and you rely on the banking is it a case of turn up and it there all day or can you walk around to a reasonable extent & expect to get back to a point that you can view from?
Will also have two kids in tow - (4 & 18 months) Is it pushchair / buggy friendly at all?
Can you view the strip from anywhere else?
Food / drink etc? Reasonable price or rip off central?
What other stuff is there except the track & the live action arena?
Probably the Sunday. Any advice for a newbie?
Do you need grandstand tickets?
If you don't get them and you rely on the banking is it a case of turn up and it there all day or can you walk around to a reasonable extent & expect to get back to a point that you can view from?
Will also have two kids in tow - (4 & 18 months) Is it pushchair / buggy friendly at all?
Can you view the strip from anywhere else?
Food / drink etc? Reasonable price or rip off central?
What other stuff is there except the track & the live action arena?
Dan_1981 said:
Never been to Santa Pod before but looking at going to the Euro Finals in a couple of weeks time..
Probably the Sunday. Any advice for a newbie?
Arrive early as traffic can backup a little after 9:00 although with pre-sale only tickets things should flow better than normal.Probably the Sunday. Any advice for a newbie?
Bring or buy proper hearing protection. Sticking little bits of foam in your ears is completely useless. At the Euro Finals the first cars of the day are loud and they just get louder and louder after that.
Dan_1981 said:
Do you need grandstand tickets?
If you don't get them and you rely on the banking is it a case of turn up and it there all day or can you walk around to a reasonable extent & expect to get back to a point that you can view from?
You'll always find a spot on the banking but you'll probably end up around 1/2 track or further down rather than near the startline unless you stake a claim for the day. Grandstand is a good way of ensuring you are near the startline and also free to wander around.If you don't get them and you rely on the banking is it a case of turn up and it there all day or can you walk around to a reasonable extent & expect to get back to a point that you can view from?
Dan_1981 said:
Will also have two kids in tow - (4 & 18 months) Is it pushchair / buggy friendly at all?
That might be a little ambitious. As I mentioned above it is really loud. Parking is on uneven grass and the banking is steep and a mix of rough gravel and grass. Pits and catering areas are all paved.Dan_1981 said:
Can you view the strip from anywhere else?
There is limited viewing by the fence pitside but the view isn't good.Dan_1981 said:
Food / drink etc? Reasonable price or rip off central?
Not too bad. The Pod Cafe is very reasonable for this kind of event.Dan_1981 said:
What other stuff is there except the track & the live action arena?
Open pits, go see the cars, meet the drivers and watch the crews thrash.
I've gone for a few years. I would not think of taking my 18 month child. It is so loud that adults realistically need ear defenders. Your insides will shake as cars run the strip. I personally believe it would be dangerous to take a child that young, but that's just an opinion and i'm sure people have done it.
Also, the grassy bank isn't ideal for buggies nor any kiddy tents.
If you're interested in family friendly racing, I usually go down to Castle Combe to watch some saloon tin tops race. They are quiet enough and you have plenty of space to set up a little "camp" if you sit further back. My 18 month girl really enjoyed it... probably more the noise and moving colourful objects than the door to door racing ha
Also, the grassy bank isn't ideal for buggies nor any kiddy tents.
If you're interested in family friendly racing, I usually go down to Castle Combe to watch some saloon tin tops race. They are quiet enough and you have plenty of space to set up a little "camp" if you sit further back. My 18 month girl really enjoyed it... probably more the noise and moving colourful objects than the door to door racing ha
At the loud end, four Funnies and a pair of Nostalgia Funnies, along with the three Top Fuelers.
Not that the rest of it is quiet. Yes, not really best for small children. But if you can get along without them, give it a go. They will grow into it.
Saturday is a good day for beginners. You see everything during qualifying. On Sunday, eliminations quickly whittle down the entries.
Not that the rest of it is quiet. Yes, not really best for small children. But if you can get along without them, give it a go. They will grow into it.
Saturday is a good day for beginners. You see everything during qualifying. On Sunday, eliminations quickly whittle down the entries.
I went maybe ten years ago, great fun, but yeah, it is really, really loud. It was me and another dad who went, and we specifically didn't bring our (1&3 yr old) kids with us.
We didn't bother with stand tickets, it was just fine wandering around, and standing on the bank to watch. Food, I think we brought with us - there seemed to be bacon rolls and similar available there.
To reiterate: loud. I think the only louder environment I've experienced was within a steelwork's furnace building. A Eurofighter at Wings and Wheels bothered my son at a slightly older age (with ear defenders), and I think the much louder dragsters would have been a problem for him, and most infants.
We didn't bother with stand tickets, it was just fine wandering around, and standing on the bank to watch. Food, I think we brought with us - there seemed to be bacon rolls and similar available there.
To reiterate: loud. I think the only louder environment I've experienced was within a steelwork's furnace building. A Eurofighter at Wings and Wheels bothered my son at a slightly older age (with ear defenders), and I think the much louder dragsters would have been a problem for him, and most infants.
Dan_1981 said:
Food / drink etc? Reasonable price or rip off central?
Not too bad. The Pod Cafe is very reasonable for this kind of event.Food court stands this weekend (Doorslammers) include:
Kebabs - Hog roast - Cheeseburger - Pizza - Fish & Chips - Oodles of Noodles - Mexican - Pasta Pots & Jacket Potatoes - Wraps - Flipping Pancakes - Tasty Toasties - plus ice creams, coffees & teas & soft drinks, doughnuts, sweets.
Plus the Fuelers Bar, plus the Pod Cafe.
Just back from an awesome day at Santa Pod.
Took the advice & didn't take the youngest.
Took the 4 year old along with a set of ear defenders.
He absolutely loved it. Wants to know when we can go again. Monster trucks, funny cars, jet car / bike / top fuellers all taken in his stride.
Agree, too loud and not set up well for buggy / youngest.
Reasonable pricing on most stuff, well set up so you can see everything regardless of when you get there.
Great day out.
Took the advice & didn't take the youngest.
Took the 4 year old along with a set of ear defenders.
He absolutely loved it. Wants to know when we can go again. Monster trucks, funny cars, jet car / bike / top fuellers all taken in his stride.
Agree, too loud and not set up well for buggy / youngest.
Reasonable pricing on most stuff, well set up so you can see everything regardless of when you get there.
Great day out.
Glad to hear you and your 4-year-old enjoyed your visit, and that the advice proved worthwhile. Thanks for letting us know.
Come again next year. With luck, and Covid permitting, the FIA/FIM European Championships will be reinstated and there'll be full international fields once more.
Come again next year. With luck, and Covid permitting, the FIA/FIM European Championships will be reinstated and there'll be full international fields once more.
NitroWars said:
sparta6 said:
wait until Greta turns it all EV
Seeing that the current rule book only allows OEM electric vehicles then I doubt there will be much to watch.https://www.currentracing.co.uk/Blackcurrent/bc3.p...
Turn7 said:
I am aware of that, I did say the current rule book...Gassing Station | Drag Racing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff