So GA at Silverstone ... My thoughts ..
Discussion
So Silverstone actually give a hoot about the people on GA tickets ?
I went for the first time this year with a GA ticket and it really felt like everything was catered towards the Sponsors / Grandstand People.
We couldn't get in to Luffield despite a very early start as it was simply packed, and ended up in the GA area on the inside of Brooklands / start of the Luffield turns. (opposite the BRDC grandstand)
Quite chuffed with our position, only to find out the the Rolex sponsor boards had been mounted so high up the armco that you couldn't see the cars unless you were over 6ft. Lots of people ended up borrowing the picnic table from the eating area and forming their own grandstand.
What I also found hard to believe were that the big screens were positioned in such a way as to be only viewable from the grand stands. For us, we had to look across the big expanse of nothing to the smaller screen by the stage...
As for the park n ride ... no details on line, just a phone number. When I got through to them and told them I was coming from Oxford area, they suggested Hinton. When I got the tix, I was quite surprised to
find that Bicester was an option ! the P n R was 30 mins away and no priority lanes. Comparing that to RIAT which I use every year and has similar traffic issues/
Regardless of all that we still had a fantastic time....
I went for the first time this year with a GA ticket and it really felt like everything was catered towards the Sponsors / Grandstand People.
We couldn't get in to Luffield despite a very early start as it was simply packed, and ended up in the GA area on the inside of Brooklands / start of the Luffield turns. (opposite the BRDC grandstand)
Quite chuffed with our position, only to find out the the Rolex sponsor boards had been mounted so high up the armco that you couldn't see the cars unless you were over 6ft. Lots of people ended up borrowing the picnic table from the eating area and forming their own grandstand.
What I also found hard to believe were that the big screens were positioned in such a way as to be only viewable from the grand stands. For us, we had to look across the big expanse of nothing to the smaller screen by the stage...
As for the park n ride ... no details on line, just a phone number. When I got through to them and told them I was coming from Oxford area, they suggested Hinton. When I got the tix, I was quite surprised to
find that Bicester was an option ! the P n R was 30 mins away and no priority lanes. Comparing that to RIAT which I use every year and has similar traffic issues/
Regardless of all that we still had a fantastic time....
paul_y3k said:
So Silverstone actually give a hoot about the people on GA tickets ?
I went for the first time this year with a GA ticket and it really felt like everything was catered towards the Sponsors / Grandstand People.
Welcome to F1! Silverstone is terrible for the general fan, in my opinion.I went for the first time this year with a GA ticket and it really felt like everything was catered towards the Sponsors / Grandstand People.
We sat on the grass at Club, had to be in the queue for gates opening to get a half decent spot, great view for a GA area though.
I was actually pretty pleased with our experience on a GA ticket. It's been a few years since I've been (last went in 2010 I think) but there seemed to be more of the circuit accessable to GA spectators than I remember with banking most of the way round and more screens too. The free drinking water was a pleasant surprise too on Saturday.
And that's before you get to the entertainment - much more laid on than at other races I've been to - Silverstone has more of a Goodwood FoS feel to it now and more family friendly.
I'm not sure what other premium sporting events (or festivals etc) can give you as much value over three days for £120, and it was certainly better than Spa, Monza, Sau Paulo and Canada which I've visited over the last 15 years (again, they've maybe upped their game since as it's been a while).
And that's before you get to the entertainment - much more laid on than at other races I've been to - Silverstone has more of a Goodwood FoS feel to it now and more family friendly.
I'm not sure what other premium sporting events (or festivals etc) can give you as much value over three days for £120, and it was certainly better than Spa, Monza, Sau Paulo and Canada which I've visited over the last 15 years (again, they've maybe upped their game since as it's been a while).
RobGT81 said:
thirdstage said:
Patrick Allen the Silverstone CEO said in a TV interview that the circuit was going to invest in spectator facilities for next year
Edited by thirdstage on Monday 6th July 14:06
I spent 4 days in Woodlands, my only gripe was the lack of stuff open Sunday evening, granted 50% of the camp had gone home but it was still so lively and busy in the entertainment area, places run out of food and beer or just closed as they thought demand was low. Being 10 deep at the bar in The Petrolhead wasnt nice...
We went as a family of four, GA tickets. Two of us went on Friday and all four went on Sunday. It was an early start to get to the carpark and join the queue before the gates opened.
The Friday trip helped scope out where to sit and how to access the right areas when Sunday came along, including making sure we got to the correct car park.
We sat on the Vale banking and were pretty happy with that choice. I figured the action would happen at Vale, Brooklands, The Loop & Stowe. Of those, Vale is closest to the pit lane and the best place for a bit of last lap (or as it turned out, safety car restart) action.
We had a walk around some other areas before GP3 and I reckon you'd have a good spot if you sat in front of the pit-straight grandstand. You'd get the pre-race build up atmosphere and have a good view of the straight and first two corners.
And that's the challenge with Silvestone. You have to have been there before and scoped out the vantage points to stand the best chance of securing the right spot on race day. Even then, on race day you'll see people planting chairs in locations you'd never even considered. Often right infront of a grandstand that cost over twice as much to access.
The Friday trip helped scope out where to sit and how to access the right areas when Sunday came along, including making sure we got to the correct car park.
We sat on the Vale banking and were pretty happy with that choice. I figured the action would happen at Vale, Brooklands, The Loop & Stowe. Of those, Vale is closest to the pit lane and the best place for a bit of last lap (or as it turned out, safety car restart) action.
We had a walk around some other areas before GP3 and I reckon you'd have a good spot if you sat in front of the pit-straight grandstand. You'd get the pre-race build up atmosphere and have a good view of the straight and first two corners.
And that's the challenge with Silvestone. You have to have been there before and scoped out the vantage points to stand the best chance of securing the right spot on race day. Even then, on race day you'll see people planting chairs in locations you'd never even considered. Often right infront of a grandstand that cost over twice as much to access.
Edited by DavidCane on Monday 6th July 15:32
chris_w said:
I'm not sure what other premium sporting events (or festivals etc) can give you as much value over three days for £120, and it was certainly better than Spa, Monza, Sau Paulo and Canada which I've visited over the last 15 years (again, they've maybe upped their game since as it's been a while).
WEC at Silverstone is £40 for the weekend and you get much more racing and access to the grandstands. Silverstone Classic is £114 for the weekend and you get 3 days of epic cars being driven the way they deserve.
Le Mans £70 for the full week. 38 hours of the cars on track, I think.
RobGT81 said:
WEC at Silverstone is £40 for the weekend and you get much more racing and access to the grandstands.
Silverstone Classic is £114 for the weekend and you get 3 days of epic cars being driven the way they deserve.
Le Mans £70 for the full week. 38 hours of the cars on track, I think.
Then go and watch that sSilverstone Classic is £114 for the weekend and you get 3 days of epic cars being driven the way they deserve.
Le Mans £70 for the full week. 38 hours of the cars on track, I think.
t and stop bleating about F1 at Silverstone?
I went for the second year running as GA and had a good time, admittedly Silverstone is never going to be a great viewing circuit no matter how much banking they add simply because it is so spread out and naturally flat.
The only down side was the drive home on Sunday with so many cars heading for the M1 being sent down the normal northbound side of the A43.
Hence I took 1.5 hours to travel the 3 miles to the roundabout, meanwhile what would have been the southbound carriageway which was closed to accept northbound traffic had a handful of cars zooming along at 70 and no queues.
I know to expect a few delays getting out of Silverstone but whichever "genius" came up with yesterdays send everyone into 1 lane and then push 4 more lanes into it system wants firing.
The only down side was the drive home on Sunday with so many cars heading for the M1 being sent down the normal northbound side of the A43.
Hence I took 1.5 hours to travel the 3 miles to the roundabout, meanwhile what would have been the southbound carriageway which was closed to accept northbound traffic had a handful of cars zooming along at 70 and no queues.
I know to expect a few delays getting out of Silverstone but whichever "genius" came up with yesterdays send everyone into 1 lane and then push 4 more lanes into it system wants firing.
130R said:
I was sat in the BRDC grandstand at farm and on the opposite side of the track there was a basically completely empty grandstand. I'm guessing it was some corporate stand? I don't see why they can't build up the banking around the circuit a lot more in places for GA really.
That's the 'Paddock Club' grandstand which is where you can sit if you are a guest of the teams and/or sponsors. Most people with those passes seem to watch from the Wing itself (either from inside or outside) or from the banking on the inside of Club.We walked around the circuit on Saturday to find the best possible spot.
We took our chairs in on Sunday and sat at Becketts, there at 8:30am with a perfect view. We could get up use the facilities, food etc and still get back with no issues. Big screen was easy to see and with a little radio we were set.
Camping was good, we were in the lively field at Woodlands and it wasn't lively - just people starting their cars up at 5:30am to charge their phones!
Evening entertainment was laid on and gave the evenings that festival affair. Much less piss up style compared to Euro GP's, much more aimed at the family.
Compared to Spa there is so much more GA access, and you don't need to be perched up a bank with 25,000 others afraid of going to the loo and loosing your spot.
We took our chairs in on Sunday and sat at Becketts, there at 8:30am with a perfect view. We could get up use the facilities, food etc and still get back with no issues. Big screen was easy to see and with a little radio we were set.
Camping was good, we were in the lively field at Woodlands and it wasn't lively - just people starting their cars up at 5:30am to charge their phones!
Evening entertainment was laid on and gave the evenings that festival affair. Much less piss up style compared to Euro GP's, much more aimed at the family.
Compared to Spa there is so much more GA access, and you don't need to be perched up a bank with 25,000 others afraid of going to the loo and loosing your spot.
Edited by Simes205 on Monday 6th July 21:29
I went for the first time in GA and having a 5 year old with me I avoided the corners as that's where every body had set up and there was no chance my boy could see the track. Instead we wondered up the straight heading upto Stowe. Along the straight is where I put his camp chair. Not busy at all, we could see the cars coming out of Becketts and reaching high speeds.
Now for a first time I may have chosen a right rubbish spot and by looking around at the lack of other spectators I probably did. Saying that thou I had a great time, my boy loved it and I was right next to toilets, bar and burger van. Loved it.
Now for a first time I may have chosen a right rubbish spot and by looking around at the lack of other spectators I probably did. Saying that thou I had a great time, my boy loved it and I was right next to toilets, bar and burger van. Loved it.
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