RE: New Silverstone Pit Complex Officially Open

RE: New Silverstone Pit Complex Officially Open

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Discussion

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Wednesday 18th May 2011
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Ceylon said:
Yes it is impressive in size, but not in design. Looks like the contractor did not unfold the plans properly...

Why did they call it "The Silverstone Wing"? It sounds like part of budget hotel.

No matter what the BRDC or their architects say, sorry, but it looks absolutely nothing like a wing.

Northern_Monkey

373 posts

195 months

Wednesday 18th May 2011
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Having been at the launch yesterday, the main thing about the Wing is its sheer size and the usage the circuit can get from it.

Its all well and good spending millions on F1 but it needs to recoup money elsewhere and it should well do that with the ability to hold conferences etc.

The garages are mightily impressive - you could probably get the race truck parked in them alongside the cars! Still some finishing touches to be done, but its certainly a big step forwards for the circuit.

As others have said though, the 'old' paddock needs to be looked after and I think it will be given it will still be used by plenty of events. They'll want to keep it looking good anyway given the BRDC clubhouse and hospitality units are there.

The only downside to me of the changes is the loss of Bridge - real shame F1 cars won't be blasting through there any longer.

Donkey62

227 posts

164 months

Thursday 19th May 2011
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For one i think circuit owners depending on F1 pay day all year round is ridiculous they should be able to support themselves its not like we hate motorsport.

Other countries are way worse for reaching the track with even worse facilities inside, now Silverstone has been forced to adapt we all get a better day out to the venue.

fomb

1,402 posts

210 months

Thursday 19th May 2011
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Where's the pit entrance?

dan tournay

431 posts

207 months

Thursday 19th May 2011
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Saw this on the architect's website, Apologies if it's a repost.

http://vimeo.com/23763926
http://www.populous.com

ph123

1,841 posts

217 months

Thursday 19th May 2011
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fomb said:
Where's the pit entrance?
... From the circuit, on the way down from Stowe, it's before braking point on the Vale for the first tight left part of Club. Very fast straight jink to the right, big brakes, and then hard 100 degree right around the podium, with first pit quite close right again. Vast pit apron, 3 lane pit road and then a further large apron. Long way from pit to pit wall.
First impression is you've come along side a dock with an aircraft carrier tied up. Vast. Bring a bike to get around.

Stu R

21,410 posts

214 months

Thursday 19th May 2011
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I'm sure functionality wise it's great and we should all be queuing up to suck Bernie off as thanks for his amazingness, but it's a fecking ugly structure that looks like a kid drew it. I'd far rather they'd invested the money on making it a circuit which offers something other than dull precessional 'racing'.

Fats25

6,260 posts

228 months

Monday 13th June 2011
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So yesterday I attended the MotoGP at Silverstone. Was quite fortunate in a friend had TV passes which entitled us to advanced paddock access (or something like that). Had a great day until I decided to leave (will get back to this later).

As someone who has only been to Silverstone once before (2 or 3 years ago for F1), I really enjoyed the day. Left home around 08:00 and arrived at the accreditation tent around 10:00. Not a bad journey from Kent, and that included a breakfast stop, and a fuel and newspaper stop. On arrival at accreditation we were informed we could park in P1 "by the paddock". Excellent we thought - and felt quite priviledged driving into Silverstone to park with all of the posh cars. I mentioned that it could be a bad move for getting the car out, but knowing how Bernie had moaned about the access to/from Silverstone this must all be sorted by now.

I sort of knew they had replaced the paddock, and media center, but expected we would be parked close by. We weren't - as I would have known if I had read this thread. After a quick walk around the old paddock, we worked out there was a shuttle bus to take us to where we should be. A 5 minute bus journey and we were in the correct place.

Walked down the paddock, took a few photos before the rain drove us into the media center. Very nice - I cannot comment on what it was like for working - as I was just mincing around, watching the TV screens for track coverage, and timings, and the bikes head past the start/finish straight. The food was decent and well priced, and during the day I saw a few "famous" people in there, but they were mostly working, so I stayed out of their way. Suzi Perry is a very attrictive lady though! Had a really good day.


The main race finished around 14:00, and we watched most of the crowd leaving before the 125 race, as it was really wet and miserable. However after braving the rain for the main race, we were now back indoors to get dry, and keep warm. We stayed and watched the finish of the 125's and it was now around 15:30.

Last time I went to Silverstone for the F1, I got onto the A43 from the car park we were in, very quickly, and around 2 hours later I joined the M40. I made a vow that day that I would never, ever drive to Silverstone again. I broke that vow yesterday as there were 3 of us, and it was raining, and most people would be on bikes. So bearing this in mind, and with the added info that I had seen most people leave the stands already due to weather, I was confident we would be ok.

We meandered up to the shuttle bus. Due to some congestion the previous 5 min journey became around 20 mins back to the car. So it was now around 16:00.

It became apparent that the whole place was gridlocked, I managed to view a truck stuck on the bridge that did not move for two hours. Eventually around 19:00 we decided there was sufficient movement of traffic to attempt to leave, and 5 mins later we were off site. 3.5 hours delayed, but we were now on the main road. Traffic looked good until we met it again further down the A43. Eventually after a cross country dash through some very nice villages, and through Bicester, we hit the M40/A34 - and my Sat Nav was telling me the M40 was not good, so we used the A34 which was fine all the way home.

I got in at 22:30. Seven hours after we attempted to leave.

So all in all they may have sorted the track, and the facilities for drivers, and the posh folks, but the transportation is actually worse than before. I will honestly never, ever drive there again.

We were going to head to the F1 in July if this day had gone well, but I will now make a decision on the day and buy from a tout, depending on the weather. Only ever consider travelling there if you can take your bike.




Edited by Fats25 on Monday 13th June 14:35

Revhappychappy

210 posts

212 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
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Bumping this as it looks like they might need to get the builders back... A few issues with the roof after the recent high winds eek

https://twitter.com/HunterSkipworth/status/5828467...


Redlake27

2,255 posts

243 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
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That's an improvement. Having worked in there for three days I was starved of natural light. Awful building.

hunter 66

3,888 posts

219 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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Apparently it is sinking as well ...oooppps marsh land

Marc W

3,782 posts

210 months

PhillipM

6,515 posts

188 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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That's what you get for calling it a wing.