F1 tickets....Any advice?
Discussion
To cut a long story...my nephew (10 year sold, been having a tough time lately...School/counsellor/Parents messy divorce) absolutely loves F1. So, being the caring Uncle I've told my sister I'll take him to see the British F1. However, I'm an F1 virgin and haven't got a clue what tickets to get, where to sit/stand etc. Anyone got any good advice to really make this guy's day/weekend?
Cheers.
Cheers.
Only ever been to a box at Silverstone, but from experience at other GPs, make sure you're in front of a screen otherwise you'll have no idea whats going on. Always a good idea to pick a corner where there's usually plenty of overtaking too.
Also, make sure you get there with plenty of time to spare, despite improvements to the roads, it still queues for miles.
Also, support races are well worth watching. They always give plenty of entertainment
Also, make sure you get there with plenty of time to spare, despite improvements to the roads, it still queues for miles.
Also, support races are well worth watching. They always give plenty of entertainment
I took my 13 year old nephew to Silverstone last year - his first ever F1 event and he loved it! We sat in Luffield and the grandstands overlook quite a biggish section and can see round to the start/finish plus usually a few offs there, was excellent viewing imo. Plus all the merchandising and food stalls are just behind there!
and to add even though he's small, he could easily see over the people in front and we were up the back of the grandstand.
Just sent you a link to my pics in and from that grandstand last year
and to add even though he's small, he could easily see over the people in front and we were up the back of the grandstand.
Just sent you a link to my pics in and from that grandstand last year
Edited by Karen182 on Wednesday 4th April 13:48
trickywoo said:
Take him to the festival of speed instead. It comes round sooner 22-24 June. It will be a better experience and cheaper for you, besides you don't want to encourage perversions like enjoying F1
what he said. silverstone isn't the best track in the world for spectators, and after about 3 laps you wont have a clue who is where. When saw touring cars there we where fortunate to be in a box over the start / finsih line, everyone watched the race on the tv in the box then rushed out when the cars came up onto the straight. For the same money take him to the FOS and buy him somthing nice an expensive there.
How about taking him to Silverstone for F1 testing in June? (19th - 21st)
It'll cost you a tenner (under 16s free) and you will be able to get into the stand opposite the pits. www.silverstone.co.uk/html/ra_f1test.php
If it has to be the British GP, I'd go and stand on the bank around Club or the Vale.
....or do both!
This link to a 360 degree thingy will give you an idea of what you will see from any point on the track at Silverstone (the viewpoint is at ground-level unfortunately) www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/sport/motorsport/grandprix_2003/circuit_360.shtml
It'll cost you a tenner (under 16s free) and you will be able to get into the stand opposite the pits. www.silverstone.co.uk/html/ra_f1test.php
If it has to be the British GP, I'd go and stand on the bank around Club or the Vale.
....or do both!
This link to a 360 degree thingy will give you an idea of what you will see from any point on the track at Silverstone (the viewpoint is at ground-level unfortunately) www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/sport/motorsport/grandprix_2003/circuit_360.shtml
Edited by chim666 on Wednesday 4th April 14:17
What's the budget?
Seriously.
If it is big (£1k) then I would take him to BGP, fly in and have a ball.
If a little more modest (<£500) I would be looking at Stowe/Club grandstand seats.
If we are talking about <£250 take him the the FoS.
I honestly believe that everyone who truely loves motorsport should go to at least one GP in their life. The TV does nothing to portray the build up, true sound and smell of a GP. That said I haven't ever been as a 'normal' spectator so i do tend to see it from the inside looking out IYSWIM.
If it were my money I would do FoS every year from what I have heard and BGP every 5.
Seriously.
If it is big (£1k) then I would take him to BGP, fly in and have a ball.
If a little more modest (<£500) I would be looking at Stowe/Club grandstand seats.
If we are talking about <£250 take him the the FoS.
I honestly believe that everyone who truely loves motorsport should go to at least one GP in their life. The TV does nothing to portray the build up, true sound and smell of a GP. That said I haven't ever been as a 'normal' spectator so i do tend to see it from the inside looking out IYSWIM.
If it were my money I would do FoS every year from what I have heard and BGP every 5.
Take some personal radios that go up really loud so you can listen to the commentary, broadcast from the circuit. Preferably through earphones that you can put ear protectors over the top of - F1 engines are painfully loud.
Failing that, wear earplugs and give up on the commentary.
I also recommend Luffield.
Failing that, wear earplugs and give up on the commentary.
I also recommend Luffield.
I seemed to remember not more than 3 or 4 years ago that there were over 140 overtaking manoevres at the British GP?
If you're looking for body contact and wheel to wheel racing, go and watch a Touring car race and save yourself 100 quid. If you want to see the pinnacle of modern automotive engineering and experience the noise and atmosphere of an F1 race, then you wont be disappointed. I'll admit that the last race I went to at Silverstone was boring, but out of the 6 or 7 GP's i've been to, that was the only one I didn't immensely enjoy
If you're looking for body contact and wheel to wheel racing, go and watch a Touring car race and save yourself 100 quid. If you want to see the pinnacle of modern automotive engineering and experience the noise and atmosphere of an F1 race, then you wont be disappointed. I'll admit that the last race I went to at Silverstone was boring, but out of the 6 or 7 GP's i've been to, that was the only one I didn't immensely enjoy
oj said:
smilerbaker said:
oj said:
I seemed to remember not more than 3 or 4 years ago that there were over 140 overtaking manoevres at the British GP?
All of them in the pits
You obviously didn't see that race then!
yep seen every f1 race for the past 20 odd years, can't remember any that have that sort of overtaking, at least not since the introduction of re-fueling.
To me its not overtaking if its not done on the track.
Ahh you're a nice uncle Chilli, I took my sister and my nephew a few years ago, both die-hard Schumi fans (I try not to hold it against them) they had a ball. No gs tickets but marshals guest tickets so they watched from the inside of Copse.
For an F1 fan the whole day is magic, the air displays, the noise of the cars etc. They walked around the circuit a bit and watched from different places.
If ££ is an issue can you buy tickets to Friday and/or Saturday only? IMO these are better days than the race itself but perhaps don't deliver the same impact to a ten year old.
Really you ought to take him to Le Mans
For an F1 fan the whole day is magic, the air displays, the noise of the cars etc. They walked around the circuit a bit and watched from different places.
If ££ is an issue can you buy tickets to Friday and/or Saturday only? IMO these are better days than the race itself but perhaps don't deliver the same impact to a ten year old.
Really you ought to take him to Le Mans
smilerbaker said:
trickywoo said:
Take him to the festival of speed instead. It comes round sooner 22-24 June. It will be a better experience and cheaper for you, besides you don't want to encourage perversions like enjoying F1
what he said. silverstone isn't the best track in the world for spectators, and after about 3 laps you wont have a clue who is where. When saw touring cars there we where fortunate to be in a box over the start / finsih line, everyone watched the race on the tv in the box then rushed out when the cars came up onto the straight. For the same money take him to the FOS and buy him somthing nice an expensive there.
why dont people fill in lap charts any more? i used to love it when i was young. granted you spend more time looking at the prgramme than at the crs but still..... i always knew where nannini/tarquini and alboreto were!!!!
Take him to a good clubbie at Donington or Oulton, or maybe the World Series by Renault or "GP Live" at Donington, if you want a more "prestigous" event.
Better tracks, a better view for the spectator, probably a better "show" allround plus the chance to get in to the pits and have a close look round. Donington has the added attraction of the Grand Prix museum. All of these will be substanially cheaper than the GP & you could probably spectate at 10 clubbies for the cost of 1 GP!
Alternatively, if Silverstone is convenient for you how about the BRSCC Clubbie on 14/ 15 April - Caterhams & F Fords, amongst other, I think. Usually good for the spectator. If you are there on the sunday the Monoposto Racing Club are racing single seaters, me included. If he wants to get a sit in a racing car (albeit a scruffy one!) then send me a PM & we'll see what can be arranged.
Better tracks, a better view for the spectator, probably a better "show" allround plus the chance to get in to the pits and have a close look round. Donington has the added attraction of the Grand Prix museum. All of these will be substanially cheaper than the GP & you could probably spectate at 10 clubbies for the cost of 1 GP!
Alternatively, if Silverstone is convenient for you how about the BRSCC Clubbie on 14/ 15 April - Caterhams & F Fords, amongst other, I think. Usually good for the spectator. If you are there on the sunday the Monoposto Racing Club are racing single seaters, me included. If he wants to get a sit in a racing car (albeit a scruffy one!) then send me a PM & we'll see what can be arranged.
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