Silverstone Classics 2015
Discussion
Housey said:
For me this event has again been a disappointment for several reasons. Sadly for me it isn't a race meeting like the Goodwood Revival, it's a place for people to meet, look at some cars, do a bit of shopping and eat and drink and watch some music. That is of course fine and I enjoyed spending time with friends which was fun as always. However at 65 quid a head plus another 50 a head in nosh and drinks it needs to provide better racing, which were often pale imitations of historic racing with rag tag grids racing on a track where they look like ants as you're so far away and most places. I walked 12 miles around the place a few times and outside the centre old pits areas it was dead. All the cars you want to see were where the masses weren't in the new pits. Also a Spitfire air display that lasted 2 passes and an F1 demonstration that had 7 cars for 3 laps mainly 40 seconds off the pace was a joke. I had a great day but frankly that was sod all to do with Silverstone.
Silverstone in my mind had never looked after its punters since I first went in 1979 for the GP till yesterday. You sit in a cheap stand or stand on a badly made banking and you can admire the lovely BRDC building or new Wing pits and all that does is emphasise how utter crap the rest of the place is and yet again where Silverstone sees its punters and I say that as a person who has been able to access both BRDC and Wing! At least they have toilets but I can't help but feel they take the piss with fence after fence and half arsed viewing facilities 70 percent of which were shut off yesterday. It's a crap place to watch motor racing and that's sad as once it was great. I have been spoilt by living through the best of Group 4/5, Group 1/2 & A and of course Group C and I have been spoilt by seeing the finest grids with some great drivers on the fantastic spectators track at Goodwood, but Silverstone feels half assed. Even the commentators were commenting on how bad some of the turn outs were, such as the stupid few laps for some 90's sports cars, which had a GT1 Porsche and pretty much back of field stuff. No Macca's, no Mercs, no XJ220's, no F40's etc etc.
Sorry for me it was terrible value and a real disappointment as a race event.
Top Rant Silverstone in my mind had never looked after its punters since I first went in 1979 for the GP till yesterday. You sit in a cheap stand or stand on a badly made banking and you can admire the lovely BRDC building or new Wing pits and all that does is emphasise how utter crap the rest of the place is and yet again where Silverstone sees its punters and I say that as a person who has been able to access both BRDC and Wing! At least they have toilets but I can't help but feel they take the piss with fence after fence and half arsed viewing facilities 70 percent of which were shut off yesterday. It's a crap place to watch motor racing and that's sad as once it was great. I have been spoilt by living through the best of Group 4/5, Group 1/2 & A and of course Group C and I have been spoilt by seeing the finest grids with some great drivers on the fantastic spectators track at Goodwood, but Silverstone feels half assed. Even the commentators were commenting on how bad some of the turn outs were, such as the stupid few laps for some 90's sports cars, which had a GT1 Porsche and pretty much back of field stuff. No Macca's, no Mercs, no XJ220's, no F40's etc etc.
Sorry for me it was terrible value and a real disappointment as a race event.
Could not agree more, Dual carriageway to get in was gridlocked yesterday, then the battery died on my car and had to ask for some volunteers for a quick push, (thank you) then from two lanes they moved us into 3 lanes then after the 2nd roundabout down to One bloody lane! We had parking on the infield but the marshaling was really poor in telling us where to park, wasted another 10 to 15 mins trying to work out where we should be. Silverstone is a bleak place always has been being stuck on top of an exposed hill. its about time the surrounding fields were planted up with fast growing conifers to block out the wind and also help with noise. I saw loads of friends but agree with what you say about how empty the old pit area was. also what's with all the green screening on the fences stopping you watching the cars on track surely the idea of the event is to actually watch some cars going around the black stuff?
The event needs a big shake up, multiple entrances need to be used. a lot more seating needs to be available near the rip off food outlets. As for car club 1 lap parades.....What a joke, Silverstone could learn a thing or two from the Le mans classic, the farting about and time taken to line all the cars up for One lap was a joke, Hundreds of cars would have been on track (at speed) at the Le mans classic in the same time taken.
I prepaid Friday and also purchased a Saturday ticket just prior to internet sales finishing on seeing the weather forecasts. This involved an overnight hotel stay so was quite expensive.
Whilst I enjoyed Saturday and found a quicker way in. I could see miles of jams on my satnav.
I think I will delay ticket purchase to last minute next year if I go. Not as good as previous years but I think part of the problem is owners are less and less inclined to risk hugely appreciating assets on the track now. This is likely to eventually kill off this type of competative event IMHO. Journalists are now reluctant to do driving reviews of historics for fear of being sued if they damage vehicles.
When speculators/investors get involved then often cars are never seen in public again. Do you think we will ever see the Moss Porsche sold for nearly £2M at Goodwood Bonhams in public ever again??
Depressing really.
Whilst I enjoyed Saturday and found a quicker way in. I could see miles of jams on my satnav.
I think I will delay ticket purchase to last minute next year if I go. Not as good as previous years but I think part of the problem is owners are less and less inclined to risk hugely appreciating assets on the track now. This is likely to eventually kill off this type of competative event IMHO. Journalists are now reluctant to do driving reviews of historics for fear of being sued if they damage vehicles.
When speculators/investors get involved then often cars are never seen in public again. Do you think we will ever see the Moss Porsche sold for nearly £2M at Goodwood Bonhams in public ever again??
Depressing really.
Edited by johnmaddox on Sunday 26th July 18:47
johnmaddox said:
I prepaid Friday and also purchased a Saturday ticket just prior to internet sales finishing on seeing the weather forecasts. This involved an overnight hotel stay so was quite expensive.
Whilst I enjoyed Saturday and found a quicker way in. I could see miles of jams on my satnav.
I think I will delay ticket purchase to last minute next year if I go. Not as good as previous years but I think part of the problem is owners are less and less inclined to risk hugely appreciating assets on the track now. This is likely to eventually kill off this type of competative event IMHO. Journalists are now reluctant to do driving reviews of historics for fear of being sued if they damage vehicles.
When speculators/investors get involved then often cars are never seen in public again. Do you think we will ever see the Moss Porsche sold for nearly £2M at Goodwood Bonhams in public ever again??
Depressing really.
I don't think it's that. Go to other events and some epic cars are out there racing, stateside, Germany, Belgium, Goodwood with top drivers. This event doesn't attract the same following and it is aimed at different people I suspect. Poor event, annoying to see I was ripped off with my advanced tickets (bought as a present). People need to want to be there and frankly many of the owners don't because Silverstone is a sWhilst I enjoyed Saturday and found a quicker way in. I could see miles of jams on my satnav.
I think I will delay ticket purchase to last minute next year if I go. Not as good as previous years but I think part of the problem is owners are less and less inclined to risk hugely appreciating assets on the track now. This is likely to eventually kill off this type of competative event IMHO. Journalists are now reluctant to do driving reviews of historics for fear of being sued if they damage vehicles.
When speculators/investors get involved then often cars are never seen in public again. Do you think we will ever see the Moss Porsche sold for nearly £2M at Goodwood Bonhams in public ever again??
Depressing really.
Edited by johnmaddox on Sunday 26th July 18:47
t tip and the organisers up their arses. Funny that we have tickets covered with Sauber Merc Group C cars and none at the event. johnmaddox said:
I prepaid Friday and also purchased a Saturday ticket just prior to internet sales finishing on seeing the weather forecasts. This involved an overnight hotel stay so was quite expensive.
Whilst I enjoyed Saturday and found a quicker way in. I could see miles of jams on my satnav.
I think I will delay ticket purchase to last minute next year if I go. Not as good as previous years but I think part of the problem is owners are less and less inclined to risk hugely appreciating assets on the track now. This is likely to eventually kill off this type of competative event IMHO. Journalists are now reluctant to do driving reviews of historics for fear of being sued if they damage vehicles.
When speculators/investors get involved then often cars are never seen in public again. Do you think we will ever see the Moss Porsche sold for nearly £2M at Goodwood Bonhams in public ever again??
Depressing really.
I did go to the event when it first started,prices were lower then and with a hotel stay, fuel its all adds up for people each year.Whilst I enjoyed Saturday and found a quicker way in. I could see miles of jams on my satnav.
I think I will delay ticket purchase to last minute next year if I go. Not as good as previous years but I think part of the problem is owners are less and less inclined to risk hugely appreciating assets on the track now. This is likely to eventually kill off this type of competative event IMHO. Journalists are now reluctant to do driving reviews of historics for fear of being sued if they damage vehicles.
When speculators/investors get involved then often cars are never seen in public again. Do you think we will ever see the Moss Porsche sold for nearly £2M at Goodwood Bonhams in public ever again??
Depressing really.
Edited by johnmaddox on Sunday 26th July 18:47
Then the entrance fee went up to much IMO with hotel fuel not worth the trip for us.
You can always get buy one get one free tickets if you buy in enough time before the event and camp locally if you are worried about the costs.
Previous years have been better I agree, but the weather wrecked it this year. I'm sure that's the reason why the grids were poor. I am a member of the GRRC so have been to plenty of Goodwood events and it's correct to say that the racing isn't as good as the revival, but you do see a far wider variety of cars at Silverstone.
Silverstone never quite get it right with access, I have no idea why the covered grandstands are mostly closed and why they close gates to stop you crossing the roads !
Previous years have been better I agree, but the weather wrecked it this year. I'm sure that's the reason why the grids were poor. I am a member of the GRRC so have been to plenty of Goodwood events and it's correct to say that the racing isn't as good as the revival, but you do see a far wider variety of cars at Silverstone.
Silverstone never quite get it right with access, I have no idea why the covered grandstands are mostly closed and why they close gates to stop you crossing the roads !
I thought it was just me who thought it was a bit poor! I went today as I thought I had to buy a ticket in advance, which I hate doing as you are at the mercy of the weather gods. I saw some tv coverage from last year, and thought
I must go! Obviously the rain messed it up a lot, but it all seemed very sparse. There was just as much to do at the historic meeting I went to on the spur of the moment a couple of months ago for a tenner! I got turned away from the Wellington straight stand whilst trying to find somewhere to watch the short F1 race, because it was only for certain people?? Pissing down with rain, and maybe 30 people in it?
I have been many times and to several gp's and have many fond memories of the place despite its rough edges, but today was a big letdown. No way worth over £50 and very inferior to the Goodwood FOS as an event.
I must go! Obviously the rain messed it up a lot, but it all seemed very sparse. There was just as much to do at the historic meeting I went to on the spur of the moment a couple of months ago for a tenner! I got turned away from the Wellington straight stand whilst trying to find somewhere to watch the short F1 race, because it was only for certain people?? Pissing down with rain, and maybe 30 people in it?
I have been many times and to several gp's and have many fond memories of the place despite its rough edges, but today was a big letdown. No way worth over £50 and very inferior to the Goodwood FOS as an event.
Jmracing66 said:
You can always get buy one get one free tickets if you buy in enough time before the event and camp locally if you are worried about the costs.
Previous years have been better I agree, but the weather wrecked it this year. I'm sure that's the reason why the grids were poor. I am a member of the GRRC so have been to plenty of Goodwood events and it's correct to say that the racing isn't as good as the revival, but you do see a far wider variety of cars at Silverstone.
Silverstone never quite get it right with access, I have no idea why the covered grandstands are mostly closed and why they close gates to stop you crossing the roads !
Silverstone get's it wrong more than it gets it right, it always has. They give the impression of being detached from their audience and doing a half arsed job. It is so obviously a GP track that puts up with running some other stuff through the year and that is more apparent than it has ever been. I agree they have a broader period of cover, but that is pointless if the entry is crap, which the Group C was and that was one of their main draws for me as was the Group 5/6 race. Pre event we got Sauber C11's and 512 Ferraris in their advertising but neither were there. They talk Super Tourers and in reality we get a collection of all sorts thrown together. We got the promise of F1 parade when all we got were a few old cars, mainly yellow ones (funnily) running at half pace for 2 or 3 laps. We got car clubs who did a lap, we got a Spitfire that flew in and flew off. We got wastelands and fences, people stopping you because "sorry sir you need to get the bus to do that". Previous years have been better I agree, but the weather wrecked it this year. I'm sure that's the reason why the grids were poor. I am a member of the GRRC so have been to plenty of Goodwood events and it's correct to say that the racing isn't as good as the revival, but you do see a far wider variety of cars at Silverstone.
Silverstone never quite get it right with access, I have no idea why the covered grandstands are mostly closed and why they close gates to stop you crossing the roads !
It was garbage as a race meeting, yet again and I like you have been to several over the last 35 years plus. Annoying as the potential is vast but never have I seen such an empty pit complex in the old paddock and such a far away one with zero atmosphere in the new one. If the car clubs hand't turned up we would have been left with cheap clothing stores, some bloke selling knives, the odd painting and books stand and 5000 three hundred quid single rasher bacon butties. Must do better, MUCH better to get my money again and for me it wasn't about affording, it was about value and on that it didn't deliver.
I think a lot of us felt a little let-down by this year too.
Ignoring the weather, which didn't help:-
- Grids were more messed-up than last year (3 different races with E-Types and Chevrons?!?) and in a fair few instances poorer quality (Gp C was half of the previous year's line-up, for example).
- Agree above that putting all of the 'interesting' stuff over in the new wing seems clearly designed to get people over there, despite the critical-mass of the event still being over between Luffield/Maggots/Copse. Definitely felt like a more disjointed event than before because of this. (I actually think the new wing has hurt the 'feel' of events like this...)
- Car clubs seemed less-engaged than before - numbers were lower and there were fewer truly rare/exotic cars this year - last few years there have been loads! And which bright spark let Porsche corporate hire a prime location purely to put a dozen exhibits in???
- And yet again they couldn't sort the buses for toffee...
Ref. Spa Classic - I think the SSC is still the better overall event - bigger than Spa and easier to move around. But Spa is such a charismatic place, I think I will be going back to that again in future...
Ignoring the weather, which didn't help:-
- Grids were more messed-up than last year (3 different races with E-Types and Chevrons?!?) and in a fair few instances poorer quality (Gp C was half of the previous year's line-up, for example).
- Agree above that putting all of the 'interesting' stuff over in the new wing seems clearly designed to get people over there, despite the critical-mass of the event still being over between Luffield/Maggots/Copse. Definitely felt like a more disjointed event than before because of this. (I actually think the new wing has hurt the 'feel' of events like this...)
- Car clubs seemed less-engaged than before - numbers were lower and there were fewer truly rare/exotic cars this year - last few years there have been loads! And which bright spark let Porsche corporate hire a prime location purely to put a dozen exhibits in???
- And yet again they couldn't sort the buses for toffee...
Ref. Spa Classic - I think the SSC is still the better overall event - bigger than Spa and easier to move around. But Spa is such a charismatic place, I think I will be going back to that again in future...
johnmaddox said:
Wonder how much of our ticket money went to Status Quo which didn't start until 9.30 by which time a large percentage of us had started off home.
Yup, I left about 5 laps into the Group C race after I realised it was another big let down. I had anticipated headlights, 30 cars, some good racers, driver changes. What a fool I am..Went on Saturday. Thank God we went on the bikes and not in the car, shocking traffic, thankfully also we left at the 'tea break' rather than waiting for the Group C race and Status Quo that was supposed to start at 7.30. £6.80 for a burger and a huge break in the middle of the day with nothing at all happening. Smashy & Nicey prattling on about nothing whatsoever on the PA. So-called Spitfire on the ground was a really poorly cobbled together replica. Very thinly spread content and noticeably weaker than last year. I shan't be going again.
havoc said:
I think a lot of us felt a little let-down by this year too.
! And which bright spark let Porsche corporate hire a prime location purely to put a dozen exhibits in???
...
Yeah I thought the same, utter garbage. Only a 908, 917, Baby 935 and Derek Bells 924GTS there of interest. Unless you like old classic Porsches or new crap like a 991 GT3 RS, GT4 or the waste of space 919.! And which bright spark let Porsche corporate hire a prime location purely to put a dozen exhibits in???
...
Wish I hadn't bothered walking over there....
Traffic management shocking but seeing 3 T70s fly past 3 abreast trying to out brake each other at Wellington straight made up for it.
It's still a great event, not perfect, but being able to walk around un impeded around 70s RSRs, light weight e types, Cobras, T70s, various Can Am cars, super tourers, Group 5 CSLs, Group C cars etc etc is still a great experience.
£50 to be able to do that and see them race isn't much to ask is it? Free roaming amongst multi
Million pound cars...
I'm feeling rather in the minority now, in that I actually enjoyed my day yesterday! There were certainly some disappointments, particularly the modern F1 and 90s GT demos, but overall, I enjoyed seeing lots of cars I don't often get to see, and watching races of cars I rarely see. I find historics interesting, but don't know enough about them to find they hold my interest for a whole day; the more modern stuff makes the mix just right for me, and as the weather was far better than the last few years (I don't cope well with heat), I was better able to appreciate what I saw than usual, made for a good day out.
That's not to say it can't be improved upon; I'd much prefer to be able to buy tickets on the day so weather forecasts can aid my choice of day. I got lucky, but it must be really offputting for everyone who didn't pick Saturday this year. I'd be a whole lot happier if the music was on earlier too - I wanted to see Status Quo, like I wanted to see Bonnie Tyler last year, but it's just too long to wait after most other things are over; half the car clubs display cars are going home by 4-5pm, so there's not much to wander round and look at after that, nor a lot of on-track action with the break at 6pm, it just doesn't feel worth staying past then for me.
Would also be nice if cars which entered with drivers actually drove; not in the organisers' control but still a big disappointment when I was looking forward to seeing a McLaren and a Merc on track in the GT legends and saw neither; respect to the Porsche GT1 for bothering, but he looked a bit lonely! However I did enjoy a lot of what I saw, so it was still a very worthwhile day out for me, glad I went.
That's not to say it can't be improved upon; I'd much prefer to be able to buy tickets on the day so weather forecasts can aid my choice of day. I got lucky, but it must be really offputting for everyone who didn't pick Saturday this year. I'd be a whole lot happier if the music was on earlier too - I wanted to see Status Quo, like I wanted to see Bonnie Tyler last year, but it's just too long to wait after most other things are over; half the car clubs display cars are going home by 4-5pm, so there's not much to wander round and look at after that, nor a lot of on-track action with the break at 6pm, it just doesn't feel worth staying past then for me.
Would also be nice if cars which entered with drivers actually drove; not in the organisers' control but still a big disappointment when I was looking forward to seeing a McLaren and a Merc on track in the GT legends and saw neither; respect to the Porsche GT1 for bothering, but he looked a bit lonely! However I did enjoy a lot of what I saw, so it was still a very worthwhile day out for me, glad I went.
Earlier comment about the new pits knackering the atmosphere is bang on I think. I love both the motor racing aspect and car clubs but I think rising values have created a vast number of garage queens, both for racing and car club displays and some won't come out at all and some no doubt put off by this year as a whole being unreliable on the weather front. Been attending this event on all 3 days for about the last 7 years in a row though and it peaked a year or two ago when there was a record number of Ferrari f40's, last years Maserati thing with Stirling moss was great, this year wasn't a patch on any previous years and really worries me that the show is on its ar*e. It was the shows' 25th anniversary and they really don't appear to have done anything to mark it. If a car club has a particular anniversary then generally they have been brilliant. However this year I thought depleted race line up, horrendous traffic that very nearly resulted in my car overheating and car clubs full of bog standard modern motors as they are incentivised to go on a club stand and get 2 for 1 tickets. Can't blame them but it simply doesn't stick to the title, ie. Silverstone CLASSIC and therefore dumbs down a key part of the show. Really sad but I think I have had my fill of it and the deciding factor is the traffic which prevents classic cars from getting there and,attending, that hour or two in nose to tail traffic was a nause
I think some of you really are being a little too harsh.
We went all 3 days. Friday was soaking! we used it to have a wander through the pits. Some really great cars on display but under the weather circumstances, yes I agree allot of the rarer exotics had stayed at home But seriously guys..... for those of you who were there...... would you have brought a multimillion pound sports car out in that?
The 90's F1 legends and the GT legends displays were both a bit disappointing. they could have grouped the 2 together. I don't blame them for not going out in the rain. as 1 of the mechanics said to me, its serious money and 3 days work to rebuild the uprights every time they go out in the rain and for a 20 minute parade its just not worth it.
The little Williams display was fantastic! great to a very wet red 5!
Someone above complained about the Saturday group C race!!!! are you serious! Sorry don't know the drivers, but the first half of the race was a real battle between the purple Jag and the yellow one (sorry!!)
Seeing Simon Hadfield doing his best to rescue cars that had been put half way down the pack by their owners was fantastic!!
Same goes for Martin Stretton. Some really fantastic driving from him on all 3 days. His driving in the Sunday masters F1 race in the wet was fantastic!
There are always things that could change. I constantly want to see some newer F1 cars. Even the newest car in the masters series I can only just about remember. BOSS GP or EuroBOSS or whatever they are this week really need to get their act together.
Someone in an earlier comment suggested that they should have let people sit in the covered grandstands?? Were you actually there? I have to seriously question that because to the best of my knowledge there was only a single grandstand open that DIDNT have a lid.
For the guy that complained he was too far away.... are you serious? Get real. its 2015. the days of straw bales by the side fo the track are over. long live the queen.
Dev. your comment about the car clubs. Nobody is forcing you to walk through them! and Silverstone is one of the few places where there is the space to do something like this. and some people enjoy it. My only criticism of the car displays is the cobras. I with they were divided into "real" and "non-real" areas!
Racing grids do need improving for next year. But I think the weather was a good part of the problem.
Traffic management was not good. Getting in was fine but leaving Silverstone single file was just plain daft.
Status Quo.... they put on a good show and the 2 planes doing the Aerobatic flying with fireworks... Amazing! never seen that before and it was one of the real highlights.
I think it was a good event marred by the weather. We came away early on Sunday because we were just toooooo cold and our clothes were soaked through.
But we saw some great racing. Saw some great cars and had a great time.
Peter
We went all 3 days. Friday was soaking! we used it to have a wander through the pits. Some really great cars on display but under the weather circumstances, yes I agree allot of the rarer exotics had stayed at home But seriously guys..... for those of you who were there...... would you have brought a multimillion pound sports car out in that?
The 90's F1 legends and the GT legends displays were both a bit disappointing. they could have grouped the 2 together. I don't blame them for not going out in the rain. as 1 of the mechanics said to me, its serious money and 3 days work to rebuild the uprights every time they go out in the rain and for a 20 minute parade its just not worth it.
The little Williams display was fantastic! great to a very wet red 5!
Someone above complained about the Saturday group C race!!!! are you serious! Sorry don't know the drivers, but the first half of the race was a real battle between the purple Jag and the yellow one (sorry!!)
Seeing Simon Hadfield doing his best to rescue cars that had been put half way down the pack by their owners was fantastic!!
Same goes for Martin Stretton. Some really fantastic driving from him on all 3 days. His driving in the Sunday masters F1 race in the wet was fantastic!
There are always things that could change. I constantly want to see some newer F1 cars. Even the newest car in the masters series I can only just about remember. BOSS GP or EuroBOSS or whatever they are this week really need to get their act together.
Someone in an earlier comment suggested that they should have let people sit in the covered grandstands?? Were you actually there? I have to seriously question that because to the best of my knowledge there was only a single grandstand open that DIDNT have a lid.
For the guy that complained he was too far away.... are you serious? Get real. its 2015. the days of straw bales by the side fo the track are over. long live the queen.
Dev. your comment about the car clubs. Nobody is forcing you to walk through them! and Silverstone is one of the few places where there is the space to do something like this. and some people enjoy it. My only criticism of the car displays is the cobras. I with they were divided into "real" and "non-real" areas!
Racing grids do need improving for next year. But I think the weather was a good part of the problem.
Traffic management was not good. Getting in was fine but leaving Silverstone single file was just plain daft.
Status Quo.... they put on a good show and the 2 planes doing the Aerobatic flying with fireworks... Amazing! never seen that before and it was one of the real highlights.
I think it was a good event marred by the weather. We came away early on Sunday because we were just toooooo cold and our clothes were soaked through.
But we saw some great racing. Saw some great cars and had a great time.
Peter
Edited by pedromorgan on Monday 27th July 08:46
I very much doubt whether I will be ever going again. I can understand it being a good event for people living in the midlands or for people coming down from the north of the country. We also had overnight hotel accommodation in a place called Horwood House. It was the most dire room I have ever stayed in in my life, the hotel was full so we could not change the room. Rotten door frames, Avocado bathroom suite Yuck! bathroom ceiling artex hanging down on cracked lining paper. Raw plug holes all over the walls, curtains that only reached 3/4 of the way across the window! Just put the final stamp on it for me 
But for me living South of the country, i will stick to Goodwood, Wilton and Le mans Classic. With hay bales and top quality Classic race cars.
But for me living South of the country, i will stick to Goodwood, Wilton and Le mans Classic. With hay bales and top quality Classic race cars.
I must have gone to a different Silverstone, went Saturday got there at 8.30am and left 10.00pm, a great day out. Saw great racing, some spectacular drifting from the pre-war sports cars, although few of the grids were a bit light most were well turned out, the Historic Sports cars and Group C were tops, specially watching their brake discs grow after dark. Wondered through both sets of pits and saw some amazing and rare cars, mega friendly owners. Don’t understand the comments about the new pits knackering the atmosphere, as all the pits old and new were open. Plus I don’t think you can call 3mins of light drizzle, rain.
My only slight criticism is of the track itself, it’s too long and wide, so you don’t get as close racing as you do at Goodwood. But as one owner said there’s less chance of contact.
Went with Silverstone Classic virgin, who can’t wait for next year.
My only slight criticism is of the track itself, it’s too long and wide, so you don’t get as close racing as you do at Goodwood. But as one owner said there’s less chance of contact.
Went with Silverstone Classic virgin, who can’t wait for next year.
No I can't disagree about the weather having an effect but my comments are based on the sunny Saturday, I have loved the show in the past but felt a sharp decline on previous years and some problems for classics to attend, ie traffic. I bring a classic every year but in that traffic I was seriously worried about overheating. There were 220 odd cars on my club stand, I counted 15 or so classics, this is the Silverstone CLASSIC and in previous years there have been many many more classics on the club stands. At least more of a classic presence, like in all previous years I have been, would be great. The car club displays have always previously been superb. My point though is to ask what, on a sunny Saturday, seems to stop classics attending and many in my club say overheating n the traffic is a major concern, yet it gets worse every year.
I can do my best/get up earlier etc. but I want to see CLASSICS please and to see some effort made for classics to be able to get there.
I can do my best/get up earlier etc. but I want to see CLASSICS please and to see some effort made for classics to be able to get there.
pedromorgan said:
I think some of you really are being a little too harsh....etc
If you had a good time then great, glad you enjoyed it! However, I suspect from your post you haven't experienced much to compare it to? First off there were many stands without roofs, which didn't bother me frankly as I was there Saturday but if you had walked around the circuit you would have known this. Also if you had spent time at Oulton, Cadwell, Goodwood, Brands and others, my comments about distance from the circuit and how being a GP circuit has ruined the spectating would make sense. It's not about hay bales and the queen, kind of just shows your outlook and experience is different, nothing wrong with that.
Ive been spoiled I guess as I have been to many of these events over the years and remember many of the cars from their in era racing period so have something to compare it to. No point arguing about rights and wrongs, but it seems from various forums that many people felt it was a poor event, a few were happy. Can't please all the people all the time, Silverstone Classic isnt an event I'll rush to next year.
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