Silverstone 1,000kms 11-12th September

[ellroy]

So, is anyone going to this?

Just been perusing the silverstone website and as well as tickets for admission and camping they are wanting to charge £30 for a pit walk.

Now assuming this is the same sort of thing as is offered for FREE at the main event that seems a bit rich. Anyone, done it and is it different/better/worth the £30?

[Man-At-Arms]

where does it say about the pitwalk ?
all i can see is the open paddock ?

maybe they mean pitwalk during the race (which seems a bit odd)

[ellroy]

Its on the ticket purchase bit of the site, only reference I could see.

[The Angry Gopher]

From what I remember last year, there was an autograph session behind the pits for about an hour. After the session was over they opened the pitlane for those with tickets. This was all a couple of hours before the start of the race.

Can't see the point personally, but then I've been spoilt by Le Mans.

[webby74]

Think i would rather catch the autograph session than the pit walk. Cant even come close to the open pit sessions le mans.
will be there cheering on audi plus the brits

[ellroy]

Thanks Guys, you are confirming what I suspected. Its a bit of a con.

Having got into the pits a couple of times, right side of the tape so to speak, think they can go whistle for an extra £30.

[Alistair1990]

I'm looking at going to this with a few mates from the uni karting team. We're just aiming to go for the Sunday as we'll be driving up from Kingston/Surbiton. With regard to the above question, what does the 'free open paddock' entail?

Also, am I right in thinking that there are no seat allocations so, a) we can all book tickets individually and still be able to sit together and, b) we can move around and sit in any grandstands we like during the day?

First time I've been to Silverstone for many years so any other pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Alistair

[webby74]

Alistair1990 said:

I'm looking at going to this with a few mates from the uni karting team. We're just aiming to go for the Sunday as we'll be driving up from Kingston/Surbiton. With regard to the above question, what does the 'free open paddock' entail?

Also, am I right in thinking that there are no seat allocations so, a) we can all book tickets individually and still be able to sit together and, b) we can move around and sit in any grandstands we like during the day?

First time I've been to Silverstone for many years so any other pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Alistair

the open paddock means, if its the same as previous years you have access to the area behind the pit garages for the autograph session, star spotting etc.
Also you are correct, you can all sit together in the stands(luffield, the new one on the arena section etc) although they charged to get into the brdc stand a couple of years ago and it was'nt open last year. Only costs a fiver though and has a great view.
Hope this helps and im sure i will be corrected if wrong!
Webby

[Alistair1990]

Thanks for the reply! That all makes sense and the fiver sounds like it's worth paying

[chevronb37]

If I might be so bold, as the 1,000kms lasts approximately 5 1/2hours, take the opportunity to complete a full periemeter walk of the circuit. It's a long race and you can spend half an hour at each corner if you please. It's a great way to see how full-house prototypes tackle a really fast track. With the exception of the year Audi & Peugeot gave away free tickets, it's never a busy meeting so you can wander without interuption. I simply love standing at the bottom of the Hangar Straight as the diesels quietly pile of the speed before a dab of brakes, drop a couple of gears and hammer into Stowe. Fantastic.

[Great Dane]

my suggestion start with 30 mins at the startline in the grandstand.... move to beckets entry... end of hangar and club... got gooseebumps one year at club... 19 cars going through there in all 4 classes... that is my first three hours gone wonder up through to the hill at abbey now removed another hour gone then the complex race over the best way to spend a sunday in england in september...

[dougc]

I'll be there!

Take with you or buy a radio. Its invaluable. Radio Silverstone is almost as good as RLM for keeping you up to date with goings on.

[chevronb37]

Great Dane said:

my suggestion start with 30 mins at the startline in the grandstand.... move to beckets entry... end of hangar and club... got gooseebumps one year at club... 19 cars going through there in all 4 classes... that is my first three hours gone wonder up through to the hill at abbey now removed another hour gone then the complex race over the best way to spend a sunday in england in september...

I would agree with you except that Goodwood Revival is also in September and that is even better!

Completely agree re the track walk but I tend to do it anti-clockwise so I'm always looking at the cars. Absolutely awesome spectacle.

[Great Dane]

good point with anti clockwise did that last year spent long time watching the oreca climbing back through the field magic

[dougc]

The new complex grandstand is worth a minimum of 45 minutes and if you stand next to it, by the marshals entry gate at ground level you can see the speed with which they come round the new right-left sweepers into the first tight corner.

One from the GT meet in May


and a 908 at Maggots in 2008

[chevronb37]

Great Dane said:

good point with anti clockwise did that last year spent long time watching the oreca climbing back through the field magic

I'd forgotten about the ORECA's fightback to be honest - I had remembered them leading from the front but I might be wrong. For me the drive of the race was Jean-Christophe Boullion in the Pescarolo: From last to first in a single 45min stint. Absolutely astounding. We were watching from Copse and the speed he was carrying through there was just awesome.

[webby74]

2008 was priceless for me. Peugeot advert in the program read '4 down 1 to go', refering to race wins. Then blew their chances with some crazy driving to hand the title to audi.
Typical arrogance of the team, hope audi win this year to.

[chevronb37]

webby74 said:

2008 was priceless for me. Peugeot advert in the program read '4 down 1 to go', refering to race wins. Then blew their chances with some crazy driving to hand the title to audi.
Typical arrogance of the team, hope audi win this year to.

I queued 1.5hrs to get in due to all the free tickets Audi and Peugeot had given away. I missed the first 30 mins of the race by which time Minassian had already crashed himself into retirement.

[lucky b]

I'm planning on going again this year, and I'd love to see the mansells complete more than the first hour.
I'm also considering the silverstone circuit camping rather than Whittlebury, has anyone else camped at the circuit for this meeting before and would you do it again?

[timbo48]

"I queued 1.5hrs to get in due to all the free tickets Audi and Peugeot had given away. I missed the first 30 mins of the race by which time Minassian had already crashed himself into retirement."

Must admit I was surprised by the queue to get in in 2008, but once in at least the freebie ticket holders were all in the one stand and the rest of the circuit was fairly quiet. We ended up in the Stowe stands for the finish and were the only ones there. Really enjoyed a good days racing and hoping for more of the same this year but will leave home earlier this time (oh, and also managed to pick up some cheap genuine tickets outside the circuit).

Are Peugot/Audi giving away tickets again this year?