Spa 24 hours

[noogie]

After attending Le Mans again this year I've decided that it's time to try something new and as I missed the Nurburgring 24 hours I was thinking Spa would be a good idea! Has anybody been and could anybody recommend anywhere to stay (on a stupendously tight budget as I'm a student) and anything else they think is essential for the Spa experience?

[Piglet]

It's not an event on the social calendar like LM so if that's the reason you're going I'd stay home!

If on the other hand you truly love endurance racing and want to see it in one of the most fantastic places in the world and want to sit in the trees at Blanchimont at 2am then go for it.

[pikeyboy]

noogie said:

After attending Le Mans again this year I've decided that it's time to try something new and as I missed the Nurburgring 24 hours I was thinking Spa would be a good idea! Has anybody been and could anybody recommend anywhere to stay (on a stupendously tight budget as I'm a student) and anything else they think is essential for the Spa experience?

yeah buy a load of jupiler, a barby and setup camp next to the ciruit...about as cheap as it gets

[noogie]

Does it work like Le Mans? Do you need a camping ticket or permit or whatever, or can you just camp at the circuit? One of the reasons I want to go after Le Mans is so I can actually see some of the bloody cars racing, without having some sweaty French woman rubbing up against me and squashing me against the first set of fencing (there are normally at least two between me and the track!).

[Piglet]

You can turn up and camp at Les Combes, the campsite is on a pretty steep hill. AFAIK there are NO facilities on this site, not even a toilet!

There are plenty of places to see the racing if you walk around the circuit and the views are spectacular.

I;m surprised you couldn't see the racing at LM the circuit is so big and with 24 hours of racing I've always found loads of places that are virtually empty!

Spa is beautiful, it's very steep and quite tough to walk around. It's likely to be wet and hot then wet and hot again - and that's all before lunch!

I love Spa but I'd imagine the average LM tourist will find nothing about it to interest them!

[noogie]

Oh, I found some good spots to watch from, I would just prefer a little less crowding and commercialism. Do you need to book the camping then or can you just turn up?

[Piglet]

You can just turn up. If you travel really light you can probably still pitch around the circuit itself and watch the cars go past your tent!

[rude-boy]

Piglet said:

You can just turn up. If you travel really light you can probably still pitch around the circuit itself and watch the cars go past your tent!

I'm still hoping to go, although it's turning into a feint one. If you don't mind the ground (gravel parking area) see if you can get in through the Savelot entrance and then park and camp up on the hill overlooking Stavelot.

The added bonus to all night watching from the tent is the porta potty just a few minutes walk away (and the Karts if they are open this year)