Britcar 24h first timer - help!

[pwrc]

Ok, finally got back into spectating&photographing this year and only yesterday realised the britcar24h hadn't run yet. So now I want to go and with the ticket offer ending on the 16th and I'm without internet for a few days i need some info pronto

-I don't want to camp, I'd rather stumble around the circuit dozing off in a grandstand seat from time to time.
-Therefore, where does my car go? I don't remember silverstone's layout, but is there basically a main spectator car park where i can leave the car unmolested until the end on sunday?
-silverstone website says car park closes at 10pm? what does that mean!
-so do i need any parking passes?
-can i take a deckchair in
-what is paddock access like (i'm planning on getting the basic sat-sun ticket)
-is any spectating restricted, from what i can gather it's not
-which pitlane are they using?

I've scoured the net but there really seems to be very little info for plebs re: this event
many thanks

[richcooper]

This may be of help

-I don't want to camp, I'd rather stumble around the circuit dozing off in a grandstand seat from time to time.

Thats what me and my friends did last year, and will be doing again this year


-Therefore, where does my car go? I don't remember silverstone's layout, but is there basically a main spectator car park where i can leave the car unmolested until the end on sunday?

I think the main carpark


-silverstone website says car park closes at 10pm? what does that mean!
-so do i need any parking passes?

No idea cant help with that



-can i take a deckchair in

Yes



-what is paddock access like (i'm planning on getting the basic sat-sun ticket)

Access Very good, you can go into the paddock during the race


-is any spectating restricted, from what i can gather it's not

No, all around the track is ok to watch from and what ever stands will be open


-which pitlane are they using?

Old pit lane

[Britcar David]

Hopefully I can answer most of your questions below:

pwrc said:

Ok, finally got back into spectating&photographing this year and only yesterday realised the britcar24h hadn't run yet. So now I want to go and with the ticket offer ending on the 16th and I'm without internet for a few days i need some info pronto

-I don't want to camp, I'd rather stumble around the circuit dozing off in a grandstand seat from time to time.

No problem, if you did want to camp 1st-tickets are running the campsite this year and pitches can be booked here: http://www.1st-tickets.co.uk/events/britcar.html

pwrc said:

-Therefore, where does my car go? I don't remember silverstone's layout, but is there basically a main spectator car park where i can leave the car unmolested until the end on sunday?
-silverstone website says car park closes at 10pm? what does that mean!
-so do i need any parking passes?

Depends who you book your tickets through. If you get them direct from Silverstone you will be in the outside car park (just to the left as you come in the main entrance). I believe access to and from this car park may be restricted after certain hours of manning by Silverstone security though they will be able to confirm that if you were to give them a call. If you buy your tickets direct from Britcar ( http://www.britcar24hr.co.uk/2for30/) there may still be some internal parking passes left (free) which gives you access to the car park by the wellington straight for the weekend.

pwrc said:

-can i take a deckchair in

Yes

pwrc said:

-what is paddock access like (i'm planning on getting the basic sat-sun ticket)

Paddock access is free all weekend

pwrc said:

-is any spectating restricted, from what i can gather it's not

Spectating is available in all the general spectating areas and there will be some grandstands open as well.

pwrc said:

-which pitlane are they using?

The old/north pitlane

Edited by Britcar David on Monday 12th September 10:10

[Chris Patey]

After being at the le mans series yesterday it was the first time I got to see the new pitlane and grandstands since they'd been finished im very glad the old pitlane is being used as the new pitlane dips downwards at the end so you cant see half of it which would be rubbish for the 24! But will the grandstand opposite the old pits deffinatly be open as thats always a good hideout during the night, and will any of the covered stands in the new complex be open as thats a brilliant section to watch from? Only 3weeks cant wait, not camping either as the past 3years stayed up the whole night just wandering around! And the pitlane/paddock access has always been brilliant, one of the reasons britcar is so good!

[pwrc]

thank you both of you for your help, that has made things a bit clearer!

[jim hampton]

>is any spectating restricted, from what i can gather it's not

If last year is anything to go by, then I *think* spectators are limited to the north end of the circuit at night time. Also I think the only grandstand open at night is part of the main national pits straight (we all got herded into there last year, as it's the only one with any lighting...probably an 'elf n safety thing). Paddock access was unrestricted 24hrs AFAIK. No restrictions around the track during daylight hours I think.

I'm also really really really glad they're running out of the old national pits....spectator access to the new wing is nothing short of pathetic. Why didn't they put a bridge or tunnel in....oh I know, its because silverstone dont care about the spectators anymore. Just like last Friday at the Le Mans Series race, when spectators were kicked off the shuttle buses to the new Wing paddock 'cause they weren't VIPS or Media: this despite the fact that the buses were about 5% full on every trip.

Enjoy the Britcar...last year was my first year and i think it was the best event ive been to in many years.

Jim

[Stevie Borowik]

jim hampton said:

>is any spectating restricted, from what i can gather it's not

If last year is anything to go by, then I *think* spectators are limited to the north end of the circuit at night time. Also I think the only grandstand open at night is part of the main national pits straight (we all got herded into there last year, as it's the only one with any lighting...probably an 'elf n safety thing). Paddock access was unrestricted 24hrs AFAIK. No restrictions around the track during daylight hours I think.

I'm also really really really glad they're running out of the old national pits....spectator access to the new wing is nothing short of pathetic. Why didn't they put a bridge or tunnel in....oh I know, its because silverstone dont care about the spectators anymore. Just like last Friday at the Le Mans Series race, when spectators were kicked off the shuttle buses to the new Wing paddock 'cause they weren't VIPS or Media: this despite the fact that the buses were about 5% full on every trip.

Enjoy the Britcar...last year was my first year and i think it was the best event ive been to in many years.

Jim

i was sat down Stowe untill well after 9pm last year and then made my way upto the inside of copse to the covered "dry" grandsand for another few hours. Not all grandstands are open in dyalight but you stil get good views regardless

[jim hampton]

>i was sat down Stowe untill well after 9pm last year
Useful to know...thanks for that info.

[Blockf01]

I have car parking tickets for inside the track, can I sneak back to the car in the early hours to catch up on a bit of sleep if need be. I know that Mrs Mc is hoping to be able to do this

Thanks

[Stuart Thompson]

You've just answered your own question, if you have infield passes your car will be inside the circuit with you.

[Blockf01]

I haven't really answered my own question. I was asking if I can get back into the car park in the early hours, ie. is there a restriction in entering the car park inside the track after a certain time. People have said that the car park outside the track closes @ 10pm. Sorry for any misunderstanding, or if I have missed the answer somewhere

[Stuart Thompson]

Sorry, I didn't reply very well once inside the circuit it is pretty much access all areas (infield), so will be ok to go back to your car. The only question Mark is that access in the past has been restricted beyond Copse during the night but not last year, the car park is adjacent to the Wellington straight so will be fine.

[Printertosh]

Last year I walked all the way round in the pitch black and fog between 2am and 4am. No security to stop you. Saw a few others doing the same and had a chat . There were a few cars parked on the banking just past the Stowe grandstand. A bit spooky but well worth it.

[ukaskew]

I read in one of the guides that they've opened up a bit above the pit garages for the general public before, is this still the case? It's a wonderful idea, I like I'm sure many others are unlikely to ever get the chance to find myself in that sort of position at any other event.

[jim hampton]

Does anyone know if the gates at the main security hut remain open (well, accessible) during the night? - ie can you come and go out of the circuit, so long as you have the passes of course. This year some of my group want to grab a few hours kip at a local hotel. Are they going to get locked in after a certain hour or will I get locked out if I drive them there?

I'm hoping this isn't a problem, but.... you know....it's silverstone we're talking about.

TIA, Jim

[ukaskew]

jim hampton said:

Does anyone know if the gates at the main security hut remain open (well, accessible) during the night? - ie can you come and go out of the circuit, so long as you have the passes of course. This year some of my group want to grab a few hours kip at a local hotel. Are they going to get locked in after a certain hour or will I get locked out if I drive them there?

Surely they can't lock you in, worst case scenario somebody might need to leave in an emergency (or a team needs to pop out for parts!), I'm intending on leaving at about 8am on Sunday (which gives me plenty of daytime photography on Saturday, plus dusk, night and sunrise)

In 2009 I left at midnight no problem, a good job too as I had a kidney stone and wasn't in any state to hang around.