Friday 19th June 2009

British GP For Free At M-B World

Big-screen action at Brooklands, plus latest Goodwood F1 round-up

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Last night's announcement of a planned breakaway series by eight key F1 teams may make the final British Grand Prix at Silverstone the end of an era in more ways than one. (Currently the 2010 British GP is scheduled for Donington, but given yesterday's news would you put money on it?)

See the British GP at M-B World

If you can't make it to Silverstone, or simply don't fancy the ticket prices, Mercedes-Benz World has a free offer that's definitely worth considering. We've just been tipped a wink that as well as showing the entire race on a giant screen TV, the following activities are planned at the M-B World facility in Weybridge - located on the old Brooklands track:

Silver Arrows Display Team - A track display with four Mercedes AMG's incorporating sideways action on the Wet Skid Circle... should be a crowd pleaser!

Mercedes W154 from 1938

F1 presentation - Including a 1938 W154 Mercedes that was driven by Fangio in 1951 on display with Lewis Hamilton's 2008 racing car next to it.

Special AMG Passenger rides for £10 (Not free, but great value for a thrilling ride on the circuit in a 6.2litre V8 AMG, says our man on the spot.)

There will also be a live link-up with McLaren at Silverstone at 12:10 to give you all the latest updates from the centre of the action.

Meanwhile, The Festival of Speed also offers the chance to get up close and personal to the latest and greatest current F1 cars and drivers. According to the latest press release, F1 attendees at Goodwood this year will include:

Ferrari in action in 2008

Scuderia Ferrari - the popular F1 team will be here from Italy with its test driver Marc Gené to demonstrate the title-winning F2008

McLaren-Mercedes - the MP4/23 that took Lewis Hamilton to F1 World Championship victory last year will be in action all weekend, with Lewis Hamilton and team test driver Pedro de la Rose at the controls. Hamilton and de la Rosa will also be driving one lucky Festival of Speed ticket buyer up the Goodwood hill each day in a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren supercar. Goodwood will also be making Lewis Hamilton's dream come true when he drives the 1988 McLaren-Honda MP4/4 of his F1 hero Ayton Senna on Sunday 5 July.

Brawn GP - The newest and to date most successful F1 team in the 2009 pit lane will bring along the Brawn-Mercedes BGP 001 and British hero Jenson Button on Sunday 5 July

Red Bull - the Red Bull-Cosworth STR1 will smoke its tyres all weekend with Mark Webber and David Coulthard behind the wheel

Toyota - the TF108 will be in action, with Timo Glock demonstrating its pace and power

Williams-Toyota - the great British team will be at the Festival with the FW29 car as part of the 40th anniversary of Sir Frank Williams involvement in Formula One. An number of other significant Williams F1 cars and drivers will be on hand at Goodwood to honour Sir Frank's 40 years in F1, including Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Alan Jones and Riccardo Patrese

[Dr G]

MB sent me an invite a couple of weeks ago, see you there!

[delS1]

Wow, was looking for somewhere to watch the GP, does it cost anything to get in?

Cheers

delS1

[life-in-old-dog]

'Tis free, apart from the rides etc, and no salesmen either, so well worth a visit on any occassion...I live locally and am more biased towards BMW than Merc, but praise where praise is due, it's an excellent venue with a huge amount to see and the cafe prices are OK too

[norman156]

Damnit, up until a week ago lived only about 10 miles away from there...

[Alfie Noakes]

Well I was going to watch it at the bar in the Brooklands Clubhouse, but maybe I'll cross ther river. They probably have a bigger telly.

[delS1]

Whats the parking like at MB world, is it likely to be very busy do you think?

Cheers
delS1

[va1o]

Great offer, may well take up on this.

[Alfie Noakes]

delS1 said:

Whats the parking like at MB world, is it likely to be very busy do you think?

Cheers
delS1

If it is a problem park in one of the stores (M&S, Tesco, PC world etc) and walk. It's about 15 min.

[ShadownINja]

There was extended parking on the old Brooklands circuit last week for some event. Parking shouldn't be a problem there.

[439vRS]

Wahey spot on.

And a bargain with an AMG experience... I`ll be there...

Oh yes what kindda time would be before "the traffic" in that area?

[Alfie Noakes]

Well I popped in and had a look for 5 mins. Wont be going again - too chavish.

Edited by Alfie Noakes on Monday 22 June 11:14

[angryS3owner]

Alfie Noakes said:

Well I popped in and had a look for 5 mins. Wont be going again - too chavish.

Can I just ask what you thought was chavish?

I thought it was pretty well done, big screen, loads of seating, food and beer on hand if needed and cheap passenger rides in the AMGs after if wanted?

[Alfie Noakes]

angryS3owner said:

Alfie Noakes said:

Well I popped in and had a look for 5 mins. Wont be going again - too chavish.

Can I just ask what you thought was chavish?

I thought it was pretty well done, big screen, loads of seating, food and beer on hand if needed and cheap passenger rides in the AMGs after if wanted?

No problem, it was "big screen, loads of seating, food and beer on hand if needed and cheap passenger rides in the AMGs after if wanted".

Seriously, I just didn't like the atmosphere or lack of it and it was no different in the bar at Brooklands. In the end I had a good look around Brooklands and went home to watch my recording of it.

[va1o]

Not wanting to sound like a badge snob, but the words 'Chav' and 'Mercedes-Benz' are not two that go together in my mind.

[elster]

Alfie Noakes said:

angryS3owner said:

Alfie Noakes said:

Well I popped in and had a look for 5 mins. Wont be going again - too chavish.

Can I just ask what you thought was chavish?

I thought it was pretty well done, big screen, loads of seating, food and beer on hand if needed and cheap passenger rides in the AMGs after if wanted?

No problem, it was "big screen, loads of seating, food and beer on hand if needed and cheap passenger rides in the AMGs after if wanted".

Seriously, I just didn't like the atmosphere or lack of it and it was no different in the bar at Brooklands. In the end I had a good look around Brooklands and went home to watch my recording of it.

Sorry would you of preferred bottles of Krug served with lobster and caviar. While you watch the race in a private booth with 7.1 surround sound while seated in some of bavarias finest cow seats?

A bit less chavvy?

[Alfie Noakes]

va1o said:

Not wanting to sound like a badge snob, but the words 'Chav' and 'Mercedes-Benz' are not two that go together in my mind.

It depends how old the Merc. is. I've seen a few 190E's Chavved up.

[Alfie Noakes]

elster said:

Alfie Noakes said:

angryS3owner said:

Alfie Noakes said:

Well I popped in and had a look for 5 mins. Wont be going again - too chavish.

Can I just ask what you thought was chavish?

I thought it was pretty well done, big screen, loads of seating, food and beer on hand if needed and cheap passenger rides in the AMGs after if wanted?

No problem, it was "big screen, loads of seating, food and beer on hand if needed and cheap passenger rides in the AMGs after if wanted".

Seriously, I just didn't like the atmosphere or lack of it and it was no different in the bar at Brooklands. In the end I had a good look around Brooklands and went home to watch my recording of it.

Sorry would you of preferred bottles of Krug served with lobster and caviar. While you watch the race in a private booth with 7.1 surround sound while seated in some of bavarias finest cow seats?

A bit less chavvy?

Not at all. I take it you weren't there? And if you were well done for travelling from York.

[elster]

Alfie Noakes said:

va1o said:

Not wanting to sound like a badge snob, but the words 'Chav' and 'Mercedes-Benz' are not two that go together in my mind.

It depends how old the Merc. is. I've seen a few 190E's Chavved up.

Yeah I've seen a few 190 evo's. With their chavved up spoiler, and chavved up bodykit.

Disgraceful.

[predding]

Excellent banter - well M-B had better watch out as the Chavs ruined the Burberry brand for the hoi-polloi - not that I saw what the fuss was about anyway. Wish I had known about this though it was prob the same as my Copse Hospitality experience on qualy day at Silverstone - full of bling and few real fans in there...
I also agree - though not a dedicated M-B fan, have visited a few times and impressed with the effort M-B go to to show their history. Audi could take a few lessons from this and hopefully their new West London showroom due to open in October will have a strong historic link esp in this their centenary year.

Looking fwd to FoS - hopefully will be good for a few more years until the chavs wreck that as well - though the limited ticket system does help to moderate it. My six cents.

[norman156]

predding said:

Looking fwd to FoS - hopefully will be good for a few more years until the chavs wreck that as well - though the limited ticket system does help to moderate it. My six cents.

Last time I went to the FoS I don't recall seeing any chavs, the £50 ticket price might have something to do with that. The free Renault World Series on the other hand...