Silverstone F1, first timer - advice please!
Discussion
Hi,
After years of always saying I would go next year I finally splashed out. Went for a Sunday grandstand ticket at Becketts, heard they have improved the stand and raised it higher to get a better view. Was tempted by "Arena A/B" but was not sure what the racing would be like at that part of the track. I've been to Silverstone many times before but always for much smaller meetings.
Questions:
1. Parking. Park and Ride are sold out and I can't seem to buy circuit parking as I am only one person in the car. What to do? I'm driving up from the SE so could drive to Northampton or Milton Keynes station and shuttle bus in? I've seen farmers fields nearby on Ebay selling space, is that worth a shot?
2. What time to arrive? I've read that before 7am is OK - is that really true?! I would imagine it would have been much earlier.
3. Is it worth wondering around for the support races to get a view from other areas of the track or does it get very busy very quickly?
4. Are the burgers rank or do they step up the quality for the F1?!
Thanks, any help appreciated.
After years of always saying I would go next year I finally splashed out. Went for a Sunday grandstand ticket at Becketts, heard they have improved the stand and raised it higher to get a better view. Was tempted by "Arena A/B" but was not sure what the racing would be like at that part of the track. I've been to Silverstone many times before but always for much smaller meetings.
Questions:
1. Parking. Park and Ride are sold out and I can't seem to buy circuit parking as I am only one person in the car. What to do? I'm driving up from the SE so could drive to Northampton or Milton Keynes station and shuttle bus in? I've seen farmers fields nearby on Ebay selling space, is that worth a shot?
2. What time to arrive? I've read that before 7am is OK - is that really true?! I would imagine it would have been much earlier.
3. Is it worth wondering around for the support races to get a view from other areas of the track or does it get very busy very quickly?
4. Are the burgers rank or do they step up the quality for the F1?!
Thanks, any help appreciated.
Rob P said:
Hi,
After years of always saying I would go next year I finally splashed out. Went for a Sunday grandstand ticket at Becketts, heard they have improved the stand and raised it higher to get a better view. Was tempted by "Arena A/B" but was not sure what the racing would be like at that part of the track. I've been to Silverstone many times before but always for much smaller meetings.
Questions:
1. Parking. Park and Ride are sold out and I can't seem to buy circuit parking as I am only one person in the car. What to do? I'm driving up from the SE so could drive to Northampton or Milton Keynes station and shuttle bus in? I've seen farmers fields nearby on Ebay selling space, is that worth a shot?
2. What time to arrive? I've read that before 7am is OK - is that really true?! I would imagine it would have been much earlier.
3. Is it worth wondering around for the support races to get a view from other areas of the track or does it get very busy very quickly?
4. Are the burgers rank or do they step up the quality for the F1?!
Thanks, any help appreciated.
1: Try and check out the local school parking - we used them last year - superb. Very close to the circuit. Easy access and the money goes to charity. After years of always saying I would go next year I finally splashed out. Went for a Sunday grandstand ticket at Becketts, heard they have improved the stand and raised it higher to get a better view. Was tempted by "Arena A/B" but was not sure what the racing would be like at that part of the track. I've been to Silverstone many times before but always for much smaller meetings.
Questions:
1. Parking. Park and Ride are sold out and I can't seem to buy circuit parking as I am only one person in the car. What to do? I'm driving up from the SE so could drive to Northampton or Milton Keynes station and shuttle bus in? I've seen farmers fields nearby on Ebay selling space, is that worth a shot?
2. What time to arrive? I've read that before 7am is OK - is that really true?! I would imagine it would have been much earlier.
3. Is it worth wondering around for the support races to get a view from other areas of the track or does it get very busy very quickly?
4. Are the burgers rank or do they step up the quality for the F1?!
Thanks, any help appreciated.
I've even googling it for you - http://www.silverstoneschoolsparking.co.uk/grandpr...
2: We usually get there around 7am. Especially using the schools parking.
3: We always spend the morning walking around if we have a grandstand / reserved seat. Its a good way to have a decent look around and it keeps you fit! If however you only have general entry then i'm afraid its get there as early as possible grab your spot and don't move until 3pm.
4: Food is expensive. And of a standard you'd expect at a race meeting
Can't help you on the driving there, i'm there for the 3 days and camping. Foods good but a burgers £5+.
Be prepared for the weather. The becketts grandstand is no longer covered i found this out after i booked my tickets. However the grandstand in 2008 had a great view and it has apparently been improved so i'm looking forward to that. If you do have spare time for any support races i'd recommend checking out club corner. Great to see how brave the drivers are there with braking late and accelerating early. Take some ear plugs if you stand there though.
Also please don't take an air horn, i swear if anyone sits near me with one and over uses it it will end up somewhere unpleasant.
Be prepared for the weather. The becketts grandstand is no longer covered i found this out after i booked my tickets. However the grandstand in 2008 had a great view and it has apparently been improved so i'm looking forward to that. If you do have spare time for any support races i'd recommend checking out club corner. Great to see how brave the drivers are there with braking late and accelerating early. Take some ear plugs if you stand there though.
Also please don't take an air horn, i swear if anyone sits near me with one and over uses it it will end up somewhere unpleasant.
Hi,
It's good to know you've got your parking sorted - I'm going Friday so couldn't really assist there.
IIRC, outside the school some lovely ladies may be selling bacon and sausage cobs, too
There's all manner of food 'stuff' in the F1 village (not just burgers) but, as said already, expensive.
It's always worth a look round, if only to find a better stand for next years
. I've been on the track around the Arena complex and I think it's definitely worth a gander - at the time there wasn't a grandstand so I don't know what the viewing's gonna be like but it's the first place I'm going to view from on Friday, while the 'drivers' are still unfamiliar with it.
Enjoy!!
Scott
It's good to know you've got your parking sorted - I'm going Friday so couldn't really assist there.
IIRC, outside the school some lovely ladies may be selling bacon and sausage cobs, too
There's all manner of food 'stuff' in the F1 village (not just burgers) but, as said already, expensive.
It's always worth a look round, if only to find a better stand for next years
. I've been on the track around the Arena complex and I think it's definitely worth a gander - at the time there wasn't a grandstand so I don't know what the viewing's gonna be like but it's the first place I'm going to view from on Friday, while the 'drivers' are still unfamiliar with it. Enjoy!!
Scott
Rob P said:
I've read that the new grandstand is higher so you can see across the circuit - not entirely sure how well you'll be able to see, surely the infield is crammed with stuff which limits the view?
Can you see down Hanger Straight from the grandstand?
Here are some official pics of what you can see from different grandstandsCan you see down Hanger Straight from the grandstand?
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11688&id...
thestig84 said:
Rob P said:
I've read that the new grandstand is higher so you can see across the circuit - not entirely sure how well you'll be able to see, surely the infield is crammed with stuff which limits the view?
Can you see down Hanger Straight from the grandstand?
Here are some official pics of what you can see from different grandstandsCan you see down Hanger Straight from the grandstand?
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11688&id...
Heads up on the parking here
Friday you don't need a pass to park. It's a free for all.
Saturday and Sunday you offically need a Car Park Pass to park at the circuit, and they do slap tickets on your car if you don't have one. Then again they aren't legally enforcable!
Also you don't actually need a pass to use the Park & Ride. Just turn up, park and then ride. You won't get a ticket either when you return.
Friday you don't need a pass to park. It's a free for all.
Saturday and Sunday you offically need a Car Park Pass to park at the circuit, and they do slap tickets on your car if you don't have one. Then again they aren't legally enforcable!
Also you don't actually need a pass to use the Park & Ride. Just turn up, park and then ride. You won't get a ticket either when you return.
And to add my tuppence, I'd like to recommend Silverstone Schools Parking.
Mainly because it's cheaper, all the money goes to the local Schools (laptops, climbing frames and the like) and the Circuit has had more than enough of my cash. For a £200 Granstand ticket they can't include a poxy parking spot?
Seriously, I'm English but I'm not a mug!
Did I mention it was cheaper?
Found out about them here: http://www.gpsurvival.com/category/parking-place/.
Mainly because it's cheaper, all the money goes to the local Schools (laptops, climbing frames and the like) and the Circuit has had more than enough of my cash. For a £200 Granstand ticket they can't include a poxy parking spot?
Seriously, I'm English but I'm not a mug!
Did I mention it was cheaper?
Found out about them here: http://www.gpsurvival.com/category/parking-place/.
Just a quick bump for this thread as it may help others. My first visit to Silverstone this weekend and indeed my first ever visit to an F1 race. The schools parking system is a great idea and considerably cheaper than parking at the circuit.. and of course nice to know it benefits the local school.. so booked myself a parking spot.
Cheers!
Cheers!
This is probably quite late...
When I went I parked at the circuit (fields surrounding). Fortunately it was ludicrously hot all weekend so the fields were hard as tarmac. Well worth the price though for the ease of it.
Our ticket was for Luffield but not in the stands. So taking umbrella, camping chairs, coolbox and supplies to last all day turned out to be an excellent plan.
Find place, stay in place ~6:30am -> 4pm and enjoy. (May want to take a magazine as well).
I wouldn't go without: Wind up portable radio and in-ear headphones (the ones that fit really snug as they act like earplugs and you can hear the commentary).
When I went I parked at the circuit (fields surrounding). Fortunately it was ludicrously hot all weekend so the fields were hard as tarmac. Well worth the price though for the ease of it.
Our ticket was for Luffield but not in the stands. So taking umbrella, camping chairs, coolbox and supplies to last all day turned out to be an excellent plan.
Find place, stay in place ~6:30am -> 4pm and enjoy. (May want to take a magazine as well).
I wouldn't go without: Wind up portable radio and in-ear headphones (the ones that fit really snug as they act like earplugs and you can hear the commentary).
Instead of paying the greedy 
s that run Silverstone to park how about using these guys where the money is put to a local school Silverstone Schools Parking
s that run Silverstone to park how about using these guys where the money is put to a local school Silverstone Schools ParkingForums | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff