Spectators view of the uk Circuits
Discussion
Now as a driver I have my perspective on whats good and bad at the circuits and what makes ( for me ) anglesey better than silverstone national ( did i hear someone locking a gate or putting a fence up 
)
But I'd be really interested in what the spectators like about the different circuits and how they rate them as a place to go an watch motorsport
Discuss..
) But I'd be really interested in what the spectators like about the different circuits and how they rate them as a place to go an watch motorsport
Discuss..
Brands: Great viewing around the indy circuit, GP is less accessible and no commentary but has an eerie peacefulness about it.
Silverstone: Better than the press it gets - used to like the Abbey Hairpin on Touring Cars on the International Circuit, Club's quite good for GP spectating (Practice day, at least) but limited view of circuit from wherever you stand.
Thruxton - great allround view from the complex but you need binoculars to see the fast sweepers
Donington - excellent viewing from the old hairpin - Craners to McLeans visible from spectator bank
Snetterton - bit limited but good action from the bridge area at the end of the Revett straight, position yourself in the right place and you can see from there to the approach of Russell
Rockingham - good view of the whole circuit but like most oval-based road circuits it's flawed
Lydden - can see the whole circuit from almost anywhere - excellent for such a small venue
Silverstone: Better than the press it gets - used to like the Abbey Hairpin on Touring Cars on the International Circuit, Club's quite good for GP spectating (Practice day, at least) but limited view of circuit from wherever you stand.
Thruxton - great allround view from the complex but you need binoculars to see the fast sweepers
Donington - excellent viewing from the old hairpin - Craners to McLeans visible from spectator bank
Snetterton - bit limited but good action from the bridge area at the end of the Revett straight, position yourself in the right place and you can see from there to the approach of Russell
Rockingham - good view of the whole circuit but like most oval-based road circuits it's flawed
Lydden - can see the whole circuit from almost anywhere - excellent for such a small venue
Oulton: Great viewing for most of the track, I prefer ther outside of the enterance to Knickerbrook, about where the Fosters cornewr on the short course is. Pity its such a balls ache to see Druids, could do with a bit more investment as I think its a little behind other MotorsportVision circuits, all though much much better than it was. Oh, and its on my door step almost!!!
Regards
Iain
Regards
Iain
would agree with kevin about brands, i like sitting on the grass at clearways, for serious sideways action, and on the entry to druids, very close action here. on the GP circuit (where we watched the A1 grand prix) sitting on a little bank above the 3 foot high catchment fence on hawthorn bend (i think)., which was a little scary as we were so damn close.
heres a little filum taken at the beggining of the cornor - hawthorn bend
im a fan of silverstone, we sat in woodcote for the last two F1 grand prix and the view is superb. you see the cars wobbling all round priory and luffiel and then fly past as they hit the pit straight which is amazing, and then see them jink suddenly into copse at terrific speed.. so heres a little filum of exactly that... view at woodcote
we used to sit on the inside of the circuit before bernie stopped it, just by the pit exit was great fun, very loud and really close (about 15-20 feet away).
thinking about sitting around the bridge area next year, if anyone has any recommendations
cheers tt
heres a little filum taken at the beggining of the cornor - hawthorn bend
im a fan of silverstone, we sat in woodcote for the last two F1 grand prix and the view is superb. you see the cars wobbling all round priory and luffiel and then fly past as they hit the pit straight which is amazing, and then see them jink suddenly into copse at terrific speed.. so heres a little filum of exactly that... view at woodcote
we used to sit on the inside of the circuit before bernie stopped it, just by the pit exit was great fun, very loud and really close (about 15-20 feet away).
thinking about sitting around the bridge area next year, if anyone has any recommendations
cheers tt
Donington is my local circuit so that's where I mostly head but did do 2 days at Silverstone this year.
Donny is highly accessible once you know you way around and viewing is good especially from the infield. The downside is all the fences - I remember it without them and have loads of photos to prove it - honest!
If they put a couple of spectator tunnels in on the Hall side - say under the Schwantz curve/McLeans area and somewhere near the Old Hairpin the options for moving quickly from one good viewing area to the next would be superb.
Silverstone has some really good viewing sections but often quite a long way back from the action. The temporary grandstand on the infield at the exit of Bridge is quite good and the Grandstands for the section after Stowe offer some opportunities when they are open and free to use. However, on a day when they are for money they are more likely to stop folk viewing half the circuit.
The other problem with Silverstone is its sheer size and spread. Having to walk all the way around the outside to visit the whole track is a real pain especially when you can't always see the track because of the infrastructure.
But in both cases the fencing is obstructive, especially for those wishing to take photos. In fact at Silverstone, other than a very few spots which in any case are very restrictive in the view they offer, if you are not in a grandstand you can't avoid the fences.
Donny is highly accessible once you know you way around and viewing is good especially from the infield. The downside is all the fences - I remember it without them and have loads of photos to prove it - honest!
If they put a couple of spectator tunnels in on the Hall side - say under the Schwantz curve/McLeans area and somewhere near the Old Hairpin the options for moving quickly from one good viewing area to the next would be superb.
Silverstone has some really good viewing sections but often quite a long way back from the action. The temporary grandstand on the infield at the exit of Bridge is quite good and the Grandstands for the section after Stowe offer some opportunities when they are open and free to use. However, on a day when they are for money they are more likely to stop folk viewing half the circuit.
The other problem with Silverstone is its sheer size and spread. Having to walk all the way around the outside to visit the whole track is a real pain especially when you can't always see the track because of the infrastructure.
But in both cases the fencing is obstructive, especially for those wishing to take photos. In fact at Silverstone, other than a very few spots which in any case are very restrictive in the view they offer, if you are not in a grandstand you can't avoid the fences.
Hmm...from a Spectator who also likes taking pics point of view..
Silverstone. Not good. The terracing at Luffield is good if you have a long lens, but if it's a major event the crowds are a nightmare. Too many fences due to the F1 regs.
Oulton, must get back there soon, absoloutely superb.
Donington, pretty good with the right lens (ie Long) and the general view of the circuit is pretty good too.
Anglesey. Love it. Small enough to walk all the way round in 15 minutes, if you're just watching then get up on the raised banking at the Hairpin, or take a stroll into the old MOD compound near Radar. I'd estimate you can get almost trackside for 75% of the circuit.
Croft. Another favourite. Easy to get right next to the action with the only criticism being the lack of access to Tower / Jim Clark Esses / Barcroft etc, and the need for better access (tunnel or bridge) to the Infield enclosure as it's a good place to catch the cars powering out of the hairpin and down the pit straight...also the best place for pointing the 400mm lens at the Grid girls on BTCC day
Brands. GP circuit is best for pics as you can head out into the wilderness and get some nice trackside shots, i don't mind a walk and a bit of mud. Standing on the inside of Druids is good as the cars brake for the bend.
>> Edited by monkeyhanger on Saturday 3rd December 15:30
Silverstone. Not good. The terracing at Luffield is good if you have a long lens, but if it's a major event the crowds are a nightmare. Too many fences due to the F1 regs.
Oulton, must get back there soon, absoloutely superb.
Donington, pretty good with the right lens (ie Long) and the general view of the circuit is pretty good too.
Anglesey. Love it. Small enough to walk all the way round in 15 minutes, if you're just watching then get up on the raised banking at the Hairpin, or take a stroll into the old MOD compound near Radar. I'd estimate you can get almost trackside for 75% of the circuit.
Croft. Another favourite. Easy to get right next to the action with the only criticism being the lack of access to Tower / Jim Clark Esses / Barcroft etc, and the need for better access (tunnel or bridge) to the Infield enclosure as it's a good place to catch the cars powering out of the hairpin and down the pit straight...also the best place for pointing the 400mm lens at the Grid girls on BTCC day
Brands. GP circuit is best for pics as you can head out into the wilderness and get some nice trackside shots, i don't mind a walk and a bit of mud. Standing on the inside of Druids is good as the cars brake for the bend.
>> Edited by monkeyhanger on Saturday 3rd December 15:30
(definately think ill be buying a season ticket this year)From a spectators perspective castle combe is by far the best,everything is right clean and well stocked toilets which put shame a number of circuits that i've been too and as mention above the veiwing is excellent and the usual quick fire races that keep me attending year on year,now with the circuir running its own meetings in 2006 i feel it can only get better!
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff