F1 Exhibition at Excel
Discussion
DartyBistard said:
It's such a shame that the collection at Donnington has been sold off because in terms of pure access to machinery, it knocked this into a cocked hat.
I visited the Donnington museum several years ago, and it was fascinating to see a line up of McLarens which all looked very similar from a distance, then on closer inspection you could see all the minor changes to the aero that had been tweaked over the years.It was a great museum of national importance.
Sandpit Steve said:
Has anyone been to both this exhibition and the new Silverstone museum? Have two young nephews (13 and 11) and am considering both venues for a day out.
(Personally I really want to see the Grosjean wreck.)
Yup, have done both. Although busier, the London exhibition was much better. More informative, more absorbing. I was a bit underwhelmed by the Silverstone museum. (Personally I really want to see the Grosjean wreck.)
rscott said:
Was there on Monday - thought it was well worth the money. We spent around 3 hours there, reading and watching everything.
At least one of the McLaren's was definitely a genuine race car:-
If it is a genuine race car and not just a spare chassis built up, it will be chassis 1,2,4 or 5 as Mika used them. presuming its the MP4/14 cant quite make the sign out.At least one of the McLaren's was definitely a genuine race car:-
the-norseman said:
Anybody know when its on till?
Not sure if end date - but its still there October as was eying it up for October half term and tickets seemed to available going well into November, believe there is a friends exhibition in excel too so may do both with my daughter on a short break to the capital.wiliferus said:
Sandpit Steve said:
Has anyone been to both this exhibition and the new Silverstone museum? Have two young nephews (13 and 11) and am considering both venues for a day out.
(Personally I really want to see the Grosjean wreck.)
Yup, have done both. Although busier, the London exhibition was much better. More informative, more absorbing. I was a bit underwhelmed by the Silverstone museum. (Personally I really want to see the Grosjean wreck.)
There were also driver signing on sheets from some old Silverstone races with the signatures of the likes of Andretti, Hunt, Mansell, Prost, Senna, Schumacher, and many other F1 legends. And a good selection of Barry Sheene's bikes - having been a kid in the 80s, Sheene and Mansell machinery was enough on its own to keep me happy.
I'd also say Silverstone Museum isn't especially big. If your kids just want big-name stuff they can relate to they may not get much out of it. As an enthusiast/engineer/nerd I found plenty to enjoy.
poosemon said:
the-norseman said:
Anybody know when its on till?
Not sure if end date - but its still there October as was eying it up for October half term and tickets seemed to available going well into November, believe there is a friends exhibition in excel too so may do both with my daughter on a short break to the capital.I went today, overall it was okay and I didn't feel like I wasted my time. It's only a 30 minute drive for me though so no special effort.
I enjoyed the exhibits - the cars and engines for example as well as the letters and meeting notes from Bernie et al.
It was great to be up close the the cars.
The rest of it was interesting history but nothing I'm not familar with (and perhaps most of us).
The Grosjean chassis was underwhelming, so I go against the grain there. Yes, it was an awful incident, but yes it was just a fire damaged chassis - it's grey as the paint burnt off.
Simulator was enjoyable. If you play a sim rig or games at home it won't appeal, but a pleasant ten minutes spent.
I didn't listen to *all* the audio/watch the videos, as it's quite familiar, so I was out after about 90 minutes.
The pit wall experience at the end was... well... totally pointless. I thought it was an intro to something but it was just a montage of racing events.
Edit for reposted pic.
I enjoyed the exhibits - the cars and engines for example as well as the letters and meeting notes from Bernie et al.
It was great to be up close the the cars.
The rest of it was interesting history but nothing I'm not familar with (and perhaps most of us).
The Grosjean chassis was underwhelming, so I go against the grain there. Yes, it was an awful incident, but yes it was just a fire damaged chassis - it's grey as the paint burnt off.
Simulator was enjoyable. If you play a sim rig or games at home it won't appeal, but a pleasant ten minutes spent.
I didn't listen to *all* the audio/watch the videos, as it's quite familiar, so I was out after about 90 minutes.
The pit wall experience at the end was... well... totally pointless. I thought it was an intro to something but it was just a montage of racing events.
Edit for reposted pic.
Edited by number2 on Monday 16th September 19:22
I went with my two sons. I enjoyed it. It wasn't particularly informative for an F1 fan, although, as above, there was the 'shark nose' Ferrari and an MP4/4, and a number of other exhibits and cars.
One I hadn't seen before was Grosjeans' HAAS, or what was left of the front bit. A bit creepy seeing it after watching it on TV and remembering Lauda. Yet he walked away.
Staff helpful and chatty. Recommended. I'll post some images when I've caught up with my work.
One I hadn't seen before was Grosjeans' HAAS, or what was left of the front bit. A bit creepy seeing it after watching it on TV and remembering Lauda. Yet he walked away.
Staff helpful and chatty. Recommended. I'll post some images when I've caught up with my work.
Beware of the restrictions on tickets. The recent major storm resulted in cancellation of all trains and one of our group could not attend with circumstances completely beyond his control.
This was raised with the management at the F1 exhibition who gave the contact details of Fever to request a rollover to a future date or a refund. The local management were fine with this.
However, Fever (ticket agency) showed complete intransigence and the ticket could not be used on another day. So it is in the bin and wasted nearly £40 given the ticket restrictions. A shame that this overshadowed the experience for the rest of us.
This was raised with the management at the F1 exhibition who gave the contact details of Fever to request a rollover to a future date or a refund. The local management were fine with this.
However, Fever (ticket agency) showed complete intransigence and the ticket could not be used on another day. So it is in the bin and wasted nearly £40 given the ticket restrictions. A shame that this overshadowed the experience for the rest of us.
Worth the ticket price all on its own. But there was more.
Quite remarkably pretty. Also quite remarkably small.
There was the occasional modern F1 car as well.
Some showing signs of hard usage.
The most successful F1 engine. Not only that, in the car with the best livery.
And some other stuff.
just read the posts, glad I did, we gotta fly from Belfast to go, so it better be good.. however went to automuseum in turin and alfa in milan in october which were superb, plus automuseum had the temporary senna exhibition on at the time, had that to myself.
looking forward to the day, but i,m being realisic on my expectations ( check trip adviser pics on turin automuseum )
looking forward to the day, but i,m being realisic on my expectations ( check trip adviser pics on turin automuseum )
wiliferus said:
Sandpit Steve said:
Has anyone been to both this exhibition and the new Silverstone museum? Have two young nephews (13 and 11) and am considering both venues for a day out.
(Personally I really want to see the Grosjean wreck.)
Yup, have done both. Although busier, the London exhibition was much better. More informative, more absorbing. I was a bit underwhelmed by the Silverstone museum. (Personally I really want to see the Grosjean wreck.)
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