F1 Exhibition at Excel

F1 Exhibition at Excel

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goldbazinga

143 posts

32 months

Thursday 5th September
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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

11,156 posts

79 months

Thursday 5th September
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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.)

wiliferus

4,105 posts

203 months

Thursday 5th September
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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.

Sandpit Steve

11,156 posts

79 months

Thursday 5th September
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wiliferus said:
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.
Thanks for that!

the-norseman

13,147 posts

176 months

Sunday 8th September
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Anybody know when its on till?

the-norseman

13,147 posts

176 months

Sunday 8th September
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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.


johnoz

1,036 posts

197 months

Sunday 8th September
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the-norseman said:
Anybody know when its on till?
Till the end of the year.

poosemon

262 posts

204 months

Sunday 8th September
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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.

spikyone

1,550 posts

105 months

Sunday 8th September
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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.
Silverstone is not solely F1 focused so it depends where your interest lies. I haven't been to Excel yet - booked for October - but I enjoyed Silverstone. I don't know if the exhibition is still on but they had some Indycars over including the Lotus 56 jet powered car, and Mansell's title winning Newman Haas Lola. That was parked next to a Mansell FW14B (on loan from Williams, I believe). For me seeing those together was pretty special.

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.

rscott

15,184 posts

196 months

Monday 9th September
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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.
The Friends exhibition is next door. Both are "below" Excel, down by the river.

number2

4,423 posts

192 months

Monday 16th September
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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.

Edited by number2 on Monday 16th September 19:22