What are the worlds best petrolheads events?
Discussion
I have attended:
The Reno Air Races
Numerous F1 races
Pendine Sands hot rod trials
Finnish 1000 lakes rally
and I would love to add Bonneville Speedweek and the Isle of Mann TT to that list.
There's just some events that seem so crazy that they can't carry on for long in this health and safety restricted time.
What other once in a lifetime must see petrolhead events are there, and why are they so great?
The Reno Air Races
Numerous F1 races
Pendine Sands hot rod trials
Finnish 1000 lakes rally
and I would love to add Bonneville Speedweek and the Isle of Mann TT to that list.
There's just some events that seem so crazy that they can't carry on for long in this health and safety restricted time.
What other once in a lifetime must see petrolhead events are there, and why are they so great?
The Mille Miglia .
About 350 cars , a few years ago more like 450 , 1927-1957 , driving 1000 miles over 4 days , from Brescia to Brescia via Rome and countless other towns
and cities , along with 100+ modern Ferrari and Mercedes in front of the old uns .
The scenery , the food and wine , the people ,the weather , not always hot n sunny but who cares .
About 350 cars , a few years ago more like 450 , 1927-1957 , driving 1000 miles over 4 days , from Brescia to Brescia via Rome and countless other towns
and cities , along with 100+ modern Ferrari and Mercedes in front of the old uns .
The scenery , the food and wine , the people ,the weather , not always hot n sunny but who cares .
In order of wow / holiday factor (including weather) / sense of occasion:
Le Mans 24 Car Race
Isle of Man Festival of Speed
NW200 (N Ireland)
Isle of Man TT
Goodwood Festival of Speed
Assen TT
Le Mans 24 Motorbike Race
All based on experience ^^^^
I've been told:
Bath Hurst - Australia
Daytonna 500 - USA
Sebring
Nurburgring 24 hr (the real circuit)
Le Mans 24 Car Race
Isle of Man Festival of Speed
NW200 (N Ireland)
Isle of Man TT
Goodwood Festival of Speed
Assen TT
Le Mans 24 Motorbike Race
All based on experience ^^^^
I've been told:
Bath Hurst - Australia
Daytonna 500 - USA
Sebring
Nurburgring 24 hr (the real circuit)
Edited by wsn03 on Tuesday 12th October 14:31
Touristenfahrten at Nurburgring.
cheesy/cliche/obvious, call it what you want. but nothing's better for me. Shows are, well, too showy.
Went too Goodwood FOS a few years ago on the way home from a ring trip and it just felt meh, when looking back it probably is a decent event (even more so if you're minted, unlike me)
cheesy/cliche/obvious, call it what you want. but nothing's better for me. Shows are, well, too showy.
Went too Goodwood FOS a few years ago on the way home from a ring trip and it just felt meh, when looking back it probably is a decent event (even more so if you're minted, unlike me)
My first trip to the Silverstone Classic this year was great. Some proper racing cars properly racing.
Others I've thoroughly enjoyed.
G'wood Revival and FOS
Le Mans
Banger racing at Arlington Speedway (yes, really)
Monza
Imola
Ones not so good
British GP (Overpriced)
Sepang (But only because we flew there for the weekend. Out Thursday back Sunday night. Utterly ridiculous
Others I've thoroughly enjoyed.
G'wood Revival and FOS
Le Mans
Banger racing at Arlington Speedway (yes, really)
Monza
Imola
Ones not so good
British GP (Overpriced)
Sepang (But only because we flew there for the weekend. Out Thursday back Sunday night. Utterly ridiculous
Not exactly what the OP had mind when asking the question, but IMO nothing beats a road trip with other keen drivers.
Motorsport is mildly interesting to me, at best. Car shows are ok for a couple of hours tops, but wouldn't you rather be driving cars than looking at them? Nothing is more "petrolhead" than actually driving cars in convoy with others.
Motorsport is mildly interesting to me, at best. Car shows are ok for a couple of hours tops, but wouldn't you rather be driving cars than looking at them? Nothing is more "petrolhead" than actually driving cars in convoy with others.
plenty said:
Not exactly what the OP had mind when asking the question, but IMO nothing beats a road trip with other keen drivers.
Motorsport is mildly interesting to me, at best. Car shows are ok for a couple of hours tops, but wouldn't you rather be driving cars than looking at them? Nothing is more "petrolhead" than actually driving cars in convoy with others.
'Driving in convoy'? You're having a laugh; go on your own. It's far more enjoyable being able to detour whenever you feel like, stop wherever you want to, go to your choice of pub and above all, drive at your pace.Motorsport is mildly interesting to me, at best. Car shows are ok for a couple of hours tops, but wouldn't you rather be driving cars than looking at them? Nothing is more "petrolhead" than actually driving cars in convoy with others.
Other than the convoy bit, I agree with you; nothing beats a road trip.
We're really blessed with the spectacular in our hobby aren't we? How wonderful it is to be able to plan trips around the world to see these events. Pikes Peak or Bathurst would be cool too. I have a drag strip about half an hour away but the schedule/weather/pandemic have yet to combine. Hopefully next summer i'll be deafened by Top Fuel dragsters here in middle Finland!
"Spectating" on GP Nuvolari - three day tour along some of the best back roads of Northern Italy.
Our "holiday" for the last 12 years (10 in our s/c Mazda Eunos).
Any MotoGP race, especially attending one - proper racing and no contrived results!!
If you know, you know...
Our "holiday" for the last 12 years (10 in our s/c Mazda Eunos).
Any MotoGP race, especially attending one - proper racing and no contrived results!!
If you know, you know...
Edited by pewe on Tuesday 14th December 11:45
pewe said:
"Spectating" on GP Nuvolari - three day tour along some of the best back roads of Northern Italy.
I did this for 2 days of the 2019 event , l loved it , a beautiful morning beside Lake Garda and the next morning seeing them all againon the Futa pass .
There are so many of these events in Italy ,winter or summer .
I suspect that many will suggest Le Mans 24 Hours - and I have a deep and longstanding affection for this event - though it went through an evolution in the late 90's and early 2000's that tarnished it somewhat, for me. For those of my 'generation' 1989 was the absolute pinnacle, I would suggest.
I would also add:
Monaco F1 - glamour
Indianapolis 500 - pageantry, occasion, danger
NHRA US Nationals - sensory overload
I.o.M TT - visceral fear
Bathurst 1000 - stunning setting, enthusiastic crowd
Daytona 500 - overall hugeness of the occasion
12 Hours of Sebring - my absolute favorite - like Le Mans used to be - a 12 hour race that lasts a week. Nothing - absolutely nothing negative about this event (fire ants, maybe...)
I would also add:
Monaco F1 - glamour
Indianapolis 500 - pageantry, occasion, danger
NHRA US Nationals - sensory overload
I.o.M TT - visceral fear
Bathurst 1000 - stunning setting, enthusiastic crowd
Daytona 500 - overall hugeness of the occasion
12 Hours of Sebring - my absolute favorite - like Le Mans used to be - a 12 hour race that lasts a week. Nothing - absolutely nothing negative about this event (fire ants, maybe...)
Gassing Station | Events & Meetings | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff