RE: Spa Classic weekend review
Discussion
I was there and it was fantastic. What you didn't point out is that Spa is also amazing value compared with similar events in rip-off Britain. A four-day weekend (making a great road trip in my old Ferrari) was cheaper than going to Goodwood, even bearing in mind fuel and ferry. Add in a better hotel than I could afford here and Michelin-rated food and I can't wait to go again.
mrmotorhome said:
...cheaper than going to Goodwood./.
Most things are, to be fair.I love the place and the cars / people they get to display/attend at all 3 big events...but they're clearly very interested in 'keeping out the riff-raff' (certainly from the Revival and the MM), and VFM it is not...
On top of Matt's words, I want to point out that all of my photos in the article are taken from public access viewing points, I didn't have any special access. It's quite rare to be able to get photos like this without media accreditation; pretty sure it's the first circuit I've been to with cut outs in the fencing for photography. A few more from the Sunday below 
Details on registering with us and 1st Tickets for 2020 will be coming soon – I'll update this thread when released.
Details on registering with us and 1st Tickets for 2020 will be coming soon – I'll update this thread when released.
I thought Spa classic very quiet this year, very small crowds on the Sunday, smaller than two years ago on the Saturday. I didn't eat the food but it seemed to be excessively priced and the only fan shop open was the one on the top of the new pits and that was half the size it was two years ago.
The local garage had a better selection of t-shirts and souvenirs
Parade laps were restricted after session 4 when there was an accident, so that session 5, the last on Saturday was run behind a pace car. This meant people backed off at places like the chicane, La source, etc, so that you could have a run through the good corners and then catch up the pace car again. The trouble is it looks like some ignored this, ignored the pace car briefing and took it upon themselves to race everywhere. Two morgan plus 4's and a green chim being the worse culprits, charging in under people on corners, generally very dangerous.
One person overtook the pace car in session 5, which is why on Sunday they split the field into three with three paces cars around the circuit restricting everyones speed. They wanted to cancel all further parade laps.
I felt sorry for the Nissans, I think they got one slow lap behind the pace car then red flagged and their session ended.
Not many cars in the PH area? We were next door in the fast track parking and I think was a major point of interest in that area of the circuit.
Access to everyone and everything was brilliant. Got to speak to our favourite Vincent Gaye in his Ferrari again
Loved the old capris, escorts and batmobile bmw's and I think they gave the closest racing all weekend
Jason of Str8Six were there with their racer, in the historic endurance class, which was a strange mix with a huge performance difference.
Gave a great, informative talk about the car and even let people sit in it.
And yes - there was a road going TVR racer, I think looking at it they'd just put number plates on it. The inside was still fully race car
The local garage had a better selection of t-shirts and souvenirs
Parade laps were restricted after session 4 when there was an accident, so that session 5, the last on Saturday was run behind a pace car. This meant people backed off at places like the chicane, La source, etc, so that you could have a run through the good corners and then catch up the pace car again. The trouble is it looks like some ignored this, ignored the pace car briefing and took it upon themselves to race everywhere. Two morgan plus 4's and a green chim being the worse culprits, charging in under people on corners, generally very dangerous.
One person overtook the pace car in session 5, which is why on Sunday they split the field into three with three paces cars around the circuit restricting everyones speed. They wanted to cancel all further parade laps.
I felt sorry for the Nissans, I think they got one slow lap behind the pace car then red flagged and their session ended.
Not many cars in the PH area? We were next door in the fast track parking and I think was a major point of interest in that area of the circuit.
Access to everyone and everything was brilliant. Got to speak to our favourite Vincent Gaye in his Ferrari again
Loved the old capris, escorts and batmobile bmw's and I think they gave the closest racing all weekend
Jason of Str8Six were there with their racer, in the historic endurance class, which was a strange mix with a huge performance difference.
Gave a great, informative talk about the car and even let people sit in it.
And yes - there was a road going TVR racer, I think looking at it they'd just put number plates on it. The inside was still fully race car
Byker28i said:
Not many cars in the PH area? We were next door in the fast track parking and I think was a major point of interest in that area of the circuit.
Some great shots there! Our parking was on the outside of the circuit next to the grandstand overlooking the start/finish straight and was full most of the weekend. If you're referring to the space outside our pit lodge that wasn't our parking area, although we'll obviously work on that for next year... 
A few of us did the event last year - we try to vary what trips we do, so didn't go back this year.
It was my first time to Spa, and I found the place to be very remote. A complete lack of any amenities nearby, so once you were at the track, you were there. Hotels & decent restaurants were all a decent drive away. On-site facilities are described as above - very snacky & few & far between. Souvenirs? You almost had to beg to be sold something.
The free access you get at this event is superb - I had my camera stuck in everything that was open, and no-one minded. There were some of my all-time favourite cars there, which made it so much more special to be able to see them up close, hear them when they started up etc etc.
The car park sights were superb too. It's an event I would do again, but maybe in a couple of years time.
It was my first time to Spa, and I found the place to be very remote. A complete lack of any amenities nearby, so once you were at the track, you were there. Hotels & decent restaurants were all a decent drive away. On-site facilities are described as above - very snacky & few & far between. Souvenirs? You almost had to beg to be sold something.
The free access you get at this event is superb - I had my camera stuck in everything that was open, and no-one minded. There were some of my all-time favourite cars there, which made it so much more special to be able to see them up close, hear them when they started up etc etc.
The car park sights were superb too. It's an event I would do again, but maybe in a couple of years time.
Hi all,
This was our second visit to the Spa Classic and although the grids and the crowds did seem smaller than 2 years ago, it was still a great event.
We went with Scenic & Continental Car Tours, who I would thoroughly recommend, and they did an excellent job of scheduling the cars in the allotted parking area. We took six GT40’s and a TVR in our group and our hotel was about 25 miles away in Liege, which made for a nice drive into the circuit
Regards,
Andy
This was our second visit to the Spa Classic and although the grids and the crowds did seem smaller than 2 years ago, it was still a great event.
We went with Scenic & Continental Car Tours, who I would thoroughly recommend, and they did an excellent job of scheduling the cars in the allotted parking area. We took six GT40’s and a TVR in our group and our hotel was about 25 miles away in Liege, which made for a nice drive into the circuit
Regards,
Andy
It was a Black Corvette who binned it at Eau Rouge in the group 4 track laps which meant 1 out lap, 10 mins in the pits and another outlap back to the pits, noticed it was all behind the safety car after that. The time for Track laps was the Friday as the numbers were low and they got 6 or more laps in.
The event itself was superb, the cars and access was excellent, and the lower numbers and relaxed nature put it above Le Mans classic (Early years better) and Silverstone for me, its a special place.
I am not fussed about souvenirs so didn't notice the lack of them, the beer and food on site was good though.
Only down points, the Cold weather at night and the camp site which was about 5 mins from the circuit but the owners appeared to be reluctant to wanting to run a campsite. We didnt want to spend evenings there and having camped at most places for Le Mans and the Le Mans classic, they fell well below the level. 50c for a luke warm pissy stream of a shower added insult to injury.
The event itself was superb, the cars and access was excellent, and the lower numbers and relaxed nature put it above Le Mans classic (Early years better) and Silverstone for me, its a special place.
I am not fussed about souvenirs so didn't notice the lack of them, the beer and food on site was good though.
Only down points, the Cold weather at night and the camp site which was about 5 mins from the circuit but the owners appeared to be reluctant to wanting to run a campsite. We didnt want to spend evenings there and having camped at most places for Le Mans and the Le Mans classic, they fell well below the level. 50c for a luke warm pissy stream of a shower added insult to injury.
Mattygooner said:
It was a Black Corvette who binned it at Eau Rouge in the group 4 track laps which meant 1 out lap, 10 mins in the pits and another outlap back to the pits, noticed it was all behind the safety car after that.
I was in that session and came across the accident shortly after it happened; by all accounts afterwards he/she was driving like an idiot (photo a screen grab from the video my passenger took):
Despite this, I still enjoyed driving the track and the weekend in general
yeah I won't bother with track time again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uakxswPjea8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6grn51-x4jE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uakxswPjea8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6grn51-x4jE
Mattygooner said:
Only down points, the Cold weather at night and the camp site which was about 5 mins from the circuit but the owners appeared to be reluctant to wanting to run a campsite. We didnt want to spend evenings there and having camped at most places for Le Mans and the Le Mans classic, they fell well below the level. 50c for a luke warm pissy stream of a shower added insult to injury.
Having camped at most Le Mans sites I am surprised at your comment. We stayed on the inside of the bend on the road going down to the circuit. The showers were hot and fine, we took our own fridge and beer and it was a short walk down the hill at 9pm to watch the night racing.Different camp site I think, ours was off site and had to drive in to the circuit (a very short drive), the lemans sites are a bit more expensive but the bar is open late, breakfast, lunch and dinner is served and showers are hot and clean (talking private sites not the beausejour mad max) and there is a nice atmosphere.
The Spa site was new owners this year apparently, just felt like we were an inconvenience rather than a paying guest.
The event itself though was superb.
Re the black corvette, they might have had an unfortunate blowout looking at the pics, still a great experience to drive around the circuit, had they been like the Friday sessions they would have been perfect. I think the green GT40 and blue Lola T70 spider (Gardner Douglas?) bought a ticket for every session.
The Spa site was new owners this year apparently, just felt like we were an inconvenience rather than a paying guest.
The event itself though was superb.
Re the black corvette, they might have had an unfortunate blowout looking at the pics, still a great experience to drive around the circuit, had they been like the Friday sessions they would have been perfect. I think the green GT40 and blue Lola T70 spider (Gardner Douglas?) bought a ticket for every session.
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