Spa WEC 6 Hours
Discussion
watch out for dead ends if walking around. If you keep to the outside after Les Combes you will get half way around Bruxells/Rivage and find a closed gate so will have to re-trace steps back to les combes/ Malmedy (worth it though to see the cars approaching from the outside there) where there is a tunnel to cross to the inside. You can then either walk back towards Bruxells/Rivage to see from the inside or continue down to Pouhon but along here is the steepest hill in the world! Its even difficult to walk down it. You can then continue on the inside down to Stavelot and then under the track again at Blanchimont and head on towards the bus stop. Took me a good 3 hours leisurely walking stopping for photos etc on the way.
lucido grigio said:
I should be in Spa next Friday but not stopping for the WEC race,
I'm passing through to get to Hockenheimring for some WRX and DTM double bill.
Second edit ,as the WEC race is Saturday, I might stick around for it ,I'm already squeezing a ludicrous amount of stuffI'm passing through to get to Hockenheimring for some WRX and DTM double bill.
Edited by lucido grigio on Friday 28th April 18:38
into 1 roadtrip so what the heck!
GaryHetherington said:
Brilliant, thanks all for your advice, exactly what I was after! Looking forward to everything except the walking up hills!!
Went last year, great event and venue. Loved it. Do not underestimate the amount of walking and hills. It's also quite a drag from Calais, especially if you time Brussels wrong. We went the southern route when we went back for the 6 hours in September, that worked well.wsn03 said:
indyxe said:
wouldn't worry about parking just roll up and pay at the car park.
Is there not limited space? Surely there is, otherwise all the town car parks wouldn't do so well, or are they just cheaper? FFS I hate that walk back up the hill.
wsn03 said:
To reply to you archbish about the kids, and to the OP in general:
I've been to Le Mans and Spa - I'm into bike racing but do like the WEC stuff.
My accountant introduced me to Spa. He has a few health issues so likes to take it steady.
First off I must say its brilliant, but I think you're being very brave with a 5 and 6 yr old. My step son came to the Manx Grand Prix Classic at 6 years old and watched the bikes at the staggered start glued for about 30 minutes...after that he wanted to see what was in the bushes behind us, then asked for help to make a castle.
Now he's 10 and he watches the TT for a whole race. Next year he's 11 and finally I'll take him to Spa, Le Mans when he's 14.
It won't be the same as when you go on your own, but there are fairground type things, not sure what kiddie things they have, I think I'd probably spend a couple of hours in that area and the various car stands near it. - its at the bottom of the hill (Eau Rouge is it?)., along with lots of food.
I would also cross over the track at the start/finish opposite the Grandstand, you get to walk upstairs above the pit garages and overlooking the whole pits area, you can watch pit stops beneath you - all very exciting.
If you were without the kids I'd recommend far more, but my experience of my own lad, who it has to be said is way ahead of other kids his age for his obsession with motorsport and petrol head stuff (he now services my motorbikes with limited supervision!), tells me at this age I'd set a very low expectation for yourself! At least this will be the slow start to them getting hooked. No matter how much they get bored or moan do not be disheartened, they just have a very short attention span at that age, but it gets a lot better. I still bring stuff for my lad to read, draw and play with. Only when he was 9 did he stop needing it because he just wanted to watch the bikes, all day in fact, that's some change. For Spa I reckon he'll get bored after 2 hours, we'll do other stuff, he'll do other stuff, then he'll get interested in the last 30 minutes as it gets to dusk.
Parking can be found in the town on the approach to the circuit, but circuit would be better to avoid a long walk with such youngsters. However you have to balance that against them being too long at the circuit - I'd probably park in the town and arrive as late as I could get away with.
I have to say while Le Mans is "the one", my trips to Spa have been a bit more special, maybe its the track, the lack of crowds, the company I go with or the whole staying in Brussels thing? Don't know, but I really enjoy Spa, but its very different. Be interesting to see how I find it with the lad next year (and his Mum and friends making a long weekend in Brussels).
Hope you feedback how the trip went.
thanks so much for the considered reply! Really appreciate the advice and time taken, thank you.I've been to Le Mans and Spa - I'm into bike racing but do like the WEC stuff.
My accountant introduced me to Spa. He has a few health issues so likes to take it steady.
First off I must say its brilliant, but I think you're being very brave with a 5 and 6 yr old. My step son came to the Manx Grand Prix Classic at 6 years old and watched the bikes at the staggered start glued for about 30 minutes...after that he wanted to see what was in the bushes behind us, then asked for help to make a castle.
Now he's 10 and he watches the TT for a whole race. Next year he's 11 and finally I'll take him to Spa, Le Mans when he's 14.
It won't be the same as when you go on your own, but there are fairground type things, not sure what kiddie things they have, I think I'd probably spend a couple of hours in that area and the various car stands near it. - its at the bottom of the hill (Eau Rouge is it?)., along with lots of food.
I would also cross over the track at the start/finish opposite the Grandstand, you get to walk upstairs above the pit garages and overlooking the whole pits area, you can watch pit stops beneath you - all very exciting.
If you were without the kids I'd recommend far more, but my experience of my own lad, who it has to be said is way ahead of other kids his age for his obsession with motorsport and petrol head stuff (he now services my motorbikes with limited supervision!), tells me at this age I'd set a very low expectation for yourself! At least this will be the slow start to them getting hooked. No matter how much they get bored or moan do not be disheartened, they just have a very short attention span at that age, but it gets a lot better. I still bring stuff for my lad to read, draw and play with. Only when he was 9 did he stop needing it because he just wanted to watch the bikes, all day in fact, that's some change. For Spa I reckon he'll get bored after 2 hours, we'll do other stuff, he'll do other stuff, then he'll get interested in the last 30 minutes as it gets to dusk.
Parking can be found in the town on the approach to the circuit, but circuit would be better to avoid a long walk with such youngsters. However you have to balance that against them being too long at the circuit - I'd probably park in the town and arrive as late as I could get away with.
I have to say while Le Mans is "the one", my trips to Spa have been a bit more special, maybe its the track, the lack of crowds, the company I go with or the whole staying in Brussels thing? Don't know, but I really enjoy Spa, but its very different. Be interesting to see how I find it with the lad next year (and his Mum and friends making a long weekend in Brussels).
Hope you feedback how the trip went.
Edited by wsn03 on Wednesday 26th April 14:59
The weekend was awesome. Luck with the weather helped, and other than a minor misplacement of a child for a few minutes, we all had a brilliant time!
Friday: collected the boys from school, but didn't actually leave home until 4pm, so was nearly an hour late for the chunnel. But got straight over, and where I'd planned to be at the hotel in Ghent at about 8pm, we didn't arrive until 10. But the boys were great, and still awake to my surprise, and largely excited about staying in a hotel and chilling. I'd probably do this the same way again next year, but see if we can get out of town a bit earlier.
Saturday: Woke at about 0730, down for breakfast for 0800, and out of the hotel at 0830. Parked at the track for 1030, and wandered over to eau rouge grandstand for the support races. Because it was open seating, we found chairs in teh covered grandstand, and held onto them until the main event, and for the follow hour. Then went for a wander around the circuit. the boys covered 13.6 km on foot during that day, and we were really lucky with the weather. The walking boots, and hiking gear I'd got them was worth every penny. Also had full waterproofs, just in case. Made our way to the finish line for the end of the race at 2030. then back to the car (about 45 minute walk) and 2 hours back to the hotel for about midnight. They are already talking about next year and who else to invite - will probably have the same hotel for the first night, but a second one nearer the circuit for the the second. Will also take beer/wine/snacks, as everything was closed up, including the hotel bar.
Sunday: woke up about 0745, leisurely breakfast, and then mooch across Belgium and France to Calais. Grab some booze, and then onto the train, over to Grande Bretagne, and then a cruise home, getting home about 2pm, feeling pretty fresh and sorted.
It was so much more brilliant for all of us than I'd hoped, and I can highly recommend it. Preparation is everything, and luck helped us (if it'd rained for 6 hours, I can't imagine the boys being too thrilled...), but definitely going back...
oh, and did sticker up the car...
no idea why the pics have been turned... :| but you get the gist...
Edited by archbish on Tuesday 9th May 12:01
archbish said:
thanks so much for the considered reply! Really appreciate the advice and time taken, thank you.
The weekend was awesome. Luck with the weather helped, and other than a minor misplacement of a child for a few minutes, we all had a brilliant time!
Friday: collected the boys from school, but didn't actually leave home until 4pm, so was nearly an hour late for the chunnel. But got straight over, and where I'd planned to be at the hotel in Ghent at about 8pm, we didn't arrive until 10. But the boys were great, and still awake to my surprise, and largely excited about staying in a hotel and chilling. I'd probably do this the same way again next year, but see if we can get out of town a bit earlier.
Saturday: Woke at about 0730, down for breakfast for 0800, and out of the hotel at 0830. Parked at the track for 1030, and wandered over to eau rouge grandstand for the support races. Because it was open seating, we found chairs in teh covered grandstand, and held onto them until the main event, and for the follow hour. Then went for a wander around the circuit. the boys covered 13.6 km on foot during that day, and we were really lucky with the weather. The walking boots, and hiking gear I'd got them was worth every penny. Also had full waterproofs, just in case. Made our way to the finish line for the end of the race at 2030. then back to the car (about 45 minute walk) and 2 hours back to the hotel for about midnight. They are already talking about next year and who else to invite - will probably have the same hotel for the first night, but a second one nearer the circuit for the the second. Will also take beer/wine/snacks, as everything was closed up, including the hotel bar.
Sunday: woke up about 0745, leisurely breakfast, and then mooch across Belgium and France to Calais. Grab some booze, and then onto the train, over to Grande Bretagne, and then a cruise home, getting home about 2pm, feeling pretty fresh and sorted.
It was so much more brilliant for all of us than I'd hoped, and I can highly recommend it. Preparation is everything, and luck helped us (if it'd rained for 6 hours, I can't imagine the boys being too thrilled...), but definitely going back...
oh, and did sticker up the car...
no idea why the pics have been turned... :| but you get the gist...
Im delighted for you, thanks for the informed update! You've set a new benchmark, my stepson will be properly updated!! Your boys sound spot on, so glad it worked out for you (our household predicted disaster, how wrong we were!!)The weekend was awesome. Luck with the weather helped, and other than a minor misplacement of a child for a few minutes, we all had a brilliant time!
Friday: collected the boys from school, but didn't actually leave home until 4pm, so was nearly an hour late for the chunnel. But got straight over, and where I'd planned to be at the hotel in Ghent at about 8pm, we didn't arrive until 10. But the boys were great, and still awake to my surprise, and largely excited about staying in a hotel and chilling. I'd probably do this the same way again next year, but see if we can get out of town a bit earlier.
Saturday: Woke at about 0730, down for breakfast for 0800, and out of the hotel at 0830. Parked at the track for 1030, and wandered over to eau rouge grandstand for the support races. Because it was open seating, we found chairs in teh covered grandstand, and held onto them until the main event, and for the follow hour. Then went for a wander around the circuit. the boys covered 13.6 km on foot during that day, and we were really lucky with the weather. The walking boots, and hiking gear I'd got them was worth every penny. Also had full waterproofs, just in case. Made our way to the finish line for the end of the race at 2030. then back to the car (about 45 minute walk) and 2 hours back to the hotel for about midnight. They are already talking about next year and who else to invite - will probably have the same hotel for the first night, but a second one nearer the circuit for the the second. Will also take beer/wine/snacks, as everything was closed up, including the hotel bar.
Sunday: woke up about 0745, leisurely breakfast, and then mooch across Belgium and France to Calais. Grab some booze, and then onto the train, over to Grande Bretagne, and then a cruise home, getting home about 2pm, feeling pretty fresh and sorted.
It was so much more brilliant for all of us than I'd hoped, and I can highly recommend it. Preparation is everything, and luck helped us (if it'd rained for 6 hours, I can't imagine the boys being too thrilled...), but definitely going back...
oh, and did sticker up the car...
no idea why the pics have been turned... :| but you get the gist...
Edited by archbish on Tuesday 9th May 12:01
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