SPA 2009
Author
Discussion

mikee boy

Original Poster:

967 posts

280 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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Thoinking of going to Spa for 2009, but the budget will only extend to Bronze (non-allocated general admission). Has anybody been in these sections before and are they worth it? Is there a good view?

Cheers

davelise

68 posts

245 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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We went last year and sat at Pouhon on the hill. Got a pretty good view and sat in front of the big screen.

I would probably aim for Blanchimont or Les Combes if I were to go again, but as ever you need to get there early to get a decent seat.

It's a great place to have a wander do if you get the chance on the Friday or Saturday it's worth checking them all out.

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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bronze admission gets you to the braking point at les combes which is one of the few great spots left in F1, they are flat out from eau rouge and its a pretty awesome sound, some good overtaking at this spot in the past too... its a pleasent atmosphere, plenty of good banter and some huts selling teh obligatory chips and mayo...

Kinky

39,944 posts

298 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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pablo said:
some huts selling teh obligatory chips and mayo...
ears
I'm in. How much? hehe

lescombes

968 posts

239 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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yep I have done Bronze at Spa.......as others have said...at Les Combes & Phouon brill, Eau Rouge in the trees is good too, if your their early enough and do get some frites

AlpineWhite

2,164 posts

224 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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Is there nearby camping? Very tempted to combine this with a trip to the 'Ring.

Murph7355

41,969 posts

285 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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AlpineWhite said:
Is there nearby camping? Very tempted to combine this with a trip to the 'Ring.
There's a campsite very near the track, but to be honest I'm not sure I'd stay there (again).

I once had to (in my Caterham 7 with my then girlfriend - no tent, we slept in the car!) and the Finns and Germans don't half enjoy a beer until very late and are up for more than a bit of hijinks! (Ordinarily I'd be joining in, but it had been a very long day!) There are much nicer places to stay within an hour of the circuit.

Bronze is good by the way - circuit's in a beautiful setting. Stand on the hill at Eau Rouge at least once during your visit.

chevronb37

6,472 posts

215 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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This is how close Bronze Admission gets you to Eau Rouge. Apologies for the poor photo, taken using a tired compact camera -


Kinky

39,944 posts

298 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
quotequote all
Eau Rouge - my absolute favourite - shivers up my spine every time I see it thumbup

But on a serious note - what costs (ish) are involved?

K

Murph7355

41,969 posts

285 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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I haven't been to Spa for ages, but general admission was similar (perhaps marginally lower) to Silverstone. The food was better though!

You could also go the other side of the track to the photo above which also got you closer IIRC.

The steepness of that hill is amazing when stood on it. You typically lose that on the TV.



chevronb37

6,472 posts

215 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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That was the about at close as we could get using Bronze Admission for Eau Rouge. We didn't have much access over the other side. Nice to see the famous stream, though. The spectacle at Blanchimont with the sound bouncing off the trees behind you is perhaps the greatest, as you you feel the cars much more.

With regards to cost, it was about £500 each for everything including petrol and food. We booked through my favourite company ever - http://www.grandstandmotorsports.co.uk/ I sincerely have no stake in the company, but they've organised our Monaco and Spa trips and are superb.

Camping is OK, but the Germans are so noisy. I didn't get more than a couple of hours sleep per night. Not ideal when you've got 600 miles driving to do to get home...

AlpineWhite

2,164 posts

224 months

Thursday 1st January 2009
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chevronb37 said:
This is how close Bronze Admission gets you to Eau Rouge. Apologies for the poor photo, taken using a tired compact camera -

I think you've just made up my mind for me.

Ticket price is the same for weekend as it is for the Sunday only. So, could anyone recommend a place for camping close-ish to the circuit?

Thanks!

Edited by AlpineWhite on Thursday 1st January 23:55

chevronb37

6,472 posts

215 months

Friday 2nd January 2009
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We just used the official camping which was labelled "Green", or "Vert" in local tongue. It was just so noisy though - I would recommend getting well away from the Germans! Seriously, contact Grandstand Motorsport. Their ferries were a lot cheaper than I could find myself and the service you get from them is out of this world. I will be using them for all foreign trips from now on. Enjoy your trip! I think we're off to Monza this year. Or maybe the Spa 6hrs...

Allyc85

7,225 posts

215 months

Friday 2nd January 2009
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I went to Spa in 07 using bronze admission and had some great views. For qualifying we watched from Pouhon which is really fast corner and there was a great atmosphere. Then for race day we watched from the bus stop chicane which gave us some good overtaking and a few spins. I wish I had gone for last years race as id have been sat in the perfect place to witness the Hamilton corner cutting shenanigans.!

kusee pee

1,021 posts

232 months

Friday 2nd January 2009
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Allyc85 said:
I went to Spa in 07 using bronze admission and had some great views. For qualifying we watched from Pouhon which is really fast corner and there was a great atmosphere. Then for race day we watched from the bus stop chicane which gave us some good overtaking and a few spins. I wish I had gone for last years race as id have been sat in the perfect place to witness the Hamilton corner cutting shenanigans.!
General admission gives you a great range of viewing positions (agree, the entry to Pouhon is great, especially in qualifying) and if it's the first time at the track you'll want to walk all around if you're there for the weekend. Given the choice I'd save the money and go general admission anyway.

Gillet

639 posts

238 months

Friday 2nd January 2009
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I did Spa in 2007, we camped at the Nurburgring, then piled into 2 cars and drove over to Spa, traffic wasn't too bad and took about an hour.
Spa was probably the best circuit i've been to so far, but expect to be knackered by the end of the day, i walked to every viewing point i could, and all facilities etc were great. I'd strongly recommend a Kangaroo TV thing too.

word of warning to the guy going to Monza, don't do it! i went in 2006 and the circuit is aweful for viewing.The old banked circuit is incredible, but....
All the Italian fans stick up tarpaulin over the fences, and then sit between the tarpaulin and fence, so no-one can see except them. they camp there from the Friday too, so there is no "if you get there early enough", you simply cannot see anything, there are no facilities(food + drink etc), was a complete waste of money. my 2 pence worth anyway.

Do Spa though, its awesome.

RJB_666

1,677 posts

224 months

Friday 2nd January 2009
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chevronb37 said:
This is how close Bronze Admission gets you to Eau Rouge. Apologies for the poor photo, taken using a tired compact camera -

Why would you do this? I have been trying to save money. rolleyes Excellant photo by the way.

Allyc85

7,225 posts

215 months

Friday 2nd January 2009
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AlpineWhite said:
chevronb37 said:
This is how close Bronze Admission gets you to Eau Rouge. Apologies for the poor photo, taken using a tired compact camera -

I think you've just made up my mind for me.

Ticket price is the same for weekend as it is for the Sunday only. So, could anyone recommend a place for camping close-ish to the circuit?

Thanks!

Edited by AlpineWhite on Thursday 1st January 23:55
Just drive towards the circuit mate, you cant miss the campsites. When I went we camped at one 500 meters from La Source hairpin biggrin

Lost my mojo

205 posts

254 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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http://www.eaurouge.nl/en/camping.htm We stayed here last year. Like everyone says it was noisy but aren’t most motor sport campsites like this? And all adds to the atmosphere, however I have been known o fall asleep on the bank at arnage comer at le mans - im a deep sleeper smile

Viewing at Phoun was great we stayed there for the race, was not impressed with bronze viewing section of les coombes as you could see the cars start to break but not complete the corner which is where the action finishes so kind of frustrating. I went with my Dad and by the time we paid for everything we said if we did it again we would pay the extra money for a grandstand seat at les coombes. The guys camping opposite us who did have grandstand seats said the opposite and if they did it again they would just have bronze tickets. If you do decide to go, you wont regret it.

Andy

chevronb37

6,472 posts

215 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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Gillet said:
word of warning to the guy going to Monza, don't do it! i went in 2006 and the circuit is aweful for viewing.The old banked circuit is incredible, but....
All the Italian fans stick up tarpaulin over the fences, and then sit between the tarpaulin and fence, so no-one can see except them. they camp there from the Friday too, so there is no "if you get there early enough", you simply cannot see anything, there are no facilities(food + drink etc), was a complete waste of money. my 2 pence worth anyway.
Cheers for the information, dude. Did you get grandstand seats? I've been a Ferrari obsessive since I could first talk so feel I have to go at some point. Did it occur all weekend? Was it universal at all viewing spots? At Monaco Historique this year on the Casino Square grandtand, there were grandstand assistants to keep order - very civlised way of doing things. They were telling people to sit down, etc. Can't see the rowdy Italians complying with such concepts though...