RE: Spa Classic weekend review

RE: Spa Classic weekend review

Monday 20th May 2019

Spa Classic weekend review

Quite possibly the best time you can have in Belgium



Speak to anyone about historic motorsport, and they'll most likely tell you it's fantastic. Speak to anyone about racing at Spa-Francorchamps, and they'll probably tell you it's fantastic as well. So guess what happens when you bring the two together...

Yep, rather predictably, sending classic racing cars around an iconic circuit makes for a compelling spectator spectacle. There's all that's so good about historic motorsport - thunderous GTs, powersliding touring cars and howling sportscar racers for starters - scaled up onto one of the world's best tracks. When a Peugeot 905 sandwiched between two Jaguar XJR-9s screaming towards Bus Stop at whatever silly speed it was isn't the best bit of the weekend, you know it's good racing.


For PH, the weekend began with the racing on Friday. With most accommodation a short drive away - or camping spots at Eau Rouge for the committed - plus a viewing lodge on the straight out of La Source, the action was never far away. Furthermore, like Le Mans Classic, the weekend is a magnet for European classic car owners clubs - perfect for a break from the circuit action. The scale of the event meant that all were catered for: whether it was a penchant for Peugeots, a deep Datsun desire or a Ferrari fascination, there were road cars for everyone to be excited by.

The racing categories were numerous, and varied: Heritage Touring Cup, Sixties' Endurance, a 2.0-litre 911 Cup, Endurance Racing Legends and more. The scope was so broad, from 1950 Coopers to GT2 Astons from the past decade, that the Spa Classic weekend will surely introduce viewers to new four-wheeled obsessions - as well as remind them of all that they loved already.

As if that wasn't enough, the Spa weekend ran into dark, with a two-hour run for the Sixties' Endurance cars from 19:35 and a 60-minute race for the classic touring cars beginning at 22:35. So that's old Capris, Escorts and Batmobiles, in the dark, around Spa - what more do you need to know?


If there was a real surprise though it came in the accessibility - the combination of tiny crowds and a very relaxed atmosphere meaning paddocks and pit garages could be explored to your heart's content. The small numbers also meant great spectating opportunities, too; certainly not always guaranteed at other classic events.

It would have taken a lot for the weekend to be any kind of disappointment, what with the cars, location and access. But if anything Spa Classic surpassed expectations, the diversity of machinery and quality of competition ensuring a truly memorable occasion. We'll be back for 2020, no doubt - see you there...








Author
Discussion

227bhp

Original Poster:

10,203 posts

127 months

Monday 20th May 2019
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"What more do you need to know"
Er, like when it was and maybe when it is next year?

C.MW

472 posts

68 months

Monday 20th May 2019
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The white 993 in the first picture looks a pure, er, Porsche. Sporty, tidy and restrained even with the aftermarket wheels on, it's the opposite of the 991 and all that come afterwards.

Edited by C.MW on Monday 20th May 14:15

VanquishRider

496 posts

151 months

Monday 20th May 2019
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Certainly one of the must see events for historic motor sports fans. But disappointed to hear of the low fan numbers. Went to the Donington Historic Festival a couple of weeks back and the same issue. Low numbers of fans. For me this created an atmosphere vacuum. And the circuit didn't put on any extra activities to entertain the kids or occupy the evenings due to low visitor numbers. Silverstone does this, but I'll never go again to that just because they cannot organise getting people into the circuit. So you spend hours in queue's cooking an expensive engine.

Le Mans Classic is the best I have been to by far. Crammed with off track activity. Loads of shops, stalls and entertainment. Manufacture supported stands. The best collection of owners cars being exhibited I have ever seen.

thelostboy

4,562 posts

224 months

Monday 20th May 2019
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VanquishRider said:
Certainly one of the must see events for historic motor sports fans. But disappointed to hear of the low fan numbers. Went to the Donington Historic Festival a couple of weeks back and the same issue. Low numbers of fans. For me this created an atmosphere vacuum. And the circuit didn't put on any extra activities to entertain the kids or occupy the evenings due to low visitor numbers. Silverstone does this, but I'll never go again to that just because they cannot organise getting people into the circuit. So you spend hours in queue's cooking an expensive engine.

Le Mans Classic is the best I have been to by far. Crammed with off track activity. Loads of shops, stalls and entertainment. Manufacture supported stands. The best collection of owners cars being exhibited I have ever seen.
I race in Masters and its fair to say you don't do it for the fans! However, for spectators, it does give you amazing access to the cars and owners.

I would suggest the Nurburgring Old Timer which is in August. So great weather (normally), a huge amount of cars and bigger crowds. Sort of their Silverstone Classic equivalent.

https://www.mastershistoricracing.com/race-calenda...

Turbobanana

6,160 posts

200 months

Monday 20th May 2019
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PH said:
When a Peugeot 905 sandwiched between two Jaguar XJR-9s screaming towards Bus Stop at whatever silly speed it was isn't the best bit of the weekend...
So what was, then?

havoc

29,928 posts

234 months

Monday 20th May 2019
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Must go back to Spa Classic at some point...really enjoyed it 2 years ago, and the setting is so much more evocative than Silverstone or Donington.

...although I do agree a bit ref. the lack of crowds.


VanquishRider said:
CSilverstone does this, but I'll never go again to that just because they cannot organise getting people into the circuit. So you spend hours in queue's cooking an expensive engine.
There are backroads available if you know where they are...

...but yes, it's still a PITA on the Saturday morning (and the Sunday afternoon out, on a couple of occasions)


SSC is still one of my favourite UK events for all sorts of reasons, but LMC is top of the list of 'next ones to go to'. Oldtimer and N24 also on the list...

framerateuk

2,730 posts

183 months

Monday 20th May 2019
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VanquishRider said:
Silverstone does this, but I'll never go again to that just because they cannot organise getting people into the circuit. So you spend hours in queue's cooking an expensive engine.
We've always camped just outside the circuit and have never had to queue at all.

I guess it depends on how keen you are to drive in and park next to other cars of the same type.

Exige77

6,518 posts

190 months

Monday 20th May 2019
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I went with some of my Lotus chums a few years back.

A really epic long weekend.

You really don’t know where to look there’s so much to see.

And the spectator track laps during lunch hour !! Not sure if they still do that.

Can thoroughly recommend it if you have a chance to go.

Nerdherder

1,773 posts

96 months

Monday 20th May 2019
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Spa Classic was 17, 18 and 19th of May this year for those asking.

I’ve attended for the first time this year as a spectator. Epic! Especially Group C and the 2 Litre 911 cup, the former due to the speed/visceral experience and the latter due to the large number of cars on the grid and competitive spirit. I will definitely attend next year. Only letdown was the understaffed beer- and food stands and subsequent long waiting lines around lunch and dinner. Plenty of Belgian beers available though.



Edited by Nerdherder on Monday 20th May 18:02


Edited by Nerdherder on Monday 20th May 18:02

Gransport

26 posts

121 months

Monday 20th May 2019
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I went for the first time this weekend and loved it. Seeing GT40's and a 917 going through Eau Rouge - real goose bumps time. Its a really impressive place and it was great to be able to wander the pits so freely. There was a good variety of cars being pushed hard and the late night endurance sessions really were special. For wheel to wheel action Goodwood Member's Meeting or Revival equals or perhaps betters it however - Spa is so big the cars quickly thin out.

Punters can take their car on the track between sessions and it was interesting to watch bravely driven MX5s keeping 911GT3s at bay through the curves. Unfortunately, the process seemed to break down under pressure.

I was booked to go out in the afternoon and was amazed / shocked at how many cars went out - over 80 I was told. That wouldn't be an issue with such a huge track if we were sent out in groups or staggered, as at Goodwood, but instead, we all went out in one go with no driver briefing beforehand.

I understood the first loop would be a sighting lap behind marshals but, from the get go, people were overtaking on both sides of the road and a huge amount of bunching occurred at the first set of corners. At this point I was glad to have taken out bloody expensive track insurance. We practically came to a standstill at Bus Stop and then went through Eau Rouge (for the first time) at all of 30mph.

On the second lap I let as many people get past as possible so I could at least have a decent run through ER - which worked. Its a hell of a feeling and I was really looking to another few goes, and stringing some sequences together, when we were red flagged and the session ended early. Gutted. Mates watching on track TV couldn't recall seeing a spin or crash so perhaps the marshals looked at what was going on, judged the potential for carnage and said, 'Non.'

Disappointing as that was, the roads around the circuit and wider area more than made up for it. They are absolutely fantastic and well worth the round trip. We had glorious sunshine Thursday evening (when we arrived) and then Saturday morning so we took full advantage (away from villages, of course). Little traffic, great scenery, epic bends and bounce-off-the-limiter straights.

Overall, glad I went and would go again.


havoc

29,928 posts

234 months

Monday 20th May 2019
quotequote all
Gransport said:
...when we were red flagged and the session ended early. Gutted. Mates watching on track TV couldn't recall seeing a spin or crash so perhaps the marshals looked at what was going on, judged the potential for carnage and said, 'Non.'
I went out on the lunchtime laps 4 years ago and it was pretty good / much fewer cars. A proper 15-20minute trackday-style session, and then a second before the end of the day. Trying to find the right line into/through Pouhon, carrying speed through the last left-hand kink before bus-stop, fantastic circuit. The year after we did the Grand Prix de l'Age d'Or at Dijon-Prenois, which was also really cool / proper trackday...was trying to keep up with a track-spec C3 when i realised a D-Type was gradually closing on me, so let him past with a view to seeing how close I could stay (answer = not very!).


Then went to the Classic again 2 years ago but declined the lunch session this time (due to cost of insurance), and saw exactly what you described - a free-for-all mainly slow-speed parade lap or three. Which is a shame. It's also all that Silverstone allow at the Classic, which is doubly a shame as the full GP circuit looks to be a belter!

Heaveho

5,279 posts

173 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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Just got back from this today, as you say, the parade laps don't look much fun other than being able to say you've driven the course. I love the place though, great pit access, sensible price to get in and park, chilled atmosphere. I was a bit disappointed to see all of the new grandstands where previously there would have been some quite interesting stuff parked, not sure if it's permanent or for a specific event.

We do this every year now, and stay in a lovely village about 10 miles out. All that distance, all those miles and the only Mitsubishi Evo I saw was mine, which I thought was a little peculiar.

Biggest hardship for me this year was getting what appeared to the worst case of food poisoning I've ever had, from, I think, something I ate at the track at about 1.30 pm on the Saturday. I managed to keep the bathroom at the place we stay occupied from 7pm on Saturday evening until 2 am Sunday, and I wasn't looking forward at all to the drive back, but recovered sufficiently well to manage! Couldn't face food 'til we were on the ferry on Sunday evening after 5pm, possibly the longest period of time I can recall going without a meal. Still, didn't stop me going to the track for a few hours on Sunday before the drive back to Amsterdam! It's too much work up to miss out.

EmilA

1,511 posts

156 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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I was there on Saturday for the first time with my family. We really enjoyed how close you can get up to the car with no barriers keeping you away from them, and the full access everywhere around the track. The noise from some of the old car's was pretty awesome, and that white Opel (Mantra) was insanely quick.

I stayed in Brussels over the weekend so it wasn't a long journey home to my flat thankfully. I'll certainly be going back to the event next year.

allegerita

253 posts

196 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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Spa Classic combined with Spa 6 hours end of the season provides much more fun that Le Mans Classic. First time I went to LMC was in 2012 and at that time it was good and accessible. We went to last year LMC but concluded the event overpriced for the value offered. The entire LMC set up has become much too compartmented, the more you pay the closer you can get to any action and with a basic ticket you get to see nothing. Unlike Spa Classic where you can see action from many places close to the track, in the paddock and in the pit lane. The touring car evening race was exciting, especially after it started raining at 11:00pm.

There was a large TVR contingent including 3 Sagaris’s (I saw at least) and a green T400R (?)

I’ll be back next year. Anybody noticed me and my Anglia in P14 BTW?




HvdWeerden

1,736 posts

199 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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Spa Classic is one of the best. Have been going for many years. Mix of cars , access to pits and paddock is great.
Have always booked with https://fasttracktours.co.uk/ great service and attention for detail!

Impression of how close you can get to the cars ;-)

https://youtu.be/gFVrbWK0dEk

Dixy

2,913 posts

204 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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Went for the first time this year having done most of the others. Loved how unpretentious it was and how friendly. The lack of crowds meant you could get anywhere but there were enough people for atmosphere. Standing on the railings at the bottom of the pit lane watching the DBR9s go past on track will be a memory for ever.

ChrisW.

6,210 posts

254 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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There are often track days following Spa Classic, and the drive across to the Nurburgring is none too shoddy. A shame that it was quiet this year ...

urquattroGus

1,845 posts

189 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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Huge thanks to the team at 1st Tickets and PH; first time I've been to Spa, loved the event.

Great convenient parking and tea/coffee/beer with a superbly located facility above the second pits, very impressed that we got this thanks to booking the tickets through 1st Tickets.

The event itself had a lovely feel, I find Goodwood etc too busy these days and too "you can't come in here", this was just what was needed!

Hired a lovely house in Spa too smile

Nerdherder

1,773 posts

96 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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P.s. This is a good site to find holiday homes/apartment/villa/castle type accommodation in the Ardennes region (so also around Spa!) https://en.ardennes-etape.com/

Darren390

478 posts

206 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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I attended this year for the first time with my friend in our 67 Mustangs. We had a great time and will be returning next year. As stated, there were enough spectators to create an atmosphere, but not enough to stop you enjoying the event. I was on the Saturday track session which was red flagged early, there were some heroes trying to display there driving skills and I spent more time looking in my mirrors than where I was going. I couldn't believe the amount of cars on track as well. Shame really but glad I can say I've driven Spa in a 67 Mustang!

We found a lovely apartment around 45 minutes away which was a lovely drive in everyday. Cant wait for next year.