Trackside camping?

[donkmeister]

I've seen that at some American circuits there are trackside campsites so people can buy a special ticket, park up their RV, put a couple of deckchairs on the roof and watch the weekend's racing.

Are there any UK circuits where trackside camping (i.e. actually being able to watch the event from the campsite) is possible? I like the idea for some reason.

The closest I saw to this is at Santa Pod where the teams park their RVs up next to the strip, but buying a camper van would be enough of a stretch without having to get a whole racing team to go with it (plus it's not a circuit!)

[FredericRobinson]

Donington (for bigger events), Oulton, and Snetterton (for smaller events)

Edited by FredericRobinson on Tuesday 28th April 18:53

[donkmeister]

FredericRobinson said:

Donington (for bigger events), Oulton, and Snetterton (for smaller events)

Edited by FredericRobinson on Tuesday 28th April 18:53

Thanks! Any chance you have tried it? Anything to report on how good (or not) it was?

[WickerBill]

donkmeister said:

I've seen that at some American circuits there are trackside campsites so people can buy a special ticket, park up their RV, put a couple of deckchairs on the roof and watch the weekend's racing.

Are there any UK circuits where trackside camping (i.e. actually being able to watch the event from the campsite) is possible? I like the idea for some reason.

The closest I saw to this is at Santa Pod where the teams park their RVs up next to the strip, but buying a camper van would be enough of a stretch without having to get a whole racing team to go with it (plus it's not a circuit!)

You’re right about Santa Pod but it’s only teams...spectator campsite is behind the banking (although technically if you go under the wind turbines in family camping you can see the shutdown area from your tent!)

Oulton is great for that with the campsite opposite the avenue...other circuits in the U.K. I’m not sure. I know it’s not the U.K. but Spa 24 and Le Mans we always take a small fishing tent and a sleeping bag for overnight shelter...

[FredericRobinson]

Donington - bigger events only, I've camped the last couple of years for World Superbikes - 2 kinds of trackside pitches - more expensive overlooking Craner curves and the run back up the hill, come with electric hook up, much cheaper along the Wheatcroft straight, some giving good views of the Foggy esses and Goddards, pitches marked and numbered, book early.
Oulton - used to be first come first serve, but they've realised they can charge more for trackside so those pitches now come at a premium, I've never been on a trackside pitch, but if I was going to I'd want one at the bottom overlooking cascades and across to the Hizzy chicane. Pitches are marked, presumably numbered for trackside.
Snetterton - for the bigger events they have a separate campsite, but last year for the British GT public camping was in with the competitors parking / camping, there were a few spots neat to the track at the end of the straight going into the corner under the bridge (Brundle?), not marked, first come first served

[donkmeister]

Thanks all, when things are a bit more normal I'll start looking at events at those tracks.

[FredericRobinson]

If thinking about camping at Donington bear in mind that DHL fly in and out of East Midlands through the night, it's not a place for a restful night