Silverstone Classic - Your views please
Discussion
Having returned from Goodwood FoS feeling like the older stuff had been reduced to allow newer / EV's to showcase (just my view, not looking for debate) I'm considering attending the Silverstone Classic.
I've never been before so would welcome your views / opinions on the event.
Thank you.
I've never been before so would welcome your views / opinions on the event.
Thank you.
Edited by Robw73 on Wednesday 19th July 14:20
I've not been to the Classic for a couple of years, have been put off by the high ticket prices.
There's plenty of actual racing but Silverstone is still Silverstone, and they've built houses on the best viewing spot.
Plenty of car club displays as well as some manufacturer stands, so should be something for all tastes.
The competing cars aren't lined up in a paddock neatly like at the FoS or Le Mans Classic, but still decent fan access to the paddocks.
There's music in the evenings, they seem to be marketing it as a 'classic festival' so it might be worth staying nearby or camping.
You won't see any celebs or social media influencers, which is probably a positive.
There's plenty of actual racing but Silverstone is still Silverstone, and they've built houses on the best viewing spot.
Plenty of car club displays as well as some manufacturer stands, so should be something for all tastes.
The competing cars aren't lined up in a paddock neatly like at the FoS or Le Mans Classic, but still decent fan access to the paddocks.
There's music in the evenings, they seem to be marketing it as a 'classic festival' so it might be worth staying nearby or camping.
You won't see any celebs or social media influencers, which is probably a positive.
Rebranded the Festival this year from the The Classic previously, In line with Silverstone’s business model at the moment I’m assuming that the cars and racing will be just be a sideshow compared to previous years?....and yes, I’m no fan of the place and the way they treat ordinary folk despite it being my local track and having spectated, trackdayed and for the last few years, raced there.
Edited by mattnoss on Thursday 20th July 07:03
Edited by mattnoss on Thursday 20th July 07:04
Went a couple of years back and had a really good day. Lots of variety on track, good access to the paddock and lots of car club displays around so plenty to see and do outside of the racing.
Roving grandstands is also a plus but with the track being so big, getting around to lots of viewing points will probably mean you miss out on the in field bits.
I do keep an eye on the program, but doesn't change greatly year on year so a bit like FOS, one to do every few years as opposed to a yearly one otherwise can be a bit samey.
If you like the old stuff, keep an eye out for Brands/Donington etc as they also have good "historics" days. Last year Donington had the Group C Le Mans cars going around which was a sight to behold, but thats not every year.
Roving grandstands is also a plus but with the track being so big, getting around to lots of viewing points will probably mean you miss out on the in field bits.
I do keep an eye on the program, but doesn't change greatly year on year so a bit like FOS, one to do every few years as opposed to a yearly one otherwise can be a bit samey.
If you like the old stuff, keep an eye out for Brands/Donington etc as they also have good "historics" days. Last year Donington had the Group C Le Mans cars going around which was a sight to behold, but thats not every year.
I go for the three days every year and it is barely enough. You have 1100 racing cars and even more interesting road cars to perv over. I stick to the former , and spend mornings of Fri and Sat at the old pits (access all areas , except pit lane itself , even during races - brilliant ) and the afternoons at the Wing (access ditto ). Older , slower cars at old pits and new, fast stuff at Wing . I walk an easy 3-5 miles a day even though I use the bus to get to the Wing.
For me it is about seeing and hearing wonderful, often very rare cars, close up and talking to lots of folk - from drivers to team folk , including friends in the business . The racing can be very close but being Silverstone , you are rarely in the same post code as the track. For practice I'll watch at Brooklands , and for the fast stuff between Stowe and Wing. For racing Village is good -ish and actually can be pretty good for saloons and Formula Junior overtaking .
Get in early , keep on the move , get in the pits and walk miles is my advice
For me it is about seeing and hearing wonderful, often very rare cars, close up and talking to lots of folk - from drivers to team folk , including friends in the business . The racing can be very close but being Silverstone , you are rarely in the same post code as the track. For practice I'll watch at Brooklands , and for the fast stuff between Stowe and Wing. For racing Village is good -ish and actually can be pretty good for saloons and Formula Junior overtaking .
Get in early , keep on the move , get in the pits and walk miles is my advice
I've been a couple of times. Today's high prices puts me off nowadays.
I'd rather make the effort to travel to Oulton Park for the Gold Cup or Donny Historics. Yes, it's the same old and doesn't necessarily have the cache of Silverstone Classic or Goodwood but would rather spectate at Oulton, than Silverstone.
Historics feel souless at Silverstone today which is there to accommodate current F1 safety standards and at many spectating places you're so far away. At the back chicane at Snetterton you're only a few feet away from seeing the cars sliding, steering with the throttle and trying to induce 4 wheel drifts. If it wasn't for full face helmets you'd be able to see the drivers grinning from ear to ear.
I'd rather make the effort to travel to Oulton Park for the Gold Cup or Donny Historics. Yes, it's the same old and doesn't necessarily have the cache of Silverstone Classic or Goodwood but would rather spectate at Oulton, than Silverstone.
Historics feel souless at Silverstone today which is there to accommodate current F1 safety standards and at many spectating places you're so far away. At the back chicane at Snetterton you're only a few feet away from seeing the cars sliding, steering with the throttle and trying to induce 4 wheel drifts. If it wasn't for full face helmets you'd be able to see the drivers grinning from ear to ear.
I go every couple of years or so, generally with the Honda s2000 club. Clubs have heavily discounted tickets (50%) and infield parking & often a club marquee with coffee/snacks which is a godsend in the inevitable rain....
Even so with travel and accommodation, Its an expensive weekend - but with the racing and thousands of club cars turning up - I think it was 10 deloreans last year, means there is soo much to see....
Even so with travel and accommodation, Its an expensive weekend - but with the racing and thousands of club cars turning up - I think it was 10 deloreans last year, means there is soo much to see....
I think it’s a great event, it’s not cheap but you get the best part of ten hours of track action for your money, a vast array of racing cars competing that you won’t see in the same place anywhere else this year, access to grandstands and shuttle buses to get you round… it’s hard to find faults really.
That “x” at Club is about an inch too far, the viewing spot is obviously not between the track and the pit lane entry!
I spend most of my time between the two areas marked X. The wing paddock usually hosts the more interesting cars, Masters Endurance Legends, Sports car Legends, Gentleman Drivers etc so I find it fun to walk through the paddock a few times, the grandstand at Farm has a bar next to it and is on a shuttle bus stop too. Then for something different, there is a nice banked viewing area on the pit lane entry.
You can also walk across to Hangar straight quite easily and the spot just before the bridge looking back up the track towards Becketts is great, especially for the F1 cars.
So is it worth £100 a ticket, well tickets for Bristol Bears vs Barbarians later this years are £55 and that’s 80 minutes of rugby, so you pay your money and take your choice, personally £10 per hour to see and hear some proper old school motorsport is good value for money imho.
Ultimately it’s what you make of it, if you stay in one place lamenting that it’s £100 to see cars being driven by a variety of ability, bemoaning how twenty years ago it was 1/4 of the price, you’re going to have a miserable time….
But start at 0900 at Woodcote, wander through the trade stands, quick meander through the car club displays if any of interest on your way through to Farm, get the beer you just earned, watch a race or two, wander through the pits etc etc….
That “x” at Club is about an inch too far, the viewing spot is obviously not between the track and the pit lane entry!
I spend most of my time between the two areas marked X. The wing paddock usually hosts the more interesting cars, Masters Endurance Legends, Sports car Legends, Gentleman Drivers etc so I find it fun to walk through the paddock a few times, the grandstand at Farm has a bar next to it and is on a shuttle bus stop too. Then for something different, there is a nice banked viewing area on the pit lane entry.
You can also walk across to Hangar straight quite easily and the spot just before the bridge looking back up the track towards Becketts is great, especially for the F1 cars.
So is it worth £100 a ticket, well tickets for Bristol Bears vs Barbarians later this years are £55 and that’s 80 minutes of rugby, so you pay your money and take your choice, personally £10 per hour to see and hear some proper old school motorsport is good value for money imho.
Ultimately it’s what you make of it, if you stay in one place lamenting that it’s £100 to see cars being driven by a variety of ability, bemoaning how twenty years ago it was 1/4 of the price, you’re going to have a miserable time….
But start at 0900 at Woodcote, wander through the trade stands, quick meander through the car club displays if any of interest on your way through to Farm, get the beer you just earned, watch a race or two, wander through the pits etc etc….
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 22 July 20:28
Agreed - and as I get a BOGOF car club ticket deal , it can work out at about £50 for three days if I were to sell the I other ticket (I don't, usually preferring to give it away and ask for a charity contribution) . That's less than twenty quid a day- and I'm there for 10- 12 hours a day.
As the tickets are app only (grrrr) how do I give my spare one away to someone who will not be accompanying me ? I can't email or post them. I know any 8 year old would know how but it's a long time since I was that age - MacMillan was still in Number Ten when I was . Christ .
As the tickets are app only (grrrr) how do I give my spare one away to someone who will not be accompanying me ? I can't email or post them. I know any 8 year old would know how but it's a long time since I was that age - MacMillan was still in Number Ten when I was . Christ .
entropy said:
Historics feel souless at Silverstone today
Yep.I get that the people actually racing probably like it, but its not a place I'd now ever consider wanting to go to for Historic Racing as a spectator.
I'll stick to Goodwood Revival, for all its faults its still got the atmosphere as well as the racing.
aeropilot said:
entropy said:
Historics feel souless at Silverstone today
Yep.I get that the people actually racing probably like it, but its not a place I'd now ever consider wanting to go to for Historic Racing as a spectator.
I'll stick to Goodwood Revival, for all its faults its still got the atmosphere as well as the racing.
Standing watching a grid of DFV era F1 cars or Endurance Legends form up in the assembly area, start, then make their way out on to the track can only happen at Silverstone…
Hunter 66 said:
Le Mans Classic was epic this year ......... just 235,000 people is a LO
Yes, but there were some quiet spots around the track. People congregated around the paddock and start for obvious reasons. Only for a few hours on Saturday afternoon did Porsche Curves feel busy and even then not that bad, Mulsanne and Arnage never felt too busy either,Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 27th July 09:05
pablo said:
aeropilot said:
entropy said:
Historics feel souless at Silverstone today
Yep.I get that the people actually racing probably like it, but its not a place I'd now ever consider wanting to go to for Historic Racing as a spectator.
I'll stick to Goodwood Revival, for all its faults its still got the atmosphere as well as the racing.
Standing watching a grid of DFV era F1 cars or Endurance Legends form up in the assembly area, start, then make their way out on to the track can only happen at Silverstone…
The Revival for the most part seems to exhibit high driving standards and close-racing; the Silverstone Classic (and earlier the Coys Festival) used to in the 00s, however as the '10s progressed it moved further from good racing and closer to a family-friendly 'festival' with a car show alongside - not my scene.
bumskins said:
... it moved further from good racing and closer to a family-friendly 'festival' with a car show alongside ...
This is a spot-on description. I've been to the various historic events at Brands Hatch and they are much more entertaining for track action, but doesn't have the space for the car club events.pablo said:
aeropilot said:
entropy said:
Historics feel souless at Silverstone today
Yep.I get that the people actually racing probably like it, but its not a place I'd now ever consider wanting to go to for Historic Racing as a spectator.
I'll stick to Goodwood Revival, for all its faults its still got the atmosphere as well as the racing.
Standing watching a grid of DFV era F1 cars or Endurance Legends form up in the assembly area, start, then make their way out on to the track can only happen at Silverstone…
I have zero interest in watching interest in a grid full of DFV era F1 cars, and while it would be nice to see a 917 being given some quick demo laps of Goodwood, I don't have any interest in Lemans type racing post the 917 era either.
I'm quite happy with the pre-66 era that celebrates the years of an active Goodwood. Its as much a celebration of Goodwood as a circuit in its hey day, as anything else, that's why its still special.
It's a lot more than 'just' a classic racing meet. I get that people are only interested in the on track racing and nothing else.
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