Silverstone F1 advice?
Discussion
Hi guys, not been to Silverstone for the F1 for about 15 years, but this year I am working there and as part of the deal my wife and daughter are there too, staff access Thursday - Sunday whatever that means but I know it’s certainly not access all areas. Because I will be tied up around the helicopter side of things they will be on their own for a bit and neither have been to F1 before, although they watch it on TV.
Any advice on good places to view / spot people Thursday and Friday especially? Places to hang out? I don’t have to do my thing while the actual F1 cars are running, just before and after each day, but would like some advice to keep them occupied!!
Many thanks .
Any advice on good places to view / spot people Thursday and Friday especially? Places to hang out? I don’t have to do my thing while the actual F1 cars are running, just before and after each day, but would like some advice to keep them occupied!!
Many thanks .
SFTWend said:
Can I add a question please.
Driving in from the south, what time do I need to arrive on the Sunday to avoid a long tailback?
Many thanks.
Mate, you need to get there really early . The helicopter company I am doing a gig for said their workers head in about 5:30am from their hotel 11 miles away…. Driving in from the south, what time do I need to arrive on the Sunday to avoid a long tailback?
Many thanks.
I elected for them to get me camping there as that is not my idea of fun every day, let alone my wife and daughter……
J77wck said:
Thursdays and fridays you can use the grandstand, I recommend watching the practise sessions across from pit lane. Sunday is just chaos unless you have a seat.
Yes thanks for that, Sunday will be a bun fight I know, but that is great they can move around between grandstands Thursday and Friday 👌🏻 Is there a spot somewhere where they can see drivers arriving etc?
If you want to see the drivers arrive and other "celebs" like Zak in his Speedtail last year, head to the bridge over the Wellington Straight, you don't be able to go over it unless you have additional access but it's fun to loaf on the railing and see who you can spot coming in. Half the fans don't even recognise some of the drivers. Also keep a track as to what's happening on the big stage as likely at some point the nommed team will front up a couple of drivers to speak to the crowd and Lewis for the last couple of seasons has turned up on the stage as well.
Furyblade_Lee said:
Mate, you need to get there really early.
Or really late. My method the last few years on both Saturday and Sunday is to wait until everyone has arrived and is in the circuit, and then drive straight in. Obviously, you need a grandstand seat for this to be possible.Last year I drove in on Sunday after lunch and encountered no more traffic than any other day. It was quite surreal really.
paulguitar said:
Furyblade_Lee said:
Mate, you need to get there really early.
Or really late. My method the last few years on both Saturday and Sunday is to wait until everyone has arrived and is in the circuit, and then drive straight in. Obviously, you need a grandstand seat for this to be possible.Last year I drove in on Sunday after lunch and encountered no more traffic than any other day. It was quite surreal really.
My wife has bought me a hospitality package for my 60th. So I'll need to arrive mega early as don't want to miss the 'paid for' breakfast etc.
SFTWend said:
paulguitar said:
Furyblade_Lee said:
Mate, you need to get there really early.
Or really late. My method the last few years on both Saturday and Sunday is to wait until everyone has arrived and is in the circuit, and then drive straight in. Obviously, you need a grandstand seat for this to be possible.Last year I drove in on Sunday after lunch and encountered no more traffic than any other day. It was quite surreal really.
My wife has bought me a hospitality package for my 60th. So I'll need to arrive mega early as don't want to miss the 'paid for' breakfast etc.
SFTWend said:
paulguitar said:
Furyblade_Lee said:
Mate, you need to get there really early.
Or really late. My method the last few years on both Saturday and Sunday is to wait until everyone has arrived and is in the circuit, and then drive straight in. Obviously, you need a grandstand seat for this to be possible.Last year I drove in on Sunday after lunch and encountered no more traffic than any other day. It was quite surreal really.
My wife has bought me a hospitality package for my 60th. So I'll need to arrive mega early as don't want to miss the 'paid for' breakfast etc.
Sandpit Steve said:
SFTWend said:
paulguitar said:
Furyblade_Lee said:
Mate, you need to get there really early.
Or really late. My method the last few years on both Saturday and Sunday is to wait until everyone has arrived and is in the circuit, and then drive straight in. Obviously, you need a grandstand seat for this to be possible.Last year I drove in on Sunday after lunch and encountered no more traffic than any other day. It was quite surreal really.
My wife has bought me a hospitality package for my 60th. So I'll need to arrive mega early as don't want to miss the 'paid for' breakfast etc.
The last time I did that was in 1988!
My dad paid.
paulguitar said:
Or really late. My method the last few years on both Saturday and Sunday is to wait until everyone has arrived and is in the circuit, and then drive straight in. Obviously, you need a grandstand seat for this to be possible.
Last year I drove in on Sunday after lunch and encountered no more traffic than any other day. It was quite surreal really.
The last couple of times I've bothered to go to Silverstone me and the wife took our motorbikes, parked for free outside the gate nearest our grandstand and got to our seats for the national anthem. We watched the race and then were off like rats up a drainpipe to the sound of the winner's national anthem playing in the background. It's the only enjoyable way to do it unless you particularly like heaving crowds, long queues for questionable but over-priced food and the most disgusting toilets known to mankind.Last year I drove in on Sunday after lunch and encountered no more traffic than any other day. It was quite surreal really.
Now Singapore, that was a different experience altogether. Yes you're still going to queue for a Portaloo but there's an attendant who checks and cleans each one for the next punter.
ThingsBehindTheSun said:
I must be old as it all sounds like too much stress and hassle and I would rather sit on the sofa watching it with a cup of tea and the laptop for the boring bits, maybe have a little snooze after the first few laps?
It's really great to be there, even with all of the hassle and the current crap-sounding cars. And if you fancy a snooze you can because it's so quiet. paulguitar said:
ThingsBehindTheSun said:
I must be old as it all sounds like too much stress and hassle and I would rather sit on the sofa watching it with a cup of tea and the laptop for the boring bits, maybe have a little snooze after the first few laps?
It's really great to be there, even with all of the hassle and the current crap-sounding cars. And if you fancy a snooze you can because it's so quiet. 
I last went in 1991, I seem to recall it was £40 back then.
£369 to spend hours in traffic getting in and out of the venue and then fighting other people all day to get a slightly better but still crap view whilst having no idea who is actually in the lead?
Nah, I think I will pass.
Edited by ThingsBehindTheSun on Monday 10th June 14:34
ThingsBehindTheSun said:
£309.00 for general admission on the Sunday!!!!!! plus £60 to park the car
I last went in 1991, I seem to recall it was £40 back then.
£369 to spend hours in traffic getting in and out of the venue and then fighting other people all day to get a slightly better but still crap view whilst having no idea who is actually in the lead?
Nah, I think I will pass.
It doesn’t have to be that bad. I went last year. Drove in at 130PM from an air bnb in Northampton, no traffic. Parked at Silverstone primary school and had a pleasant stroll to the circuit. Had a grandstand seat I’d bought on eBay for relatively sensible money. Great view from Copse, opposite a big screen so knew exactly what was going on. I last went in 1991, I seem to recall it was £40 back then.
£369 to spend hours in traffic getting in and out of the venue and then fighting other people all day to get a slightly better but still crap view whilst having no idea who is actually in the lead?
Nah, I think I will pass.
Edited by ThingsBehindTheSun on Monday 10th June 14:34
Walked back to the school after race, put the car roof down and drove home with minimal traffic to watch it all on TV.
paulguitar said:
Sandpit Steve said:
SFTWend said:
paulguitar said:
Furyblade_Lee said:
Mate, you need to get there really early.
Or really late. My method the last few years on both Saturday and Sunday is to wait until everyone has arrived and is in the circuit, and then drive straight in. Obviously, you need a grandstand seat for this to be possible.Last year I drove in on Sunday after lunch and encountered no more traffic than any other day. It was quite surreal really.
My wife has bought me a hospitality package for my 60th. So I'll need to arrive mega early as don't want to miss the 'paid for' breakfast etc.
The last time I did that was in 1988!
My dad paid.
One operator FLYT is selling a charter from Battersea for £9k, including paddock club tickets. https://flythq.com/destinations/silverstone-grand-...
Silverstone Helicopters did have seats in a charter running from “our discrete heliport in the Oxfordshire countryside“ 15m away, for £1,500 return, including champagne and breakfast, but they’re sold out already. https://silverstone-helicopters.co.uk/helicopter-t...
There used to be more aircraft movements at Silverstone on Sunday than at Heathrow, it was the busiest airport in the world for the day!
Sandpit Steve said:
Silverstone Helicopters did have seats in a charter running from “our discrete heliport in the Oxfordshire countryside“ 15m away, for £1,500 return, including champagne and breakfast, but they’re sold out already. https://silverstone-helicopters.co.uk/helicopter-t...
This is the sort of thing we did in '88. I remember it well, we parked in a field containing a lot of very cool cars, 10 mins or so either way in the helicopter. The weather was horrible that day, I vividly remember coming in over the circuit and seeing a McLaren going down the Hangar Straight to Stowe. That must have been during the 'morning warm up' which is long gone now.paulguitar said:
It doesn’t have to be that bad. I went last year. Drove in at 130PM from an air bnb in Northampton, no traffic. Parked at Silverstone primary school and had a pleasant stroll to the circuit. Had a grandstand seat I’d bought on eBay for relatively sensible money. Great view from Copse, opposite a big screen so knew exactly what was going on.
Walked back to the school after race, put the car roof down and drove home with minimal traffic to watch it all on TV.
Silverstone school parking is my pro tip. Was home in Northampton post race before Ted's notebook had finishedWalked back to the school after race, put the car roof down and drove home with minimal traffic to watch it all on TV.
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