As per title really. I've never been to see any kind of sporting event to my knowledge and I'd like to go and see some and maybe take my dad
for his birthday. I thought about going over to Spa to watch F1 but I've heard it's not that great in person.
I'm up for any suggestions, please take into account value for money as well as outright excitment. For the moment UK based ideas are prefered,
I'd love to go and watch 24 hours at Le Mans or Nurburgring but it's just not practical.
i used to got to a couple of rounds of the BTCC which is always a good weekend out... pick your track tho... avoid donnington and snetterton...
Would you reccomend Brands Hatch as I see they're back there in october? I considered going to other week for the start as I got a random sunday off but I didn't wake up in time.
proper banger racing, great entertainment, the speed some of the guys pile in at these days scares me and Ive driven in a fair few banger races in my
time.
Pick a big meeting, you will love it.
I have seen the touring cars a few times, which also has the Clio cup,Porsche cup etc and is a good day out if the weather is good.
The best racing Ive seen has been rallycross , no messing about, plenty contact and fast. Both have open pits and the teams are on the whole friendly
and happy to chat etc.
The drag racing is impressive if you pick a decent meet, ie top fuel/funny cars. I quite fancy one of the historic meets at some point.
Also hillclimbing ?
I'd thought about Hill climbing and Rallycross but the probelm is I could find event but I've got no idea what specific events will be like. With that kind of thing do you just sort of turn up?
VSCC events are awesome, I find. The noise on the starting grid when it's a race with cars with 10+ litre engines is amazing.
http://www.vscc.co.uk/vsccweb/events/events.jsp?action=1
I love British hill climb championship rounds. All sorts of cars to get close to an snoop around. And lots of runs to watch if you make morning practice sessions
Goodwood FOS? You get a bit of all of the above, and more!
Another good one is Sporting trials. Lots of events throughout the country, through the year with a break in the summer.
It's nice and informal and friendly and they even run experience days that you can have a go your self. It is surprisingly addictive.
http://www.sportingtrials.com/
http://www.btrda.com/
Truck racing at Brands in November. Went to the first Truck SuperPrix there in '87 and again 4 or 5 years back. Awesome spectacle, close fast
racing and one hell of a bang if it goes pearshaped
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wholkmfRK6o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV8POh2LW4U
Oh yeah, and smog like you wouldn't believe
I'm gonna try and get there again this year!
ATB
Simon
for rallycross, European event on the 19th April !
http://www.lyddenhill.co.uk/
[Edited on 10/4/12 by T66]
Er, Euro Rallycross was last weekend - 8th - 9th. Sorry
ATB
Simon
The best racing in the UK isn't on 4 wheels, its on 2. Get yourself to a WSB round or to cadwell for the British superbikes(BSB). Proper racing, lots of overtakes. Great value for money.
British gt racing is a great weekend,or historic f1 both seen at brands last year and have great support races too.
Off to lemans this year so looking forward to that.
Another vote for BTCC (plenty of supporting races such as Ginetta G50s and G55s, Porsche etc.) and also BSB
Something at Mallory Park. Pick the right spot and you can see just about the whole track.
Another vote for hill climb. Shelsley Walsh meeting with all classes gives you a view of fabulous machinery from pre-war to present day, and you can wander round the paddocks (like old school bike sheds)
brands is always a good track to watch anything, the natural bowl means you can pretty much see the whole undying circuit, especially from the stand
at the top of paddock hill.
as for f1, if you haven't seen it live then its defo worth seeing and hearing it live. its amazing, the sound and atmosphere is like no other
event I've seen b4. go to one thatd likey to have a good weather tho, as it may make an exciting armchair race, its much nicer to walk the
track on a sunny day!
Went to our first rallycross meeting over Easter with my son, one of the best race days I've been to as loads of short fast action packed racing. There are a few European rounds that sound good.
Agree with Franky, WSB, BSB and Supersports, plenty of edge of your seat action, especially Supersports, they are all so eager to get to Superbikes they are really going for it!!
Come to Brands Hatch for the 750MC race weekend April 28th and 29th.
Good close racing and not far from you.
I'd give another vote for Goodwood - festival of speed or revival.
Regards
Hugh
I've taken past girlfriends to watch banger and oval track racing. Both (different girls) enjoyed the experience, loud, fast and close racing.
Banger racing was a giggle because it was into the evening with a few drinks and proper seats (Coventry - not the best place in the world). You
couldn't help laugh at a herse driving around about 4 feet shorter than it started.
I also like Mallory, you do get to see the whole race if you want. if you move to a different spot its not a long walk.
I've been to a hill climb and loved sitting (Shelsy?) on a really a lazy day in the sun watching pre war cars race past. The noise is amazing
(also seen similar cars at Mallory and the sound of a massive unsilenced engine, 2m from me at full chat still stays with me 10 years on)
Another vote for anything at Brands Hatch, great circuit to watch. Don't forget that if your Dad likes looking at cars close up then smaller race
weekends/days are a must. Walking round the paddock and gawping at the cars is great fun.
750 motor club do very varied days and there are a lot of folk on these boards who participate.
Also, I've been to goodwood revival, it's great. Loads of proper vintage cars (and racers) - I imagine the FoS is equally as amazing.
Good to here Brands hatch is a good place to go as it's the only circuit I know how to get to. Thanks for all the suggestions I'm going to look some up and see whats doable.
I'd vote for 750mc at Brands.
You sit where you want, walk about wherever you want and get up close to the cars in the pits and paddock, and the stand at the top of Paddock Hill
gives you a view of nearly the whole circuit. If it's your Dad, go in the main gate and stay left, and you can go and park behind the stand, and
the loos and cafe are a short walk as well.
Last time the gate was £12 for anyone without passes, so won't break the bank either.
Take a hat and umbrella, covers all weather.
Cheers,
Nev.
Another vote for the 750mc meet on the 28/29th April at Brands Hatch.
Everything from Austin 7s to RGBs, lapping in Touring car times.
I am a bit bias though
Oval racing in my opinion is the best sort to watch for the following few reason's
You see all the action right in front of you and it is action every lap!!! (No tv screen's ect showing you the crash that you missed further down
the track)
Also if you think an oval is easy/boring think about this if you are leading the point's in most oval formal's you start at the back of the
grid so if you have 45+ cars out there and want to win you have to overtake the lot and if its contact it makes it even more difficult .. This results
in to some amazing racing normally with a lot of crashing also ...
If anyone would like watch any oval racing may i suggest looking on link below you can view the formula's and venues
http://www.spedeworth.co.uk/incarace/index2.php
Bit of a tangent this one but this is my current hobby, 1/8th scale rallycross.
Spent all easter at the biggest event in the UK and had all the worlds top drivers there.
I even won the mechanics race
Check out this video
Oh and spectating is free
[Edited on 11/4/12 by Gav]
You've probably already decided what to go for, but I would vote for BTCC. It's not just the touring cars, I found the warm up races to be
just as fun. The first year we got to see Fiesta Zetecs, Clio Cups and Lotus Exige's going wheel to wheel, the next one we went to we were
treated to an Aston Martin race!! I'd never heard one if the big Volante V8 thingies before, what a beast! Although to be fair there was a lot of
money on the track for that race so it wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped. The Clio's were by far the best, lightning quick but not so
valuable that they didn't want to trade paint.
I think we clubbed together for an 'all access' type pass, got the car to within 10 yards of the fence and set up a BBQ and an ice box. We
were set from the first warm up races all the way through to the night time BTCC race.
NASA Grass track / Auto grass 52 clubs round the country every thing from mini's to mk2 escorts and twin bike lump specials. Racing from April
till October £4-6 to get in and you can build a car from £300 and race it on a £45 licence. You can see the whole race from start to finish in one
field so none of this one pass then 3 min wait for it to come round again.
http://www.national-autograss.co.uk
[Edited on 11/4/12 by Talon Motorsport]
[Edited on 11/4/12 by Talon Motorsport]
That sounds like fun, do you have a link to a website?
quote:
Originally posted by morcus
Good to here Brands hatch is a good place to go as it's the only circuit I know how to get to. Thanks for all the suggestions I'm going to look some up and see whats doable.
Brands Hatch is the place to be for sure. I prefer the club events, nothing can beat enthusiastic amateurs driving too fast for thier ability along
with a packed programme.
The british GT meet is good, though my favourite is the DTM spectacle, F1 for tin tops. Why not make it really special and get some hospitality for
the day, its cheaper than you may think. I use At Pole Position if you fancy an event with them give Steff a call, he's very helpful, lovely guy
and might even give you a bit of a deal, just mention that Mike Curtin recommended him to you.
What's the best day for brands? 28th or 29th. Might come down!
Again biased but the 750MC weekend at Brands should be good fun. Quite a lot of us on here competing in either RGB, Locost or Kits, I'd have
thought if you ask nicely there ought to be some free tickets available.
You can see most of the Brands Indy circuit from the stand overlooking the end of the pit straight and you can have a wander round the paddock and
have a look at all the cars/talk to the drivers.
You are on the doorstep of one oft he best Rallycross venues in Europe. Lydden Hilll near Canterbury is awesome.
http://www.lyddenhill.co.uk/
...........Neil