38 replies to this topic

[maverick69]

My much, much better looking, better half brought me tickets for Christmas. God bless her.

 

Despite buying the magazine with my pocket money since 1986 - It's the first time I'm attending.

 

I'm a university lecturer in Mech Eng - so I'm well stoked about seeing the various trade stalls.

 

But does anyone have any other experiences? What's it like?

 

Mav 

[chunder27]

Err expensive

 

But you have tickets, fair enough.

 

12 quid to park still.

[stewie]

Err expensive

 

But you have tickets, fair enough.

 

12 quid to park still.

If you go at the weekend, park at the station as it's £6 for 24hrs.

[SpeedRacer`]

If you go at the weekend, park at the station as it's £6 for 24hrs.

 

Which station?

[ensign14]

Birmingham International.  But it might be cheaper to park at a nearby station and catch the London Midland one or two stops. 

[LBDN]

It's slightly on the expensive side but i was there for about 7 hours last year so i felt in the end it was reasonable value for money. 

[maverick69]

Bloody hell! Parking is expensive!

 

My better half's family live in Tamworth. We'll probably head down from there.

 

My mate down the pub is sorting me out a VIP upgrade. Canapes' and bubbly apparently.

 

I'll let you all know of my experience...... if you're that fussed 

[jonpollak]

What's bubbly apparently?

[Collombin]

I think you will probably enjoy it very much your first time there, because you won't be aware of how much bigger and better it used to be.

[Risil]

One of the highlights last year was watching the queue-up-and-have-a-go electric go karts. Lots of people pulling moves that would make Lance Stroll blush.

[DampMongoose]

How much is it?

[paulb]

One of the highlights last year was watching the queue-up-and-have-a-go electric go karts. Lots of people pulling moves that would make Lance Stroll blush.

I'm trying to figure out what an outlap in a queue looks like.

[Fatgadget]

Bloody hell! Parking is expensive!

My better half's family live in Tamworth. We'll probably head down from there.

My mate down the pub is sorting me out a VIP upgrade. Canapes' and bubbly apparently.

I'll let you all know of my experience...... if you're that fussed

Matey of yours down the pub, his name doesn't happen to be Goose by any stretch eh Maverick?!

[chunder27]

EB

 

That ought to be the banner headline!

[RS2000]

Perhaps he's "Ice Man" from NAS Miramar if he's handling the Champagne.

 

(although I know of two others using the "Ice Man" call sign - in Antigua. One flying a helicopter and one the "fastest 4 cylinder" drag racer, Winston Gray).  

[maverick69]

What's bubbly apparently?

 

Very good Jon. Very good 

[maverick69]

Matey of yours down the pub, his name doesn't happen to be Goose by any stretch eh Maverick?!

 

Unfortunately FG, I have to report that Goose is dead...... Or not doing a lot in F1 at the mo 

[jonpollak]

Very good Jon. Very good 

Nah..I blew it.

Shoulda been.. "Who's Bubbly Apparently?"

Ya know, like one of those Tory goody two shoes, upper crust ladies like Candida Beverage.

 

Jp

[Jordan44]

Still doesn't say on the website what cars from last season will be there. Anyone got the full list?

[chunder27]

Just pick show cars from every team. they will all be there, otherwise half of you wouldn't even bother going!

 

35 quid to look at a static car, I juts don't get it!

[omgwtf]

It's not bad, depends what you want out of it. If you want"entertainment" go see Top Gear live, if you want to talk to teams about a drive, speak to a particular team about building a race car for you or sounding out a particular series you're looking to race in then you'll find some value in it as well as loads of suppliers of parts. Often some "show only" deals to be had...

As someone else mentioned it ain't what it used to be. A fair few tarts draped over cars that end up giving you neck ache! 

[Laura23]

Still doesn't say on the website what cars from last season will be there. Anyone got the full list?

Likely a car from every team but the year the cars come from will differ wildly. Ferrari usually just stick a 2002/3/5 chassis with some weird front and rear wings out. McLaren likely to use a 2013 car, Red Bull and Toro Rosso the same but with 2015 spec front wings. Renault might stick an older Lotus up the road (2013 spec).

The only true 2015 car is expect to see is the Williams since they have a big stand there this weekend. Not sure about Mercedes, I was told they have very few 2015 chassis to go around as show cars, certainly less than 2014. So they might just stick a 2014 down with 2015 front wing.

[Grayson]

If you can't make it to the show, we'll be broadcasting all of the interviews from the Autosport and Williams stages live on Autosport.com

 

You can take a look at Thursday and Friday's schedules here.

 

You can watch the live coverage here.

[jonpollak]

Or here...



Jp

[Richard T]

My house has never been so clean as the weekend of the Autosport International, just love listening to the interviews on stage 

[Prost1997T]

Jack Harvey on stage now.

[jonpollak]

From 1:00.18 in.

Worth the price of admission for me.
Jp

[GoldenColt]

Rob Smedley just destroyed Ted verbally. 

[Imperial]

I think it took until my third visit to ASI to realise it's good only for a one-off!

I'd suggest anyone divert their attention to heading to the Donington collection instead, where you'll near enough get your whole family in for the price of one ASI ticket.

Excellent internet coverage though. I haven't been watching live, but have just spent the last 7 hours watching a ton of the interviews I wanted to see via the youtube uploads.

[Disgrace]

A bit of a shame they didn't bother varying the interview questions when they had the same people on several times. What is that about if everything is to be uploaded online anyway?

[maverick69]

I found it mind-blowing to be honest as I wasn't really there for the F1 and racing fraternity celebs - more for the cars and engineering.

 

I have never seen so much cool stuff under one roof. Everything that I spend hours drooling over was there - plus interest.

 

The oval track and Pistonheads stuff was cool too. Not to mention some pretty decent stuff in the live arena. Those twin-engine mini things were straight out of Broadmoor. I want one.

 

It was also fully packed.

 

I also met LuckyStrike1, who's a bloody nice bloke - and really knows his suspension. Be warned keyboard engineers! Lol.

 

I'd defo go again. Although next time I'll be taking a packed lunch..... both solid and liquid 

[Laura23]

Can't say I'm impressed by the displays this year, I didn't go myself but looking at my friends photos of the day there was nothing to wow me.

Williams the only F1 team to turn up (but given I'd been on their museum tour a year ago I'd seen it all and more anyway), next to nothing from WEC and absolutely nothing from FormulaE just shows how little teams in various formula don't think ASI is worth the effort these days. Same old F1 show cars from Ferrari, Lotus and Red Bull, a 2014 McLaren pretending to be it's 2015 sister. Very little from the off-road world either. It seems like such a waste tbh.

I'd much rather go to Goodwood FOS and see the cars on display tumbling up that hill. If Autosport could even get an F1 car launch or two dozen at the show it'd help, they used to years ago! Even the Merch stalls looked pretty bare and filled with overpriced goods.

[Collombin]

I have never seen so much cool stuff under one roof. Everything that I spend hours drooling over was there - plus interest.

Just as I predicted! The problem is that about a decade ago it filled about 3 more halls, had tons more stalls, more cars on display, more star drivers, and was about £15 cheaper. Every year the content goes down and the price goes up.

(OK, I admit it, I did still end up going this year).

[maverick69]

Can't say I'm impressed by the displays this year, I didn't go myself but looking at my friends photos of the day there was nothing to wow me.

Williams the only F1 team to turn up (but given I'd been on their museum tour a year ago I'd seen it all and more anyway), next to nothing from WEC and absolutely nothing from FormulaE just shows how little teams in various formula don't think ASI is worth the effort these days. Same old F1 show cars from Ferrari, Lotus and Red Bull, a 2014 McLaren pretending to be it's 2015 sister. Very little from the off-road world either. It seems like such a waste tbh.

I'd much rather go to Goodwood FOS and see the cars on display tumbling up that hill. If Autosport could even get an F1 car launch or two dozen at the show it'd help, they used to years ago! Even the Merch stalls looked pretty bare and filled with overpriced goods.

 

Perhaps it was better "in the day": But there was a fair bit of endurance stuff there. The folks at Ginetta were really cool talking about their car and its design philosophy etc.

 

It was also bloody awesome checking out the details of ground effects tunnels on the Lotus 82 - and checking out their turbine car - in which they were fully happy to explain the thinking behind it in more detail than you get off of secondary sources on tut web. Mad bit of kit. Mental.

 

So. I'm not here to promote ASI...... But for me..... It was fantastic*

 

*Defo a one day job though

[maverick69]

Just as I predicted! The problem is that about a decade ago it filled about 3 more halls, had tons more stalls, more cars on display, more star drivers, and was about £15 cheaper. Every year the content goes down and the price goes up.

(OK, I admit it, I did still end up going this year).

 

Fair play. But I can only comment on what I experienced.

 

From an engineering POV - it was brilliant.

 

If I was to give it criticism: The likes of Ilmor and Cosworth missing in any meaningful manner was a bit of a let down. 

[Collombin]

and checking out their turbine car - in which they were fully happy to explain the thinking behind it in more detail than you get off of secondary sources on tut web.

I was tempted to ask them their thoughts on whether that chassis was the old 56/2 (a subject of much debate) but surprisingly for Classic Team Lotus the staff on duty at the time of my visit all looked about 18, so I didn't bother. No Bob Dance on duty this year.

[geordiecraig101]

I was there on Saturday and really enjoyed the day trip out. A few more race cars would always be more welcome  but the main thing i noticed from the last few years is that there was a lot less F1, seams everyone getting a bit fed up of it now. Anyway here my vid from the live action arena.

 

[maverick69]

I was there on Saturday and really enjoyed the day trip out. A few more race cars would always be more welcome  but the main thing i noticed from the last few years is that there was a lot less F1, seams everyone getting a bit fed up of it now. Anyway here my vid from the live action arena.

 

 

3:47. Those things were absolutely farkin' nuts 

[LuckyStrike1]

I found it mind-blowing to be honest as I wasn't really there for the F1 and racing fraternity celebs - more for the cars and engineering.

 

I have never seen so much cool stuff under one roof. Everything that I spend hours drooling over was there - plus interest.

 

The oval track and Pistonheads stuff was cool too. Not to mention some pretty decent stuff in the live arena. Those twin-engine mini things were straight out of Broadmoor. I want one.

 

It was also fully packed.

 

I also met LuckyStrike1, who's a bloody nice bloke - and really knows his suspension. Be warned keyboard engineers! Lol.

 

I'd defo go again. Although next time I'll be taking a packed lunch..... both solid and liquid 

 

 

Good to meet you there quickly!