35 replies to this topic

[Alan Cox]

Those of you unable to get to Silverstone this weekend can follow proceedings, with live commentary and timing here

https://livetiming.r...#screen-results

[john aston]

I was there from thurs pm to yesterday evening and I thought it was the best Classic for some years. Personal highlights included standing next to a 8800 ccM8 McLaren as it fired up- sounded like a war zone , V12 Matras in sports car and F1 mode., 24 v Cologne Capris and a horde of T70s . Off track, getting a picture of Howden Ganley (what a nice man ). pushing little (Lotus Six) and Large (XJ12 ) , sitting in a Bristol 411 , seeing the 917/30 which killed Can Am  and the 919 which won 2015 Le Mans . I could go on...

[jayban]

The event has been improving over the last few years but this year I went on the Friday and was rather disappointed.

 

Some cars were kept covered up all day and half of the Group C LM prototypes on the entry list didn't even show up! - I felt a bit short changed.

 

Jeremy

[chunder27]

I felt short changed when I was being asked to subsidise for bands and the like to attract people who are not interested and want to "point at the old car as it goes past quickly", as did a few others I used to go with years ago, so simply stopped going.

 

But it seems I am in the vast minority.

[john aston]

OK- you find the fly , I'll stick with the  ointment- in the form of many entries which were there (about 1100 of them ) including  a number which weren't even in the programme.I didn't find the car covering up thing at all- Friday was qualifying so if you were racing the covers came off. I had unrestricted access to everything I wanted and more and more, It's a brilliant event unless you are determined to be disappointed., and the many friends and random people I spoke to had no complaints.  ..     

[Paul Hurdsfield]

I arrived on thursday at lunchtime for my first classic,and I got back at 2pm today, i thought it was fantastic. The access was unbelievable,

Friday in the National pits i went everywhere, on the pit wall, in every garage, nothing was covered up.

Saturday watched racing, did a parade lap with The Westfield Sports Car Club, we had 56 Westfields on circuit, later i watched group C cars racing till dusk.

On Sunday I went in the International pits and stood next to a Tyrrell as they fired it up, again nothing was covered up and you could go anywhere, I watched Group C cars from Beckets, pre 66 Grand Prix and Can Am cars from Club.

I have only one complaint. There was far too much to see and 3 days was not enough.

[Nick Planas]

I took my young granddaughter on Friday pm (we only live just up the road in Brackley) and watched the Masters, pre 66 & Can-Am Qualifying, the Can-Ams in particular making my hair stand on end. Saturday, couldn't go as I had a gig, Sunday I spent the whole day there unencumbered by my small fidgety descendant. Met a mate showing his Porsche, and showed him and his friend round the International Pits. Like John Aston, I was standing near the Can-Am McLaren when they fired it up; also the Maserati's (boy do they make your eardrums bounce!) and spent most of the day drooling over machinery from my childhood... I was reminded of the Brands paddock in 1969 for the RoC, when you could wander round, talk to the mechanics & drivers, etc. But this time the ground was more solid!

 

My very first ever motor racing experience was at Brands Hatch for the 1966 British GP, and as we walked over the bridge to the South Bank, the sports cars thundered under us. That memory came straight back on Friday as we sat on the bank by the Wellington bridge as the Can-Ams thundered past. As John says above, if you are determined to be disappointed then you will be... 

 

I wonder if my granddaughter will experience a similar feeling in 50 years time?

[Odseybod]

As a Saturday attendee, agree with all the positive comments above, especially re the Can-Am race. In some ways, the Classic reminds me of airshows down the road from me at IWM Duxford - it's pointless trying to 'do' the hangars AND the airshow in one day, you have to allow your ears to drag you away from methodical progress around the static displays when something particularly exciting goes past on track/in the air, So inevitably, you need more time/days than expected. Such hardship!

 

Just one grumble - the Paddock Diner - whose BBQ I've consistently sung the praises of in past years - was a total shambles, with an over-priced luke-warm burger arriving on a chilled fresh-out-the-freezer bap. The young staff on duty said they hadn't been told to do it any differently .... Lack of the previous year's interesting draught beer completed the epic fail.

[LotusElise]

Dad and I thoroughly enjoyed the Saturday. The Can-Am race was not only spectacular, but an exciting race. The sportscars in general gave great value for money, with some great driving from the likes of Ollie Bryant and Sam Hancock.

 

One of the things I like most about the Classic is that the races aren't all little sprints - many of them are 50 minutes, which allows for much more action and a real race to develop.

 

I've never been in the Paddock Diner, but I found the food stands this year to be a good selection, if predictably expensive. More of the stands were open this year and the car club area was good.

[dwh43scale]

Having enjoyed the event since the Coys days in various formats, I'm not so sure these days, but for a specific reason - I go to SIlverstone primarily to watch racing and for many of the classes, Silverstone really isn't ideal - great for the drivers perhaps, not so exciting for us t'other side of the fences with one or two honourable exceptions.

 

Perhaps its my age, or I have been spoilt by Goodwood and recent trips to Prescott and Shelsley, but those events are so much better suited to many of the older cars. Not sure Andy Newall really enjoyed trying to get the M8F round Village and The Loop. The old Laguna Seca must have been an eye opener though !

 

If what the Classic has become - part car club run destination / meeting place, part race meeting, part open paddock works for the organisers, that's great and more power to them for finding something people want, its just less what I want these days. I am grateful for the Owners Club ticket pricing - without that, its not a cheap day out.  

 

Just my humble opinion ...

 

 

David

Edited by dwh43scale, 01 August 2016 - 20:30.

[dwh43scale]

https://flic.kr/s/aHskEgDqSx

 

The answer to the question, when is too much power in a Nissan just TOO MUCH ? !

[chunder27]

Nicely put David and pretty much what me and my father found eventually after going up until it became a sort of poor mans Goodwood.

 

Actually that's unfair to Goodwood, they have found their niches and this is Silverstone's, all slightly different. They do put up some interesting stuff, but a lot of it you can see at a fraction of the cost at other venues as you suggest and at arguably better racetracks too, not Silverstones fault mind you, but as a venue it is perhaps the worst to watch at in the country.

What a Prescott or Masters meeting don't have is the monumental PR budgets and drive of a whole circuit trying to pay back a greedy little man who charges them umpteen million a year to host a borefest!  Despite hundreds of thousands attending and paying through the nose there too lol!

[john aston]

Deja Vu I know,  but cost wise it's a bargain for me. Ninety odd quid for three days - and I get a free ticket I can sell(except I give it away and ask for donor to give to charity)

 

. Re racing - I love watching stuff like T70s, Can Am and F1 even if the racing is not close(like in period then , in many cases) simply because of the noise, speed and drama- I could listen to a smallblock Chevy or a Matra V12 going round a circuit all day. But for racing - overtaking - you need a diverse grid of Mustangs, Cortinas and MInis etc or , best of all for my inner purist , a huge grid of screaming Formula Juniors dicing right down the field. We got both of course , but for next year I'd like to see another FF1600 and /or F3 screamer race .

 

Food- can be awful but I had some superb Mexican stuff and craft cider.

 

Viewing - can be dire , thanks to F1 demands . But Village not bad at all for watching racing per se- lost of overtaking and track is in same post code and I found the point midway between Stowe and Vale spot on for watching the hold-your-breath- and- step- back fast stuff   

 

 

I've done most of the big historic meetings and I don't mind saying that Silverstone is the one I enjoy the most by far. Unlike Goodwood it has an egalitarian approach and I don't have to put up with braying hoorays or people dressed up in pantomime clothes - but that cavil apart the Goodwood circuit is divine . Mind you . if I were King every race meeting would be held at Cadwell by law... 

[Paul Hurdsfield]

Yes that's what we paid, car club deal, £99 for two three day tickets.

£48 per person for a caravan pitch and £70 for an electric hookup 

Still a bargain though 

You have to know where to spectate at Silverstone otherwise as John says it's dire.

My three favourite places are Club A grandstand.

Luffield A grandstand.and Beckets grandstand.

I have tried Village a couple of times and it's growing on me, but it's a bit of a trek from Woodlands campsite for an old man and his wife 

Edited by Paul Hurdsfield, 02 August 2016 - 13:58.

[bill p]

Nicely put David and pretty much what me and my father found eventually after going up until it became a sort of poor mans Goodwood.
 
Actually that's unfair to Goodwood, they have found their niches and this is Silverstone's, all slightly different. They do put up some interesting stuff, but a lot of it you can see at a fraction of the cost at other venues as you suggest and at arguably better racetracks too, not Silverstones fault mind you, but as a venue it is perhaps the worst to watch at in the country.

What a Prescott or Masters meeting don't have is the monumental PR budgets and drive of a whole circuit trying to pay back a greedy little man who charges them umpteen million a year to host a borefest!  Despite hundreds of thousands attending and paying through the nose there too lol!

Hi Chunder,
What Events do you go to that you can recommend?

Bill P

[chunder27]

The events I tend to do these days are those that offer decent value and an interesting range of cars.

 

This year I have done a few clubbies at Silverstone, a couple of local motocross events and numerous enduro's with my friends, Dragstalgia at Santa Pod, a couple of stage rallies, one at Brands one at Donington. Blancpain at Brands on the qually day.  

 

Admittedly I am a tight git and don't like paying for things I don't need like bands, massive jumbles etc. Some events cater for this, some like the Classic, Goodwood, NEC do not, they force you to pay for things you have no interest in, so I do not attend.

 

If I could face the travelling I would go to the Eifel rally festival that was a few weeks ago in Germany. Le Mans Classic perhaps, an oldtimer event at the Nordschliefe, Pack in a few Euro Hill events such as St Ursanne, Eschdorf and would love to go to the big one in Italy. And bizarrely as a one offf a Euro tractor pull would be fun!

 

Closer to home, I am London ish so hill events are a ways away sadly. Usually try to get British champs in at Shelsley one day. praps a decent autograss meeting. lots of short oval stuff. Superbikes etc.

 

Pretty varied

[geordiecraig101]

I've got to say this was the best Classic yet that I've been too, loved every minute of it. The level off access that you and how welcome the teams/drivers are to talk to you about every thing and anything is just fantastic. Yes it is a bit disappointing that sum of the entries never turn up but that is only a small gripe, there is so much to see and do that even with 3 days its a hard task.

Will be going back next year ;).

 

Anyway here's my pics from the Classic:

 

https://www.flickr.c...th/28681586425/

Edited by geordiecraig101, 02 August 2016 - 19:00.

[foxyracer]

I haven't been to this event since it was the Coys Festival, it seemed too expensive compared to other HSCC meetings that offer equally good racing.  i went for two days this year because I was offered a complimentary ticket but i would probably have done one day at my own expense.

 

I am a keen photographer and a constant gripe with Silverstone is that the debris fences create an unacceptable obstruction to the view.  A grandstand stand seat can help provided it affords the opportunity to see over the fencing and is in a good position in relation to a corner.  At most Silverstone meetings the stands are padlocked.  I hoped this wouldn't be the case for the Classic and indeed there were more stands open but still much less than half.  What a waste, are they only there for the GP? The ones that were open were probably not the best.  From the one that was open at Copse I couldn't see over the fencing.  Nothing was open at Becketts or Stowe.  Village was OK but not ideal.  Club was best and then the terracing near Luffield.

 

I think this meeting is now too big to be good value.  It just isn't possible to watch the racing and look at all the displays.  You can only do one or the other so you are paying for something there isn't time to see.  

 

On Sunday the FIA masters F.1 race inexplicably started almost half-an-hour late so races at the end of the programme were being shortened even before the accident at the start of the HGPCA race.  This sort of thing happens so often it's become predictable.  Who would want to be in a race near the end of the programme? 

 

I doubt I will be back next year, the International Trophy is much much cheaper and represents the most that I am prepared to pay to go to Silverstone.  I will do Goodwood in March, Cadwell, Oulton, Combe and Croft.  Might do Donington but it's getting pricey although still cheaper than the Classic.

[john aston]

Well all I can say is that moaning about there being too much to see and do is a first- how we long for the good old days of thin grids and few spectators 

[bill p]

The events I tend to do these days are those that offer decent value and an interesting range of cars.

This year I have done a few clubbies at Silverstone, a couple of local motocross events and numerous enduro's with my friends, Dragstalgia at Santa Pod, a couple of stage rallies, one at Brands one at Donington. Blancpain at Brands on the qually day.

Admittedly I am a tight git and don't like paying for things I don't need like bands, massive jumbles etc. Some events cater for this, some like the Classic, Goodwood, NEC do not, they force you to pay for things you have no interest in, so I do not attend.

If I could face the travelling I would go to the Eifel rally festival that was a few weeks ago in Germany. Le Mans Classic perhaps, an oldtimer event at the Nordschliefe, Pack in a few Euro Hill events such as St Ursanne, Eschdorf and would love to go to the big one in Italy. And bizarrely as a one offf a Euro tractor pull would be fun!

Closer to home, I am London ish so hill events are a ways away sadly. Usually try to get British champs in at Shelsley one day. praps a decent autograss meeting. lots of short oval stuff. Superbikes etc.

Pretty varied

Thank you, Chunder27

A lot of food for thought there!
I reckon the European Hillclimbs would be good and Santa Pod - time to try something different

Bill P

Edited by bill p, 03 August 2016 - 06:56.

[Supertourer]

Nicely put David and pretty much what me and my father found eventually after going up until it became a sort of poor mans Goodwood.

 

Actually that's unfair to Goodwood, they have found their niches and this is Silverstone's, all slightly different. They do put up some interesting stuff, but a lot of it you can see at a fraction of the cost at other venues as you suggest and at arguably better racetracks too, not Silverstones fault mind you, but as a venue it is perhaps the worst to watch at in the country.

What a Prescott or Masters meeting don't have is the monumental PR budgets and drive of a whole circuit trying to pay back a greedy little man who charges them umpteen million a year to host a borefest!  Despite hundreds of thousands attending and paying through the nose there too lol!

 

 

 

Silverstone ( as in Silverstone Circuits Ltd) isn't the classic though - they licence the name and hire the circuit to the company that promotes and runs the event. So your ticket money isn't really going to BE as directly as you imagine, although some of it is going to SCL for track hire as a 'supplier' as with most race events that are not circuit promoted events.

Edited by Supertourer, 03 August 2016 - 07:26.

[chunder27]

I thought you were being Sarcastic Bill!  But yes the Euro hill events are one I would love to attend. A real carnival of the like you never get over here, whole villages turned over to the cars, amazing. And Santa Pod can be a little rough and ready, but pick something like dragstalgia, or a British championship and you get to see a lot of cars, some pretty serious tech and they always throw in someone testing a nitro car and a jet car or something. And they are worth the money on their own.

 

They run very slick events, the parking is massive and free, the facilities are good too. A real sleeper of a venue compared to most race circuits. The facilities there are the same as Brands, Silverstone or anywhere else. 

 

I think the Classic has it's place alongside the two Goodwood events and the normal historic meetings, they do offer a little more and some interesting racing.  The access to cars and pits is a thing I don't get, it has ALWAYS been that way at this event. It is nothing new.  I think the desire to make it huge is also intentional, to get people to try and stay for a weekend much like FoS do and a few other meetings, different race progs each day etc. 

 

For me simply it is a rather expensive ticket for what you are getting on track which is my focus. Even in the past you went to see a few cars perhaps, they were there but were driven round at a granny's pace, which took the edge off seeing them anyway.

 

All selfish gripes I am afraid, but ones that I and a few others factored into the decisions to attend after going for many years consecutively a few years back when they started turning into a family day with bands etc. 

[john aston]

The thing is that even for mundane stuff like Britcars (thin  grids of  GT cars- Z4s , Aston GT4s etc ) seeing the cars is very difficult now. I attended Croft the other week for this series(along with one other and his dog) and was shocked to see security tape , privacy boards and all that crap  preventing any access to pit garages. Cars were about as quick as a well prepared Seven, despite all  the kit and computer screens etc  . A week later I was drooling over  a Ferrari Breadvan , an M8F and admiring Jim Clark's Scott- Watson 356  from a foot away.

 

Drag racing? You are so right - they really know how to put on a show and there is none of that 'you can't stand there mate' nonsense. Love it and I have no time at all for those who sneer at it- nothing quicker, nothing louder and how lovely it is to be part of  a diverse crowd of spectators instead of being surrounded by replicas of my grumpy    old self - as usually happens at most race meetings     

Edited by john aston, 03 August 2016 - 18:00.

[bill p]

I thought you were being Sarcastic Bill!  But yes the Euro hill events are one I would love to attend. A real carnival of the like you never get over here, whole villages turned over to the cars, amazing. And Santa Pod can be a little rough and ready, but pick something like dragstalgia, or a British championship.........

No sarcasm, genuine interest in seeing something different

I've checked out European Hillclimbs C'ship on YouTube and it looks good, a must see

Bill P

[geordiecraig101]

Just a quick one, here's my vid from Fridays qualifying, should have the ones from Saturday and Sunday up soon.

 

[Charlieman]

... and was shocked to see security tape , privacy boards and all that crap  preventing any access to pit garages. 

If you can confidently carry a random bit of GRP debris on your shoulder, you can go anywhere...

[Dick Willis]

Thanks geordie, best video I've seen in ages, I look forward to seeing Sat and Sunday, do you have anything on the Formula Juniors ?

[Peter0Scandlyn]

Amen to Dick W's comment, thanks for putting that up. Very enjoyable even if I can't say I recognised too many of them.

[geordiecraig101]

Cheers for the comments, unfortunately i didn't get any of the Juniors as i was just getting into the circuit as they were out on track. Which was a pitty as in last few years they have produced great races.

[PRD]

All I can say is that if we didn't have this sort of event to go to, then we'd really have something to moan about. I don't know that anyone here has ever had to organise a race meeting, but I know from speaking to my brother-in-law (James Tucker of Britcar) that the sums of money to hire Silverstone are eyewatering and that keeping everyone happy: spectators, competitors, stall holders, local residents, security, health & safety is the work of a diplomat.​ I wouldn't do it. So instead of complaining, how about being positive for a change. My life would be a lot duller without Goodwood and, yes, without the windy wastes of other British circuits and all yours would be too!

[wilsongt]

Seen through the eyes of my 13 and 9 year old boys (and mine) this was a marvellous event, two more fans of real cars and racing. Great camping, with onsite pub and bands, tractor and trailer shuttle to the circuit. Free fairground rides a bonus, especially seeing the FJ race from the top of the Ferris wheel and to appreciate the circuit layout. Jaguar's doughnut demo rides for the older one, stand access, paddock access, pit access, friendly helpers. Being welcomed into the garages to stand next to a cosworth engine being fired up, in the pits for driver changes in the sports car race, watching F1 cars, the can-Ams a highlight, group c at twilight. 5 balloons lined up next to each other firing their propane jets in time to the music in the evening, and drifting over the camp each morning. I saw sufficient lotus elites to keep me happy, along with a few other rarities (to me anyway) like the breadvan and the two matras.

On my own I would have spent 2 days there to see everything, but 14 hours at the circuit on Saturday was a pretty good taster for the boys...Only disappointment was their preference for the ac/dc tribute band over the stranglers...

[bill p]

All I can say is that if we didn't have this sort of event to go to, then we'd really have something to moan about. I don't know that anyone here has ever had to organise a race meeting, but I know from speaking to my brother-in-law (James Tucker of Britcar) that the sums of money to hire Silverstone are eyewatering and that keeping everyone happy: spectators, competitors, stall holders, local residents, security, health & safety is the work of a diplomat.​ I wouldn't do it. So instead of complaining, how about being positive for a change. My life would be a lot duller without Goodwood and, yes, without the windy wastes of other British circuits and all yours would be too!

PRD, I agree with you sentiments

Bill P

Edited by bill p, 04 August 2016 - 14:44.

[dwh43scale]

https://flic.kr/s/aHskFuZAe7

 

Despite my mixed feelings about the event (see above), very pleased with this set of snaps from Sunday.

[geordiecraig101]

Just another qucik one from me, here's my vid from Saturdays action at the Classic, should have last vid of Sundays action up tomorrow:

 

[geordiecraig101]

Last one from me, here's my vid from Sunday's action at the Classic. Complete with last lap incident between Colin Noble Jr (Vauxhall Vectra) and James Dodd (Honda Accord)

 

[JacnGille]