All Things Motorsport

[mickthemaverick]

As a relatively widely travelled F1 fan on the European circuits I can say that the Spanish GP in Barcelona is one of the most economical ones that can be part of a holiday. Monza is cheapish but not in an ideal holiday area, Monaco will fleece you for breathing, Spa is the best racing circuit but the holiday side needs to be more walking and forest roaming than sunbathing. The only other GP in Europe that may have been a good compromise is the Portuguese GP at Estoril but it is not in next year's calendar and may not return !! Hungary and Imola are nice enough but not really holiday venues, neither are the Red Bull Ring in Austria or the German circuits at Nuerburgring or Hockenheim. If fly aways are on the cards then Bahrain, Japan and Azerbaijan all offer a good holiday option but Japan needs a mortgage and Bahrain a personal air conditioning unit!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

As a relatively widely travelled F1 fan on the European circuits I can say that the Spanish GP in Barcelona is one of the most economical ones that can be part of a holiday. Monza is cheapish but not in an ideal holiday area, Monaco will fleece you for breathing, Spa is the best racing circuit but the holiday side needs to be more walking and forest roaming than sunbathing. The only other GP in Europe that may have been a good compromise is the Portuguese GP at Estoril but it is not in next year's calendar and may not return !! Hungary and Imola are nice enough but not really holiday venues, neither are the Red Bull Ring in Austria or the German circuits at Nuerburgring or Hockenheim. If fly aways are on the cards then Bahrain, Japan and Azerbaijan all offer a good holiday option but Japan needs a mortgage and Bahrain a personal air conditioning unit!!

Excellent Mick thanks. Barcelona looks like an excellent suggestion to consider.

Neil

[Michel]

From my recent research around F1 ticket prices and accommodation, Mick's suggestion of Barcelona is the best, most affordable and fan-friendly. It's on my list, as is Monza.

The ticket prices are *insane* these days. There's no way I could afford to do Silverstone or any of the American races. I remember thinking my general entrance ticket for Silverstone in 1988 was expensive.. £35, I think it was. Now, here's 20245 prices.

For those who prefer the three-day option, general admission tickets cost £329 for adults and £165 for children under 11.

For Reserved Grandstand, Abbey B costs £729, while Hamilton Straight A costs £829.

The available Grandstand tickets for three days are Chapel (£509), National Pits Straight (£529), Copse D (£539), Abbey A (£679), Becketts (£699), Hamilton Straight B (£689), Stirling B (£539), Luffield (£619), Stirling A (£509), Stowe C (£519), Stowe A (£539), Woodcote C (£539), Luffield Corner (£589), The View (£559), Vale (£519), and Village A (£539).

One-day tickets are also available, starting at £100 for Thursday and ranging up to £469 for Sunday

Mrs. Michel would say "FT" to those prices, and I agree.

[mickthemaverick]

Totally agree there Mike, the trouble is that even at those prices the circuit gets packed out so either all the landed gentry have suddenly become F1 fans or we have done it wrong somewhere!!

[Michel]

Totally agree there Mike, the trouble is that even at those prices the circuit gets packed out so either all the landed gentry have suddenly become F1 fans or we have done it wrong somewhere!!

It'd cost me near enough £2000 by the time accommodation and travel paid for, and I'm only 90 mins from Silverstone.

Barcelona 2024 General Admission 3 day pass - 140 Euros, 3 day Grandstand range from 220 to 420 Euros. We'll be going on holiday to Spain, and incorporating it into that.

Qatar is even cheaper, but having been to Doha.. no.

[Michel]

Totally agree there Mike, the trouble is that even at those prices the circuit gets packed out so either all the landed gentry have suddenly become F1 fans or we have done it wrong somewhere!!

It's Drive to Survive and Liberty Media's doing Mick, plus Bernie's old ways of selling the rights. It's pricing so many people out of watching F1 live.

We had a great day out at the BTCC twice last year though, cheap as chips too!

[NewcastleFalcon]

A gentle version of motorsport, answering the question "What can you do with a brown Clan Crusader "

Sit in a field all day at a classic show like this one...catching a Falcon shutter click or two on Monday

Or use it and drive it on something like this ...they seemed to enjoy their day

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

This got a bit of publicity in the local news tonight

https://www.hero-era.com/rallies/2024/1 ... tests-2024
RAC Rally of the Tests Wednesday 7th November 2024 to Sunday 10th November 2024

Neil

[Stickyfinger]

F1 drivers training day.......

[NewcastleFalcon]

The route of todays rally will be precise, but not mapped out in any great detail on the website. They may use the Union Chain Bridge at Horncliffe near Berwick they have for some previous events, which would provide a nice scenic photo opportunity.

Meanwhile this car flashed up on the "prologue" event video. Embarrassingly I am going to have to look it up before I make a silly guess! It may be obvious to most of course.

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

First reaction is that the car is an MG Maestro, be interesting to see what you turn up Neil!

[NewcastleFalcon]

First reaction is that the car is an MG Maestro, be interesting to see what you turn up Neil!

Ditto Mick, but I thought that's just silly! One of the entries is a Talbot Sunbeam 1.6Ti Couldn't see a Maestro on the list

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Given that the video is from a previous event that is possible Neil, however I found this and I'm convinced:

BFTW - MG-Maestro-Rally-Car-C-432-MHK-2MG-Maestro

[NewcastleFalcon]

The video was literally last night Mick Headlam Hall Hotel Darlington-ish

I think for both of us to think Maestro and your looking up and pic, I'll have to check the entry list again.

Full vid here, (only a couple of minutes!)



Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

This should do it conclusively. DVLA think its an Austin Maestro HLE 1984 with a 1,275cc engine.
Entry Number 79 on the list of competitors on the website is incorrectly annotated. Correct drivers, wrong car (Volkswagen Golf Gti Mk 2).

Neil