orangetravelcat

I have a wonderful husband who loves Formula 1 races. I'm thinking of surprising him by taking him to a Formula 1 race in 2006. He'd love it (and I'd get a trip out of it(would buy tickets as a Xmas present). I'm thinking of Silverstone in June. But I have no idea what section of the track would be best to sit in. Can you tell me> thanks

rex

While I can hardly be called a F1 "fan", I have been to Monza with some friends who are.

Info on Silverstone has been rare (and none recently) - - see http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34375094

I trust that you have found the official web site?

http://www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk

Best wishes,

Rex

walkinaround

i have sat in brooklands and maggots and both were fine. ultimately, the budget dictates the seats (it is very expensive). i consider myself a casual fan and it was fine for me. the sound of the cars and "just being there" was great for me.

walkinaround

..and i forgot to add that my two times at silverstone were both thanks to gifts from my partner...a great gift, indeed.

janisj

I used to go every year - but it has been a long time and the course has been modified some. AND - it used to be reasonable both in cost and access. Even paddock (pit) passes were affordable back then.

I used to prefer Copse and Stowe Corner - but really there are lots of good viewpoints. As I understand it though, tickets to the best seats (like Copse and near the pits) are up to £250+

But one thing to think about - getting to the course anymore is really difficult. I've read stories the last couple of years about race goers being stuck on the approach roads and never actually getting there.

Maybe one of the locals will post about transport strategies.

littilesthobo

i went to one a long time ago.

the grass is fine, and much more affordable.

to get good photos
get a seat near a corner/bend, the cars will have to slow down at this point and you can observe better.

flanneruk

janisj:

The road system's now fine-ish, and well signposted from scores of miles away. The reports were a bit exaggerated even at the time, as Ecclestone was doing one of his "spend half the country's GNP on support for my business or I'll storm off" hissy fits. (And only a regime as credulous and naive as B Liar's would fall for his rants as often as they do).

Nuisance for the rest of us. There's an elaborate one-way system for miles around that makes normal life impossible for the 99.999% of us who regard F1 as even more boring than rowing or American "football".

But it's only a couple of days a year, and friends' reports of delays actually getting to the course compare favourably with what I've experienced around Monza.

The local TV station now routinely spends the days before the GP forecasting muddy mayhem, forgetting how much road construction's gone on lately. Then, during and after, finds something else to talk about - usually the imminent bankruptcy of one of the local racing car companies. The chaos no longer materialises, and there's never anything to report at or about the race itself.

janisj

that's good to know flanner. Some of the reports I'd seen made it look like getting to Cornwall on a Bank holiday, only a thousand times worse.

Back in the day (when I used to go every year and they still alternated between Brands Hatch and Silverstone) we just got up on the morning and rolled up the road through Syresham and Brackley Hatch, into the car park, bought tickets, and headed for the paddocks.

orangetravelcat

Thanks for the replies. I know it will be expensive to get tickets but my husband's worth it!! Will post if I decide to get the tickets for his Xmas present. On the website I saw that you can get shuttles run from some of the local towns to the racetrack; that is probably what we would do as we don't do well driving in the UK

Val

I have been to Silverstone many times and find it lacking in atmosphere and it is very expensive.

Our favourite F1 Grand prix is Barcelona. Get a cheap flight and make a weekend of it. It is easy to book on the Circuit Catalunya site and far cheaper than Silverstone.

We have found the entire weekend in Barcelona including tickets is cheaper than Silverstone. Transport from the centre of Barcelona to the circuit is wonderfully organised and cheap and the whole atmosphere at the circuit and in the city is great.

derekflint

You should certainly consider other venues before settling on Silverstone. The Monaco GP (May 28) is easily attended while staying in Nice - hotels are reasonable, and trains run often and only take a half an hour to Monaco. Monza (September 10) is intense thanks to the tifosi but it may be the last chance to see Schumacher in a Ferrari on home turf. The Canadian GP (June 25) can be reached from beautiful downtown Montreal via subway. The Spanish GP (May 14) promises to be special next year as it is home to the new world champ Fernando Alonso and can be seen from the always interesting city of Barcelona. I haven't been to the others, except the US GP, and for various reasons I would not recommend that.

For seats at any track, near the first corner is often preferred: it will get a lot of action particularly at the start of the race. Next best is viewing any hairpin curve. Some people like seats near the start/finish line so they can see the pitwork, but when cars are not in the pits all you see is a blur of cars in a straight line. To state the obvious, the better the seats, the more expensive they are.

clevelandbrown

At almost all tracks that have F1 events, passing opportunities are severely limited, with perhaps only one or two places on the track where there is a possibility of overtaking (absent mechanical failure). The result is that a race very often resembles a parade, with changes in standing only following clever pit work, or one of the rare places where there are passing opportunities.

I'm a fan, but for the prices they demand, I would want to sit somewhere where I can see the cars attempting to overtake, or possibly near the pit exit, where there is often some drama when a leading car leaves the pit as the overtaking car is passing the pit.

This doesn't sound like a surprise present to me, where he doesn't know you are going to the race until you arrive, so I would involve him in the decision as to where to sit; he may have strong preferences, and I would accomodate them.

I don't know how far in advance the good seats sell out, but I would want to act before that date; if it is after the holiday, you could always make a coupon and wrap it up.

rkkwan

FIA is changing the rules for the rear wing of the F1 machines, and supposedly will make passing easier.

Of course, we've been hearing something similar every year for the last 20. Big wing, small wing, grooved tires, non-grooved tires, ground effects, blah blah blah... Still no passing.

JenV

OTC: I just asked a friend who is a major F1 fan and he said "1. Copse Corner 2. Stowe 3. Abbey 4.Luffield" and described these as "hard breaking zones" whatever that may be. Hope it helps.
JenV

orangetravelcat

I am finding it next to impossible to find nearby affordable lodging for the race at Silverstone or Barcelona. I am going to have to rethink this idea.

rkkwan

orangetravelcat - It's probably too late to plant for 2006. May want to the info for 2007.

For 2006, your best bet is Indianapolis.

Zeus

The following website has virtually everything you need to know about F1. The link I'll give is specifically about the British GP, but you can find maps and data for all the race on this site:

http://www.formula1.com/race/circuitmap/742.html

orangetravelcat

Yes = sounds like it might have to be 2007. Husband doesn't want to go to Indy (decided above poster was right and I should consult him about which race/where to sit. He said either Silverstone, Barcelona or Budapest.

janisj

I wouldn't even try for affordable accomodations near Silverstone. It is in a rural area w/o a lot of places to begin with so of course the prices will be sky high.

But anywhere in the eastern Cotswolds, Oxford area, Stratford/Warwick or SE towards Aylesbury/High Wycombe would be w/i a reasonable drive of the track.

orangetravelcat

but we wouldn't be driving, janisj...