What motorsport events have you been to?

[CarMadMike]

Hey,

 

The thread title is quite straight forward, what motorsport events have you been to in your lifetime?

Try not to make them too obscure, a meet up of citroen saxo's with huge exhausts in your local tesco car park does not count. I'm thinking of Formula GPs, WRC, Le Mans etc.

 

If you've got any tickets booked to visit some this year then mention that too :)

 

Adieu :duck:

Mike.

[Tob-Racer]

My very first event was Le Mans 2006. Not much memories about this one, I was only 10. But I remember the crappy Diesel Audi flying by in the start/finish straight line.

Went back to Le Mans on my own in 2012, it wasn't very exciting because it was the first year of Toyota but it was alright :cool:

2013 after my exams, back to Le Mans for the entire week from the technical verifications of Monday to the end of the race Sunday. Interesting race but I was really shocked about the news of The great Dane. Sad memories... Sad podiums with Jacky Ickx speech...

 

 

Since then, I haven't been to Le Mans but I went to some GT3 racing.

 

British GT Donington Park 2013 with Complete Racing AMR

 

 

Blancpain Endurance Series at Silverstone - May 2014 with Beechdean AMR

 

 

British GT Silverstone - May 2014 with Beechdean AMR

 

 

24 Hours of Spa Blancpain Endurance Series with Beechdean AMR

 

 

British GT Brands Hatch - August 2014 with Beechean AMR

 

No pics sorry

 

British GT Donington Park - September 2014 with Beechdean AMR

 

 

Since then, that's it :D Looking for a lot more Endurance and Sports car races in the future.

[The Compensator]

Not many unfortunately. :(

 

WRC in Germany in 2004. Had a blast. Got a T-shirt signed by some random Citroën drivers called Loeb and Elena. :D

 

DTM in CZ in 2005 (I think this was the last DTM race ever in CZ). This is where I felt in love with Mercedes-Benz. They had some AMG's parked at their motorhome, sat in a CLS 55 and shat my pants. :D

 

Two or three European Truck Racing Championship races, last one, like, three years ago IIRC. Quite boring frankly as far as I remember.

 

We're thinking about going to an F1 race this year - Austria, Germany or Belgium. All of them are in summer, so the timing is quite good for my parents and me. Trip to Spa via Nordschleife doesn't sound too bad. :hmmm:

 

Definitely would love to see Le Mans and VLN 24 Nürburgring, but due to school stuff these are def not going to happen this year. The atmosphere at the Nürburgring especially is said to be spectacular!

 

I can upload a few pics if you want.

 

P.S.: Mike, your thread game is strong.

[CarMadMike]

Wow great post Tob! I haven't even looked at Le Mans tickets, are they expensive?

 

Did you have an 'in'/contact with Beechdean or something, just wondering why you were always with them :p

 

And nice Merc :nods: I'd probably choose Spa out of the 3 F1 choices.

[TIMELESS]

I've been to many an Ulster GP, which is a great watch. The world's fastest road race, which I could believe considering I usually sat on one of the straights :lol:

 

 

I have no videos or photos myself but my dad has some great photos if anyone's interested :hmmm:

[Camel]

I've been to the BTCC at Silverstone twice which was awesome. Also been to the World Renault Series twice when it was held at Silverstone which was also awesome. Also doubly awesome as the tickets are free and it's my only experience of an F1 car. :)

 

Also been to the Buxton oval for hours of banger car racing which is epic 5 or so times. What makes it better is that if you pay a fiver, you can drive your car right up to the edge of the track on the corners and watch all the action from your own car. Just metres away from the track. It does get a bit "I need new trousers" though when a car crashes up over the barrier right in front of you!

 

Next month I'm going to the BTCC weekend at Donnington and maybe Silverstone later in the month. Should also be going to the Buxton oval again for some more carnage. I've just seen that RWS is back at Silverstone again so will be applying for tickets for that too. :)

[Tob-Racer]

Wow great post Tob! I haven't even looked at Le Mans tickets, are they expensive?

 

Did you have an 'in'/contact with Beechdean or something, just wondering why you were always with them :p

 

And nice Merc :nods: I'd probably choose Spa out of the 3 F1 choices.

 

Thanks :D Le Mans is not that bad honestly :nods: 75€ the normal ticket for the complete week from the technical verification to the end of the race. The tickets include all the tests days, qualification and a lot more ! You can have more fun at Le Mans for a week for less than a ticket of a F1 Grand Prix. A good 200-300€ if you want to enjoy the campsite, the food, beers, the race and the fuel if you travel from the UK ;) You won't be disappointed and you gonna wanted to come back the next year believe me ! :D I don't know any better event than Le Mans.

 

Yea I worked for a week with Complete Racing, I gave them a hand on the car and the team's logistic. so many good memories with them...

 

 

And Beechdean, I worked for them in their Ice Cream Factory and I gave them a hand on logistics and I was a waiter in their HUUUGE VIP hospitality. Not really enjoying it because the boss is a... you know, he didn't let me work on the cars and approach them even with my previous experience with Complete Racing. I really tried to affirm my self but mister the boss is the sort of guy who's very rude with anyone and care only about his money. The only time I could affirm my self was when I met him, he was between two important meetings at his factory and I said to her assistant I wanted to speak to him for 2min because I wanted to work for his racing team. Nobody did know me before I met the boss, I was just a crazy 19 years old French guy who traveled all these miles to just see him and my force of conviction was very good :D They couldn't refuse me :lol:

 

Here is Beechdean's hospitality:

 

Smells money. Guess who's Astons DBS is that ? :jealous:

[CarMadMike]

Thanks :D Le Mans is not that bad honestly :nods: 75€ the normal ticket for the complete week from the technical verification to the end of the race. The tickets include all the tests days, qualification and a lot more ! You can have more fun at Le Mans for a week for less than a ticket of a F1 Grand Prix. A good 200-300€ if you want to enjoy the campsite, the food, beers, the race and the fuel if you travel from the UK ;)

 

I live in France so it might be even cheaper. I'll keep it in mind!

 

Sounds like you've had a great time there. And that DBS :drool:

[Tob-Racer]

Yes indeed :) Motorsport is in my blood.

 

More shots of that epic DBS:

[Ryzza5]

I regularly go to 2 meters away from my TV.

 

And also done my own on-track stuff a few times.

[TIMELESS]

I regularly go to 2 meters away from my TV.

 

And also done my own on-track stuff a few times.

 

Do go on... :p

[TDUFREAK500]

In terms or racing, I went to the Hamilton ITM 400 in 2012 (The last year that it was in Hamilton) and NZFMR for the last 4 years, and then in terms of drifting, I have been to NAC Drift Nats, a few D1NZ rounds and then Drift Shifters in 2012 and 2014.

[Ryzza5]

Do go on... :p

 

Well I usually record the race via Windows Media Centre on my PC (Dual TV Tuner card installed), then a couple of hours later I'll hop onto the bed with some junk food and watch through most of the races (besides good bits) at 1.5x and skip the ads.

[Camel]

:fp:.

[Loz]

Hmm... Lets see if I can remember a few things i've been too.

 

Banger Racing/Stock Cars/National Hot Rods ect: Years ago now. Used to have a family day out to Westworld Raceway (my local banger track) near Newquay, been quite a bit. Also seen these at the NEC in Birmingham as part of Autosport International.

Drag Racing: Went once or twice at Santa Pod years ago.

FIA GT: May 2007 at Silverstone, what a miserable place that was . Video:

BTCC: Thruxton April 2009. Thruxton isn't the best track for spectators, especially when it's not the warmest day of the year.

Rally: Don't remember the event, was somewhere in Cornwall a few years ago now. I remember seeing what I belive was an escort sliding off the road infront of me.

 

As far as I remember, that's all i've been too.

[Camel]

Hmm... Lets see if I can remember a few things i've been too.

 

Banger Racing/Stock Cars/National Hot Rods ect: Years ago now. Used to have a family day out to Westworld Raceway (my local banger track) near Newquay, been quite a bit. Also seen these at the NEC in Birmingham as part of Autosport International.

Drag Racing: Went once or twice at Santa Pod years ago.

FIA GT: May 2007 at Silverstone, what a miserable place that was . Video:

BTCC: Thruxton April 2009. Thruxton isn't the best track for spectators, especially when it's not the warmest day of the year.

Rally: Don't remember the event, was somewhere in Cornwall a few years ago now. I remember seeing what I belive was an escort sliding off the road infront of me.

 

As far as I remember, that's all i've been too.

 

How awesome is banger car racing in person!?

[CarMadMike]

I've been to watch Banger Racing a few times too, it's so awesome.

 

The noise, the actual racing is almost always entertaining and never boring. There's always a crash, that's what everyone wants out of almost every type of motorsport, banger racing never fails.

 

It's a great event to visit too, everyone is friendly, you can walk around the crews and most likely sit in a car or two and speak to the drivers. It's a very chilled thing to go to and not expensive at all :nods: Highly recommend it.

[calster17]

I attend near enough every stage of the Scottish Rally Championship, I honestly tell anyone who's never been to a rally to go. Even if it's a small national one it's great(SRC is't huge, but huge mix of cars!), just remember to put safety first!

 

Been going to the BTCC at Knockhill for the past 3 years now, and i'll keep on going! Honestly the best motorsports event I've been to for both atmosphere and thrills! Sure i've told you guys about how I've met both Shedon & Neil face to face and get a small chat in privet by pure chance, as well as other drivers.

British Drift Championship, Knockhill's great track layout makes for good drifts. Anyone who knows the first corner will know what I mean when i say seeing two cars giving it full drift down it is something that never get's old! This is yet another yearly event for me to go to.

British GT, again at Knockhill (It's the only track in Scotland.) Not been for a few years but first attended it back when the TVR Speed 12 was being used and last time I remember was around 2008 or so. Really need to see if they still go to Knockhill as was good to watch and current crop of GT cars has changed!

 

I've been to a few other events, used to go to the banger racing and a few other grass root events that are held up in the north east of Scotland.

 

Planning to attend this year:

 

Well British Drift Championship and the other stages of the Scottish Rally Championship of course.

Then there's the big 'BTCC weekend', camping trackside Friday-Sunday for a massive drink,BBQ and racing weekend. Hight chance it'll be messy, but totally worth it. Screw going to a music festival with friends, this is better and cheaper!

Also may be going down to England to attend a drag event, would be with Me™ for this.(Likewise for the BTCC)

 

Also, although not actual motorsports I'll be taking part in a few trackdays, as well as drag racing. :D

[Loz]

How awesome is banger car racing in person!?

 

I've been to watch Banger Racing a few times too, it's so awesome.

 

The noise, the actual racing is almost always entertaining and never boring. There's always a crash, that's what everyone wants out of almost every type of motorsport, banger racing never fails.

 

It's a great event to visit too, everyone is friendly, you can walk around the crews and most likely sit in a car or two and speak to the drivers. It's a very chilled thing to go to and not expensive at all :nods: Highly recommend it.

 

Pretty much this.

 

Usully they have more than one series on the day, so you have Stockcars, Hot Rods, Ministox and Bangers all through the day. If you go on special events you et stuff like Caravans and Reliant Robins.

 

Spectating it you can basically be about 6 feet from the action. All the tracks are small ovals aswell so you can see more than at a circuit race. And you can go to the pits as Mike mentioned.

 

The Stockcars are a good watch too. Basically they are chassis with big V8 engines and big wings on the top (see this). They aren't afarid to give eachother bumps and berges to get past, kinda like BTCC for ovals :p.

 

Hotrods are tube frame style cars with highly tuned 2 Litre engines. Bodywork is made of Kevlar and such and is pretty much just visual and look like cars (see here). Usually non contact.

 

I don't suggest watching it at big events like Autosport, the Bangers I saw there didn't ram each other or actually banger race. Probally had to the save the cars for the whole weekend. The Stockcars where alright though.

 

I also suggest trying to get out and see something called Autograss. The cars are insane in some classes. Class 7 is the best with cars that are basically tube frame buggies with either Honda VTEC engines or twin 1000cc Motobike engines. Saw these too at Autosport, they regularly pulled wheelies comming out of the corners.

[Ryzza5]

The only thing that puts me off banger racing is the kind of crowd it attracts (or at least I imagine it does, haha).

[CarMadMike]

The only thing that puts me off banger racing is the kind of crowd it attracts (or at least I imagine it does, haha).

 

This seems a bit snobbish? You should be able to go to the motorsport event and enjoy yourself without being effected too much by the people nearby. Your loss I guess, as the sport is great fun.

[CLR-GTR]

Indoor tractorpulling, after my mom won a few tickets. Luckilly all the drivers quickly made clear why everybody was wearing earprotection xD. Great sounds from all those machines, both the multi-V8 machines as the ones powered by jetengines.

 

She also won tickets for the DTM on Zandvoort last year, been there as well. Had a nice view from a stand between Gerlach and Hugenholtz turns, the machines were incredible. So freaking loud, lot of battles, huuuuge screen in front of our stand ánd the perfect weather, sunny yet not too hot. Absolutely brilliant.

 

Oh and I've also been to some AMG Academy event on Zandvoort, not sure if that classifies as motorsport. Fun for once...ish, no interest doing it again though.

[Camel]

The only thing that puts me off banger racing is the kind of crowd it attracts (or at least I imagine it does, haha).

 

Nothing wrong/different about the people who go to see banger racing. Most are friendly and just like normal people. :confused:

 

I'm wanting to go each month for the next 4 months. Bus/coach banger race in April, then monster trucks in May, Mobility scooters in June and a banger championship in July. :D

[Ryzza5]

Definitely not snobbish - I just don't like listening to constant yelling and swearing. I'm guessing there's quite a difference between the UK race-goer and Aussie bogan (really NSFW:

)

[Guest MrLolololXD]

I've been to a few V8 Supercars races, the F1s, few rally events, Monster Jam etc. Have been to a few touring car races where I've been involved with the teams. Went to the World Time Attack Challenge last year which was awesome.

 

This year I'm entered in the Modball Rally which should be great fun, have also done a few drag and track days myself as well.

 

Next track day is on the 25th of April at Sandown, one of the places V8 Supercars race (nudges Ryzza).