Want to treat DP to Grand prix day. Please help!

[ListersSister]

It looks v expensive, so I was thinking, a hotel in the area for us both the night before, and then get one good ticket for him, and I do something else for the day (rather than get 2 poorer tickets which would be wasted on me).

So, are there any reputable companies to use? Anyone know of any hotels?

Any advice at all???

Ta

Can anyone ask their DP/DH/BF for me if no one here can help?!

I ask dh later when he get home from work later. He and dad go to the british grand prix every year.

I looked into this for FIL. It is quite staggeringly expensive for watching some cars go whoosh. Our only thoughts when we looked at it was that it might be a bit dull (even for someone who loves F1) to spend a day there wandering around by themselves...

Have you tried the main website?

www.britishgp.co.uk/index.asp?utm_id=30&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=ALG&re f=gbgp&gclid=CNC51byo3ZICFSUiZwod6D_wgw#

there are not many tickets left but looks like there are a few for the Sunday.

We have got a ticket for my dads birthday for the last couple of years and he goes on his own and loves it. apparently the atmosphere is really good, and everyone is friendly.

No idea on where to stay though Im afraid.

Thanks for the input ladies .
I get your point about being on his own, but I think he would get more out of a fab seat on his lonesome than a mediocre seat with me next door reading a book .
I have been looking at the Silverstone official website - I have no idea who is kosher and who isn't...
Any more advice gratefully received

Page & Moy are a very good company who do trips to all the GPs. You might want to consider doing a weekend trip to one of the European ones as tickets are so much cheaper so you'd probably get flights and accommodation for the same price as you'd pay for the British one.

Oh, and is it just Formula 1 he's interested in? If it's motorsport generally, there's the A1GP at Brands Hatch which is way cheaper than the F1 day.

DH went last year

But we are within driving distance (2 hrs) - up early! So can't recommend a hotel

I get the impression that hotels in Silverstone & Towcester area booked up months and years in advance for BGP. May be worth trying further away eg Northampton, Milton Keynes - not great tourist places I know - and then driving

Brackley has a hotel THE CROWN, it's just been refurbished. Brackley's 7 miles from Silverstone. A friend and I had a full English breakfast there a couple of weeks ago, it was VERY good! link here

Dh has used one of the adjoining camp sites when he has gone with mates, he enjoys the practice days as much as the race day, gets up early and thus avoids all the traffic problems. Location is the key otherwise you may miss it all.

Some links found on this for all sorts of info here

I've been a few times, first time in '99 in general admission, it was sunny and lovely, we didn't get there early enough though/ If he's in GA he needs to be there really early to get somewhere good to sit!! I mean sort of 5/6am! Also if he's on his own I don't know how he will manage loo trips, unless he befriends a person next to him to make sure no-one nicks his spot.

I think most of the grandstands are sold out now, but I like Copse and Luffield best. Just looked and no seats left for Luffiled but some for Copse A at £249 for the Sunday. There are also tickets left for the terraces, these are concrete steps in front of the stands and are limited access so not as cramped as GA.

As an alternative, how about going to the testing in late June? It is midweek though, not sure if that suits workwise. £12 a ticket in advance, £15 on the door. It was free until last year, but Lewis 'Wonderboy' Hamilton effect has hit! We've gone to this the last two years and each time blagged our way into the paddock. September 2006 we got to meet Hamilton at his first ever F1 test but last year even in the paddock they were controlling things a lot more.

All the info on tickets and testing is here

www.silverstone.co.uk/php/rm_overview.html

my link a bit more click friendly

Wow, thanks for the advice - really helpful

Would like to pick your brains some more if possible? I have decided to go for qualifying tickets thtis yr, so DP can suss out the best bits for race day next year. I have got him a Copse Grandstand ticket and me general admission. I expect he will be glued to his seat for the day, so I will bring plenty of books lol!

What sort fo ime should we arrive? What is the car parking like? Where do you think I can park myself for the bestt partt of the day? What are the approx start and finish times of the racing? Any tips for DP? - not that he knows, I am going to surprise him the day before

Most keen spectators are on there way early to get a good spot. If you have seats booked, you can be more relaxed.

I would tell your DH a couple of days before, so he can make up his own mind.

heres a good map

Take mobiles and arrange a time and meeting place. not sure of the race time, you must have more info now if you have the tickets. Be early because the traffic to the course and the parking take ages.

Dh. my brother and my dad all went a few years back. They camped (even my dad did) This was cheaper.

we went a few years ago and there is a Days Inn on the M1 services nearby...think its Newport Pagnell but cant remember for sure.

Tis a good day out so sure your hubby wouldnt be bored.

I've never done Saturday only, we normally do all three days. So not sure how it goes but last year the grandstand access on Friday and Saturday was on a roving ticket, so you could get into any grandstand as long as you had a grandstand ticket. But last year I have never seen it so busy on Friday/Saturday and would expect the same this year. So your DH could get roving grandstand or they could just let hime into Copse.

For you, assuming he's in Copse I would aim to sit at Becketts, it's a great high speed corner and has good view for general admission and you won't be too far away from DH. There is also GA banking from that corner up to Copse but none going the other way towards the pits really. I sat at Becketts in '99 and it was great. You've also got a TV screen opposite you on the inside of the circuit.

I've never been in GA on a Saturday so no idea what time you need to get there but it shouldn't be too bad I would think/hope.

Looking at last years programme, the Saturday timetable was:

10 - 11 F1 free practice
11.25 - 12.10 Porsche supercup qually
12.30 - 12.42 Blue Eagles flying display (helicopter equivalent of red arrows but not as exciting)
1 - 2 F1 qually
3 - 4 GP2 race 1
4.45 - 5.15 Historic sports car challenge race one

In addition to all that they now have lots of activities around the circuit, music, competitions

Car parking is fine now, expect a bit of a queue to get in but not the hours and hours it used to be.

I'm quite jealous, we're not going this year as was hoping to be heavily pregnant and by the time we realised we wouldn't be the tickets we wanted had sold out.

What teams/drivers does your DH like? Some of the teams have driver appearances on the Friday and Saturday, all the team stands and merchandise are behind the pits straight, its worth having a wander first thing and asking/checking out the boards for driver appearances to see if you get to see anyone, but it will be mobbed! Coulthard did one last year and you couldn't move.

What to take, well it depends on the weather, I've been freezing and sunburnt over the years, so it may be sunscreen or it may be a brolly. Take a folding chair if you have one. Take food if you don't like overpriced greasy burgers/pizza's/chicken. Take a portable FM radio each with in ear headphones if you have them and tune into Radio Silverstone for commentary, interviews etc. And nothing can prepare you for just how LOUD it is.

Have fun!

Thanks again - I am so glad I asked. DP is going to be so excited just to be there, he isn't going to know what to do first .

I assume we can do stuff together despite the different tickets - it just means he gets to sit in a good seat to watch?

Thinking ahead for next year, what would you recoomend as the best seat/stand to see the race in?

It may not be a big deal to lots of people, but going to the qualifying is going to make his year

You get access to everything with your ticket that your DH does apart from his grandstand (unless you borrow his ticket of course). So you can meet up between sessions. In fact the other year we went and lay on the grass in front of Becketts to watch one Saturday session as it was such a lovely sunny day and it was more comfy than the grandstand seats.

I like Luffield, it's the slow series of corners at the end of the lap. It makes for interesting watching I think. I also like Copse C or D, they look up the pitstraight to watch the start and its the first corner so always a good spot.

TBH there isn't really a bad place to sit. We tend to always go for a covered stand in case it rains/is too sunny (I've fair skin). But they are the most expensive, if I didn't want to pay those prices I would look at Stowe, Abbey or Farm. Out of the Terraces I would pick Luffield or Copse. I think the pitstraight is dull but you are opposite the pits/get to see the start better/the trophy giving etc.

When are you going to tell him?

Ta again Claire

I will have to tell DP earlier than I had intended as I have realised he is booked for a dinner thing that very night, so we will have to be organised to do both. Does it take forever to leave at the end of the day? Someone suggested taking bikes, and parking a little way away and cycling the last bit? Is it necessary?

Maybe I wil tell him soon, so he has a long time to be excited