** Save the Date! ** - Silverstone Classic 2017 - 28th to 30th July 2017

[coverco]

I have to disagree strongly with Philbar here. The total cost for 2 people for the weekend is just over £200, that is camping from Thursday until Monday and entry to the circuit on Thursday (to set up), Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you attend an event in Europe surely just to get across the water with your car will cost over £100?
Music is obviously very subjective, personally I loved Bonnie Tyler, Status Quo (1 hour set), The Boomtown Rats and The Stranglers. Having said that from a value for money point of view tickets to see Status Quo outside Silverstone were well over £100 for 2 people. The Bootleg Beatles who are playing this year sell out tours all over the world. They are playing the Royal Albert Hall in June and the cheapest tickets left (only 11 left) are £87 per person. So again value for money wise Silverstone is pretty good.
As to the static displays I have only ever seen 2 Ferrari Enzos and they were parked beside each other at Silverstone last year. There are always loads of Lambos as well so not all Porsches or BMWs. Last year I went drifting in an F Type jag and did the off road course in a Range Rover (obviously as a passenger lol). I even got to shake Mike Brewers hand (he approached me I was not stalking him). There is a lot to do without even looking at car racing and it is all included in the entry ticket price.
However the car racing is fantastic and even though the cars are worth millions it is proper racing with bumps and scrapes. The all access pit experience is absolutely great as well. My highlight from 2016 though was Mika Hakkinens old Mclaren F1 car screaming down the Wellington straight, it was spectacular.
Obviously I respect Philbars opinion but I had to put a balanced side to the discussion and if you have not been before you will love it, this will only be my fourth year but I still look forward to it every year

[Philbar]

I have to disagree strongly with Philbar here. The total cost for 2 people for the weekend is just over £200, that is camping from Thursday until Monday and entry to the circuit on Thursday (to set up), Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you attend an event in Europe surely just to get across the water with your car will cost over £100?
Music is obviously very subjective, personally I loved Bonnie Tyler, Status Quo (1 hour set), The Boomtown Rats and The Stranglers. Having said that from a value for money point of view tickets to see Status Quo outside Silverstone were well over £100 for 2 people. The Bootleg Beatles who are playing this year sell out tours all over the world. They are playing the Royal Albert Hall in June and the cheapest tickets left (only 11 left) are £87 per person. So again value for money wise Silverstone is pretty good.
As to the static displays I have only ever seen 2 Ferrari Enzos and they were parked beside each other at Silverstone last year. There are always loads of Lambos as well so not all Porsches or BMWs. Last year I went drifting in an F Type jag and did the off road course in a Range Rover (obviously as a passenger lol). I even got to shake Mike Brewers hand (he approached me I was not stalking him). There is a lot to do without even looking at car racing and it is all included in the entry ticket price.
However the car racing is fantastic and even though the cars are worth millions it is proper racing with bumps and scrapes. The all access pit experience is absolutely great as well. My highlight from 2016 though was Mika Hakkinens old Mclaren F1 car screaming down the Wellington straight, it was spectacular.
Obviously I respect Philbars opinion but I had to put a balanced side to the discussion and if you have not been before you will love it, this will only be my fourth year but I still look forward to it every year

I do agree to some extent to what Cover has said, however as the years have gone on the quality of the show has got worse. Especially the music, again it is subjective, and Bonnie Tyler was a low point, with her obviously drunk 'ha ha's' every touch and turn and wanting to show off her 'beautiful brother' were irksome.

As for the costs, part of going to somewhere like Spa, in Belgium is the adventure, the Spa summer Classic, also a 3 day event, is a free entrance to spectators and open access to the paddock and pits (http://spasummerclassic.com/en/), Something Silverstone needs to learn from. This will be our second time to the Spa Summer Classic, and there are only a handful of race circuits worldwide which are as historic and as provocative as Spa.

The racing can be good, however some smaller circuits such as Cadwell and Croft offer much better closer racing, down in the lowly club levels, with equally good access to paddocks and pit lane garages for a tiny amount compared to the costs involved at Silverstone. I did notice last year that many of the garages in the International wing at Silverstone were roped off, and none of the mechanics or teams had time to even nod at any of the fans. Completely different to the club levels were drivers etc have time for all.

Its each to their own as I said in my first post, I have become weary of seeing the same things year in - year out. It is time for a break, those who go will no doubt enjoy it, just not for me this year.

Phil

[Lakelad]

I think this is each to their own on this one. I have been to Silverstone the last two years and thoroughly enjoyed the whole event from the great company, the racing, the music, the stands and loved mooching around the pits.

I am sorry Phil is not coming this year and as I have not been to the events he references I cannot comment on them but £49 for four nights camping and £50.50 for a full weekend ticket does not strike me as bad value for money and I am very much looking forward to another great weekend.

Graham

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/201...-event-trumps/