Favourite UK Circuit?

[Rod Birley]

Brands GP, one of the best tracks in the world, and its on my doorstep (well almost).

[graham bahr]

of the circuits i've driven

brands gp
brands
silverstone national
lydden
combe
silverstone stowe
snett

thats not a typo snet doesn't really do anything for me, although if the changes that are being proposed come about then i think it will go a long way up in my opinion

[Larry J-Croft]

Spa, Spa, Spa
Thruxton
Oulton
Silverstone GP
Snett
Zandvoort (only once - just bragging)
Croft
Donnington
Rockingham
Combe (before the micky mouse chicanes this would have been third)
All the rest are too slow - spot the cmmon denominator!

least favorite cos they're too far from home and or boring :

Mallory
Pembrey
Brands indy
Cadwell (too far too narrow)

Wish list:

Bathurst
Laguna Seca
Monaco

just gotta win that loterry

[Eddy V]

Originally Posted by Larry J-Croft

Spa, Spa, Spa.......Zandvoort

Hold on a second, the thread says UK tracks.

[Al Weyman]

Tell him Eddy and his Laguna Sega which I have read a lot of the Americans absolutely detest.

[Eddy V]

Now Spa, that would be something to get the Camaro out to Al.

[Al Weyman]

Yeah I doubt it will ever happen though, too much FIA this and FIA that, I cant be asked.

[Larry J-Croft]

Ok so it was Uk circuits but so what - unless you have come round la Source and looked down on Eau R ouge and then come out the other side with the biggest grin on your face ever - sorry but you haven't really lived. Oh and also the glasses of Belgian L'effe Blonde (misspelt) in the hotel the night before which give that piquant sore brain before the start and the rain (it always rains at Spa) and the atmosphere and etc etc etc - Mallory eat your heart out !!!!!

[Larry J-Croft]

Oh and I forgot to mention the scrutineering which is really tough on paper and usually involves some french speaking chap looking at your seatbelts and fire extinguisher (if he can find it) and then giving you a piece of coloured paper. Seriously don't let the the FIA stigma put you off - its easier to race there than in UK and so much more fun.

[Eddy V]

Well LJC, the beer is called Leffe Blond, so you were not that far off.
Maybe the title should read: Favourite Track!

And I got used to the view, years ago I guess. But it is one great thrill, right?
Unless you go off there.

[zefarelly]

Spa . . .well worth the effort in every respect.

Hoegarden is cheaper than water at the circuit . . . .I rest my case

[Chris Y]

S'funny - the bars and restaurants actually sell bottled water from Spa. I.e. the same town that they're in. Just stick your head under the tap

[graeme]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Yeah I doubt it will ever happen though, too much FIA this and FIA that, I cant be asked.

As Larry says, Spa scrutineering isn't that harsh - they check belts for FIA-approval (as they will in the UK next year), that the fire extingyuisher has been serviced and your helmet and race suit (FIA2000, I'm afraid but you could borrow one...). And may be your seat (but probably not!). There's no safety scrutineering per se (wheels bearings, throttle springs, etc), they just make sure that if you are going to crash, it's going to be a safe crash!

Does Barry Siddery-Smith still organise races there? Did his historic 3-hours there a few years ago which was great (being buzzed at 60mph+ closing speed on Kemel straight by Lola T70s!) - get the Camero out for that!

[halecmini]

gotta say i think CROFT is one of the best circuits in the country! it's got everything, fast/slow sweeping/technical... blablabla

[Al Weyman]

Originally Posted by graeme

As Larry says, Spa scrutineering isn't that harsh - they check belts for FIA-approval (as they will in the UK next year), that the fire extingyuisher has been serviced and your helmet and race suit (FIA2000, I'm afraid but you could borrow one...). And may be your seat (but probably not!). There's no safety scrutineering per se (wheels bearings, throttle springs, etc), they just make sure that if you are going to crash, it's going to be a safe crash!

Does Barry Siddery-Smith still organise races there? Did his historic 3-hours there a few years ago which was great (being buzzed at 60mph+ closing speed on Kemel straight by Lola T70s!) - get the Camero out for that!

Its a long way to go to find my FIA seat is not the right FIA seat or my Suit is wrong and I doubt if I could borrow one that would fit me!

[R59]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Tell him Eddy and his Laguna Sega which I have read a lot of the Americans absolutely detest.

Because it's got more than two straights, and two turns of 180degrees and not banked?

Rob.

[zefarelly]

Its only 4 hours from Calais, and a wonderful weekend Al. you must do it sometime.


LAguna Seca . . .looks good although the only bit I know is the cork screw ?

[zefarelly]

http://www.laguna-seca.com/WindowsMe...e=complete.wmv

looks pretty decent to me !

[Eddy V]

Rob and Zefarelly, as we are going off topic a bit, I go even further:
they are planning to shut down the original Hoegaarden plant. The new owner wants to move the production in house in his other plant. There is a doubt he will keep the brand as it is now.
Mayhem, nightmare,.....

[youngoldy]

If you had to ask me in the world, I wouldn't be able to chose between Spa or Nurburgring.

In the UK, it has to be Oulton Park, but not the International. I am with a FF race team, and race there every month or so during the season, and during 10 min sessions, we only get about 8 laps done. I much prefare the Island or Fosters config, as you get many more laps.

In terms of the track, WOW. Never driven it, but the feeling of starting, heading down a straight, downhill into a 90 left, another straight, flat out 90 left at 120mph, hard on the brakes, banked 180 right, chicane, another, all at different elavations, then uphill into the wilderness of the trees, 100mph right hander, the chance of hitting the wildlife, and back out into the open, brill.

I am just waiting for the day I can start driving, and take my first little runner down for a trackday, and have a razz round. I don't care if its in a B reg, I will at least have then driven round my favourite track.

For me, Oulton was the first proper GB track I went to, think it was the BTCC on 01. I think Oulton itself and the spectacular racing in the BTCC made me love Oulton.

I quite like Anglesey. The whole vacinity of the circuit has so much character, like the cafe, shortness of it, and of course, its setting. Beautiful when its sunny, just makes such a peacefull weekend. (Oh dear, how old am I sounding ). I camped over in June, very warm on the sat, had a BBQ that night, watched DVD's in the tent, went to sleep. Woke up next morning to clear blue sky's, and then go and work on cars I have fallen in love with, Formula Fords.
I just hope that the revamp of the circuit doesn't make it lose any of its character, I love the race weekends there.

[youngoldy]

Originally Posted by halecmini

gotta say i think CROFT is one of the best circuits in the country! it's got everything, fast/slow sweeping/technical... blablabla

Any undulations?

[zefarelly]

you can't beat a good pair of undulations . . . . oops, too off topic

I think one thing you never get until you phsically attend a circuit is the hills and elevations, whether it be deer leap, the mountain, Paddock Hill, or Eu ROuge it really can make the world of difference to a circuit.

Dijon looks fairly plain till you get there and see it !

[Tony Crossley]

The full Cadwell park circuit is great. Mind you I race an MGB and they're only about 4 foot wide so the track seems huge for me
Oulton Park internation is great, I love island bend becuase of the high speed and then getting the car into the banked corner of shell.
Only track I realy have no time for is Rockingham. Becuase you run part on the oval it feels like it is trying to be two things at once. Fast followed by twisty slower stuff. No real flow to the circuit.

[Alan Raine]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

you can't beat a good pair of undulations . . . . oops, too off topic

I think one thing you never get until you phsically attend a circuit is the hills and elevations, whether it be deer leap, the mountain, Paddock Hill, or Eu ROuge it really can make the world of difference to a circuit.

Dijon looks fairly plain till you get there and see it !

The entry to Paddock Bend at Brands is mega as is the uphill approach to the chicane at Knockhill - Not so good when you get it wrong though!!!!
I would love to drive the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca and Eau Rouge at Spa (only done that at 20mph in a road car)

[davyboy]

The best drivers circuit in the world has to be Road America at Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin. I've never driven it... but I want to badly. In the UK, its got to be the full Oulton Park. But for something to really make the hair stand up on your back... how about the full Phoenix Park in an unsilenced 1970s Formula Atlantic. As you scream through the trees down to Mountjoy Corner at full chat, you know that half of Dublin can hear the wail of the BDA behind your back. Unbeatable.