10 replies to this topic

[Stevoraith]

Me and my mate have decided that we have to go to the festival of speed this year. We've been saying we should for ages so we're going to bite the bullet this year. Have any of you guys been in previous years or are going this year? Is it worth a nine hour drive each way!? We were thinking of just getting tickets for the Sunday- that way we can drive down Saturday and home on Monday. Will I miss much just going one day? Finally, does anyone have any recommendations of places to stay? Nothing fancy, travel lodge or B&B would be perfect, preferably with a pub and someplace nice to eat nearby!

[siztenboots]

Me and my mate have decided that we have to go to the festival of speed this year. We've been saying we should for ages so we're going to bite the bullet this year.

Have any of you guys been in previous years or are going this year? Is it worth a nine hour drive each way!?
We were thinking of just getting tickets for the Sunday- that way we can drive down Saturday and home on Monday. Will I miss much just going one day?

Finally, does anyone have any recommendations of places to stay? Nothing fancy, travel lodge or B&B would be perfect, preferably with a pub and someplace nice to eat nearby!

This event is getting very popular with each year. I took my father along on the Friday and even then it was very busy, yet you still had the complete freedom of access to talk to drivers, cars, pits which is the real great part of the festival. Having a F1 car pull into its garage inches from you on tickover, and hearing them warm up the engines is quite unreal. If the event gets any bigger then I fear this might ultimately spoil it.

Generally the programme of events meant that some of the big F1 drivers were running on the weekend as the main event, but Friday was really good, slightly damp weather meant the track was really tricky and you could appreciate the drivers working hard.

We got lucky and had complimentary tickets from the Sunday Times I think, but these are quite rare and once word gets around , go quickly.

Of all the motorshows I have attended this one is easily the best and most memorable, driving down in the new VX220 it was the first trip, and I thoroughly enjoyed it all.

[John]

Me and my mate have decided that we have to go to the festival of speed this year. We've been saying we should for ages so we're going to bite the bullet this year.

Have any of you guys been in previous years or are going this year? Is it worth a nine hour drive each way!?
We were thinking of just getting tickets for the Sunday- that way we can drive down Saturday and home on Monday. Will I miss much just going one day?

Finally, does anyone have any recommendations of places to stay? Nothing fancy, travel lodge or B&B would be perfect, preferably with a pub and someplace nice to eat nearby!

Arrive early. Top day out well worth the drive

[Ollie_VXT]

Awesome day out! well worth going too! though i doubt the 3 hour journey will be as much fun in my new car as it was in my VX!

[coopa]

Went last year as part of the team for Laurent Aiello's old Super Touring Car, driven by Anthony Reed. Great experience meeting all of the driver's, the garage next to our's had Matt Neal's Integra, while behind us were a load of Matra V8 Gp cars. Fantastic way to see car's from all formulas for a range of eras, and many personalities. Rubbed shoulders with George Lucas in the drivers lounge on the Friday (Him shorter than look on telly) Just remember to get in there early, otherwise be prepared to queue, for a long time.

[Geebo]

Me and my mate have decided that we have to go to the festival of speed this year. We've been saying we should for ages so we're going to bite the bullet this year.

Have any of you guys been in previous years or are going this year? Is it worth a nine hour drive each way!?
We were thinking of just getting tickets for the Sunday- that way we can drive down Saturday and home on Monday. Will I miss much just going one day?

Finally, does anyone have any recommendations of places to stay? Nothing fancy, travel lodge or B&B would be perfect, preferably with a pub and someplace nice to eat nearby!

I went last year for the full 3 days and have booked a Travel Lodge for this years event. It was without doubt the best motorsport event I've been to. The access to the cars, bikes and drivers is second to none. I would think it would be very difficult to see all the trade stands, cars in the paddock and all the runs up the hill in one day it is so huge and that’s not counting the rally stage.
I posted some pictures here http://www.vx220.org...topic=40405&hl=

[Stevoraith]

I went last year for the full 3 days and have booked a Travel Lodge for this years event. It was without doubt the best motorsport event I've been to. The access to the cars, bikes and drivers is second to none. I would think it would be very difficult to see all the trade stands, cars in the paddock and all the runs up the hill in one day it is so huge and that’s not counting the rally stage.
I posted some pictures here http://www.vx220.org...topic=40405&hl=

Geebo, would you mind telling me which travle lodge you have booked? A nice cheap travel lodge would be perfect.

Sitzenboots- the fact that it seems to be getting more popular every year is one of the reasons we've decided we have to do it this year, before it becomes a victim of it's own success.

Hopefully it doesn't go the way of T in the Park which is just along the road from me- it's now so busy you can't move and it's full of neds. No longer a nice place to go.

[slindborg]

I went last year with some guys from work. It was good but a little damp lol. Maybe im just cynical (or hate people) but I'd hate to go on sat/sun as friday was bad enough lmao. Also it did seem very very commercial which i didnt think was the point of the event... then again as people have said things like this become a victim of their own success and lose appeal.. the wildcats were horny and the veyron seemed dissapointing lol

[pcmanning]

Been three years on the trot - always been excelent. Last year had a weekend grandstand ticket so went on Friday and Sunday. Worth going for more than one day IMHO - that way you can spend time watching the action on the Hill AND wandering around - one day is just too short. Accommodation seems to be a nightmare - last year we booked a cottage near Gatwick for a week and did other stuff. Previously we managed hotels near Farnham (about 45mins away). Go Go GO! Paul

[urbanmac]

I'll be there, I'm also a GRCC member so I get a bit of hospitality

[Geebo]

I went last year for the full 3 days and have booked a Travel Lodge for this years event. It was without doubt the best motorsport event I've been to. The access to the cars, bikes and drivers is second to none. I would think it would be very difficult to see all the trade stands, cars in the paddock and all the runs up the hill in one day it is so huge and that’s not counting the rally stage.
I posted some pictures here http://www.vx220.org...topic=40405&hl=

Geebo, would you mind telling me which travle lodge you have booked? A nice cheap travel lodge would be perfect.

Sitzenboots- the fact that it seems to be getting more popular every year is one of the reasons we've decided we have to do it this year, before it becomes a victim of it's own success.

Hopefully it doesn't go the way of T in the Park which is just along the road from me- it's now so busy you can't move and it's full of neds. No longer a nice place to go.

We camped last year for the 3 days here http://www.lilliescaravanpark.co.uk/
I booked the Arundel Fontwell travel lodge for this year as soon as the dates were announced.
https://www.travelod...ArundelFontwell
There is a Little Chef there we used last year its open at 7.00am (this was how we found the Travel Lodge).
I think you might find it difficult to get a cheap room for this event as it's so popular.
Good luck anyway.