British MotoGP : where's the parties at?

Hello, I'm coming to the MotoGP next month at Donington Park and
although my hotel is in Nottingham, I'd be up for visiting any cool
places in the area that weekend.

I remember from an earlier posting that traffic to/from donington is
just plain silly and to allow for up to 2 hours to get in from
Nottingham. Is that still the case?

I was reading some info on gptours.com and they want something silly
like 500 euros for hanging out in the VIP village (hmmpf, sounds like
a poseur hangout if you ask me). As long as I've got a nice view of
the races and am close to the bar & pisser, I'm set. Anyone have a
spot that fulfills these qualifications? I'd hate to be watching the
races behind some 300lb Hairy-backed German with facilities nearby . .
.. .

cheers,

True (no, not the guy from the show!)

 

I'm assuming you mean places to go in the evening when you're not at
Donington? You're in Nottingham, which has a ridiculously young age profile
these days (due to two expanding universities) but as its summer most of the
kiddies are absent so you could do worse than try out a few city centre bars
or clubs - Rock City is always a favourite if you like Rock/Alternative
music, but there's the Social and a few others you might want to try out.

Then again, I'd suggest popping over to Derby as it's quieter and less
wanky.

Of course what you really want to do is hang out at the campsite with those
of us who, even though we live closer to Donington than you're staying, are
camping all weekend....

Its only two hours if you set off early. Leave Nottingham after 9am and you
might just make it in for the end of the MotoGP race.... Then again, set
off at 6am and you'll be there in 30 minutes.... And getting out? Don't
even *try* to leave within 90 minutes of the end of the MotoGP race unless
you parked by the exit[1]

Don't bother - you don't even get to go in the paddock unless its on a
guided tour and the hospitality suite at Donington in on the ground flor at
teh end of the pit lane, indoors with no balcony etc to hang off like you
get at Imola, Misano, Assen etc...

If its like the last few years there'll be a big)ish) screen on the onfield
near Schwantz, so I'd trecommend going infield between the Old Hairpin and
Schwantz - reasonable viewing and as you want them go into Coppice (if
you're high enough up the hill) you'll then automatically see the big screen
for the rest of the lap...

Bars and food and overflowing toilets are plentiful in the infield.

You will have no choice about sharing your space with about 3 or 4 hairy
backed germans. Or Brits. It gets a bit packed these days... Or you could
spend an extra £25 on grandstand seat (if there are any left) which wouldbe
on the start/finish straight, but pretty shite for viewing anything but the
start and, er, finish.

Dave

[1] Important tip #1 - no matter what you might think, and what the car park
guys might tell you, if you're in a car, stop and park as soon as you get to
the 'car park' (ie. field). You may have to walk further but, when leaving
you'll walk past all the stationary cars trying to get out, hop in your car,
start it up and drive straight out. Into the queues...

 

WavyDavy says...

I'll be doing my usual trick of camping/pissing it up all weekend from
Friday afternoon onwards, and then going home on Sunday morning to watch
the action on the telly.

 

Pop over here and watch it if you don't fancy the trip back with a
hangover.

 

Lady Nina says...

Game on You've got a bigger telly than me.

 

Which makes sense. I'm staying til Monday, whereon I shall return home and
watch the DVD I made of the racing as, no doubt, I shall be far too wankered
by race time to remember what happens on Sunday itsself.... Then I get 3
days to recover before doing it all over again at Brands..

 

I'll SKY+ it..

I'm probably not going to go this year, I fancy thrashing the ZRX on
bike and car free roads whilst the racing is on, and the coppers are
having their coffee and donut break..

 

MotoGP

We'll have to co-ordinate times, I'm all over the place that weekend.

 

try out.

Excellent, we'll be up for checking them out, and besides, if there's
two universities there, then that would mean there might be some
female teachers on break, no? and they too might be seeking out
'adult' conversation (you know, something more than Britney or Prince
Charle's latest gaffe or discussing the latest rave at Gatecrasher)

less wanky.

If we can't find the fun in Nottingham, we'll be sure to check out
Derby.

Eh, I spent too many summers camping as a kid, nice memories, but lets
leave them as memories, right? But, if we're on foot and suitably
smashed, we might wander over and see what the fun's all about.

Okay, what about doing the Skylink bus to DHL and walking over?
according to the donington site, its a 10 minute walk between the two.
I'm up for that, unless it doesn't run on Sunday (which seems nuts if
you have all these race fans coming in).

Heh! Thats what I thought. I'll save my money for good souvenirs and
food/drink instead of being kept in a 'pen' with a lame view. Bring on
the party!

That sounds like a plan and we'll look forward to checking this area
out. Have sunscreen will travel!

Excellent! I'll look forward to consuming/contributing to the mess.
and once I have my shirt off, I'll be another 90kg hairy backed biker
at the races!


I owe you a pint (or two) mr wavy . . . . feel free to ping my email
address and I'll stop over and say hello.

Cheers,

True

 

Well, I found the party at WavyDavy's and Susie (aka bikegirl) and I
must say, it was a GREAT time! Glad to have met the gang and have a
few pints. Me and my fellow american friend were amazed at the size of
the crowds each day (and the queue was most impressive too!).

The skylink worked out wonderfully, and I recommend it to anyone who
doesn't have a car or bike to get to the track with. Its a 15 minute
walk to the DHL facility bus stop, but from there its a nice ride to
Nottingham.

Watching the GP start at Redgate corner and seeing the other races at
the Spark plug gave us some nice views of the racing.

Yes, the facilities can be dodgy, but the food and beer were excellent
and the merchandise sold was top-notch (well some of it).

And for those of you who've not been to germany, you really should
check it out, its an amazing facility at Saschenring, but the viewing
isn't as wide open as donington.

Cheers and a shout out to Wavy for his hospitality. You give bikers a
good name! (er, even if your hairstyle/color was a bit questionable .
.. . the better to show off your metrosexuality, no?)

True

 

Trueman says...

Susie's lovely, isn't she. Rides a bit fast too from what I hear.

He's as gay as a gaylord.

 

Lovely? Rides fast? <perk>

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Champ

Oi!

<waves hands in front of Champ>

The race? Remember the race?

Some drawings would be good too...

 

This evening...

 

Champ says...

http://www.bikegirl.co.uk/

HTH

 

As you will be able to see soon as she is currently in Devon with PB doing a
multi-bike test... As usual the Beemer broke on day 1......

No no no! "He pretends to be gayer than a gaylord to get sypathetic birds
to cure him" is the phrase yr looking for...

Dave

 

WavyDavy says...

<makes another note in little black book>

 

Champ says...

Susie owns the site. This is her:

http://www.bikegirl.co.uk/ladies/author.html

Talking about girl racers shown on there, I sold Hayley Moss her MJK
leathers at the NEC last year. Talk about fit

 

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the

Tight? Measure your inside leg, madame?

--

Dave

GS 850 x2 / SE 6a
SbS#6 DIAABTCOD#16 APOSTLE#6 FUB#3
FUB KotL OSOS#12? UKRMMA#19 COSOC#10

 

Grimly Curmudgeon says...

Unfortunately, I don't get to do any measuring up. I do the hard work
involved in the sale, Graham gets the pleasure of running a tape all
over the customers. He's the only person in the UK to measure for MJKs,
that way he keeps things consistent.