Paging the Donington lot...

Going to watch the MGP this weekend - first time I've been to either
the racing or Donginton, So...

Do the font have any recommendations on places to sit (grass is fine)
and the best entrances for them?

I'm going in the car (I know I know) so that is a factor.

I know the gates open at 6am, but what's a realistic sort of time to
try and arrive to still get parking and potentially a reasonable seat
on the grass?

 

Infield between the Old hairpin/Schwantz - fair view of quite a bit of
track, plus the bonus of a great big TV screen just behind you for all the
bits you can't see...

5am.

The traffic situation at Donny sucks. Get there *very* early and park near
the (exit) gate (if the exit is different from the entrance) - it may be a
long hike to/from the track, but you'll not spend 3 hours sitting in the
carpark after it's all over as you'll just start up and drive straight
out(ish)

Even if you do this, however, allow time in the evening to watch any
follow-up support races (you may as well as, straight after the MotoGP race
you won't be going anywhere) and take some tea/coffee/food and have an
evening meal at trackside (try to avoid holding on to buy stuff at the end -
the stalls will be shutting down and/or ramping up proces if the weather is
very hot/very cold & wet).

Don't expect to just finish watching the racing, go to your car and go home.
If that does happen, then consider it an unexpected bonus and avert your
eyes skywards to see the flying porcine beasts and/or Hades in a sub-zero
condition.

Dave

 

Is the traffic any easier going on a bike?

I've not been to the racing there for about 20 years and I've got half
an idea to go this year.

Dave

 

Yes, getting in should be easier, but I'd still aim to be there for
8-8.30ish. Leaving is not much better - even though you can filter there'll
be a few hundred other bikes doing the same or, even worse, not filtering
and holding you up.

And then you'll be directed 10miles in the opposite direction to the one you
want to go in..

Save your money and go to a circuit that actually welcomes spectators.

Dave

 

Bottom of Craner Curves at the Old Hairpin is good because you can see
them come all the way down the hill and then take the Old Hairpin at
ludicrous speeds.

 

I'd arrive very late ... specifically some time on Monday morning. You'd
miss the racing, but the crowds would be gone and you could pick your spot
to watch Eddie and I go round and round (and possibly along and through, in
my case)

--
AndrewR, D.Bot (Celeritas)
Kawasaki ZX-6R J1, Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo
BOTAFOT#2,ITJWTFO#6,UKRMRM#1/13a,MCT#1,DFV#2,SKoGA#0 (and KotL)
BotToS#5,SBS#25,IbW#34, DS#5, COSOC# Suspended, KotTFSTR#
The speccy Geordie twat.

 

Not an option unfortunately, but anyway.

Okay, so if I manage to get in, I should be fine!

 

The GP circuit, I believe.

Oh.

Never mind, I'm pretty sure such sublties will be lost on me anyway, as my
circuit riding doesn't so much "flow" as "tumble"

--
AndrewR, D.Bot (Celeritas)
Kawasaki ZX-6R J1, Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo
BOTAFOT#2,ITJWTFO#6,UKRMRM#1/13a,MCT#1,DFV#2,SKoGA#0 (and KotL)
BotToS#5,SBS#25,IbW#34, DS#5, COSOC# Suspended, KotTFSTR#
The speccy Geordie twat.

 

When I were a lad[1] ... I *always* used to stand[2] between
McLeans[3] and Coppice, just where the track changes in elevation at
the start of the braking zone. Hearing GP bikes bottoming-out their
front suspension is not a usual sound and one I suspect doesn't happen
any more.

From there I could see the bikes through Craner curves, lose them a
bit through the Old Hairpin and pick them up again from Starkey's all
the way to the Dunlop Bridge.

HTH

[1] 1980's(ish)
[2] on top of my step-dad's Transit.
[3] another good overtaking place.

 

You believe correctly.

Ah, well - it introduces a hairpin, the kind of corner where I can often
manage to comfortably overtake people by turning inside them.

Hmmm... remind me to set off in front of you. Waaaaay in front of you.

 

How fucking much????

The last time I went to a grand prix was 1978 at Silverstone.
5 quid a head to get in back then.
And i complained about that too....

Thanx

Dave

 

I used to watch from there, but about 5 years ago they made the McLeans
gravel trap bigger and mived the viewing bank back. They also added a big
bank along the Dunlop Bridge straight so you can't see past halfway round
Coppice these days. And there's no big screen there, so you miss what's
going on for about 2/3 of the lap (You can't rely on the PA 'cos (a) it's
shitye and (b) the bikes drown it out anyway)

The first year of the 990s, when they raced against the 500s, I watched
Friday practice from a little closer to McLeans - the sounds of *all* the 4
strokes, but especially the Aprilia made the most brilliant popping and
banging noises as their fuelling went all awry with the sudden deceleration.
Of course they've had a few years to sort them out and the Aprilia's not
there anymore so that sound doesn't happen anywhere near as much as back
then...

Dave

 

I used to prefer the GP circuit when racing the Rotarini as it enabled a
much less powerful machine to get in amongst the faster stuff (if only
temporarily - but not always). The Formula 50 club in those days, had a
strange multi-class race that mixed 125 racers, 250 singles, unlimited
twins (this was before superbike had made Ducatis what they are today)
and even some times 250 LCs. Manic, but given a wet GP circuit meeting
the Rotax-Morini could hold its own surprisingly.

As to watching I seem to recall usually making for the old hairpin
banking.

--

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Moto Guzzi Mille GT/Squire RS3 Gilera Nordwest |
| Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

'Kinnel, nearly double the Assen TT price....

 

Of course, yes. I was only thinking of the first hairpin - the second
one's not as tight, is it?

Not really, I'm rubbish on the brakes; and on my previous track days,
it's always seemed like I'm just about getting the hang of doing some
serious braking when the brakes start to fade, so I have to back off
again.

But the entry to the hairpin at Croft is quite slow anyway, and I'm
happy to tip it inside people once we're at that speed. Not sure if that
ploy will work so well at Donington.

I'll bear it in mind, but I'm fairly sure I'm not at much risk of
catching him up in a 15-minute session.

 

Oh arse, my cousin's over with her boyfriend and got him tickets for
Donington. We were planning to be there at a civilised time, looks like
that ain't working :-/.

Bit late but thanks for the warning...