Silverstone - a photo trippie with lots of pics

[mumof2]

We set off around 8.00am on Sunday for the drive to Silverstone in Northamptonshire. Traffic wasn't too bad, and we were amazed to see the very quiet M4!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/db58177e.jpg?t=1246897305



oooh it's starting to get exciting now!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/6e3ecbbe.jpg?t=1246897460


oh lookee - a Mustang!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/a68a71e4.jpg?t=1246897546


yaaay! a roadsign for Silverstone!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/60f8dd8d.jpg?t=1246897594


hmmm, traffic's getting heavier.....
http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/04125342.jpg?t=1246897715



YIKES!!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/d27258f0.jpg?t=1246897784



S'okay - no need to panic. There'd been a 5 car shunt and that's what was blocking the road. Nobody was hurt and we didn't take too long to get past the hold up..........after we cleared that and found a parking space we arrived at around 10.45/11am ish! HURRAH!!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/f78731b3.jpg?t=1246897917



http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/069106ed.jpg?t=1246897998

[ukwdwnut]

great pix M

[mumof2]

(urgh! this could take some time as my laptop is realllllly slow!)


After we went through the gates we somehow managed to find our way to the other side of the track where we sat and waited for the 'Euro Cup Formula Renault 2' - it was a flippin' long walk!



just waiting around....

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/72c981fe.jpg?t=1246899671


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/c97ea512.jpg?t=1246899864


and they're off!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/58353faf.jpg?t=1246900008


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/61074261.jpg?t=1246900070

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/fb812a7e.jpg?t=1246900113



here it comes - can you see it?


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/22de6673.jpg?t=1246900159



errr, where'd it go.....:unsure:

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/1fba312a.jpg?t=1246900288

[mumof2]

wandered around a little and looked at the cars on display....



http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/50a6c779.jpg?t=1246901229


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/2a99121f.jpg?t=1246901771

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/c3b47c4b.jpg?t=1246901826

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/fefa42b0.jpg?t=1246902017

[Britchick]

did you have a good time then?

[ukwdwnut]

cool looks like a great time M

what formula were the single seater F1 lookalikes?

[Dawn]

Liked the "yikes" picture. :laugh:

[mumof2]

great pix M

thanks Mick!




did you have a good time then?

yep! planning to go for both days next year if we can.




cool looks like a great time M

what formula were the single seater F1 lookalikes?


it was good Mick, they were Formula Renault 2.0




Liked the "yikes" picture. :laugh:

that's not the thought that crossed my mind when i saw it!

[ukwdwnut]

thanks Mick!


it was good Mick, they were Formula Renault 2.0

your welcome M

cool. something worth looking at next year, havent been racing for a few years now

[mumof2]

your welcome M

cool. something worth looking at next year, havent been racing for a few years now


it's definitely worth thinking about. I'll tell more about it at the end. Was a long walk so you'd need some wheels i 'spect, especially if the weather is as hot as it was.


the other pics may have to wait til tomorrow - this *thing* is driving me crazy tonight!

[Britchick]

it's definitely worth thinking about. I'll tell more about it at the end. Was a long walk so you'd need some wheels i 'spect, especially if the weather is as hot as it was.


the other pics may have to wait til tomorrow - this *thing* is driving me crazy tonight!

i'll push him, muwahahaha

[mumof2]

i'll push him, muwahahaha

no, no let me!

or we could do it together but we'd have to be ever so careful..............we may *accidentally* push him onto the track by mistake!

[mumof2]

DH and DS9 lined up for an hour to be taken for a spin (literally!) for about a minute or so - reverse at speed, spin the car round, etc etc. didn't get a photo but did do a video which i will attempt to put on YouTube at some point!

After a little more wandering we made our way back across the track to find a different viewing spot. Some of the areas we wandered through were crowded, others almost empty!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/ca120452.jpg?t=1246954549

The seats in the stands were full but I spotted an gap on the grassy bank so we made a dash for it and made ourselves comfy for the next few events.

This, if I remember correctly, was the 'Euro Cup Megane Trophy Race' - somehow DS9 managed to fall asleep during the race. It was soooo noisy I don't know how he did!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/badc7246.jpg?t=1246954664


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/10b81151.jpg?t=1246954813

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/3758f80b.jpg?t=1246954871

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/97b4e23b.jpg?t=1246954901




sorry for the quality of the pics, the cars were all pretty fast ya know. I had lots of photos of the track where I'd missed the cars completely, even with the multi shoot option!

[ukwdwnut]

great pix M

i'll go look for mine from the last brands meet i went to :)

[mumof2]

After a clean up and track safety check it was time for the 'Renault Clio Cup Race' - there were 20 odd cars on the track and it was great fun to watch.... we all really enjoyed those cars!



http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/0b50fe7c.jpg?t=1246955211



http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/bd19227b.jpg?t=1246955691


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/77af30af.jpg?t=1246955728


The Clios!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/db225acb.jpg?t=1246955791

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/35c188cb.jpg?t=1246955827


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/5802525c.jpg?t=1246955854


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/ee28dd95.jpg?t=1246955879


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/04e2c2b5.jpg?t=1246955905


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/f6b2f99d.jpg?t=1246955942

[mumof2]

more to follow......got to go out for a while now!

[ukwdwnut]

great day out M

[mumof2]

While we waited for the highlight of the afternoon we listened to the trophys being presented and various National Anthems according to whichever nationalilty the winner of each category was.

DH and DS9 went off in search of ice creams which they found not too far away! £3.00 each, good job they only bought 2!

And finally the build up began....a demonstration of the Formula Renault 3.5 by none other than............
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
NIGEL MANSELL!! woohoo!! :wiggle:


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/160639df.jpg?t=1246965885




http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/2840bf71.jpg?t=1246966233

[mumof2]

followed shortly after by a demo of the Renault F1


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/9b78f7a2.jpg?t=1246966626





after which we made our way back to the car where we sat for the next 2 hours before finally managing to get to the path which would take us out to the road!


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/30b8bf62.jpg?t=1246967075


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/8c2ff011.jpg?t=1246967408


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/aed9e40b.jpg?t=1246967515



when we finally got out of there we avoided the main route and travelled along some leafy roads

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/716c8d05.jpg?t=1246967595



before getting caught in up in traffic at the top of this hill.

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/676bc96f.jpg?t=1246967717

[mumof2]

as we were held up i thought i may as well take the opportunity to get a few pics of the surroundings!


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/9215bdea.jpg?t=1246968138




http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/55d82d58.jpg?t=1246968400




http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/89c488c9.jpg?t=1246968462








http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/c1f6e030.jpg?t=1246968535


The hold up cleared soon enough and we finally got to the M40 to start the real journey back home, taking a total of 5 hours and 45 minutes since we'd left the circuit!

[mumof2]

and finally!


We had a really good day spoilt only by the complete lack of stewards and organisation on leaving the car parks resulting in our 2 hour wait to get out of there! I think we moved about 10 feet in 2 hours before we made it onto the path! Crazy :thumbsdown:

On arrival each car park had been roped off leaving only an entrance but on leaving the ropes had been removed making it a free for all. Some people were driving along the edges of the fields to squeeze in further up and we witnessed a couple of drivers battling with their cars to get in front of each other as one of them wanted to barge his way onto the path. :nono:

Everything is free! You get the free tickets of course, if more than 4 of you are going then order 2 lots of tickets in different names.

There is a fairground which is free for under 16's but there may be long waiting lines. On Saturday my brothers family went and didn't wait too long but on Sunday we just didn't bother with it as the lines were huge!

The safety experience DH and DS9 had was also free but again, be prepared for a long wait for only a short ride which only takes 2 passengers in each car.

People were walking around with bags of freebies - posters, leaflets and maybe pens and stuff but again we didn't get any because we didn't see any!

Bring a picnic and lots to drink and you shouldn't have to spend any money unless you want to.

If we go next year we may go and do the main things on Saturday, camp nearby for the night then go back on Sunday but leave earlier. Although that's what my nephew and his friend did and it still took them quite some time to get out of the car parks.

So be prepared for lots of traffic!

There were some people with those pop up tents and BBQ's on the grassy areas.

Remember hats and suncream, and an umbrella would be useful for both keeping the sun off you or for rainy showers!

If you want to get around the whole place (which we didn't manage to do) be prepared to walk a lot!

Oh, and grab a map on entry, we didn't see any so didn't know what was where to start with until we found one laying on the ground!

Can't think of anything else at the moment so I will leave you with a few random pictures!


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/75b9079e.jpg?t=1246970472



http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/650589c1.jpg?t=1246970779



http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/b8bdf1d9.jpg?t=1246970823


http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/6882e076.jpg?t=1246970860



http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/00448a03.jpg?t=1246970892




:point:and in a really freaky moment.......!

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu72/mellw/42b9c340.jpg?t=1246971161

[foreverducky]

:lol: love that last photo!

Sounds like a blast! And would love to go super fast in one of those cars.

[mumof2]

:lol: love that last photo!

Sounds like a blast! And would love to go super fast in one of those cars.


I didn't actually realise that had flown by until I saw the photo later! It was a fab day out, really enjoyed it! My Mum went the day before with my brothers family and can't wait for next years event! :thumbsup:

[ukwdwnut]

looks like you had a real good day M and the photos are great thx for sharing :)

[mumof2]

you're welcome Mick, thanks for looking!

[ukwdwnut]

thats ok M im a huge fan of motorsport

i cant find the pix of the last meet i went to maybe they were photos not digi ones will look as and when i can