I've never been to a motorsport event - how do I approach this?

[Tekku]

So I've never been to a motorsport event but I'm excited to give it a first try. I'm mainly interested in Formula 1 and the WEC.

Is there some kind of general ticket service for all motorsports or do each motorsport have their own way of dealing with their audience? I've tried to google some races that I find interesting, like the 24h of Nürburgring for instance, but the sites seem to be in german and there's several options that make me confused.

And how should I book my experience to get the most out of it? Do you have to pay extra for going into certain parts of the race area? Are there usually hotels close to the tracks? Is it possible to move around certain tracks if you want to try and get a look of a different section? Do drivers have some kind of signing at the end of each race if you want to have a look at them up close and maybe take a photo?

Sorry, there's just so many questions.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Normally tickets are provided by the organiser of each event. The track you're interested in going to will have details of upcoming events and will no doubt be able to sell you the ticket. They'll also give you details of what you'll get for each ticket price, they'll differ in area access and, for multi-day events, which days the ticket is valid for.

Enjoy, and post pics!

 

[Tekku]

Normally tickets are provided by the organiser of each event. The track you're interested in going to will have details of upcoming events and will no doubt be able to sell you the ticket. They'll also give you details of what you'll get for each ticket price, they'll differ in area access and, for multi-day events, which days the ticket is valid for.

Enjoy, and post pics!

Thank you!

Have you been to a motorsport event yourself? If so, do you mind telling me about your experience? Like how you made it there, what kind of ticket you bought, where you were seated, if you explored anything in between or after the race?

 

[NotThePrez]

Thank you!

Have you been to a motorsport event yourself? If so, do you mind telling me about your experience? Like how you made it there, what kind of ticket you bought, where you were seated, if you explored anything in between or after the race?

DISLAMER: This is my perspective as an American, so I have no idea how things work on the larger European tracks.

I usually try and make it out to the Indycar race in St. Pete every year, which is a street circuit in downtown St. Petersburg, which is probably a decent difference compared to F1 and WEC, though I usually look at taking the pilgrimage to Austin every year for the USGP to see if it's viable.

It varies from track-to-track, but generally speaking General Admission grants enough coverage for the weekend. They allow you access to the interior of the track, and tend to be cheaper, but you don't get any reserved seating. The nice thing about St. Pete is that the circuit and the real estate it takes up is relatively small, and there are a few elevated positions for me to get good photos and move around the track more easily. Grandstand tickets get you a reserved seat, and probably a much better vantage point, but you're generally stuck in that one part of the track, as moving around can be a bit of a pain.

The experience is going to vary depending on the event and location. In my experience, the Indycar race tends to be pretty relaxed, since it's the season opener, and for many of the race fans I've talked to it's there first time in the city, so they spend a good portion of time soaking the city itself in. Meanwhile, my ex-boss went to the NASCAR race in Dover last year and told me that it was a fun time, but everybody was absolutely crazy.

I imagine for larger tacks such as Spa and Silverstone, getting a reserved seat would make more sense as it's hard to move around quickly from one part of the circuit to the next. Is there a specific event you have in mind to visit? I would try and contact the venue and ask about accomidations, how easy/difficult it is to move around the track, etc.

And as @TenEightyOne said, the most important thing is to have fun and take loads of pictures!

 

[Tekku]

DISLAMER: This is my perspective as an American, so I have no idea how things work on the larger European tracks.

I usually try and make it out to the Indycar race in St. Pete every year, which is a street circuit in downtown St. Petersburg, which is probably a decent difference compared to F1 and WEC, though I usually look at taking the pilgrimage to Austin every year for the USGP to see if it's viable.

It varies from track-to-track, but generally speaking General Admission grants enough coverage for the weekend. They allow you access to the interior of the track, and tend to be cheaper, but you don't get any reserved seating. The nice thing about St. Pete is that the circuit and the real estate it takes up is relatively small, and there are a few elevated positions for me to get good photos and move around the track more easily. Grandstand tickets get you a reserved seat, and probably a much better vantage point, but you're generally stuck in that one part of the track, as moving around can be a bit of a pain.

The experience is going to vary depending on the event and location. In my experience, the Indycar race tends to be pretty relaxed, since it's the season opener, and for many of the race fans I've talked to it's there first time in the city, so they spend a good portion of time soaking the city itself in. Meanwhile, my ex-boss went to the NASCAR race in Dover last year and told me that it was a fun time, but everybody was absolutely crazy.

I imagine for larger tacks such as Spa and Silverstone, getting a reserved seat would make more sense as it's hard to move around quickly from one part of the circuit to the next. Is there a specific event you have in mind to visit? I would try and contact the venue and ask about accomidations, how easy/difficult it is to move around the track, etc.

And as @TenEightyOne said, the most important thing is to have fun and take loads of pictures!

Great read. Thanks for sharing!

Yes, at the moment I want to go to Spa and Monza for F1 and then also the 24h of Nürburgring race. My goal is to visit all the biggest tracks here in Europe so I have a lot of catching up to do. I'm studying at the moment so it's quite easy to get away, for the moment at least.

 

[Jack Dulmage]

So I've never been to a motorsport event but I'm excited to give it a first try. I'm mainly interested in Formula 1 and the WEC.

Is there some kind of general ticket service for all motorsports or do each motorsport have their own way of dealing with their audience? I've tried to google some races that I find interesting, like the 24h of Nürburgring for instance, but the sites seem to be in german and there's several options that make me confused.

And how should I book my experience to get the most out of it? Do you have to pay extra for going into certain parts of the race area? Are there usually hotels close to the tracks? Is it possible to move around certain tracks if you want to try and get a look of a different section? Do drivers have some kind of signing at the end of each race if you want to have a look at them up close and maybe take a photo?

Sorry, there's just so many questions.

My experience is with F1 (Canadian GP 2014, 2016 @ Circuit Gilles V), IMSA (Mobil1 GP and PWC @ Canadian Tire Motorsports Park "Mosport"), the Canadian Rally Championship (@ Bancroft) and NASCAR (Daytona 500 waaaay back when i was pretty young).

Ill go through some of my experiences which have been awesome so far.

Formula 1:
F1 was my first circuit racing experiences and something i think every race fan should go and see at least once. The cars are faster than anything ive ever seen and the events infield are incredible and are super immersive. F1 does everything BIG, not as big as NASCAR mind you, but for circuit racing, it was huge. There was so much to do, so much to see, we got there at 7am, got our seats (General Admission) and then went for walks the entire day up until the race and still didn't get to see everything. The opening races were fun (F1600, Ferrari Challenge Cup, Masters Historic Trophy) however there was so much to do infield wise that we missed most of the races. One of the nicest things about the circuit (may not apply to all F1 venues) was that even if the cars weren't at your corner, you could watch one of the massive jumbo screens so you didn't miss a thing (no need to re-watch). The race itself was mind blowing in 2014, as i had never seen anything that fast and i was just awestruck by the speed and technological efficiency of the cars. However, in 2016 i was less impressed as i had now been to many other races... Which leads me to the faults with going to an F1 event.
As i said before, everyone should go to at least 1 F1 event, however after that i don't know if i would go for a third time unless there are some big changes. First of all, its expensive, significantly compared to any other race i've gone to int he last 5 years. It cost $99+ CAN to do General Admission, and $250+ for a good grandstand, which is pretty pricey, especially considering i'm a student so my budget is around 0.40 cents, and that's just a single day pass. Pair that with the fact that the racing is pretty boring track-side... Not a lot of side by side battles, and if they are they are in areas that you need to pay $$$ to access (grandstands etc.). On top of that, most passes are done on long straights under DRS which is happening at such speeds you don't really get to see the action anyways... In my opinion, the spectacle of F1 is worth it the first time, but past that i find myself sitting and wondering why i'm paying $10 for watered down beer.

Mosport (GT/Prototype Racing)
By far my favorite, it is the best racing experience i have had, and it continues to be my "favorite weekend i've ever had" every year. To counter F1, the price is insane, $65 CAN gets you a full weekend pass (that's Thursday to Sunday!!!), includes pit walk, driver autograph session, paddock pass, and with the amount of money you'll save on beer (you can bring your own) you can buy a camping pass ($75 per car and trailer) and you can camp right next to the track. Mobil1 and PWC offer lots of opening races so you'll have something to watch all day, and the main events always offer super close wheel to wheel racing, lots of different manufacturers and models, and the racing is all out so you get to see photo-finishes, insane crashes, and awesome passes right in front of your face. Your pass also gets you access to ANYWHERE on the track, first come first serve basis so i just make my way to Moss Corner (5 a and b) in the early morning with a cooler full of food and beverages and i spend the day (race-day) watching all the action 10 feet from the edge of the track! Sometimes ill do the pit-walk and parade which can be very cool, but i usually get my "up-close" fix Friday and Saturday. On Friday and Saturday, I wake up, and spend my day near the events center and paddock. The events center is much smaller than F1, although the paddock makes up for it. The paddock walk costs and arm and a leg in F1, but is included in the Mosport tickets. You are able to go right into the garages (as much as they will let you), you can talk to drivers, engineers, team officials, as well as get up close and personal with the cars. I even had the opportunity to tag along with a group and got to sit in the Audi R8 LMS Ultra, before being promptly escorted out as it turns out it was for "friends and family only" oops... After races and sessions, the cars will be outside the garages for people to walk around to get a 360 view of the machinery, and if you get there early you can usually grab some "discarded" damaged pieces. The driver autograph session is also available, in which you get a large back of "swag", posters, all signed by the drivers. You also get to do a quick meet and greet with every driver. This is what makes GT/Prototype the most attractive for me to attend, and i highly recommend going to watch a race yourself!

NASCAR
I wasn't a huge racing fan when i went to this race so i don't really remember much (i was also very young). I have seen NASCAR at Mosport and its pretty cool, lots of bumping and grinding, just not my favorite series to watch. I do remember it being insane... So many people, and its produced better than any other racing series, just not my cup of tea.

Rally
The Canadian Rally Championship is very small and doesn't feature any top spec rally cars, however it was my first stage focused rally championship i attended and it was pretty cool to see. I was with a local so we went to some good spots to watch and i would definitely go again. The best part of Rally is the people, everyone is super nice and there is always a bush party breaking out somewhere! Issue is that you don't get to see "as much"...

I also saw the GRC is Ottawa this year and it was awesome, another first for me as i had never seen an RX race before. It was pretty cool, great bang for your buck ($40 for a ticket i think? got them as a gift) so it was well worth it. I heard there was a lot of activity surrounding the event too however i had to leave early due work so i didn't get to experience the entire show, hopefully next year .

In conclusion, go to whatever you can, these are some of my experiences but you should make your own! I thought for sure F1 would be the best, and id never change my mind. However after going to Mosport, i cant think of a better spectator experience (unless i had $10000 to spend on an F1 weekend). Basically, my advice is don't restrict your scope, go to everything you can, no matter what your past experiences or preferences are, because they are all fun, and they will all lead to a well spent weekend! If i missed anything just ask and if i remember more ill try and add it!

 

[Tekku]

My experience is with F1 (Canadian GP 2014, 2016 @ Circuit Gilles V), IMSA (Mobil1 GP and PWC @ Canadian Tire Motorsports Park "Mosport"), the Canadian Rally Championship (@ Bancroft) and NASCAR (Daytona 500 waaaay back when i was pretty young).

Ill go through some of my experiences which have been awesome so far.

Formula 1:
F1 was my first circuit racing experiences and something i think every race fan should go and see at least once. The cars are faster than anything ive ever seen and the events infield are incredible and are super immersive. F1 does everything BIG, not as big as NASCAR mind you, but for circuit racing, it was huge. There was so much to do, so much to see, we got there at 7am, got our seats (General Admission) and then went for walks the entire day up until the race and still didn't get to see everything. The opening races were fun (F1600, Ferrari Challenge Cup, Masters Historic Trophy) however there was so much to do infield wise that we missed most of the races. One of the nicest things about the circuit (may not apply to all F1 venues) was that even if the cars weren't at your corner, you could watch one of the massive jumbo screens so you didn't miss a thing (no need to re-watch). The race itself was mind blowing in 2014, as i had never seen anything that fast and i was just awestruck by the speed and technological efficiency of the cars. However, in 2016 i was less impressed as i had now been to many other races... Which leads me to the faults with going to an F1 event.
As i said before, everyone should go to at least 1 F1 event, however after that i don't know if i would go for a third time unless there are some big changes. First of all, its expensive, significantly compared to any other race i've gone to int he last 5 years. It cost $99+ CAN to do General Admission, and $250+ for a good grandstand, which is pretty pricey, especially considering i'm a student so my budget is around 0.40 cents, and that's just a single day pass. Pair that with the fact that the racing is pretty boring track-side... Not a lot of side by side battles, and if they are they are in areas that you need to pay $$$ to access (grandstands etc.). On top of that, most passes are done on long straights under DRS which is happening at such speeds you don't really get to see the action anyways... In my opinion, the spectacle of F1 is worth it the first time, but past that i find myself sitting and wondering why i'm paying $10 for watered down beer.

Mosport (GT/Prototype Racing)
By far my favorite, it is the best racing experience i have had, and it continues to be my "favorite weekend i've ever had" every year. To counter F1, the price is insane, $65 CAN gets you a full weekend pass (that's Thursday to Sunday!!!), includes pit walk, driver autograph session, paddock pass, and with the amount of money you'll save on beer (you can bring your own) you can buy a camping pass ($75 per car and trailer) and you can camp right next to the track. Mobil1 and PWC offer lots of opening races so you'll have something to watch all day, and the main events always offer super close wheel to wheel racing, lots of different manufacturers and models, and the racing is all out so you get to see photo-finishes, insane crashes, and awesome passes right in front of your face. Your pass also gets you access to ANYWHERE on the track, first come first serve basis so i just make my way to Moss Corner (5 a and b) in the early morning with a cooler full of food and beverages and i spend the day (race-day) watching all the action 10 feet from the edge of the track! Sometimes ill do the pit-walk and parade which can be very cool, but i usually get my "up-close" fix Friday and Saturday. On Friday and Saturday, I wake up, and spend my day near the events center and paddock. The events center is much smaller than F1, although the paddock makes up for it. The paddock walk costs and arm and a leg in F1, but is included in the Mosport tickets. You are able to go right into the garages (as much as they will let you), you can talk to drivers, engineers, team officials, as well as get up close and personal with the cars. I even had the opportunity to tag along with a group and got to sit in the Audi R8 LMS Ultra, before being promptly escorted out as it turns out it was for "friends and family only" oops... After races and sessions, the cars will be outside the garages for people to walk around to get a 360 view of the machinery, and if you get there early you can usually grab some "discarded" damaged pieces. The driver autograph session is also available, in which you get a large back of "swag", posters, all signed by the drivers. You also get to do a quick meet and greet with every driver. This is what makes GT/Prototype the most attractive for me to attend, and i highly recommend going to watch a race yourself!

NASCAR
I wasn't a huge racing fan when i went to this race so i don't really remember much (i was also very young). I have seen NASCAR at Mosport and its pretty cool, lots of bumping and grinding, just not my favorite series to watch. I do remember it being insane... So many people, and its produced better than any other racing series, just not my cup of tea.

Rally
The Canadian Rally Championship is very small and doesn't feature any top spec rally cars, however it was my first stage focused rally championship i attended and it was pretty cool to see. I was with a local so we went to some good spots to watch and i would definitely go again. The best part of Rally is the people, everyone is super nice and there is always a bush party breaking out somewhere! Issue is that you don't get to see "as much"...

I also saw the GRC is Ottawa this year and it was awesome, another first for me as i had never seen an RX race before. It was pretty cool, great bang for your buck ($40 for a ticket i think? got them as a gift) so it was well worth it. I heard there was a lot of activity surrounding the event too however i had to leave early due work so i didn't get to experience the entire show, hopefully next year .

In conclusion, go to whatever you can, these are some of my experiences but you should make your own! I thought for sure F1 would be the best, and id never change my mind. However after going to Mosport, i cant think of a better spectator experience (unless i had $10000 to spend on an F1 weekend). Basically, my advice is don't restrict your scope, go to everything you can, no matter what your past experiences or preferences are, because they are all fun, and they will all lead to a well spent weekend! If i missed anything just ask and if i remember more ill try and add it!

Wow! Many great experiences, thanks for sharing. I have a couple of questions though.

• What F1 track did you go to and what made you choose that particular track?
• Is it preferable to try to get a seat at the starting line? To see the pit stops, the start, ending ceremony etc.
• I'm not that much into the GT class yet but I'm in the process of learning the sport. Do you have any tracks to recommend that are highlights within the GT class?
• Is it possible to tune into the commentators if you have headphones? I reckon it can be hard to hear them through the speakers on track.
• How the heck do you find your way around the track, the paddock etc? Are you given a map when you enter that explains it all in detail?

 

[Jack Dulmage]

• What F1 track did you go to and what made you choose that particular track?

Great questions, i did actually state above that i went to the Canadian GP at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. I chose this track because it is the one closest to me (5 hours away, welcome to Canada). Unlike you, i don't really have a choice as it is the only race within 10 hours of me that hosts an F1 round.

• Is it preferable to try to get a seat at the starting line? To see the pit stops, the start, ending ceremony etc.

For me, it depends on the race/category. For F1, i chose a slow hairpin as that's where most of the passing action is, on the straights you mostly just get a sore neck from looking at the car whizz past. I recommend passing zones, places with a lot of action as its the is exciting! At a GT race, you can experiment as you can go wherever you please (at least at the track i go to).

• I'm not that much into the GT class yet but I'm in the process of learning the sport. Do you have any tracks to recommend that are highlights within the GT class?

In Europe, you have a large variety! I'd look up the ADAC Masters, GT Open and the Blancpain GT series and go to the closest race to where you live! They do race at most F1 tracks, the largest race for GT cars is the 24 hours of Spa. However, i do recommend going to the closest track available for one of these series as it will be a good intro into the sport regardless of your interest!

• Is it possible to tune into the commentators if you have headphones? I reckon it can be hard to hear them through the speakers on track.

I usually use a radio from either my car/trailer, or i bring one. However you can buy headphones with a radio receiver so same thing! Short answer: yes.

• How the heck do you find your way around the track, the paddock etc? Are you given a map when you enter that explains it all in detail?

Haha that's always a fun introduction to a new track. All the tracks i have gone too give out a free little program with a map in it when you buy your ticket. There is also always a customer service/info desk near the entrance where you can ask questions and they will usually point you in the right direction. If all else fails, don't be afraid to ask around, race fans are pretty tight knit and at least in Canada, will be happy to help you out!!

 

[MatskiMonk]

The SOP varies a lot depending on what type of event it is, and which circuit it's at. If you're in Sweden, where would you think about visiting for F1 or WEC?

Nürburgring 24 hour is the greatest race of them all (in my most humble opinion), and a Formula 1 GP is garbage by comparison, and really does represent about the worst experience I can think of for actually going to a race.




edit: started this thread a little while ago, kind of on topic. https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/races-that-youve-been-to.248087/

 

[Tekku]

The SOP varies a lot depending on what type of event it is, and which circuit it's at. If you're in Sweden, where would you think about visiting for F1 or WEC?

Nürburgring 24 hour is the greatest race of them all (in my most humble opinion), and a Formula 1 GP is garbage by comparison, and really does represent about the worst experience I can think of for actually going to a race.




edit: started this thread a little while ago, kind of on topic. https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/races-that-youve-been-to.248087/

Any place in Europe really. It's easy and cheap to get around here fortunately. The problem is that I don't have any preferences yet as I've never been to an actual track. The only thing I have to go on is recommendations and some thoughts about what could be a great track or not. Spa interests me for example as I like to watch it on television and also drive on it in myself in various games. I also like

Even though F1 is a mediocre experience in comparison to other motorsports, is it still worth paying for one race just to have seen it once? I just can't imagine not going to at least one F1, seeing as I'm very much interested in the sport.


WTF1 sold me completely on 24h of Nürburgring with his coverage. It looks like so much fun:

Great questions, i did actually state above that i went to the Canadian GP at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. I chose this track because it is the one closest to me (5 hours away, welcome to Canada). Unlike you, i don't really have a choice as it is the only race within 10 hours of me that hosts an F1 round.


For me, it depends on the race/category. For F1, i chose a slow hairpin as that's where most of the passing action is, on the straights you mostly just get a sore neck from looking at the car whizz past. I recommend passing zones, places with a lot of action as its the is exciting! At a GT race, you can experiment as you can go wherever you please (at least at the track i go to).


In Europe, you have a large variety! I'd look up the ADAC Masters, GT Open and the Blancpain GT series and go to the closest race to where you live! They do race at most F1 tracks, the largest race for GT cars is the 24 hours of Spa. However, i do recommend going to the closest track available for one of these series as it will be a good intro into the sport regardless of your interest!


I usually use a radio from either my car/trailer, or i bring one. However you can buy headphones with a radio receiver so same thing! Short answer: yes.


Haha that's always a fun introduction to a new track. All the tracks i have gone too give out a free little program with a map in it when you buy your ticket. There is also always a customer service/info desk near the entrance where you can ask questions and they will usually point you in the right direction. If all else fails, don't be afraid to ask around, race fans are pretty tight knit and at least in Canada, will be happy to help you out!!

Thanks for all the great answers. I'm so looking forward to this now!

 

[MatskiMonk]

Any place in Europe really. It's easy and cheap to get around here fortunately. The problem is that I don't have any preferences yet as I've never been to an actual track. The only thing I have to go on is recommendations and some thoughts about what could be a great track or not. Spa interests me for example as I like to watch it on television and also drive on it in myself in various games.

Even though F1 is a mediocre experience in comparison to other motorsports, is it still worth paying for one race just to have seen it once? I just can't imagine not going to at least one F1, seeing as I'm very much interested in the sport.

I'd recommend Spa to anyone. Only been there once myself, that was for the 24 hour race, and it was fantastic. You could spectate from pretty much anywhere you like, and the paddock was open - though I suspect neither of these two things would be quite so true for the F1, though probably okay for WEC. Generally speaking, in my experience, the more mainstream the event - the more those two things become restricted, and the higher the ticket price gets.

Personally (and other peoples experiences will vary), my 'big ticket' experiences are some of my least fond memories. I hated F1, every other event I've visited since has made me dislike the British Grand Prix at Silverstone even more. And, to be honest I found Le Mans really tough going too.

Maybe I'm biased, but you can't go far wrong with nipping over the North Sea to the UK and doing the Oulton Park round of the BTCC

As for being at a venue and finding your way around, whatever the event, just be curious (and take sturdy walking shoes), if you're going somewhere you shouldn't, a person in a visi-vest will ask you for a ticket or a pass, just apologise and go off a different way, or ask them where you can go.

... and yeah, just do the Nürburgring 24 hours ... it's incredible.

 

[Roo]

@Tekku

How you approach an event depends on what you want to get out of it. Some folks go to watch motorsport and are happy to sit in one place all day, be it a grandstand seat or on a general admission banking. If you want to do that, buy your ticket, sit yourself down and watch. That's not for me though, as I want to see everything from everywhere and I want to take different shots with my camera, so if I have a choice I rarely stay in one place for more than 15 minutes or so. I don't go to watch motor racing - I go to photograph motor racing.

Because of that, I've never bothered with grandstand tickets to any event I've been to. At some events (for example the WEC at Silverstone) some of the grandstands are open for anyone to go in at any time, so you get the best of both worlds - the view from a grandstand for the cost of general admission. Oval racing is probably different in that it's grandstand-only, but I have no experience of that (yet!).

The only exception is F1. I've been to one F1 race (2005 British GP at Silverstone) and because it's so full, you can't move from the beginning of race day until the chequered flag falls. In the general admission areas people will sleep by the gates in sleeping bags so they can get to the front of the GA area when the gates open at 5am. Because you're so restricted, you can't see as much, everything is even more expensive than usual, and many places you aren't allowed to go that you could at any other event - I got a real us-and-them feeling from F1, as if the fans were something to be kept out and stay away from. Most events, particularly national-level (so BTCC or British GT for me) are much more welcoming and you can go almost anywhere. I'd say go to one F1 race, just to say you have, and then never bother again. It's unlikely I ever will.

This is how I go to events:

• Buy tickets in advance, they're cheaper than on the gate and you'll get in quicker
• If it's an optional extra and doesn't cost much more, buy a paddock pass to see another side of the sport from behind the pit garages. If it's not an option and isn't an international event it's probably included in your general admission ticket
  
• Bring your own food and drink - the catering vans are standard event food at standard event prices (ie rubbish and expensive)
• Wear comfortable shoes or boots - you'll be walking quite a distance. Even if you stay in one place all day it's still a hike from the car park
  
• Check the weather forecast the previous day or even better, on the morning you leave - you might be able to leave waterproofs in the car (saves carrying them), or you might decide to wear wellington boots (picture linked as I don't know what they're called in Sweden) if it's going to be really wet/muddy
• Even if I'm given a mini-programme that just gives you a map and timetable, I like to buy a full programme; partly as a souvenir, partly because I find it useful to look up who was there years later
• Bring headphones. Most circuits broadcast over a local radio frequency which you can pick up on your phone. It's unlikely you'll be able to hear the circuit's public address system over the cars
• Make sure you've got enough batteries for any devices you have, that they're fully charged, and make sure you've got plently of space on whatever you're using to take pictures
• If you're going to a rally, try to find out the route beforehand so you know where to go
• Try to get to the track early to avoid traffic jams getting in
• Edit: as mentioned by others below - earplugs/ear defenders. I have in-ear headphones that do just a good a job at blocking the noise so I always forget to suggest earplugs.

You might want to take a folding chair, depending on the event. It's up to you and I've never bothered. As for accommodation, if it's a distance I'll camp at the circuit, but as I live not far from London most circuits I visit are within an hour or two's drive so I go and come home again the same day.

As for events - if I was you I'd start with either the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship or the FIA European Drag Racing championship. I've never been to an STCC race so can't comment on those, but I imagine it's a good place to start, although all the races seem to be in the south of the country. The European drag racing championship holds events at Tierp Arena in Sweden and Alastaro Circuit in Finland, and a quick Google Maps check suggests Tierp is about 500km from you and Alastaro is 400km away, but includes a ferry crossing to Vaasa. I can absolutely recommend going to see some drag racing - it's impossible to explain to someone who has never been but a Top Fuel drag race will blow your mind.

For any event, go to the websites of the venues to buy tickets. For big international events like Le Mans there will be companies selling complete admission and accommodation packages, which saves some hassle but can be more expensive than sorting everything out yourself. Some circuits also provide camping facilities as a separate cost, or look for a nearby hotel.

After that, the only limit is your wallet!

 

[Jimlaad43]

One of the most important things to bring is earplugs or ear defenders. Have them in your bag at all times you're near cars. Until you hear the cars, you won't know if they are too loud for you. I always try to approach listening to the cars by hearing them go by once without earplugs, and then deciding whether that hurt or not and if I'd rather reduce the pain caused by loud noises. It is quite alright to never put them in, but it's better to have it for when some unrestricted noise machine goes past, than to not have them. It's amazing how even slow and quiet cars can start to hurt after a while.

 

[TheElbows]

Only been to a few, and my opinions are...just that, opinions.

• Ear plugs...all day. Even if you want to "look tough" and ignore protecting your ears, a weekend of racing will physically wear you down just with the noise if you're not taking care of yourself.
• Go to a weekend event where you get the most bang for your buck. Many racing series travel with 2-3-4 support series. You can normally just get a weekend ticket/pass and see it all. The more amateur the series the more access you'll have. In the states I'd probably attend an IMSA event for the variety of support series.
• Skip F1. Expensive and you'll get a very short race - the support series don't look much better. The racing is also sub-par compared to most other types.
• LeMans is a serious friggin' event and a 24 hour race is fun (just sleep when you want).
• If you can find a track which allows it, find a natural hill or location where you can walk and sit/watch wherever you want. If you can find a track where you can walk around the track (or most of it) this would be ideal since you can watch different parts of the track, etc.
  
• Avoid the start/finish line. You'll sit in a seat for two hours and just watch cars go by on the straight-away....you'll see very little racing.
• While I haven't done it - find an app on your phone which supports that race so you can follow what's going on in the pits and keep track of the race. There's a ton of info you won't know about if you're just sitting in a seat and watching.
• Go to a race track which is renowned for good food - that's always a plus. It's partially why I adore Road America here in the US - amazing vendor food.
• Most tracks will have large communal bathrooms, sometimes showers - so if you're not being fancy, just sleep in your car or bring a tent - it can be pretty cheap at some tracks.

Again, not a ton of experience (been to LeMans once, and a couple of races stateside) but just some nuggets to consider.

 

[Jimlaad43]

The advice "skip F1" is stupid. Everyone needs to go to an F1 race and make the decision themselves. F1 is fantastic because you actually get a chance to see the fastest cars in the world, and it is such a spectacle. Telling people not to go because you don't like it is idiotic.

 

[TheElbows]

That being said...skip F1.

 

[MatskiMonk]

The advice "skip F1" is stupid. Everyone needs to go to an F1 race and make the decision themselves. F1 is fantastic because you actually get a chance to see the fastest cars in the world, and it is such a spectacle. Telling people not to go because you don't like it is idiotic.

It's not idiotic, it's a reasonable suggestion based on experience and tangible facts. It is one of the most expensive tickets out there, it is one of the most restrictive, and it is likely the most crowded event too... all of these things can have a majorly negative impact on the experience - though I appreciate that these things may not be at the forefront of your mind as much as others given your volunteering.

Spectacle is subjective, if you love F1, that's the way you'll see it, and if @Tekku loves F1, he'll go to a race anyway. I've happily paid a tenner to watch F1 cars testing, and have happily gone along to demo-runs, but I will never again spend hundreds of pounds to travel for 6 hours, to get 20 miles down the road, to stand on one square foot of rubble in the baking sun from 7:30am until 5:00pm, losing that poxy square foot if you need to go for a piss, in order to watch 20 cars go single file round one bend for 2 hours, without a clue what's actually happening!... that's not me not enjoying it because I don't like F1, it's because I don't like being mugged off for a lot of money whilst enduring physical pain for no real benefit - that is my F1 experience, it is the worst experience I've had visiting a race of any sort, and I sincerely hope that if Tekku does decide to go to an F1 race, his experience is better (mind you, going to pretty much any other circuit than Silverstone is likely to be a good start).

 

[Tekku]

@Tekku

How you approach an event depends on what you want to get out of it. Some folks go to watch motorsport and are happy to sit in one place all day, be it a grandstand seat or on a general admission banking. If you want to do that, buy your ticket, sit yourself down and watch. That's not for me though, as I want to see everything from everywhere and I want to take different shots with my camera, so if I have a choice I rarely stay in one place for more than 15 minutes or so. I don't go to watch motor racing - I go to photograph motor racing.

Because of that, I've never bothered with grandstand tickets to any event I've been to. At some events (for example the WEC at Silverstone) some of the grandstands are open for anyone to go in at any time, so you get the best of both worlds - the view from a grandstand for the cost of general admission. Oval racing is probably different in that it's grandstand-only, but I have no experience of that (yet!).

The only exception is F1. I've been to one F1 race (2005 British GP at Silverstone) and because it's so full, you can't move from the beginning of race day until the chequered flag falls. In the general admission areas people will sleep by the gates in sleeping bags so they can get to the front of the GA area when the gates open at 5am. Because you're so restricted, you can't see as much, everything is even more expensive than usual, and many places you aren't allowed to go that you could at any other event - I got a real us-and-them feeling from F1, as if the fans were something to be kept out and stay away from. Most events, particularly national-level (so BTCC or British GT for me) are much more welcoming and you can go almost anywhere. I'd say go to one F1 race, just to say you have, and then never bother again. It's unlikely I ever will.

This is how I go to events:

• Buy tickets in advance, they're cheaper than on the gate and you'll get in quicker
• If it's an optional extra and doesn't cost much more, buy a paddock pass to see another side of the sport from behind the pit garages. If it's not an option and isn't an international event it's probably included in your general admission ticket
  
• Bring your own food and drink - the catering vans are standard event food at standard event prices (ie rubbish and expensive)
• Wear comfortable shoes or boots - you'll be walking quite a distance. Even if you stay in one place all day it's still a hike from the car park
  
• Check the weather forecast the previous day or even better, on the morning you leave - you might be able to leave waterproofs in the car (saves carrying them), or you might decide to wear wellington boots (picture linked as I don't know what they're called in Sweden) if it's going to be really wet/muddy
• Even if I'm given a mini-programme that just gives you a map and timetable, I like to buy a full programme; partly as a souvenir, partly because I find it useful to look up who was there years later
• Bring headphones. Most circuits broadcast over a local radio frequency which you can pick up on your phone. It's unlikely you'll be able to hear the circuit's public address system over the cars
• Make sure you've got enough batteries for any devices you have, that they're fully charged, and make sure you've got plently of space on whatever you're using to take pictures
• If you're going to a rally, try to find out the route beforehand so you know where to go
• Try to get to the track early to avoid traffic jams getting in
• Edit: as mentioned by others below - earplugs/ear defenders. I have in-ear headphones that do just a good a job at blocking the noise so I always forget to suggest earplugs.

You might want to take a folding chair, depending on the event. It's up to you and I've never bothered. As for accommodation, if it's a distance I'll camp at the circuit, but as I live not far from London most circuits I visit are within an hour or two's drive so I go and come home again the same day.

As for events - if I was you I'd start with either the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship or the FIA European Drag Racing championship. I've never been to an STCC race so can't comment on those, but I imagine it's a good place to start, although all the races seem to be in the south of the country. The European drag racing championship holds events at Tierp Arena in Sweden and Alastaro Circuit in Finland, and a quick Google Maps check suggests Tierp is about 500km from you and Alastaro is 400km away, but includes a ferry crossing to Vaasa. I can absolutely recommend going to see some drag racing - it's impossible to explain to someone who has never been but a Top Fuel drag race will blow your mind.

For any event, go to the websites of the venues to buy tickets. For big international events like Le Mans there will be companies selling complete admission and accommodation packages, which saves some hassle but can be more expensive than sorting everything out yourself. Some circuits also provide camping facilities as a separate cost, or look for a nearby hotel.

After that, the only limit is your wallet!

Lots of great advance. Thank you so much!

Only been to a few, and my opinions are...just that, opinions.

• Ear plugs...all day. Even if you want to "look tough" and ignore protecting your ears, a weekend of racing will physically wear you down just with the noise if you're not taking care of yourself.
• Go to a weekend event where you get the most bang for your buck. Many racing series travel with 2-3-4 support series. You can normally just get a weekend ticket/pass and see it all. The more amateur the series the more access you'll have. In the states I'd probably attend an IMSA event for the variety of support series.
• Skip F1. Expensive and you'll get a very short race - the support series don't look much better. The racing is also sub-par compared to most other types.
• LeMans is a serious friggin' event and a 24 hour race is fun (just sleep when you want).
• If you can find a track which allows it, find a natural hill or location where you can walk and sit/watch wherever you want. If you can find a track where you can walk around the track (or most of it) this would be ideal since you can watch different parts of the track, etc.
  
• Avoid the start/finish line. You'll sit in a seat for two hours and just watch cars go by on the straight-away....you'll see very little racing.
• While I haven't done it - find an app on your phone which supports that race so you can follow what's going on in the pits and keep track of the race. There's a ton of info you won't know about if you're just sitting in a seat and watching.
• Go to a race track which is renowned for good food - that's always a plus. It's partially why I adore Road America here in the US - amazing vendor food.
• Most tracks will have large communal bathrooms, sometimes showers - so if you're not being fancy, just sleep in your car or bring a tent - it can be pretty cheap at some tracks.

Again, not a ton of experience (been to LeMans once, and a couple of races stateside) but just some nuggets to consider.

Thanks for all the advice! And yeah I have sensitive hearing so I'll be using earplugs all day long. Couldn't care less about how I look honestly.

 

[Shottah072]

I live a 35 minutes drive away from the Zandvoort circuit. Ive watched tons of races there; DTM, ADAC GT, Blancpain GT, Master of F3 and tons of other races.

Also been to the Assen circuit to see champ car and MotoGP.

And ive been to Spa, Hockenheim and Catalunya to watch F1.

Depending on the event usually you can buy tickets for GA, a grandstand and or a paddock pass. At zandvoort i usually buy a GA + paddock pass. At F1 i usually buy a grand stand ticket as the good GA spots can get real crowded real early.

 

[05XR8]

So I've never been to a motorsport event but I'm excited to give it a first try. I'm mainly interested in Formula 1 and the WEC.

Is there some kind of general ticket service for all motorsports or do each motorsport have their own way of dealing with their audience? I've tried to google some races that I find interesting, like the 24h of Nürburgring for instance, but the sites seem to be in german and there's several options that make me confused.

And how should I book my experience to get the most out of it? Do you have to pay extra for going into certain parts of the race area? Are there usually hotels close to the tracks? Is it possible to move around certain tracks if you want to try and get a look of a different section? Do drivers have some kind of signing at the end of each race if you want to have a look at them up close and maybe take a photo?

Sorry, there's just so many questions.

I started with a "local" event(before i moved to Australia). I'm from New York and spent the day at Lime Rock, Connecticut for the Speedvision World Challenge(GT & Touring cars) on Memorial Day weekend in May, 2001. I drove to the event and left the same day. Only a couple hours drive. The weather was wet. So, take into account the time of year you wish to see a race. Are you staying overnight? Are you camping out? Are there free shuttles too and from the event?

My next, was a 2007 NASCAR event at the Poconos(another few hours drive from NYC). The early drive there was fine. The day was hot and the racing was fine. Leaving the parking lot was horrible. Took a few hours just leave from the parking lot to get to the highway(I watched the sun go down while in traffic ). Had I known it would be like that, I would have prepared better. Probably hung out and waited for people to leave.

Since moving to Australia, I've had great experiences at races. Been to the Australian GP 4 times(mainly to see the V8s). 3 times travelling to Melbourne and 1 time, walking to the event from my apartment when i moved there. Australian V8s and Muscle cars rounds at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Most recent race I attended, was the final round of this year's Supercars season. Right in my city of Newcastle. I did partially stay at a friend's place on the circuit and take a 5-7 minute shuttle bus from my house.

I agree with suggestions about take as many pics as possible to your first event. Also, how much you want to spend on merchandise, if that's your thing. I just buy hats for sun protection and keeps my hands free. Be prepared to walk around. You'll see drivers walk right by you(I was walking next to David Coulthard), walking on their own(Eddie Jordan said hello and shook my hand), making trips to the toilet(Allan Moffat and Todd Kelly used the public toilets with us race goers), doing interviews in plain view(First and last time I saw Michael Schumacher. Also, I asked Lewis if he could spare one of his carbon fibre earrings "for a brotha", he laughed). If you want to stay in one spot, sort out how close the toilets are if you're not in the grandstands. I bought Grandstand and GA tickets to F1 at different visits. Depends on the venue. Are you going to walk around with a folding chair and or a blanket? Are you staying for the post race concert? Things like that.

For next year, I'm definitely buying grandstand for the Supercars event. The option to walk around and a dedicated spot to rest under cover is best for the 3 days.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

I'll also vouch for attending a drag racing event. The only event my family goes to anymore is the NHRA round at Summit Motorsports Park, and that ticket by far is one of the best values in all of motorsport. When we go, the ticket buys both the grandstand seat and pit access because pit access is free. We get there early to see some of the lower end classes and walk around while the big teams are unloading the cars. I usually get more autographs early than I do later in the day because I don't have to fight the crowds. Also, as mentioned, the sheer visceral insanity of a Top Fuel car (dragster or Funny Car) going by at full throttle is one of the most amazing experiences you will ever have at an event.

 

[MatskiMonk]

I live a 35 minutes drive away from the Zandvoort circuit. Ive watched tons of races there; DTM, ADAC GT, Blancpain GT, Master of F3 and tons of other races.

I've only been to Zandvoort once, for DTM a couple of years ago, I think it's a great circuit. The lack of parking was a real problem for me, but otherwise I thought it was great. Mickeys bar... one of my favourite places!

It's also the only race I've ever been to that had a buggy driving around the circuit selling drinks... which is a great idea... I don't know why more places don't do it.

Also, as mentioned, the sheer visceral insanity of a Top Fuel car (dragster or Funny Car) going by at full throttle is one of the most amazing experiences you will ever have at an event.

This. It makes me cry-laugh tears of joy every time I go to feel the sheer immensity of the sound...

... but then I'm the kinda guy that doesn't usually bother with earplugs at races.

The FIA Drag ticket at Santa Pod is relatively expensive, but I'd definately recommend it.

 

[rikcougar]

F1 at Spa is epic

I went the last year of the pre hybrid era and it was loud!

I am going again in 2018 so will buy a general admission ticket along with circuit parking - which at Spa is very reasonable

General admission ticket will get you anywhere except grandstands and pit lane, if you plan on spending a lot of money the sky is your limit!

 

[wvmgmidget]

I've been to the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio and it was a blast. Indy Cars are definitely worth seeing in action. There were also Pirelli World Challenge, Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, and USF2000 cars there. I am going again this year. General Admission was $65 each for the entire weekend, $20 each for paddock passes, and $50 to tent camp.

My advice is to go buy your tickets in advance and go all weekend, in addition to seeing more action you'll also get a great opportunity to get autographs and free stuff. Speaking from personal experience, PWC drivers were all very friendly and chill to talk to. You don't really need to sit it the grandstands, the grass (preferably with shade) will suffice and you'll still get a great view.

Make sure and pack plenty of stuff, even if you may not need it. Here's some things to bring and some tips.

• Bring plenty of sunscreen; you'll enjoy yourself more without sun poisoning.
  [*]Bring a lot of non-perishable food and drinks you can easily keep cold.
  [*]A blanket to sit on
  [*]Someone with you, like a mate or girlfriend. It's good to have some to hang out with.
  [*]If you're camping, there's like not any electricity there, bring a portable phone charger.
  [*]It'll also get VERY cold at night, bring warm blankets.
  [*]Shower facilities usually are just an open room with shower heads.
  [*]The number of permanent bathrooms will be limited and Porta Johns will stink.

I hope you get out to a race. They're a ton of fun to watch. The atmosphere is absolutely incredible.

 

[Sick Cylinder]

So I've never been to a motorsport event but I'm excited to give it a first try. I'm mainly interested in Formula 1 and the WEC.

Is there some kind of general ticket service for all motorsports or do each motorsport have their own way of dealing with their audience? I've tried to google some races that I find interesting, like the 24h of Nürburgring for instance, but the sites seem to be in german and there's several options that make me confused.

And how should I book my experience to get the most out of it? Do you have to pay extra for going into certain parts of the race area? Are there usually hotels close to the tracks? Is it possible to move around certain tracks if you want to try and get a look of a different section? Do drivers have some kind of signing at the end of each race if you want to have a look at them up close and maybe take a photo?

Sorry, there's just so many questions.

I'm sure most of your queries have already been answered, but this is my perspective. I notice from your information that you live in Sweden. I am not sure what your nearest track or motorsport event is, but I would start by finding out what is near and then going to see a range of different nearby events. Personally I prefer to avoid the big events like F1 because they are expensive and very crowded. The smaller club or national level meetings are normally much more enjoyable and much better value.

Keep a completely open mind to the various motorsport disciplines and to both four and two wheels and try to sample as many of them as you can as a spectator. It can be interesting to get up close to the race machinery and talk to the drivers and mechanics, taking photos and finding out more. If you go to Classic or historic events there is an extra layer of interest in terms of the history of the cars and which famous drivers from the past used that car - the drivers will normally be happy to share information. You can then research more interesting details after the meeting. At club level meetings the drivers will often have prepared their own cars so they will be more knowledgeable and will be happy to talk about their cars.

I like to go along to my local circuit on a Friday morning (Brands Hatch) - it is free to attend test days. I can drive all the way in to the premises and walk to all areas of the paddock and the pits taking photos and chatting to the drivers.( I always check if it is ok to take pictures first - I've only been refused permission once). If there is an interesting race meeting on the Sunday I will go back - many of the cars and drivers will have been present on Friday. On the Sunday people are busy doing there jobs so will be under pressure, won't want to be disturbed or talk to you. Also the paddock and pits may be closed.

If you can get down to the track on a Friday normally all areas are open. You may even be lucky enough to sit and have lunch or coffee with one of the drivers. It can be interesting to learn how they started in motorsport. I met one guy who didn't start racing until he was 60!

So, my advice in summary - find out what motorsports events are held near to home and go and see those first. Keep an open mind regarding the type of event - generally the lower the level of the event the greater the access and the better the value - for instance I have been to F1 and barely been able to see the track and I've been to a motorcycle trial and been within touching distance of the competitors. Go to as many different types of events as you can and if possible take a good friend with you, preferably one who knows a lot who can explain the finer details!

Motorsports are fascinating and they get more interesting the more that you learn and on a range of levels. For instance if you go over a period of years and see some of the junior formulae you will see some drivers blossom. I was lucky enough to witness Senna and Piquet very early in their careers - even in the early stages there is often something about their driving talent and personality that shines through.