Please read if you have been to American Speedfest before
Moderator: Moderators
Please read if you have been to American Speedfest before
If you’ve been before and don’t go anymore why not. Please let me know for whatever reason it is. I was told last night we used to have 40-50 cars and one year close to 60cars , now we are lucky to get 15 and are one of the smallest clubs there. I’m curious to know why. Thanks.
Are we there yet dad ..... 10 to the gallon but worth it.
MMA Public Relations Officer.
MMA South London and Surrey Area Rep.
MMA Public Relations Officer.
MMA South London and Surrey Area Rep.
Re: Please read if you have been to American Speedfest before
Hi Derek.
As you know, we have been on many occasions, and I guess that is the issue...
We used to stay 2 nights in the hotel with a group of people but that fizzled out and got expensive and there was not sufficient to occupy us for that length of time. It is not a great journey from Cambridge either....
To me it is a bit of a worn out format, playing to the lowest common denominator of what the organisers think is "American Car Ownership" - all Stetsons, and Turkey legs, and the dreaded Country and Western....
It is also very crowded with the general public, which I suppose is a good thing, especially for the organisers!
Like most tracks there is no shade and that can make it a tough long day in the heat, or flooded out in the rain - I have seen both!!!
Many things start off bright and then run their course, this may be one of those occasions.
Having said that, we may pop down for the day on Saturday but currently the jury is out on that one....
As you know, we have been on many occasions, and I guess that is the issue...
We used to stay 2 nights in the hotel with a group of people but that fizzled out and got expensive and there was not sufficient to occupy us for that length of time. It is not a great journey from Cambridge either....
To me it is a bit of a worn out format, playing to the lowest common denominator of what the organisers think is "American Car Ownership" - all Stetsons, and Turkey legs, and the dreaded Country and Western....
It is also very crowded with the general public, which I suppose is a good thing, especially for the organisers!
Like most tracks there is no shade and that can make it a tough long day in the heat, or flooded out in the rain - I have seen both!!!
Many things start off bright and then run their course, this may be one of those occasions.
Having said that, we may pop down for the day on Saturday but currently the jury is out on that one....
Pete Wiseman; Cambridge.
Mopar by the grace of God
Mopar by the grace of God
Re: Please read if you have been to American Speedfest before
Similar reasons here, Derek.
I wouldn't say there's one main reason why we dont go anymore; more a combination of small factors...
Cost - as with everything these days, mainly since covid - the cost has more than doubled. Without checking, I'm sure it used to be free for the driver, if bringing a car to display, then approx £12 each for any passengers. So if 3 of us went, it worked out at approx £8 each. Even with 50% off for club bookings, I think it's approx £16.50 each now as there's no free entry. Not as much as some events we go to, but the price hike does go against the grain. Especially as it's a full tank of gas for us to get there and back.
Racing - whist the schedule is largely US-based, I dont know why the Silhouettes and Legends are included. Sure, the Legends are meant to look like scaled-down 30's Fords, Chevys etc, but they have a Yamaha bike engine fercrissakes! And gawd know what the Silhouettes are supposed to be
Bernies V8's is the only class that really keeps our attention. And all of it would be better if they all used the full GP circuit, not the shorter Indy circuit 
As Pete, says, the American themed 'attractions' are to be expected but we aren't all into line dancing, Star Wars characters, Movie Cars etc etc.
But if I had to name one reason that we dont attend anymore, it's not Speedfest's fault but the traffic we encounter on the journey home is just so bad and unavoidable, having to head back north round the M25 and through the tunnel. If we had a modern car that could cope with lengthy traffic jams, it wouldnt be such an issue. But we dont, so it is!
Last year, we went to Snetterton, Norfolk, for their USA Snetterton 300, which is a bit like Speedfest - but smaller and more importantly without the American-themed 'attractions'. Whilst they still had the Legends racing, the circuit is so much better from a spectator point of view, and no doubt much better for those racing, as the circuit is 3 miles long compared to Brands' 1.2 mile Indy circuit.
And for those of us who like to try and take photos of the racing, there are plenty of vantage points without fencing in the way, unlike Brands.
I wouldnt say it has the answer to Speedfest's problems, as the two Bernies V8 races were the only races we stood and watched there too
After all that, I still dont know what the solution is, Derek, sorry
I wouldn't say there's one main reason why we dont go anymore; more a combination of small factors...
Cost - as with everything these days, mainly since covid - the cost has more than doubled. Without checking, I'm sure it used to be free for the driver, if bringing a car to display, then approx £12 each for any passengers. So if 3 of us went, it worked out at approx £8 each. Even with 50% off for club bookings, I think it's approx £16.50 each now as there's no free entry. Not as much as some events we go to, but the price hike does go against the grain. Especially as it's a full tank of gas for us to get there and back.
Racing - whist the schedule is largely US-based, I dont know why the Silhouettes and Legends are included. Sure, the Legends are meant to look like scaled-down 30's Fords, Chevys etc, but they have a Yamaha bike engine fercrissakes! And gawd know what the Silhouettes are supposed to be
Bernies V8's is the only class that really keeps our attention. And all of it would be better if they all used the full GP circuit, not the shorter Indy circuit As Pete, says, the American themed 'attractions' are to be expected but we aren't all into line dancing, Star Wars characters, Movie Cars etc etc.
But if I had to name one reason that we dont attend anymore, it's not Speedfest's fault but the traffic we encounter on the journey home is just so bad and unavoidable, having to head back north round the M25 and through the tunnel. If we had a modern car that could cope with lengthy traffic jams, it wouldnt be such an issue. But we dont, so it is!
Last year, we went to Snetterton, Norfolk, for their USA Snetterton 300, which is a bit like Speedfest - but smaller and more importantly without the American-themed 'attractions'. Whilst they still had the Legends racing, the circuit is so much better from a spectator point of view, and no doubt much better for those racing, as the circuit is 3 miles long compared to Brands' 1.2 mile Indy circuit.
And for those of us who like to try and take photos of the racing, there are plenty of vantage points without fencing in the way, unlike Brands.
I wouldnt say it has the answer to Speedfest's problems, as the two Bernies V8 races were the only races we stood and watched there too
After all that, I still dont know what the solution is, Derek, sorry
Re: Please read if you have been to American Speedfest before
Most of what Pete said goes for me too.
The tunnel on the way home is probably the main bug bear.
Plus the associated tat that the organisers bring along for the public eg Mr Bean's car and people on stilts wearing stars n stripes.
And the racing classes seem to be less 'American' that when it started.
It is a shame, I enjoyed the first 5-10 years.
Rob must have pressed 'submit' 10 seconds before me. Apologies for any repetition.
The tunnel on the way home is probably the main bug bear.
Plus the associated tat that the organisers bring along for the public eg Mr Bean's car and people on stilts wearing stars n stripes.
And the racing classes seem to be less 'American' that when it started.
It is a shame, I enjoyed the first 5-10 years.
Rob must have pressed 'submit' 10 seconds before me. Apologies for any repetition.
Re: Please read if you have been to American Speedfest before
Thats what I said.... but put much more succinctlyStu Twin wrote: Mon Jun 01, 26 1:15 pm Most of what Pete said goes for me too.
The tunnel on the way home is probably the main bug bear.
Plus the associated tat that the organisers bring along for the public eg Mr Bean's car and people on stilts wearing stars n stripes.
And the racing classes seem to be less 'American' that when it started.
It is a shame, I enjoyed the first 5-10 years.
Rob must have pressed 'submit' 10 seconds before me. Apologies for any repetition.
Re: Please read if you have been to American Speedfest before
i forgot about that bit. Forget everything else I said, I'll just go with that
-
David Walker
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Mon Jul 14, 25 11:41 am
- Location: Alton
Re: Please read if you have been to American Speedfest before
Been twice before, got nothing against the event, just for the family to go now it's going to cost me the thick end of £200 for a day with fuel prices as they are.
For that money I could have a weekend at the pod for a FIA event.
For that money I could have a weekend at the pod for a FIA event.
69 Superbee
Hampshire
Blackrats Speedshop
Hampshire
Blackrats Speedshop