So.....what was you first motor race as a spectator?

Would have been sometime in the 80s but hard to say exactly what, when or where. Some early memories include banger racing at Great Yarmouth, motocross at Lyng and various events at Snetterton including minis, touring cars and Ferraris but I’d struggle to put dates or details on any of them.

I know the first time I ever drove a car (Cavalier SRi - D613YUY) was on the infield at Snetterton whilst packing up after a weekend of camping at one of the Willhire 24hr races but that would have been early 90s by then.
 
1986 Chatsworth House, Rac Rally.
Last chance to see Group B in the Wrc.

Mickey Mouse stage but the acceleration and the noise, instant Rally fan.
 
Dont remember what it was, but remember sitting on the outside of clark curve at Brands as a 5 or so year old and an accident happened in front of us and a wheel popped off the car over what little fencing there was bouncing over us and smashing some blokes motorbike helmet sat about 10ft behind us! First round I definitely know was the 1996 BTCC at Brands when Plato was racing Renault Spiders and crashed out in front of us. But definitely went to numerous meets before this. Love the stories from my Mum about how they'd drive to my Uncles and get in his Austin van (8 or so of them - cousins and wives and my grandad and uncle in the front) Then drive to silverstone and get in for pennies as it was by the vehicle not per person. My grandad had made a bench that sat on top of the cab part of the van that the kids would sit on so they could see.
 
Late 80s Portuguese gp.
Vip passes and everything with Tyrrell and Astra.

Dinner with Ken, Palmer, Alesi and Astra bosses at the end of the day at a very nice restaurant.

Wasn't a bad week.

Also used to regularly see the Lotus F1 cars going around the test track before that. Living less then 2 miles away had advantages. Met many drivers then.
 
Brands Hatch, early 2000s. Friend of mine's dad used to race Jags, we sat in a stand at the start line and lots of people were shouting crash at the start of every race to try and create some drama into the first corner!
 
Donington superbike final irc around 89/90, i would have been 8ish or there about and had no clue on motorbike racing, completely wasted on me at that age! got a cool mug though that i've still got somewhere at my parents house - hopefully!
First f1 was Silverstone 91 or 92 that i shamefully dont remember which year, I seem to remember sitting on the embankments of one of the bridges that are now well fenced off.... got a decent sized model of Mansels Williams that sadly succumbed to being in the possession of a young boy :D Older me is now very jealous of younger me for not really being able to fully appreciate that moment.
 
The Orange phone company took 43 of us on an all expenses paid long weekend to the Malaysian F1 GP. First time I had been abroad since I was 4. And what a mad weekend it was.
 
Silverstone 1000km Group C 1988. Parking near Copse and seeing the race hoardings on misty morning, looked surreal and reminded me of the final scene from 'Grand Prix'. It was a really murky day for May! I am glad to experience the original Silverstone before the '91 changes. It was incredibly quick and the noooise! Group C were insane.

Formula 1, 1991 Silverstone, start line Grandstand, very memorable scene's and crowd. I picked up a piece of race kerb as a souvenir from Becketts since the '91 circuit was the first new iteration of the circuit we know today.

Travelled around Europe following in the nineties. Sadly I haven't been to a race since the early 00's as I lost interest (not in the sport) but cars in the 00's onwards, just never grabbed me like those from back in the eighties and nineties.

@Housey cant believe the drivers you have met. :eek:
 
Ninco! said:
@Housey cant believe the drivers you have met. :eek:
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Oh I’ve met loads and loads over the years. As I kid I did the autograph thing for….well a race or so and remember meetings loads of the Group C boys. Derek Bell total gent had a coffee with dad and I after the drivers briefing one year. Manfred Wincklehock, Klaus Ludwig, Bob Wollek all had chats with and loads more. I watched the last 4 hours of Le Mans 89 above the Mercedes pits, think the original Le Mans pits not those you see today.

I know a few lads who race today and the Clash of Clans Clan I was in a long time back was filled with DTM and Supercup racers due to the late Sean Edwards being in it. Rene Rast etc so used to banter with lots of them. Only had about 30 of us in the clan (not been on for years) and at its peak we were all on it.

Just people but Senna was The Man for me.
 
Minibiker said:
Jeez, imagine that now... Such a quick track especially out the back through church etc
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They used to run a round of the F2 series there too, lapped within 6 seconds of F1 cars in the period I seem to recall. Ralt and Spirit Honda V6’s sounded epic too next to the legions of BMW 4’s
 
No way to tell. We lived not too far from a motocross track and used to go fairly often with my brothers and dad. We moved to the area in 82 when I was 2 years old. My earliest memories of it are when I was about 5 years old but must have been a few times before that. From what I remember there were 3 or 4 races a year. Saying that I don't think I've been to any racing event in last 30 years, I'm 42 now.
 
Rally at Kielder Forest back in the... later 80s early 90s at a guess, I was at school still.

Despite living right next to silverstone and having good friends who work at 3 different F1 teams currently I have never been to an F1 race.

Goodwood FOS or revival are what I always call out as a great day out if you want to see cars up close.

First time I did FOS a mate who was at Brawn GP at the time took me, He had to stand guard at the car for a bit but got free tickets, strange year that.
 
Housey said:
For me, if we are not including Hot Rods, it was the 1979 British GP at Silverstone. I was 12 and somehow my mum and dad managed to find the WORST view possible, just before the Daily Express Bridge on the Abbey Straight. I spent 8 hours watching crash helmets drive past at 160mph. At the end of the race we got on track and walked to the start/finish straight and watched the final race in The Stands.

From that point I was hooked and from 1980 to I guess 1989 I was at some race each weekend.

Dad and I watched the entire Senna/Brundle F3 season. Never missed a single Group C race on the UK (I did 1989 and 1990 Le Mans) and all the Birmingham Super Prix's, many many MANY touring car races, Group 1/2/4/5/6, Group C1/C2, F2, F300, F1, Thundersaloons, Thundrsports, etc etc etc etc

I feel really lucky to have seen so much great GREAT racing trackside.

Met Senna 3 times (he gave me a Coke) Gilles (back of the pits 1981 British GP), Derek Bell, Stefan Bellof, did I mention Senna :)

I have loads of old school photos, I MUST get them scanned

Hot Rods from mid 1970's and one of my best friends was the sone of Tom Laffey, a superstar of Hot Rod's in the 70's (because I lived 1 mile for Hednesford Raceway).

So....who is next?
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Like you I got ripped off with the "I'll take you to the 1992 British Grand Prix for your birthday - ps we're standing at Abbey Curve"

I think my first event would likely have been banger racing of some description. After that it was motorbike scrambles, and motorbike trials.
 
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