Get ready to be shafted!

[Barry]

Even at the new inflated prices there are few better value top class motor racing events in the world, and let’s be honest, how many of you are really going to spite yourself by not going?

Totally agree, however let us who have supported LM over the last 20 years, which to be honest, except for the occasional year, have been a bit lean in terms of entertainment in the top class vent our spleen. Thank God for the other classes which have provided the entertainment.

Sillystone is the world's greatest motorsport rip off IMHO, they could charge double what they do and the F1 lemmings would still pay to go. If they could charge you for the air to breath whilst you were on site they would.

Sports car racing went through a very lean period in the 80's, if it was not for the hard core fans it is possible that even LM would not have survived. Everytime the ACO has had affiliations with the FIA there have been issues.

On a personal note, most of the viewing areas for disabled people are in the grandstands, which have been increased in price by 75%. Access for all is the ACO's mantra, perhaps not.

[Aysedasi]

Ok, let’s get some perspective on this.
Yes the prices have gone up, and yes being an ACO member is not as beneficial as it once was.
Clearly a shed load of money was spent on last year’s Centenary event, a lot of it on very visible and clearly long term improvements to the infrastructure of the place and other facilities, especially the members areas, they have to recoup this somehow.
By way of comparison, Silverstone F1 tickets for 2024 are £329 for 3 day GE, minimum of £489 for 3 day GE pus grandstand, and camping is £129 per person plus £50 supplement for your vehicle, for just 6 hours of track action.
Even at the new inflated prices there are few better value top class motor racing events in the world, and let’s be honest, how many of you are really going to spite yourself by not going?

Couldn't agree more. 

[Lorry]

It also looks as though the free grandstand seats (other than T17/T18) for those without GS tickets are a thing of the past now....

Were T17/T18 free?

[Barry]

It also looks as though the free grandstand seats (other than T17/T18) for those without GS tickets are a thing of the past now....

Were T17/T18 free?

Wednesday and Thursday they used to be free, if you were an ACO member, you paid for a allocated seat for Sat/Sun.

[Lorry]

It also looks as though the free grandstand seats (other than T17/T18) for those without GS tickets are a thing of the past now....

Were T17/T18 free?

Wednesday and Thursday they used to be free, if you were an ACO member, you paid for a allocated seat for Sat/Sun.

I've got it! They were reserved for ACO members weds and thurs, but the others are free

[Aysedasi]

It also looks as though the free grandstand seats (other than T17/T18) for those without GS tickets are a thing of the past now....

Were T17/T18 free?

Wednesday and Thursday they used to be free, if you were an ACO member, you paid for a allocated seat for Sat/Sun.

I've got it! They were reserved for ACO members weds and thurs, but the others are free

Correct.  You can't actually get in the building housing T17 and T18 unless you're a member.  But the actual specific seats don't apply until Saturday/Sunday.  It's always amusing to see ticket holders coming in during practice demanding to sit in 'their' seats.  The temptation to say 'Not until Saturday mon ami' is very strong....  

By the way, there's an interesting little snippet in the ACO material that we have so far - 'Reinforced access checks for an improved spectator experience'.   In T17 where I sit, the start (and finish) of the race has often been marred by interlopers being let in to stand along the front and stand or even sit in the stairwells.  In 2022 having a seat in the front row it was so bad it ruined the start of the race for us.  This year they were unceremoniously booted out before the start, which was very pleasing to see.  I assume the ACO are going to get tougher on people trying to get into the stands who have no ticket.  

[Barry]

It also looks as though the free grandstand seats (other than T17/T18) for those without GS tickets are a thing of the past now....

Were T17/T18 free?

Wednesday and Thursday they used to be free, if you were an ACO member, you paid for a allocated seat for Sat/Sun.

I've got it! They were reserved for ACO members weds and thurs, but the others are free

Not so sure that is true for next year, ambiguous wording by the ACO.
The wording on the ACO site on a week GE reference grandstands is 'Authorised access only from 12 to 14 June'

[Barry]

[/quote]
This year they were unceremoniously booted out before the start, which was very pleasing to see.  I assume the ACO are going to get tougher on people trying to get into the stands who have no ticket.  
[/quote]

It was great fun this year watching the stewards throwing out groups who had got 8 people in on 2 tickets in T17!

[Aysedasi]

It also looks as though the free grandstand seats (other than T17/T18) for those without GS tickets are a thing of the past now....

Were T17/T18 free?

Wednesday and Thursday they used to be free, if you were an ACO member, you paid for a allocated seat for Sat/Sun.

I've got it! They were reserved for ACO members weds and thurs, but the others are free

Not so sure that is true for next year, ambiguous wording by the ACO.
The wording on the ACO site on a week GE reference grandstands is 'Authorised access only from 12 to 14 June'

Yes and we have absolutely no idea what that means.....

[Aysedasi]

It was great fun this year watching the stewards throwing out groups who had got 8 people in on 2 tickets in T17!

Yeah, they were sitting in the stairwells just down from us, clearly without tickets....  

[Rhino]

I wonder with Increased numbers of manufacturers where additional hospitality will go. I'm sure we will be disappointed by the decision.

[Aysedasi]

Having thrown everyone out of the centre of the circuit, there'll still be plenty of space.  The major risk is with car parks and camping which was affected considerably last year. 

[Lorry]

It also looks as though the free grandstand seats (other than T17/T18) for those without GS tickets are a thing of the past now....

Were T17/T18 free?

Wednesday and Thursday they used to be free, if you were an ACO member, you paid for a allocated seat for Sat/Sun.

I've got it! They were reserved for ACO members weds and thurs, but the others are free

Not so sure that is true for next year, ambiguous wording by the ACO.
The wording on the ACO site on a week GE reference grandstands is 'Authorised access only from 12 to 14 June'

Yes and we have absolutely no idea what that means.....

This is what we expect from the ACO.  France has loads of space, but they seem to get it wrong and this is a good example

[JDS]

.... Access for all is the ACO's mantra, perhaps not.

As long as you pay handsomely

[smokie]

I'm sure most of you won't rue it but this year they have removed my magic ticket which gave the opportunity to buy 5 camping tickets before it was open even to ACO members.

I never did know what qualified me for it, as many were going for many years longer than I did, but even after I stopped going I continued the membership so that others could benefit from the tickets - avid race fans ( and socialisers) from this forum. Most sadly, I think some of them are having second thoughts about next year. I feel there's a few familiar faces you may not see next year as a result.

Whatever, it seems the loyal fans are being somewhat shafted. IMO this has been the pattern over the past few years (I'd say since the demise of Maison Blanche).

I've been an "at home" spectator for a few years now and you get to see and learn much more about the racing on the telly. It's the social side I miss but I have some fantastic memories of it all which I'll never lose.