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Spa Classic


robert green

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I’ve been, 2014 I think. It’s a good event, but the circuit is the true star. I’d not been before, but I had been to Le Mans Classic a few times. Compared to LMC, the grids are smaller, but the same sort of quality. However, we had big Group C Racing, like the Schumacher Mercedes and the Silk Cut Jaguars, loads of Porsche’s. I don’t remember the old timers like the 1920s, 1930 blowers and that sort of thing. 

The access was like the early days of LMC- completely unrestricted, any grandstand you could find space in. I don’t recall much in the way of stalls, LMC is much better if  want to splash cash on merch, books etc. LMC is much bigger, with more cars and people. 

But the circuit - Id not been before, and was blown away. The gradient up Eau Rouge, watching from the old pits on the hill down to Eau Rouge, looking down the steep Bank onto the bus stop, it’s magnificent, and you can walk around it all. I remember watching a 917, LolaT70 and Batmobile BMW CSL and full chat down the hill, barely 10m from us standing on the old pit wall. 

We camped in May, which was cold and damp in the woods. There weren’t loads of us camping, but a few hardy brits  were together. I’ll try and find some pics. 

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The track is the real star.  Best thing to do IMHO is to attend the Classic and stay on for a track day on the Monday organised by someone like RMA for example.  We've done it twice, and once you settle down after the first couple of laps and realise your driving the F1 stars favourite circuit, it's fabulous. 

What a lot of people don't realise is when you enter the bottom of Eau Rouge you've been downhill from La Source and you're in top gear and flat out (if you don't back off) and the summit of Eau Rouge is blind which is a bit of an issue if something's happened up there!  Then you've got the Kemmel straight which has you punting along at your max of 120 mph or so, being passed by Porkers doing 160 - quite different to the UK circuits!

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  • Leadership Team

Hitting 120mph+ in the Eau Rouge section did identify some poor wheel balance and wear in my A-frame bushes that I'd previously thought was okay ... bit of a downer knowing you've got the power to go quicker but bits of the car are yelling no! All sorted for next year :)

Stu.

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Spa classic is run by Peter Auto (Classic Le Mans too) and have reputation of pricey event...I think the bee was 9Eur at Classic Le Mans this year !!

In my opinion Spa 6H in September is better (Run by Belgians).
My Belgian local friend agree too.
More relaxed atmosphere, cheaper and widely open pitlane (if you are discreet).

Highlight of the event is the 6H race: More than 100 cars on track at the same time an 20+ (yes twenty) GT40 raced at the same time with real race action during 6h and until 22PM so with night action ( Repairs in the pitlane are always very interesting *biggrin* ).

It is must for me.

On the endurance side: Classic Le Mans is a multiple 40mn sprint race but not a real endurance race...that's quite different.
I do not tell Spa 6H is better than classic Le Mans: They are different.
But for sure Spa 6H is better than Spa Classic.

Worth to do it the year without Classic Le Mans... as 2019 *yes*

Whatever event you will attend take time for a walk around track (around 45mn). Worth it for race action and help to understand worldwide interest about the Belgian toboggan !

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  • 2 weeks later...

Myself and GSK275 went this year and very much enjoyed it. We went with Scenic and Classic but took the budget option of staying in Liege, a very good move, as the £350 per head we saved paid for food, beer tokens and fuel. As others have said, you can sit wherever, go round all the car prep areas and do the "parade" laps which appeared to be more than a tad competitive!

One thing that did surprise during planning was how far it was from Calais so we stayed overnight in Whitstable before crossing over but did do the 570 mile return trip to the NE in one hit

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