Car enthusiasts across the UK are gearing up for a great car show this weekend, with less than a week to go now before Silverstone Classic takes place.
The event has become almost as well renowned for its vast array of family-friendly off-track activities as it has for being ‘The World’s Biggest Classic Motor Racing Festival’. Indeed the sheer scale of this month’s very special Silver Jubilee extravaganza (24-26 July) is going to be hard to grasp with the vast 800-acre Silverstone estate almost entirely given over to a plethora of amazing attractions, activities, displays, shops, aviation, live music and so much more.
“The action-packed race schedule, featuring Europe’s finest historic championships, stands right at the heart of the mammoth meeting… but that’s only part of the full story,” said Nick Wigley, Event Director. “Living up to its maxim of ‘Flat Out Fun for all the Family’, the Silverstone Classic really does boast a wealth of attractions and activities to keep all ages amused and engaged.”
This year’s breathless, three-day bill contains just about everything from chart-topping legends Status Quo strutting their stuff on Saturday evening to sky-rides in the 40m Giant Wheel giving panoramic views of the entire venue. What’s more all the live music along with trackside grandstands, paddock access and the vast majority of the added entertainment are all included absolutely free in the standard ticket price.
Not to mention the fact you get to see so many magical models and marques all so lovingly maintained and displayed by their enthusiastic owners. This year members of an unprecedented 120 motor clubs are descending on Silverstone making the Classic their top summer event and providing racer-goers with a spectacular classic car show.
The sheer scale of their displays – totalling some 10,000 cars over the weekend – is a real celebration of motoring, automotive design and memorabilia. Just about everything is featured from humble to exotic, from the rare to the ‘my-dad-had-one-of-those’.
Many of these clubs are also honouring key anniversaries this year with colourful track parades. Believe it or not, it’s now 50 years since the births of the Aston Martin DB6, MGB GT and Triumph TR4A as well as 25 years since the Honda NSX and Mazda MX5 arrived in UK showrooms – those are just five of more than 40 magical milestones being marked with glittering cavalcades.
Anyone catching the classic car bug can attend one of Mike Brewer’s informative clinics on the Main Music Stage on Sunday where the motorhead will be offering tips on buying, restoring and owning heritage machinery. A wide variety of very collectable road and track icons will also be coming under the Silverstone Auctions hammer during prominent sales over the carnival weekend.
Then there are the tyre-smoking Streetcar Shootouts, historic kart racing demos, dazzling air displays (including the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight), the Tin Snail Challenge, rally and 4×4 rides in the Off-Road Zone, helicopter flights, scooter taster sessions plus the busy Shopping Village and even a chance to relax with a soothing massage.
The more adventurous can have their spines tingled in the Adrenaline Zone. There they’ll discover hair-raising thrills for all ages including the tyre-burning Caterham Drift Experience, Reverse Bungee Swings, a huge Star Flyer, Wall of Death, water-filled inflatables and junior Whacky Wheeler 4x4s.
Life is somewhat calmer over on the Jet Village Green which comes complete with its own Scarf and Goggles pub, traditional funfair rides, a giant six-lane Scalextric track, a chance to meet Lewis’ brother Nic Hamilton and his BTCC car, an F1 simulator, crazy golf course, 9m climbing wall plus a big screen so everyone keep up to speed with the racing.
The neighbouring RAF Village comes complete with a static Spitfire, which can be fired up by members of the public. The Brooklands Museum will also be firing up its 1909 Santos-Dumont replica twice a day.
Indeed with so much to see, do and experience – and so much of it free for ticket holders – it’s easy to understand why the Silverstone Classic’s newest slogan is: ‘One Day Is Not Enough’.
Tickets for the 25th anniversary Silverstone Classic must be purchased in advance. Adult admission starts from £40 and – as well as the vast majority of the numerous attractions – ticket prices include booking fees, parking, grandstands, paddock access and live music including Status Quo on Saturday evening. Full details – together with hospitality packages and weekend festival camping –can be found on the official website:www.SilverstoneClassic.com.
To get an idea a better idea of the variety of rare and exciting cars that will be on display this year check out our coverage of the media day that took place earlier this year by clicking here…