Before all the venues disappear...

As I said at the start of the thread, if people don’t go, the places close. For me, the price I’m willing to pay depends on the event.

£17 is very cheap IMO for a day out with a variety of formulae putting on a good show.

I’m happy paying £38 for the BTCC at Knockhill and £16 to see Super Tourers at Croft.

I’m less happy about £27 for Santa Pod but that’s mainly because it’s on my doorstep and I’d like to go to more events. The one I’ve picked isn’t even the big one, that’s £38 (or £49 on the gate).

So in half a dozen posts we have had entrance should be £5 for club events, to the admin prices being reasonable, to I won't pay £38 for BTCC and I don't get drag racing.

The last 2 points are interesting as no one will deny That BTCC attracts the largest car crowds in UK "club" racing. Likewise Santa Pod usually attracts large crowds. So on that basis alone the entrance fee doesn't appear to be the issue.

What clearly is the issue is promotion, Robmarriott couldn't easily find information about Trac Mon (that name in itself doesn't help) I know nearly all the dates for events in the UK, but I am a motorsport nut and have facebook/internet links to most organisers websites. Even then it is often not easy to find stuff. I can wade my way round MSUK website to find events, but again not straightforward.

As has already bee said there is actually little incentive for clubs to really promote events as they don't gain directly from any revenue generated (There is actually an argument that promoting events costs the club money) Whilst it is easy to post something on Facebook etc it is questionable how effective that is.

Closed Road Rallying Seems to get spectators, but if you look at it they have to do a lot of PR work and visit all houses on the routes. closed road orders need to be obtained etc (yet we still have some locals saying they knew nothing about it)

I really don't know the answer but 30 years ago we were already discussing falling numbers of spectators. We even talked on about having non spectator events at circuits.

I love drag racing for the engineering and the fact that you can sit on the bank at SP in the sun all day with a picnic and see every bit of action. It’s like being at the beach but with fast cars to watch rather than the sea! The paddock is open all day too which isn’t the norm for motorsport in my experience. Again though I grew up nearby and you like what you’re familiar with, right?

BTCC at Knockhill was a balanced choice. I like the BTCC and watch it on TV, I’ve never been to Knockhill and it’s a long way to go for a club meeting (for example) so a big event is the obvious choice.

Like you say, different strokes!

I am up in Scotland, been spectating for years at Knockhill with friends. We then started moving further a field to see what other circuits were like to spectate at. not done too many but everyone has turned into a great weekend away.

I now have season passes for both Knockhill and Croft which get me into all the 4 wheel events, we also take a trip to Thruxton for the touring cars and maybe a GT meet or truck race (last year was fantastic) at Donnington too.

The highlights for me are consistently in the smaller club racing (750MC,sallons and sports,etc), the racing is fantastic, competitive and close and I am gutted that more do not recognise how good the racing is and how low spectator numbers it brings. I am wary that these races events will no longer run but if it is the case that spectator numbers do not influence the races being held, I am all for a no queue burger van and toilets

Sitting on the bank at Croft, getting sunburnt over a weekend again this year has been a thought that has kept me through the winter!

Forgot to add, did Santa Pod too for a good few years, BugJam. It was a good time but got repetitive and yea, its got quite pricey. Still worth going to an event there if you have never been IMHO.

He didn't attract a 'crowd' that I noticed when he competed at Oliver's Mount.

I think that this is the most perplexing statement on this thread tbh.
I have never been to a club racing meeting where you cannot wander round the paddock. Indeed, even at BTCC, British GT, International GT meetings etc, spectators can wander round the paddock. Granted the teams occupying the garages at the big meetings will not allow access to the garages but you can walk around the paddock where the support series are.
What meetings have you been to, where you could not walk around the paddock. I have been to one…the British GP. And I have attended/ spectated at/ competed at/ helped teams or clubs at numerous meetings over the years from BTCC meetings to British GT to many club meetings and, without exception have seen spectators with access to the paddock at all of those meetings.

Lol,so 1 pound cheaper than I said, it is easy to put a positive spin on events when you love them, but the fact is 50 quid on the day to watch drag racing iis pretty dear.

I used to be able to go up there on Main Event Friday evening for a tenner less than 20 years ago, that is not long for a massive increase.

I realise all events have gone up in price, but my limit for most things is about 30-49 quid.


Also last time I looked buying online made the ticket price exactly the same as paying on the gate so was utterly pointless.

But if you enjoy it fine, it is something I do once every 5 years or so, and that is enough for me, I find the cars interesting, i find the racing less so.

You are quite right , re some events - I saw him once at a Straightliners meeting at Elvington and he was just another bloke with a bike . But I once saw the poor sod at a Time Attack meeting and he was mobbed by da kidz wherever he went , poor guy. As it were .

Combe spent a lot of time back in the day garnering local support, plus there are vast populations nearby with nothing else close, that is good business, something far bigger venues could take a look at instead of just ripping people off for the odd event a year.

I can tell you if I lived close to Combe I would attend a lot as I would many venues, I live close to Silverstone and attend maybe 2 or 3 times a year, literally half an hour away!