A racer's guide the facilities at tracks
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circuits have beautiful showers; others cite a hole in the
floor as the latest bathroom accessory... |
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This a a top venue owned by Jonathon
Palmer's MSV Group; it hosts World Superbike meetings, thus
expect a really good level of facilities.
Paddocks:
There are two, all hard standing - the outer paddock,
the upper portion of which is set on a quite steep slope,
and the inner paddock with around 20 garages. They are linked
by a tunnel which has a 2m height restriction, so a high
van won't get underneath. The only other way into the inner
paddock is via the track, so you can't cross if there's
a track day on when you get there, which there usually is.
Club racers will usually form an orderly queue for entry
to the inner paddock, or make a decision to stay in the
outer. Space in the inner paddock is relatively limited
so you may struggle to get a large truck in if you get there
late.
If you get to the circuit too late you may have to park
on the upper part of the outer paddock, which means you're
on a slope and without power.
Garages:
36 Garages, although garages 1 & 2 are used as a class
room, garages 35 & 36 are used for post race scrutineering.
All with electricity points and a tap. You can fit 4 racers
per garage.
Electricity &
water: Excellent facilities throughout both inner
paddock and the part of the outer paddock below the race
office and scrutineering bay; the outer paddock has electric
and water posts dispersed randomly - try to set up next
to one of these.
Ablutions:
There are loos near the cafe in the inner paddock, loos
and showers at the top of the outer paddock and loos in
the restaurant at the bottom of the outer paddock (not usually
open until the weekend). The loos are plentiful, all good,
clean and well serviced. The 6 ladies' showers are pretty
good, but could do with de-scaling for better flow; there
is a large shower changing area with hooks, and the showers
are individual with curtains. There are plenty of mirrors
in the ladies loo area, with loads of sink-side space for
your washbag.
Food & drink:
The cafe in the inner paddock provides drinks and limited
butties. The Kentagon is a bar with hot food as well as
sarnies, but can it be a little pricey for what you get.
Bar: The
Kentagon just outside the outer paddock is a good venue
which is always packed at club meets and has a great atmosphere; generally there's
a band on on the Saturday night. There is an ATM in or opposite the
Kentagon.
Camping:
Grass areas are limited - there is some behind the Kentagon
and more moving away from the outer paddock.
Nearby shops:
There's a mini-supermarket about 5 minutes drive away in
Brands Hatch village which can cater for most needs, or
there's a supermarket about 15 minutes away in Swanley
Nearby bars:
The Thistle Hotel is just ouside the circuit entrance -
it's had a really bad reputation for expensive and rubbish
food, but having changed hands in 2005, it's now very good.
There's a large Indian restaurant at the other end of the
village.
Nearby fuel:
A Texaco garage 1/2 a mile away. |
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Snett is great if you get a garage. A
remote, wind-swept track, this is another of JP's MSV circuits,
but without the WSB level facilities.
Paddocks: The
aim at Snetterton is to get a garage space, as all the area
behind a garage is allocated to those who are using the
garage; you shouldn't plug into garage electrics unless
you're in there or you ask VERY nicely! There is an area
either side of the garages - one close to the loos and restaurant,
and the other on the way in. If you're late you may have
to park up outside the main paddock area on the grass. The
paddock is all hard standing.
Garages:
About 24, all with electricity points and an outside tap
every 2 garages. You can fit 4 racers per garage.
Electricity &
water: Garage facilities mentioned above. Other than
that, there is a tap outside the loos, but no power points
so you need your generator in case you don't get a garage.
Ablutions:
There are loos towards the restaurant in the paddock. The
ladies loos are plentiful, good and clean with a couple
of mirrors. There is only 1 ladies shower but it has it's
own large room with loo. The problem with it is that girls
sometime hole up in it for ages with the outer door locked,
meaning you have to wait for ages. The best approach is
to get a load of you in there for "fast throughput".
Often there's no hot water.
Food & drink:
The restaurant, Tyrrell's has a cafe area with plenty of
grub and drinks. Not having had more than a cup of tea there
I don't know the quality of the food.
Bar: Tyrrell's
is a good venue with friendly staff.
Camping: There
are grass area within the paddock - a usual campsite is
behind Tyrrell's.
Nearby shops:
There are no local shops, but there's a supermarket about
10 mins away towards Norwich.
Nearby bars:
Apparently some very good ones; info to come. Tyrrells is
good though!
Nearby fuel:
Fuel is sold at the circuit. Nearest outside fuel
station tba. |
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Donington has just been through a multi-million pound redevelopment
with new garages and facilities in time for the BSB in March
06.
Paddocks: All
hard standing with an inner and outer paddock.
Garages:
There is plenty of space - with 6 bikes fitting in each
garage, and about 30 garages in total.
Electricity &
water: Power is fed from garages and walls so you
need to be near these to benefit. Each garage has a sink
and there are plenty of outside taps.
Ablutions:
There are newly built loos near the scutineering bay which
are good, bright with surfaces and mirrors. The old loos
are still at the back of the paddock but pretty basic. The
new loos have showers too, but I didn't look.
Food & drink:
The cafe is behind the petrol pumps on the way in to the
paddock, greasy spoon sort of stuff.
Bar: There's
a proper pub in the circuit called Redgate Bar - perhaps
unsurprisingly this is near Redgate corner.
Camping: There
is no grass until you get well outside the paddock, so it's
a bit remote.
Nearby shops:
In the outer paddock there is a newsagents kiosk called the PitStop Shop (between the petrol station and the diner) - it does all the usual and even hats, mugs and t-shirts etc.
There are small supermarkets in Castle Donington and Melbourne,
both a couple of miles away.
Nearby bars:
Melbourne had great restaurants; I particularly recommend
the Thai restaurant which is attached to the pub, the White
Swan. There's even a very posh restaurant called the Bay
Tree, which may need pre-booking, a couple of Chinese take-aways
and a fish & chip shop. Castle Donington has more of
the same, with plenty of pubs.
Nearby fuel:
There are fuel stations in Castle Donington and
Melbourne, both a couple of miles away. There's a petrol
station in the outer paddock too. |
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This is another remote wind-swept track.
Paddocks: The
hard standing is limited to those who get there early at
large (Bemsee or NG sized) meetings. Everyone else is on
the grass at the side of concrete or loose chip roads. Take
flooring if you've got it.
Garages:
None
Electricity &
water: Take a generator; there is no power, and only
one water point, behind the loos.
Ablutions:
The 4 ladies loos are OK, but cold water, limited servicing
and no mirrors. I'm yet to find the shower.
Food & drink:
The bar serves food and drink; not sampled it myself though.
Bar:
The onsite bar is pretty good with plenty of space.
Camping: Plenty
of grass so unlimited.
Nearby shops:
tba.
Nearby bars:
There is a pub about 2 miles away from the paddock entrance
- only driveable really. They have a karaoke machine which
for some unfathomable reason is popular with Feisty Racers
:-)
Nearby fuel:
tba. |
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Cadwell is in a lovely location set amongst
rolling hills; another JP owned track.
Paddocks: The
hard standing is very limited to those who get there early
- near the scrutineering bay. Everyone else is on the grass
at the side of concrete or loose chip roads. Take flooring
if you've got it.
Garages:
None
Electricity &
water: Take a generator; there is no power, and only
one water point, behind the far loos.
Ablutions:
Cadwell has the best ladies showers in UK racing!! They
were upgraded in 2005 and you'd now be proud of having them
in your home! That is, if you like group showers... since
they're not individual. There's a changing area with hooks
and a couple of sinks and mirrors. The loos are also good,
plentiful and well serviced, one block at either end of
the concreted paddock area.
Food & drink:
The bar serves food and drink; not sampled it myself though.
Bar:
The onsite bar is pretty good with 2 bar areas, though it
can get a bit crowded.
Camping: Plenty
of grass so unlimited.
Nearby shops:
There are no local shops. The fuel station mentioned below
has a good mini-market.
Nearby bars:
The town of Louth nearby is a bit of a party haunt, with
a large proportion of local race teams meaning lots of the
biking fraternity.
Nearby fuel:
A little old man about 1 mile away will rip you off
and demands cash or cheque, but go to Louth toward the town
centre for a good fuel station with a min-mart. |
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Mallory is another circuit in a lovely
location set amongst trees; known as "the friendly
circuit"..
Paddocks: This
is inside the circuit and can only be accessed via the track,
so you won't be able to get in to set up if there's an event
on. It's pretty large and all hard standing.
Garages:
Open sided, about 10 of them, with no parking area next
to them.
Electricity &
water: Take a generator; there are very few power
points - in the garages, some in the paddock just near the
garages and behind the loos and a couple of stands near
the cafe as you enter the paddock from the circuit. There
are two water point outside the loos (not sure about the
garages).
Ablutions:
These are limited, with plenty of ladies toilets, but dark
and dank, no hot water, mirrors or surfaces. There is one
ladies shower in the "competitors' changing room".
Food & drink:
The cafe serves food and drink; very much of the greasy
spoon variety.
Bar:
The cafe in the paddock has a bar.
Camping: Plenty
of grass on the outside the track so unlimited.
Nearby shops:
There is a small village shop just outside the circuit.
It's a long trip to a supermarket - Hinckley is the closest
town.
Nearby bars:
There's a large pub at the circuit,
just near the entrance - it's got a 24hr licence!!
This gets very rowdy on race weekends. Leicester's not far
off so can be good for a night out if you're feeling adventurous.
Nearby fuel:
There's a fuel station about 5 minutes away, on the
road to Ibstock. |
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This Northern France based circuit only
just managed to scrape a star! But it really is a great
party venue so we can overlook its bad points.
Paddocks: There
are three paddocks, mostly hard standing, though some is
loose shale within the concrete roads. The paddocks are
linked by road and a bridge, so no entry restrictions -
but you do need to remember to ride on the right when going
to and fro as there are plenty of locals around.
Garages:
None.
Electricity &
water: Take a generator; there power points around
the edges but they can be a bit dodgy. Also if you're in
one of the inner areas, you need 2 extension leads to reach
a point, and may get unplugged without warning if the point
starts getting overloaded. There are plenty of water points,
but located up hard to access slopes that get muddier the
more the water leaks.
Ablutions:
Urgh, urgh, urgh. I'm not sure I want to talk about it.
What can I say? Take a caravan! The loos in the outer paddock
are in a portacabin and are absolutely disgusting holes
in the floor; only to be used by blokes or in complete and
utter desperation by girls! The inner paddock has a brick
building with the only 3 ladies sit down loos and mixed
showers; the queues for the showers are huge, and they get
very mucky. You need to take some change with you or the
cleaner will sulk and leave, taking her loo roll with her
- that really must be a low paid job.
Food & drink:
The cafe serves food and drink; not sampled it myself though.
Bar:
The cafe has a bar, but most of the socialising at Croix
is around barbeques in group areas as the weather tends
to be divine.
Camping: Possble
on the loose shale areas, but you'll need an airbed.
Nearby shops:
There is large supermarket in the next town about 2 miles
away with loads of weird and wonderful oddities - and pink
trollies!
Nearby bars:
The nearest town has bars, but the French tend to hold odd
hours. It's really hard to get a beer on a Saturday or Sunday
night - the place looks like a ghost town!
Nearby fuel:
There's a fuel station in the next town. |
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Being the car Grand Prix circuit, this
has the largest garages in the racing calendar.
Paddocks: Large
and accessed easily via the large road and bridge system,
with a huge overflow paddock just in case..
Garages:
HUGE! One of the garages has a marbled floor after a visiting
Sultan got fussy. You can fit approximately 800 club racers
in one garage. OK, maybe 8 or 10.
Electricity &
water: Loads of it all over the place.
Ablutions:
There's one main loo block with plenty of good, clean and
well serviced loos, plus lots of good showers. Every garage
pair has one loo - but since blokes use these they can get
a bit rank. There are also little cabins at the back of
the paddock, each with power, water and a loo.
Food & drink:
The cafe serves food and drink; some of it is even quite
healthy.
Bar:
The cafe serves alcohol but is notoriously pricey.
Camping: There
really aren't any grassy areas so your best bet it to set
up in a garage once the racing's over for the day.
Nearby shops:
There's a large Tescos about 10 minutes away at Towcester
(pronounced Toaster)..
Nearby bars:
Towster again, or there's a pub in Silverstone village about
2 miles away over the A43. Also quite popular is the Green
Man, a large pub/restaurant next to the Travel Inn on the
A43, about 5 minutes away.
Nearby fuel:
There's a fuel station on the Towcester roundabout. |
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This actually doesn't get a star, though
it is a very pretty location and the home of BMCRC. This
is the only circuit you can take your dogs to.
Paddocks: The
paddocks are on 3 levels, with the upper area being sloped
back to the circuit entrance. The concrete areas are limited
to roads and the very inner part of the paddock only; you'll
most likely find yourself on rough shale or grass on the
upper slopes if you're late.
Garages:
None.
Electricity &
water: Take a generator; there power points between
the lower paddock and the first tier, but they are very
dodgy. There are a few standalone water points, on two paddock
levels - though they can be hard to spot.
Ablutions:
These are pretty rubbish. There are about 5 ladies loos
and 2 showers, but the shower curtains are impossible to
keep in the trays so the place is always partially flooded,
and the heating is based on a water cyclinder so lasts for
about 2 showers before you freeze. The sinks are OK though,
with mirrors and area for wash bags.
Food & drink:
A snack van next to the scrutineering bay opens up during
the day with drinks, sandwiches, greasy food and apparently
fantastic pies (cherry in particular). I seem to remember
another van selling ice cream and sweeties too, near the
collecting area.
Bar:
No bar.
Camping: Plenty
of grass areas, but very sloped.
Nearby shops:
Erm, not a clue
Nearby bars:
Turn right out of the circuit, right at the lights - the
Seven Bells at the bottom of the hill at the end of the
village does good food, also the Hope Inn in Lydden village.
Nearby fuel:
Clueless again. |
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