Any auto racing event in the world, which one?

My vote would be Le Mans! Much more exciting as the access is better.

 

I'm with joe, ..... but it's not always about the racing.
The overnight meet down the south of england, the ferry, the drive down (250 miles +), the beer, the overworked barbeque, trudging thro' the forest at midnight, to illegally watch (v quietly) on the mulsanne straight .... fantastic !

... and only 5 months, 3 days, 0 hours, 54 minutes and 22 seconds to go !

WHOOOPPEEEEEEEEEE !

 

Depends on what kind of cars you'd like to see.

But overall, the following events are world-class in my mind and deserve a visit some time in ones life:

- F1: Monaco GP
- F1: Spa GP
- Goodwood Revival
- Monterey Historics
- ALMS: Laguna Seca
- Mille Miglia - no longer a race but a great event nevertheless
- 24 hours of Nurburgring

 

F1 GP at Monaco

 

Agreed. Never been to Le Mans, but I first attebded the GP de Monaco in '92 and have returned every year since, which should tell you something. Not only is the race a blast (despite the track's relative slowness), but the surroundings are beautiful, the cars on the streets rare and terrific, and you can still see F1 personalities up close if you know where to go.

 

While Le Mans is great and I want to go there one year, it is not the same as F1 technology and driverwise. Also it doesn't have the spectacular backdrop of Monte Carlo.

I would call Le Mans an acquired taste and the Monaco GP something that speaks to basically anybody, which is good for a first event to a race.

Also keep in mind, that the Monaco GP (vs 24 hours of Le Mans) is not a 90 minutes affair. You spend all weekend there and the days leading up to it. There are parties all over town and on that particular weekend probably the highest exotic car/people ratio anywhere on the planet (not counting Pebble Beach).

 

I would go with Spa or Goodwood. Montreal is a great venue as well, things to do over the entire course of the F1 race weekend.

 

Le Mans

 

Races are fun but short lived. I vote for the Monterey Weekend (Aug 18'th weekend). Four days of car related events from auctions, to historic races, to the Concours itself. Great setting, great weather, more cars than you can ever imagine. One article priced the value of all the cars in the pennisula at over $ 100 billion. Yes billion, and the fun is that you can get upfront and close (don't touch) all of these cars.

 

If you want a great time and are into cars then Good wood either festival of speed or the revival are great! for a "real" race I would suggest Spa or Monza... Le Mans is nice but you rarely get to see much as the track is so big... Spa is fantastic, you are close to Brussels, which is 2.5 hours by TGV from Paris, close to Germany ... good food in Luxembourg its also very atmospheric... lots of history... Spa when it rains is a pain, but also very special.

Monza is one giant crowd, but lots of Ferrari stuff.. and Milan is happening all the time. you can stay at Villa D'este and chopper in right on the old track, walk the banking ( illegal) and have a nice time, but if you dont fly in its a mamoth pain getting out!

 

Just an opinion.............

Monaco F1 this year is great combination with the historic Monaco grand prix just the week before. Monaco is the best event concerning devellopment from past episodes. The magic is there all the way, even in this modern times. And the historic GP is just perfect to see a lot of beautifull classics actually racing.

Le Mans is getting more dissappointed by the year. I haven't seen any real factory battle the last 5 years, apart for the GTS class. Last year was too crowded. It was difficult to get around the track, even at night. The best fun is to be there with some friends and drive around in you own cclassic to look at different stages at the track. But then again, they are racing for 24 hours, so there is absolutely a lot to see. But do you want to see an Audi diesel for 24 hours? But still I will be there very likely this year...............

Have been to the Goodwood festival of speed last year and liked it a lot. The wether was very good, but that is still a risk in england. Very relaxing and a lot of beautiful cars, both old and new. But it is more or less a big concours with an additional sprint. Think the revival is more fun, but haven't been there.

So Goodwood is not a specific English event, something similar should be available in the U.S.. The same for Le Mans, in general the Sebring12h and Daytona24h offer the same idea on a different location.

If you would travel to Europe I think Monaco is the best. It is more unique and has a special athmosphere. And combining the historic and normal GP, you get the best of both worlds.

 

when traveling to the grand prix in Monaco, does one bring cash, euros/ mc/visa, ??? which is the best way to protect yourself?

 

Bring your VISA card and your ATM card. With the ATM card you'll be able to get Euros locally. True for all Euro countries.

 

I would say either Le Mans or 24hr at Nurburgring.

 

How about the Canadian GP in Montreal?

Still pretty affordable, lots of off track GP-related activities, lots of fine cars at various expositions and acres & acres of chicks. Bars open till 3 AM & strip clubs...with full frontal.

 

I concur.
Montreal is a fantastic city especially at F1 time.

 

Montreal and Monaco are very similar over a GP weekend. Main difference is, that in Monte Carlo they have also Ferraris other than 348.

 

hey we got plenty of 360`s as well....lol

 

When I went to the Canadian GP last year I kept an eye out for 348 in the streets since I heard a rumour that you guys have cornered the market on that model.

Didn't take me long to realize why we don't see them in the States anymore: The rumour is fact.

...and yes I also saw 1 360 and 1 TR.

 

Le Mans! Nothing like camping out at the side of the Hunadieres straight or on the back straightaway (the one between the Mulsanne hairpin and the esses where the 917 flew through the Gulf sign in Le Mans) all day and all night!

 

Some official F1 study showed that the Montreal GP is actually the most expensive GP to attend. More than even Monaco. Unexpected.

Anyway, I've been to both enduros and gps. Enduros can get pretty dull quick if you're just concentrating on the race action. I mean, it's a good back drop if you're drinking and camping out with friends, but the actually racing part is interesting for about the first corner. Enduros are a hell of lot more fun to drive than watch. Not sure how the V8s will sound in person, but the sound of an F1 V10 was worth the price of admission alone.

 

Got a link?

 

Monaco is a beautiful setting, but even when I watched Prost/Senna, it was just not exciting. My only LeMans was in 1991, but I never enjoyed a motor race as much before or since. And the concession food was incredible!

My vote would be LeMans.

 

Expensive? Definitely. Moreso than Monaco? That's a bit hard to believe.

But it is expensive enough that after going there 12 times between 1982 and 2001, I haven't gone back and probably won't. If you can afford it, though, it's a great city to visit (in June) and a good circuit to watch the race if you pick the right grandstand. And the French being spoken makes it seem European enough for a Grand Prix.

But all things considered, my pick now would be the Italian GP at Monza.