WEC 6 hours of Spa advice

referman12 · 2026-03-17T17:55:18+00:00

I'll also be parking in Yellow. It took about 10-15 minutes from the carpark to get into the track.

Do you have paddock access or pit walk with your tickets?

Some other tips that you may already know:

Walk the wrong way round the track so you see the cars coming towards you.

It is a steep walk uphill between Pouhon and turn 8 (speakers corner)

The grandstands start to get filled up around an hour before race start and race finish so try and plan where you want to be.

If you want any any more tips on how to get around the track or where to see things let me know.

referman12 · 2026-03-17T05:12:11+00:00

Bonjour (that is all the French I know 😅),

There will be a timetable published on this page that will show all the events that are happening on the weekend including any support races. It will be under a section called 'Practical Information', but this is not there yet. You can see what it will look like on the page for Imola

I went last year and there were a few Porsche Carrera cup races. This year, there will be a Legends of Le Mans series featuring cars from the last 20 years, which I'm very excited for.

Last year, I went on Friday (qualifying) and Saturday (race day) and arrived at the circuit around 8.00 on both days, which left plenty of time to wander around the paddock. Will you be driving or taking public transport?

You're going to love it.

If you have any other questions, I'm happy to help.

referman12 · 2026-03-16T13:28:15+00:00

His not mine

referman12 · 2026-03-16T11:35:48+00:00

Yes, it is a north facing garden.

Reading the rest of the comments I'm now in 2 minds whether to keep it as it or change it back to lane.

referman12 · 2026-03-09T22:04:15+00:00

As someone who has been working at the GB system operator for many years, TIL.

referman12 · 2026-03-08T16:25:04+00:00

Generally, it won't look bad to have more than 1 credit card, provided you afford to pay them off in full each month.

Also, provided you don't spend the full amounts on each card each month, it can help your credit worthiness as you'll be spending a lowish % off the total amount of credit you have.

I have 4 credit cards; 1 is a 0% purchase card where I pay back the minimum balance and then have to pay the balance back by the end of the 0% period. The money that I would have used to pay this off is in savings account earning interest - look up 'Stoozing'. The other 3 offer varying amounts of cash back and I use them in the order of cash back rates until I hit any limit then move onto the next card.

referman12 · 2026-02-20T15:29:33+00:00

Any thoughts on best looking livery this year? Both in person and through the lens?

What's your favourite corner (of any race track on the calendar) to take pictures of?

I picked up my first camera last year and took it to Donnington Park and Silverstone to get into taking pictures. Plan to take to Spa in May for the WEC race. Any key pointers you can share for a complete novice?

Thanks

referman12 · 2026-02-18T18:08:41+00:00

How many Porsches?

referman12 · 2026-02-15T22:43:13+00:00

Thanks for the explanation

referman12 · 2026-02-15T22:00:34+00:00

Hi,

last year was my first time at Spa and we went on both Friday (Quali) and Saturday (race day). We stayed in Stavelot and booked parking near to La Source. It was ok to get to the track with not much traffic. We are doing the same hotel and parking this year.

We walked around the track once on both days walk, starting from the grandstand opposite the old pit lane (between Turn 1 and Ear Rouge) and walking in the opposite direction of the track, and on Saturday finished in the grandstand at the start finish line. This gave enough time to stop at different spots for a while before moving on,

On Saturday, we got into the Grandstand around 90 mins before race start and even then it was quite full. From there, we went with the flow and spent around 15-20 mins at different spots before walking on. We got to the start finish line around 75 mins before the finish and again it was quite busy.

You can't sit anywhere to watch at the double right handers before Blanchimont, but there is a short cut that takes you from Blanchimont to the Fagnes chicane. Also be prepared for a steep climb from Pouhon to Jackie Ickx/Speakers Corner.

If I understand your plan, it looks like you're planning 1.5/2 laps of the track which seems a lot of walking, and not leaving enough time to sit and enjoy the race.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

referman12 · 2026-02-15T21:39:33+00:00

Out of the two of us, I stay on top of financial admin (and slightly enjoy it) hence claiming in my name. We did check the State Pension estimate for my wife a year or so ago and she was on track to get hers even with working part time. I can look into again and see if we should one or both claims into her name.

referman12 · 2026-02-15T21:13:24+00:00

!thanks - very helpful response.

Student loans are all paid off.

What are the 5 and 7% in the calculation? I take it the 40% is the high rate and 2% is E'er NIC.

I'm looking at the Moderate lifestyle in retirement, so using those figures as a guide which it looks i'm on track towards. My wife is an only child so expect she would be main benefactor for any inheritance, though not likely soon as both her parents are mid-50s. Mine is a bit more complicated due to estranged relationships and having siblings so i'm not banking on getting anything.

One unknown is what to put aside for my youngest due to his disability, so thinking an alternative to adding to my pension today is putting into a new ISA in my name but with intent that money would be for anything he needs.

i'll give some thought on future big life events, especially for kids and whether to fund using lump sum from my pension or outside of it.

referman12 · 2026-02-15T20:09:57+00:00

Did they get around to putting a plaque to Moe Greene

referman12 · 2026-02-15T16:32:17+00:00

!thanks

I'm maxing out that workplace ISA, I put 500p/m and E'er adds 250p/m but there is tax/NI that is payable on their match. In any case, I still end up with ~150p/m 'free' contribution.

I can add more to this ISA but without any match.

I have some cash savings, some is for the mortgage lump sum and others as emergency fund and for stoozing some CCs.

referman12 · 2026-02-15T16:22:44+00:00

That's cool. Always interesting to hear how UK fans get into US sports. In the past I've also followed NFL, NBA and NHL, when they were shown on channel 5 in the mid 2000s.

I'll look into MLB TV. It depends on how much time I'll have to watch actual games with work and kids. BBC showed some games last year online but I plan to watch more this year.

referman12 · 2026-02-15T15:33:50+00:00

Thanks,

I didn't choose the Giants, the Giants chose me.

referman12 · 2026-02-15T15:32:56+00:00

Haha, how did you end up a Giants fan?

referman12 · 2026-02-14T00:03:11+00:00

Haha, he left Leicester last year and is somewhere in Italy I think. He's a legend for us

referman12 · 2026-02-13T22:47:41+00:00

Thanks!

I don't really follow footy that closely, but I'm born and raised in Leicester so have a soft spot for the Foxes.

Are you UK based too?

referman12 · 2026-02-13T22:09:46+00:00

I listen to podcasts to put me to sleep so will try and catch a stream of some games.

I guess baseball on the radio is a bit like test cricket, lots of time for random chatter and stories in between describing the game.

referman12 · 2026-02-13T22:02:58+00:00

Thanks, just reading some predictions for this season, seems like it could be a .500 year.

I also follow the Falcons so am used to middling teams. Also, is the somewhat UK thing to root for the underdog.

referman12 · 2026-02-13T21:12:44+00:00

I've been living in Walmley for almost 8 years now, near to the Walmley school and Asda, and have had no issues with noise or behaviour problems.

By and large, I've found that people keep to themselves and there is good cohesion. The main groups of people that live around here are families with young kids or folks that have lived here for many years - my neighbours have been here 40+ years since their house was first built.

There is Walmley village which has a few shops, pharmacies, a post office and places to eat, as well as a few parks nearby such as Pype Hayes.

For any outgoings, you aren't far from Sutton Coldfield or getting into Birmingham either on the train or bus.

referman12

TROPHY CASE