THE BIG SUMMER ADVENTURE – Day 6 – 18 May 2019 – Spa Classic Meeting, day 2

To say that the weather at the Spa Circuit can be fickle is a master of understatement. Yesterday (Friday) was somewhat overcast, with showers and a persistent breeze. Today (Saturday) started off a bit grim and grey, but improved positively during the day. But, ho hum, we get what we get, so onward……

All the grandstands are free for this meeting, so I started in the one opposite the Endurance Pits. These used to be the old F1 pits and as you can see are on quite a slope, mirroring the undulations of the whole circuit. This grandstand is just after the La Source Hairpin, so every car is giving it “full beans” to get down the hill and up again at Raidillon. Difficult to take a photo that shows the true extent of the rise and fall. But beautiful noises though – machines on full acceleration ……….

GRANDSTAND OPPOSITE THE ENDURANCE PITS, LOOKING TOWARDS LA SOURCE HAIRPIN

LOOKING THE OTHER WAY, DOWN THE HILL TOWARD RAIDILLON

ENDURANCE PITS

Then it’s off up the hill to Raidillon and the Kemmel Straight…

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL

FROM THE TOP, LOOKING BACK AT THE ENDURANCE PITS

MY FAVOURITE PEUGEOT IN FULL WAIL

YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH HIGHER THIS PART OF THE CIRCUIT IS, PITS IN THE BACKGROUND

The next corner ( Les Combes) is where the old much longer course diverges from the current circuit. It was changed for ‘safety reasons” . having driven round the remnants of the old course ( an additional 8/9 kilometres or so) I can see why, as some parts are very close to buildings, etc.

Then the circuit drops down to the Bruxelles hairpin (approx. 5/60 metres height difference) and on to the Double Gauche, a tricky double apex corner, a ready trap for the unwary driver….

FIRST PART OF LES COMBES CORNER

DROP DOWN FROM LES COMBES TO THE BEGINNING OF THE BRUXELLES HAIRPIN

BRUXELLES HAIRPIN

ON THE INSIDE OF THE HAIRPIN, LOOKING TOWARDS THE DOUBLE GAUCHE CORNER

DOUBLE GAUCHE CORNER

On to the Campus and Blanchimont corners, arriving at my favourite corner. Now called simply Chicane, it has history as being the notorious Bus Stop, which used to cause no end of amusement in the “olden days” for the F1 guys. The nearby sign shows the so called “development” of the corner, which has been changed over time. Its original purpose was to slow down cars for the following La Source hairpin and improve pit lane access. I’m not convinced…….. Trying to squeeze two F1 cars through a space built for one was MUCH more exciting…….

CURRENT CHICANE

BUS STOP DEVELOPMENT

By this time, legs had become leaden, so it was back to the lodge over the Endurance Puts for a well deserved beer and biccies. It had taken most of the day to do this circumnavigation, what with stops for photo’s, the inevitable Belgian frites (with mayo, of course) and watching the practice and some racing. It’s hard work being a motor racing fan.