Donington Park Access

[wibbly]

What's the access like at Donington Park, thinking of having a wander round next Saturday as I've got a 'Wife free' day, nothing for me at my usual haunts of Shelsley Walsh or Prescot.

The Donington Park website says the paddock is open for general public, but not pit lane... worth a wander round with the camera or is the circuit more for track side action?

Here's looking at you for some information @snerkler @Mr Perceptive

Thanks in advance...

 

[Mr Perceptive]

Paddock access is great, you can usually photograph into the pit garages as well with no issues and depending on friendliness of pit garages occupants and the type of event you can often get into the pit garages (I’ve never had an issue but I’ve not been to big events there) Access will be harder if the pit garages are occupied by GT Cup cars

Trackside- virtually all outfield is shooting through the catch fence, though if the Melbourne Loop is being used then you can get so close the fence (back of paddock) that it’s not an issue. Infield is easier to shoot from especially from inside Redgate down to the Old Hairpin

The Bernie’s V8s is a fantastic championship and should get you some great paddock shots and good trackside action - Enjoy

Definitely worth taking a paddock set up for the Bernies V8s alone

 

[wibbly]

Paddock access is great, you can usually photograph into the pit garages as well with no issues and depending on friendliness of pit garages occupants and the type of event you can often get into the pit garages (I’ve never had an issue but I’ve not been to big events there) Access will be harder if the pit garages are occupied by GT Cup cars

Trackside- virtually all outfield is shooting through the catch fence, though if the Melbourne Loop is being used then you can get so close the fence (back of paddock) that it’s not an issue. Infield is easier to shoot from especially from inside Redgate down to the Old Hairpin

The Bernie’s V8s is a fantastic championship and should get you some great paddock shots and good trackside action - Enjoy

Definitely worth taking a paddock set up for the Bernies V8s alone

Thanks for the info David, most appreciated.

 

[snerkler]

What's the access like at Donington Park, thinking of having a wander round next Saturday as I've got a 'Wife free' day, nothing for me at my usual haunts of Shelsley Walsh or Prescot.

The Donington Park website says the paddock is open for general public, but not pit lane... worth a wander round with the camera or is the circuit more for track side action?

Here's looking at you for some information @snerkler @Mr Perceptive

Thanks in advance...

I echo pretty much what David said. I often prefer walking the paddock these days rather than on track action. The trackside of Donington has got less and less photographer friendly since MSV took over, not only do you have catch fencing in a lot more places, they've put a second barrier several feet away from the catch fencing meaning it's even harder to shoot through as you can't get up to the fence.

The infield has fence free viewing right the way round from Redgate to the straight between Mcleans and Coppice although there is a small section on the craner curves now. If they're doing the GP circuit there is an area of fence free viewing at the Foggy Esses.

It's a great track though Donington, and the national circuit has better flow than the GP circuit.

With regards to pitlane access I don't know any track that allows pitlane access, particularly on a live track, however you can shoot down the pitlane from the garages, which on the smaller events you have access to. Some of the larger events such as the BTCC you can't get into the garages normally. I'm going to the WSBK next month and I doubt I'll get garage access then either.

 

[wibbly]

I echo pretty much what David said. I often prefer walking the paddock these days rather than on track action. The trackside of Donington has got less and less photographer friendly since MSV took over, not only do you have catch fencing in a lot more places, they've put a second barrier several feet away from the catch fencing meaning it's even harder to shoot through as you can't get up to the fence.

The infield has fence free viewing right the way round from Redgate to the straight between Mcleans and Coppice although there is a small section on the craner curves now. If they're doing the GP circuit there is an area of fence free viewing at the Foggy Esses.

It's a great track though Silverstone, and the national circuit has better flow than the GP circuit.

With regards to pitlane access I don't know any track that allows pitlane access, particularly on a live track, however you can shoot down the pitlane from the garages, which on the smaller events you have access to. Some of the larger events such as the BTCC you can't get into the garages normally. I'm going to the WSBK next month and I doubt I'll get garage access then either.

Thanks Toby, most appreciated…

 

[snerkler]

Thanks Toby, most appreciated…

No worries. I've just corrected a 'typo' as I put "it's a great track though Silverstone" rather than Donington

 

[KIPAX]

@Mr Perceptive and @snerkler I had donnington as a possible day out to photo but probably strike it off my list. Thanks for the info

So far been to Anglesey , Oulton and Cadwell... The first was dissapointing. The second is OK but Cadwell wipes the floor wiht them for amatuer photogrpahy . brilliant access day out

 

[snerkler]

@Mr Perceptive and @snerkler I had donnington as a possible day out to photo but probably strike it off my list. Thanks for the info

So far been to Anglesey , Oulton and Cadwell... The first was dissapointing. The second is OK but Cadwell wipes the floor wiht them for amatuer photogrpahy . brilliant access day out

I actually prefer Oulton Park to Cadwell, granted there's a bit more catch fencing but there's more interesting spots imo. YMMV.

Don't get me wrong, Donington is still a great track to visit, you just need to be prepared to deal with catch fencing. That been said these were all shot through the catch fencing at Donington.

Goddards

A9_06545-Edit-2 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

Coppice

A1_07503 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

Foggy Esses (there is a bit that's fence free, but not from this angle

A1_03794-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

Coppice again

A1_03580-Edit-2-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

The short straight between Mcleans and Coppice

A9_02839-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

Goddards again

A1_05085-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

 

[snerkler]

You then have garage and paddock access. Sometimes you can see into the garages, but not actually allowed in to the garage itself such as these from the BTCC

A1_04154 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

A1_04159 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr


But at other events you're free to walk around in the garage.

A9_03070 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

And stick your head out into the pitlane itself

A9_03054 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr



Apologies for spamming the thread

 

[davecurley]

Have you visited Knockhill in Scotland probably the best for track access both outfield and some of the infield. Also on the infield you have nearly all the track in view and the tracks location is stunning, just take 4 seasons clothing as it’s on the side of a hill

 

[KIPAX]

Have you visited Knockhill in Scotland probably the best for track access both outfield and some of the infield. Also on the infield you have nearly all the track in view and the tracks location is stunning, just take 4 seasons clothing as it’s on the side of a hill

Sounds great but a bit too far for a day out for me I am afraid

 

[A_S]

I actually prefer Oulton Park to Cadwell, granted there's a bit more catch fencing but there's more interesting spots imo. YMMV.

Don't get me wrong, Donington is still a great track to visit, you just need to be prepared to deal with catch fencing. That been said these were all shot through the catch fencing at Donington.

Goddards

A9_06545-Edit-2 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

Coppice

A1_07503 by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

Foggy Esses (there is a bit that's fence free, but not from this angle

A1_03794-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

Coppice again

A1_03580-Edit-2-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

The short straight between Mcleans and Coppice

A9_02839-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

Goddards again

A1_05085-Edit by Toby Gunnee, on Flickr

Where is the BMW shot? Between Mcleans and Coppice? I've tried too shoot that gap theres always an ambulence plonked right in the middle of it.

RE donington though, I think the second row of fencing has always been there? not related to MSV? unless I miss understand. The second barrier from redgate down to starkeys has always been there, as has the one at Mcleans and coppice? - Long lens its fairly easy to shoot through these.

 

[snerkler]

Where is the BMW shot? Between Mcleans and Coppice? I've tried too shoot that gap theres always an ambulence plonked right in the middle of it.

RE donington though, I think the second row of fencing has always been there? not related to MSV? unless I miss understand. The second barrier from redgate down to starkeys has always been there, as has the one at Mcleans and coppice? - Long lens its fairly easy to shoot through these.

The new fencing I'm talking about it mainly on the infield around the Roberts Chicane, exit of Goddards and pit straight. They've also made it so that you can't shoot from the end of the Melbourne loop.

I was stood roughly here

 

[Mr Perceptive]

You can shoot on the infield that part of the circuit as well

 

[snerkler]

You can shoot on the infield that part of the circuit as well

Yeah you can. Last time I went they’d fenced off more on the inside of McLeans and Schwanz, is that still the case?

 

[Mr Perceptive]

Yeah you can. Last time I went they’d fenced off more on the inside of McLeans and Schwanz, is that still the case?

Yes, but you can definitely shoot trackside before Coppice

 

[snerkler]

Yes, but you can definitely shoot trackside before Coppice

Yeah I sometimes shoot there. Luckily I’m tall enough to be able to shoot over the wall without steps

 

[A_S]

The new fencing I'm talking about it mainly on the infield around the Roberts Chicane, exit of Goddards and pit straight. They've also made it so that you can't shoot from the end of the Melbourne loop.

I was stood roughly here
View attachment 485748

Thanks for that I thought it was there but theres been an ambulance opposite when I've been lately.

Re the fencing its the new catch fencing at goddards/roberts thats an issue as well - but yes the fences are further back there than they used to be for sure.

The higher fencing at Foggies won't help from the bank either I guess but the better shot is from down low there - where the new wooden fencing is a lot higher yes. Got you know