Going to Spa..

[IXjamesXI]

I'm planning to attend the Spa 6 hrs in May.. to spectate and not to drive unfortunately. I also plan to visit Stuttgart at that time to visit friends, but of course the ulterior motive is to visit the Porsche factory museum. It would be nice to see the place I bow and pray towards every time I go into my garage to work on my car.

Anyone ever been to Spa and have suggestions of how best to enjoy the event, other things to do or visit in that part of the world?

[RDM]

Get there early, stay late, and walk the whole track. It's an amazing place.

Oh, and before the race get to the grocery store and buy some Trappist.

[Reifle]

Jealous....

[5String43]

Minimize the cash you take. When we were in Belgium two years ago, we learned that banks no longer exchange currencies. Same seems to be true of France, from what we experienced and were told. If you don't change money at the airport, you don't do it at all, apparently. A check card is the way to go.

Bastogne is not at all far from Spa, just a ways south. The area where the Band of Brothers fought and held out against the Wehrmacht is well marked and is worth the visit.

[pkracer21j]

Make sure your debit/credit cards are activated for international use. I would stop in Cologne on your way from Belgium to Stuttgart, the dom is amazing in person and the city is a wonderful. DP and Kremer are still based there and a very welcoming shops. Lots of Motorsport history in the shops and on the walls. and enjoy all the Beers along the way. you'll have a hard time going back to your local brew. Make sure you take some B roads, all of the villages are fantastic! we took b roads from weissach to stuttgart. its a surreal scene of classic german villages with new porsches everywhere as everyone works for porsche. very cool! enjoy your time there.

[Alexm930]

Get to Au Rouge & check the view. The track is epic. FYI, The Nurburgring is only an hour away from Spa, consider getting overthere too...Have fun best luck..

[tttoon]

I've been to Spa a couple of times, it's definitely a great place to see racing (best in the world for me, but I'm biased. I don't know how they will arrange ticketing for the 6h, but if you can I would also get a ticket that lets you walk around away from start-finish. Walking from the grandstands to Pouhon to Bruxelles and then back via the Kemmel straight and down again via Eau Rouge is great, especially at night. Again, I don't know how free you are to do this, with the historic races you can go wherever you want, I know with the F1 you're usually bound to either a grandstand or the back section, not and. I definitely suggest to try to go the the practise and/or qualifying sessions as well, less crowded, usually cheap and a great way to experience the track without the stress of having to see the race.

As far as payment goes, try to bring cash euros, not all restaurants and shops have CC machines (markedly less than in the US). You won't be able to buy a beer at the track with visa for example (you will with cash!).

Other things to visit: the track is in the Ardennes, which are nice. Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp are not far, same goes for the Nurburgring, Cologne, Luxemburg and even Paris is just a few hours away.

I may come out for the event too, by the way! And the Porsche Days at Spa are the weekend after.

edit: and drink some beer. You can visit Orval in the south and I think Rochefort too.

[LakeCleElum]

Was there in 2003. Couldn't see the whole track as it was being rented for some sort of Porsche event being run in the rain on a weekday.

Enjoy and Be sure to pause at the Ayrton Senna Memorial:

Panoramio - Photo of Spa Francorchamps: Ayrton Senna memorial

[Mtbkracr]

If you're going near the Stuttgart area DO NOT miss the Sinsheim Auto and Technik museum.

http://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/en

[Workhorse]

Say hello to the St. Paulie Girl for us won't you?

Have fun, sounds like a really brilliant and fun trip. Take lots of photos!