The New Spymaster

For more than 60 years Silverstone has carved its mark as one of the leading motor sport venues, and is Internationally renowned as the host of world class events,

The Silverstone Racing Track is built on the site of a World War II Royal Air Force bomber station, RAF Silverstone which opened in 1943.

The Stations runways were first used for motorsport by an group of friends who set up an impromptu race in September 1947. One of their number, Maurice Geoghegan, lived in nearby Silverstone village and was aware that the airfield was deserted. He and eleven other drivers raced over a two mile circuit, during the course of which Geoghegan himself ran over a sheep that had wandered onto the airfield. The sheep was killed and the car written off, and in the aftermath of this event the informal race became known as the Mutton Grand Prix.

The next year the Royal Automobile Association took a lease on the airfield and set out a more formal racing circuit. Their first two races were held on the runways themselves, with long straights separated by tight hairpin corners, the track demarcated by hay bales.

Over the next few years the track and racing continued to develop and the 1949 Trophy Meeting soon became known as the Grand Prix.

'Himself' has been going to Silverstone for most of his life, off and on. In this youth he use to fly down from Spalding with his Father and Fathers friend Jim in their Auster plane. In those days if you had driven to the Circuit you could drive your own car around the Circuit after the Meeting.

In the 70's and 80's 'Himself' and his friend David use to acquire free tickets from Davids sister who worked for one of the Racing Teams. It's been several years now since he's been to the circuit. Tickets nowadays for the Silverstone race meetings are prohibitive expensive, so he contents himself with watching all the world wide Grand Prix on the television.

When the retirement present of an Aston Martin Thrill was presented to him the choice of which track to experience it on was a 'no brainer'. It had to be Silverstone.

Thank you Nancy, Nancy and John. Our lovely Canadian Friends.

So on a warm sunny day, May Day in fact, were set off to drive the 53 miles towards Towcester The drive should have taken about 90 minutes. The roads were not too busy and we made good time. UNTILL.

'Himself' had an unexplained senior moment. As we approached the M1. I had the Sat Nav. on for the last few miles of the journey to get us on the right road for the new approach to Silverstone. The Sat Nav. said, continue on the A45. I said, continue over the M1, keeping on the A45. So, 'Himself' turn down the slip road onto the M1. I shout, but too late, we had no option but to continue. 15 miles to the next junction with 'Himself' chuntering to himself that he couldn't believe he done that. 15 miles back. We almost reached the turning we needed when we hit backed up traffic. Then signs notifying us that the M1 was closed after the next Junction due to an accident. No option now, we had to crawl with the traffic and exit at the junction. I then had to backtrack and navigate back to the A45 to get back on the road we needed. Luckily I had built in extra time in our schedule for road holdups.

We eventually found the entrance to the Race track and navigated rather rough, narrow roadway system to the Silverstone Experience Centre. Silverstone was not at all what I was expecting. Having seen all the swish new tracks and facilities on tracks around the world courtesy of the Television, I was shocked to see how basic and unglamorous most of Silverstone was. Basic elevated seating was being erected ready for the British Grand Prix. It was all supported by a complicated frame of scafolding. Not what I would have expected at all. 'Himself' commented on how it had all changed and improved since the debacle of Bernie Ecclestone removing the British Grand Prix from the circuit. The race to improve the track and facilities to get it back. The gleaming new Hospitality Building and the Team garages were nowhere near we needed to be.

About a half a mile into the site along narrow roads and over a strange dark high sided wooden bridge we found the Experience Centre. We parked up and went in. Whooo... it was busy and noisy and warm.

'Himself' signed in and got his instructions. He would be called along with the other drivers for a half hour briefing, mean while we had a short wait. Plenty to look around and he had some leaflets to read up.

This was the Circuit he would be driving on and below the briefing notes to read . All looked straight forward.

During his briefing I settled down in one of the comfy sofas with a cup of coffee and my Kindle. Shutting out all the loud music and chattering I got lost in my book.

Out side the sun shone but the cool wind kept the temperatures to a reasonable 20 degrees.

This two seater racing car was kept busy with a professional driver taking people out around the circuit at G Force speeds. When himself signed in I was asked if I would like to take a turn around the track in it. The cost today was a reduced £30. I gracefully declined. Well, I might get in the car but I'd never get myself out of it!

Parked to one side were some of the cars that are used in the Silverstone Experience The track was just beyond the bank behind.

Briefing over we all had to get our cars and drive to another building along the circuit where he was kitted out with a helmet and assigned a car and an instructer. His car was to be 009. I scampered along with other drivers families up to the roof of the building where we were told we would have a far better view.

Scanning the drivers being called to their cars I luckily saw 'Himself' being taken to car 007 not 009.

I did get some reasonable photos but I would have done better with a camera with a long lens. It was a work of art trying to access when he would appear along the track then to pan around with the car until the right place to get the shot. At those speeds not easy at all. The track camera came to the rescue and took much better pictures than mine.

Aston Martin Thrill:
Blast the iconic Aston Martin V8 Vantage around Silverstone for three sensational laps.

Well that's what it said on the 'tin'. I'm not sure blast was the appropriate word here. It was a little more complicated than that, but with a few more laps I'm sure it could be achieved! Getting in the right position for the bends, the time to brake and the right time to accelerate all took around the three laps to master. But then it was all over.

Back on solid ground your given a certificate and a chance to buy the official track photos. All three on a CD with a glossy A4 size photo of your choice was almost the same price as the photo on it's own.

Outside 007 was parked up waiting for fuel. Had to have a photo along side it of course.

The back to the Experience Centre for coffee, cake and a debrief before heading home. With no diversions! An enjoyable expirence and day well apart from the M1 diversion!

Me, well I went along for the ride!