I went to the first Birmingham race in 1986.
I am not a race fan at all, but wanted to go and see it. I also took some photos (probably not very good ones) that I will see if I can dig out. I have not seen them for years.
One of the difficulties of staging an event like this, round suburban streets, is fencing it so that people cannot get in for nothing, but so the people who live in the area can still get in and out of their houses to go shopping or go to the pub or whatever.
I remember the council had to erect miles and miles of fencing, to separate the "racing area" from the general public "outside". People lving in the area were given "passes" to prove they lived there and to allow them in and out of the area via special gates.
I did not fancy paying to get in so decided to walk round and find somewhere where I could get in for nothing. I eventually found a place on Belgrave Middleway (near the Central Mosque) where the road goes over the river.
It is of course very difficult to "fence in" a river so I was able to climb along a wall and get in the racing area for nothing.
As is common knowledge, the practice race was due to start at around 9 a.m. but was delayed till nearly midday.
Afterwards the council blamed "vandals" for interfering with the safety barriers, but I was standing on part of the circuit where the barriers were not in place at all and the council workers were working hard to erect them between 9am and midday.
I was very annoyed with the council next day for blaming vandals when it seemed to be their own inability to get the barriers up in time.
I had not visited any sort of race (F1 or F3) before and before the racing started I remember seeing the marshalls with their ear defenders on and thinking "cowards".
But then the race started and the cars began going past and I could not believe the NOISE. It hurt my ears.
I was trying to crouch down next to the track to take pictures, but every time a car went past it hurt the ear nearest the track so much I had to put a finger in it.
After a while I was having to try to take pictures holding the camera with one hand and with a finger in my ear from the other hand.
After a while the noise became too much (and I was having concerns about the long term effect on my hearing) so I left.
I never went to any of the other races.
As I said, I have some pictures somewhere, but finding them may be difficult.
Couple of other things.
At one end of Belgrave Middleway, where it meets Highgate Middleway (there are a few large shops there like PC World) is a large roundabout. This roundabout was "chopped" in half (half the grass removed) as it formed part of the racing circuit. If you go there now, or look at it on Google maps, you can still see the "half" a roundabout, left over from the race.
The starting point for the race was on Bristol Street, the side going west - out of the city centre (there used to be a couple of car showrooms there). The painting on the road to show the position of each car was there for YEARS after the racing finished, although it has probably all worn away by now (or been resurfaced).