Gedinne Classic Bike Race Weekend 2026

Some more snaps. Have in mind that these were taken on an iPhone, so no expensive digital camera and telephoto. They hopefully show how close you get to the racing. These were all taken at the pop-up restaurant, an enterprising local builds in his garden:

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The pop-up restaurant is back up the circuit from the start / finish line. It’s in the small village of Frangines. It’s good for lunch, for sure. It’s located in front of the bod’s house with the solar panels:

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glenn2926 said:
Great information, thank you. I fancy this when I retire.
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Thank you.

Is it better than the Isle of Man TT or Classic? I think so, yes. Why? Of course it’s much smaller as an event and (of course) much slower, but it’s much more relaxed and amateur. Whilst amateur in nature, like a Vintage Sports Car Club race meeting in the UK or any ‘Clubmmans’ type meeting, the vast majority of competitors are there to try to win and very many are not ‘slow’ per se. It’s just much less ‘corporate’, if you get my drift.

For the same reason, I really like the Spa Six-hour Classic car race meeting, held in late September, preferring it to the Le Mans Classic. Smaller, yes but very much more ‘human’ an experience and, of course, probably the best spectator circuit in the world. Highly recommended.
 
Wapping said:
The town of Chimay, is much closer to Chimay circuit, than Gedinne is to its eponymous circuit.

It’s a decent schlep from Gedinne town from the circuit. Call it two miles:

View attachment 477531

The permanent private campsite (as opposed to the campsite at the circuit itself) at the town Gedinne, is much closer to the town. The downside, is that it’s further to walk to the circuit. I did though consider staying there, as I’d have my Brompton bicycle to cycle to the circuit and back.

View attachment 477538

The temporary campsite at the circuit is fine, for say two to three nights, not least as you’ll not be meeting royalty. They move in a lot of WC’s (many more than at Le Mans, which itself is quite bizarre) which are kept clean, whilst the shower block (in the pit area) is similarly clean and attended. From memory, all the WC’s are free, whilst the showers are a couple of euros. I have exaggerated the ‘Medieval’ aspect. I got up early one morning (roughly dawn) whilst near enough everyone was still asleep. They was a damp Ardennes’ mist, mixed with the smell of the previous night’s BBQ fires and snoring. It struck me (in my poetic imagination) that a Medieval siege village probably looked pretty similar, hundreds of years ago. The weather (always a bit of a gamble in the Ardennes) should be OK in August. There was a ban on open BBQ’s in force, I can only assume due to the perceived fire risk in a temporary campsite in summer, but gas ones (I took my small Webber Q, as I was in the car) which was fine. We simply shopped in Gedinne on arrival and stayed at the circuit campsite for the duration of the meeting.

In a nutshell: Would the permanent campsite be more comfortable? Yes, I guess so, for the obvious reasons. The downside is the schelp to and from the cicuit. Would I be happy to go back to the circuit campsite again, by car, motorbike or camper van? Yes, too. You are not going to be there for a week and you are right in the action, as it were.

There is a taxi company in Gedinne, though I’ve not used it. Maybe walk to the town and taxi back?

Let’s discuss it during the ‘Soft shandy drinking southerners’ camping trip this weekend.
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So in a nutshell, nothing at the circuit needs to be pre booked? I am thinking of arriving the Thursday, or even Wednesday to have a blast around the area before trackside watching. I assume? the circuit campsite will be open Wednesday? Is there a website, I can familiarise myself with their terms and faqs instead bothering you 'all? I'll be bringing the Wapping Chateau as my ten as well!
 
adventuredon said:
I assume? the circuit campsite will be open Wednesday?
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I wouldn’t necessarily assume that. It’s a farmer’s field.

adventuredon said:
Is there a website, I can familiarise myself with their terms and faqs instead bothering you 'all?
Click to expand...

The event is run by the Belgian branch of the Classic Racing Federation or some such. Their website tells you (as a spectator) all that you need to know which is, very basically, the date of the event. This is the information and FAQ’s from last year. I doubt if it’ll change too much for 2026, as and when they awake from their slumbers.


In short:

Rock up
Campsite opens Thursday (assuming that is, it follows 2025)
Pay the cheery fellow at the gate to the field the fee to camp
Put up your tent
Wander over to the paddock and buy your entry to the race meeting, assuming that is they are not selling them at the entry to the campsite
Find the concession where they sell a sort of cash card, which you charge up with euros. The bars etc are all cashless
Buy your T-shirt, if you want one. They do sell out.
Find the bar and test the beer
Locate the showers and / or WC
That’s it you are all set, bar awaiting arrival of other Tossers, unless they have arrived ahead of you

One tip. Buy a slab of beer before you arrive and bring something to carry some to drink while you watch the racing. The circuit is not littered with concessions. I have a trusty beer snake for that very reason.

:beerjug:

PS Anything else you need or would like to know, ask in this thread.
 
Wapping said:
I wouldn’t necessarily assume that. It’s a farmer’s field.



The event is run by the Belgian branch of the Classic Racing Federation or some such. Their website tells you (as a spectator) all that you need to know which is, very basically, the date of the event. This is the information and FAQ’s from last year. I doubt if it’ll change too much for 2026, as and when they awake from their slumbers.


In short:

Rock up
Campsite opens Thursday (assuming that is, it follows 2025)
Pay the cheery fellow at the gate to the field the fee to camp
Put up your tent
Wander over to the paddock and buy your entry to the race meeting, assuming that is they are not selling them at the entry to the campsite
Find the concession where they sell a sort of cash card, which you charge up with euros. The bars etc are all cashless
Buy your T-shirt, if you want one. They do sell out.
Find the bar and test the beer
Locate the showers and / or WC
That’s it you are all set, bar awaiting arrival of other Tossers, unless they have arrived ahead of you

One tip. Buy a slab of beer before you arrive and bring something to carry some to drink while you watch the racing. The circuit is not littered with concessions. I have a trusty beer snake for that very reason.

:beerjug:

PS Anything else you need or would like to know, ask in this thread.
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Wonderfull information and photos for a wonderfull event wapping; having been there numrous times along with Chimay over many years your reports bring life to this thread; cheers. (y) :beerjug:
 
Wapping said:
Excellent! And thank you for bringing your bike for others to enjoy watching racing. Much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Wapping said:
I wouldn’t necessarily assume that. It’s a farmer’s field.



The event is run by the Belgian branch of the Classic Racing Federation or some such. Their website tells you (as a spectator) all that you need to know which is, very basically, the date of the event. This is the information and FAQ’s from last year. I doubt if it’ll change too much for 2026, as and when they awake from their slumbers.


In short:

Rock up
Campsite opens Thursday (assuming that is, it follows 2025)
Pay the cheery fellow at the gate to the field the fee to camp
Put up your tent
Wander over to the paddock and buy your entry to the race meeting, assuming that is they are not selling them at the entry to the campsite
Find the concession where they sell a sort of cash card, which you charge up with euros. The bars etc are all cashless
Buy your T-shirt, if you want one. They do sell out.
Find the bar and test the beer
Locate the showers and / or WC
That’s it you are all set, bar awaiting arrival of other Tossers, unless they have arrived ahead of you

One tip. Buy a slab of beer before you arrive and bring something to carry some to drink while you watch the racing. The circuit is not littered with concessions. I have a trusty beer snake for that very reason.

:beerjug:

PS Anything else you need or would like to know, ask in this thread.
Click to expand...
Great advice… I would say if you’re going in a camper van you’ll need some way of leveling. The porta loos are ‘serviced’ so a handful of Euro coins can be useful.
 
Alistairm said:
I would say if you’re going in a camper van you’ll need some way of leveling….
The porta loos are ‘serviced’ so a handful of Euro coins can be useful.
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Indeed, the campsite can be on a fair old slope.

I had forgotten that the horseshoe of ‘Dav Lav’ WC’s are (like the showers) serviced. Thanks for the reminder.
 
Trying to integrate this with a family holiday with the relatives in Switzerland.

It would mean me travelling on my mototorbike separately from my adoring wife and children, who are flying in and out of Geneva. Oh what a terrible shame, but it is a sacrifice I might just have to make ;):D
 
NeilDD said:
Quick questions,
Where are you all camping?
Do you get tickets online or at the track?

I might call in on my way back from Sid's do in France
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Taking in all of Waps’ knowledge, my local mates voted - rather than camping at the track and walking into town - to camp in town near a greater selection of pubs/ restaurants, and walk/ bike to the circuit.

6 and two threes probably.

Alistair will you be racing again? Looks like you would have plenty of tosser support if so.
 
The Other PaulG said:
Taking in all of Waps’ knowledge, my local mates voted - rather than camping at the track and walking into town - to camp in town near a greater selection of pubs/ restaurants, and walk/ bike to the circuit.

6 and two threes probably.

Alistair will you be racing again? Looks like you would have plenty of tosser support if so.
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Hi… yes plan to, have to get through the first half of the season with bike and rider in one piece!
It’s a fantastic event and I look forward to having another go at it now that I know my way round.
(Will remember to pack extra coffee and biscuits)
 
I plan to go in my campervan, possibly with a motorcycle on a trailer and / or a bicycle. This, as with Neil, might well be after a visit to Sid’s do, too.

Still undecided whether to stay at the circuit or at:

Camping Croix-Scaille Gedinne

Camping Croix-Scaille Gedinne
campingcroixscaille.be campingcroixscaille.be

Staying at the circuit is fine but the town campsite has its attractions, too.

Campsite to circuit:

Six minutes by vehicle
15 minutes by bicycle
One hour on foot

 
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Wapping said:
Thank you.

Is it better than the Isle of Man TT or Classic? I think so, yes. Why? Of course it’s much smaller as an event and (of course) much slower, but it’s much more relaxed and amateur. Whilst amateur in nature, like a Vintage Sports Car Club race meeting in the UK or any ‘Clubmmans’ type meeting, the vast majority of competitors are there to try to win and very many are not ‘slow’ per se. It’s just much less ‘corporate’, if you get my drift.

For the same reason, I really like the Spa Six-hour Classic car race meeting, held in late September, preferring it to the Le Mans Classic. Smaller, yes but very much more ‘human’ an experience and, of course, probably the best spectator circuit in the world. Highly recommended.
Click to expand...
Funily enough; we started on the Belgium rd racing when the 24hr at Spa was stripped of its world championships statuses; our first meeting being Jonhville that used to be called the Belgium TT; now that was a narly little track. Our first trip to that circuit was also our last after a rider with a weslake became entangled in a barb wire fence; the track was declared too unsafe and the event was canceled;
 
snelly said:
Funily enough; we started on the Belgium rd racing when the 24hr at Spa was stripped of its world championships statuses; our first meeting being Jonhville that used to be called the Belgium TT; now that was a narly little track. Our first trip to that circuit was also our last after a rider with a weslake became entangled in a barb wire fence; the track was declared too unsafe and the event was canceled;
Click to expand...
Gedinne was called the Belgian TT … but the IOM TT asked them to stop, so it has just one T now.
 
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