The cost of attendance

July 7th 2014

Sir, Like Nigel Roebuck, I was at the 1955 Ou1ton Park Gold Cup meeting with my parents. Nigel mentioned the costs of attending meetings;

things have changed somewhat. The Gold Cup cost 4/6d (22.5p) and to go into the paddock it was 20/(£1). Compare that with today’s Formula 1 races! By 1959 the entrance price had risen to 5/(25p) but the paddock had dropped to 10/(50p). However, the 1955

Grand Prix at Aintree was a vast 10/(50p) including a seat — albeit on top of the Tatts Stand from which you could see virtually all of the circuit. For your 10/you got a 270-mile race of over three hours, a 51-mile 500cc race

and a sports car race of 51 miles with the works teams from Aston Martin and Jaguar taking part. The prize money for the Grand Prix was £1200, and that included £25 for the chief mechanic of the winning car. Michael Cookson, Wins ford, Cheshire