| A trip to Belgium won’t be complete without three | | | | names like La Source, Stavelot, Rivage and Eau |
| things: chocolate, fries and a trip to | | | | Rouge. |
| Spa-Francorchamps racing circuit. Why should you | | | | Spa also has a distinction for being a track with a |
| spend the time to seek out this race track? Besides | | | | gruesome past. There are many recorded stories of |
| the history of the place, the whole countryside where | | | | people who were killed at the track, either from racing |
| the track is located is one of the most scenic that you | | | | or being a bystander. Many times, the driver would |
| will find. | | | | have been decapitated or simply killed from being |
| Situated in the Ardennes Forest, the whole region is | | | | caught in the barbed wire fences that lined the sides |
| comprised of mountains and scenic vistas. Driving to | | | | of the track. If you want to take a tour around the |
| this place is like driving through a national park and, if | | | | country side and the roads outside the track, you can |
| you go during the right time of year, the whole | | | | still find the same routes that were used back then |
| countryside is spectacularly green. Picture taking | | | | and drive on them today. Doing this will give you a |
| opportunities are around almost every corner that you | | | | sense of the monumental plums that these drivers of |
| come across on your way to the track, and there will | | | | a bygone era had to have and it will also expose you |
| be no shortage of small, picturesque European towns | | | | to some of the great regional scenery that this part of |
| with quaint main streets and gift shops for those who | | | | the world contains. |
| love that sort of thing. | | | | To find out more about the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, |
| To get to the track, you will simply have to follow the | | | | you should consult the circuit’s official Web site. If |
| signs through the towns of Spa and Francorchamps. | | | | you want to watch a great film about Formula One in |
| And don’t worry, because no matter what sort of | | | | the 1960’s that features this track, check out the |
| car you happen to own, the townsfolk have probably | | | | spectacular film “Grand Prix.” The track also |
| seen it. The track opened up in 1922 after being drawn | | | | hosts open track days and driver courses for both |
| up two years earlier. Originally, the track rivaled the | | | | cars and motorcycles for those looking to get a sense |
| daunting Nurburgring for shear length and speed. It was | | | | of what they can do with their vehicle on a legendary |
| 9.3 miles long and was comprised almost exclusively | | | | race track. Though if you take this route, be sure that |
| of public roads. Also, it was run at full throttle for | | | | you have your car spoilers put on their highest |
| almost the entire lap and earned the distinction of being | | | | downforce setting, as you will want to keep your car |
| one of the fastest race tracks in the world. It also has | | | | planted to fully experience the fast, sweeping corners |
| some of the most famous corners in the world, with | | | | that the track contains. |