4 great reasons to hire a van for a day at the races

There’s nothing quite like the buzz of a day at the races. Whether it’s Ascot, Cheltenham, or a local meet with your mates, it’s an event that blends sport, style and full-on social energy – so no wonder it’s so popular across the UK. But while everyone’s focused on the bookies, the bubbly and the best dressed, let’s be honest, the travel side can often get left until the last minute – and that’s usually where the stress creeps in!

Now, that’s exactly where we can help here at Intack Self Drive. We have well over half a century of experience to our name, which today makes us the go-to choice for car hire, van hire and minibus hire for customers all over the UK. That means we’ve got quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to transport for events like a day at the races – so here’s why it’s worth hiring a minivan for the occasion!

You can save money without cutting corners

Let’s start with the obvious – cost. Race days aren’t cheap once you factor in tickets, drinks, food, and maybe the odd flutter that doesn’t go your way. So if you’re going with a group, it makes sense to save money where you can. When you split the cost of minivan hire between six, eight or even nine of you, it usually ends up far cheaper than taking multiple cars. One tank of fuel, one parking pass, one hire fee – it all adds up to a simpler and more affordable plan.

And then there’s the parking itself. If you’ve ever been to a major racecourse before, you’ll already know that the scramble for spaces is no joke. And paying for three or four cars to squeeze into a field is, in a word, painful. With a single van on the other hand, you only need to do it once. There’s no convoy to manage, no one moaning they’re stuck in the overflow, and no paying over the odds for premium spots just to stay together.

Save on the stress of using your own car

Most people treat their car with a bit of care – and rightly so. It can be particularly stressful to use your own car for a big event like a day at the races, and hiring a van lets you sidestep the wear and tear altogether. That means you don’t have to worry about filling up your own tank or clocking up the miles. It also gives you the flexibility you may need to take more people, so you don’t have to concern yourself with that fabled argument about who has to squeeze into that awkward middle seat in the back of a regular passenger car. A van gives you the space, power, and practicality you need for a big day out, and everyone is equally comfortable (and happy about it!).

Travel together like it’s part of the day

Half the fun of a day at the races arguably isn’t even at the races. It’s in the build-up – the playlists, the jokes, the outfit checks, the anticipation. And none of that’s the same when you’re split across separate cars or trying to coordinate four different ETAs. A van turns the journey into part of the experience. Everyone’s in the same vehicle, the energy’s up from the get-go, and no one’s stuck on their own behind a steering wheel in silence.

You also don’t have to worry about stragglers or last-minute cancellations messing with the plan. If you’re in one van, you leave together, you arrive together, and you’ve got everything you need in one place. Plus, let’s be honest – trying to arrange a meet-up in a packed racecourse car park with spotty phone signal is no one’s idea of fun.

Get home without the usual drama

After a long day on your feet, the journey home isn’t always smooth sailing. People get tired, grumpy, and scattered. If you have to separate to get to individual cars when you’re trying to get out of the venue – you may then have the unenviable task of trying to liaise with each other on the other side. That’s assuming everyone gets to their own cars in good time.

Hiring a van means you dodge all that. Everyone piles in, no one has to drive their own car when they’re running on fumes, and the group stays together from start to finish. Frankly, most of the time it’s simpler when everyone stays together. It’s safer, calmer, and far less likely to end in someone being left behind in a muddy field with no signal and a dead battery. (If we’re being frank about it, friendships have been ended for less…!)

And of course, if you do decide to go for hire a minibus – whether for a day at the race or indeed anything else – that’s exactly where we can help here at Intack Self Drive. You can always rely on us to give you the very best prices on a comprehensive range of hire vehicles. If you’ve ever got any questions or need any advice, you can check out our recent post on what you need to know about hiring a minibus, or just give us a call on 01254 57811. We’re always happy to help!