Post by racechick on Jul 7, 2015 11:58:19 GMT
SILVERSTONE 2015
Silverstone is a sleepy little village in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside, with mellow bricked cottages and a village pub, oh and an old disused wartime airfield. And it's this old airfield that is responsible for Silverstone's transformation from sleepy village into a three day festival for motor racing enthusiasts in early July. Tens of thousands of fans descend on this village for the British Grand Prix. In the case of this year, it was in fact one hundred and forty thousand fans, a sellout, the largest attendance in over twenty years. That crowd beats Wimbledon, The Grand National and the FA cup final. And they say F1 is broken? Try telling that to those one hundred and forty thousand fans!
Silverstone, the name spells magic. Seven of the ten F1 teams are based in a small area around Silverstone, it is the heart and soul of motor racing. And whilst the facilities have been excellently upgraded it retains its aura of history, retains its memories, retains its passion, remains special. If Bernie Ecclestone is worried about declining interest in the sport he should look to Silverstone and stop littering the calendar with state of the art soulless venues...and also get F1 back on free to view television.
I must add a word here about the facilities provided for the fans by Silverstone. It is clear that families are well catered for, there were a lot of families and young children in attendance, also disabled spectators. The latter have their own viewing terraces with wheelchair access. The array of food on offer is staggering. Other F1 venues I've been to can't touch it. The food venders products range from whole animals spread eagled on a BBQ grill, through stone baked pizza's, Thai food, Mexican food, fish and chips, the usual burgers, pastries, pancakes, champagne and oysters, the list goes on and on. And the prices for these delights are not prohibitive. Though one tip, bottles of water are expensive (£2 or more for a small one) so it's worth taking those with you. There are the usual merchandising stalls and an array of games and entertainments on offer. Well done Silverstone!!
And so to the weekend of racing.
I watched P1 from the front of National Pit Straight, I didn't have time to get any further round the track. I managed to get one of my flags taped to the front of the stand, and the sun was shining! One gets a different perspective on things when actually at the track. You don't get to hear all the analysis, all the whys and wherefores, but you see and feel things more; as a Lewis fan, that was a slightly worrying session!! But hey, it's only first practise!
P2 and I'd walked round to the International Pit Straight. Now I have to say that this is not my favourite viewing place and I'd never chose to watch the race from here. I find it too enclosed and slightly oppressive. But I was at the top of the grandstand and overlooking Lewis' garage, so that was compensation enough!
I saw quite a lot of Lewis because he was in the garage more than he was on the track! Well that's what it felt like to me. Those worries again. Why is he in? Can't he find a set up? Why is Rosberg faster? A note to prospective attendees, if you chose a covered grandstand , even when the outside temperature is in the mid to high twenties, you can freeze! This is Silverstone!
Back to the campsite for a gourmet BBQ with bubbly and a bit of a sunbathe.
Up early next day to choose the spot for Qualifying and erect the flagpole. Nikki, my GP companion, tries to pretend she's not with me during the flag erection. For quali we chose Farm, just the next grandstand along from our race seat in Village A. This area is a great viewing spot. From Farm we could see the first corner, the pit exit and the loop. So flag up, we settled down for the day. Clothes were on and off as the sun traded places with cloud and wind. I really thought the flagpole would break and hoped it wouldn't spear anyone if it took off! But it survived!
And yes! It seems Lewis and his team did some serious homework overnight. He's at the top! Time to trudge back to the campsite for an open air shower, another BBQ and a spot more sunbathing. For spectators staying longer at the track, the drivers were on stage followed by musical entertainment into the evening.
Attending three days at the GP is exhausting! Up next morning and pack away tents.....it's going to rain later! Set off for the track and the next flagpole erection. If any one has taken my flagpole spot I am ready to do battle! During this operation, having opened out the pole to its full length, but not yet attached the flags, I manage to loose hold of it and it goes shooting down the steps from the top of the grandstand to the bottom. Nikki is mortified! Luckily it avoids people and I go sheepishly to retrieve it. As I busy myself attaching the fags I notice the lady sitting next to me, she is rather a large lady, but horror of horrors, she's a Rosberg fan!!! Well not so much a Rosberg fan, it was more she'd "gone off " Lewis. "We're not Hamilton fans", she said eying the flags. She used to like him but now, " he wears that chain and blah, blah, blah". So every time Hamilton came round I was screaming my head off, and she was politely clapping Rosberg and the two Williams cars. To be fair, she was a very nice lady and a true F1 fan who'd been coming for years.
The large spectator drama did not finish there. We see two very large men approaching the back of the stands and Nikki and I exchange knowing looks. The knowing look is a slightly widened eye and look straight at each other, rest of the face expressionless, we know what it means!!! And sure enough the two guys are next to Nikki!! Well one of them is, the other one couldn't fit in and spent the whole race sitting in the aisle on his camera box. Once again to be fair, the guys were very friendly as are all the fans we meet at Silverstone.......but we did feel a little hemmed in.
With seating and flag dramas over we were treated to a display from a Typhoon jet! How amazing was that!!! And how loud! It was incredible. And now the race is about to start. I can't watch the start of races and generally I hide! But I paid nearly £300 for this ticket so I am not going to hide!! Lights out! I'm in a panic and Ive forgotten which side is Lewis!! It's ok, he's ahead of Rosberg! But two Williams' are past! NOOOOO! But not too bad, he's still ahead of Rosberg. My eyes are glued to the screen, Lewis has taken Bottas! Good lad! Suddenly there's a commotion in front of me and two Lotus' are in the air and two McLaren's in a tangle. I'd vowed to put away my camera during the race and concentrate on the action, but out comes the camera.
Where to look! So much is happening. After the safety car Lewis makes a move on Massa. I knew he would. It's the best time to make places, he almost pulls it off but falls back behind Bottas. Damn! A few laps later and Verstappen is off right in front of our stand! Camera out again!
A few hair raising moments during the VSC when Lewis seemed to slow excessively, I guess he's watching that delta he has to drive to. And then we're racing again. When Lewis comes in for his stop I really can't watch until he's out again, he's ok! And now it's HAMMERTIME. He takes the lead and Silverstone erupts. This is the best bit about the cars being less noisy, you can hear the cheers all round the circuit. Now I can enjoy him pulling out a lead until the end of the race, rain isn't forecast until three pm. But that cloud is looking mighty threatening over to our right, it looks like it's actually raining over there! Spots of rain!! But it's still warm, surely it will dry. More rain! Darkening sky. Brollies up! They say it's raining at Copse, we can see it fast approaching Stowe. People have said it looked a lucky call by Hamilton, that it didn't look that wet, it did if you were in the stands. As he exited the pits on inters we saw it pouring down at Stowe, other cars sliding and we knew he'd made the right call. Now providing it didn't dry out too much he's home! And he was! And once again the cheers echoed round Silverstone. Our boy has done it!
I feel a mention should go to Alonso and McLaren. Alonso plugged away all race, he did the absolute best he could with that car, and the car sounded bad. I'm not technical so excuse my explanation here. When the cars enter the braking zone, all cars this is, they make a sort of high pitched whirring sound, I guess they're harvesting energy. Then as they get on the gas, the sound changes as they accelerate. It was this part where the Honda engine sounded rough, deeper and more ragged than the others. It's early days for Honda, let's hope they get it sorted!
And so another Silverstone draws to a close. A perfect weekend. We decide to forego the after party this year and head back home for a shower and a proper bed! But throngs were heading to the stage to spend a few more hours, to listen to music and see the drivers.
All that's left to do now is book next years tickets....which Ive done. There are some bargains to be had, so Gedinthere!
Silverstone is a sleepy little village in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside, with mellow bricked cottages and a village pub, oh and an old disused wartime airfield. And it's this old airfield that is responsible for Silverstone's transformation from sleepy village into a three day festival for motor racing enthusiasts in early July. Tens of thousands of fans descend on this village for the British Grand Prix. In the case of this year, it was in fact one hundred and forty thousand fans, a sellout, the largest attendance in over twenty years. That crowd beats Wimbledon, The Grand National and the FA cup final. And they say F1 is broken? Try telling that to those one hundred and forty thousand fans!
Silverstone, the name spells magic. Seven of the ten F1 teams are based in a small area around Silverstone, it is the heart and soul of motor racing. And whilst the facilities have been excellently upgraded it retains its aura of history, retains its memories, retains its passion, remains special. If Bernie Ecclestone is worried about declining interest in the sport he should look to Silverstone and stop littering the calendar with state of the art soulless venues...and also get F1 back on free to view television.
I must add a word here about the facilities provided for the fans by Silverstone. It is clear that families are well catered for, there were a lot of families and young children in attendance, also disabled spectators. The latter have their own viewing terraces with wheelchair access. The array of food on offer is staggering. Other F1 venues I've been to can't touch it. The food venders products range from whole animals spread eagled on a BBQ grill, through stone baked pizza's, Thai food, Mexican food, fish and chips, the usual burgers, pastries, pancakes, champagne and oysters, the list goes on and on. And the prices for these delights are not prohibitive. Though one tip, bottles of water are expensive (£2 or more for a small one) so it's worth taking those with you. There are the usual merchandising stalls and an array of games and entertainments on offer. Well done Silverstone!!
And so to the weekend of racing.
I watched P1 from the front of National Pit Straight, I didn't have time to get any further round the track. I managed to get one of my flags taped to the front of the stand, and the sun was shining! One gets a different perspective on things when actually at the track. You don't get to hear all the analysis, all the whys and wherefores, but you see and feel things more; as a Lewis fan, that was a slightly worrying session!! But hey, it's only first practise!
P2 and I'd walked round to the International Pit Straight. Now I have to say that this is not my favourite viewing place and I'd never chose to watch the race from here. I find it too enclosed and slightly oppressive. But I was at the top of the grandstand and overlooking Lewis' garage, so that was compensation enough!
I saw quite a lot of Lewis because he was in the garage more than he was on the track! Well that's what it felt like to me. Those worries again. Why is he in? Can't he find a set up? Why is Rosberg faster? A note to prospective attendees, if you chose a covered grandstand , even when the outside temperature is in the mid to high twenties, you can freeze! This is Silverstone!
Back to the campsite for a gourmet BBQ with bubbly and a bit of a sunbathe.
Up early next day to choose the spot for Qualifying and erect the flagpole. Nikki, my GP companion, tries to pretend she's not with me during the flag erection. For quali we chose Farm, just the next grandstand along from our race seat in Village A. This area is a great viewing spot. From Farm we could see the first corner, the pit exit and the loop. So flag up, we settled down for the day. Clothes were on and off as the sun traded places with cloud and wind. I really thought the flagpole would break and hoped it wouldn't spear anyone if it took off! But it survived!
And yes! It seems Lewis and his team did some serious homework overnight. He's at the top! Time to trudge back to the campsite for an open air shower, another BBQ and a spot more sunbathing. For spectators staying longer at the track, the drivers were on stage followed by musical entertainment into the evening.
Attending three days at the GP is exhausting! Up next morning and pack away tents.....it's going to rain later! Set off for the track and the next flagpole erection. If any one has taken my flagpole spot I am ready to do battle! During this operation, having opened out the pole to its full length, but not yet attached the flags, I manage to loose hold of it and it goes shooting down the steps from the top of the grandstand to the bottom. Nikki is mortified! Luckily it avoids people and I go sheepishly to retrieve it. As I busy myself attaching the fags I notice the lady sitting next to me, she is rather a large lady, but horror of horrors, she's a Rosberg fan!!! Well not so much a Rosberg fan, it was more she'd "gone off " Lewis. "We're not Hamilton fans", she said eying the flags. She used to like him but now, " he wears that chain and blah, blah, blah". So every time Hamilton came round I was screaming my head off, and she was politely clapping Rosberg and the two Williams cars. To be fair, she was a very nice lady and a true F1 fan who'd been coming for years.
The large spectator drama did not finish there. We see two very large men approaching the back of the stands and Nikki and I exchange knowing looks. The knowing look is a slightly widened eye and look straight at each other, rest of the face expressionless, we know what it means!!! And sure enough the two guys are next to Nikki!! Well one of them is, the other one couldn't fit in and spent the whole race sitting in the aisle on his camera box. Once again to be fair, the guys were very friendly as are all the fans we meet at Silverstone.......but we did feel a little hemmed in.
With seating and flag dramas over we were treated to a display from a Typhoon jet! How amazing was that!!! And how loud! It was incredible. And now the race is about to start. I can't watch the start of races and generally I hide! But I paid nearly £300 for this ticket so I am not going to hide!! Lights out! I'm in a panic and Ive forgotten which side is Lewis!! It's ok, he's ahead of Rosberg! But two Williams' are past! NOOOOO! But not too bad, he's still ahead of Rosberg. My eyes are glued to the screen, Lewis has taken Bottas! Good lad! Suddenly there's a commotion in front of me and two Lotus' are in the air and two McLaren's in a tangle. I'd vowed to put away my camera during the race and concentrate on the action, but out comes the camera.
Where to look! So much is happening. After the safety car Lewis makes a move on Massa. I knew he would. It's the best time to make places, he almost pulls it off but falls back behind Bottas. Damn! A few laps later and Verstappen is off right in front of our stand! Camera out again!
A few hair raising moments during the VSC when Lewis seemed to slow excessively, I guess he's watching that delta he has to drive to. And then we're racing again. When Lewis comes in for his stop I really can't watch until he's out again, he's ok! And now it's HAMMERTIME. He takes the lead and Silverstone erupts. This is the best bit about the cars being less noisy, you can hear the cheers all round the circuit. Now I can enjoy him pulling out a lead until the end of the race, rain isn't forecast until three pm. But that cloud is looking mighty threatening over to our right, it looks like it's actually raining over there! Spots of rain!! But it's still warm, surely it will dry. More rain! Darkening sky. Brollies up! They say it's raining at Copse, we can see it fast approaching Stowe. People have said it looked a lucky call by Hamilton, that it didn't look that wet, it did if you were in the stands. As he exited the pits on inters we saw it pouring down at Stowe, other cars sliding and we knew he'd made the right call. Now providing it didn't dry out too much he's home! And he was! And once again the cheers echoed round Silverstone. Our boy has done it!
I feel a mention should go to Alonso and McLaren. Alonso plugged away all race, he did the absolute best he could with that car, and the car sounded bad. I'm not technical so excuse my explanation here. When the cars enter the braking zone, all cars this is, they make a sort of high pitched whirring sound, I guess they're harvesting energy. Then as they get on the gas, the sound changes as they accelerate. It was this part where the Honda engine sounded rough, deeper and more ragged than the others. It's early days for Honda, let's hope they get it sorted!
And so another Silverstone draws to a close. A perfect weekend. We decide to forego the after party this year and head back home for a shower and a proper bed! But throngs were heading to the stage to spend a few more hours, to listen to music and see the drivers.
All that's left to do now is book next years tickets....which Ive done. There are some bargains to be had, so Gedinthere!
did well! Very very well
