Post by racechick on Sept 13, 2015 19:06:43 GMT
My first time at Monza, and it didn't disappoint. I only went for race day having watched qualifying on television. I parked in an underground garage near Milan Central station and got an immediate good feeling when I saw a vacant parking space numbered 44. This had to be MY space and a good omen! ( see picture1) .
The train ticket from Milan to Monza was 4 euros return and left every half hour. The journey was less that half an hour and arrived right by the track gates at the north of the track. It's worth mentioning here the nature of the Monza track. It's very different to what I expected. It's set in a National Park. I knew that. But I expected a fenced perimeter within the National Park close to the track , much as the Silverstone perimeter fence is fairly close to the track. This wasn't the case. The track actually runs through and around the National Park itself. It's quite disorientating. One can hear the cars, glimpse the track but are surrounded by beautiful forest. A race track on one side, a forest on the other. And people were sleeping in the forest. There were tents and sleeping bags. Whether they'd arrived very early or stayed there all night I don't know. Also people were fetching logs from the woods to make their own viewing stands. Very ingenious! ( see picture 2).
Suddenly, unexpectedly, in the woods we stumbled across all the team trucks, hiding in the trees. ( see picture 3)
To add to the orientation confusion, there is not only the actual race track, but also the old banked track and other disused tracks. It is very easy to get lost. I did. I somehow ended up under the old banking (see picture 4) .
All this time we were under the impression that we were on the outside of the track, but after asking several marshals and policemen where we were ( they weren't all too sure either) it became apparent that we were on the inside of the track. So we had to head down to the central area, go under an underpass and then head back up on the outside of the track to stand 8, Variante, first corner!! During this little diversion we got another view of the banking. It really was VERY banked! ( see picture5)
The feeling in Monza is not as overwhelmingly crowded as I thought it might be, because the outer perimeter is so big there's lots of space for everyone and the 160,000 people don't seem that many. At Silverstone, with its close perimeter fence, it always feels very full and very crowded.
And so I arrive in my stand. It's a MASSIVE stand! And the view is great! With a big screen right opposite. I'm glad I chose this place. ( see pic 6 ) I arrive during the FP3 race and the stand is probably less than half full. It will gradually fill over the next few hours until it is at capacity.
The GP2 race was excellent. Lots of thrills and spills. Watching the top three was great! Mitch getting past Vandorne and taking the win was exciting. I like Mitch. I kind of have a soft spot for him since his team helped my sister and I find our way to the track last season at Hokenheim.
The weather which was predicted earlier in the week to be possibly stormy was beautiful. A clear blue sky and the sun getting hotter and hotter, sunbathey hot, sun cream applying hot, lovely!! The layers of clothes came off one by one and the grandstand filled ( see picture 7&8) . The Tifosi were out in force, in wigs, in costumes, waving flags and chanting. ( see picture 9). But I wasn't letting them have it all their way! My flag was waved and Lewis' name chanted in response. And there were quite a few other Lewis fans in evidence.
We were treated to an air display by the equivalent of our Red Arrows, and then the wait for the start. The scary part!!
The cars came round for the warm up lap ( see picture 10)
And then it was the start. Eyes on screen. Will Lewis stay ahead? So focused on him I missed what happened to the Ferrari and which Ferrari it was. Then switch eyes to the track as they approach the first corner. Such a strong braking area, lots of cars off here in previous races, and a Ferrari is close. It's ok, Lewis is still ahead. Eyes back to screen, will he stay ahead? Yes! And from then on the lead got bigger and bigger and bigger. The only remaining scary part for me was the pit stop and whether that would go ok. It did. I cheered him on lap after lap. I had one of those horns but it went wrong. When I pressed it, it started off ok then it began to sound like a cow being strangled and it wouldn't stop, even when I took my finger off the button. And it began to hiss and cold liquid came out if it. I'm sure it must have dripped on other people. So I threw it on the floor.
I found myself joining with the Tifosi cheering Kimi along as he tried to regain places. He had a lot of support at the track from the Tifosi and also from Finnish supporters. There was no way he was going to get anywhere near Lewis, so cheering him on was fine.
And Lewis duly won. I was ecstatic!
Happily I knew nothing of the radio messages to pull a gap, nothing of the tyre pressure fiasco, nothing of the stewards enquiry, until I got home that night and it was all resolved.
I left the track as soon as the race was over to ensure a place on one of the earlier trains. So I missed the podium ceremony. I heard later that there had been some booing of Lewis by the Tifosi who would have preferred a red dressed racing driver on the top step. But I didn't hear any booing. When Lewis won the fans in my stand were clapping and taking photos as were the Italian marshals. ( see picture 11)
But talking of booing. There was one point when the whole of Monza booed in unison. Never have I heard such booing! It was when Bernie Ecclestone's picture appeared on the TV screens. I presume he was talking about Monza losing the GP. Monza is fantastic and if the GP is lost it will be a travesty!
Pictures to follow in next few posts.
