- 05 Jul 09, 22:46#130916
Just got back. My god.
Basically there's much to tell, so i'll just keep typing and editing as i go. Bear with me here.
My mate Az turns up on my door at about 6pm Friday evening, and just randomly asks if i want to go along. His dad Serj is pretty well connected (and very loaded...) so he'd already gotten tickets. Az happens to be insured on his Ferrari 456 (arsey
) and we got to drive down in that. Best 4 hours of motorway driving ever! We get to the hotel pretty late, cane a couple of beers and go to sleep. Next day, wake up to find out Az's dad had brought his drophead Rolls Royce along 
pile in and go down to the festival! Already a dream weekend...
It's awesome at the festival itself, there are basically several 'paddocks' ie Modern Supercars, F1, Classic Sportscars, etc etc, and you can just wonder around most cars and get a really close up look! Some were unfortunately sectioned off (modern F1 cars, some of the prototypes and supercars), but that's to be expected i guess.
We look around all that stuff then go for a wander around... a sneaky trip through a few trees and under a fence later and we got down to this "secret area" the starting area where all the marshalls were and no other fans were, and saw loads of cars at the width of a hay bale in this warm up strip where they light up the tyres and such before the start line. Timo Glock came past in his '08 F1 car and hit the power (hard) literally a metre or two from us, i thought my eardrums were going to burst but it was the most incredible sound i've ever heard, no exaggeration.
Saw a tonne of other stuff down there too, i never knew how bloody cool NASCARs really were until i heard them revving up close... Randomly met Takuma Sato on saturday too, he was driving this old Can-am car and i just said hello and shook his hand before he jumped in. The cars have to drive from the paddock to the track, and this old Tyrrell drove past just on the other side of the railing with a familiar looking helmet at the wheel - it was Jackie Stewart who gave us a thumbs up back when we realised it was him, i thought it was a nice gesture.
Today though, met a few people after blagging a pass to the driver's lounge thingy (off my mate's dad who also owns a Veyron that was on display, he got to drive it up - rich git!
) Got a picture with Nakajima and later Timo Glock - who is actually really sound (although that was back down in that "secret area" we snuck into, also saw Hamilton down there but there were loads of people around him, even in the bits where fans aren't really supposed to be!). Eddie Irvine was just sat in the VIP bit by himself watching the tv 
but he was happy to have a chat for 5 minutes - he seemed like a strange guy in some ways speaking to him, but he was pretty nice all the same. Saw a few other guys pretty close too but didn't get to speak to them, Damon Hill, Wurz, McNish, Loeb, Chris Evans (haha), Jay Leno, blah blah blah. We were leaving through the car park and this randomer shouts 'i like your car!', and it was bloody Jay Kay sat next to his awesome 360 Scud!
Anyway, enough about celebrities, it was all about the cars, more on them when i have the photos to accompany the comments. Got LOADS of pics to sort, should get them up as soon as i can.
I'm badly sunburnt and absolutely shattered, but it was so, so worth it!!
Okay, PICTURES.
In the 'secret area' down near the startline - these are some of my favourites cause we were so close!
Hamilton in his MP4/23
Mark Webber about to thrash his RB4 off the line
DLR in the McLaren. Stop, thief!
Marc Gene- F2008. This was just before he floored it and lit up the tyres, what a sound
Not sure who this was. Think it's a Ferrari F300 from 1998. V10 sounds!
Hamilton's McLaren parked up. He was about 2 feet away but didn't try to meet him cause he was already getting mobbed.
RB2 (2006) repainted in this year's livery. Don't know who was driving, but it wasn't one of the current RB/STR drivers.
Pics from the F1 paddock
Brawn BGP 001. I asked the engineer "Has this chassis raced?" and he simply replied "It's won 6 races and is off to Germany next week."
McLaren MP4/4 minus bodywork. I guess they were trying to fix the gearbox problem that ultimately stopped Hamilton driving it.
Villeneuve's Ferrari 312T3. Behind is a 1984 Ferrari 126C (Alboreto)
1985 Lotus of Senna, minus bodywork.
Renault V6 turbo in the Lotus
Benetton B192, one of my personal favourite liveries
Benetton B193
Leyton House-Judd. Not sure what year, but it set one of the fastest times up the hill.
One of the worst F1 cars ever...
Another shot of Gilles' Ferrari
Ferrari F2008. All the aero bits look indescribably cooler in the flesh...
F2008 again.
Red Bull RB4
Williams FW18,16 and 15C
I reckon this is a repainted MP4/21, they were using it for some pitstop challenge
Williams FW30... i think?
JPS Lotus 79 being wheeled past, i got a great look at the underside of it - quite strange!
Toyota TF108. Their stand was much quieter than the others!
Williams FW11
RB4 again
Le Mans Racers
Rothmans Porsche 962
Gulf Porsche 917
Audi R15
R15 Rear
R15 again - incredible bodywork detail
Sauber Merc, C9 i think - not sure. Bentley Speed 8 just behind it.
McLaren F1 nearside is the Le Mans winning BMW V12 LMR
Gulf DBR9 driving past
Porsche 911 GT1
AMR Gulf LMP1 Aston - finished 4th at Le Mans. I misjudged this picture as the car was being pushed right toward me.
Peugeot 908 that won at Le Mans this year
908 again. Shame the engine was covered but it's understandable with all the Audi guys around!
GT2 Ferrari 430, i think it had broken down
Jag XJR9 and XJR12
XJR9 again. This car had set the fastest time up the hill when we left (just before the shootout)
Crazy rear end of the 911 GT1, i don't think this pic quite does it justice though
Supercars
F40 - there were several white Ferrari's parked up on Sunday, all owned by Chris Evans. This F40 apparently blew up later in the day.
The monster 7.3 AMG Merc V12 in the back of the Zonda R. This thing was bloody loud!
Back end of the Zonda, what a stunning car
McMerc SLR 722
Another McMerc, the Stirling Moss edition. Awesome in the flesh
Merc SL65 Black Edition
Serj's Veyron Sang Noir. A Grand Sport was parked next to it but i didn't get a pic for some reason
BUG I, the Sang Noir numberplate - i have been in BUG II which is 'just' a standard Veyron
The inside of this mental Citroen concept car. Don't have any pics of the outside but GT5 players would know the car
Koningsegg CCXR
Zonda R again, god i love this car
Lambo LP670 SV, i think this is the one that was on Top Gear. Sounds brilliant!
Saw several drivers and celebs but these are the only ones i got pics of -
Sato, just before i got the chance to say a quick hello
Wurz
Jay Leno randomly walking down the side of the track
Random Japanese motorcycle driver, i think he races in WSB or Moto GP though, anyone know who he is?
Misc other pictures...
More coming soon...
Basically there's much to tell, so i'll just keep typing and editing as i go. Bear with me here.
My mate Az turns up on my door at about 6pm Friday evening, and just randomly asks if i want to go along. His dad Serj is pretty well connected (and very loaded...) so he'd already gotten tickets. Az happens to be insured on his Ferrari 456 (arsey
) and we got to drive down in that. Best 4 hours of motorway driving ever! We get to the hotel pretty late, cane a couple of beers and go to sleep. Next day, wake up to find out Az's dad had brought his drophead Rolls Royce along pile in and go down to the festival! Already a dream weekend...It's awesome at the festival itself, there are basically several 'paddocks' ie Modern Supercars, F1, Classic Sportscars, etc etc, and you can just wonder around most cars and get a really close up look! Some were unfortunately sectioned off (modern F1 cars, some of the prototypes and supercars), but that's to be expected i guess.
We look around all that stuff then go for a wander around... a sneaky trip through a few trees and under a fence later and we got down to this "secret area" the starting area where all the marshalls were and no other fans were, and saw loads of cars at the width of a hay bale in this warm up strip where they light up the tyres and such before the start line. Timo Glock came past in his '08 F1 car and hit the power (hard) literally a metre or two from us, i thought my eardrums were going to burst but it was the most incredible sound i've ever heard, no exaggeration.
Saw a tonne of other stuff down there too, i never knew how bloody cool NASCARs really were until i heard them revving up close... Randomly met Takuma Sato on saturday too, he was driving this old Can-am car and i just said hello and shook his hand before he jumped in. The cars have to drive from the paddock to the track, and this old Tyrrell drove past just on the other side of the railing with a familiar looking helmet at the wheel - it was Jackie Stewart who gave us a thumbs up back when we realised it was him, i thought it was a nice gesture.Today though, met a few people after blagging a pass to the driver's lounge thingy (off my mate's dad who also owns a Veyron that was on display, he got to drive it up - rich git!
) Got a picture with Nakajima and later Timo Glock - who is actually really sound (although that was back down in that "secret area" we snuck into, also saw Hamilton down there but there were loads of people around him, even in the bits where fans aren't really supposed to be!). Eddie Irvine was just sat in the VIP bit by himself watching the tv but he was happy to have a chat for 5 minutes - he seemed like a strange guy in some ways speaking to him, but he was pretty nice all the same. Saw a few other guys pretty close too but didn't get to speak to them, Damon Hill, Wurz, McNish, Loeb, Chris Evans (haha), Jay Leno, blah blah blah. We were leaving through the car park and this randomer shouts 'i like your car!', and it was bloody Jay Kay sat next to his awesome 360 Scud!Anyway, enough about celebrities, it was all about the cars, more on them when i have the photos to accompany the comments. Got LOADS of pics to sort, should get them up as soon as i can.
I'm badly sunburnt and absolutely shattered, but it was so, so worth it!!
Okay, PICTURES.
In the 'secret area' down near the startline - these are some of my favourites cause we were so close!
Hamilton in his MP4/23
Mark Webber about to thrash his RB4 off the line
DLR in the McLaren. Stop, thief!
Marc Gene- F2008. This was just before he floored it and lit up the tyres, what a sound
Not sure who this was. Think it's a Ferrari F300 from 1998. V10 sounds!
Hamilton's McLaren parked up. He was about 2 feet away but didn't try to meet him cause he was already getting mobbed.
RB2 (2006) repainted in this year's livery. Don't know who was driving, but it wasn't one of the current RB/STR drivers.
Pics from the F1 paddock
Brawn BGP 001. I asked the engineer "Has this chassis raced?" and he simply replied "It's won 6 races and is off to Germany next week."
McLaren MP4/4 minus bodywork. I guess they were trying to fix the gearbox problem that ultimately stopped Hamilton driving it.
Villeneuve's Ferrari 312T3. Behind is a 1984 Ferrari 126C (Alboreto)
1985 Lotus of Senna, minus bodywork.
Renault V6 turbo in the Lotus
Benetton B192, one of my personal favourite liveries
Benetton B193
Leyton House-Judd. Not sure what year, but it set one of the fastest times up the hill.
One of the worst F1 cars ever...
Another shot of Gilles' Ferrari
Ferrari F2008. All the aero bits look indescribably cooler in the flesh...
F2008 again.
Red Bull RB4
Williams FW18,16 and 15C
I reckon this is a repainted MP4/21, they were using it for some pitstop challenge
Williams FW30... i think?
JPS Lotus 79 being wheeled past, i got a great look at the underside of it - quite strange!
Toyota TF108. Their stand was much quieter than the others!
Williams FW11
RB4 again
Le Mans Racers
Rothmans Porsche 962
Gulf Porsche 917
Audi R15
R15 Rear
R15 again - incredible bodywork detail
Sauber Merc, C9 i think - not sure. Bentley Speed 8 just behind it.
McLaren F1
nearside is the Le Mans winning BMW V12 LMRGulf DBR9 driving past
Porsche 911 GT1
AMR Gulf LMP1 Aston - finished 4th at Le Mans. I misjudged this picture as the car was being pushed right toward me.
Peugeot 908 that won at Le Mans this year
908 again. Shame the engine was covered but it's understandable with all the Audi guys around!
GT2 Ferrari 430, i think it had broken down
Jag XJR9 and XJR12
XJR9 again. This car had set the fastest time up the hill when we left (just before the shootout)
Crazy rear end of the 911 GT1, i don't think this pic quite does it justice though
Supercars
F40 - there were several white Ferrari's parked up on Sunday, all owned by Chris Evans. This F40 apparently blew up later in the day.
The monster 7.3 AMG Merc V12 in the back of the Zonda R. This thing was bloody loud!
Back end of the Zonda, what a stunning car
McMerc SLR 722
Another McMerc, the Stirling Moss edition. Awesome in the flesh
Merc SL65 Black Edition
Serj's Veyron Sang Noir. A Grand Sport was parked next to it but i didn't get a pic for some reason
BUG I, the Sang Noir numberplate - i have been in BUG II which is 'just' a standard Veyron
The inside of this mental Citroen concept car. Don't have any pics of the outside but GT5 players would know the car
Koningsegg CCXR
Zonda R again, god i love this car
Lambo LP670 SV, i think this is the one that was on Top Gear. Sounds brilliant!
Saw several drivers and celebs but these are the only ones i got pics of -
Sato, just before i got the chance to say a quick hello
Wurz
Jay Leno randomly walking down the side of the track
Random Japanese motorcycle driver, i think he races in WSB or Moto GP though, anyone know who he is?
Misc other pictures...
More coming soon...
Rising number one of Formula 1, Juan - Juan, one wonders should Juan only win one Formula 1 one year, would Juan have won that one in round one, Juan??
- By darwin dali
