Well this is me back in my flat, having spent the weekend at silverstone. I will post a link to all my photos later, once I've vetted them for the photos where the camera decided to focus on the catch fence
Friday is the THE BEST day to attend. No crowds, full access (except granstands that make you further away from the action than the cheap seats), and the cars and drivers are really being tested. Didn't get down in time to see the F1 boys do thier stuff but arrived as the GP2s were warming up. As we were walking from Club to Abbey the first car went by and it was just fantastic the energy involved in even a GP2 car is incredible. We wanderd up the hill to Bridge and took a few shots before hedding further round to the complex for a few slo-mo close up shots, that haven't come out
Then we headed for the F1 Village, took photos of the cars on display etc usuall stuff, sadly never got a chance to return to the Red Bull place to pick up a copy of thier newsletter but nevermind. The BMW Sauber Experience is great dispite what Tristan says. You will not get closer to an actuall F1 car and the energy when he moves from one end to the other and revs the engine is something to behold. The other niceities like the chance to try your hand at the pit stop challenge, the information and starting proceedure test (I got a reaction time of .174 to JVs .047) are less frustrating than the simulator (I came second, once you get to copse and realise that all you have to do is follow the driver aids there is little else to do). Thier cake and coffee was good and Andy is a great driver and very entertaining to watch in the Touring Car. The demonstration they give with the F3 car was more amusing as they were unable to get the clutch to bite properly so, on the attempts I saw, he moved quite a bit slower than he should have, much to the mirth of the crowd. Then we headed off to the becketts esses and the Porche guys were very loose all through that section, they sound great and move around MUCH more than the single seaters.
Sat:
Arrived early, set up on the exit of Club with a view from the exit of Stowe down through Vale and up to Abbey. The GP2 race was great, as was the Porche Supercup, the F1 guys were amusing (Kimi getting distracted by the Helicopter Display team as they flew over as he entered Vale). Sadly there was very little 'action' and even JPM, recognised as a oversteer master seemed to be keeping it neat and tidy on the wide exit of club making for some very boring viewing. The action into Vale looked good most of the time which sort of compensates. Moved round Becketts again for the Historics, I figured with little areo and lots of power there would be a lot of action but they were mostly sensible and got through most times unscathed. The sound of the historics is better than anything all weekend long, the volume of the F1 and GP2 are easily more but the growl from the late 60's and early 70's are just unmatchable. The helicopter display team were awesome. Football? Was there football on? Oh yes, you simply could not move for folk wanting to watch the football. On the exit of copse we saw that people had turned thier back on the GP2 race to look at the screen behind them!?! What the hell were they thinking?!?
Sunday:
Wind had changed and it was lots busier than Sat even though we arrived an hour earlier. The wind was now blowing from Club up to Stowe with the net result of the embankment sheltering us from the breeze that kept temperatures in check on Saturday and that the cars were now braking into Vale and into a head wind rather than with a tale wind so less chance of a lockup
Anyway we got a decent spot further down the embankment than Sat (dissapointing as on Sat we could see over the catch fence, now all my shots would be through the catch fence). They changed the schedule, now the porche supercup would be on before 9, which was good because having been ther since 7 I was getting a little bored. The Porche Race was as interesting as the F1, the lead man never looked challenged and we saw no action our end of the circuit. The GP2 race was fantastic, a stunning drive from the Brits, Lewis Hamilton and Adam Carroll. (#SPOILER# Lewis, outside, Becketts, 3 cars, stunning #END SPOILER#). Then the driver parade was good, nice chance to get a shot of the drivers up close (they came really close to the exit of Club so my Mum got a few photos of her star, DC). Race was boring save for the 'experience' and I found it very difficult to find out who was doing what, also, if you DO go to a GP make sure you can positively idetify all the drivers from the side of thier helmet, some of them look VERY alike in the heat of a midday sun. Then to finish was the historics, by then most folk had left already which I though was odd as the historics are great and again I enjoyed them 'racing' more than the F1 cars. We stayed at Club to watch the historics this time and watched one burst into flames as it exited Vale, the driver parked up then jumped out, can't say I blame him.
All in, a very good weekend. Not convinced grandstand tickets are worthwhile, very sure that if I go again I won't actually watch the race but instead use that time to go see the F1 Village and maybe watch the race from inside an air-con hospitaity cafe. Very sure I want to see F1 again but on a different circuit, Monaco still appeals but Sepang, Suzuka and Spa are the top 3. If you do go next year, make sure you are circuit side no later than 7:30am if you don't have a grandstand ticket as all the best slots were taken by 7 and the rest were filling up rapidly. Definately stay till the end of the support races as when we left the traffic only took us and hour to get through. Definately park in the main car parks if you can, due to the traffic management you'll get out sooooo much sooner than anyone else. Go to the BMW Sauber Experience and get the earplugs, you WILL damage your ears otherwise, just don't use them on Friday.
