I've always had a love of the Grand Prix. I have happy memories of watching it with Dad, especially in the Damon Hill era. I have since had a love hate relationship with this sport for the last 10 years, sometimes loving it, sometimes ignoring it through bordom (Oh, another Ferrari 1-2!), but I have always wanted to go to a Grand Prix.
Albert Park from the sky.....
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With the sport getting a little bit more interesting and to my surprise two weeks ago, a portacabin was erected in Federation Square to sell tickets to the Melbourne Grand Prix. I was in Melbourne at the same time as the circus, purly by chance! After asking around if anybody fancied going I was turned down by all, and pretty much gave up hope of going.
However it had stayed in the back of my mind, and on race morning I was around, free and Kate wanted to spend the day with her mum and i decided to go. it's worth pointing out the discust shown in the Grand Prix by most of Kate's family. I felt it my duty to redress the balance of a perfect Son-in-law! As Kate said to me before I left "Everone has their dark side".
There had been lots of talk in the papers the week preceeding about Melbourne losing the GP after 2010, So I figured this might be my only chance to see it in such a great place.
So I went, It was hot, (very hot!), Loud, (Very loud), and fast (You get the picture). but I had a good look round in the three hours I have before race start for a good place to stand. I ended up on corner 2 (With a view of Corner 1), and a view of a TV screen. I also had a radio carrying commentary so i was set.
The biggest battle of the day was staying cool. I was in 37 degree heat, on a hill in the open, unprotected from the harsh Australian sun for 4-5 hours. In acordance with the regular notices, I must have drunk about 6-8 liters of water that day and applied sun cream every half hour!
I also came up with novel ideas of washing my head under a cool tap, soaking my hat as well, putting ice inside and also soaking my towel (To keep the sun off) so I could drape the cool wet side around my neck!
The pre race entertainment was good, if not "the usual" of Flying displays (Helicopters, light Planes and RAAF F-18 jets) with a Flypast from a Quantas Jet, all very impressive if not quite blokey!
Then the real toys, and the main reason for coming. So many people say you must come to a GP to hear the cars. They are amazing, so very loud and so very impressive.
The race itself was one of the most entertaining GP's i have seen and great to see Lewis H win. I even made it onto the track and to the podium in time to see the Champagne sprayed.
All in all a good day, I was shattered at the end. Would I do it again? Probably not, I've done it, ticked it off, but I thorougly enjoyed it.
Albert Park from the sky.....
View Larger Map
With the sport getting a little bit more interesting and to my surprise two weeks ago, a portacabin was erected in Federation Square to sell tickets to the Melbourne Grand Prix. I was in Melbourne at the same time as the circus, purly by chance! After asking around if anybody fancied going I was turned down by all, and pretty much gave up hope of going.
However it had stayed in the back of my mind, and on race morning I was around, free and Kate wanted to spend the day with her mum and i decided to go. it's worth pointing out the discust shown in the Grand Prix by most of Kate's family. I felt it my duty to redress the balance of a perfect Son-in-law! As Kate said to me before I left "Everone has their dark side".
There had been lots of talk in the papers the week preceeding about Melbourne losing the GP after 2010, So I figured this might be my only chance to see it in such a great place.So I went, It was hot, (very hot!), Loud, (Very loud), and fast (You get the picture). but I had a good look round in the three hours I have before race start for a good place to stand. I ended up on corner 2 (With a view of Corner 1), and a view of a TV screen. I also had a radio carrying commentary so i was set.
The biggest battle of the day was staying cool. I was in 37 degree heat, on a hill in the open, unprotected from the harsh Australian sun for 4-5 hours. In acordance with the regular notices, I must have drunk about 6-8 liters of water that day and applied sun cream every half hour!
I also came up with novel ideas of washing my head under a cool tap, soaking my hat as well, putting ice inside and also soaking my towel (To keep the sun off) so I could drape the cool wet side around my neck!The pre race entertainment was good, if not "the usual" of Flying displays (Helicopters, light Planes and RAAF F-18 jets) with a Flypast from a Quantas Jet, all very impressive if not quite blokey!
Then the real toys, and the main reason for coming. So many people say you must come to a GP to hear the cars. They are amazing, so very loud and so very impressive.
The race itself was one of the most entertaining GP's i have seen and great to see Lewis H win. I even made it onto the track and to the podium in time to see the Champagne sprayed.All in all a good day, I was shattered at the end. Would I do it again? Probably not, I've done it, ticked it off, but I thorougly enjoyed it.
Lewis' winning car in "Parc fermé".
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