I've been 'SO' close to F1...!

[red748]

How close have you ever been to F1?

Do you have a unique racing experience that's
influenced your love of the sport
and is a highlight in your life?

Mine is.....

After Saturday qualifying, Monza, 2008,
I'm in the Redbull pit and handling the
actual wheel that's fitted to DC's motor.

The full story is at....
including actual photo's.

http://www.freewebs.com/monza2008/

(go to Page 3 for a shortcut)

[Jeffsvilleusa]

Awesome story- what a treat for you, complete with highs and lows!

The closest I ever came were on the Thursday pitwalks for the 07 USGP and 08 Canadian GP- particularly at Canada, during the pitwalk at first Sebastian Bourdais came out and signed a few autographs, but as I passed the McLaren pit with my Dad, Hamilton came out and I got an autograph- still a treasured possession (unfortunately, not his greatest race, but from a good year of his!). But maybe the coolest point was when I was hanging out by the Honda pit, I saw Ross Brawn, and I was like, "That's Ross Brawn," and then he walked towards me, and opened the partition to walk out, I looked up, and seriously, he's like 8 feet tall! I didn't say anything, I was a little starstruck, but it was cool!

The one thing that struck me seeing the cars in person was that they are a bit smaller than they appear in photos and on TV, at least to me. You know how they say TV adds 15 pounds- I think it's the case in F1 too. Also, I saw how delicate the cars are- you see the mechanics carrying around big pieces of bodywork like they weigh 10 pounds, and it shows how fragile they are, although I guess carbon fiber is actually super-strong.

So that was my experience- not the greatest perhaps, but still exciting for me. I'm sure lots of you have even better ones, and perhaps volumes of stories to pick from- so let's hear 'em!

[Anth]

Finding out that I'm the same size as Kimi!



Same shaped arse too I was a perfect fit in the car

All thanks to a freind who used to work for mclaren, he was a pit mechanic who sadly died in a car accident a few years ago
Great bloke and a reall character at mclaren!
It was 'only' the T car, but he would have been sacked on the spot if big Ron had found out!

[Anth]

A few more pictures

[HampusA]

Closest i´ve been was 1m from Alonsos V10 powered 2005 Renault starting up and revving.

I thought for a second i went to heaven..
Youtube or TV shows around 1% of the actual sound of these cars.

[MrBlacky]

I was visiting the Toyota Motorsport Factory in Cologne where I could see the TF110 which never saw a race track and - of course - I was allowed to play around with the steering wheel (but that was one from the TF109 afaik).


But great story though, dude.

[Ciro Pabón]

I went to pits at Jarama in 1965 or 66. I don't remember well, because I was 7 years old or something like that. I stand there, right besides the cars, astounded by the sound (I felt it in my guts, like nothing else I've felt before. The cars touched you, inside).

I had a picture of Jim Clark, that my uncle (crazy for bikes, as most spaniards) had gave me. During the race I ran up and down the benches, playing with a british girl, because, frankly, without TV, comments or replays, the thing was kind of boring.

Her mom, a british lady, saw me at the exit, still with Mr. Clark picture clutched in my hand. She asked me if I wanted the picture signed. I said yes, of course. She crossed the tarmac, went into pits, talked with someone, then with Mr. Clark. She came back, after a while. She gave me the picture back, signed. She gave me a kiss in the cheek and left. My uncle swore her eyes were the most beautiful he had seen. Me too.

She is, to me, Formula One.

[Tozza Mazza]

As a seven year old at silverstone 2001, I walked into Bernie. I was obviously paying no attention to the floor. Ciro, that story is incredible, do you still have the photo?

EDIT: My strongest memory of my first GP was the noise, screaming V10's zooming past (I think I was on banking at Abbey corner, but I can't remember). It was a beautiful summers day, and the amazing roar, as Mclaren and my favourite driver at the time, Mika Hakkinnen won. Ahhhh, childhood

[xpensive]

When I was 14 years old, I hitch-hiked from my parent's place, just above the Arctic circle in Sweden, to see Sweden's first GP at Anderstorp in 1973, some 1200 km trip with Volvo 142s and Renault R16s.

Ronnie was the big name at that time of course, but for some reason, Jacky Ickx was my hero with that xotic flat-12. Now that very season Jacky had to deal with Maranellos worst cotraption ever, the 312B3. Anyway, after the Saturady qualifcations, I hang arond at the track xit, there was only one, until the Ferrari team approached. I was wearing my home painted Jacky Ickx/Ferrari t-shirt and can you belive it, Jacky stepped out and signed it!

I guarded that t-shirt with my life until my mother found it and threw it in the washer, just a shade of blue left of Jacky.

[flynfrog]

ran into the minardi team at a bar next to indy

[Giblet]

ran into the minardi team at a bar next to indy

...then the bartender said "Nope, I haven't heard this one before".

[PhillipM]

All thanks to a freind who used to work for mclaren, he was a pit mechanic who sadly died in a car accident a few years ago

Pete

[red748]

I've enjoyed reading all these personal moments....
thanks for sharing them.

[gridwalker]

Probably my favourite was watching the Renault F1 team play God Save The Queen using the engine note of their championship winning engine, back at the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed

[red748]

Probably my favourite was watching the Renault F1 team play God Save The Queen using the engine note of their championship winning engine, back at the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed

ha haaa
excellent