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

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Giblet
Giblet
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Re: I've been 'SO' close to F1...!

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You EU folk have it good. You dom't have to travel far or wide for a glimpse at some F1 hardware somewhere, not to mention all the races.

I got to see Senna's first #1 Mclaren chassis at the Toronto Auto Show sometime in the early 90's, before his death. A long drawn out story nobody needs to hear involves that camera at the bottom of the pacific ocean, with the roll of film that had 9 or 10 shots the chassis.
Before I do anything I ask myself “Would an idiot do that?” And if the answer is yes, I do not do that thing. - Dwight Schrute

andrew
andrew
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Joined: 16 Feb 2010, 15:08
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland - WhiteBlue Country (not the region)

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

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Giblet wrote:You EU folk have it good. You dom't have to travel far or wide for a glimpse at some F1 hardware somewhere, not to mention all the races.
Or in my case, I don't have to travel far to miss more than a glimpse! :lol:

ESPImperium
ESPImperium
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Joined: 06 Apr 2008, 00:08
Location: Glasgow, Scotland

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

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^^^ Same here. Im only about 300 miles away from the nearest factory and the same for the closest F1 grade track.

Not too far indeed.

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Mr Alcatraz
-27
Joined: 18 May 2008, 15:10
Location: San Diego Ca. USA

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

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I have to come clean and admit I've never attended an F1 race live. I did thoroughly enjoy the 2008 BMW Sauber Pit Lane Park @ the Consumer Electronics Convention in Las Vegas. I had tons of pictures. It was MC'ed by Steve Matchet (who I complimented for his work on Speed TV and introduced myself to him as if he should know me). :lol:
A very young Graham Rahal took an F1.06 out for a little demonstration run (which he may have actually gotten into second gear). At least I can say I heard an F1 V10 lump turn over in anger. :x
I was told by a member of another forum at the time before I went that it was really lame, however I am easily amused, and the only picture I have of the experience available ( although I know I have the rest on someone else’s computer) probably will not surprise anyone on this forum. :wink:

Image

:D
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The Taz
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Muulka
Muulka
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Joined: 13 Mar 2011, 00:04

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

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Just one problem with that- if it was an F1 06, it would have had a V8. And at promotional events they turn the revs way down.
SOrry if I burst your bubble. I just hate wrong information. we pedants will rule the world one day!

Anyway, the closest that I've got to an F1 car was seeing the Red Bull show car being fired up in Belfast. Most people talk about the sound, but what I remember is seeing the shoots of pure blue flame coming from the uncovered exhausts (they had the engine cover off). :shock: :shock: Though the sound wasn't half bad :P
Gave me a headache...

(typical Northern Irishman, eh?)

Just_a_fan
Just_a_fan
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Joined: 31 Jan 2010, 20:37

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

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Giblet wrote:You EU folk have it good. You dom't have to travel far or wide for a glimpse at some F1 hardware somewhere, not to mention all the races.
Indeed. I live about 10-15 minutes drive from Silverstone. If the wind is blowing the right way, I can here the cars on track - that's a slightly odd feeling and evidence of how bloody loud an F1 car is!

I've also been lucky enough to go to the Goodwood Festival of Speed on several occasions. A great way to get close to real race machines. I've got a bit of video of one of Senna's McLarens being driven through the paddock somewhere hereabouts. That was nice. Lot's of other suff around too including several F1 world championship winning cars (including a Schuie Ferrari at one event - some of us got to have a good clamber around it and then the Ferrari guys arrived and put up a tape barrier (most un-Goodwood it has to be said!)).

Goodwood FoS has become much too popular these days though - the crowds are huge (for the size of the event) and it's lost the intimate feel it used to have. The first time I went it was like a club event at a local circuit - now it's like a major car show (which it is really, of course). It's where I spent a happy few minutes wandering around an Aston Martin DBR1. One of the best looking sports racing cars ever IMHO. Beautiful... =P~
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.

Just_a_fan
Just_a_fan
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Re: I've been 'SO' close to F1...!

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Muulka wrote: Anyway, the closest that I've got to an F1 car was seeing the Red Bull show car being fired up in Belfast. Most people talk about the sound, but what I remember is seeing the shoots of pure blue flame coming from the uncovered exhausts (they had the engine cover off). :shock: :shock: Though the sound wasn't half bad :P
Gave me a headache...
I remember standing at the back of the Minardi garage and the car being started. I thought it had started - very noisy and clattery. I realised that was just the starter system when the engine itself fired up! Whilst it was obviously ferociously loud (3L V10 <10ft away and no ear defenders on) what was memorable was that one could feel the engine. There is so much energy that your entire body vibrates in sympathy. Quite amazing.
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.

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Princey
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Joined: 26 May 2011, 18:44
Location: Cheshire, UK

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

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I have found the events such as Goodwood and F1 Displays at the DTM etc to be the best places if anyone ever wants to meet the drivers or get close to the cars etc you can see them start the cars up from a few feet away and also see all the old F1 cars.. we met Lewis at the DTM at Brands and also at Goodwood last year.. If anyone is going to Goodwood this year go to the top of the hill one of the days and wait at the barrier.. We met Lewis, Rosberg, Jackie Stewart etc.. they usually come and say hi to everyone once they get out of the cars.

Some great story's here.. enjoyed reading them..
Don't Kanye me. Or I'll Chris Brown you and Tiger Woods your mother.

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Tozza Mazza
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Joined: 13 Jan 2011, 12:00
Location: UK

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

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I hope I can get to Goodwood again this year. Haven't been for a few years now, but I applied to go for lectures with some people in the motorsport industry with my college, as I'm interested in studying Aerodynamics at University. Hopefully it'll be win/win, as I'll learn more about what I want to do, and have the afternoon to go and meet some of the drivers. It's also on a Friday, which is when the test drivers gun it up the hill!

gridwalker
gridwalker
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Joined: 27 Mar 2009, 12:22
Location: Sheffield, UK

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

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Yeah, Goodwood is an awesome event : the last time I went, I got to hear some amusing stories about Scott Speed whilst sharing a beer and a smoke with his dad in the woods up near the rally loop ;)
"Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine ..."

gridwalker
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Location: Sheffield, UK

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

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Another favourite was being right at the front when many F1 cars ran a demonstration through the centre of London : it was an utterly spectacular setting and the reverb was stunning (even at the low revs required to thread the needle through thousands of fans).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtrYmxfIFHI[/youtube]

I was stood on Oxford Circus for most of the day, but it was worth it :)
Last edited by gridwalker on 09 Jun 2011, 18:23, edited 1 time in total.
"Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine ..."

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Princey
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Joined: 26 May 2011, 18:44
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Re: I've been 'SO' close to F1...!

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gridwalker wrote:Yeah, Goodwood is an awesome event : the last time I went, I got to hear some amusing stories about Scott Speed whilst sharing a beer and a smoke with his dad in the woods up near the rally loop ;)
ahh the rally stage.. walk into the woods clean and come out the other side about an inch thick of dust covering your entire body! that was the only problem last year my little bro had a nice white Mclaren shirt bought for him for his birthday (the day of the event) got it signed by Lewis and then it came out the other side of the woods and it was brown.. can't wash it or the autograph will be gone.. he was pretty pleased with his birthday wishes from his favourite driver though.. I think he will remember his 13th birthday :)
Don't Kanye me. Or I'll Chris Brown you and Tiger Woods your mother.

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Mr Alcatraz
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Joined: 18 May 2008, 15:10
Location: San Diego Ca. USA

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

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Muulka wrote:Just one problem with that- if it was an F1 06, it would have had a V8. And at promotional events they turn the revs way down.
SOrry if I burst your bubble. I just hate wrong information. we pedants will rule the world one day!
Anyway, the closest that I've got to an F1 car was seeing the Red Bull show car being fired up in Belfast. Most people talk about the sound, but what I remember is seeing the shoots of pure blue flame coming from the uncovered exhausts (they had the engine cover off). :shock: :shock: Though the sound wasn't half bad :P
Gave me a headache...

(typical Northern Irishman, eh?)
#-o :lol: you are correct sir. Now you have given me a new goal at least make a race by the end of 2012 so I don't have to admit the best sounding F1 lump I heard at full tilt is a 1.6t :oops: Probably the most surprising thing to me at the event was how they let you expearience the disparity in weight of a BMW road car wheel, and tyre, and it's F1 counterpart. I could easily lift the F1 tyre and wheel up with two fingers.
Those who believe in telekinetics raise my hand

Muulka
Muulka
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Joined: 13 Mar 2011, 00:04

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

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Just_a_fan wrote:
Muulka wrote: Anyway, the closest that I've got to an F1 car was seeing the Red Bull show car being fired up in Belfast. Most people talk about the sound, but what I remember is seeing the shoots of pure blue flame coming from the uncovered exhausts (they had the engine cover off). :shock: :shock: Though the sound wasn't half bad :P
Gave me a headache...
I remember standing at the back of the Minardi garage and the car being started. I thought it had started - very noisy and clattery. I realised that was just the starter system when the engine itself fired up! Whilst it was obviously ferociously loud (3L V10 <10ft away and no ear defenders on) what was memorable was that one could feel the engine. There is so much energy that your entire body vibrates in sympathy. Quite amazing.
My sister didn't believe me when I told her that it wasn't the engine lol. (TBH I thought it was for fuel, but this was before I had ever seen a race lol)

Martin Keene
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Joined: 11 May 2010, 09:02

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

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Top Paddock at Goodwood FoS, a mate marshall's it, so we blagged our way inside the paddock.

I was taking pictures of all sorts of stuff when the F1 batch arrived. I was stood literally 2 metres away from Massa when he gave the 02 V10 Ferrari *everything* to turn it around in the tight paddock.

I couldn't hear anything for the rest of the day...

:D