Race Day

Race Day

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11am, I still haven't left for the track today. It's nasty and raining out, which, while great for racing, will suck for getting to and from the train. ...I've got Eugene on my cellphone, I might need another balcony. . It’s temping just to watch on TV, it’s easier to understand what’s going on and I won’t get wet. I think I'll call about tickets after they start the installation lap. ;-) That's how we do F1 glamour on a budget, Puff style.

Well, I planned on being late for the start…but maybe not this late. The trains just aren’t coming.

Finally they put a new train on the track and everyone rushes over. There is plenty of seating, but they’re not exactly rushing to get moving.

As always happened on this trip it was easy to strike up conversation with interesting people. Students from Brazil, Ireland. Even some NASCAR fans attending the F1 race on their honeymoon. Their idea of fun was cheap vodka in a coke bottle and watching cars run in circles for 5 hours in the blazing heat (at least I could relate to the first part).

The train finally roll in leisurely just after the start. Some other Ferrari gents from the US invited me to join them at table near the Casino, so I decide to venture over there, first. I get turned around, and can’t get where I want to be. I’m wasting time walking….

I bought a poncho, so of course the rain has completely stopped, so this is good. I venture up high where I was for practice to try and get a bearing for what is going on in the race. There is now a security checkpoint where there hadn’t been one before. (No matter, if you are determined to get a good few for free, just walk AROUND the check point near the water. It’s a long walk, but you can head right back to the security checkpoint from the other side. WARNING, as the name implies, the nice view “up high” involves a lot of walking up hill. If you’re not used to moving further than the buffet table, this might not be the plan for you.)

I return to start finish. Security at the door knows me and I’m allowed to pass without a ticket. SWEET! DUH, why didn’t I do this before?

Now I’m set. Sure, I don’t have a balcony and the food/beverages isn’t quite to the level as yesterday, but who care, now I’m even CLOSER to the cars!!! It feels like they are driving straight through one eardrum and out the other. WOW! The atmosphere, believe it or not, is somewhat rowdy. And, as before “everyone is friends in Monaco”. A few drinks later my new best friends are from Holland. A tax lawyer who resembles Flavio Briatore, both in appearance and action, has semi-adopted me as part of his drunken start/finish family. He introduces me to his wife, and then he introduces me to his girlfriend (NO, I AM NOT KIDDING. This guy’s game is tight. haha). He’s just ordered a 575, and his friend has just ordered a 430 Spider (and when I say “just”, I got the feeling it was that very day). The list of cars in the guys stable was as impressive. A slew of Porsches, Mercedes, and Aston Martins, apparently the dude buys a car per month.

The crowds in K are obscuring the view of the bigscreen, so I’m completely lost what’s going on (this happens to me in Montreal too). I ask a few people and realize, nobody knows what lap we’re on, nobody cares… everyone is wasted. Haha. Ok, I can roll with that. Mr. DC needs more of the red vino stuff… or white, who cares.

;-)

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