| Author | Message | ||
| rob guess (Beast)
Member Username: Beast Post Number: 259 Registered: 5-2003 |
Jim; I wish i could join yourself on the pit walk but alas i will not be flying into Indy till 6AM friday morning. I am going to have a chit chat with a few guy from Honda racing tommorow at work so who knows what will happen. I myself would rather rub elbows with Ferrari owners and eat Brats myself. Oh well what can a poor decrepit old fart do. hopefully i do score passes i can get 2 or more (fingers crossed). Rob | ||
| Jim Avery (Boxer12)
Junior Member Username: Boxer12 Post Number: 148 Registered: 6-2003 |
Rob, I just got 4 Pit Walkabout passes for Thurs, Sept 25, where you can stroll the pit lane and watch the F1 teams make final preps before the opening practice session, with camera in hand. Ok, its not Paddock Club, but who wants to rub elbows and eat Patte' with the rich folks anyway? Give me a brat and a beer and I will be happy. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1922 Registered: 10-2002 |
A few camera tips: During the training sessions a good place to hang out is on the pitlane roof where the Paddock stands are: - Go all the way to the left (East corner), you can take pictures of the cars slowing down for the speed trap. You'll be able to get nice overhead shots of the cars. - From the paddock stands you can shoot the cars with the phenomenal grandstands in the back. - When you go to the center of the pitlane building and all the way forward to the edge, you're able to shoot some cars straight from above while they're being pushed backwards into the garage (they're normally too fast coming out). Check it out, it's gonna be awesome! | ||
| Darrell Pardy (Dpardyferrari)
New member Username: Dpardyferrari Post Number: 24 Registered: 8-2002 |
Thanks for the info guys. My passes are compliments of an F1 tour company. (I've done lots of trips with them and I think they over subscribed??). So, not going with any particular team but being a member of the Ferrari Club of America you can imagine what colors I will be wearing. Thanks again for the info - the cameras are packed (35mm and digital) and I would be happy to pass along any great shots I get. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1919 Registered: 10-2002 |
James, not trying to be argumentative, but a few remarks to your comments: - I believe (not totally sure though), that the drivers, or at least Michael has his own cook. The food in the Paddock Club is 5 Star, but I think the drivers have their own diet. - At least in Indy not all Paddock guests are terribly knowledgeable because many got the tickets through corporate sponsoring. And this being the US for many folks this might even be the first time they watch a F1 race. Kinda like me going to a baseball game, I wouldn't know what to look out for. - Darrell didn't mention whose or what package he got. The one I had was clearly with the Williams boys and Ferrari was definitely off limits. Also we had only a very brief encounter with the drivers (Ralf and JPM), maybe a couple of minutes each. One of my favourite past times was actually standing on the passway behind the Paddock stands and look down into the back side of the pitlane. About 15 minutes before the training session started you'll see all the drivers coming out of their motorhomes or whereever they were and walk by. If you want you could bring something to sign along attached to a long rope and dangle that down for them to sign (with a pen attached). | ||
| James Dunne (Audiguy)
Junior Member Username: Audiguy Post Number: 225 Registered: 6-2003 |
Darrell, Those Paddock passes cost roughly $4K-$6k depending on which race you are attending. Wonderful atmoshere, wonderful food.. It is the same that they serve Michael and Rubens. Great enthusiasts to be part of. If someone is not a serious enthusiast, they will not pay the price to be that close. You should get to meet Michael, Rubens, Jean Todt and Russ Brawn as part of the package. Take full advantage of it. Do as Andreas says and enjoy every minute of it. It is the only way to get that close to the action without being a real team member. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1916 Registered: 10-2002 |
Darrell, congratulations first! You're in for a super treat! Expect both: True race fans as well as VIPs being wined and dined. You won't find any 'rednecks' or hooligans. And for the most part not too many folks who know what's up. To me it was even a tad embarrassing, at my table they looked at me as the total F1 insider supafan. Well, I'm certainly enthusiastic about it, but there are lots of people out there who know tons more than I do. But they might not get as lucky as you just did. A few tips: 1) They will have only one trip to the (closed) paddock line per day, so make extra sure you know when that is. That window comes and closes. 2) Find out from your team whether they offer you to do a personal visit to their garage instead. If they do, that is much better than just walking the pitlane. 3) Might sound crazy, but if I ever get the chance again to go to the Paddock club, I'd buy team gear (T-shirt and hats) from each team: You will have access to the tents of all teams. However there are bodyguards at the entrance. If you walk up in the appropriate team clothing, they won't check your credentials. When I was guest of Williams, I wanted to see Niki Lauda over at the Jaguar tent. I got in, but they soon kicked my sorry ass out of there because in my Williams regalia it didn't take them long to figure out I was not part of them 4) Bring lots of film, a working Sharpie and something to collect souvenirs on. Your best bet will be btw if you bump into a driver. When they parade them into your tent, they most likely won't have time for sigs. So catch them on the way to and from the tents. 5) Enjoy this experience of a lifetime! And share it with us here afterwards please. I'm so jealous...The friend who gave me once a pass now receives x-mas gifts from me on a regular basis, partly because I'm still so gratefull and partly as future bribes...Hasn't worked yet so far. | ||
| Darrell Pardy (Dpardyferrari)
New member Username: Dpardyferrari Post Number: 23 Registered: 8-2002 |
I've managed to luck into two Paddock Club passes for the USGP. Anyone ever been there and what should I expect - true race fans or just a bunch of people being wined and dined? | ||
| rob guess (Beast)
Junior Member Username: Beast Post Number: 182 Registered: 5-2003 |
Art; Did you get my e-mail???? Rob | ||
| rob guess (Beast)
Junior Member Username: Beast Post Number: 171 Registered: 5-2003 |
Art; You have mail. Rob | ||
| John Kemmerly (Gman)
New member Username: Gman Post Number: 16 Registered: 7-2003 |
Art You have a PM! Thanks John | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2374 Registered: 6-2001 |
Rob: Drop me an email. [email protected] | ||
| rob guess (Beast)
Junior Member Username: Beast Post Number: 165 Registered: 5-2003 |
Andreas; The connects i have are trying to get myself full access. I am not going to hold my breath. The main reason i hope to get in is so i can do a presentation to my students, about the rigors of being on a race team. If i do get access i will be suprised. I remember when i worked for a newspaper in Albuquerque i could show my employee ID and get in to tracks full access with out paying a dime. And i worked as a machinest on there printing presses. Oh well to the good old days!!! LOL Rob | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1828 Registered: 10-2002 |
Rob, don't overestimate the thing: What is really cool is access to the paddock club as that gives you a chance to see some drivers and team members. The pit lane access in Indy only gets you there when there are no drivers around and the cars inside the garage, so you don't see that much, mostly front wings and noses. Especially in Indy with the opposite Grandstands you can just go on that and use binoculars or a tele lens to lurk into the pits. Not too much difference. One of the niceties of Indy. | ||
| rob guess (Beast)
Junior Member Username: Beast Post Number: 162 Registered: 5-2003 |
I would kill for pit access to the USGP. I have been hitting up all my connections with Honda Racing with yet no luck :-( | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
Junior Member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 231 Registered: 3-2003 |
You might check the official Ferrari website. They were selling paddock passes for Montreal at something like $5400 US. Its funny, we always want what we can't have. I have credentials every year for the US Tennis Open in Flushing Meadow, NY. I can roam anywhere except the ladies locker room. And have full access to a suite that practically is on the net. But do you think I like tennis? Do you think I like being there? Give me a paddock pass to an F1 race anyday. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2369 Registered: 6-2001 |
Gman: I just spoke to a friend of mine. He can probably get pit passes. Drop me an email if you still wish. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2358 Registered: 6-2001 |
Jack: Their going to need a new chassis, and better brakes for starters. I don't think that IRL will run road courses until the CART thing is resolved. I think, but I'm not sure, that those track aligned with the France framily (Daytona, etc) are running CART races, and those aligned with Indy are running IRL races. I haven't check to ensure that is correct, but at first glance it appears to be true. Art | ||
| N'din (Abangdin)
New member Username: Abangdin Post Number: 15 Registered: 7-2003 |
I have been on pit walks in Sepang, Melbourne and Imola, all through my Ferrari Paddock Club ticket. After you've done it once, you'll realise the next ones are the same. There's not so much thrill, nor expectations anymore. And when you realise that you're never going to get to see the driver, nor Jean, nor Ross nor any of the people you see on TV then the whole thing is not a big deal anymore. But the first time is always the most exciting time. So by allowing the weekend general admission ticket to have enjoy the pit-walk as well, Bernie and the organiser is making F1 an event worth attending. We have seen the more and more of empty seat in the stands and it is time that Bernie re-invent F1. And allowing fans to get close to the F1 cars in the pits is a welcome change. | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Intermediate Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 1302 Registered: 3-2002 |
The thing to remember is that this isn't a situation that's unique to F1. All major sports have developed a divide between themselves and the fans, mostly as a result of the increased presence and importance of money. Venues are larger, as are the crowds. Safety is an all-important issue as well. Fortunately there are still events where the fans can get closer to the action, such as Goodwood, ALMS, historics, etc. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1798 Registered: 10-2002 |
I went to a CART race once and was able to walk about in the pitlane and watch the mechanics work on the cars and get the occasional autograph from one of the drivers. I couldn't believe my eyes. And all for about 5 bucks. That is the sad part about F1 today and its commercialization.  | ||
| Lou B (Toby91)
Member Username: Toby91 Post Number: 255 Registered: 4-2001 |
Jack: your right. I recall the glen in the 50's and early 60's when you could walk the pits, the old garage and the staging area and get autographs while the greats sat in there cars. | ||
| John Kemmerly (Gman)
New member Username: Gman Post Number: 14 Registered: 7-2003 |
I just heard that they are going to have a "walk around" for the paddock area on Thursday of race week from 8AM to noon. If you have tickets Indy will be sending you information by mail about getting the needed pass for this 4 hour period. Unfortunitly this will not help me as I will not be arriving until around Thursday evening however I wanted to let others know that may be local or who will already be in town. John | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Intermediate Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 1271 Registered: 3-2002 |
Art, in your opinion, what kind of investment is it going to take to turn the IRL cars into road course cars? | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2300 Registered: 6-2001 |
Andreas: The CART/IRL split was long over due. The car owners, i.e., CART, were taking huge amounts of money to build and race these cars, at last estimate, 10 Million a year for a mid pack vehicle. Given the economics of racing, that was way too much money. An awful lot of that money got spent to make these cars work on road courses. The IRL solved that problem, cut the cost down by 50%. Remember that the high cost literally drove the American drivers from the field. How many Brazilians are now driving in CART? Too many. The reason that they are there is money, money, money. They brought cash, in some instances, over 4 million per year, to buy their rides. They aren't bad drivers and the money made the difference as to who the team hired. Art | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1746 Registered: 10-2002 |
John, I think it is even worse: After the Imola GP I was hanging out with Eddie Irvine's parents on the camping ground outside the track. They didn't have Paddock passes either, but then again, they don't really want any.  | ||
| John Kemmerly (Gman)
New member Username: Gman Post Number: 13 Registered: 7-2003 |
All Thanks for the response. I am finding out for mere mortals (non F1 racing family members) that this quest for paddock passes is on par with the elusive material "unattainium". You can get there but only if you are willing to pay with your left arm and throw in your first born. | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Intermediate Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 1264 Registered: 3-2002 |
Although it's a victim of progress in track improvements, I still miss the days when you could hop through any old fence after each session and stroll the pit lane. Ah, tis better to have loved and lost... | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1739 Registered: 10-2002 |
This is btw what a Indy Paddock Club pass used to look like a couple of years ago:  | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1738 Registered: 10-2002 |
I still 'hate' Tony for splitting the series. However if IRL survives on those aspirated engines they're much closer to F1 than CART. At least technologywise. All we need then is to get them to drive on road courses and we have a nice series to step up to F1. (hiding under the desk now) | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2290 Registered: 6-2001 |
Tony knows how to count very well. He's made quite a bit of money running that program, and as time goes by, his IRL deal seems to be making sense. Art | ||
| Jack (Gilles27)
Intermediate Member Username: Gilles27 Post Number: 1256 Registered: 3-2002 |
...but if the number is TOO big, he'll run out of fingers and toes and then he might get frustrated and start smashing toys and throwing his food around the cage... | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2282 Registered: 6-2001 |
John: Write Tony George (President of Indianpolis Speedway), offer him money. If the number is big enough, you'll get your pit pass. Art | ||
| Kevin S. (Wolfgang5150)
New member Username: Wolfgang5150 Post Number: 27 Registered: 5-2003 |
If your lucky enough..............this is what a Paddock Pass looks like. (from this year's Canadian GP)   | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1723 Registered: 10-2002 |
Oh, I see. I was able to do that this year in Imola AFTER the race. Was fun though. Have never seen this happening at Indy, but then again I'm one of the guys who bails out before the race is over to beat the crowds (yeah, yeah, shame on me, but if you sat for two straight hours just in the parking lot without moving). But I doubt, they'd do that in Indy. They definitely do not do it BEFORE the race. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 870 Registered: 11-2002 |
Andreas,
When I went to the Australian GP at Adelaide they opened the barriers to the public so that you can walk on the race track past the pits, ie. Pit straight. This means that you can actually stand on the grid ... this is what I mean by the pit straight. Thus you can lean against the wall to the pits and take photos. Naturally every man and his dog fit for position so not a good idea for the little kids, etc. but it is not bad and as close as most get. Maybe they do not do this anymore ... ? Pete | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1722 Registered: 10-2002 |
'Pit straight walk'? What do you mean? All I know from my trips to Indy (last three US GPs) was, that there is no such thing or if it was I must have missed it completely. The pit entrance is IMHO inside the Paddock Club and you only get in there with the $ 6k ticket. Happy to learn something new though. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 869 Registered: 11-2002 |
John, You can do the pit straight walk which is nearly as good as. Thus they leave the garages open and for about 1/2 an hour you can walk down the start finish straight and look into the garages. Yes not as good as being in the pits, but it is not bad, and if you have a camera with a zoom lens you can get great shots. You can try sneaking into the pitlane ... I did it once, just make sure you have a professional looking camera and bag, etc. and look like you know where to go and what you are doing. Also do not put your camera away ... as then they will be on to you. I was in the pitlane for absolutely ages ... infact possibly over 2 rolls of film. Pete | ||
| John Kemmerly (Gman)
New member Username: Gman Post Number: 12 Registered: 7-2003 |
Thanks for the input. Really do not want to spend 6K for "inside the ropes" look. Will make do with binoculars and quawking through the fence! John | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Intermediate Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 1845 Registered: 11-2002 |
Yeah, the only way to get into that area is by having the passes Andreas is talking about or if you get invited (you are a sponsor, or a sponsor's VIP, or a manufacture's VIP). Cheers | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1713 Registered: 10-2002 |
You could buy pit passes (actually called Paddock Club) for about $ 6,000 a piece. Would give you access to the pit area only after/before practice sessions, not during. | ||
| John Kemmerly (Gman)
New member Username: Gman Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2003 |
I know that this maybe a dumb question however I will ask it anyways. I will be attending the US Grand Prix this year and am wondering if there is anyway to get pit passes. Even if only for practice on Friday and Saturday. Is this area only for team members and sponser quests or is there a way to purchase/bargin a way in? I have looked on Ebay and other ticket sites however have not had any luck in finding anything. Any input on how realistic this idea is would be helpful. Thanks John |