| Author |
Message |
dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 1504
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 12:36 pm: | |
Faisal,
No, all requests were made months (or at least a few weeks) in advance on Company letterhead. Way too much opportunity for fraud, and they know it. :-) You had to fill out a form and submit it with a letter from you editor. They would in turn send you a letter with the specifc people who will be "credentialed" at the race (I would sneak a buddy on as my film "runner"). Then you show up at the "media relations" venue (usually a hotel off site) to get your picture ID cards made and a vehicle parking pass issued.
Generally, each media outlet got only one or two "hot pit" passes depending on their circulation or size of organization. We usually only got one. Obviously the TV outlets got several as the had a camera guy, sound guy, reporter, flunky, etc... |
Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Member
Username: Tvrfreak
Post Number: 745
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 12:31 pm: | |
If you had a journo card, how would you get the pit pass? Would they just give it to you at the ticket office if you showed your credentials? |
dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 1503
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 12:25 pm: | |
Probably would be easier to get a job for a wire service as a writer or photographer....I used to be a photographer for United Press International, and had passes for the Vancouver Indy race each year. Pretty much had passes for all areas to include the "hot pit", which were the most wanted...I have a lot of pictures of the top drivers of the early to mid 90's. Along with some fun shots of the "celebrity" races run the day before.
I would imagine F1 is WAY tighter on passes than CART/Champ, but back then only a very few got access to the "hot pits" (long pants, no shorts)in the days before the race, mostly the big sponsors. On race day it was the team, owners and wives/girlfriends only (and the media). We could also go out to the starting grid as they warmed up the cars in the minutes before the race, that was pretty cool.
"Paddock passes" were a dime a dozen and while you could walk up to the ropes and see mechanics working on stuff a bit, mostly they were just cleaning and organizing their gear (boring). |
John Kemmerly (Gman)
New member
Username: Gman
Post Number: 11
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 12:20 pm: | |
Well for 5 to 6K for Club tickets I guess I will do a search on Ebay for compromising pictures of Bernie! I thought this might be a stretch. Last year when I was there the security force keeping people away looked like something that Saddam Hussein might by using. |
Chris Parr (Cmparrf40)
Member
Username: Cmparrf40
Post Number: 674
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 12:10 pm: | |
Ferrari Paddock Club tickets are between $4,750 and $6,500 per race...
The food is ok, you do get to meet Michael, Rubens and Mr. Todt.
I have done it at Montreal and Indy. Best seats are still section H, (Indy turn 4)
Even with a Paddock Pass, pit access is limited |
Ernesto (T88power)
Intermediate Member
Username: T88power
Post Number: 1648
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 12:03 pm: | |
Pit (well, paddock) passes are for sale, very expensive.
Ernesto |
Alex Papas (Alexpapas)
New member
Username: Alexpapas
Post Number: 37
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 12:00 pm: | |
Unless you have a picture of Bernie Ecclestone in a compromising position with a small dog I wouldn't hold out too much hope of getting anywhere near the pits.
F1 security is extremely tight. I was fortunate three years ago to be escorted into the pits on the Saturday by a friend in Monaco who owned and ran the DAMS F3 team. But all the while we were in there (approx 1 hour) he was paranoid about security discovering that I was using a team pass that belonged to someone else.
And there is a difference between the paddock and the pits. You can buy Paddock club access ($$$$$) but it's not access to where the cars are. |
John Kemmerly (Gman)
New member
Username: Gman
Post Number: 10
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 11:36 am: | |
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 |