Need any/all advice on attending the Canadian GP

You could start by reading all the other threads about this race both for this year and previous years - that should give you a better idea

 

I think that sounds right for tickets. Don't waste money on a car--all the fun in town is within walking distance, and you take the Metro everywhere. Montreal is absolutely, hands down AWESOME. I've been about 10 times, and each time never failed to deliver on fun.

You may have a hard time getting a hotel downtown this late. If you get a hotel, you can check and see if they have any packages available. Otherwise, just pay to have them overnighted.

My biggest recommendation when leaving the track is to stop at the beer garden and let the Metro line disperse. We've met some of the funnest people there over the years!

Enjoy!

 

If you're planning on staying at a hotel downtown and aren't in a rush to leave on Sunday after the race, I'd suggest not renting a car and instead just using the metro. It's very efficient, it can get you to pretty much anywhere you want to go on the race weekend and it's cheap. Weekly (Mon-Sun) passes cost $20.50.

 

Montreal is a beautiful city. Haven't been since 1990. Circuit is fast!

 

Several friends of mine studied at McGill so I have loads of great memories of Montreal. Always had a sofa to sleep on when i went there for the GP.

My favourite places include: The Bar-B Barn for the best ribs and pitchers of beer! Sakura Garden (if it's still there) for wonderful Japanese food. Foufounes Electric for an amazing punk/goth/industrial club.

D'oh, and how could i forget to mention club Super-Sex!

 

As luck would have it, a dear friend of mine has asked me to sell his Canada GP tickets which includes a room at McGill University. I'm still working out the details but if anyone is interested, please contact me at [email protected] or 630 567-0066.
I'll post a picture of the tix.
Ron
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The official ticket site is: http://www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca/formula-1.html

I agree with the others - you don't need a rental car. Montreal's Metro works beautifully. Don't get General Admission - get a reserved seat in a grandstand. I prefer Turn 2/3 but the hairpin is also great.

Hotels might be tough, and they're expensive during the week of the race. Check out what others have posted about the University residences being available for a more reasonable cost.

There's a pitlane walk on Thurs 9-12am. Check out Crescent St at night - it's unbelievable.

Check out the other threads on the Canadian GP..lots of good advice.

 

I would also recommend that you hire a Kangaroo interactive TV for the weekend, they really add to the track-side viewing experience, especially if your seats are not directly in front of a big screen.
As well as a live video feed of the track action, they also have live timing, instant replays, live audio commentary, a whole host of stats, and also the option to select various drivers on-board cameras in real time (there is a follow your favorite driver option) ..

You can book online in advance, normally at a discount, then you just go to Kangaroo Tv stall and pick it up when you arrive.

http://www.kangaroo.tv/

 

I almost forgot--and this is VERY important! Do NOT, under ANY circumstances, feel tempted to hoof it off the island across the bridge in an attempt to beat the crowds. Many of us have been deceived by this in the past--what initially looks like a simple, straight shot across the river actually takes a left turn and sends you WAAAY out of your way, to the land of regret. But you can check into the water taxis as an alternative to the Metro.

 

+1 Truer words were never written.

Did this once... never again.

 

LOL! You probably said the exact same things we did:

"You know--it looks like we can just take this bridge back across the river. It heads straight towards downtown....(30 minutes later)...Uh, guys? I think we're f***ed!"

 

Good to have friends in Habitat 67........

 

Hi: links to hotels in downtown Montreal, based on their rankings (from travelers). Of course prices are sky high... http://www.booking.com/searchresults.en.html?label=gog235jc;sid=dd6212cf1033f607ec8ae7b219c82f21;checkin_monthday=10;checkin_year_month=2010-6;checkout_monthday=13;checkout_year_month=2010-6;class_interval=1;district=1548;si=ai%2Cco%2Cci%2Cre%2Cdi;radius=0;order=score

A copy-paste from thread for what to do...

Montreal is one of the best Grand Prix (if not the best), not only for the racing (always interesting with lots of overtaking and drama), but also for the terrific atmosphere downtown and on the site...

Always take the subway to go to the grand prix: Yellow line (starting from Berri -UQAM station) stop at Parc Jean Drapeau. You won't miss it just follow the fans ;-). Of course if you have a package that includes the parking you can drive, but I would even suggest otherwise as traffic is CRAZY.

For the beer & food, lots of people bring their own in coolers if I remember well. make sure you don't bring any glass containers, otherwise beer in aluminium cans is OK. Here's the link to the official web site where they give you some good advice... http://www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca/race-site.html. Don't forget earplugs ;-)

For the nightlife, there are 2 main areas:
1- Downtown: on Ste-Catherine Street corner Crescent or Peel Street mostly. Bars are in Crescent Street (where you also find Jacques Villeneuve's restaurant). just walk around, go to random bars in the areas and have fun. I suggest you to hang out at Ferreira Café on Peel Street for people watching and great food (lots of ferrari owners eat there and park their cars outside): http://www.ferreiracafe.com/home/.

Gentleman's clubs: the one not to miss with the most beautiful ladies is Chez Parée: http://chezparee.ca/, another choice would be Wanda's: http://www.clubwanda.com/home.html. The other ones are much less classy ;-). But of couse Montreal giers are the most beautiful in North America, so the street is a fashion catwalk ;-)

2- Italian Quarter (Saint Laurent Street/Jean Talon Street, Metro: De Castelnau). There's always great Italian food there and of course lots of Ferrari fans. The FCA is involved every year in a very ncie event there: http://www.fcaquebec.ca/main.cfm?l=e...=31&EventID=48, http://www.grandprixweekend.ca/

If you want to see the Ferrari top brass including drivers, they usually stay at the St-James, Montreal's most upscale hotel. http://www.hotellestjames.com/ (providing you can pass security). Also always interesting cars parked there ;-) and great old neighborhood...

Enjoy!

 

We are going to the F1 race in Canada. I have tickets to the race but how do I get to the Pitlane walk on Thursaday? My current tickets would let me in or I need to buy another ticket.

 

99% sure it's free. Its been so in the past. Ill keep an eye on the local papers and inform everyone if it isnt.

 

It is indeed free. And I read that we will have access to the Historic GP pit as well.

 

For anyone interested, here's the full weekend event schedule for the track:
http://www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca/planning.html

Also, here are the full weekend event schedules for Crescent Street and Little Italy:
http://www.crescentmontreal.com/en_crescent_events_grand_prix.htm#program
http://grandprixweekend.ca/Calendar.html

 

I now have tickets available, as I've had a last minute cancelation.

My seats are in Grandstand 34 in the Hairpin, with a giant block of Ferrari fans. We'll be up pretty high so we can see everyone coming in and going out of the turn. Tickets are for Friday Practice, Saturday Quali and Sunday Race.

$2182 gets you 3 sets of tickets and a hotel room, downtown Montreal for 3 nights.

I'm willing to split up as well - please email me directly if [email protected]

 

Are you the guys with the red wigs that I always see from Grandstand 15?