USGP photo thread | Page 5 | FerrariChat

USGP photo thread

Discussion in 'F1' started by iamthesimpleone, Nov 16, 2012.

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  1. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    Not so, here, (the display of the historics and Challenge cars) the Tunnel into "Bernie land" in the infield was "technically" Off Limits, and guarded by military MPs for extra emphasis!

    I was working and realy preoccupied, it never occured to me to try my "Wayfinder" badge to get in there (along with the 'workers' doing things like trash and such)..it turned out that I walked right into FCA VIP Suite, with no challenge what so ever,

    But The Tunnel was pretty intimidating, it would have been SO LOUD if they had shot me....:D :D :D
     
    BigTex, Nov 20, 2012
    #101
  2. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Would FCA VIP suite tix have given one access to the challenge paddock?
     
    tifosi12, Nov 20, 2012
    #102
  3. freshmeat

    freshmeat F1 Veteran

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    Now, now don't open that can of worms...next thing we'll be debating is since Fiat owns Ferrari we're all pedaling around in overpriced Fiats and since Audi owns Lambo, the Aventador is a hyped cockroach from the future sent by Audi to destroy the F12.
     
    freshmeat, Nov 20, 2012
    #103
  4. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ Owner

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    You can perform paddock walks on Thursday prior to Friday's practice if you have a PSL license.
     
    Schatten, Nov 20, 2012
    #104
  5. vee12

    vee12 Formula Junior Silver Subscribed

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    yes, the VIP tickets got you into the tunnel areas and Challenge/GT3/vintage F1 pits, but NOT the F1 pit
     
    vee12, Nov 20, 2012
    #105
  6. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Thanks, much appreciated info!
     
    tifosi12, Nov 21, 2012
    #106
  7. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    speedy_sam, Nov 21, 2012
    #107
  8. texasmr2

    texasmr2 Two Time F1 World Champ BANNED

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    Great quality pics!

    I missed both on Sat/Sun but heard them. One of the biggest issues for me not taking more pics was that my Gout flared up all weekend and walking became an "Oh fawk it afair, I'll just listen from here."
     
    texasmr2, Nov 21, 2012
    #108
  9. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

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    F1 race ....
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    speedy_sam, Nov 21, 2012
    #109
  10. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    Not sure as I did not have one, but I am sure it did include the Pit Walk and team access, which the JQ Public was shut out off, LOTS of B&M over that, Thursday was for all that and the Public tickets did not cover it.

    Got some Grid girls, my friend was the Honor Guard for the US flag and Anthem....I'll bet she'll recall that for life...
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    BigTex, Nov 21, 2012
    #110
  11. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    You ROCK, Sameer!!!

    Damn, you froze the PROPS on the PLANE!

    Here is Renee, far left......Car and Driver has a great article and Gallery check it out!!
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    BigTex, Nov 21, 2012
    #111
  12. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    BigTex, Nov 21, 2012
    #112
  13. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    BigTex, Nov 21, 2012
    #113
  14. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    BigTex, Nov 21, 2012
    #114
  15. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    ...all for now, check out Car and Driver, BIG gallery there!

    Red says: "thanks, BigTex, you ROCK!"

    BT: "No, thank you, Mr. McCombs, ...the pleasure was all mine......" :D :D :D :D

    The LAST pit box in this Turn 2 complex, is where I finished watching the race, they had no catering staff, so I was keeping the tables clean, putting chairs back in order, as people came and went...picking trash up off the floor... (found some great unopened gel earplugs) ....50 laps to go, an Important Looking Man, sitting with his wife, reached and spun an empty chair around, and said "Sit down right here....." at his left elbow...at the front corner of the railing.

    When Important Looking Man issues and invitation, it is impolite, to refuse...
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    BigTex, Nov 21, 2012
    #115
  16. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    So, as the race ended, he fetched his wife's coat, and took his credential off, and gave it to me.....as I had the "goodies" for the guests, in return I handed him a souvenir pin of the COTA with an outline of the track. He smiled, and slipped it into his pocket....

    I hung the tag around my neck, and then looked down at the seat assignment:

    It was TURN 2 VIP SUITES, Suite 13, Row 1, Seat 1
    He was the OWNER, of the suite next door!

    The empty chair he offered to me, was Suite 14, Row 1, Seat 1
    So there I was.....

    I'll admit as the race closed, Ferrari 3rd and 4th, a huge welling of pride came over me....I thought of all the hard work, the sweat and effort that had gone on the past two years, and a tear or two rolled from under my shades, and ran down my cheek.

    I said to him, over the full roar of the engines fifty feet away:
    "I am very proud, of my Track......."

    He nodded and smiled.
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    BigTex, Nov 21, 2012
    #116
  17. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Cool shots.

    I love that 3 positions through the turn shot. I'll have to try that myself.

    What stands were you in?
     
    tifosi12, Nov 21, 2012
    #117
  18. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    Friday morning, I'm sure I bought the FIRST program sold, at the FIRST race of COTA, from the FIRST tent you came to, inside Gate 1, at....oh...maybe 6:40AM????

    So, started with THIS:
    View attachment 4881_001.pdf
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    BigTex, Nov 21, 2012
    #118
  19. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    ..and then, three days later....left, wearing this:

    Note the snazzy matching wristband, that put you up on the deck, for entry into any of the Suites, really....they might need to empty the trash, or something.

    The rest of my Team, after listening to me all weekend long, could only shake their heads, in amazement...:D :D :D :D

    I guess that's what the airlines refer to, as a "Seat Upgrade".....!!!!!

    No telling, what that catered VIP Suite costs, for all three days....does anyone know??
    View attachment 4882_001.pdf
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    BigTex, Nov 21, 2012
    #119
  20. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

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    Thanks, I was in Turn 5. I took pics from a couple other turns on Fri/Sat - I will post some pics later when I get some time. I took probably 3000 pictures over the 3 days :) I only finished editing Sunday's pictures :) Posted more of them on my facebook page.

    I was a bit apprehensive as the last time I snapped pics at a race of any sort was in 2009 - I was quite rusty on Friday morning but thankfully the good shots started coming by Saturday.


    Thanks BT - Wish I could have met you at the race.
     
    speedy_sam, Nov 21, 2012
    #120
  21. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    You're not shocking me. 1,000 per raceday is average for me too. It's why I had to buy an additional camera battery.
     
    tifosi12, Nov 21, 2012
    #121
  22. Mule

    Mule F1 Rookie Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    Did you buy them all? All sold out by Sunday. :)
     
    Mule, Nov 21, 2012
    #122
  23. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    I tried to pirate two out of the FCA VIP Suite, I guessed "Franco Valobra" but was wrong...they made me put them back.....

    I just ordered some COTA caps and patches, maybe there?

    I think it was 3rd Party though, I DID start to get more than one, but I had a tiny backpack, and figured they would last..........wrong!!
     
    BigTex, Nov 21, 2012
    #123
  24. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

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    I was based in Guest Services tent at Gate 1, but "our zone" went all the way to the T3 grandstands, we had lots of issues in T1 and T2 VIP, catering....some of it unpleasant.
    But I had been given four sets in Grandstand 4, last week ... so I went that far to check on my guests, and we went out T6 Gate one evening met some nice folks down there.

    Water main to T1 VIP was discovered smashed Sunday morning...'Mud Control' was the order of the day, until the sun helped us out, I'll bet you can see it, on TV...(on the GA hill, Turn 1)

    My phone was going nuts as my daughter buried it in texts......"Can you bring us some water?"
    She had no idea, how OUR day was going!

    Everything settled down as the race began, of course....
     
    BigTex, Nov 21, 2012
    #124
  25. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

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    I am really happy with my D300 - I got ~1700 shots out of one charge. I too had a second battery but needed it only one day.
     
    speedy_sam, Nov 21, 2012
    #125
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