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Time to start thinking about the Montreal GP

Discussion in 'New England' started by Birdman, May 4, 2008.

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  1. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,689
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    #1 Birdman, May 4, 2008
    As you all know, last year I had quite an adventure at the Montreal grand Prix.

    There is a thread in racing and tracking about which fchatters are going to the Montreal GP this year and I thought maybe we NE section dudes ought to start talking about a caravan.

    I'll be going again in the Mondial, just to prove the old girl can do it. :D

    I will be heading up on Thursday so I can attend practice on Friday. Anyone else want to head up together?

    Birdman
     
  2. JOEL D.

    JOEL D. Karting

    Nov 2, 2003
    222
    Boston, MA
    Full Name:
    Joel DeLuca
    #2 JOEL D., May 4, 2008
    We are heading up Friday morning with 2 cars if anyone is leaving on Friday. Birdman, My 86 328 made it home from Montreal with a bad water pump bearing and a faultering fuel pump relay! Mondial can make it twice in one day!!!
     
  3. abarthracer

    abarthracer Formula Junior

    Dec 6, 2003
    373
    Falmouth, Cape Cod
    Full Name:
    david S.
    #3 abarthracer, May 5, 2008
    Bird,
    I am planning on going on Thur., but this year I am hangin' with you since you seem to "know somebody" to get into the pits etc.!!! How much groveling will I have to do????? Let's try to get the caravan going this year on Thur. morning.
    David
     
  4. silk32

    silk32 Formula Junior

    Jul 16, 2005
    543
    ASS MASS N.Attleboro
    Full Name:
    matt
    #4 silk32, May 5, 2008
    i might be in for this depending on my schedule. work has been crazy for me lately. usually it starts to slow down during the summer.
     
  5. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,689
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    #5 Birdman, May 5, 2008
    David,
    I wish I could promise that I could help you but the thing is, access to the paddock is very tightly controlled and you need a special pass to get in there. I get one from my friend, who was only able to get 2 last year and will probably only get 2 this year (they cost about $5,000 each to the team and you can only get one from the team. My friend is friends with one of the owners of Mclaren). That's why I'm leaving my wife at home... my friend can't get another pass to get her in. Knowing someone with a pass doesn't do squat. (Maybe if you had an "in" at the track itself?) The paddock club passes are laser-engraved and you have to go through a machine with a code-reader in it and swipe your paddock pass! They are very careful about who goes where!

    Birdman
     
  6. spider348

    spider348 Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,273
    MA
    Full Name:
    John
    #6 spider348, May 5, 2008
    Birdman, I really should have planned to go. If not for the late notice I could get a pit pass etc from HitCo. They supply the carbon ceramic brakes to several F-1 teams(Not Ferrari). May be too late at this point. Plus no hotel room etc. Need to plan for next year!
    I have to ask: Why take the Mondial? You have that beautiful carb 308! Just curious!
     
  7. Giovanni_P

    Giovanni_P Formula Junior

    Nov 11, 2003
    368
    MetroWest, MA
    Full Name:
    John Pelliccio
    #7 Giovanni_P, May 5, 2008
    How long of a drive is it to Montreal?

    Are non-F-cars welcome?

    Gio P

    PS- I caught my wife trying to donate my copy of "Beneath the North Atlantic" to the library. It still needs an autograph, you know!
     
  8. LookingForACure

    LookingForACure Karting

    Apr 9, 2006
    82
    Boston environs
    #8 LookingForACure, May 7, 2008
    I'm planning to drive up on Thursday morning in my Exige.

    I believe Dennis Liu plans to get a caravan together. I'll keep my eyes peeled for his post.
     
  9. BigHead

    BigHead Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2003
    995
    Outside of Boston
    Full Name:
    Dennis
    #9 BigHead, May 8, 2008
    Yup, will have a caravan going up, consisting of the folks from our group - we've got 70+ friends sitting together in the hairpin and staying at a hotel together! :)

    (And John, still have a couple of tickets and rooms available - no excuses, come join us!)

    vty,

    --Dennis
     
  10. JOEL D.

    JOEL D. Karting

    Nov 2, 2003
    222
    Boston, MA
    Full Name:
    Joel DeLuca
    #10 JOEL D., May 8, 2008
    Dennis,

    When are tickets getting mailed out?
     
  11. maseratiman

    maseratiman Rookie

    Jan 17, 2008
    3
    #11 maseratiman, May 11, 2008
    Hi,
    I am a F-chat lurker for many years. Will be getting a Ferrari someday!
    I own a 2005 Maserati CC.
    Would be interested in joining your group to go to Montreal.
    Are there any rooms and tickets still available.?
    I would like to join the caravan also.
    I live in Newton.

    Jason
     
  12. JOEL D.

    JOEL D. Karting

    Nov 2, 2003
    222
    Boston, MA
    Full Name:
    Joel DeLuca
    #12 JOEL D., May 11, 2008
    Contact Dennis Liu, New England FCA chapter president. He organizes the trip. His username is Bighead on Fchat. I believe there are some slots left.
     
  13. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,689
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    #13 Birdman, May 11, 2008
    Gio,
    Everyone is welcome. BigHead drove up in his <cough> minivan last year. LOL!

    Donate the book to the library? Ouch, that hurts!

    Frenchman, I can promise you a place to stay if you can come! We'll take your 355!!

    I don't want to take the 308 because I just know it will get rained on and I'm a complete wuss about that. It's a classic car now, no rustproofing, and I do not allow rain to touch it.

    Birdman
     
  14. Giovanni_P

    Giovanni_P Formula Junior

    Nov 11, 2003
    368
    MetroWest, MA
    Full Name:
    John Pelliccio
    #14 Giovanni_P, May 13, 2008
    OK, I'm in with a buddy as co-pilot. At least, we're in as soon as I send Dennis my check :)

    Planning to depart for Montreal fairly early Friday AM and depart for home on Monday. Looking forward to meeing many of you for the first time!

    Note to all travellers: you need to present both proof of identification, such as a driver's licence, AND proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) or a passport, which covers both requirements, to cross the border.

    http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/land_travel/


    Gio P
     
  15. BigHead

    BigHead Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2003
    995
    Outside of Boston
    Full Name:
    Dennis
    #15 BigHead, May 14, 2008

    Oh, I can top that - it was MY MOTHER'S minivan! :) I borrowed it for the trip because it gets much better gas mileage than my giant SUV (355 Challenge tow vehicle), and my wife and I brought our two young daughters (as usual). So, loaded up for a fun weekend, multiple DVD players going, full complement of drinks and snacks, V1 running and web surfing wirelessly, we convoyed up together with my group - running up to 115 mph in the Honda (and probably still getting near 20 mpg) in the middle of a pack of Ferraris, Porsches and AMGs - about the safest I felt from speedtraps on a high speed run! Woo-hoo. (and, it should be noted, took eight of us out to dinner that night too).

    Before the girls arrived, we would always take a Ferrari. We'd consider taking the 911 now, except that it can't hold enough stuff for four days away (who'da thunk that a 3 yr old and a 5 yr old would pack so much stuff?). And, honestly, I'm old and boring enough now that I think (sob) I actually enjoy taking the minivan more than the sport cars, when traveling en famile. Gotta love those power sliding doors. :)

    [oh, and yes, Jason, I have four tickets and a couple of rooms left, first come first served, so let me know]

    vty,

    --Dennis
     
  16. philvecc

    philvecc Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2003
    751
    Longmeadow, MA
    Full Name:
    Philip Vecchiarelli
    #16 philvecc, May 29, 2008
    Dennis,
    What section will you guys be in? I've got seats in section 15 hairpin, and staying at the Novatel on de la Montagne. Won't be taking the cars but will stop by to say hello.
     
  17. cove26

    cove26 Formula 3

    Nov 13, 2007
    1,135
    CT
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #17 cove26, May 30, 2008
    We will be leaving Friday morning at about 9:00 am from Central CT and heading up the Mass Pike. Myself, my Fiance' and 2 other friends will be going so I will be taking the Mazdaspeed 6. We went that route last year and no cops were to be seen!

    Anyone else leaving Friday from CT?
     
  18. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,689
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    #18 Birdman, Jun 4, 2008
    It's OK Dennis, no need to justify the minivan. I have kids and I own an Odyssea (I don't even have to borrow one!) Nothing wrong with a nice reliable Honda to take the family to the race. I have to say, I was surprised how fast you were driving that thing...I don't think I would drive a minivan that fast on those roads. You guys were HAULIN' last year.

    So when is the caravan this year?

    Birdman
     
  19. BigHead

    BigHead Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2003
    995
    Outside of Boston
    Full Name:
    Dennis
    #19 BigHead, Jun 4, 2008

    The caravan leaves Lexington at 8am sharp tomorrow, baby! Are you joining us? We're taking the secret Northern route to avoid polizei.

    Re justification, hah! :) My friend Andy gives me grief about my Armada - he calls it the "minivan", because it's not a "real truck" (like his big diesels). I just laugh, because my response is that I *wish* the Armada was a mini-van! (I need the big SUV because I tow my Challenge with it).

    The Odyssey is amazingly stable, even at those speeds. Really, the girls were vegging out watching yet another Disney Princess movie, and I was safely tucked between a couple of Ferraris, an Aston and a Porsche Turbo, so I knew *I* would be safe. :) Alas, am pretty sure the gas mileage probably dropped below 20mpg at that rate....

    vty,

    --Dennis
     

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