Just got back from Canada (we stayed extra days to take in Quebec City) and thought I'd post some impressions. Great race! Even the Challenge race was a blast. Grandstand 24 (exit of the hairpin) was a good choice, but next time I would ask for seats lower in the stand, and about section 3 or 4. We were high in the stands in section 2, and lower and further up the track would have been a bit better. I was very impressed with the efficency of the metro in moving huge numbers of fans very quickly. The longest we stood in line was about 15 minutes which wasn't bad for a record crowd. Late spring is not the best weather in Canada, apparently. It was VERY hot and humid Friday through Sunday, really on the edge of tolerance levels, then Monday was very nice, but rainy and cold Tuesday through Thursday. We stayed in Laval to save money on hotel rooms, and next time I would just bite the bullet and pay the bucks for a downtown room. The logistics and time wasted in the extra travel weren't worth the savings. All in all a great trip, and we are already making plans for next year. Gary
Glad you had a great trip Gary, it was also our 5th time down this yr. Keeps getting better....the weather was the worst this yr, never experienced that type of humidity, Sat was worse than Sunday. We stay at the start finishline directly in front of Micheal and Rubens, makes for a great run at the fence at the end of the race to get perfectly close to see the final ceremony. Our first 2 yrs we stayed at Laval at the Hilton....never again, the trip to the track was horrible. We now stay at a Holiday in i think on peel street. Its only $20.00 more per night, service and rooms just as good, and its 5 seconds to the Metro and Cresent street where all the action is dwntwn. The metro is 3 subway stops for 15-25 mintues and your back to the hotel from the track. We have it dwn to an art now. Cheers !
Forgot to mention we had dinner Saturday at Newtown, JV's place, and in fact had JV at the table next to us. Food was much better than it had to be, frankly. Gary
Darn, I saw neither him nor you. We were there from 6pm till 8:45pm at which point they politely asked us for the table and we partied on on the roof balcony. PS: I even took an expensive cab ride from Downtown to Laval's Space museum on Saturday.
We were on the 2nd floor, group of 8, as you come off the staircase we were in the farthest corner. Sorry I missed the group at 10 am Sunday, couldn't get the ladies moving, and we just made the start of the Challenge race. Gary
Ok, I think I know where you guys sat. We were middle of the room near the center window. Oh well. We had duck and lobster, it was delicieux!
Our fifth year too. This was the hotest its been so far. Usually we leave the hotel in the am, step outside, and wonder if our shorts were a mistake. Then it warms up over the day. Not this year! Our seats are in 24 section 4 row OO. The best we've had so far. I've spoken to people who have sat at the Senna curve and half say they love the seats, half say they prefer the hairpin. At the Senna curve you are so far at one end of the track it almost seems like you're isolated from everything else. I'm sure the view is awesome though.
I also go to Montreal every year. I've tried all the stands and to me stand 12 section 6 is the best (at the Sienna corner). You can see the start finish and watch the cars go up the hill exiting the corner. The first year I also stayed in Laval, but as already mentioned you are better to stay downtown. I stayed at Hotel Place d'Armes across the street from Notre Dame. It's sort of expensive ($600 per night) but the room are great. My biggest complaint - departure from the track on Sunday! On Friday and Saturday they let the taxis pick up passengers just before the bridge. On Sunday you have to walk about 4 miles to the nearest taxi stand. Every year it's the same.
