F1 testing at Silverstone.

[woOdy]

Had a GREAT day today. My best friend works for Bridgestone tyres for F1 and he invited me to go to the test today. I have never wanted to go before but this is an opotunity of a life time. Got there about dinner time and got directed to the centre of the track just behind the pits. WOW. Headed over to the gate and walked straight in and straight into the Bridgestone garage. My mate was working very hard. He then directed me to the front of the garage where they had a veiwing area right in the pit lane. They are LOUD. He then said we can go for a walk round. He took me to the BMW garage and I could of sat in the car! Unreal. We then went into the Renault garage and stood in the front and I bumped into Alan Harman(Editer of Racer magazine). Stood talking about toy cars? What is that about? We tried to then get into Force India but they closed the garage as the car had just crashed. Any way enough of me. I just thought I would share it with you lot.

[mattym0310]

I'm slightly jealous lol

glad you had a good day!!

[Stu]

You should have stuck some PieSpeed stickers to the cars - would be ace.

They'd have liked that - a lot.

Any pics?

[xjr14]

first things first, CONGRATULATIONS!!! ...it is indeed the chance of a lifetime! ...it shows that even the big money business F1 can be open and friendly of some sort. and yeah, they are LOUD . had two similar experiences. first one happened when I was 11 years old at the german gp 1993 in hockenheim. right before the warm-up my dad spotted the old british pal, who was sitting right next to us on the grandstand, in the williams garage. he returned to the grandstand for the warm-up. my dad talked to him he agreed to take me with him after the warm-up. I did not want to go with him, as I was a little kid without a permission. ma dad "forced" me anyway and the nice old brit talked to the security guards and what do you know, it wasn`a problem!...remember it was 1993, before most of the teams were owned by the big car manufactures. it was amazing seeing the active suspension williams FW15C doing lowrider moves in the garage as they calibrated the active suspension! I even got my senna "S" t-shirt signed by the young damon hill. I will never forget that great day! the second time was 1998, my dad was able to get some special sponsor tickets. he worked for the british company "MORSE" which sponsored the tyrell team at that time. I went with some of his colleague, but we just allowed a quick look in the garage and a walk down the pitlane... ...

...if anybody gets an opportunity similar to woody`s, don`t hesitate...TAKE IT...F1 is indeed the king of motorsport, even though the races are boring most of the times....but the knowledge involved, the sound, the advanced engeneering.....

...roll on F1 test @ hockenheim, 8-9th july!!!

[Mrs oOple]

WoOdy, sounds like an awesome day out! Glad you had a great time. Was Lewis Hamilton there? Check me, throwing out the big names.
Did you not drive anything around the track at high speed?

[racingdwarf]

You better put Ex editor of racer in front of Alen Harmans name.......Matt benfield has now broken into a cold sweat thinking his p45 is on its way I think Mr Harman has gone on to bigger things.

[telboy]

Cool, nice one woody. It is a chance of a lifetime to do these things.
I painted some shells for Honda a few years ago (when villenueve drove for them) and they said that they would set it up so that I could got and spend the day with them at a silverstone test, but nothing came of it.

But last year, Dez from RRCi invited myself and Mr Christopher to spend the day at the Spyker factory (now force india) and obviously took the chance. That too was an amazing day, and to see the comitment of the team was amazing, even though they are a back end team the amount of work and money that is spent on everything is jaw dropping.

[sime46]

Last year my company negotiated to supply forktrucks (CAT) into Redbull Racing, so we got the full factory tour and then watched the french G.P live inside the factory. Mind blowing! Inside the factory watching the stratogy play out and live info going back and forth. Wont forget that trip in a hurry.

[andy110m]

Its a small world. I too was at the testing must and agree it was a fantastic way to spend a day.
I got tickets for SKF's box located in the paddock over looking the start finsh straight. As they are a technical partner to Ferrari we got pit passes but weren't allowed to take pictures in the Ferrari garage. We did meet Lewis Hamilton's dad though. It was strange to be driving home and have your ears ringing like in a taxi home after a night clubbing.