'Never let anyone tell you you can't do something...'
WHAT a day
It's rather difficult to put today into words, but for the sense of completion and all that I will give it a go. I need a word that means beyond epic. Because EPIC just doesn't cover it any more.
Took some silly pictures on the way to the track this morning. Made it go so much faster. Walking past the shiny tents on the way in one had a Fisico flag outside. TOTAL "WANT" moment so had to go in and get it. The stand in question was one that's been at Brands a few years so we'd spoken to the woman there before. She grinned when I came up with the flag and commented to the guy with her "this girl is a HUGE Fisichella fan" I also showed her Fisi-Bears new Ferrari overalls I had made and the guy mocked us saying "you're just saying you fancy him!" We both objected that one, though agreed yes he is pretty!
Watched warm up in the stand opposite the Fisi pits before heading through into the paddock for the autograph sessions. Went for a wander to doubly triply check our plan of action and ended up lurking at AF Corse Ferrari. As you do. Glad we did because the queue got epic pretty quickly (amusing as all the boys were sitting in their hospitality tent watching the GP2 while this queue was growing larger and larger! We were behind a woman and her daughter, the woman - like me was not leaving without seeing Fisichella. 10am came and went and they were still watching, we were beginning to worry about our PoA (given there was at least 4 sets of drivers we wanted to see in the 30 minute session). Toni, Gimmi Bruni and Jamie Melo eventually came out, joined not too long later by Fisico and Jean Alesi. I'm guessing the other two came out then too, I will totally admit to having Fisico tunnel vision at that point. I had a card from the Fisico Fan Forum to hand over, which I did and explained and then asked if he would sign Fisi-bear. I was so utterly touched because he signed him properly - everyone else was getting squiggles, but my bear looks awesome.
From there it was ACTION TIME! Didn't really have time to take it all in before we were off to the Spyker boys. AT LAST we have seen, met and spoken to Tom Coronel. As I said to him, after 4 years of WTCC viewing! We wished him luck to which he replied "I don't need luck, I need sex and money!" Next in line - JORG MULLER! We told him we missed him at the WTCC, and he was totally lovely (as always) - you could tell he pretty much would rather be there. We asked if it would be WTCC or DTM next year, but there was a shrugged response from them all (we recognised the BMW guy with them from various Brands Hatch visits before!). *sadface* From there - DRAYSON RACING. Mum got an art print she had gotten yesterday signed by both drivers and me my programme. And I got to thank Lord Drayson for being such an inspiration in his fight to get a racing license. Explained, with mum, that I - like him - have only one useful eye and that his story really hit home to me. He thanked me, got up and shook my hand and told me the subject line to this post. I said that I never had, and wouldn't. I know it's not something I talk about a lot (or at all) - I have I think something like 1/6th vision in my left eye. There is nothing the opticians can do to fix it with lenses and stuff - so I have lived my life pretty much working around it. Before Lord Drayson's fight if I had wanted to race, no matter what my skill level I would not have been granted a license on the basis that I'm one sided and all that, he got it changed that it could be taken on a case by case level, taking drivers skill into consideration. RESPECT.
We had to get back to the Ferrari end of the pit for the pit walk so ambushed any drivers with no queue on the way back down! LOL All told I think I have 29 seperate drivers autographs from the weekend. WOAH! Pit walk was awesome - getting that close to all the cars, I'm pretty sure I took pictures of them all. I'm glad I finally know that those LMP1 cars are EXACTLY as huge as they look on the telly. Escaped that madness and headed back to the paddock cafe for a quick coffee before the start of the race.
Watched the start just before Copse corner right up beside the fence, the sound was incredible.
The race - WOW - I've never known 5 and a bit hours go SO DAMN FAST! We wandered a bit for food and drink but pretty much watched the rest from various points. Admit to cheering a little when the first Audi had trouble, although those cars were by FAR the prettiest (and sounded GUH) we prefer the guys IN the Peugeots so were cheering them on through out. ALL the cars we were supporting had their issues, but none were truly terminal and they all saw the finish which pleases us greatly. I was GUTTED when the #95 AF Corse hit trouble (well DUH), but they got it back out and never lost their fighting spirit, can't ask for more than that. Really pleased to see Ant Davidson and Nicolas Minassian winning. Stayed to see all the podiums before heading back slowly to the B&B.
5 hours home tomorrow, oh deep joy!
AMAZING weekend. Would go again for sure, even without Fisi racing.
It's rather difficult to put today into words, but for the sense of completion and all that I will give it a go. I need a word that means beyond epic. Because EPIC just doesn't cover it any more.
Took some silly pictures on the way to the track this morning. Made it go so much faster. Walking past the shiny tents on the way in one had a Fisico flag outside. TOTAL "WANT" moment so had to go in and get it. The stand in question was one that's been at Brands a few years so we'd spoken to the woman there before. She grinned when I came up with the flag and commented to the guy with her "this girl is a HUGE Fisichella fan" I also showed her Fisi-Bears new Ferrari overalls I had made and the guy mocked us saying "you're just saying you fancy him!" We both objected that one, though agreed yes he is pretty!
Watched warm up in the stand opposite the Fisi pits before heading through into the paddock for the autograph sessions. Went for a wander to doubly triply check our plan of action and ended up lurking at AF Corse Ferrari. As you do. Glad we did because the queue got epic pretty quickly (amusing as all the boys were sitting in their hospitality tent watching the GP2 while this queue was growing larger and larger! We were behind a woman and her daughter, the woman - like me was not leaving without seeing Fisichella. 10am came and went and they were still watching, we were beginning to worry about our PoA (given there was at least 4 sets of drivers we wanted to see in the 30 minute session). Toni, Gimmi Bruni and Jamie Melo eventually came out, joined not too long later by Fisico and Jean Alesi. I'm guessing the other two came out then too, I will totally admit to having Fisico tunnel vision at that point. I had a card from the Fisico Fan Forum to hand over, which I did and explained and then asked if he would sign Fisi-bear. I was so utterly touched because he signed him properly - everyone else was getting squiggles, but my bear looks awesome.
From there it was ACTION TIME! Didn't really have time to take it all in before we were off to the Spyker boys. AT LAST we have seen, met and spoken to Tom Coronel. As I said to him, after 4 years of WTCC viewing! We wished him luck to which he replied "I don't need luck, I need sex and money!" Next in line - JORG MULLER! We told him we missed him at the WTCC, and he was totally lovely (as always) - you could tell he pretty much would rather be there. We asked if it would be WTCC or DTM next year, but there was a shrugged response from them all (we recognised the BMW guy with them from various Brands Hatch visits before!). *sadface* From there - DRAYSON RACING. Mum got an art print she had gotten yesterday signed by both drivers and me my programme. And I got to thank Lord Drayson for being such an inspiration in his fight to get a racing license. Explained, with mum, that I - like him - have only one useful eye and that his story really hit home to me. He thanked me, got up and shook my hand and told me the subject line to this post. I said that I never had, and wouldn't. I know it's not something I talk about a lot (or at all) - I have I think something like 1/6th vision in my left eye. There is nothing the opticians can do to fix it with lenses and stuff - so I have lived my life pretty much working around it. Before Lord Drayson's fight if I had wanted to race, no matter what my skill level I would not have been granted a license on the basis that I'm one sided and all that, he got it changed that it could be taken on a case by case level, taking drivers skill into consideration. RESPECT.
We had to get back to the Ferrari end of the pit for the pit walk so ambushed any drivers with no queue on the way back down! LOL All told I think I have 29 seperate drivers autographs from the weekend. WOAH! Pit walk was awesome - getting that close to all the cars, I'm pretty sure I took pictures of them all. I'm glad I finally know that those LMP1 cars are EXACTLY as huge as they look on the telly. Escaped that madness and headed back to the paddock cafe for a quick coffee before the start of the race.
Watched the start just before Copse corner right up beside the fence, the sound was incredible.
The race - WOW - I've never known 5 and a bit hours go SO DAMN FAST! We wandered a bit for food and drink but pretty much watched the rest from various points. Admit to cheering a little when the first Audi had trouble, although those cars were by FAR the prettiest (and sounded GUH) we prefer the guys IN the Peugeots so were cheering them on through out. ALL the cars we were supporting had their issues, but none were truly terminal and they all saw the finish which pleases us greatly. I was GUTTED when the #95 AF Corse hit trouble (well DUH), but they got it back out and never lost their fighting spirit, can't ask for more than that. Really pleased to see Ant Davidson and Nicolas Minassian winning. Stayed to see all the podiums before heading back slowly to the B&B.
5 hours home tomorrow, oh deep joy!
AMAZING weekend. Would go again for sure, even without Fisi racing.