David,
Aha, so now you've been in such exalted company as Arrows' GP hospitality, I
can understand why you didn't make it to my book launch!
Saw the Red Arrows the other weekend from a friend's back garden which runs
to the perimeter fence at Biggin Hill - fantastic! Although the Harrier at
Brands in 1978 was better in my opinion!
Regards,
Patrick
-----Original Message-----
>Ian,
>
>I didn't get to Malvern but I did go to Silverstone on Sunday for the
>GP. I got home at 9pm to find a message asking if I would like a pair
>of tickets. After a short chat about the Pope, Catholicism, bears, and
>woods I had them biked to me for 1am and chose a lucky partner for the
>day.
>
>Turns out these were tickets with hospitality, and easy parking, and we
>were there by 9.30. It then turned out the tent was just for guests of
>Arrows GP who were more than happy to show anybody with an interest
>round their pit garage. Had a chat with Tom Walkinshaw, Prince Malik,
>Pedro De La Rossa, and the test driver. It shocked me that two hours
>before the race the cars were in small bits. Just a routine strip down
>and check over. Engines off, peer in with an endoscope. Gears out.
>Suspension apart. Others were surprised by the 20ft wide bank of
>computers.
>
>The highlight of the race was the lap when Hill was leading. I was
>sitting just by the pit exit and we could hear the wall of sound from
>the crowd come down the start finish straight and round the corner some
>seconds ahead of and much above the car. We joined the Mexican Wave
>before sitting back down and listening to the 180mph wall of cheer chase
>him round.
>
>As for Schumacher's problem with the gravel the current cars have a lot
>of ground clearance. To ensure the cars don't drop down on their
>springs under aerodynamic load they have a wooden panel which is
>measured as 10mm thick before the race and must be at least 9mm thick at
>the end so they can't afford to bottom out. The front wing isn't very
>strong so there's nothing for the gravel to catch against for the car to
>start ploughing. Fine in a spin as the sides of the tyres will catch
>the gravel but not head on. My two-penneth is that a trap ploughed into
>furrows would let the car bottom, catch, and plough.
>
>The big surprise of the day was how much I enjoued the Red Arrows. To
>think I nearly stayed at my lunch table rather than watch them.
>Amazing. I won't even try to describe the experiance. NEVER miss a
>chance to see them.
>
>Racing, in all categories, was as dull as ditch water. The GP was saved
>by being opposite a monster TV and next to a tannoy and even then half
>the stand left their seats to sunbathe. Most fun to watch was the
>saftey car sliding the full width of the track and all over the kerbs.
>Give me VSCC or HSCC or AMOC any day!!
>
>David
>
>
>
|