Formula Numb at Silverstone...

[Cadwell]

:( Well it's almost that time. 100,000+ screaming fans who know sod all about motorsport (they just turn up 'cos it's on the telly) crowded into Silverstone to watch the most god-awful boring motor-racing event known to mankind and get charged £4.80 for a distinctly inferior bacon roll not to mention £200 to get through the door :roll:

(Have you cottoned on to the fact that the British Grand Prix is not my most favourite motorsport event yet?) ;)

Anyway... I'll probably be there on Saturday and Sunday (No-one could persuade me to go on Friday - I can only take so much boredom). Anyone else going?

[Scottes]

Um, gee, after all that I think I'll stay home.

:-)

[KartGirlsMom]

god-awful boring motor-racing event known to mankind
Yea, but you have to admit the cars are way cool.
not to mention £200 to get through the door :roll:
I'm so glad I live in the US. US$25 gets you in for both Friday and Saturday and our race day tickets are only US$75.

I've been to Silverstone for a sedan (salon to you?) race, but not seen F1 there--maybe one of these days.

Can you get close enough to get any good pictures? I didn't even take my camera to the USGP this year. Last year the only good shots I got were of the crazy Columbians cheering for Montoya :roll:

Anyway have fun!

[sGu]

I'll be going down to the track for three days, got an assignment to write a report on the event, from preview to actual race, so i have to be there for whole three days ... it would be first time, too, so kind like an adventure for me.

unfortunately i doubt my lens will allow me to get a full frame of cars, i'll just be concerntrating on the crowd and overall scenary instead, can't even afford to rent a telephoto prime at this moment. If i do a good job on the writing then i will get paid and my expenses reimbursed including tickets.

Guess it's a gamble, huh ...

Hope i'll get a chance to meet up with someone there from this forum, KennyG will probably be busy around track panning away, anyone else going apart from Cadwell?

[chris.bailey]

Nope giving it a miss, cant stand the queues getting in or out, the cost of anything when you do get in and the fact that who is going to win is a forgone conclusion. As you say, yawn. Now if they change it to the streets of London in a couple of years that may be a whole new experience.

[Cadwell]

Yea, but you have to admit the cars are way cool.

Yes, I'll give you that although they're not as nice as the older F1 cars. The V10 engine doesn't sound very nice compared to the old flat12s, V12s and V16s plus the traction control makes them sound like a bag of bolts out of the slow corners.

If I want to see F1 cars I'd rather go and watch EuroBOSS or TGP or the FORCE series. "Proper" F1 cars and you can go and kick the tyres and talk to the drivers.

Can you get close enough to get any good pictures?

Not a snowballs chance in Hell on race day - the crowds are too big. On Friday and Saturday it's possible although the spots where you can "fill the frame" with anything other than 400mm+ are few and far between.

KennyG will probably be busy around track panning away

I wouldn't count on it, Kenny is even less keen on F1 than I am.

Now if they change it to the streets of London in a couple of years that may be a whole new experience.

It'll never happen. There is no way that the center of London could be closed off to traffic for the 7 days that would be necessary to setup / remove grandstands, armco etc.. It would cost millions. Plus of course there is no way that they could ever meet the safety standards. No... it's just a bargaining tactic that Bernie is using to beat up the BRDC over Silverstone.

[Persian-Rice]

Maybe they can finally go ahead with the race in the streets of London.................

I always go to the GP in Montreal, Hell I already have tickets and hotel reservation for next year. Admittidly, last years race in England was umm different. I dont really expect much from the British GP.

The only GP's that get me excited are Canada, Monaco and well thats about it.

Maybe if the Red Machine slows down it will become more exciting. When you can win a race and take 1 more extra stop then everyone else, its about fair to say there is no more hope.

[despot]

I've been to a Saturday several years ago - so I can say I've been there/done that. But it seems very expensive these days - especially as the racing isn't that interesting.
I think I'll try and get along to one of the test days ... a lot less crowded.

I look forward to seeing everyones pics.

Andy

[Cadwell]

mmm.... well it seems I was right. The first Saturday qualifying session was a total farce with most of the cars deliberately running as slowly as possible in order to get out first on the second run.

The race on Sunday was OK (ish) but not exactly rivetting and the event organisation was appalling. Someone remind me not to buy another ticket, please.

I did get some reasonable pictures on Saturday http://valaraukar.fotopic.net/c229378_1.html although not a great mix of shots due to limited vantage points. I didn't shoot much on Sunday as I didn't have my big telephoto with me. I didn't fancy lugging it about all day through the crowds or trying to wave the thing about in a crowded grandstand.

Was anyone else's experience any better?

[sGu]

it was freakin' cold on sunday morning, and endless walking and driving really got me tired, didn't know how i managed to drive back to manchester on sunday night ...

still processing my photos, not so many close shots on cars, due to my lack of focal length, but i used a different approach, more of a "what's happening outside the track"

what lens did you use for those corner shots? I think we passed each other somehow, that was the same place where i was snapping away on friday and saturday.

[Persian-Rice]

I guess experience is really effected by the organizers of the event. F1 Canada does a brilliant job every year. I have never heard anything but praises for the GP du Canada. Other then outrageous prices for food, which is not unusual at events like this, its really good.

[iwatkins]

I sat and watched the race while having a great big plate of roast beef, yorkshire puds, spuds and veg and lashings of gravy. I then had a huge pile of triffle. Next came several mugs of tea and lots of cake. I then fell asleep and missed the end of the race, but that is OK, that is what GrandPrix Sundays are all about.

(Don't you love your inlaws sometimes, they always cook on Sundays :))

Cheers

Ian

[sGu]

got some of my photos online, it's kind a hard work to choose from 1000+ photos and post process them, hope you'll enjoy them :)

http://gu.smugmug.com/gallery/161365/4

[Cadwell]

what lens did you use for those corner shots? I think we passed each other somehow, that was the same place where i was snapping away on friday and saturday.

Yes, Sunday morning was kinda chilly. Silverstone is often miserably cold when it shouldn't be.

I was using my Sigma APO 120-300mm f/2.8 EX HSM with a 1.4x TC on it for most of the long range stuff. I did try switching over to my Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L up at Abbey but I didn't like the way the shots were turning out (too flat) so I switched back to using the Sigma without the TC there.

On Sunday I didn't take the Sigma with me. Just too damn bulky and heavy for race day.

I started off on Saturday down at Club for first practice, moved round to Abbey for second practice and then went into one of the Woodcote grandstands for Qualifying. I ended up watching the F3000s from one of the Copse stands.

Sunday I had a seat in Luffield C.

I just looked at your gallery. You got some nice shots :)

[Cadwell]

I guess experience is really effected by the organizers of the event.

You are so right. The contrast with the Goodwood Festival of Speed two weeks earlier was marked. Now those guys know how to stage a large scale event properly.

Thankfuly this was Interpublic's last British GP. We will either have a new promoter or no GP next year.

I sat and watched the race while having a great big plate of roast beef, yorkshire puds, spuds and veg and lashings of gravy...

Now I am getting seriously jealous ;)

[sGu]

what lens did you use for those corner shots? I think we passed each other somehow, that was the same place where i was snapping away on friday and saturday.

Yes, Sunday morning was kinda chilly. Silverstone is often miserably cold when it shouldn't be.

I was using my Sigma APO 120-300mm f/2.8 EX HSM with a 1.4x TC on it for most of the long range stuff. I did try switching over to my Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L up at Abbey but I didn't like the way the shots were turning out (too flat) so I switched back to using the Sigma without the TC there.

On Sunday I didn't take the Sigma with me. Just too damn bulky and heavy for race day.

I started off on Saturday down at Club for first practice, moved round to Abbey for second practice and then went into one of the Woodcote grandstands for Qualifying. I ended up watching the F3000s from one of the Copse stands.

Sunday I had a seat in Luffield C.

I just looked at your gallery. You got some nice shots :)

Yeah, i was at club on friday mainly and a while on sat, i only have 70-200mm as my longest lens, so club is closest i could get to the track, but close to the fence was already occupied by a 100-400mm on a 10D with grip, a 300mm prime on a 1D on a monopod and another 2 300mm above and 2 rows of seats, so i have to shoot standing behind them, but it turned out to be okay, not 100% pleased, but okay.

I took following pics near hanger straight, guess not be able to get inside the track somehow created opportunities for me :D

these are couple of ones i managed to get the whole car in the frame, timing was very tricky, as hanger straight is one straight track and they are going the fastest as they can, damn they are fast!

http://gu.smugmug.com/photos/6067296-M.jpg

http://gu.smugmug.com/photos/6067302-M.jpg

http://gu.smugmug.com/photos/6067346-M.jpg