We're now ten weeks away from the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix (June 8-10) at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal. Will you be there? Have you bought your tickets yet? If not, you should seriously think about it and hurry because the event has sold out the past several years.
If you've never attended a Grand Prix, here are five things you're missing out on:
1. The sights
The first time they see a Formula 1 car blasting toward an hairpin turn at full speed, casual spectators are convinced that it won't complete the manoeuvre and instead head straight into a wall. But thanks to ultra-powerful carbon brakes, drivers somehow pull it off every time. Amazing!
2. The sounds
Even for the most jaded fans, the magical sound of a V8 engine revving at 17,000 rpm is music to the ears. It's a loud and vociferous wail that resonates all the way to your guts. Moreover, gear shifts are so quick and frequent that they're basically just one continuous symphony.
3. The colours
The various colours, graphics and details found on F1 cars are a thing of beauty. Ferrari's vibrant red, McLaren's metallic silver, Lotus' black and gold, Red Bull's navy blue... just, wow! The machines are all unique and impossible to mistake for another.
4. The start
With 24 cars on the grid, the start of a Grand Prix is a spectacle unlike any other. There's electricity in the air, not to mention the intoxicating smell of overheating engines, and when the lights go off, more than 15,000 strong ponies suddenly trample the tarmac.
5. The Open House Day
Montreal is one of the few events on the F1 calendar to give fans free access to the track and paddocks. That's right: On Thursday morning, anyone can spend a couple of hours wandering through the pit lane, getting up close with the cars, watching the crews do their work, and even getting their favourite driver's autograph. Plus, it's not the chaos you imagine; the atmosphere is surprisingly serene.
Some will argue that tickets are expensive. Of course, they're not cheap, but consider this: There are three days of racing, from early Friday to late Sunday afternoon, which means plenty of time to get some bang for your buck.
I've been attending the Canadian Grand Prix since 1978, first as a mere spectator, then as an official, and now as a journalist. It's a memorable weekend in the world of the extreme. And when the adrenaline level returns to normal on Monday, I can assure you that life seems pretty uneventful.
If you've never attended a Grand Prix, here are five things you're missing out on:
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| Photo: WRI2 |
1. The sights
The first time they see a Formula 1 car blasting toward an hairpin turn at full speed, casual spectators are convinced that it won't complete the manoeuvre and instead head straight into a wall. But thanks to ultra-powerful carbon brakes, drivers somehow pull it off every time. Amazing!
2. The sounds
Even for the most jaded fans, the magical sound of a V8 engine revving at 17,000 rpm is music to the ears. It's a loud and vociferous wail that resonates all the way to your guts. Moreover, gear shifts are so quick and frequent that they're basically just one continuous symphony.
3. The colours
The various colours, graphics and details found on F1 cars are a thing of beauty. Ferrari's vibrant red, McLaren's metallic silver, Lotus' black and gold, Red Bull's navy blue... just, wow! The machines are all unique and impossible to mistake for another.
4. The start
With 24 cars on the grid, the start of a Grand Prix is a spectacle unlike any other. There's electricity in the air, not to mention the intoxicating smell of overheating engines, and when the lights go off, more than 15,000 strong ponies suddenly trample the tarmac.
5. The Open House Day
Montreal is one of the few events on the F1 calendar to give fans free access to the track and paddocks. That's right: On Thursday morning, anyone can spend a couple of hours wandering through the pit lane, getting up close with the cars, watching the crews do their work, and even getting their favourite driver's autograph. Plus, it's not the chaos you imagine; the atmosphere is surprisingly serene.
Some will argue that tickets are expensive. Of course, they're not cheap, but consider this: There are three days of racing, from early Friday to late Sunday afternoon, which means plenty of time to get some bang for your buck.
I've been attending the Canadian Grand Prix since 1978, first as a mere spectator, then as an official, and now as a journalist. It's a memorable weekend in the world of the extreme. And when the adrenaline level returns to normal on Monday, I can assure you that life seems pretty uneventful.