It was muddy.. we should have brought those wellys!
We unpacked the tent out the car and started to put it up, but we ran into problems, just like we had the week of the Silverstone testing, where we put the tent up to test it out!, it was at an angle, the dome bit of the sleeping area was slack, and we were losing patience, so some chocolate and some water gave some help, but however much we tried we wern't progressing anywhere!, But then our lovely neighbours who had arrived before us came over to help us, they knew what they were doing, and we found out they pitch lots of tents as they work for camping with girl guides and the scouts!
After a bit of stretching the poles out a bit wider, and pulling some guy ropes, everything was fine, so they left us to peg the whole thing down.
We had text other people who were coming from the JBHQ, about the state of the field after we overheard marchels talking about a few sites being closed cos of all the mud, so i spent a lot of time on my mobile talking to Gary as he was coming up with there caravan. He asked on the phone if we needed anything... Yep MILK!
So after a cup of Black Tea and coffee, I cooked us both Beans on Toast. We phoned parents to say we had arrived, washed up our stuff, then put up the sleeping area of the tent, pegged it down and placed the bedding inside, This would be our home for the next few days. We were starting to have a problem, one enterence to our tent was getting very muddy.
So after the morning we'd have we decided to settle down for a rest in the bed area, by playing a few games of Truth and Dare Jenga (placed on top of an upturned storage box for even flooring), and if I remember rightly Marney kept losing!, We got bored of Jenga, so we played some games of Connect 4! (trust me we were bored)
Later on that evening the JBHQ caravan arrived with Britfan (Gary), Benson Jutton (Pete) and Gumdrops (Carrie), who noticed our tent due to our JBHQ flag attached to our tent with gaffatape!, We also met Becki and her mum. They also gave us our milk!
Once the JBHQ van parked up it was a big group hug, then offered to make drinks... but we only had two mugs, so I asked Gary who told me they are in the cupboard of his caravan on the right.... problem was I was too short to reach them!! So Gary came to the rescue!.
Once the drinks were made, I also cooked mine and Marney's food...-Supernoodles BBQ flavour, we took them over to the JBHQ caravan, which was taking shape with there police tape boundry, and the owning had been attached to the side.
The rain had one again started to chuck down, so we all bundled under the owning, having a blast and getting to know everyone.
We remained at JBHQ till about 11pm, until we all retired to our beds/tents.
you could still here cars coming on the site and people hammering down there tents, once we had got to sleep, we were woken by a hissing noise coming from behind our tent, something in the grounds of the Spyker f1 team.
Eventually we headed over to JBHQ who were in the caravan chilling with morning drinks, so had a laugh, Becki and her mum joined us, then 'On The Button' (Lawerance) from Portugal had arrived, he'd pitched his tent a few places away from us. we left the JBHQ caravan for a while, and went to our tent did some drinks, Lawernce came to join us, made a cuppa tea for him (he's simple just a cuppa tea -no sugar, no milk!)
We then got a message from 'Grid_Girl' (Katie) and 'Bubba' (Alison) to say they had got off the coach, can we meet them at the end of the driveway, so midway through our drinks we go to meet them, we helped them through the mud and pitched up there two persons tents! -though they had nowhere to store there stuff, so Gary went to his caravan and brought back a bibi (a big army sheet) that went over the side of there tent.. storage undercover!
Once the two girls were settled, we took a walk over the footbridge that led to the Silverstone enterance, Standing on top of the bridge you could see the cars queuing for the campsite, and also all the tents in the field, including the JBHQ tent, and ours.
We walked round to the main enterence of Silverstone, to see if we could spot any drivers -we don't think we saw any, lots of machinics!
We headed back to the campsite, back to our tents to have some rest, but ended up hungry, so cooked Quorn Curry, added too much rice as Marnz was like chuck the whole lot in!
we had so much left over as it was filling, that we text the the gang of us to see if anyone wanted some... well Pete and lawrence helped polish it off!
That evening Laurance, Alison, and Katie along with myself and Marney all garthered under the tent enterance, where we chatted for ages till we all retired to bed at 10pm.
We first sat of a mock up Pit wall, watching data, listening through headphones, Katie took some pics and then I took a few, also when we left the pit wall I took a pic of the JBHQ portuagese flag.
We then did the tyre challenge, first up was Katie and Lawerance who did it, with Marney recording the whole thing, I just took a few pictures. it took them 19.3 secs, but the gun jammed up on Katie.
It was then our mine and Marney's turn. I picked up the tyre to see how heavy it was, ok that's heavy for me to move, i'll do the gun on the tyre..which was just as heavy!
The bloke showed me how to use the gun, it puzzled me a bit, so I asked the bloke for a practice, I mucked it up a bit, cos I didn't push the gun right plush to the nut on the tyre.
Then we did the proper challage again other people doing the other tyres. Lauernce videoed it, I thought it went well except I put the nut on the wrong way round cos I couldn't remember, but we still beat the other people doing the other tyres with 11.3 secs.
The next bit of the park was to fuel a (glass) car, only Lawernce did that, we just pictured him doing it.
the next section was to have your picture taken with BMW pitlane girls with a BMW car. which we did.
Then we waited for the prints, 3 copies one for each of us in the photo (Me, Marney and Katie).
There was a BMW F1 car all broken down so you could see verious bits to it, and then you had the pit lane, for the BMW F1 car, so we went in the stands ready for the show to begin, as we sat there Katie brough out the flag for me and Marney to sign, the flag was going to be given to Jenson if we met him.
Just as the show was about to begin, we decided to leave, time was running out and we wanted to get sat oposite the Honda garage for the free friday Practice.
After a long walk back to the pit straight stand (well it was for my little legs!), and met up there with the others from JBHQ, the free session was about to get under way, but first a few piccys by Alison!, the cars got going, but mainly I kept my camera on Jenson's car, or in the garage, though I did take pictures and videos of the other drivers.
Sadly Jenson didn't do may laps in free practice as his back was painful from a reacurring accident from Go Karting last year, so he was out of his car as quick as lightning, and was taken away to get a scan on the problem. So Rubans was left to do a lot in the morning session.
Once the session finished, we headed to the picnic area behind Luffield terraces, hanging around this bench table, until the other people left, then we would get the table.
We all went and got our lunch, I chose a cheese burger which had lettuce in it (my first lot of salad since I left home on Wednesday!!), I went back to the table and joined the others, where a new JBHQer arrived 'Funkie Button Moon (Toni) and her father. As we ate out lunch and chatted, on the big screen Jenson was having a cooking lesson with James Martin, which had us in stitches, until Jenson took James out in a Honda onto the Silverstone track, and did doughnuts in the car with no hands on the wheel.. James looked VERY scared!
Once we'd polished off our lunches and drinks, we all headed to the Luffield stand for Afternoon free practice. Christian Klien had taken over for Jenson, so his car now had 34 on it, and a yellow T-bar, Ruban's had swapped his T-bar to Red.
We had a great view up in Luffied, with the corners coming up from bridge, right the way round into luffield corner, and watch them go along the pit straight, or even into the pit lane.
One thing I did niotice was how wide the drivers dived into the pit lane, you'd think they were gonna go along down the pitstraight, but would sweep into the pitlane, caught me out a few times!.
Oh and the whole day, Red Bull threw me out... they'd changed there livery colours to silver, the cars had images on the car, there's me still wondering why I'd not seen Red Bull, but I had, just they'd changed the colours for the British Grand Prix!
Also yet again Spyker couldn't keep one of there cars on the track, crashing it into a wall somewhere else on the circuit!!
After the afternoon session of Free practice, Toni had seen that moring outside the Silverstone circuit, Jenson's car, in the Technology park, why they had walked through this morning.
we all headed there to see it, You could pay £65 pounds to sit in it, and have your photo taken in it. Very pricey, we all stood behind the car, and Alison took a group picture.
We then headed inside the little shop, where they had lots of Jenson stuff, we entered a competition, and as we were walking away, a Honda Hybrid car comes round, we all did like the grease action were your point your arm out right round, us all shouting JULESSSSS (Jenson's PA!). She was dropping off a friend, so we all dived back to the Technology complex, and gathered round her car, as she was just about to drive out. We had a great chat, and she also said that hopefully the Meet and Greet would still go ahead after the concert Sunday.
Wow we were gonna be filmed for Honda TV, and meet Jenson, this is gonna be a great Grand Prix weekend....
We all then went back to the campsite, and all chilled out for a while, although I was freezing cold, it was a little windy waiting for free practice that morning, and probably caught a chill.
I took my phone and charger over to the JBHQ to be charged, where Gary told me I didn't look great, and I should sit in my car for 5 minutes with the heater on, to warm up. (which I did and felt better for it)
That evening everyone headed up to the fair, I stayed back, to get an early night, I headed to bed at 9pm-9:30pm, must have been well away cos I didn't even hear Marney come in, the only times I did stir, was whatever that thing hissed behind us from Spykers grounds, and sometime the wind that evening, it was a strong gale outside, but got used to it....
Saturday 7th July
Woke up at 5:30am, to get our first shower in, we didn't smell of sweat (must be cos it was cold, and we'd had lots of rain), We headed to the shower cubicles, but first stop the loo's where I had my towels drapped round my shoulders, except my hand towel fell off, landing slap bang on the floor of the toilet cubical... in the mud....Oh sh!t!
So a quick walk to the shower block, Marnz showered first, as we were sharing shower gel, and shampoo, once she was done it was my turn.
once dry we headed back to our tent to get into clean clothes (well putting on clean trousers and walking through mud back to our tent would be stupid!)
Gave Laurance a wake up call, then all headed over to JBHQ caravan for the 7:30am meet up, except they weren't ready so us three headed to the food tent, for breakfast, I had Sausage, egg and beans!.. as I was cutting my food I was thinking I hope these plastic cutlery doesn't break on me... a split second later Lawerance fork snaps in two... well we creased up with laughter, and once I get the giggles, it takes me ages to stop!
After polishing our food off we went back to the JBHQ caravan, but people still wern't ready, so we made our way over the foot bridge, Myself and Marney only had general admission tickets so on Saturday and Sunday we wouldn't be allowed in any stands. Myself and Marney wanted to join the others, so for only £30 each we got ticket upgrades.
We then headed to the stands again oposite the Honda garage, and staked out many seats for the rest of our gang with our flags, telling them to get their arses here quick as the stewards were telling us we'd only be allowed to reserve them for 30 mins....
As we sat waiting, we spotted Alonso outside the McLaren Garage, talking to someone on his mobile, and then a guy appears on the Honda motor home, looks out and then starts waving at Me, marney and Lawerance, before heading down the steps. To me it looked like Jenson... (only one way to find out.. ask him at the Honda open day in a few days time!)
Soon the rest of the clan joined us, but we decided to move up a few rows as we were a little to low down... so once settled, some piccys were taken, we spotted Louise Goodman doing a bit of filing a bit lower down in the stand, of and another tv camera was lurking about us filming!
Soon the Free morning testing got underway, and Jenson was the first to head out on track, to make up for lost ground from yesterday after his back problem (which is all fine as Jules told us when we saw her), I took loads of video's of him leaving the garage, doing pit stops, going back into the garage, as well as other drivers.
Once that session ended, a few of us headed to Luffield for the Qualifying, whilst some stayed behind. I along with Pete, Gary, Marney, Alison, Beki, becki's mum moved to Luffield.
Pete and Gary asked the stewards if they could put there banner up, which they did, and to get the bottom of the flag to stay down and not flap in the wind... three water bottles, with 1/3 water in each bottle and lots of gaffatape -now I wouldn't have though of that!
There was an Helecopter air display, which to me was quite boring.. come on Quali.....
We watched the road sweepers, out on the track, sweeping it, checking all the apex, and then the mainatince guys would stop on the track and look at verios spots...
The Qualifying got underway finally got underway, the sound of airhorns and the atmosphere of the crowd was magnificent, the cars sounded much louder to when we'd seen them in free practice, as they were going a lot faster, and more cars all at once trying to set there best qualifying times, and when cars wern't infront of our eyes at the corners, we could watch it all on the big screen!
And then right in front of our eyes on Anthony Davidsons qualifying lap, he goes off into the gravel, kicking up dust, the stewards quickly got to work and pushed his car into more of a safer spot, out of the way of the other cars. And then Anthony got out the car, and remained near the tyre wall for the rest of the Qualifying time!
But then Jenson for the second Silvstone Gp in a row, was called into the weighbridge, and go held up, so he never got out intime to get a good lap in :-(, so he only qualifyed 18th!
Round two of Quali, and we just watched the cars go past, taking more piccys, and videos,
Round three, saw both the McLarens fighting over each other, the crowds went wild, but Lewis piped Alonso to the pole, and the roar of hte crowds were amazing, we all got on our feet and clapped, cheered, I tried videoing Lewis's slow down lap, but camera batterie died just as he got to luffied corner, but I will never witness that athmosphere like that again, even lots of F1 people were saying how all the crowd cheered... my brother also phoned me as Kubica was coming round the corner, he was watching it live on ITV one, and he said to me, was that Kubica that went past? it was such a bizzare moment, as he was sat watching it on tv, and the camera was on Kubica and that moment.
After Quali, I phoned bro back as I was having problems hearing him, and I wanted to record lewis Slow down lap (except the battery died on my camera!) so once out of the Luffield grandstand, we all headed back to JBHQ's caravan ready for Honda Tv crew...
We sat there from 3pm until 5pm, still nothing, although we'd got a call to say they were stuck in traffic. But by 5pm, we'd given up hope, and all went our seperate ways to get food, I'd cooked the whole bag of pasta, mixed with Pasta sauce, had a plate full, and then Alison came over to say they were at JBHQ, so we dived over there.
We all got in a group with our chairs, had budwisers, and filming started, Alister Waver was asking how JBHQ came togther and then we had to film our t-shirts, and what our screen names meant, we had to stare at the camera and say "my screen name" (then turn around) "Heczone". oh course the camera man was like oh we've got a small member here, when I stood up to do my little piece!
Once filming was over we asked when it will be up on the site, and Alistar said hopefully by the end of the week (but its still not up...)
We then went our seperate ways, I went back to the tent, only to find a drunk man sititng with a fag in his mouth outside our tent, I was a little scared of him just sitting there, shouting out random stuff, so gave Gary a quick text, he came over, but then the stewards were walking up the campsite so they took him away somewhere... phew.
So I did some washing up and then we went and met everyone at the Beer tent. We listened, danced and sang to some music, before it was time to go back to our tent as Marney and myself had to be up at 3:30am as we had to be at the gates ready for opening at 5am, so we could get a good spot as we had General admission tickets. We also made a list of things to take with us for tomorrow so we could just grab the bits and pieces and go
Sunday 8th July
We woke at 3:30am, got changed, packed our bags (I took some left over pasta from last nights dinner!) and left the campsite at 4:45am, its a bit nippy this morning, we arrived at the gates, queuing had already started, but 5 minutes later the gates opened. Now we had to walk fast to get to Copes to get a spot before it got too busy.
We chose a great spot, we would be able to see cars coming out of Copes corner, and cars exiting out of the pit lane. once settled in our spot, Marney went and got coffee and tea., on return Marney went to give me my coffee, but i didn't have it properly and split everywhere... well I got a few sips out of it!, So I went and got myself another one.
Once I returned and drank my coffee, myself and Marney played lots of games of Connect 4, and then I worte up my diary, then on the big screens they played highlights of yesterdays qualifying.
Eventually the GP2 got underway and after that the Porche supercup, and after several more cups of coffee I was getting warmer, and even took my jumper off as the sun was shining.
At 11:30am the F1 drivers parade happened, we held up our JBHQ flag and I tried to take pictures, but they didn't come out well as I had too many heads in the way.
Then The lovely red Arrows started, all I can say is FANTASTIC, they did barrel rolls, cork screws, a heart with an arrow through it, and the Silverstone logo, as well as other ones. I took loads of pictures, and there colours wwere awesome!
Then the drivers left the pit's and I managed to take picture of nearly all the drivers leaving, as they would slow down before exiting (maybe for pictures?!) to get themselfs on the grid ready to start
Now the British Grand Prix was about to start, but first the Red Arrows flew over the pit lane!, really loud, and very low flying too!
Posh and Becks (Victoria & David Beckham) were there in the pits to see Jenson, as was Patrick Dimbely
After the tyre warming lap it was HONK, HONK, HOOT, HOOT amd the race got underway.
Lewis kept the lead from pole for the first lap, then Massa overtook and by the 3rd lap we had another leader.. Kimi, and he kept that til the end of the race.
Jenson was on a one stop strategy, a spyker went off the track, and Anthony Davidson crashed, (his first ever F1 grand Prix he won't want to remember). Oh and the first corner when the race started was madness, watching all the cars fight for position, and the sound of all the cars together was deafening.
Lewis had a bad pits stop, he was to eager to leave, but Jenson had a good drive, from 18th to 10th.
I took many pictures, watched some of the race, and then tucked into some of the pasta from dinner last night, I was hungry and hadn't had breakfast, and then chomped on some sweets.
The race came and went really quickly, we left as soon as Kimi crossed the finish line, so we could meet up with everyone as we gonna be meeting Jenson Button :D
As we almost walked to the Silverstone grandstand, a text message came through for us to meet at the bridge that lead over to the pits.. so we had to walk back, and it seemed we were going against the flow of people, but we got there eventually.
some of us went and got some food, Martin Brundle the ITV1 comentator signed a few autographs as he was coming out of the commentry box, but I didn't see him.
We all sat on the grass bank while we talked about the race, looked at pictures.
We wern't due to meet Jenson til 4:30pm backstage after the Grand Prix party concert.... So some of the guys went back into the stands to watch the next car event.
4pm came, we all met up again and headed to Copes tunnel, which went under the track, once inside the paddock I was amazed, all the lorrys the people, it was amazing, Gary had his big JBHQ flag pole with him, so he lead the way, whilst I held mine and Marney's JBHQ flag. for me it was tough to hold the flag as the wind was quite strong.
we walked past the concert stage, and to the back of it.
There were a few other fans gathered (and then loads cames!), but it wasn't long before we saw Mark Webber coming out from the concert in his car, he signed lots of autographs (I didn't bother) and then Sato and Anthony arrived in a car, they went on stage and left, then a Honda hybrid arrived, Jenson was driving, he did a little filming for video's they put on his website, before he went on stage, Jules also came over to speak to the security guards.
Once Jenson finished on stage, Jules came over and ushered us 12 in, it was a bit of a scrum as other none JBHQers tried to get in, but there was Jenson, we all gathered round him, getting autographs, I was one of the last few poeple to get an autograph, and then we got into a group with Jenson and had a picture taken. Unknown to a lot of us, Jules was filming the whole thing for a video to put on Jenson's website. (it's now up there in his video section -its the video with the picture of Jenson signing Laurance's t-shirt)
Jules also had her friend with her, I kept starring at her thinking I know that face...
also in Jenson's car was his mum Simone, she was really happy to meet us.
But soon the time was up, Jenson had to get into his car to go, so some last pictures, and they all got back into the car, and drove off.
We walked out of the backstage area, beaming from ear to ear, chatting about the whole experiance, then I heard one of the girls say did you see Jules had her friend Danni Mingue with her.... THATS WHO IT WAS!
We walked out of the paddock, back under Copes tunnel, and then we went and walked on the track!. (Marney went back to our tent as she wasn't feeling well), we had to jump down onto the track, it was a big jump, giving Lawerance my bag once he'd jumped down
Walking the track felt amazing, taking lots of pictures of some corners, the stands and cars in the garages, and picked up some marbles (rubber) from some of the cars tyres, but then the JBHQ Caravan people (Gary, Pete and Carrie) had to go, and get packing, as they were going to be leaving that night, we gave them hugs just encase we didn't seem them off in time. Everyone else went back to the campsite to except myself and Katie, who wanted to walk down and take pictures of Jenson qualifying grid position.
Once that was done, I took pictures and a video of the Silverstone grandstand seat lettering, and then we left the track, chatting all the way.
as we left we saw a Ferrari van with the lettering '69 Michael Schumacher'. So snapped some piccys of that, then headed back to the campsite.
It was so bare, some tents and caravans had gone, JBHQ were packing up, as was Lawerance, and becki and her mum. Marney was resting, and I was on the phone to brother, and then dad.
We said goodbye to Laurance and off he went as his dad had come to pick him up. Went over and said goodbye to the JBHQ, Pete got on his knees to hug me cos of small was dead funny! So looking forward to seeing them next year...
Said goodbye to Becki and her mum, and then myself and Marney did a bit of packing, putting a few bits and pieces in my car, and then the rain came down, so all the sun that had dried up the muddy field was now... muddy again!
Once the rain stopped we met up with Katie and Alison, and grabbed some food from the campsite village. We all went to Alice's Noodle bar, I ordered Satay chicken with egg friend rice. Yummy, we all ate ours standing on the foot bridge, watching all the trucks leave Silverstone circuit.
Went back to the campsite and watched theses lads being idiots on a golf buggy, and even pulling along a stuffed dog they won at the fair!
Then there was a big massive fire at the back of a caravan, someone must of set fire to something on porpose... some men put it out... then we all went to bed, it was a sad feeling, the Grand Prix was over, the other guys had gone....
Monday 9th July
Well it was basically pack up and leave, Myself and Marney decided to go home seperatly, so sitting under the foot bridge waiting for her brother to pick her up wearing our new JB caps as it was sunny, a 4x4 came past, kinda slowed down and the driver gave us a funny look.....DAVID COULTHARD!
Then when Marney went, it was time to go home myself....
NAVAGATION
|
My name is Hannah, and this is my page about my first trip to see an actual F1 Grand Prix.
