10 replies to this topic

[Mobile_Chicane]

1. camera
2. loads of film
3. spare batteries
4. video camera/ spare tape/ batteries
5. ear plugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What else is good to take along/ food? drinks? etc.

Also how much better will it be having a grandstand ticket compared to general admission? I have a ticket to the schumi stand. Can anyone tell what its like?

[Falcadore]

Personally I wouldn't bother with video camera. I've found you need a very expensive rig to make it look like anything but a reject from funniest home videos. Unless you know what you're doing.
as far as food drinks go, I take a water bottle and sigh at the cost of food on track.

Suncream is an excellent idea. A copy of Motorsport News is a brilliant idea. It's both a talking point with you're seat neighbour (they'll want to read it) and also a thumpin' good read. A copy of Motor Racing Australia for you to read while your seat neighbour reads your Motorsport News. An official program of course, gotta know who's who, and also so you've got soemthing for people to autgraph. Felt pen for autographing purposes, preferably a marker pen.

Always spend some trackside time wandering around general admission areas. See as much of the track as you can, particularly if taking photos. At Albert Park there are some great photo ops for the amateur in the GA areas. Besides walking's good for you.

[Ray Bell]

Sunscreen and someone to hold your umbrella while you eat and take photos.
Scratch the earplugs, cop the abuse for the sake of your future sanity. See 'have you ever listened...' thread for explanations.
Among your mental preparations, remember you'll have to deal with a lot of Victorians - so be tolerant.

[Marcel Schot]

No ear pluggs!! I took them along and took them out 2 minutes into first practice. The noiselevels aren't _that_ critical and are definatelly part of the experience.

A photocamera has got to be a really good one or you must be near the track in a very slow corner. A lack of the first will only get you midget cars and a lack of the latter will cause you to unwillingly take some beautiful photo's of only asphalt

Also very important ofcourse is a sunshine mood

[Eric McLoughlin]

I went to the Coys Historic Festival in 1995. As I was going through the turnstile I was handed a complimentary set of ear-plugs by the gate attendant. "I don't think I'll be needing those, I told her, I've paid to come here to listen to the cars as well as look at them".

As a regular at airshows for almost 25 years, racing cars don't bother me.

[Ray Bell]

Regarding pictures of bitumen:
I've generally had a 135mm lens on cameras I've carried around. Sure, if you have a zoom you've got it made, but less than a 135 does indeed give you dinky toys to look at.

[Don Capps]

Take money, lots & lots of money...

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Yr fthfl & hmbl srvnt,

Don Capps

Semper Gumbi: If this was easy, we’d have the solution already…

[Frazer]

Take a stopwatch and see how the gap is reduced each lap as your hero closes down on the leader.

[luisfelipetrigo]

A camera or video only if you are going to practice and qualifying sessions; definitely NO on race day. This way you will enjoy the race much more.

Food and drinks are usually expensive, if allowed bring a bottle of wine, if not bring water (forget the beer). Also, a couple of good cigars (if you like them)are very rewarding (IMHO).

A pad or notebook to keep your own 'lap-chart' - this is the only way to REALLY know what is going on and enjoy the whole experience. A good stopwatch is a very good complement to the lap-chart.

Some reading material, if not for before the race it should be useful at the end when getting out of the stands and traffic are a mess.

I suggest general admission or paddock for friday and saturday and stands for sunday.

At any rate ... enjoy it !!!

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Saludos
Luis Felipe


[This message has been edited by luisfelipetrigo (edited 02-18-2000).]

[Mobile_Chicane]

I figured I would need a good camera. I have an SLR Pentax MZ50 with 100-300mm lens and 35-80mm lens.

The only thing I have to figure out is to get the proper settings shutter speed & all. I did get good shots of rally cars very close up and clear before but then again they are going quite a bit slower.

[Leo Landman]

Binoculars!

Bye,
Leo (who always uses ear plugs at racing tracks - sorry)