71 replies to this topic

[Scudetto]

To me, every F1 Sunday is a special morning (I'm in the U.S. - so it's an EARLY morning).

I enjoy making and eating a big breakfast before the pre-race show starts and sitting on the leather couch and have a couple of glasses of momoussas (sp?) as the race unfolds on the widescreen TV.

Anyone else have a routine they follow? Just curious to know how other F1 fans get the most out of their racing enjoyment.

[JForce]

Over here most races are on about 1am.....usually I play PS2 until it starts, and sit down with a blanket and some snack food....I like to be ready well before it starts...Iv'e got this thing about missing bits....

[warchild]

I live in the Pacific Time Zone so I have to drag my sorry ass out of bed at around 4-430am. I brush my teeth, pour a big glass of OJ and lie down on my couch under a nice, warm blanket. When the race is over, I usually crawl back into bed for a few hours and then start my day for real. I think there should be more races in America

[Mat]

I'm in Australia, so the normal european races are on at 10pm Sunday eve. I will get home from work at about 6pm, have my dinner, check the morning warm up times on the net usually. I set the VCR to tape the race and I head out to the pub at about 8:30pm, and watch the race live with my friends over a few beers on the big screen!

Can't wait for the tension to rise, and arguments to start this year!

Mat

[tombr]

I have TiVo so I just set it to record the race. That way, I don't have to get up early and can watch it (usually with my wife) after the kids go to bed. As I watch the race (same for qualifying), I put it on tape and cut out the commercials. I've got the last 3 seasons taped.

This hit a snag 2 seasons ago when my Dad was at our house and trying to see how the TiVo worked. I hadn't seen the race and was in the other room when I heard the roar of engines and the announcer say "... and now he'll head for the pits where the champagne awaits the new world champion, Michael Schumacher!" So much for watching the race.

[AdrianM]

The races start around 10:30, 11 so I will watch a movie or do some homework until then and get into bed and watch it/tape it in my room. My dad and brother usually watch soccer on the main tv as that has cable connection :yawn:

[D. Heimgartner]

When I'm in the US, I just stumble out of bed to the couch and lay down and watch the race... still half asleep, but once the action gets going, I get really animated and wake up anyone living within 200 feet...

During summers when I'm on the Old Continent, (races start at 2pm), I'll lounge out in the sun all day, go for a bike ride, take a nap. My mom usually cooks a large feast for Sunday's lunch, so I always have to rush her to have the meal around 1:30pm. Just as the pre-race activities end, I move into the rec room to watch the race.

After the race, I always come to the Atlas BB to see what everyboyd's opinion of the race was...

[kanec]

Acknowledge the flag all day long and make sure everyone in the room has acknowledged the flag before the formation lap (yes it must be before), start drinking beer an hour before the race starts, and have a ciggy already lit as they start the cars of on the formation lap (thanks to Suzuka 98).



Now this is something that I haven't thought of til now, how in earth am I going to find time to get to the fridge with no ads this year?;)

[knighton]

My girlfriend records the show as she has Speedvision, and live races are usually broadcast very early in the U.S. Later that evening, her, a friend from Estonia, and myself all watch the race while feasting on food and either beer or (sometimes "and") wine from whatever country is hosting the race.

[SeanValen]

I sit on a bridgestone tyre as I watch the race, having Pizza, and supporting Ferrari. Excellent

[SeanValen]

On a early morning Sunday to watch Aussie race, I sometimes deliberately, pour 1/4 of a drink in my glass, such a small moderation, this way I can simulate a pitstop to the kitchen, since I'm on a light drink load, I can throw myself around the table and doors with so much ease, and overtake my competitors who also want drinks, I normally wear tracksuits to feel properly set up like a F1 car with engineers, except I have my tailor.

Excellent

[aportinga]

Friday morning the 6x8 ft Ferrari flag goes up outside the house and the Ferrari car window flag is clamped on!

If I go out at night I either wear my BMW or Ferrari hat.

That's just about it!

[Ricardo F1]

European Races I'm like warchild - crawl out of bed between 4-4:30 (3:50am for qualifying) - boil kettle, make coffee, open packet of cigs . . . . (nervous tension)

[Scoop]

In contrast to all here, european races are all on prime time tv for me.... i stock up beer, whisky whatever i fancy and watch the race peacefully.. last year two channels were running the telecase live, and if one channel went on a commercial break, i switched to the other... so i received continuous telecast..

sometimes the two channels went for a break at the same time..


this year, there will be only one channel telecasting live... and the crazy channel does not show the whole post race interview.. just excerpts from the interview after 20 min of recap of the race that was just concluded live!

the nitwits who do raceday programming.. i'd condemn them to boiling in hot oil for eternity in hell ... accompanied by their own programming

[Keelan]

Wake up entirely too early in the morning. Ride my bike over to my parents place. Wake my Dad up and remind him it's race weekend. After the race and the interviews, it's off to the North Georgia mountains for some sport riding.

Usually later in the afternoon, I'll check out all the F1 sites for any news.

[Chris G.]

Pretty simple. Wake up for the race on about 3 hours of sleep. Watch race loudly. Wake up wife.

[OssieFan]

The European races are shown here in Australia at around 10:30 (if were very lucky) - 11:30pm. I usually get my lap charts ready and go through the morning warmup times. Then I take control of the TV from my parents and watch the race.

For races such as Brazil, Canada and the US, it's a matter of going to bed and anxiously trying to get up in time for the race. I usually try to get up half an hour beforehand and wake myself up.

[Ghostrider]

Originally posted by SeanValen
I sit on a bridgestone tyre as I watch the race, having Pizza, and supporting Ferrari. Excellent

You sure know how to enjoy a race!

[MONTOYASPEED]

Originally posted by SeanValen
I sit on a bridgestone tyre as I watch the race, having Pizza, and supporting Ferrari. Excellent

Excellent

If you were cheering for Montoya I would say: Excellent, on the edge, keep it up

[Scoop]

Originally posted by SeanValen
I sit on a bridgestone tyre as I watch the race, having Pizza, and supporting Ferrari. Excellent

You should try burning the tire instead.. might get you some sense of being on track..

[f1gpshop]

Qualifying and Race starts around 730pm here, i like watchng F1 on tv and live timing (f1-live.com) on the net at the same time so that i won't miss a thing while on commercial breaks and info on battles not shown on tv


cheers!;)

[RiverRunner]

I'm on the West coast of the US so I'm pretty much screwed,if I'm home I'll fold out the sofa bed and sleep in the TV room with an alarm to wake me up and hit the remote,generally though I'm at the River during race season w/o speedvision so i probably miss 80% of the races until I get home and watch tape.
I'm thinking of taking my sat dish to el rio though this year and seeing if it will work out there on a tripod,that's probably useless as well though,since we party until 2- 3 am out there and that means trying to stay awake to watch a race that comes on at 4-430 in la manana.

[niwanda]

Races in KL are normally at 8pm. Perfect timing, though I wouldn't mind if it was earlier as I get edgy having to wait so long! So Aussie is great, cos it's at noon. Just in time for brunch. I don't like to eat while watching tho.. can't concentrate.

For races in Canada and US which start at 4am sometimes I will be sprawled on the sofa half a zombie. Then I will go straight to work (I start at 8am). By that time i'm definitely a full zombie!

I prefer watching at home. There'll be lots of bickering between me (schumi fan) and my parents (McLaren fans). If my bro goes back home from med school it's more fun cos he's a fellow Schumi fan so he'll help me hurl verbal abuse to our parents. Last year they were pretty quiet though(wonder why!? Muahahahahaaaaaa!) Alas, this year, with the F2002 not ready yet , I'll have to be prepared!!

The race shown on our national tv is from ITV and the cable channel is from Star Sports. I switch over when there are commercial breaks. Unfortunately the cable coverage is actually 5 minutes slower!!! have to endure a race recap for the interview and not the whole thing too!

One really annoying thing about our national TV broadcast is that the minute the drivers start opening the champagne bottle they go to commercials. I know we're a muslim country and all that (ie drinking is forbidden) but come on already!!!!

[K-One]

Race day for me starts with hangover and watching warm up. After that I place my bets on the race having analysed free practices and warm up.
Around noon I'll try take a nap, but usually I'm´too excited to do that!
Race coverage starts about 2.30pm and I blast whole race through massive stereo sound system. All my friends say it's too loud and I'm too loud, so I usually watch races alone, sad...

oh I forgot, one ritual is to rip all the betting coupons during lap 1...

[30ft penguin]

Hmmm race day ritual ... this really depends on where the race is. For a usual race in Europe (which is where I live), the race day looks like this:

Get up five to ten minutes before the warmup, grab a can of coffee and the usual breakfast stuff, watch warmup (BernieTV) while having breakfast. Afterwards, do the usual hygiene routine, then surf the web (atlasf1 etc.) and do some other stuff until the pre-race TV stuff starts. Have something to eat while watching interviews etc. Twenty minutes before the race starts (when everybody drives to the grid), strategically place drinks/snacks so that I do not have to walk away from the TV while the race is on. Watch race (alone or with friends who came over). Afterwards surf the web again to discuss the race.

If it's a race outside Europe (i.e. if the race starts in the middle of the night, as in the case of Australia), it's like this:

Set alarm clock to something like ten minutes before warmup starts. Get up, grab LOTS of coffee, watch warmup, most likely using headphones because everybody else is still sleeping. Go back to bed, set alarm clock to something like one hour before the race start. Get up, grab even more coffee and an early breakfast, sit down in front of the TV, most likely again using headphones (and a blanket for added comfort). Watch race, afterwards do some minor surfing and discussing on atlasf1, then go back to bed

[clipper]

being in oz its a quick check of the warm up times around 7:00pm then watch the sunday night movie, and finally get to the highlight of the weekend, just me,with some some snacks and my michael schumacher voodoo doll!!

oh look in the mirror a couple of times before the race and make sure that my ron dennis haircut is still in tact. hey chicks dig it!!!

that and ron speak, the ladies are puddy in my hand mwahahahahahahaha!!!

[GL*]

For the European races, I will either wake up early or have my computer record the event since I'm in the eastern time zone and races start early Sunday morning (I'm usually out late Saturday). If the computer records it, I wake up in the morning a few hours after the race has finished and try to not listen to anything (i.e. radio newscasts, TV, parents talking about the race if they caught it). I then watch it "tape"-delayed so to speak and fast forward through the commercials. For the off-hour races I usually just stay up very late to watch them.

Nobody else in my house cares about F1 so when I do watch the race, I have my computer output to the TV and speakers, and I pump up the volume and bass so loud that I can get into the mood and feel as if I'm at the track:)

Which reminds me...I've got to go pick up a new 80GB hard disk so I can record the races at highest quality (0.5GB per minute)!

[CZM]

My race ritural starts on Saturday afternoon when I go off to the local supermarket to get stocked up on junk food and beer or wine (depending on the mood) for the race.

In the UK most of the races are shown in the afternoon, apart from Brazil, Canada, US in the evening and the others early morning.

If its an afternoon race I'll read the Sunday papers, watch the qualifying session on the video, then I'll either switch on the PS2 or listen to music

I make sure that my lunch / snacks are ready to eat just before the formation lap. Explain to my partner that I will not be leaving the house until after the race and the post race commentary have finished.

[duncanjn]

In OZ a group of us get together religiously like going to church around my place. Since it is pretty late at night we put the coffes on get the coke and chips and sit in the living room and bag each other and work out who is going to win. It is a good way for us dudes to get together and have a great time. Every second year we venture down to Melbourne and really let loose. In 99 we managed to gate crash the official McLaren Party at the Crown Casino but that is another story.

[Frans]

F1 day ritual.

over here it's europe, so most races are in a fine time on sundays. Accept the Japanese and Australian GP's, they are a bit early, what makes them diffrent from the rest. Aussie and Japan have a saterday night party untill the program starts on television. No sleep before the races is required, and to be oozed is an option on those 2 races. An total knock out follows after the podium ceremony.

The setup is really easy on every race, ( mostly watched with between 4 and 6 friends ) my Jos the Boss flag on my shoulders, my anti-schumi notebook. Many bags of chips and a loads of beer, and cola for the gorls...;) Some krokets and frikkandellen are added mostly as well, and a lot to smoke.

And taping the event is also part of the ritual.

F1 races are always great to watch. even if the race sucks it's kinda fun.

[Gemini]

...it all starts on Friday....I am in CET zone, so F1 Friday, I take long mid day lunch break (10:30-14:30), go home and watch both practice sessions. I have Bernie TV, so on Friday I mostly watch on-board cameras, as drivers are often struggling on that day, when looking for correct setups and checking the grip limits on some corners...

...Suturday I usually put VCR on duty to tape the qulifying and watch it in a evening, as I am usually out of home mid Saturday

...Sunday. Lazy breakfast while watching warm-up, some time on the net to check the news and to see what AltasF1 BBoer's are saying, then the race, usually with company...

My family life struggles , especially in nice summer months, as I don't want to leave the town every second Sunday

[frogbeef]

Originally posted by knighton
[BLater that evening, her, a friend from Estonia, and myself all watch the race while feasting on food and either beer or (sometimes "and") wine from whatever country is hosting the race. [/B]

Sounds like a great way to watch the race Knighton. I bet you can't wait to crack open a lovely bottle of Malaysian Chardonnay or how about a Japanese Cabernet.

So, tell me where do you get these wines

[klipywitz]

Since I am on Pacific Standard Time here in Los Angeles, the tradition really doesnt matter... Most races are early in the morning 4-6am, which makes it difficult to really do something, since none of your friends want to come over nor can you go somewhere.

BUT, when I lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I remember waking up Sunday morning to watch the races with my dad. As a matter of fact, I remember being awaken by the roar of the engines on the TV which my dad had already turned on and put the volume up. The smell of a waffles would already be on the air as well, since my father would take his time to make the Sunday breakfast. Then I would sit with him throughout the race and cheer for Piquet... We liked Senna too, but we much enjoyed Piquet's personality!

So, for me, Sundays with F1 remind me of those carefree days back when I was 10 or 11... and of course, my dad. Wise man, to have gotten me addicted to such a great thing! Now in Los Angeles, there are now waffles, and no company...

... unless somebody wants to start a group to watch the races!


And may God Bless Tivo, the loyal companion who saves us from total guilt when we fall asleep!

[Jimmino]

I´m from Europe, so all European Friday free practise "watching" on Internet, Saturday practise and qualification live on TV. So far I´m O.K. Sunday morning my wife trying to get out of our apartmen, because I´m starting to be nervous. Watching warm up, then I´ve got 4 hours to warm up myself with some "warm" liquid and gettig ready for start. Starting to watch about one hour before the start switching all 6 channels on my digital satellite. I´m doing the same throug all the race. In the evening I tape it for my archive and nice weekend is behind me.

[Booster]

I'm in Canada, Québec so most races are early morning. I don't get free practice on TV so I check the friday times and Sat. on the net. The qualifying is on Sat morning at around 7am. I usually get up at around 5am, make coffee and do the above before the qualif. 10 minutes before it starts, I wake up my girlfriend so that she can watch it with me.

On Sunday, I wake up at the same time and check the net for the morning practice times. Make coffee, wake girlfriend, grab a special beer that I pop open right after the formation lap... We watch the race, then we go down in our back yard to discuss the race and enjoy the sun.

We never missed a single race since 97.

Booster

[CONOSUR]

The routine starts on Thursday with the flying of the yellow Ferrari flag, which will stay up (even at night - lit, of course) until the end of race day. Should Ferrari win, the yellow flag gets replaced by the big red checkered Ferrari flag (if it's a Ferrari 1-2, then both flags are flown).

Here in the central U.S., we'll watch Friday practice in the evening when it's shown tape-delayed. Qualifying is watched live, if possible (Friday nights tend to go long...). If not, then tape-delayed around noon on Saturday after avoiding anything which could give away the results.

This race will be at 8:30pm for us on Saturday night. My wife and I will entertain 8-12 friends. We always have champagne, booze, beer, wine, etc. and lots of snacky-type foods and other assorted accouterments available. This year we're starting out with a 6.0L bottle (lots of mimosas Sunday morning )!

The usual European races are early Sunday morning. As always, we entertain about 6-8 friends. Lots of coffee and Irish Creme/brandy, flambé cafes, mimosas, hot breakfast, beers, etc. The broadcast is always run through the surround sound stereo and cranked up LOUD! Even the outdoor speakers are used when the camera goes to in-car (our neighbors actually do like us - they're usually over here!). The races are taped live (always) with commercials edited out (usually).

All in all, it's usually one mega party, no matter the time of day or night, with plenty of boisterous attendees who are massively into F1. Heck, we've even converted a few NASCRAPPERs

Anyways, here's to Australia; F1; and global friends... Cheers!




And for my fellow Ferrari fans... here's to Michael; Rubens; and Ferrari... FORZA!!

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

I'm in NYC and have to see Euro quals at 700am and races at 8am. I am very careful that at least half my apartment complex (very thin walls BTW) can hear the roar of the engines and commenting in the summer. Bring on F1 to all peoples of the world!!! [poor neighbours but i don't care, i have to endure their stupid music sometimes ] I also tend to shout out very loud during exciting times. I hope they don't call the cops on me because sometimes I can get out of control.

[Texas]

I wake up an hour before the race. Usually 5:00am CST. I make breakfast and get on the internet to check warm up times. I then start chain smoking (even though I quit) until the race starts. I quietly sneak into the bedroom and turn the TV on in the bedroom. That way when I get excited I can yell to my fiance to wake up and watch the race. Then it's off to the couch. I'm usually fine until the announcers instruct you to crank up the volume and listen to the start of the whatever GP. I tend to go a little overboard at this point. I usually here a voice from the bedroom telling me to turn it down. I pace for most of the race and like to yell at the TV. After the race, I'm usually to ajcked up to sleep so it's off to the Gym. After that I just try to have a productive day.

Now the races in Asia and australlia are a little different. I drink while I watch the race. By the time it's over I'm loaded and ready to go out. It's pretty sad when you need a designated driver on the way to the bars. Oh well. I can deal with that three times a year.

I can't wait. Cheers to all of my F1 friends on the eve of another fabulous season. Let's hope this a safe year for everyone.

Peace

[Ghostrider]

Raceday usually follows a quite similar pattern everytime for me, provided I am at home and not away somewhere. I wake up at 9.00 (hopefully), surf around on F1-sites(primarily AtlasF1 bulletin board) for half an hour, then I follow the warm-up on the internet with multiple browsers going on the same time. One here discussing the warm-up with fellow Atlas people, one at F1-Live following times and commentary and sometimes one either on formula1.com or dailyf1. After warm-up I start preparing for the race. If it is nice weather I'll go out for a walk or does something with friends. Sometimes I watch the race from the year before at the current circuit. I also surf a little on the internet, getting the latest info. At 13.45 I usually turn on Danish TV, since they start their sending ten minutes earlier than Swedish TV. At 13.55 I am very nervous and when the start go I am often standing in front of the tv very excited. Then I and sometimes some friends follow the race very intensely and we don't talk that much actually. Afterwards we analyze and in the evening I surf around and of course discuss the race here at Atlas!!!

[Viss1]

Originally posted by Texas
It's pretty sad when you need a designated driver on the way to the bars. Oh well. I can deal with that three times a year.

Geez, I do that every weekend.

I'm on EST, so I wake up at about 7AM, ignore the fiancee's attempts to get me to stay in bed, and hit the couch. Coffee is made during the first commercial break.

[Brian O Flaherty]

Ah let me see

For the Euro GP's my ritual is to get out of bed at midday and turn on the TV (it's a hard life )

For Ozzie, Japan & Malaysia I go to a nightclub and come home real late then stay up to watch them at about 3-5am.

For Brazil, Canada & USA I come home from work and veg at between 5-7pm

[goalposthead]

Since the Speedvision coverage of the European races starts at 7:30am for me, I set the VCR and turn up my stereo amplifier really loud. Then, when the VCR timer kicks on at 7:30, the signal is sent to the amp and, Voila, I get awoken by F1 sounds!

If only my wife were as enthusiastic about this procedure as I am...

[Leisure Boy]

I live in the US east coast so it's usually an early start.

Walk over to my friends house which is easy to find even through my blood shot eyes. He has that Ferrari flag hanging from his bedroom window just to irritate me.

He does make up for it by mixing mean Bloody Marys. Sometimes the guy even gets his wife to make breakfast for us.

Can't wait or Australia to start.

[Pets22]

Gee - i really don't have a ritual. Races are early (7:30am) in Cayman - I' up at about 5 scanning the web sites until the red lights. Its a solo effort though - i can't find any fans to watch with

[Mr Melvin]

Well as i work when F1 is on, i have to video most of the races except the fly away ones.

Ah well, i'll be going to 3 GP's this year.

[tifoso]

We did this last August here. Keith_Jagrs "outted" me.;) How many race day routines have changed from then until now?

[SeanValen]

Originally posted by MONTOYASPEED


Excellent

If you were cheering for Montoya I would say: Excellent, on the edge, keep it up

Well I will be cheering for Montoya in a way also, I want him to challenge Schuey, beat Ralf, become a force to be reckoned with, Michael and Montoya making the 2002 season exciting is another thing I'm cheering for:up: :up:Excellent:up::up: On the edge of the kerb of this post

[Turbo]

Well it starts at 6:30am most races where I live, so...

I make or order out some food I really like the night before that won't kick my butt too much as a breakfast and wrap and store it.

Up at 5:45. Quick shower then run some laps of the track on my PS2.

6:30 - wide awake and ready to rock. Phone is unplugged, speakers are up, track map is fresh in my mind. Enjoying the pre-race, getting impatient. Food is heating in the micro.

7:00 - riveted to the screen, a nice dose of adrenaline going

7:30? - depends on the race. Usually still riveted and feeling quite good from the primo food. For a great race I'll have post-race good feelings for up to hours later. But for Hungary or say Barcelona in recent years? Feeling drowsy, fighting to stay involved, wondering what I was so excited about in the first place.

Back when FoxSports and SV both had coverage I'd follow the above for the Speedvision coverage, then if the race was good I'd watch it again in the afternoon on FoxSportsNet along with some friends and a couple finely crafted ales.

Japan is always cool. Go out and hit the clubs then just go directly to the sports bar to end the night!

[SeanValen]

Originally posted by Scoop


You should try burning the tire instead.. might get you some sense of being on track..

Nice one Scoop:up: I don't want to risk a fire in my house by burning it, although I think I might invest in those tyre heated covers, preheat the Bridgstone tyres before I sit on it and watch the race, why not leave the my pizza on the hot tyre as well, simmer it, in case the race draws me away from the pizza from time to time.

On the edge of excellence

[Brian O Flaherty]

Originally posted by Turbo
Well it starts at 6:30am most races where I live, so...

I make or order out some food I really like the night before that won't kick my butt too much as a breakfast and wrap and store it.

Up at 5:45. Quick shower then run some laps of the track on my PS2.

6:30 - wide awake and ready to rock. Phone is unplugged, speakers are up, track map is fresh in my mind. Enjoying the pre-race, getting impatient. Food is heating in the micro.

7:00 - riveted to the screen, a nice dose of adrenaline going

7:30? - depends on the race. Usually still riveted and feeling quite good from the primo food. For a great race I'll have post-race good feelings for up to hours later. But for Hungary or say Barcelona in recent years? Feeling drowsy, fighting to stay involved, wondering what I was so excited about in the first place.

Back when FoxSports and SV both had coverage I'd follow the above for the Speedvision coverage, then if the race was good I'd watch it again in the afternoon on FoxSportsNet along with some friends and a couple finely crafted ales.

Japan is always cool. Go out and hit the clubs then just go directly to the sports bar to end the night!

Good one Planning the grub from the night before. I like it.

Never thought of "getting the track map fresh in my mind" Might start that this season. Get up @ 11 instead of 12