Track invasion at the end of the British GP

[Paul Newns]

When I started going to the GP you got value for money. A full day's racing, with support races both before and after the main event. I recall F3, touring cars, FF1600, Metro Challenge, Thundersports (remember them?), and of course, historics, at various events, along with a full air display at Brands. That was in addition to the usual supporting events such as Opel Lotus and Porsches (they seem to have been on the programme for ever). A pity we don't get that now. Four races seems a complete rip off to me, especially at today's ticket prices.

[Steve Tarrant]

Originally Posted by Paul Newns

When I started going to the GP you got value for money. A full day's racing, with support races both before and after the main event. I recall F3, touring cars, FF1600, Metro Challenge, Thundersports (remember them?), and of course, historics, at various events, along with a full air display at Brands. That was in addition to the usual supporting events such as Opel Lotus and Porsches (they seem to have been on the programme for ever). A pity we don't get that now. Four races seems a complete rip off to me, especially at today's ticket prices.

That's BCE's progress for you!!!!

[Stack]

Track invasion! Should not have been allowed! Ban Silverstone from holding a Grand Prix and relocate to Donington.....
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(.....or Cadwell Park!)

[Shelagh]

We always used to call the race after the main event as the "crowd control" - in that it gave time for the carparks to start clearing before the diehards wanted to leave.

Niece had the best day ever and did see "future husband" - so well done me for guessing right on where to sit them!

[deadsquirrel]

Originally Posted by Stack

Track invasion! Should not have been allowed! Ban Silverstone from holding a Grand Prix and relocate to Donington.....

Don't even mention the Monkey Dance after the Porsche race (a rather neat way to cover up omitting to put the Chequered flag out at the correct point) :-) [Something I thought I'd NEVER see at a UK F1 race]

[PapaJuliet]

Originally Posted by deadsquirrel

Don't even mention the Monkey Dance after the Porsche race (a rather neat way to cover up omitting to put the Chequered flag out at the correct point) :-) [Something I thought I'd NEVER see at a UK F1 race]

Jan and I had a pretty good go at Brands Hatch when the race was red flagged AND we had the incident which caused it AND we had oil which had caused the incident AND we had the doctors car.

We were displaying all the flags we could legitimately display at the same time.

PJ

[Steven Humphrey]

Originally Posted by numbersix

Excellent. Was marshal access a little more relaxed this year? I remember working at Copse Inner, pushing a car backwards down the pit lane exit and not being allowed to take one step over a certain line that denoted the pit lane on pain of instant dismissal.

I'm just wondering if the welcome relaxation in crowd control also extended a little towards us as well?

I had no problems with security on the new pit straight-they let all of our crew use disabled toilets to save battling with the punters, we were allowed into pits for the marshal's pit walk from the wrong end, to save walking around the back and those of us who joined in the podium celebrations were let into the pits through a gate by a couple of security guys before the masses arrived.

[Guinness2702]

Originally Posted by deadsquirrel

Don't even mention the Monkey Dance after the Porsche race (a rather neat way to cover up omitting to put the Chequered flag out at the correct point) :-)

Not the only cock-up! I put my yellow light on, when somebody pulled off the track at the back of the grid for the start of Sunday's GP2 race (in part, thinking they would hold the start and clear it first) .... forgetting that it would cause the green to flash, right in front of the front row.

[Jayne Poston]

It may have looked great on TV

It may have been great for the fans

But it was blinking scary been in the Pit Lane protecting the cars in parc ferme under the podium and seeing the masses running at you .......... (I'm only 5'2")

We were all on high security alert (Thanks to some idiots)

So personally I would have been happier without the 'track invasion'

Perhaps a Support Race or two after the GP next year?

[AMP Marshal]

Originally Posted by Jayne Poston

It may have looked great on TV

It may have been great for the fans

But it was blinking scary been in the Pit Lane protecting the cars in parc ferme under the podium and seeing the masses running at you .......... (I'm only 5'2")

We were all on high security alert (Thanks to some idiots)

So personally I would have been happier without the 'track invasion'

Perhaps a Support Race or two after the GP next year?

A quote from the wife, we marshal as a family, she says, " carry a big stick girlie ", sage advise.

[gachjoel]

was great for the fans all around the circuit.
bring it on next year and hope they do the same again.
plus by the time the speccies have finished, there won't be so many marbles left to clean up

[SouthportFC Fan]

During the last three laps of the GP, I could have done without the distraction of ensuring all of our stuff was 'in a safe place', moving the spectator marshals' stuff to the same place and having some 'security' people without credentials but with the obligatory shaved heads and wraparounds appear at the access gate.

I could also have done without the need to lug all my stuff to the 'old' Race Control to drop off my radio, headset and the post's KERS gloves, just because the Rescue Unit based at Stowe Apron that was meant to pick up radio, etc., couldn't get to me at Stowe-Club Outside and decided to return directly WD to the old Race Control. It's a shame they couldn't have waited three minutes at Stowe Apron where we were due to get on the busses from.

It took the edge off an otherwise excellent weekend.

[haystacks]

What spoiled it for me ,was the farce on sat evening, half hour wasted for one car to run round 2 laps.

[zakeriath]

Originally Posted by haystacks

What spoiled it for me ,was the farce on sat evening, half hour wasted for one car to run round 2 laps.

Just for one lucky Vodafone winner, to have a ride with Pedro De La Rosa.

Maybe Vodafone, will do something for the marshals next year,

yeah right I hear you say.

[Steven Humphrey]

Originally Posted by gachjoel

plus by the time the speccies have finished, there won't be so many marbles left to clean up

Track invasion after every F1 session? Sounds like a great idea, those marbles were a nightmare to sweep up!!

[HairyDJ]

I stayed well clear of Bernie's clubbie, as usual. However, I am concerned that future events (that won't have the crowd control personnel) will suffer from unofficial invasions "because it's allowed now". Classic & Renault are the most likely to cause greatest problems?

[Steven Humphrey]

Originally Posted by HairyDJ

I stayed well clear of Bernie's clubbie, as usual. However, I am concerned that future events (that won't have the crowd control personnel) will suffer from unofficial invasions "because it's allowed now". Classic & Renault are the most likely to cause greatest problems?

I have to say it was very well controlled. We were briefed by the Chief IO on the sunday morning (being on the pit straight, we were right in the firing line). The whole thing was kept from the fans until after the race, to avoid any unnecessary problems ('Do not invade the track' was repeatedly put on the screens near the end of the GP). It was actually called a 'controlled egress' rather than an invasion!

[FRENCHIE44T]

Originally Posted by Darren Holmes

Yes, Friday night. The new pits are impressive to say the least and the pit exit is quite steep, at least it felt like it after a day's marshaling!

Almost like Abu Dhabi without the tunnel

[m1fcf]

Originally Posted by FRENCHIE44T

Almost like Abu Dhabi without the tunnel

I dont know about that - that pit exit is in a pretty deep hoe of it's own - wouldnt take much to put a roof on.

Did I hear a rumour somewhere that next year the top teams will be at Pit Entry so the fans can see them?

[Steven Humphrey]

Originally Posted by m1fcf

Did I hear a rumour somewhere that next year the top teams will be at Pit Entry so the fans can see them?

They should have been this year. It was Bernie that made them switch around so the corporate & Paddock Club guests would have a better view of the top teams.

[Bryan Degerlund]

Originally Posted by Steven Humphrey

They should have been this year. It was Bernie that made them switch around so the corporate & Paddock Club guests would have a better view of the top teams.

...which, apparently, they didn't have anyway,

[Steven Humphrey]

Originally Posted by Bryan Degerlund

...which, apparently, they didn't have anyway,

Shame....

[TwoSheds]

Originally Posted by Bryan Degerlund

...which, apparently, they didn't have anyway,

But I did on Flag Post 2 (Abbey In)...

[haystacks]

But I was on the first bus back to the campsite!!!!

[NaBUru38]

I prefer unorganized invasions, like this one I was last year. I had general admission tickets, yet I had a chance to enter the pitlane after the Sunday races.