anyone go to mondello today ?

[batman1]

What do you make of the track and the facilities there ? would the facilities be representitive of whats available in the uk at brans or snetterton silverstone etc????.

[Carrie]

There's quite a few people from the forum who've made the trek over to Mondello, but I doubt if any of them are home yet to give their opinions.

[touringlegend]

From what I've saw on the TV and in pictures last year the pit facilites are very impressive, they definitely put some circuits to shame.

[MagnetON]

The circuit has had around £5M spent on it in the last couple of years. The entire pit lane was re-built, as was the control tower and medical center. Mondello is now an FIA class 2 circuit and held a round of the FIA Sportscar championship last year as well as having (now) hosted two years of BTCC.

It could do with more permanent toilet blocks, however, given that the entire population of Ireland is somewhat less than many English cities the facilities are usually more than adequate for normal spectator figures.

I'd like to see them extend the catch fencing to allow spectators access to the "back" parts of the circuit (for those of you looking at your BTCC program maps corners such as "Turn 3" and "Lola"), however given the close proximity of these to the actual circuit perimeter I'm not sure how feasible that would be.

[Claire]

I went to Mondello over the weekend and had a great time, the fencing is very high around the bits of the track you can get too so would recommend a granstand seat as you get to see quite a bit of the track as it's very twisty. The facilities are ok but nothing like Brands or Silverstone, few traffic jams with people trying to get from one side of the paddock to the other over a rather thin bridge!! Better ask Colin Turkington about the food (or not as the case maybe) but there were plenty of food and drink stands as well as some trade stands. I thought it was ok and will be making a return visit next year. The racing was good although we saw quite a bit of the safety car and the weather was damp at times but overall I give it a thumbs up.

[Les]

Mondello is an experience!!
The circuit is really only accessible on the grandstand side and as Claire says - the bridge needs to be doubled in size.
The media/medical centre is very good, the pits are pretty good though some teams were complaining about the size of the garages.
10 out of 10 to 'Toilet Annie' who does a grand job in the paddock and is a lovely lady.
Food was lovely though not a lot of choice (they think Colin's tummy bug is down to his water bottle - samples have been sent off for analysis).

One thing they will need to do - more banking to stand on. There is only a thin strip to stand on around the track so viewing spots are pretty hard to find if there is a crowd.

[redshoes]

Just home from another great Mondello weekend.

There's not been that many major changes from last year but good to see some things are being addressed.

Pit garages are on the small side compared to somewhere like Silverstone or maybe Brands but palacial compared to Oulton or Thruxton. Paddock was a little too crowded but then last year some of the supports were housed in the tarmac/grass area outside of the first corner.

Seem to remember more portaloos compared to last year, but agree permanent blocks would be a big plus.

Spectator access from HP to turn 3 is in the pipeline as soon as the catchfencing can be installled. Don't know how soon that's likely to be. Should be a pretty good place to view from as/when it happens.

As a spectator my main complaint would be the lack of proper grass banking. You basicially have to stand with your nose against the fence. Very difficult to stand 2 or 3 deep and see anything. Again, it's on the to do list, especially around Birranes/MG.

Colin's problem was water taken from a tap in the pits, not the catering stands, which BTW were better tasting and slightly cheaper than we get over here.

Being Ireland I have to mention the paddock bar, although the less said about the DJ's choice of music the better

[T.H.Photo]

hey i was the dj what was wrong with it

[redshoes]

Come on Eileen
Stars on 45
Jive Bunny !!

I rest my case

Just needed the Birdie Song to complete the set.

[T.H.Photo]

can`t keep u all happy

[EvilPumpkin]

red - I don't know what you're complaining about - you had a press pass - I saw you lurking around the PDC taking sneaky photos of innocent marshals........

[El_Gibleto]

Good News, I'm told that Colin is now back at home and should be back to normal by the end of the week.

[T.H.Photo]

hey redshoes
i still hope u had good time i will try to have better music
for u next all the songs stars on 45 play for a long time
more time for me to drink

[redshoes]

EP, were those hand signals you gave me in the marshal's handbook.

skid, actually nothing wrong with Stars on 45, as it gave us an impromptu Alan Partridge/Alan Hyde tribute moment - knowing me, knowing you, AH-HAA!!

[EvilPumpkin]

red - no, they're in the David Coulthard "unsportsmanlike gesture" hand book

Just be glad I didn't decide to request a "half suspended tow" (tell ya bout that one if you make it to Anglesey)

[Lorna]

lol! I think I know that sign, EP

And EP. That's my fault about the marshal photo taking. I mentioned it to him as I didn't venture out to take photos this weekend. I did, however, go and say hello to Wicked Witch and Shinners. Are you sure those to are allowed to stand at the same post together?

Nigel - your comments about the circuit - wasn't it mentioned that they would be doing something about the grass banking?

[EvilPumpkin]

We've tried to separate them but they're just soooooo gay....(in joke! )

The banking at Mondello is a standard for complaints - but to be honest, I don't think it's that much worse than some of the other circuits I've visited. Mondello have done an awful lot in a short period of time. I would expect to see more changes as they gain more international recognition - but like all circuits, until they get the spectators, they're unlikely to have the finances to do it until they get more of the bigger events!

[redshoes]

Fergus did say the 'tented village' area was being worked on. That's the Birranes / MG / Paddock section in the midde. The overhead power cables could be a problem but I recon if they got rid of teh pond and created a big grass bank it could be a great place to watch from.

[MagnetON]

The pond used to live in the paddock, they filled it in and it appeared over at its current location. So folks, place your bets as to where it'll appear if they fill it in again!

[Claire]

Glad to hear that Colin is on the mend and it wasn't the food!! Reading other comments have to agree about the banking, made taking photos a little difficult but on the whole I liked it, relaxed atmosphere, could actually walk around during the pit lane walkabout without getting elbows in my face or hit on the head by a flying caps. Roll on next year I for one will be going back.

[Alan Hyde]

And now it's time for Alan's fact of the day....

Crab sticks do not actually contain any crab.

Another one of those, same time tomorrow.

[Lorna]

Thanks Alan. I think I can sleep tonight now

[WoodyTJ]

Wonderful weekend Mondello is FAB! - and nice to meet so many friendly people ....... pictures what pictures?

[WoodyTJ]

Picture No1

[WoodyTJ]

Picture No2