An awesome Grand Prix of Awesomeness

[simongr]

From hubris to awesome

So awilcockson mentioned in the P1 special benefits thread that he got a ticket to the [-]Thursday[/-] Friday at the Grand Prix courtesy of QF. My response was of course “Hey isn’t that great!” but a whiney “hmph I didn’t get anything”. The response to that was not the deserved kick to touch for the grumpy bum but a thoroughly unexpected offer from bossreggie along the lines of “I have a spare ticket to race day if you want it...”

There was only one condition though – I had to find someone else to take – someone with no status, a love of F1 and a good contributor to AFF. Quite a combination – but I will come to that later.

So after having bagged a ticket I then had to work out how to get there – with only three weeks to the race! A quick call to the P1 line and then redirection to premium awards (I will come back to that as well) and I almost had an award flight booked – problem was that I couldn’t get back in the evening unless I took an 8PM flight (and the race was scheduled to end at 7PM so that wasn’t going to work).

Then I realised this week was a Melbourne visit week so a quick shuffle of meetings and I was then on a paid ticket to Melbourne which meant transfers would have limited cost to me. I actually saved money for the company as there would be no hotel fee this week. I was actually able to book the Hilton South Wharf on points :shock:

 

[simongr]

And the Winner is...

So after scratching my head and other body parts I decided that the easiest way to pick the winner was to post a competition. It was anything but easy :shock:
The hard part really was choosing between the various “applications” and being fair. Given the strict criteria of no SG or above the field was actually pretty narrow. At the end of the day it was about contribution to AFF and passion about F1.

So late on the Monday before the GP Must...Fly! got a PM with some instructions. At the same time he also got a bit more detail on what the prize actually consisted of.



This was a very P1 prize – so not only did we get the QF Corporate Tickets but we got the added bonus of a pit lane walk on race day :shock:!

I think people in my office were starting to get a bit sick of the giggling, grinning simongr...

 

[simongr]

A very Qantas week

Well it was turning out to be a very Qantas week. Not only was about to be their guest at the F1 I was also going to be at the RockPool lunch with the CEO of Qantas Loyalty.

This meant arranging time off for that, making the long haul journey from the office to RockPool (QF didn’t provide any transport – to my displeasure) and then the long journey home after the lunch – where I might have been a little squiffy...

It really was a great day and I think made a little sweeter by how it fitted into the broader very Qantas week.

 

[simongr]

QF415 SYD-MEL

Seat [-]27J[/-] 3F

Having perused the prize and worked out the awesomeness of the seats and package I decided to bring forward my flight to ensure that I would have time for the pit lane walk. Now just to explain – I have two PAs. Not because I am that important but they job share. One of them primarily supports our Chairman and supports me on the days when the other PA isn’t around. One of them is better at allocating seats on my flights than the other. So I had allocated seats on my original 9AM flight and then asked to move to an 8AM flight. The change to 8AM was duly done and all was good.

However, when checking in on line I saw no seats allocated :shock: so I was then allocated 27J :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: I hadn’t been this far back in the bus for probably a year or three :shock:

Not much I could do so grumpily I went to a friends place for a birthday BBQ on Saturday and came home to see the rain thrashing Melbourne. The good side to this was that it meant we got to see qualifying and the Race and not just the race!!

A little blearily I got in the car at 6:30AM on Sunday morning to head to the airport. Given the sub-zero temperatures in MEL I was wearing a jacket for the journey – a fairly smart one given the prestigious event I was attending. Given my obsessive compulsion I had planned to get a card boarding pass at the lounge to tuck into my jacket so I could hang it up with an obvious boarding pass for the crew to spot. Often they can’t find the mini BP docket that gets generated at the gate.

So through security (skilfully and slowly packing my bag after security some other sap would get pulled up by the explosives test – I expect karma to repay me on the way home) and off to the lounge it was. I asked if they would be kind enough to print a BP – which they did. It was only when I was a few steps away that I saw my seat had changed – to 3F! Given my lack of Op Ups on QF this was indeed a nice start to the day.

I was of course careful to ensure I had appropriate footwear – especially now as I was in J!



The flight itself was ok – a slightly chatty seat buddy whose friend’s wife had surprised his friend with flights to the F1 with nine of his mates. As we chatted we got around to flying – he is LTG with QF, flies to the US in J five times a year and frequent trips to Asia. I suggested he might benefit from joining a certain website...

The remainder of the flight was uneventful – apart from the 10 – 15 minute wait to open the doors...

So it was straight out of the plane and to the waiting car. A fairly swift trip to Hilton South Wharf was followed by the good news that I was upgraded to a Relaxation Suite! I dumped the bags and headed out into the frosty wilds of Melbourne in search of Must...Fly! and a tram to my first ever F1!

 

[simongr]

A very squeezy bus

So out of the hotel and I touch base with Must...Fly! – he is just at Crown so perfect point to meet and catch a bus (blergh) to the circuit. There is a little moisture in the air but not what you would really call rain. The bus I snot what I would call a pleasant experience – I have loathed buses for many many years – maybe 30 years so I avoid at all costs. Recent history has been that I have only travelled on buses at airports...

Without many reference points due to aisle seating on the bus I am not really sure where we are (my complete lack of knowledge of Melbourne geography probably contributes as well). Eventually we get off at Gate 1 – which is meant to have a VIP entry/exit for us but we just use the QFF entry and it isn’t too slow.

Now to find the QF Fangio Retreat!

 

[simongr]

The Qantas Fangio Retreat

Well we found it – a giant inflatable QP with the slippiest flooring imaginable. We are warmly welcomed by Amanda from the P1 team. She asks if we are P1 (which I guess is a prompt as to whether she looks after us or someone else does). This has a somewhat convoluted response as although I am P1 I am there by virtue not of my P1 status but due to bossreggie’s generosity. As soon as I mention bossreggie Amanda knows exactly who I am. We are then given our pit lane walk lanyards, ponchos and ear plugs.

The retreat is nice – no sign of champagne so far (it is 10:30AM) but it is certainly better than walking on the grass. We sit briefly and work out a plan for the day. Due to the shocking weather yesterday we actually get to see qualifying so after a quick juice it is a short walk to the grandstand and qualifying.

We poncho up and use a third poncho to cover the seat (but I still end up with a wet backside). The seats are truly awesome. Second row about 20m from the start / finish line! Must...Fly! is suitably impressed!

This is my first F1 experience so the excitement is pretty much overwhelming!

 

[simongr]

LOUD

You think that annoying co-worker is loud? You think the trains rattling through [insert name of noisy tunnel here] is loud? You think a jet engine is loud? People – none of those are loud...

This is loud!

[video=youtube_share;3rmf2ciEqVo]http://youtu.be/3rmf2ciEqVo[/video]

 

[simongr]

Holy Carp – I am in the Pit Lane (and the real corporate hospitality)

After the qualifying it was back to the Fangio retreat for just a few minutes and then off to the Pit Lane Walk. This was just for the P1s (plus their guests of course). I wasn’t quite sure what was going on but to get to the Pit Lane we first had to go over the track. In a great moment of organisation the walkway over the track was a two storey uni-directional bridge – one way went on top of the bridge and coming back went under that group. Very well organised. After a walk through some paddocks we got to the Paddock Club – it seemed this was the only way to get to the Pit Lane. For the next 10 minutes we walked past all of the really good corporate hospitality – we thought we were doing well in the Fangio Retreat but this is where the real action is!

This parade went on for quite a while until we were outside again! Now we huddled in a queue for what seemed like an age but was probably only 20 minutes. We had a decent chat with a 7,000 SC P1 :shock: - he is very well known to QF

At one point I was starting to wonder whether this would be worth it... HELL YES it was! As we entered the Pit Lane we were really just there – stood next to the garages (no cars in them though as they were in lock down in advance of the race to prevent Ferrari cheating) looking straight down the Pit Lane. The Marrussia (spelling?) team were practicing tyre changes (and given the tactical nature of tyre changes during the race this was probably a good idea).

I got some great shots:

The pit lane itself:



And at the end of the Pit Lane – the Podium and the prize itself!



We then filed out of the Pit Lane and amazingly we had plopped out just outside where nlagalle was working. It was nice to finally meet him in person. He commutes to Sydney and I commute to Melbourne so we are rarely in the same place at the same time!

We had to say our goodbyes to nlagalle and make our way back (via the underbridge) to the Fangio Retreat for lunch and a well earned beer!

 

[TSOOBI]

LOUD

You think that annoying co-worker is loud? You think the trains rattling through [insert name of noisy tunnel here] is loud? You think a jet engine is loud? People – none of those are loud...

This is loud!

[video=youtube_share;3rmf2ciEqVo]http://youtu.be/3rmf2ciEqVo[/video]

I wish i had known thats where you guys were. We were in the Renault lounge opposite side of the track ( the tent where the LG signs are ) but yes awesome LOUD !

 

[Simo]

Great TR,

Wish I could have gone.

I was invited to a function at the F1 but not able to go. Big bugger

 

[nlagalle]

I wish i had known thats where you guys were. We were in the Renault lounge opposite side of the track ( the tent where the LG signs are ) but yes awesome LOUD !

Haha! I was next to that in the FIA media centre!!

 

[nlagalle]

And it was great to finally meet simongr who I usually wave to as our planes cross paths between MEL - SYD! And must fly.. Who looks a lot like LiamR!

 

[Chal-ky]

What a fantastic experience. So lucky to get the tickets....
Love the sound of the cars.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Doing a brilliant job in capturing the day so far simongr! I second your comments on the bus and the slippy floor - but it sure beats traipsing around in the mud and rain!

And it was great to finally meet simongr who I usually wave to as our planes cross paths between MEL - SYD! And must fly.. Who looks a lot like LiamR!

Really?! I have never met LiamR (I don't think), so perhaps if our paths cross at some time in the future I shall remember this post!

 

[simongr]

Actually doing some work today so will get onto this later...

 

[smdoherty]

I was there as a fire marshall Thursday through Sunday, an awesome experience.
We got to do a pit lane walk on Thursday evening when the cars where there.



Ricciardo's car in for scrutineering.

We possibly crossed paths as I also stayed at the HSW.

 

[simongr]

Updates to come tomorrow on this - I was quite ill last week and just catching up on things.

 

[simongr]

Apologies again - a shocking run of stuff included my dog dying last week so I hope to update this tomorrow.

 

[MadFairlane]

Apologies again - a shocking run of stuff included my dog dying last week so I hope to update this tomorrow.

Best wishes with that... Not a fun time at all...

 

[bossreggie]

I'm really pleased that you both had a good day.

Was a total pleasure to see the tickets go to people who really appreciate F1.