What a day. As I sit writing my post at the end of a stunning first visit to a Formula One Grand Prix, I really don't know where to start? This is a strange experience as most of you know, I am rarely lost for words!
I had wondered during the wee small hours whether or not we would actually get to see any racing at all today. I had looked out of the window three times during the night and on each occasion, the rain was bouncing off the tarmac outside. It was still doing this when we set off for the Circuit of the Americas at 0830 this morning but had been reassured by the local weather man that by 1100, the rain would stop? For a city that had received in excess of 6" in the previous 24 hours, this was some prediction.
Everybody had been instructed to take the Express Shuttle out to the circuit from the city centre and so it was that we checked in and five minutes later were boarding one of the iconic yellow school buses for our 25 minute journey. Very impressed with the efficiency demonstrated by the organisers but sadly, not to be repeated for the return journey!!
Great atmosphere, something that you never get through the pictures on your tv screen and despite the relentless rain, everyone was clearly there to enjoy themselves.
We had had much debate the previous day regarding our planned attire. Shorts and flip flops? Jeans and trainers? Or just go naked?? Warmer attire won the day although the items that proved of most value were our $4 plastic ponchos from Walmart. Not a fashion statement as the photos reveal but oh boy, we'd have been wet without them.
We found a great viewing position at Turn 19 but stared both enviously and longingly at all the spectators who had brought collapsible chairs. I did at one point think of pinching a couple of the many that were left empty prior to the start of the race but Linda wouldn't let me! Instead we spent almost four hours on our feet watching proceedings but at least the rain had stopped as had been predicted.
I don't need to detail anything about the race other than that it was the best of the season, incredibly exciting and that Lewis Hamilton retained his World Championship title. How could we be so lucky to have chosen Austin as our first F1 experience?
We even got to walk the track and see some of the post race activity in the pit lane. I could go on and on and on and in fact might return to the topic before the end of the holiday but must finish tonight's post on a slightly more downbeat note.
We were so impressed by our experience with the shuttle service in the morning. American organisation and efficiency at its best. How could tonight be so different??
Having been on our feet for virtually the whole of the day and also due to Glastonbury type ground conditions, we decided to skip the Elton John concert and beat a hasty retreat back to the city?? Hasty was not what it turned out to be and we ended up queuing for no less than two and a quarter hours to get a shuttle bus! By the time we reached the front of the queue, our legs had ceased to operate and we both needed a hoist to get us onto the bus! The system was ridiculous but we determined not to let ruin what had been a wonderful day.
It is unlikely that either of us will be able to walk in the morning but any suffering yet to come will have been worth it.
I had wondered during the wee small hours whether or not we would actually get to see any racing at all today. I had looked out of the window three times during the night and on each occasion, the rain was bouncing off the tarmac outside. It was still doing this when we set off for the Circuit of the Americas at 0830 this morning but had been reassured by the local weather man that by 1100, the rain would stop? For a city that had received in excess of 6" in the previous 24 hours, this was some prediction.
Everybody had been instructed to take the Express Shuttle out to the circuit from the city centre and so it was that we checked in and five minutes later were boarding one of the iconic yellow school buses for our 25 minute journey. Very impressed with the efficiency demonstrated by the organisers but sadly, not to be repeated for the return journey!!
Great atmosphere, something that you never get through the pictures on your tv screen and despite the relentless rain, everyone was clearly there to enjoy themselves.
We had had much debate the previous day regarding our planned attire. Shorts and flip flops? Jeans and trainers? Or just go naked?? Warmer attire won the day although the items that proved of most value were our $4 plastic ponchos from Walmart. Not a fashion statement as the photos reveal but oh boy, we'd have been wet without them.
We found a great viewing position at Turn 19 but stared both enviously and longingly at all the spectators who had brought collapsible chairs. I did at one point think of pinching a couple of the many that were left empty prior to the start of the race but Linda wouldn't let me! Instead we spent almost four hours on our feet watching proceedings but at least the rain had stopped as had been predicted.
I don't need to detail anything about the race other than that it was the best of the season, incredibly exciting and that Lewis Hamilton retained his World Championship title. How could we be so lucky to have chosen Austin as our first F1 experience?
We even got to walk the track and see some of the post race activity in the pit lane. I could go on and on and on and in fact might return to the topic before the end of the holiday but must finish tonight's post on a slightly more downbeat note.
We were so impressed by our experience with the shuttle service in the morning. American organisation and efficiency at its best. How could tonight be so different??
Having been on our feet for virtually the whole of the day and also due to Glastonbury type ground conditions, we decided to skip the Elton John concert and beat a hasty retreat back to the city?? Hasty was not what it turned out to be and we ended up queuing for no less than two and a quarter hours to get a shuttle bus! By the time we reached the front of the queue, our legs had ceased to operate and we both needed a hoist to get us onto the bus! The system was ridiculous but we determined not to let ruin what had been a wonderful day.
It is unlikely that either of us will be able to walk in the morning but any suffering yet to come will have been worth it.
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