Going to first Formula1 race.

[autobonrun]

Back in the spring I asked your advice which F1 race should I attend if only one. Based on your comments and the track history, I selected Spa. I just found out the weekend includes F3000 racing as well as Porsche SuperCup. I should get a good 8 hours a day of action.

So, I'm shutting off the computer and heading to the airport. If I get some good photos, I'll post some when I return. Thanks again for the advice.

Spa has an excellent web page. Select the link, click on Calendar on the left and scroll down to September 1 to see the lineup.

http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/en/index2.html

[motion]

You bastard. I am jealous.

[SK]

Have fun Gerald. Take some good pics.

[Doug E]

Dang, this kinda makes my weekend plans pale in comparison.

Have fun, take plenty of pics and let us know how it was when you return!

Eau Rouge flat out, man!

Have a good time!

[Reg]

that was my choice!

The last of the real drivers circuit on their calender.

[Joeaksa]

Take rain gear. Not unusual for it to get wet there and that really dampens things.

You will love it...

Joe

[tchanson]

Absolutely.
Looks like it could be the usual changing weather conditions in the Ardennes. All part of the charm of the last semblance of a real F1 circuit that Bernie and Max haven't completely neutered.

Have a great weekend!

Tim

[Paul Franssen]

Autobonrun! Congratulations, you'll love it. Weather forecast is rather good, lucky you (me, too! for my bbq! I'm not going: bit to expensive to my taste) but nevertheless: Spa's great and, well, I just realized the bbq will be on just as the race is being run
BTW, the above picture IS the eau rouge, flat out is right! Racers gas it down, only inches away from the concrete wall of the main straight (in front of the terrace you see on the right), top speed say at least 300 kph, then -just before the curve- they switch from extreme right to extreme left of the road, then sweep up the curve at near top speed... Sometimes, it gets very tight just before the upward part! I've done it in a 993, and your stomach goes DOWN as the car flies up! One of the most impressive sights in car racing.

[wdarner]

I am jealous too! Hope you have/had a GREAT TRIP!

[stuartj]

Pack your EARPLUGS, I say EARPLUGS........

They are noisy little suckers. Have a great time

stuart 87 carrera

(100 metres from the Albert Pk circuit, Melbourne)

[autobonrun]

I got back last night. I flew from Brussels to London with the Honda racing team in my same section. I never saw such a sad group in my life (five of their engines blew up in the race and the sixth got an oil leak).

The weather was as advertised with fog the first day, followed by full sun, rain showers, and jacket weather for the race on Sunday. Every day started out for me at 4:30am for the 2 hour ride from Brussels to the track. Luckily the bus driver liked Clapton, Seger, and the Beatles, so the ride through the countryside was not a problem. Can't beat beer and waffles before 8am.

The track is everything advertised. The best time is practice day because so few people are there. It took me over an hour to hike the entire circuit. Much of the hike is up and down hills, through tunnels, and over streams. When the bridges got packed, people just took their shoes off and waded across. Funny scene watching some fall back in trying to get out the other side.

The views of the race are great and you can get extremely close to the track on the back portion before the Bus Stop Chicane. Eau Rouge is great but according to the drivers, not as bad as it once was due to the advancement of tire technology. Pouhon and Blanchimont curves are very challenging for the drivers (170 mph and about 4 g's). Several spins occurred on these curves.

The F3000 championship could have been finalized that weekend but Tomas Enke, the leader got wiped out at the start of the race entering La Souce.

39 Porsches showed up for the Anniversary Cup that celebrated ten years of Porsche participation with F1. It included German Carrera Cup and Supercup racers.

As you know, Schu ran away with the F1 race. Within a few laps, he had a 4 second lead over his team mate and just blew away the rest of the field. I spent most of my time watching the action back in the pack and studying the driving styles of the different drivers. I particularly like Raikkonen's style of putting his car into a controlled slide to go through sharp turns. Schu and Coulthard are more smooth, but Raikkonen's style works for him.

My disappointment at the event was in Porsche's failure off the track. Every major manufacturer had booth's set up selling shirts and stuff; except for Porsche. There was a sign pointing to an empty area where they should have been. Even Schu had his own booth (separate from Ferrari). I think I was the only one there with anything with the word Porsche on it, other than the Cup drivers. Sad state of affairs.

Anyway, here are some shots. The purple car is a TVR. It was parked next to a Ferrari but who wants a picture of one of those. The yellow strip through Eau Rouge is where the cars were bottoming out.

[autobonrun]

Here are a few select other shots including Schu in the Eau Rouge.

[Joeaksa]

Now that you are addicted, you have to go to Monte Carlo...

Glad you had a good time and its really a blast. I used to go every year and theres nothing like it.

Joe

[cegerer]

Great pics. Thanks. It's a shame about Porsche - they failed to show up for Sebring this year as well. They seemed to have pretty much checked out of sports car events completely.

Question: knowing all the hassles, etc., would you go back to Spa next year? Or is it one of those 'glad I went, but probably wouldn't go back for a few years' things? I've got a friend in Belgium who is always after me to go. -- Curt

[Reg]

Thanks for the post! I dream of doing the same someday.

[autobonrun]

Originally posted by cegerer
Great pics. Thanks. It's a shame about Porsche - they failed to show up for Sebring this year as well. They seemed to have pretty much checked out of sports car events completely.

Question: knowing all the hassles, etc., would you go back to Spa next year? Or is it one of those 'glad I went, but probably wouldn't go back for a few years' things? I've got a friend in Belgium who is always after me to go. -- Curt

I would definitely go back. I think however, I'd visit one of the other circuits before returning since I've gone once. If you've never gone, Spa is a must if you plan on attending these races infrequently and it would be my first choice. However, next year at Spa is a question mark at the present. There is a big argument between Belgium politicians and Bernie Ecclestone on whether F1 will be given a waiver from the tobacco advertising restrictions that are scheduled to go into effect in August 2003. He has said if they don't get a waiver, Spa is out and it will be very difficult to ever get a GP back. This would be a big loss.

The options would be Malaysia and believe it or not, Moscow. In addition, Bahrain, Turkey, and China are all trying to get F1 to come. Britian and Malaysia have already said they will temporarily exempt F1 from their tobacco ad restrictions. This issue will eventually have to be addressed permanently (Britian's exemption expires in 2006).

With the confusion in Belgium for next year, I would maybe select another site for next year, unless this issue is resolved in sufficient time for you to plan a trip. I'd hate to see you get tickets then have the race cancelled.

If you do go, the biggest issue to decide is whether to stay in Brussels (2 hours away) and do the tourist thing also, or stay in the village of Francorchamps (1 km from the track) and hang out with the racing fans 24/7 at the local hotels and bars. The town of Spa is actually about 7 km from the track.

Actually, I noticed that there is a villa for sale about 100 steps from the entrance to the track. But with this tobacco ad thing hanging, who needs it.