Friday Pics from Melbourne

[marcus]

Hi Folks , Ive just returned home from the Grand Prix , I really didnt want to stay for race day due to the crowds (which were massive) instead Ive decided to stay home and watch it on TV.

my thoughts from Friday .

UNBELIEVABLE !!!!!!

Its been 8 years since I last attended the GP and the cars look sensational , TV simply doesnt do them justice the colours are just so bright it is amazing but TV seems to dull them way to much.

as for on track activity , it was very interesting , my thoughts on the things I saw.

Michael Schumacher , simply superb , I dont like the guy but you cant knock his talent 2 laps and the lap record is broken what an effort.

Filipe Massa , had plenty of offs and seemed completely at sea and the same as Cristiano DaMatta but hey they are better than me so i shouldnt judge them that way but they did look a bit off.

Mark Webber , massive local support everywhere you look someone is screaming out his name and his on track stuff was limited but pretty impressive.

Best looking car in the flesh , hard to say was very impressed by the renault they stand out well and the Jordan looks very pretty.
I was even impressed by the very ugly Williams it looks alot better in the flesh.

spectator provisions , simply two things were dissapointing , the amount of shade available is limited in general admission my girlfriend (lets call her "Lobster" is testament to that) and exiting the track was very poor indeed , Melbourne Taxi's are highly inadequate for the event , we couldnt get onto a tram to get back into the city where our car was parked because they were so packed so we thought a taxi would do the job WRONG!!!!! 45 minutes and only 3 taxi's pulled up at the official taxi rank simply terrible , finally we managed to scramble onto a tram and get back to the casino to collect our car.

and food prices were ridiculous $16 for 2 hot dogs a bottled water and a coke highway robbery or what ????

other than that it was a very enjoyable day lots of fun off the track with displays and the new GP superstore very impressive indeed.
displays on track were limited , the stunt bikes were good to watch but thats about it , the Roulettes were great to see and the F18 fighter jet fly past was interesting but that was basically it.

anyway I took some pics of the event and I dont claim to be the worlds best photgrapher but I just thought someone might like to have a look at them anyway and my equipment isnt the best either.

I have taken a heap of pics and if any that i dont have developed come out excellent then i may post them as well.

so on with the pics then.

the first one is of a vintage car for all those enthusiasts , i have no idea what it is but in the program is says it is a 1939 Russell Morris , these things were pretty good to watch and even Sir Stirling moss showed up to drive a 1956 maseratti.

[marcus]

ok Picture 2 is from the first practise session and is Giorgio Pantano in the beautifull Jordan

[marcus]

Here is Da matta in the Toyota

[marcus]

Our hero Webber in the jag

[marcus]

Fishichella in the Sauber

[marcus]

all these pics BTW are taken around turn 9 and 10 if anyone wanted to know.

Final pic for the first practise is Rubens in some Red Car ???

[marcus]

then there was an interlude and the Roulettes came out , I took this snapshot off my camcorder as I got a simply amazing shot of them going directly overhead of me.

OK I know its not F1

[marcus]

2nd practise session and here is DC powering the Mclaren through Turn 14 (the fast right hander before the pits.)

[marcus]

and this is my Fav shot of one of the Minardi's , i havent worked out how to tell Zolt and Bruni apart as yet but I think this is bruni??

[marcus]

and the final shot i have is of a sauber again I think Its Fisichella , cant quite tell though.

I apologise if these take to long to load as well but i hope someone enjpys looking at them

[Down F0rce]

Very good

[steve nielsen]

These fences take the fun out of taking pics at a GP

[Sodemo]

Yeah the fences suck, i'd rather have no fences and just take my luck, just like I do when I go watch rallying.

[Wrex]

Originally posted by The Monster
Yeah the fences suck, i'd rather have no fences and just take my luck, just like I do when I go watch rallying.

Hmmm, I think you need a history lesson on Melbourne and Fencing.



Thanks for the pics Marcus, much appreciated

[Rennen]

Agree Monster...I've been going to races since all that separated spectators from the track was wattle fencing!...I like a bit of banking and some armco but these high catch fences have ruined spectating for me. I remember leaning over the armco at Montjuice Park (Barclelona) in the 70's as Reggazonia brushed past in his Ferrari...now that's a memory that lasts, images thru these fences don't! I didn't wanna live forever anyhow.

I'd rather watch on TV now for sure if only for the incar stuff.

[marcus]

well the fences at Albert Park arent really that bad, they just show up more in pictures because of the equipment Ive got which is nowhere near good enough.

I attended the 96 race at Albert park when there wasnt alot of fences but probably enjoyed this one more due to the fact I saw more.

just remember people the fences are there for your protection its as simple as that , and despite them I still got a pretty good view.