superstalker

2nd Attempt: Australian GP 2003
March 2003
So near yet sooo far :(

It was me and Jules 1st GP trip overseas. Masa study at London tak minat F1 - tension betul, hehe. Kalau tak, dah lama dah pegi Spa, Monza, Hockenheim, Nurburgring.. aarghh!!! Yang sempat pegi Monte Carlo je. Tapi not during GP time lah kan, tgk the track je, since the track is the city centre itself. Mmg teramatlah sempitnya, esp in that tunnel. Gila!!

Back to my story...

Me, Jules and Irwan stayed just 10 minutes walk away from the circuit so as soon as we arrived we headed for the track. It was Thursday - the day the track opens to the public (no races though). The track is held in Albert Park - a public park just a few mins away from the city centre.

It's just so beautiful - lots of greens and there's a big lake. As the park is near the city centre, there's no time wasted on travelling, and you can see all these tall buildings lining up the Melbourne skyline. Amazing!

You can't park your car for the GP so everybody has to take public transport which is free for the whole GP. The transport system is just excellent, of course. Very efficient. Rarely jam packed.

As the track is built on a public park, it's just so nice to be able to walk the whole circuit. You can never do that at Sepang, of course, and I don't think anyone would want to anyway under the hot sun! :)

Here are some pics:


Me and Jules during Friday practise


With Jules at the General Admission Area


It rained during Race Day and DC won :( What a nightmare for me, hehehe. DC?? DC??!!!!


The cold, wet & miserable gang :)


With Ferrari fans from Adelaide. Their flag is huge!!!! As high as the grandstand in fact!

There are just so many things I like about the circuit. Among them:

• You can walk on the track after the race!!! (see pic) Gravel trap punya batu pun aku pegang, hehe.

Walking the track with Neil and his friend from Norway after the race ended.


With some Colombian fans


The starting grid

• There is no special entrance/exit way for the drivers. So that means, we can wait for the drivers in front of the paddock entrance!! How cool is that huh?
  

I managed to borrow my friend's (who works with Sauber in Hinwil) passes to get into the paddock and wow, what an experience. Takut ada, segan ada..

I wont focus on the other drivers/team officials. Let's go straight to Schumi :)

When I was there his car was being brought out at the paddock entrance/exit gate. I just couldn't believe my luck! Unfortunately, I was sitting at the wrong side of the car door! :( He signed for a few grid girls and he immediately got into the car. I thought he'd sit at the back, but he was at the front.

Too bad I didnt get his signature but I was just happy enough to see him up close in the flesh! Masa mula2 tengok tu, even Jules (who is more of a Sauber fan) froze! I had to nudge her before she began clicking her camera! :)

So here are our few but precious pics of Schumi. I shall get you next year Schu!!! :)


Schumi!!!!!


Schumi entering his car


Schumi leaving the circuit with a smile on his face despite not winning. Next year victory shall be yours!! :)

Not forgetting to squeeze in a visit to the Oz Open tennis grounds. Wait for my Agassi stalking post! :)