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Re: Silverstone GP

To: <dlaver@ms.com>
Subject: Re: Silverstone GP
From: "Patrick Young" <ply@adtrading.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1999 19:28:41 +0200
Congratulations to Mother, Father and child. Presumably Dad has pre-booked a
Silverstone session in the year 20-whatever (they'll be racing by about 15
then anyway with the way things are going!) to get junior his competition
licence?

Best Wishes,

Patrick


-----Original Message-----
>Patrick,
>
>It was book launch vs new baby...  Thomas was born on midsummers day which
is
>going to be great for the parties!!   Brit GP was first time off the leach
so
>all the sweeter.
>
>David
>
>Patrick Young wrote:
>
>> David,
>>
>> Aha, so now you've been in such exalted company as Arrows' GP
hospitality, I
>> can understand why you didn't make it to my book launch!
>>
>> Saw the Red Arrows the other weekend from a friend's back garden which
runs
>> to the perimeter fence at Biggin Hill - fantastic! Although the Harrier
at
>> Brands in 1978 was better in my opinion!
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Patrick
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> >Ian,
>> >
>> >I didn't get to Malvern but I did go to Silverstone on Sunday for the
>> >GP.  I got home at 9pm to find a message asking if I would like a pair
>> >of tickets.  After a short chat about the Pope, Catholicism, bears, and
>> >woods I had them biked to me for 1am and chose a lucky partner for the
>> >day.
>> >
>> >Turns out these were tickets with hospitality, and easy parking, and we
>> >were there by 9.30. It then turned out the tent was just for guests of
>> >Arrows GP who were more than happy to show anybody with an interest
>> >round their pit garage.  Had a chat with Tom Walkinshaw, Prince Malik,
>> >Pedro De La Rossa, and the test driver.  It shocked me that two hours
>> >before the race the cars were in small bits.  Just a routine strip down
>> >and check over.  Engines off, peer in with an endoscope. Gears out.
>> >Suspension apart.   Others were surprised by the 20ft wide bank of
>> >computers.
>> >
>> >The highlight of the race was the lap when Hill was leading.  I was
>> >sitting just by the pit exit and we could hear the wall of sound from
>> >the crowd come down the start finish straight and round the corner some
>> >seconds ahead of and much above the car.  We joined the Mexican Wave
>> >before sitting back down and listening to the 180mph wall of cheer chase
>> >him round.
>> >
>> >As for Schumacher's problem with the gravel the current cars have a lot
>> >of ground clearance.  To ensure the cars don't drop down on their
>> >springs under aerodynamic load they have a wooden panel which is
>> >measured as 10mm thick before the race and must be at least 9mm thick at
>> >the end so they can't afford to bottom out.  The front wing isn't very
>> >strong so there's nothing for the gravel to catch against for the car to
>> >start ploughing.  Fine in a spin as the sides of the tyres will catch
>> >the gravel but not head on.  My two-penneth is that a trap ploughed into
>> >furrows would let the car bottom, catch, and plough.
>> >
>> >The big surprise of the day was how much I enjoued the Red Arrows.  To
>> >think I nearly stayed at my lunch table rather than watch them.
>> >Amazing.  I won't even try to describe the experiance.  NEVER miss a
>> >chance to see them.
>> >
>> >Racing, in all categories, was as dull as ditch water.  The GP was saved
>> >by being opposite a monster TV and next to a tannoy and even then half
>> >the stand left their seats to sunbathe.  Most fun to watch was the
>> >saftey car sliding the full width of the track and all over the kerbs.
>> >Give me VSCC or HSCC or AMOC any day!!
>> >
>> >David
>> >
>> >
>> >
>
>


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