My first time to Silverstone was to see the Formula 1 2011 Friday practice. I was 12 years old... first time to Silverstone... first time to see Formula 1 in real life. I had to miss a day off of school. However we thought it would be better to go on Friday practice as it's a lot cheaper, quieter, and you can rove grandstands, as well as being able to have 3 hours of Formula 1 in a day compared to qualifyings 2 hours and racedays 1.30 hours.
I set my alarm for that morning to be 4.00am as I could not wait! I didn't sleep at all. It was more exciting than Christmas! I ran in to mum and dads bedroom and tried to wake them up, they said something I didn't want to hear "Can you give us half an hour, Will. We're tired still. It's too early". I put the disappointment behind and attempted to wake my sister up, that didn't work either. Problem was I couldn't fill that time in filling my backpack up as I had already sorted all of that out the night before. Eventually the time came when they all got out of bed. It seemed like waiting for a bunch of snails to get to the other side of the garden!
My eyes were stinging, using the force of gravity and my brain to try and close my eyelids, but I fought back!
Formula 1 is what I am passionate about so, so much just like other people around the world. My Uncle got me into Formula 1 when I was 7 years old. Before I continue with the story, Silverstone is now and second home to me. In the space of two years 2011 which was the first time I went, to 2013 (now). I have been there about 40 times since July 2011! I am now an official student at the new Silverstone UTC (University Technical College) which is for 14-19 year olds where I will be studying High-Performance Engineering. It is located at Silverstone circuit itself overlooking the national pits between Woodcote and Copse. Sahara Force India, McLaren, Caterham F1 and Aston Martin are all helping with the Silverstone UTC. Adrian Newey, Technical Director at Red Bull Racing is the first patron of Silverstone UTC.
Moving back to F1 Friday Practice day in 2011, I dragged my parents and sister to the track as soon as the gates opened! At first, we did not have a clue where we were in relation to the track when we came through the ticket gate.
It was very early and so we wondered around taking in the atmosphere and searched for the cheapest bacon butty to eat. We found the cheapest one is located at Village for £3.20 over Woodcote's £5.00! We stood at Luffield to eat it.
As it was so early, there were not many people there. It was rainy gently which soon progressed. We were sitting at Village grandstand with two umbrellas up (It was an open grandstand). One umbrella couldn't handle all of the rain and wind and so it seized up and snapped! We were down to one umbrella between all four of us!
I soon discovered that my sister was wearing my signed RBR Mark Webber hat to keep her head dry! Yes, I got very angry but she would not take it off! Just to point out she is older than me by 4 years. Thankfully the signature did not smudge or get wrecked!
We watched FP1 from the undercover Village despite waiting for 2.30 hours in Village B (not covered up). By this point we were freezing and our faces were as straight, blank and pale as they ever had been. My spine spasmed every 20 seconds automatically which was incredibly annoying and horrible. When the first car came out it put an automatic, non-stoppable smile on your face. The noise was awesome... just awesome. Anything any louder you'd think would pop your ears out!
It was a very wet FP1 as the rain progressed but still the cars braved it.
I am so thankful and grateful that we got invited into Red Bull Racing VIP hospitality between FP1 & FP2 from one of my mums friends. Her friend texted Mum as the cars had 10 minutes left for FP1 when my mum went to go and buy a Mark Webber top as an extra layer to keep warm. When mum got to the grandstand and told us after FP1 when all the noise were gone, I was ecstatic!
We got picked up in an RBR golf buggy and driven into the paddock. With our paddock passes on we walked through security and into the paddock like tourists and as if it were our first time on the 'Inside' which it was! As we walked up the ramp into the energy station I saw David Coulthard getting interviewed. It was incredibly surreal! We went up stairs which was packed. Very nice and warm, cosy, and a weird feeling to be with all of these people who I would imagine go in the paddock fairly often. I went to the bar and the very hot looking girl behind the bar gave me unlimited Red Bull energy! We were given lunch too... Pasta! A Formula 1 drivers favourite. I ate my pasta with David Coulthard and Sir Jackie Stewart right next to me! Then we went out on to the balcony to look at the paddock. We were out on the balcony for a good half an hour. My dream in Formula 1 is to be an aerodynamicist, and then onto Technical Director, so of course people like Gordon Murray, Adrian Newey and Colin Chapman are idols. My sister said "Hey look, Will, there is Adrian Newey!" Turns out she was joking but literally 5 seconds later Adrian Newey walks towards the energy station and gives us a quick smile! Later that year I was lucky enough to have a 5 minute chat with him.
Our friend at RBR came to collect us after one hour to take us through the tyre garage and into the back of the garage to see the mechanics working on the cars for FP2. I could go on and write so much more but I don't think I should waste your time like that. INCREDIBLE! it was INCREDIBLE! Soon it was time for us to go back and watch FP2. It was even wetter then but big smiles on our faces for an unimaginable experience.
Surreal. Awesome. Incredible. Why us? Nothing can describe it.
Thankyou to RBR for this experience.
Just shows that you have to know the right people.
Memory added on December 20, 2012
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