DTM - pitwalk fiasco
Discussion
Went today, paid £12 for the pitwalk... total fiasco!!
1. They moved the rendevouz point 5 mins before the start and set off without people.
2. No one checked ticket stubs, so freeloaders tagged on the back and got in for free.
3. After 15 mins, some bloke starts blowing a whistle and ushering people along the pitlane.
4. Half the garages were shut down, the ones that were not were dull as f**k.
Miffed is putting it mildly!!!!
A group of around 15 people protested and we demanded refunds, refusing to budge from the shop at Paddock Hill Bend. After some 20 minutes or so, we were offered security braclets to the back of pit area for the remainder of the day, which we accepted as this is a superb viewing spot for Graham Hill Bend and Cooper Sraight and you can also see the back of pit comings and goings. So all worked out ok in the end, but we had to waste a lot of breathe and 30 minutes before we were armed and ready to go! One couple had travelled down from Hull (first ever trip to Brands) and but for the belated action to appease us, I'd very much suspect that they'd have never returned.
Anyhow, if you have not already purchased pitwalk tickets, think long and hard before doing so!!!!!!!
1. They moved the rendevouz point 5 mins before the start and set off without people.
2. No one checked ticket stubs, so freeloaders tagged on the back and got in for free.
3. After 15 mins, some bloke starts blowing a whistle and ushering people along the pitlane.
4. Half the garages were shut down, the ones that were not were dull as f**k.
Miffed is putting it mildly!!!!
A group of around 15 people protested and we demanded refunds, refusing to budge from the shop at Paddock Hill Bend. After some 20 minutes or so, we were offered security braclets to the back of pit area for the remainder of the day, which we accepted as this is a superb viewing spot for Graham Hill Bend and Cooper Sraight and you can also see the back of pit comings and goings. So all worked out ok in the end, but we had to waste a lot of breathe and 30 minutes before we were armed and ready to go! One couple had travelled down from Hull (first ever trip to Brands) and but for the belated action to appease us, I'd very much suspect that they'd have never returned.
Anyhow, if you have not already purchased pitwalk tickets, think long and hard before doing so!!!!!!!
I paid a small fortune at the British GP for a pits walkabout only to find every Ferrari covered with sheets! I can appreciate secrecy but other teams managed with covers over specific parts. McLaren had a couple of chaps to answer questions but most of the other teams seemed to view us as an encumberance. No drivers, though, anywhere.
Not the way to market motorsport nor to encourage spectators.
Not the way to market motorsport nor to encourage spectators.
Pit walkabouts are not organised by, or on behalf of the teams, but by the organiser. When a walkbout is in progress teams are often busying themselves to prep the car for the next session.
Having witnessed many in all the years in the pit lane I wonder why anyone would want to go on one of these. Having said that, to only get 15 minutes is a pain considering you paid. It was a good move on Brands to give out the inner paddock passes, but I wonder what would have happened if it was only one or two people compaining?
Having witnessed many in all the years in the pit lane I wonder why anyone would want to go on one of these. Having said that, to only get 15 minutes is a pain considering you paid. It was a good move on Brands to give out the inner paddock passes, but I wonder what would have happened if it was only one or two people compaining?
) I think I'm correct in saying that in DTM, as in NASCAR, IRL, CART, WTCC and BTCC and....the pitlane walkabout is an essential and mandatory part of the weekend's entertainment, planned to allow the public access to their heroes. As a consequence, if any of the teams failed to do their bit, they'd get censured and fined.
mutley said:
Tha may be the case, but in the F1 Public walkabouts early in the morning, most teams didn't open their doors as no one was there. A real kick for those paying to see the cars/teams. But the walkabout for the Pillock Club et al they would be open.
What public F1 pitlane walkabouts?...which circuits have these?...and do they really charge for that?????
rubystone said:
mutley said:
Tha may be the case, but in the F1 Public walkabouts early in the morning, most teams didn't open their doors as no one was there. A real kick for those paying to see the cars/teams. But the walkabout for the Pillock Club et al they would be open.
What public F1 pitlane walkabouts?...which circuits have these?...and do they really charge for that?????
The US GP has a pit lane walkabout on thursday mornings that's free if you have a race ticket. And you can wander down the pitlane in Monaco on Wednesday as they set up, or at least you used to be. That was free too. Finally, paddock club ticket holders have a pit walk just before the race, but their seats cost $3k a pop.
The US GP pitlane walk was a sop to Tony George - it's something the US fans are used to.
I think you'll fnd that with the new pits complex at Monaco, it's become a lot easier to prevent access during the official 3 days of the GP weekend.
I'm not aware of any other circuits in Europe that allow pit lane access to the general public, but would like to know if anyone knows of any European rounds that do!
I think you'll fnd that with the new pits complex at Monaco, it's become a lot easier to prevent access during the official 3 days of the GP weekend.
I'm not aware of any other circuits in Europe that allow pit lane access to the general public, but would like to know if anyone knows of any European rounds that do!
I managed a Pitlane walk in the hour before qually at the first US GP at indy... fantastic, all the cars ready to go, just the three of us walking up the pit lane... they even showed us on the course TV at they must have thought we were important 
we then went into the paddock, and saw most of the drivers as they got ready to go out..got some great phots.
It had been arranged for us to go into the ferrari garage but they had a bit of a problem and were busy so we didnt push it, Instead minardi made fantastic coffee and much more my sort of races...
the paddock club entry was about 3 grand even then and I dont think you could by a pit walk at that time for love nor money...
The Cost to us, Nada, friends in low places, but then we only got the passes for an hour and then had to hand them back to the next lot...
Walking through bernies gate entry system was both cool and a little worrying... If i step of the marked lane will i get zapped by laser....
By comparison I went to the recent f1 test day at silverstone, and blagged a pit walk at lunch time.. every garage apart from torro rosso and mf1 either had the doors down or big barriers and another row of barriers in front to stop you getting to the barriers...
Come into our paddock and your more likley to be offered a coffee and asked to hold a spanner <LOL>
we then went into the paddock, and saw most of the drivers as they got ready to go out..got some great phots.
It had been arranged for us to go into the ferrari garage but they had a bit of a problem and were busy so we didnt push it, Instead minardi made fantastic coffee and much more my sort of races...
the paddock club entry was about 3 grand even then and I dont think you could by a pit walk at that time for love nor money...
The Cost to us, Nada, friends in low places, but then we only got the passes for an hour and then had to hand them back to the next lot...
Walking through bernies gate entry system was both cool and a little worrying... If i step of the marked lane will i get zapped by laser....
By comparison I went to the recent f1 test day at silverstone, and blagged a pit walk at lunch time.. every garage apart from torro rosso and mf1 either had the doors down or big barriers and another row of barriers in front to stop you getting to the barriers...
Come into our paddock and your more likley to be offered a coffee and asked to hold a spanner <LOL>
Griff2be said:
Graham said:
Come into our paddock and your more likley to be offered a coffee and asked to hold a spanner <LOL>
Speak for yourself mate. Come to our awning and you'll be asked to stand behind the bay trees and wipe your feet before entering if and when invited
....I'd keep an eye on those bay trees if I were you, they've been the subject of much discussion
Although rumor has it they are actually a couple of ED209's in disguise, to keep the riff-raff out
dcw@pr said:
The "best" nit yesterday was when JP decided to watch the parachute display from his helipcopter, right abouve the drop zone! Can't blame them for calling off the jump then!
Yeh, that was a bit dumb!!!
Anyone work out why we had two hours between races yet?
.... and what was with the band?
.... sounded rubbish through the tannoy system, had to put my earplugs in!! 
there was a pit walkabout on the thursday of the hungarian gp last year. i didnt go as logistics from budapest proved to be a bit of a nightmare but from the pictures on the web it looked ok.
i think they have them at most GPs, wouldnt surprise me if they were just badly organised in this country though and seen as a hinderance rather than something that is actively encouraged.!
good on you for arguing your case and getting the wristbands though!
i think they have them at most GPs, wouldnt surprise me if they were just badly organised in this country though and seen as a hinderance rather than something that is actively encouraged.!
good on you for arguing your case and getting the wristbands though!
fozzi said:
dcw@pr said:
The "best" nit yesterday was when JP decided to watch the parachute display from his helipcopter, right abouve the drop zone! Can't blame them for calling off the jump then!
Yeh, that was a bit dumb!!!
Anyone work out why we had two hours between races yet?
.... and what was with the band?
.... sounded rubbish through the tannoy system, had to put my earplugs in!! I was lucky to have been given a ticket, I wouldn't have been too pleased if I had to shell out for the event, as it was I left after the DTM race as I had the option of helping out a few mates or waiting around for ages until the next race...
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