When I met....
Discussion
I thought it would be fun to share some stories or experiences you have had relating to people from F1.
These can be good or bad experiences with any driver or team member from past or present!
I'll go first....
Back in 1995 I was 7 years old and on holiday in Devon with my parents. My dad (and therefore me) were Nigel Mansell fans and one afternoon we took a drive to a Ferrari dealership he owned in the local area to look at the cars. A chap working there advised we go a little further down the road to Woodbury Park Golf Club which Mansell owned at the time as there was a Ferrari F1 car in the reception from when he raced with the team.
My dad did not want to impose so we returned to our accommodation and he called the golf club to ask if it would be OK to pop down so I could see the F1 car the following day. They were more than happy and said they looked forward to seeing us.
On arrival the next day, the lady at reception came over and said she had called Mansell to let him know that I was a fan, and that Nigel had asked the lady to allow me and my father to have a private tour of his personal trophy collection. She took us to a room within the golf club which was understandably under lock and key. Once inside we were greeted with a massive room with held every single one of Mansell's trophies from his career in both F1 and IndyCar.
We were in there for around 30 mins having a look around these wonderful cabinets full to the brim and we were so grateful that he had allowed us into his private quarters despite having never met us. It was a lovely gesture and the lady said that he apologised for not being there in person as he would have shown us around himself given the chance. It was an incredible collection!
I have remained a lifelong Mansell fan and have met him a few times since become involved in racing myself many years later which was also a lovely experience as he really took an interest in us and what we were up to. Great days.
These can be good or bad experiences with any driver or team member from past or present!
I'll go first....
Back in 1995 I was 7 years old and on holiday in Devon with my parents. My dad (and therefore me) were Nigel Mansell fans and one afternoon we took a drive to a Ferrari dealership he owned in the local area to look at the cars. A chap working there advised we go a little further down the road to Woodbury Park Golf Club which Mansell owned at the time as there was a Ferrari F1 car in the reception from when he raced with the team.
My dad did not want to impose so we returned to our accommodation and he called the golf club to ask if it would be OK to pop down so I could see the F1 car the following day. They were more than happy and said they looked forward to seeing us.
On arrival the next day, the lady at reception came over and said she had called Mansell to let him know that I was a fan, and that Nigel had asked the lady to allow me and my father to have a private tour of his personal trophy collection. She took us to a room within the golf club which was understandably under lock and key. Once inside we were greeted with a massive room with held every single one of Mansell's trophies from his career in both F1 and IndyCar.
We were in there for around 30 mins having a look around these wonderful cabinets full to the brim and we were so grateful that he had allowed us into his private quarters despite having never met us. It was a lovely gesture and the lady said that he apologised for not being there in person as he would have shown us around himself given the chance. It was an incredible collection!
I have remained a lifelong Mansell fan and have met him a few times since become involved in racing myself many years later which was also a lovely experience as he really took an interest in us and what we were up to. Great days.
June 2019:
Was invited to a McLaren open day by someone who works there. It's a very rare thing as its only
offered to family and friends. So, as you can imagine I was chuffed to bits.
They do remove some sensitive parts but needless to say that its very impressive.
Photo below is from their literature, of their trophy collection.
Was invited to a McLaren open day by someone who works there. It's a very rare thing as its only
offered to family and friends. So, as you can imagine I was chuffed to bits.
They do remove some sensitive parts but needless to say that its very impressive.
Photo below is from their literature, of their trophy collection.
Many moons ago, early 1980's I was at an office equipment exhibition at Olympia as a trader. The stand I was on was directly opposite the Ricoh photocopiers stand. On their stand they had a Formula Ford 2000 car on display with the driver. Now the helmet colours were well known to me, think Graham Hill, and it was Damon Hill. I was obviously aware who he was.
This was at the time that he first started racing cars as opposed to bikes. Anyway I went and had a chat with him. During the course of the exhibition which lasted about 5 days when we had breaks we would go off and have a coffee or a beer. We talked about his Dad, his hopes and aspirations, what I had done in motor sport, autotests and road rallys, cars in general and the attractive promotions girls.
He was just a decent down to earth guy. I have always followed his career with interest and was delighted when he won the F1 title.
This was at the time that he first started racing cars as opposed to bikes. Anyway I went and had a chat with him. During the course of the exhibition which lasted about 5 days when we had breaks we would go off and have a coffee or a beer. We talked about his Dad, his hopes and aspirations, what I had done in motor sport, autotests and road rallys, cars in general and the attractive promotions girls.
He was just a decent down to earth guy. I have always followed his career with interest and was delighted when he won the F1 title.
TwentyFive said:
I have remained a lifelong Mansell fan and have met him a few times since become involved in racing myself many years later which was also a lovely experience as he really took an interest in us and what we were up to. Great days.
I've not met anyone involved in F1 so I can't add to stories like that.But, I grew up in Hall Green about 10 minutes walk away from where Mansell grew up. The house I grew up in was opposite the Lucas factory where his mom I think worked?
Anyway, get this for trivia. Do you know who else was born only a 10/15 minute walk away from where Mansell grew up? Murray Walker.
And Jasper Carrott, but he didn't drive anything.
We were having a few beers at crazy corner in Monza when Gary Anderson came by. He stopped and passed the time of day. The next day were were still stood in the same spot when he came past again. Stopped this time for a proper chat.
I reckon he was one of the best technical pundits ever. If he said something you pretty much knew it was going to happen.
For those of you unfamiliar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Anderson_(motor...
I reckon he was one of the best technical pundits ever. If he said something you pretty much knew it was going to happen.
For those of you unfamiliar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Anderson_(motor...
Not F1...
....but I took part in an endurance go karting competition. When it wan't my stint I was having a bacon cob and a cuppa & saw someone I assumed I knew because I recognised him.
I chimed up conversation and it turned out to be Vincent Radermecker. That was proper cheating by the team involved!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Radermecker
....but I took part in an endurance go karting competition. When it wan't my stint I was having a bacon cob and a cuppa & saw someone I assumed I knew because I recognised him.
I chimed up conversation and it turned out to be Vincent Radermecker. That was proper cheating by the team involved!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Radermecker
I seem to be hogging this 
Again, not F1
I did a track day at Silverstone and had coffee with Steve Parrish and Tim Harvey. The morning was tuition (in our own cars) and I copped for Tim Harvey as my tutor. I had to remind him that we were in my road car and to please be a bit more gentle when he was driving!! (He seemed to be spinning the wheels up in ridiculous gears & speeds!)
Again, not F1
I did a track day at Silverstone and had coffee with Steve Parrish and Tim Harvey. The morning was tuition (in our own cars) and I copped for Tim Harvey as my tutor. I had to remind him that we were in my road car and to please be a bit more gentle when he was driving!! (He seemed to be spinning the wheels up in ridiculous gears & speeds!)
Oh, go on then...
1999 Australian GP at Melbourne...I still have my weekend pass from the Schumacher stand in a box somewhere though I am far from a F1 fanatic, just happened to be on a year long "working" holiday and it seemed like the right thing to do while in town.
I know pictures matter but it's in another box somewhere...a photo of Natalie Imbruglia in the paddock after crashing out of the celebrity BMW Z3 support race...this was 1999 remember so I was quite awe struck to be about 3 feet away from her...beardy Pommie pervert that I was!
No pics but we also bunked the pits once most people had gone home and said hello to Eddie Irvine, Olivier Panis (IIRC) and a very inebriated Murray Walker before being escorted out by security.
The only GP I've ever attended to be fair...was a good'un though.
1999 Australian GP at Melbourne...I still have my weekend pass from the Schumacher stand in a box somewhere though I am far from a F1 fanatic, just happened to be on a year long "working" holiday and it seemed like the right thing to do while in town.
I know pictures matter but it's in another box somewhere...a photo of Natalie Imbruglia in the paddock after crashing out of the celebrity BMW Z3 support race...this was 1999 remember so I was quite awe struck to be about 3 feet away from her...beardy Pommie pervert that I was!
No pics but we also bunked the pits once most people had gone home and said hello to Eddie Irvine, Olivier Panis (IIRC) and a very inebriated Murray Walker before being escorted out by security.
The only GP I've ever attended to be fair...was a good'un though.
Indycar Milwaukee Oval 1998. Penske organised a fast lap in the pace car with celebrity drivers and team owners. Lady next to me climbs into a car, the driver lifts his visor and says, hello I am Paul its great to meet you.....she passed out. It was Paul Newman.....he climbs out of the car and asks for the paramedics. I will get out the photos and post them.
Sometime around 2003 ish I was in London for an appointment to which I was early. I was doing a bit of window shopping around the Covent garden area and popped into a posh chocolate shop to maybe get something for Mrs Badger. In walked Allan McNish, who at that time was the Renault F1 test driver, and had done a bit of sportscars too 
We were the only two customers in the shop and I said something rudimentary like 'hi. you're Alan McNish' (although I didn't stand there gurning at him while he carried a pile of laundry...). We had a brief chat about how he was off to Monza next week, then off testing at Silverstone and how it was all going. We exited the shop just as it started hammering down with rain - he had an umbrella, I didn't. He asked which way I was going and it was the same way he was, so he invited me to share his umbrella as we walked through Covent garden until he reached his agent's office. Thoroughly nice chap, a lot shorter than I thought he was, but perfect racing driver size.
I bet he's recounting the story of how he shared his umbrella with Speed Badger on a private motorsport forum as we speak.
We were the only two customers in the shop and I said something rudimentary like 'hi. you're Alan McNish' (although I didn't stand there gurning at him while he carried a pile of laundry...). We had a brief chat about how he was off to Monza next week, then off testing at Silverstone and how it was all going. We exited the shop just as it started hammering down with rain - he had an umbrella, I didn't. He asked which way I was going and it was the same way he was, so he invited me to share his umbrella as we walked through Covent garden until he reached his agent's office. Thoroughly nice chap, a lot shorter than I thought he was, but perfect racing driver size.
I bet he's recounting the story of how he shared his umbrella with Speed Badger on a private motorsport forum as we speak.
In 2011 I was working for a hotel and our Chef had tied up with Williams F1 to do the menu for them and be at some of the GP's organising the menu for the VIPs and do a bit of press work with them.
As part of this new relationship a few of the team from the hotel went to Williams HQ for the car launch to the press and investors to work with the Williams catering team onsite to deliver his concept. This was the first year of Pastor Maldonado who was present for the event (Barrichello wasn't).
After the event we were given a guided tour around the Williams Museum and then also a factory tour. A properly eye opening experience when you see the factory when you consider all this resource is for an F1 team and the manufacturing effort behind it. Very easy to overlook what these teams are doing when you just see the end result on the grid. Saw the 2011 Williams just before being crated up ready for AUS too. Great experience.
Obviously no cameras allowed etc in the factory but we managed to have a picture taken with Pastor after the event also and were given a Williams "Gear" from a gearbox as a memento of the day. An awesome day.
As part of this new relationship a few of the team from the hotel went to Williams HQ for the car launch to the press and investors to work with the Williams catering team onsite to deliver his concept. This was the first year of Pastor Maldonado who was present for the event (Barrichello wasn't).
After the event we were given a guided tour around the Williams Museum and then also a factory tour. A properly eye opening experience when you see the factory when you consider all this resource is for an F1 team and the manufacturing effort behind it. Very easy to overlook what these teams are doing when you just see the end result on the grid. Saw the 2011 Williams just before being crated up ready for AUS too. Great experience.
Obviously no cameras allowed etc in the factory but we managed to have a picture taken with Pastor after the event also and were given a Williams "Gear" from a gearbox as a memento of the day. An awesome day.
poosemon said:
In 2011 I was working for a hotel and our Chef had tied up with Williams F1 to do the menu for them and be at some of the GP's organising the menu for the VIPs and do a bit of press work with them.
As part of this new relationship a few of the team from the hotel went to Williams HQ for the car launch to the press and investors to work with the Williams catering team onsite to deliver his concept. This was the first year of Pastor Maldonado who was present for the event (Barrichello wasn't).
After the event we were given a guided tour around the Williams Museum and then also a factory tour. A properly eye opening experience when you see the factory when you consider all this resource is for an F1 team and the manufacturing effort behind it. Very easy to overlook what these teams are doing when you just see the end result on the grid. Saw the 2011 Williams just before being crated up ready for AUS too. Great experience.
Obviously no cameras allowed etc in the factory but we managed to have a picture taken with Pastor after the event also and were given a Williams "Gear" from a gearbox as a memento of the day. An awesome day.
The chef would be Michael Caines at that point wouldn't it? He hasn't done too badly for himself either!As part of this new relationship a few of the team from the hotel went to Williams HQ for the car launch to the press and investors to work with the Williams catering team onsite to deliver his concept. This was the first year of Pastor Maldonado who was present for the event (Barrichello wasn't).
After the event we were given a guided tour around the Williams Museum and then also a factory tour. A properly eye opening experience when you see the factory when you consider all this resource is for an F1 team and the manufacturing effort behind it. Very easy to overlook what these teams are doing when you just see the end result on the grid. Saw the 2011 Williams just before being crated up ready for AUS too. Great experience.
Obviously no cameras allowed etc in the factory but we managed to have a picture taken with Pastor after the event also and were given a Williams "Gear" from a gearbox as a memento of the day. An awesome day.
John Watson presented the trophies at the Abingdon CARnival sprint one year (2014 maybe?). When he presented at a motorsport history film show a couple of years later I got him to sign the pic.
Martin Donnelly presented the prizes at one of the Hethel sprints, mostly because he was competing in one of the Lotus classes.
Martin Donnelly presented the prizes at one of the Hethel sprints, mostly because he was competing in one of the Lotus classes.
Or nearly met (which was worse). I was a massive Button fan and he had a house in Weybridge (St Georges) and I sold Hondas in Weybridge. The salesman I worked with was a weapons grade bell end and we kept contact to a minimum. I was suprised to get a call from him on my day off on the 11th tee.
Anyhoo turns out Jenson was being given an NSX type R in Japan and wanted a drive as he had not been in one. He wandered in, spoke to the boss (we were an appointed NSX dealer) and posed for a few publicity shots. He then took the other sales guy on the test drive of his life up the A3.I lost at golf too. Arse.
Anyhoo turns out Jenson was being given an NSX type R in Japan and wanted a drive as he had not been in one. He wandered in, spoke to the boss (we were an appointed NSX dealer) and posed for a few publicity shots. He then took the other sales guy on the test drive of his life up the A3.I lost at golf too. Arse.
sgtBerbatov said:
The chef would be Michael Caines at that point wouldn't it? He hasn't done too badly for himself either!
Certainly was 
As far as I am aware he still is. They tend to do a yearly fundraising event and meal with Williams at Lympstone Manor (at the time he was at Gidleigh Park).Edited by poosemon on Tuesday 2nd June 16:49
I happen to have bumped in to Max when leaving the factory a couple of times, first time he happened to get to the other side of a door first and as it opened towards him he held it open for me (like any normal person would do), totally unexpected given I'm a faceless peasant and he's the one racing the car
Obviously he is just a human being so it shouldn't be that shocking but it's a pleasant surprise when a 'star' is still down to earth.
Gratuitous picture of the Ute from this afternoon
Obviously he is just a human being so it shouldn't be that shocking but it's a pleasant surprise when a 'star' is still down to earth.
Gratuitous picture of the Ute from this afternoon
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