Alarm went off at 5am. Out and on the road at 7:20. Parked up at the circuit at 9:15 after much grumpiness en route as the rain got heavier the nearer we got to Brackley. However, parking up was a synch this year and at least the rain is lighter now and we're giggly with excitement as, gulp, it's already warmer than it was last year. Note Vicky's new wellies and our new super-strength umbrella. Also note, Vicky is sporting sunglasses just in case the sun come out. Well, you never know.
9:40am.: had our first pee and a tea near The Wing and are now strolling towards Luffield.
9:50am: plenty of time to walk past Luffield and take a seat in the stand at Woodcote for the start of the first F1 Practice session which starts at 10:00am.
11:00am-ish: God Bless Daniel Ricciardo. After much fannying-about by the teams doing 'installation laps' and then looking at their lap tops for an hour to see if the rain is ever going to stop, Torro Rosso send him out to do a few consecutive laps much to the joy of everybody in the stands and around the circuit on the grass banks. He's good to watch in the wet an' all. He was good last year too.
11:30am: F1 practice is over and there's time to get a hot drink before the start of GP2 Practice. It's a head-scratcher alright: hot tea or hot chocolate? Just make it something hot, Vic!
Midday: the sun came out a few minutes ago. Vicky missed it - she was having another 'visit'. Its gone in again now, of course, but it has stopped raining and the track is drying out. This is Sam Bird flying past (Eh? Geddit?) the National Pits Straight Grandstand in his Team Russian Time GP2.
12:45pm: Lunchtime! Yay!! Japanese noodles (Japanese curry for Dave), followed by fresh strawberries (no cream - boo!), and all washed down by yet more tea. And the weather is now lovely and warm! No sunshine, but it must be at least 20 degrees. It's no good Vic, I'm gonna have to take me coat off.
1:55pm: slow stroll 'round to Luffield for the start of F1 second practice session. Much anticipation in the throng as the track is bone dry now and (stay calm) all the teams will soon have no excuses and will have to come out and, y'know, have a bit of a whizz 'round. Golly.
2:20pm: Wow! Three cars on track at the same time: F1 - you spoil us.
Now let's go and see if we can find a spot where the cars are moving left to right as opposed to right to left. We know where the spots are (oh yes). Just a short walk over the Wellington Straight Bridge. Come on Vic, let's go.
2:40pm: bother, all the 'spots' we had in mind are being used today for 'hostilty' or have thick green netting attached to the safety fencing. We decide to walk towards the 'complex' instead. Good decision as it goes. This is Romain Grosjean doing about 290kph (he's not quite at full-chat yet) down the Wellington Straight.
2:55pm: this is the view from Farm. we have never sat here before. The stand is usually closed for 'normal' meetings. We like it as we can see (from right to left) Abbey, the Pits exit, Farm itself, then the complex. We are pretty tired now from all our strolling around and so decide to stay here 'til the end of the session.
3:20pm: Two cars going left to right shock! Albeit in the 'complex' and a long way away. Still, makes a nice change, eh?
4:05pm: we have had more tea, to wash down a shared beef and potato pasty, and are now walking back down the Wellington Straight. This is Worcester's-own James Calado in the Art Grand Prix GP2.
16:50pm: we've had a little stroll around the 'F1 Village' en route to Brooklands but, to be honest, it wasn't up to much. The band's doing a sound check on the stage were more interesting. The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup cars are always a touch underwhelming, we find, after the the F1's and GP2's have finished playing. The grandstands remain pretty full, having said that, so we guess we are in the minority.
17:50pm: we are back at Luffield now and most people are heading for the exits now and the Grandstands are virtually empty for the GP3 practice session. We guess folk are just too knackered after a long day to watch 'the stars of tomorrow'. Oh well.
6:15pm: we are knackered now an' all. Time to head back to the car park via a quick shuftie around a Silverstone retail outlet. Quick Vic! Take Howard down from there before somebody tries to buy him. He's a bargain at that price.
Getting out of the car park took two hours last year: this year it took less than a minute. So, all-in-all, we have had a rather jolly time. Over the last three F1 GP's we have had a 'fairly good' day, a 'crap' day and, now, a 'very good' day. Which is good, 'cos now we can rest happy with our decision to 'give it a miss' for the next few years. Or can we? Time will tell, eh?
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