Monday, 21 April 2014

Evesham Cats Protection, Sunday, 20th April, 2014.

Yes Katie, we know you like to sit in the top litter tray in the pile of freshly made up trays and watch the world go by but you're not exactly helping The Team are you.
Yes Katie, we know you like to curl up in the bottom of the pile of freshly shredded litter due to be put into the about-to-be-made-up pile of litter trays but you're not exactly helping The Team are you.
Buddy is a big-faced friendly Tom Cat who refuses to keep still for a photo and would make an excellent pet for somebody. 
So, whatya waiting for?
Katie exits stage top-right.

WEC/ELMS/Euro F3, Silverstone, Saturday, 19th April, 2014.

It's about 10:45am and we've arrived, parked up, and walked to the main entrance where, appallingly, we are confronted with the sight of a fairly long queue. We blame the reasonable weather and the return of Porsche to Endurance Sports Car racing with that Mark Webber-fella at the wheel.
The other appalling things is that it is quite cool. David is moaning that he should have brought his winter coat. Vicky reassures him that it will warm up eventually. Hmmmm.
Distance walked so far: 0.25 miles.
11:15am - Brooklands corner for the ELMS GT qualifying session and a Porsche burbles past. 
Nice colours.
Distance walked so far: 0:5 miles.
 11:35am - and we've moved around a bit to Luffield for a chance to take photos over the fencing rather than through it.
Distance walked so far: 0.75 miles.
11:40am - Murphy Prototypes Oreca-Nissan at Luffield.
Distance walked so far: 'bout the same.
12:05pm - we are sat in the front row of the National Pits Straight grandstand now and the WEC GT classes are out on track for their qualifying session. This is an AF Corse Ferrari.
Distance walked so far: 1.25 miles.
12:45pm - still in the Grandstand as the cause of all todays bigger-than-usual-crowd - that Mark Webber-fella at the wheel of a Porsche prototype - hurtles past.
Distance walked so far: as above.
12:50pm - just to the side of the grandstand now with a chance to press our noses up to the fencing once more as a Prototype Toyota flies past. 
Distance walked so far: a few yards further than the last time we measured it.
1:00pm - a brisk walk to the Copse Tunnel and then into the paddock to catch the F3 drivers preparing to go out for their second race of the day. This is Riccardo Agostini (ITA).
Distance walked so far: 1.5 miles.
1:05pm - all the F3 drivers are unfeasibly young (especially to grumpy olde folk like us). 
This is Gustavo Menezes (USA).
Distance walked so far: still 1.5 miles.
1:10pm - Howard needs a rest: all this walking and taking photos malarky can really take it out of yer little bright green Christmas Reindeer legs.
Distance walked so far:  1.75 miles.
1:20pm and the ELMS Autograph Session has grown into a full-blown Pit Lane Walk this year. This is  Karun Chandhok - another person to blame for there being more people here this year.
1:25pm - used to be a famous driver and is now famous again 'cos his son is in F1 - Jan Magnussen poses for the probing lens of Vicky.
1:28pm: Vicky gets in yet another jaunty angle shot.
1:30pm - as we are all herded out of the Pit lane the ELMS cars are already being prepared for their 4HR Race.
Distance walked so far: 2 miles.
1:50pm - we've had lunch in The Paddock Cafe and are now walking towards Copse through the F3 paddock to see the cars and drivers returning to their teams after their race. We guess that no. 22 didn't make it to the end.
Distance walked so far: bit further than last time.
2:15pm - we watched the start of the ELMS race from the inside of Copse and are now making steady progress towards The Wing. We are at Aintree now as this Audi accelerates onto The Wellington Straight.
Distance walked so far: 2.25 miles.
2:25pm - a close battle between three GT's and a LMP2 at The Loop.
Distance walked so far: 2.5 miles. 
2:45pm - we have arrived at The Wing. It will be interesting to see what we can find this year as, last year, it was raining and all the garages were closed up against the elements. It certainly looks more promising.
Distance walked so far: 2.5 miles.
2.55pm - sports car legend Tom Kristensen (talking to another sports car legend, Derek Bell) can't be blamed for the bigger crowd as he's always here racing for Audi every year.
3:02pm (or thereabouts) - there he is Vic, the cause of all the trouble. It's that Mark Webber-fella. Make him stand still whilst I try to get a photo.
3:03pm - Gorrim! Just about.
3:30pm - knackered now, after that race around The Wing chasing that Mark Webber-fella an' all that.
Need a cuppa tea and a hot cross bun. Well, it is Easter.
3:40pm - Silverstone always tries to do its bit for 'The Spirit of Le Mans'. At least the weather is playing its part today.
Distance walked so far: 2.75 miles.
4:20pm - we're wandering back towards the car park and home now via Farm, Village, The Loop (here), Aintree, and The Wellington Straight, and taking loads of photos as we go (as you do).
Distance walked so far (by the time we cross The Wellington Straight): 3.75 miles.
4:45pm - it is so warm now that we choose to walk under some trees to get out of the sun! You sure we are at Silverstone?
Distance walked so far: 4 miles.
4:46pm - the shade of an avenue of trees whilst GT's and LMP2's drone around in the near distance. You can't beat it.
Time to leave now and make our way back to the car. 
By the time we get there we will have walked 4.25 miles or so (by our reckoning).
Silverstone is a big place, especially when they use both paddocks, so you just have to embrace it.



Monday, 14 April 2014

Auntie Lou's 90th, Erdington, Sunday, 13th April, 2014.

Cousins catch-up:
Standing (l to r): Kevin, David (second cousin), and Susan.
Sitting (l to r): Jane, Kim, Vicky, and Pam.
Uncle Stan and Dave chew the fat.
The arrival of more cake. Yay!
Auntie Lou, Aunt Pat, and Uncle Stan.

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

British GT Championship Media Day, Donington Park, Tuesday, 8th April, 2014.

Only found out about this the other day when making a routine visit to the Donington web site. 
It's free entry to the great unwashed, Vicky's on her last day of annual leave, so gerrinthere!
Our money's on this team for the 2014 Championship but, hey, what do we know?
Vicky looking like she's not sure she should really be in the Pit Lane. 
Time (after a few more shots) for a quick exit!
There's always a lot of this sort of thing going on at car events. It fascinates the hell out of us.
The day also involved the launch of this year's British Formula 3 Championship. 
This is Alice Powell's car.
A new generation of Bentley Boys will enter this year. 
Drivers James Appleby and Steve Tandy are on the right.
Bruno Senna blasted 'round during the lunch break in one of his Uncle's old F1 cars. Josh Hill and Martin Brundle were also on hand to have a go in this Lotus and a Tyrell (we think).
Yay! It's lunchtime and David chooses the Cottage Pie, chips, peas, gravy, and brown sauce option. The Holy Grail of race fans everywhere (if it isn't, it should be).
Lunch time is over and the cars are taking to the track. Time to get some action shots.
Vicky is getting too good at this action shot malarky. Not bad for the standard lens, either.
Another lovely sunny spring day but much colder than last week's visit.
It's a GTR but, criminally, it's not in black.
Donington will be at the centre of all things Formula E in the future.

OK, that's it, it's 2:30pm and time to go. Vicky's got to get back home for a prior engagement. 
Can't say any more. Said too much already.

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Vicky's 52nd, Monday, 7th April, 2014.

It's a 90-odd mile tour of Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire today to celebrate Vicky's birthday with visits to two of her favourite foodie places.
First stop: The Ludlow Food Centre for a birthday lunch of chicken burger, house fries, and salad. David heard the Food Police sirens howling in anguish outside and can confirm that Vicky has paid for this lapse over the following 24 hours.
David's Gloucester Old Spot burger, house fries, and salad (with Ludlow Food Centre brown sauce), thankfully, just out of shot.
With the rain lashing down outside it's an excellent opportunity to stock up with some birthday indulgences from the Food Centre itself. Over £32 worth!
Next stop: down the A49 to Leominster and hanger left to Holloways at Suckley for another pot of tea and the purchase of a new sofa and foot stool.
Blimey, thank goodness Vicky's birthday comes around but once a year.