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Originally Posted by Average Punter
And that, GTR is what bugs me the most about going to the circuits these days. Although Cochrane keeps telling us how many of us are attending the races, we put up with some cr@p...
I went to Adelaide for four Formula 1 GP's and used to stand in the shade of a beautiful gum tree at the exit of the chicane. The memory of seeing Senna's yellow helmet come into view on a qualifying screamer is still enough to give me goosebumps 15 years later...
I went back to Adelaide for the 2003 Clipsal and in that very same spot was a corporate box. I arrived a little late (on a dodgy ticket from Sevi...) but as fortune would have it I ran into a mate who works for a big property management firm in Sydney. He was in that very box. Couldn't get me past the doberman on the gate so he came down, eleventieth beer in hand. I asked him who had topped the times in practice. He told me "didn't even watch it..."
Sure the corporates bring in the money but a large number of them aren't interested in watching so why plonk their tent in the absolute best spots on the circuits???
I watched the Toll boys on the Turn 1 hill at Queensland raceway and they seemed more interested in the TV monitors. (Given where Tratty is usually running I guess that's not a surprise)
I don't mind allocating some space for the corporates to do their schmoozing but how about we put them somewhere else? Like up the back of the hill? Like where the Castrol boys usually are at Hell Corner. Or inside Hell where Brockies big Marlboro emporium once sat? Better still put them in the new flash boxes above the pits and leave the rest of the circuit for those who are genuinely interested in what's going on????????
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I have only been to Bathurst once, but for me, although there are some good viewing spots at the top of the mountain, the pick was the outside of the chase. I did try the inside and found it to be no where near as good. If they ever build those units they will be worth gold on race weekend.
It is every circuit that is being handed over to the corporates. Here at Hidden Valley the area at the gravel trap is one of the best viewing areas as you can see a fair bit the track and a screen for what you cant. This year the corporate area encroached even further onto the public area and the heavies prevented anyone standing in front of the marques even though they were well above most peoples heads.
