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Another of our shared interests is in Formula 1, BTCC & most forms of motor
racing. We enjoy watching throughout the season on television as we find that with some of our other interests taking up both Sarah's limited time off & our finances we
try to spread the events we go to.
Whilst we are still having withdrawal symptoms from not watching any racing, we book our tickets, in advance, for "AUTOSPORTS". This show which is held at the "N.E.C." in Birmingham in January is our lifeline till March when it all starts again. At the show there is a varied selection of motorsports
for all other fans that like bikes, Karts & rally.
Our main interests are in the Formula 1 area, which from 2002 is set in grid formation for the final team positions from the previous year allowing you to get closer to the cars & to take better photographs. You also stand the chance of meeting the F1 stars & getting autographs.
We also visit the "Live action arena" to see various cars in action & get our
top up of the smell of "burning rubber".
In 2000 Sarah had a chat with Johnny Herbert's mother on the subject of whether aromatherapy could be used to help drivers as it meant no drugs being used to treat ailments & it looked like it was not banned by the F.I.A. Sarah applied to various F1 teams, but failed to get anywhere. Maybe it's time the teams looked at it again.
Our nephew, who is even more of a F1 nut than us, was very lucky to meet Kimi Raikkonen at the 2001 show & get his signature.
In 2001, we managed to get Louise Goodman's signature & finally meet Johnny Herbert & got his autograph.
In 2004 Sarah was in the queue to get Jenson Button's but failed, so she
contacted B.A.R. direct & her wish was granted & got a picture back signed by
hand from Jenson. |
In 2006 we managed at last to get David Coulthard's & also Alan McNish's to the
list
This year (2007) we got Anthony Davidson's & also got in a charity auction a mounted
picture which every 2006 DTM driver had signed when at Brands Hatch.
As Sarah is a huge fan of Alain Prost, from when he was a driver, & was a team owner Sarah has found & keeps in touch with other "Prost" team fans around the world via the "Prost Web Forum". She regularly sends E-Mails to people about F1 & has gained another friend, who is as much a "Prost" fan as she is. Her highlight of 2001 was to see the AP04 "Prost G.P." car driven by H.H.Frentzen.
We used to visit our local F1 shop based in Chester "F1 & more", but this closed in January 2005 & when we make our trips to London for retail therapy, we visit "Alex Reade". When we went to Edinburgh we found another motorsport shop called "The motorsport Store" & it is worth a visit if you are round those parts.
All of these shops are an excellent source of memorabilia & official clothing for race fans. Sarah managed to get from Chester an Alesi "Prost" cap signed by both Luciano Burti & Jean himself. She brought it 7 days before Jean went to Jordan, so there is no way Sarah is letting it go.
From her second home when we go to London "Alex Reade" based in Carnaby Street I brought her for Christmas 2001 a signed picture of the 1999 "Prost" car signed by Olivier Panis & Alain Prost.
We also visit the "Donington Motor Museum" every now & again to see what new exhibits they have had delivered. There is a seperate hall for "McLaren", including one of Senna's cars & a varied selection of "Williams" cars from the times of Alan Jones up to Ralf Schumacher's.
With having a better camera we hope to get more pics from car races & we will
put them on our site.
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