I would like to attend the F1 race in Montreal in early June. Anyone give me a recommendation for good seats at Gilles Villeneuve Circuit. Thank you.
Formula One Montreal
- Thread starter Jeff247
- Start date
Thanks for the suggestions. Anxious to see a live F1 race. Last one was in Macau in the 80's. Looks like a nice track. Are there any seats I should avoid?
Jeff..I have been to the Montreal race about 5 times,,it is something that you should not miss..
I hope you have a hotel booked already..
Even though I have not gone in about 10 years..Me and my friend always used to get General admission for the weekend, and try to scope out a good seat on the grass, hopfully close to a Diamondvision view.
One year, we actually sat on top of some vendors Ryder rental truck in the hairpin right on the opposite side of the fence. ...I paid about 25 dollars for a 250 dollar seat that year !!!
The introduction of Jacques into F1 brought a " doubling of humanity " onto the downtown scene, and it got too much for me..prices got crazy..
I remember going into Thursday's on Crescent and exchanging pleasantries with Stefan Johansson, Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet..It was not out of the ordinary, to see drivers, mechanics, etc..out for a few hours at night..
I am sure that this doesn't happen much anymore..
Plus my dollar isn't worth anything anymore..I used to get 1.50-1.60..now .98 ???
Also..I hate to burst the bubble..but F1 was never in Macau..
It was probably an GT1 race, or some sort of minor formula, which is an immediate stepping stone to F1 for young drivers...
Go to the race !!!
Best Regards
Smuler
I hope you have a hotel booked already..
Even though I have not gone in about 10 years..Me and my friend always used to get General admission for the weekend, and try to scope out a good seat on the grass, hopfully close to a Diamondvision view.
One year, we actually sat on top of some vendors Ryder rental truck in the hairpin right on the opposite side of the fence. ...I paid about 25 dollars for a 250 dollar seat that year !!!
The introduction of Jacques into F1 brought a " doubling of humanity " onto the downtown scene, and it got too much for me..prices got crazy..
I remember going into Thursday's on Crescent and exchanging pleasantries with Stefan Johansson, Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet..It was not out of the ordinary, to see drivers, mechanics, etc..out for a few hours at night..
I am sure that this doesn't happen much anymore..
Plus my dollar isn't worth anything anymore..I used to get 1.50-1.60..now .98 ???
Also..I hate to burst the bubble..but F1 was never in Macau..
It was probably an GT1 race, or some sort of minor formula, which is an immediate stepping stone to F1 for young drivers...
Go to the race !!!
Best Regards
Smuler
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F1?
You are correct!! I must have been watching an F3 race.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macau_Grand_Prix
"The first F3 race was won by a young Ayrton Senna."
Schumacher's car was able to continue with its rear wing damaged and eventually won the race (another race) with the best aggregate time. Other notable winners include Formula One drivers David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher and Takuma Sato. Since the introduction of F3 races, the Macau GP has gradually become a stepping stone for many F3 drivers to higher class motor-racing competitions such as the GP2 series and Formula 1."
I am an IRL fan. I got into the sport like you did. I live near Watkins Glen but only heard about the great drivers that ran that course, including Gilles Villeneuve who won the race in 1979.
Watkins Glen 1979 "During the extremely wet Friday practice session for this race, Villeneuve set a time variously reported to be either 9 or 11 seconds faster than any other driver. His team-mate Jody Scheckter, who was second fastest, recalled that "I scared myself rigid that day. I thought I had to be quickest. Then I saw Gilles's time and — I still don't really understand how it was possible. Eleven seconds!"[22] Jacques Laffite merely laughed and quipped "Why do we bother? Gilles is different from the rest of us. He is on a separate level."
I met Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, The Unsers and others when the "Indy Cars" CART started running there. Like you said, you could just walk up to them and talk. That got me interested.
I have looked at hotels and would appreciate any suggestions. I'll report back after the race!!!!
You are correct!! I must have been watching an F3 race.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macau_Grand_Prix
"The first F3 race was won by a young Ayrton Senna."
Schumacher's car was able to continue with its rear wing damaged and eventually won the race (another race) with the best aggregate time. Other notable winners include Formula One drivers David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher and Takuma Sato. Since the introduction of F3 races, the Macau GP has gradually become a stepping stone for many F3 drivers to higher class motor-racing competitions such as the GP2 series and Formula 1."
I am an IRL fan. I got into the sport like you did. I live near Watkins Glen but only heard about the great drivers that ran that course, including Gilles Villeneuve who won the race in 1979.
Watkins Glen 1979 "During the extremely wet Friday practice session for this race, Villeneuve set a time variously reported to be either 9 or 11 seconds faster than any other driver. His team-mate Jody Scheckter, who was second fastest, recalled that "I scared myself rigid that day. I thought I had to be quickest. Then I saw Gilles's time and — I still don't really understand how it was possible. Eleven seconds!"[22] Jacques Laffite merely laughed and quipped "Why do we bother? Gilles is different from the rest of us. He is on a separate level."
I met Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, The Unsers and others when the "Indy Cars" CART started running there. Like you said, you could just walk up to them and talk. That got me interested.
I have looked at hotels and would appreciate any suggestions. I'll report back after the race!!!!
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My hotel suggestion is to book a hotel in Laval as soon as you can and take the Metro in each day...plan out your trip using mass transportation..I guarantee you that if you do not use mass transport that weekend, you will be in a world of hurt...
Mostly every place you go to ( restaurant/ club/mall/street scene ) will be packed.. lots of sights and sounds that weekend for sure !!!
Do your homework, plan out your trip,and I guarantee success..No battle plan- you will be regretting it...
I have reservations for the weekend, but am contemplating giving the weekend back..Between going to Frankfurt/ Amsterdam about 4 weeks earlier ( taking a bath USD vs Euro ), then USD vs CDN coming for the race/partying/hotel/Marie Eve...it will be too much financial burden to bear..
If you do go...I envy you...Go have fun
Best Regards
Smuler
Mostly every place you go to ( restaurant/ club/mall/street scene ) will be packed.. lots of sights and sounds that weekend for sure !!!
Do your homework, plan out your trip,and I guarantee success..No battle plan- you will be regretting it...
I have reservations for the weekend, but am contemplating giving the weekend back..Between going to Frankfurt/ Amsterdam about 4 weeks earlier ( taking a bath USD vs Euro ), then USD vs CDN coming for the race/partying/hotel/Marie Eve...it will be too much financial burden to bear..
If you do go...I envy you...Go have fun
Best Regards
Smuler
Jeff247 said:
The Hilton in Laval is a nice hotel but not very close to anything. Close to drive but certainly not to walk. It's about 10 minutes from the metro. I'ts about 20-25 minute drive to downtown with no traffic. Probably 35 by Metro once you get to the metro.
A quick look on Expedia shows the Hilton @ 211.00 USD per night..the Best Western is 144.00.
I have stayed at the Best Western..not a bad property, but at least 5-10 minutes by car to the new Metro station close by..I had a car, so I did not use the metro..No problems with girls coming to your room..I had Outcall every night with no problem..
If you are sure that you are going...look at the hotel thread on this board..a wealth of information !!! ..use bidding for travel to see prices on Priceline..save some $$$$. Also use Trip Advisor for reviews...a combination of these sites will possibly give you a winner
FYI- I am sure that parking ( if you bring your car ) in downtown will cost you a fortune...
Best Regards
Smuler
It is F1 weekend though
I have stayed at the Best Western..not a bad property, but at least 5-10 minutes by car to the new Metro station close by..I had a car, so I did not use the metro..No problems with girls coming to your room..I had Outcall every night with no problem..
If you are sure that you are going...look at the hotel thread on this board..a wealth of information !!! ..use bidding for travel to see prices on Priceline..save some $$$$. Also use Trip Advisor for reviews...a combination of these sites will possibly give you a winner
FYI- I am sure that parking ( if you bring your car ) in downtown will cost you a fortune...
Best Regards
Smuler
It is F1 weekend though
Hey Doc..do you think that agencies such as XXXtase and Devilish will have an easier time getting around Laval, or do you think that they will target the downtown tourist trade for any major weekend..
Someone has probably discussed it before. but since you seem to me more Mtl based than my 1 trip per year, I would like to hear a local's view on this...
Best Regards
Smuler
Someone has probably discussed it before. but since you seem to me more Mtl based than my 1 trip per year, I would like to hear a local's view on this...
Best Regards
Smuler
Jeff247 said:
I was there in 79.
Victory for Gilles but Alan Jones with his Williams was the one who should won the race, being more than a second faster by lap.
He lost a wheel at the pit lane exit, just after changing his rain tires for dry tires. One of the mecanos did not tight enough the bolt.
If it was not of this incident, Gilles Villeneuve never won that race
I am a Laval résident and i can tell you its not a problem for an agencies driver to get heresmuler said:
I will be staying in Plattsburgh that weekend. From all the suggestions I have recieved it sounds like the subway will be the best way to get in and out each day. Any recommendations on where I should pick up the subway when I come up from Plattsburgh? Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
In and out
Thanks. I'll be driving in saturday and sunday morn between 7-9 am. I'll stay all day and taking in the sites!! It's about 100km ea way.
Athana said:
Thanks. I'll be driving in saturday and sunday morn between 7-9 am. I'll stay all day and taking in the sites!! It's about 100km ea way.
Please note that I think the border crossing will be quite backed up all weekend into Canada...so take that time into consideration..
How much was the Plattsburgh rooms ? Fill up the tank in the US before crossing...
Buy tickets on the internet..do not expect that tickets will be available.
Look at a metro map.. If you do not want to pay for parking...go farther away from downtown..perhaps you will luck out.. If you park in a lot, I would recommend Complexe Desjardins below the Hyatt Regency..you can get onto the metro right in the same complex...perhaps a local can comment here....
Be advised..when I came there last year, all the neighborhoods were marked off with " resident parking " signs all over...If your car did not have a sticker in the window..you were easy prey for the parking scumbags
Quite an irritating feeling to finally find a parking spot, then finding out that it really wasn't
Best Reagrds
Smuler
How much was the Plattsburgh rooms ? Fill up the tank in the US before crossing...
Buy tickets on the internet..do not expect that tickets will be available.
Look at a metro map.. If you do not want to pay for parking...go farther away from downtown..perhaps you will luck out.. If you park in a lot, I would recommend Complexe Desjardins below the Hyatt Regency..you can get onto the metro right in the same complex...perhaps a local can comment here....
Be advised..when I came there last year, all the neighborhoods were marked off with " resident parking " signs all over...If your car did not have a sticker in the window..you were easy prey for the parking scumbags
Quite an irritating feeling to finally find a parking spot, then finding out that it really wasn't
Best Reagrds
Smuler
I will stay in Plattsburgh for 3 nights for about $250. I have a NEXUS that should allow me to get over the border quicker and plan on crossing early in the morning. I will plan on driving into the Metro Longueuil subway station and taking it into the track. I just bought my ticket in section 33 for $225 at http://www.grandprix.ca/tickets.html#
Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks
Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks
That was my next concern. I have to pay to park at the metro station? Do you know how much? I would hope to be at the station by 8 am each morn. Any suggestions will me much appreciated.
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Is there a NEXUS line at the Champlain border crossing? I crossed one north of Syracuse once that didn't. Thankfully, there was no line.
Jeff247 said:
Hi, if I was you i will look for motel closer, the ride from plattsburgh to montreal is around 45 minutes and you will have to meet evreytime the duty cop that about a other 20 minutes if evreything goes well if they don't search you !!!
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