Anyone been to Monza?

Dan_123 · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:34 Post subject: Anyone been to Monza?

Hey all,

I'm off to southern France in late August and may pop over to the Italian GP in Sept. I'm just wondering if anyone has been there and if they thought it was worth me forking out a few hundred quid for?

The only reasonably priced stand seems to be Junior, or do you recommend just a general access ticket? I've been to Melbourne and it seems the GA ticket would do (but my girlfriend is just over 5ft and may not enjoy!)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Dan.

Sam · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 17:30 Post subject:

Monza is a phenominal circuit. I have been there every year since 2001 and I love it. I have sat on the pit straight and would not recommend that, the first chicane, the second chicane and the parabolica. They are all good but my favourite is the second chicane. Its the cheapest of those stands and the only downside is the trek you have to do through the trees and park to get there. The cars come surging towards you then light up the breaks, hit each other, spin and provide maximum entertainment. Best ever F1 moment was there in 2003; Michael and Juan were coming towards me leading the pack on lap 1, side by side. At that point in time, Michael had got his head around the new points system and had started to be a little cautious, especially around Juan who had demonstrated that he "could" be a little crazy. I was convinced and they turned into the chicane that Michael would lift and was delighted when he didn't! They drove through the corner inches apart looking at each other before Michael just pulled away on the outside edge of the corner. Awesome. I watched it through my camera lens convinced it wouldn't come out and I was jumping up and down and screaming at the time but it did!!!! I will always treasure that shot. Not the sharpest photo but for me, its full of wonderful memories that make my heart race. It wasn't just a wonderful racing moment but the turn around of his failing 2003 season! Brilliant!!!
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Sam

White Lightning · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 23:28 Post subject:

Any chance of getting that photo posted Sam? How amazing must that be!

Monza is definitely a track to visit during Uni Smile

Dan_123 · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 09:19 Post subject:

Thanks guys, you convinced me (not that i really needed it) that I should put in the effort.

That picture sounds great, I wouldn't mind seeing it either!
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Dan.

Tony Condliffe · Kart Novice Joined: 06 Aug 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Wirral

If you get a GA ticket my advice is to get in the circuit early and stake your place. I went in 1998 and it was a bloody nightmare. We ended up watching the race on the big screen at the entrance to Parabolica because we could not get a view of the circuit anywhere. It is a horrible place to go to, you end up totally lost, and end up risking being run over by the Porsches on their way out to their race, since they drive straight through the crowd.

Sam · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 23:05 Post subject:

francisn · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 00:04 Post subject:

Dan

Sylvestre is to a certain extent right.

Monza is in an old Royal park. Unlike more modern tracks there is no perimeter road round the track. So to move from one area to another you have to walk outward (maybe 1/4 mile) then round to thenext "inward" road. It is not conducive for wandering round the track to find a viewpoint.

I was there in 99. At Variante 1. It was a great place to be. But there were in that area only two food stalls and a dozen individual portaloos to service about 8k people. Lots of bushes though. Forget about queuing at the foodstalls - just push - and bjuy as much beer as you can carry. Better still take a cool box full. You'll curse as you hulk it there - but it will be worth it.

It's got fantatsic atmsopjhere. We walked up the track to parc ferme after the race. No idea if you can still do tthat though. getting there at 07.30 and walking through the mist past all the food stalls and Ferrari merchandise stands (there were no other teams represented!) will live with me forever.
But then so will fighting to get onto the bus to get back to the carpark (they closed one side of a dual carriagewayto park the cars and charged a lot of money - but that included a shuttle bus) and then sweating on it for 30 minutes!!

How Bernie ever dared criticising Silverstone is beyond me.

But it was great. We even walked on some of the old banked track. The atmosphere is like nowhere else.

Enjoy

Sam · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 09:26 Post subject:

To add to what Francis had said, I have been there 4 times and can't agree more about the dreaful conditions which make even silverstone before its improvements seem wonderful!

The last time I sat at the first chicane was in 2002 and I found that the food was ok even if the choice was limited compared again to Silverstone. Fine if you like Paninis! The toilets here and at Spa are the worst in the world. For guys, the bushes might help if you over do the beers a bit but for girls - we have to limit in our intake to save ourselves too many visits to the toilets. At the second chicane, which is my favourite spot, the Tifosi even knock over some of the portaloos making those remaining even worse. But in exchange for this you get to see the cars running the fastest you will ever see them and these old traditional tracks like Spa and Monza really can't be beaten by the new tracks.

One more word of warning, as you enter the circuit (the park) pay close attention to where you are coming. Depending on which entrance you use, it can be very confusing. One year (my first visit) I came in with some friends and was too excited to pay too much attention. At the end of the race I tried to go back to the coach and reached a junction where there were 4 or 5 paths to chose from. I had no idea. I took the wrong one and couldn't even find my way out of the park (it is the largest walled park in Europe) let alone find the coach. It was my first F1 trip abroad on my own and I was pretty scared. So be observant on the way in!

Enjoy yourself and let's hope its a good race!
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Sam

Topper_Harley · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 08:48 Post subject:

I am going to Monza this year.
Don't you know if there is any possibility to meet the drivers when they are coming to circuit (or leaving the racetrack) ? If yes, don't you know where is the best place to meet them?
Thank you for your help.

Sam · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:02 Post subject:

Meeting them can be very difficult. If you're lucky, you might see them but they are usually driving right into the paddock. You get a crowd of hopefuls hanging around the paddock entrance, behind the pits where I had to meet someone last year but the only driver I saw was Nico Rosberg, who was a GP2 driver then and was not being bothered too much.

Good luck and enjoy yourself.
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Sam

Topper_Harley · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:39 Post subject:

Thanks for your answer. I ahave one more (Maybe stupid) question... Don't you know where at Monza is paddock entrance located?

Sam · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 18:03 Post subject:

Head for the mainstraight. There is a tunnel that passes under the track. Once into the centre of the track, there is one entrance at the exit of the tunnel. The entrance that seemed to offer better spotting chances though is at the other end of the paddock. At the exit to the tunnel, turn left. You are then walking past the paddock. You'll see where it ends. Turn left again, heading towards the track and you'll see the paddock entrance.

Good luck!
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Sam

Topper_Harley · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 06:55 Post subject:

Perfect! Thanks a lot.

waternymph · Single-Seater Rookie Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 182

am going with kismet one day definitely. xxx
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elchineor · Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 18:28 Post subject:

We are sketching out a trip to the GPs @ Monza AND Spa.
Re: IGP, where would one stay and could public transportation work to and from the track?
Reads as if the Second Chicane is the hot set-up ...

El Chinero
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