4thGen

Hey guys,
I'm thinking about going to the Canadian Grand Prix. Have any of you guys gone before? Which seats should I get? How are the General Admission seats? Any other tips? Thanks for your guys help.

MazdaMonkey

It is an AWESOME race track. It's in the middle of a freaking river! (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...07975&t=h&om=1 )

I would try to get tickets near the south end of the island, near turn one so you can still see the pit straight and the first few turns for all of the action If you have never been to a grand prix before, it is important to try and near a jumbo TV, otherwise it will be difficult to follow the race (It is not like NASCAR where you can see most of the track from one seat). The ends of the main straight and before any of hte chicanes is where all of the main passing should take place, but I think the end of turn 1/2 will provide you with some good viewing and you can hear the cars as they accelerate away. Sitting at the top of the northern hairpin might be interesting also. I would also be happy sitting next to turns 6/7.

If you are able to go both Saturday and Sunday then Saturday is probably a GA ticket, so you can do all of your walking around and watching from each part of the track then (this can also be done on Friday if you can get the time off). If you are only going Sunday you might consider a GA ticket so you can move around, but all of the good viewing positions will be taken very early, so you probably won't be able to see much walking around. Canadians take this race very seriously, and the fans are pretty hard-core.

Marc_GS

A lot of good points in the post above. I was there in 2005 in the grandstands facing the "Senna curves". Hearing the cars accelerating away and occasionally seeing the back end step out under acceleration was the highlight of that location (for me). There were also a few interesting maneuvers in the Senna curves, so all in all a good place from which to watch the race.

General admission is a "bring your own chair" affair - no seating is provided. The best spots are always taken up VERY early in the morning by people who do this every year and know the best spots well. You may end up in a less than ideal viewing location on your first visit, so I recommend trying to find a location with a view of one of the large screens on which they show the TV broadcast.

4thGen

thanks for the help guys! i think i'm gonna go with the grandstands at turns 6/7

Bootleg

hate to bring an old thread back to life but my wife an i are going this year for the first time. we went to Indy last year and had a freaking blast. i have one big question. where is the GA area? i can't find a single map that shows the location of the GA areas. i know the best thing would be to buy grandstand tickets but at more than double the price that may not be possible. i just want to make sure that if we go with GA that we'll still have an opportunity to find good seats.

MazdaJeff

The only advice I can offer is wear comfortable shoes. The walk to the stands from the entrance is LONG!!!!

It is always a good time. You won't regret going.

RA-Eight

iTrader: (6)

Woot! Woot! I'll be going for the first time. Any recommendations on hotel accomodation? Close to the track, and night life?

Bootleg

yeah, stay outside of Montreal unless you wanna get **** rapped in hotel costs. we're getting a house on Lake Champlain for a week and driving to Montreal each day. gonna me a lot cheaper. we might stay in town the night before the race so we can get to the track early.

Mendossa

There is no "GA Area". Basically, you can pay for seats and watch the race, or pay for GA and just walk around the site, have a beer and stick your face into a fence huddled with dozens of other people to have a small peek at the cars whizzing by.

Seriously you should get tickets. The cheapest ones are ±200$, I strongly recommend stand #31. Cheap, very nice view, lots of action and a big screen to follow the race.

I've been there the past 3 years, I can post pics if you want.

huzer21

iTrader: (1)

I'm hoping to go this year, as it's near my hometown. I haven't been since...1979.

Mendossa

I've been organizing groups for the Montreal F1 GP for the last 3 years but this year we might go to GP3R instead... and see some RX8 racing! w00t!

If any of you need tips/advice for Mtl, PM me.

Bootleg

thanks for that info, thats exactly what i wanted to know. we were looking at stand 33, which do you think is better?

Mendossa

I walked the track last year and saw #33... it's a bit smaller if I remember correctly but you're closer to the track than in #31.

I'd still go for #31 tho

The cars are on a stretch at top speed so you hear them coming, heavy breaking as they pass under the bridge and enter your field of vision, 90 degree turn, acceleration in a somewhat irregular curve... so we get brake lock-up, oversteer, collisions... I'll upload a vid

Here's a video of what it looks like from #31... all shots taken by me or friends from out seats. It looks like we're far from the track but it's actually much closer than it looks like. The last shot with the Renault car has a right feel.

Icemark

Where is the pit lane on that circuit?

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

this is the same race track that inday car ended their season at huh? i think penske built that entire track just because...damn he is rich!

Bootleg

on the north side of the track before the senna curve.

i wish someone had some pictures of 33.... i wold love to know what that one looks like. it looks great on paper but now i know that 31 is good spot for sure.

Mendossa

Err... no.

It was built in 1978.

SHOWOFF

I tried about a month in advance to go last year, I was going to hit the Canadian GP and the USGP back to back but there was just not enough time to get things in place. I'd like to make it this year since the USGP is no more. Hotels were around $300 a night for anything close to downtown.

I made the USGP last year. Loved it.

Bootleg

ordered tickets last night. Tribune 31, section 1, row O, Seats 21 and 22. Thanks for your help Mendossa. your video is what helped us make our choice.

Mendossa

I'm happy to hear that

I've got some friends who are appalled that I might not organize our annual GPF1 weekend this year, trying to convince me to go... so I might come by and say hello!

Bootleg

you should do that.