A Day At The Races

The Saga Continues, Part 3 Of Tom's European Tour On The Guzzi

Sunday morning 12th September 1999, the halfway point of our big tour, and we head out along the A4 Autostrada towards the Monza Autodrome. Today it’s Italy’s turn to stage the Fl Grand Prix. On the approach to Monza the police shepherd all Grand Prix traffic into the industrial area; there’s a free ‘park and ride’ service to the circuit and within half an hour we are disembarked into the woods with a half mile to the circuit..

The crowd is vast, a sea of red. It seems you can support who you like so long as it’s Ferrari. The touts have massive numbers of tickets for sale at half the price we paid for ours through a UK agent. (We later learned from some Brits we met that it only cost £35 to camp for three days and watch all the racing and practice if you paid at the gate some £5 less than we paid for one day. Never mind, you live and learn)

We walk for what seems like miles trying to find somewhere to see the track. People have erected makeshift camps along the wire, and using Swiss army knives and ropes others have made their own grandstands level with the top of the wire, some two metres above the ground. Others have builders trestles and planks stepladders and beer crates are everywhere anything to get a view! We finally get a spot with a reasonable vie; of about a quarter mile of straight and watch the closing laps of a classic car race no prizes for guessing what cars they were. The grand prix is an hour and a half away so we are well absorbed in the atmosphere by the start.

Even with ear plugs in place the noise of the Fl cars is deafening as they do their formation lap. It’s bad news for Ferrari. Mika Hakkinen is on pole; the closest Ferrari is Mika Salo on three, and Eddie Irvine’s on eight. They are soon off and it’s the usual follow my-leader. Hakkinen soon builds a huge lead, then an almighty cheer comes roaring through the crowd - the Italians are going crazy - apparently Hakkinen has gone off the track. The rest of the race is a huge disappointment. Frentzen in the Jordan builds a big lead now, and Ferraris finish third and sixth in what can only be described as a very boring race.

After the race it’s time for a photo call on the circuit -well, it had to be done5 you know what kids are like. Now the struggle back to the bikes begins as a human wall of thousands and thousands of people shuffle along. T shirts, flags and regalia are on sale new at a fraction of the price of a few hours earlier. It takes a good hour to reach the coaches, where it looks like the cc.ntinenta2. mentality of not queuing is evident. The general idea is, about two hundred people at a time simply attack a bus. When no more car. possibly get in, another twenty or so climb in on top of you. The driver then leaves his cab and with several assistants kicks the doors shut and we are off. First stop the doors won’t open so people climb out the windows. The heat is unbearable and there are a few people with perspiration problems Phew!
We are glad to be back on the bikes and heading back to the campsite. After a clean-up it's time for food, beer and cocktails. Tomorrow we plan to head South.

Stay Tuned!!
More Next Month!!
TOM BANWELL