Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne
You don’t have to be a total rev-head to get a buzz out of the Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne (March 15 - 18, 2007). When you mix the roar of the engines, a bevy of scantily clad grid girls and a host of celebrities, you get an action packed three days at Albert Park (four days for the real die-hard race fans!), where everyone can find a bit of fun.
Let’s start at Day 2 when the real fun begins. This is usually your first chance to see the F1 cars in action during practice sessions. Nothing can quite prepare you for the sights, sounds and smells of these amazing pieces of machinery sleekly cruising around the track, getting a feel for its bumps and grooves. There is a little of everything on day 2 as all the supporting events start to warm up, and fans start scouting the best positions for race day. Day 2 is all about settling in. Where will you watch the race? What’s on the event program? How long is the queue for the toilets? Where are the beer tents?
This is also your best chance to sneak into the Paddock Club, the exclusive area reserved for drivers, celebrities and the wealthy. If you get sick of the on-track action, trying to get in is a great way to kill some time. Create a diversion, follow a group with passes, sweet talk a security guard, or if all else fails, find a hole in the marquee and squeeze your way in. A word of warning though, getting in is the easy part, not getting kicked out is the real challenge!
If you need a break from the noise and fumes of Albert Park, there are plenty of great day tours to do. In my opinion there are two “must-do” tours in Melbourne. The first one is Phillip Island for the Penguin Parade. Each night the local population of fairy penguins waddle ashore to settle in their nest for the night and you get a great view from the wooden boardwalks which line the beach. This is a great opportunity to see these very cute endangered animals in their natural environment, and you will want to take plenty of film for your camera.
My second favorite trip to do when in Melbourne is the Great Ocean Road. The scenery is spectacular, particularly when you reach your ultimate destination - the Twelve Apostles, but there is plenty to see and do along the way. You may stop at Bells Beach to check out the local surfing talent at Australia’s most famous surfing beach, or visit Kennett River where you have an excellent opportunity to spot a Koala in the wild. You can do the Great Ocean Road by coach tour, in a small group, or in keeping with the theme of your visit to Melbourne, the ultimate way to see the Great Ocean Road is on the back of a Harley Davidson Motorbike. However you choose to do it, you are sure to have a great day out of the city.
Getting back to the race …
Day 3 is when the crowds come. With official qualifying for Sunday’s big race, this is when the big boys get serious. Discussions turn to the amount of downforce Ferrari has this year and the legality of the new rear wing design on the McLarens. The petrol-head in all of us emerges as engines purr and drivers push their bodies to the limit. For me the most amazing thing I remember from my first Formula One race was the noise as drivers hit the brakes approaching a corner. Yes, the roar of the engine is LOUD … but you expect that, it’s the thud of the brakes that blew me away. You have to hear it yourself to understand what I mean!
After a big night out in Melbourne (the less said about it the better!) you drag yourself out of bed for Day 4 - race day! It doesn’t take long to shake off the night before as you board the tram to Albert Park along with over 100,000 other race-goers. Get up early if you want one of those fantastic positions you found earlier in the weekend because they don’t last long and there are few secrets at Albert Park. Grab a beer and settle in, you have a big day ahead.
As usual the day kicks off with the support races - Formula 3, GP karts, Porsche Racing Challenge, and of course the celebrity race (well you have to make them earn their appearance fees don’t you!?!). In the past the V8 Supercars have also been a feature of the weekend, but unfortunately they are no longer participating. For our foreign friends, the V8’s are a very Australian version of Nascars in the US, with Holden and Ford vying for top position each year, and they will be sorely missed from the event.
However, all others pale in comparison when the Formula One cars take their position on the grid and the engines roar in anticipation of the start. The red lights go off and it’s go, go go (to steal a phrase from the immortal Murray Walker) as the Formula One season gets underway. Everyone holds their breath while the field merges to take the first corner and hope to come out unscathed. From here on, it doesn’t really matter what happens, you have already arrived at your destination. Sit back, grab a beer and enjoy the atmosphere.
The beauty of the Grand Prix in Melbourne is how easy it is to attend. The city puts on free trams to the event and everyone knows where it is and how to get there. Melbourne is full of pubs and restaurants to keep you amused when the racing has finished for the day and there is plenty of accommodation to lay your head at night. The hardest decision you have to make is whether you buy a grand stand ticket or go general admission? My tip - go with general admission, the atmosphere on the ground is far too good to miss and there are no stairs to negotiate when you go on a beer run - an important factor as the day wears on!
Postscript: You can visit the Viator.com site for a complete list of tours and things to do in Melbourne.
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