MONACO GRAND PRIX 2008
One of the things we did as part of our Ferrari trip was attend the Monaco Grand Prix in 2008.
The narrowness of the Monaco circuit is evident at the approach down Avenue des Beaux Arts. The track on the right where the racing cars will be doing frightening speeds (the 2017 new specs will make them more fearsome to drive), and on the left within an arm's length you can enjoy a glass of very chilled Moét Chandon Champagne. Mind you, you'll have to be as chilled as the Moét as well, when you are as close to the cars which are wider, more aerodynamic and posess massively wide rubber.
The 'OPEN' sign on the top left offers a challenge. I wonder whether the drivers will be tempted to stop at the for a glass of the good stuff? No, I don't think so.
Demonstrating the sheer craziness of the narrow track and being tempted by a glass of Moét...
The Avenue des Beaux Arts provides a brief rest (who's writing this?) with drivers moving to the right mid-way down the straight to avoid a large bump, before the tight Mirabeau corner. The drivers will be doing over 200kmh/125mph at this point. That's stirring stuff, bearing in mind this stretch of straight is only just over 200m/220yards long! As a driver, the margins of safety are non-existent, weaving one's way at up to 289kmh/180mph, threading their way at miraculous speeds between the twenty-storey buildings...
Formula One racing’s new breed of cars for 2017 were faster than their 2016 counterparts straight out the box in Barcelona. As part of dramatic rule changes for this season, aimed at cutting lap times by around four seconds, tyres will be 25 percent wider than the current specification.
The front tyre, was 245mm wide, has increased to 305mm, while the rear grew from 325mm to 405mm. Wheel rim diameter remains unchanged at 13 inches. The rears are so wide they will be as long as my fore-arm with a fist!
At the famous Casino Square. Later, that evening, I went
with my georgeous wife to the Hótel de Paris Monte-Carlo (below) to dance and drink Champagne.
I saw Jenson Button (he's still the third driver for McLaren Team) will be standing in for Alonso in the Monaco Grand Prix, while Alonso's in the States that weekend racing in the Indianapolis 500. The automobile race is held annually at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, an enclave suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana. The event is held over Memorial Day weekend, which is typically the last weekend in May. The Indy 500 takes place on 28 May.
The twisty, tortuous Monaco track, is so tight where you put a wheel wrong by
about 1cm/half an inch, and you're out of the race.
In the top, right hand corner of the map, where that first pic was taken halfway along the straight, approaching Mirabeau Haute.
By Will Pittenger - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7889905
The hundreds of Superyachts (above) which crowd and flood the Monte Carlo port to watch the Grand Prix.
The berths are booked up far in advance and the really giant yachts have to 'park' outside the harbour.
The berths are booked up far in advance and the really giant yachts have to 'park' outside the harbour.
I take a quick look at the track outside the Hótel de Paris Monte-Carlo, where there
were cars whizzing past just a while before.
were cars whizzing past just a while before.
The crowds which flock to the hill on the south side of the circuit to watch the event.
This is how close we got to the track.
That was the spectacular Monaco Grand Prix. Would I go again? You bet your life I will.
That was the spectacular Monaco Grand Prix. Would I go again? You bet your life I will.
I've written two books: Rough Diamonds and SOME PICNIC!
My first book Rough Diamonds is set in the sixties, and this killer read takes you to a mining village called Scallyclare in South Africa. There is deceit, evil, malice, negligence, blackmail, rape, murder. It starts when the three children's Grandfather gives them three uncut diamonds. Along with those, he gives them each a bracelet with their names engraved on. The diamonds and the bracelets become their blessings and their terrifying curses...
This killer read is not for the gutless!
I'm starting work on my follow-up book, which will have the word 'Diamonds' in the title. You can follow progress on Pinterest, where I'll post some mood or theme boards and some excerpts as and when they become ready. You can see the progress on: https://uk.pinterest.com/ianrobinson9655/my-next-novel/
“Big sky.” Athena, my wife, would say sometimes looking up at the vastness above.
“Wow, where did you get that from?” I’d asked the first time she said it.
“I felt it the first time I came to Africa. There’s just so much space and when you look out at the landscape it just seems to go on and on and on to the horizon and up into an endless sky.”
Big sky. What a profound thing to say.
This captures the feelings which we set out to achieve in Horizon's Gourmet Picnics.
It's a true story about Athena's and my business just outside Rosetta in the Midlands of KZN, South Africa. Follows the finding of the property (it wasn't what we had in mind...), setting up the concept for the Gourmet Picnic business, naming the place 'Horizons' (which says 'as far as you can see' and sends a message 'to stretch our guests' expectations'). Selling the business.
I'd like some people to review my books Rough Diamonds and SOME PICNIC! (See below). I'll give you free books to review.
I hope you’ll take time to check them out at Smashwords, where you can sample the first 15% of the books for free.
Here’s the direct link to my book page, where you can sample or purchase the book: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/704634
and https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/706474
Here’s the link to my author profile:
Won’t you also take a moment to spread the word about my books to everyone you know?
Thank you so much for your support!
There's a bonus after the story. You can read the first chapters of my other book after the end of the book.
