Conference oass::racers

The next few replies will contain a core dump of various Montreal GP 
information bits that I've collected off the net during the last few years.

Mike (who's miss the race this year for the first time since the glorious 
Ferrari 1-2...)

Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport
From: moose@cs.mcgill.ca (James DAHAN)
Subject: Montreal GP
Organization: SOCS - Mcgill University, Montreal, Canada
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1993 04:51:54 GMT
 
Being a Montrealer and having gone to the GP on ten previous occasions
(1981,83-86,88-92) I can tell all of you who are planning to come up
the best seats in the house are SILVER 11 and 12. I have sat in practically
every grandstand and those are by far the best and since MOLSON has taken
promotion of the event rather than just sponsorship,the ticket prices 
have stayed the same, we got diamondvision screens in front of the 
grandstands,and the entire track is accessible to standing room ticket
holders. Before Molson took over promotion,the jackass who ran Phoenix
was promoter and he doubled prices,and restricted access based on ticket 
price. The German guy who followed 2 years later was not much better but
Molson has gone back to the way it used to be. When LABATT was running
the race,you could get a good 3 day pass for $55 CDN,get to watch
something like 7 support races(i remember in '86,i got to the track at 
8am on Saturday and saw a Honda race,F1600,F2000,F125(superkarts),production
A,GTO,Players GM,F Atlantic and of course F1. I finally left the track at 
7:30 pm.)You also got an air show and there were stages where local bands 
were performing(although that maybe wasn't a great thing.)
 
Anyhow, try to find lodging around berri metro,their are a lot of 
bed and breakfast places around that area and than the metro ride is just
one stop to the track. Bring your own beer,softdrinks and food or you
will have to dish out a lot of cash.Their are plenty of park benches around
the track,as well i think they finally opened an artificial beach in
the infield...for those of you who want to send your whining wives someplace
they might prefer to be.
 
Oh yes,buy your film in the states or in town or again you will be gouged at
the track.

[and Mike adds:  Buy your beer in the States, too -- last year a can of 
Molson Dry (the event's sponsor) was C$4 at the track...]

Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport
From: s_oleas@pavo.concordia.ca (OLEAS, SANTIAGO)
Subject: Re: Getting F1 tickets for Canadian GP
Organization: Concordia University
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1993 06:01:00 GMT
 
michael v. colavito <COLAVITO21@delphi.com> writes...

>Jeff,
>treprises G.P. Canadien Ltee
>  C.P. 248
>  Succ. Place d'Armes
>  Montreal, Quebec H2Y 3g7
>  Telephone: (514) 392-0000
> 
>Good place to stay: Motel du Fleuve
>                    7600 Blouevard Marie-Victorin
>                    Brossard, Quebec J4W 1B2
>                    (514) 671-0066
>It is inexpensive, clean, the guy likes racing and short drive to Longueuil
>Metro station.  Park there, one stop to Ile Notre-Dame, no traffic at all
>that way.  Best viewing grandstands, 11, 15 & 24 in mid price range, 31 best
>of the lower cost seats.
>                      Mike
>                      colavito21@delphi.com
 
I would like to add that an even better place to stay would
be the Hotel Lord Berri.  This hotel is a 30 second walk
away from Berri-UQAM Metro station.  Berri-UQAM is only
one stop away from Ile Notre-Dame.  
 
AND you're still in Montreal.  Brossard has no night
life, and it really is a pain to have to go over the
bridges back into Montreal if you're a tourist.
 
Hotel Lord Berri
1199 Berri
Montreal, Quebec
(514) 845-9236
 
For anyone who wants to stay at a hotel where a lot
of teams and drivers stay your best bet would be
the Radissson (Hotel Radisson Gouverneurs Montreal)
777 Rue Universite
(514)879-1370
1-800-333-3333 (International line)
The advantage to most teams with this hotel is that
it is a very short drive to the track down University
street.  But this short drive only allows access to
the restricted areas.

[Mike adds: What this means is it is _not_ advantageous for ticket-holding 
race fans, except perhaps to see the team members]
 
If you choose to stay at any other location other
than the Lord Berri I would strongly suggest
driving to Berri-UQAM.  I do that every year.
Since I show up to the track at about 8am
I usually have no problems finding parking at that
time, but if you choose to show up later there is a
parking lot there.
 
If anyone wants any more information please
feel free to contact me via e-mail or here
(maybe others would benefit).  I do have the 
advantage of living in Montreal and can help
with a lot.
 
Maybe when the circus rolls into town I can
play host to a group of you (not in my home :-)
and guide you to a couple of the main entertainment
areas.
 
Santiago Oleas
Montreal, Canada

[Mike adds:  If you'd like to send e-mail to Santiago, here's his address --
             NM%US1RMC::"s_oleas@pavo.concordia.ca"

From: cv806@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David Reininger)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport
Subject: Montreal Scanner Notes
Date: 14 Jun 1993 15:57:51 GMT
 
Here's the F1 freqs that are in the clear(not scrambled).
 
468.175 Patrese
462.250 Schumacher
460.850 Unknown (Driver has British accent)
469.512 Unknown (Italian team, hence mostly in Italian...Driver
                 spoke English)
464.450 Unknown (Driver has British accent)
 
Listening to the Benetton team we (fellow race chaser Mark)
learned that the driver's could push a switch to add more 
weight to one corner of the car.
 
We also heard the team talking about changing filters. What are
these filters? They were talking in the context of changing
the aerodynamics of the car. I may be mistaken but it sounded
like the driver had control over the filters while driving.
 
Team Benetton also talked about changing the Hertz in the car.
Patrese was running 3 Hz and Schu was running 1.5 Hz. 
What does this refer to? This was discussed while the drivers
sat in the car in the garage.
 
Yes, Patrese parked a good car due to a leg cramp. 
 
Dave

[Here's the schedule used in 1993 -- it will give you an idea what a 
typical F1 weekend is like.  The F1 times are mandated by the FIA, so 
they're guaranteed to be accurate.  The support races are always flexible.  
If more than 28 F1 cars show up at the event, there's a pre-qualifying F1 
session at 8 a.m. on Friday morning.  I _loooove_ the smell of racing fuel 
in the morning... ;^) ]

From: Tim Dudley <dudley.chi@xerox.com>
Subject: Montreal Weekend Racing Schedule
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 1993 14:14:00 GMT
 
Here is the schedule for the Canadian Grand Prix race weekend, from 
Mondays Montreal Gazette (without permission):
 
Friday, June 11
  9:30 - 11:00:  Formula 1 - Practice
  1:00 - 2:00:  Formula 1 - Qualifying
  2:15 - 3:00:  Playeras Atlantic Series - Qualifying
  3:15 - 3:45: Enduro #1 - Qualifying
  4:00 - 4:30: Esso Protex (FF2000?) - Qualifying 
  4:45 -5:30:  Playeras Atlantic Series - Qualifying
  5:45 - 6:15: Enduro #2 - Qualifying
 
Saturday, June 12
  9:30 - 11:00:  Formula 1 - Practice
  1:00 - 2:00: Formula 1 - Qualifying
  2:30 - 3:15: Playeras Atlantic Series - Race, 27 laps
  3:30 - 4:15: Enduro #1 - Race, 25 laps
  4:30 - 5:15: Enduro #2 - Race, 25 laps
  5:30 - 6:00: Esso Protex - Qualifying
 
Sunday, June 13
  9:30 - 10:00: Formula 1 - Warmup
  10:30 - 11:00: Esso Protex - Race, 25 laps
  1:00 : Formula 1 - Grid and Nations presentation
  1:30: Pit Lane - Open
  1:45: Pit Lane - Closed
  2:00 - 4:00: Formula 1 - Grand Prix Molson du Canada, 70 laps.

    > Is there a cure for this?
    
    Yes, I believe it's called a shortage of _CREDIT_.  See once you get
    rid of all that green paper stuff, you start using the little plastic
    stuff.  And then, magically you go to use it and someone says "Opps,
    no-can-do".  And all of them don't work.  I _hate_ when that happens.
    
    MadMike

    
    Hello Racefans,
    
    I ordered my Canadian GP ticket today. OOOOCCCCCHHHH!!!!! Two hundred
    hard earned (debatable I'm shure) good 'ol US smackeroos! I'm shure
    it'll be well worth it, not to mention getting to visit Montreal. I;m
    really looking forward to a great weekend. 
    
    My hotel accomodations are still pretty much up in the air. although
    a local travel agent is holding a room for me at the Holiday Inn
    somewhere near the airport. She said it was about 14 miles into town.
    Maybe a little far out to be in the GP Circus ambiance, but US$53.00 a
    night is pretty attractive. But I would like to stay closer to the
    action. Anyone out there have any more hotel suggestions?
    
    It would be great to get together with any of the DIGITAL race fans for 
    a little commraderie before/during/after the race. Hope to see you
    there!
                                 
    WWWHHHHHOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
    
    
    P.S. I'm still looking for to split the cost of room for the race
         weekend. I'm a single hetero male F1 lunatic(well, lunatic in
    general), light drinker. You cand contact me via All-In-One Ceraso@BHO
    or DTN 369-6035 or at my home 205-326-6713.
    
                                     

Re: Note 984.8 by ODIXIE::CERASO 

>    I ordered my Canadian GP ticket today. OOOOCCCCCHHHH!!!!! Two hundred
>    hard earned (debatable I'm shure) good 'ol US smackeroos! 

I'm pretty sure it's $200 Canadian, assuming we're talking Silver 
grandstands.  Does anybody know the current exchange rate?

Where are your seats?  I'll be at the tight hairpin -- the scene of 
Mansell's infamous last-lap failure, and Piquet's last F1 pass for the 
lead.

On a trip to Montreal about 8 years ago we stayed at a hotel (might have been 
a Holiday Inn) just past the Botanical gardens and the Olympic Stadium.  It 
was about 30 minutes from the hotel to downtown via the subway.  Beware - all 
the announcements they make in the subway are in french....  Our routine was 
that provided no one else started running for the exits when an announcement 
was made, we were safe too! :-)

Dave

    re:984.9
    
    	My seat is in the Silver grandstand. I don't know the seat number.
    I'm pretty sure it was US bucks. We'll see when the bill arrives.
    
    re:984.10
    
    	Good warning. Thanks. Sounds like it would'nt hurt to take a
    conversational French class before heading up.
    
    	I also just bought a Fodor's guide to Montreal. Lots of info to
    digest tonight.
    
    				CERASO
    

  There are also some cheaper hotels across the river in Longieu (sp?).  I
  don't think the subway runs over there, but Isle Notre Dame is closer to
  that side of the river than it is to Montreal.
  
  Also, don't miss out on a trip or hike to the top of Mount Royal.  Then
  there is the amusement park/water park on the other side of the isle.
  
  When we went up we rented a paddle water trike and floated around the
  water way inside Isle Notre Dame (not on the Grand Prix weekend
  obviously).
  
  Lots of things to do and see up there....
  
  Dave

>  There are also some cheaper hotels across the river in Longieu (sp?).  

Longueil.

>  I don't think the subway runs over there, but Isle Notre Dame is closer to
>  that side of the river than it is to Montreal.

Au contraire...the subway [The Metro] has a stop on that side of the Fleuve
St. Laurent, but it is the only one. 
  
I will, if contacted off-line and bribed with beer, Elle McPherson and/or
pit passes, tell where I stay.  It's more expensive than the outer hotels,
but _very_ convenient, especially if one drives in from New England. 

For instance:  I once was lounging in my hotel room at 9:00 Sunday morning.
I had convinced myself that I'd had my fill of F1 for the weekend (excepting, 
of course, the race), and that I'd pass up the morning practice that was to 
be held at 9:30.  At 9:10 I changed my mind, and at 9:30 I was in my racetrack 
seat.  Tres bon!

Mike

    
    Thanks all for the info/comments.
    
    I received my tickets for the 94 Canadian GP(Grand Prix Molson du 
    Canada,officially) a few days ago. I got Silver 11 seats. These are 
    located at the end of the main straight coming out of the first right-
    hand sweeper. It should give a clear view of the cars coming down the 
    main straight past the pits and into the first left turn-right sweeper-
    straight, then under what appears to be a walk-over bridge. It should
    be electrifying actually being there to watch and hear the field charge
    from the start then squeeze into the first turn.:) :) :)
    
    By the way, the tickets I got are the three day passes. Fridays pass
    cost $30.00CA, Saturday, $50.00CA, and Sunday, $120.00CA. The VISA bill
    arrived a couple of days ago with a charge of US$150.00. I understand
    that the General admission tickets for Sunday are about US$65.00.
    
    I made arrangements with a company out of Texas that specializes in 
    Formula 1 tour packages. It includes 5 days/4 nights at the Crowne
    Plaza, and party with Bob Varsha (ESPN F1 Commentator,if you didn't
    already know). I decided to take this route since I would be going
    alone, figuring there be a group commraderie, and maybe someone in the
    group speaks French. There are cheaper hotels available around in and
    around Montreal, but I think the tour package will work out nicely.
    
    Hope to see you there.
    Ceraso
    VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
    

    The annual Montreal GP trip for our gang in MKO (Merrimack, NH)
    stays at La Tour Centre Ville (downtown).  
    	- All the rooms seem to have kitchenettes, a separate bedroom and
    	  living room with pull-out couch.
    	- It may be a little older place, and we did have that one year
    	  without hot water (or water at all) for a few parts of the
    	  weekend.
    	- $110 Canadian before-tax, but we're able to split by 3 or 4 guys
    	- Easy walk to Metro
    	- Easy walk to Ste. Catherine's St, clubs, Hard Rock Cafe, etc
    	- Parking garage - just leave the car there for the weekend.
    
    We're sitting on the outlet side of the hairpin again this year.
    See great racing under braking, through turn, and rush of acceleration.
    Diamondvision screen inside hairpin.  We talked of sitting across from
    the pits (Gold) to see the new pit action this year, but were talked
    out of it by folks who had tried it - don't see much racing.
    
    Being in New Hampshire makes it easy - about a four hour drive.  Leave
    by 8AM Friday, and we're at the Friday 1PM practice session.
    
    New attraction - the Casino right at the track is open now.  (In case
    you haven't spent all your money....)
    

    Being a native Montrealer, I have this advice: if they won't speak
    english to you, take your business elsewhere. In Montreal (especially
    downtown) english is as common as french. Only the most stubborn
    separatist will refuse to speak it. 
    
    Keep in mind tho' that there is a french section of downtown and an
    english section. If you stay west of St. Lawrence Blvd. you're pretty
    safe. If you're going to party, Crescent St. is the place and is, for
    the most part, english.
    
    Enjoy!
    
    Stan

    Re: last
    
    Having spent a little time in Montreal, I can tell you that folks were
    almost uniformly pleasant and cordial.  They might great you in French,
    but once you answer in English they switch right over.  A US friend who
    attended McGill U. jokes that, once they figure out you're a Murrican
    and not an English-speaking Canadian, they treat you better.
    
    And save the flames, my grandparents were from Sherbrooke, PQ.

    Yes, they do tend to treat English-Canadians differently. However, the
    accents of our neighbors to the south are not always that distinct as
    to indicate nationality (not everyone speaks with a bronx accent or a 
    southern drawl!).
    
    Stan
    

    We go every year and spend "off track time" downtown St Catherine Street.
    Goes all night with people walking and talking ( I know we're not aloud
    to do this anymore, and I don't, But the girl watching is just out of
    this world). Lots of fast/expensive cars, the "whos who" shows up
    putting on a show you'll never see anywhere else.
    
    We stay at the Quality Inn Suite on Cresant st. 10 minutes on the Metro to
    the track. 2 minute walk to the best eating and Clubs.
    
    A great time to be had by all. This will be my 11th year.
    
    
    Fred

re .15 SOLVIT::TALLO

> Being in New Hampshire makes it easy - about a four hour drive.  Leave
> by 8AM Friday, and we're at the Friday 1PM practice session.

Being one of the folks to go with Mr. Tallo to Montreal, I'd like
to add that it's fours hours to get there from NH only if Paul
drives the rental rig like he drives his CRX!

Can you say, "Boy this LTD seems to float all over the road."

cheers!

-rob

    Gee, 4 hours from NH?  Sounds easy.  I used to make it in 4 hours from 
    Boston.  (Actually 4 hours and 5 minutes.)  Needless to say it was in 
    my (ahem) younger days....
    
    Jeff

    What's the big deal?  Your going to a race for crying out loud...
    STEP ON IT...
    
    3 hours to Charlotte NC from here.  (@80mph).

    
    
    3 hours from Birmingham, AL.  (620mph cruising altitude)

    So who's going ?
    
    I'd like to meet some place Friday to put some faces to these names.
    
    I'll be There Friday, our seats are on the exit from the east end hairpin,
    top row, last seats towards the old pits (or about there).
    
    I like to walk around on Friday to see how each car gets around. I
    expect to see lots of spinning tires this year compared to last.
    
    Could we meet some place say after the last timed session Friday ?
    
    OR
    
    A good pub downtown, this maybe hard as we leave our car parked and
    walk or use the Metro. I'm open to suggestions though.
    
    
    Can't wait till Thursday, go'n to the races.
    
    Fred
    
                   

    Well, I'm going, and I can barely wait!
    
    I've been pretty much read-only in this notes file, when I get a
    chance.  But I'm an avid follower of F1, and have been going to
    Montreal since a year after they stopped racing at Watkins Glen. 
    (Hell, we even went for the weekend the year the Molson/Labatt wars
    cancelled the race!).
    
    We're sitting down at grandstand 11.  Since we're driving up on Friday
    morning, and it's a good 1/2 hour from the metro, we may not make it
    all the way to our seats until Saturday, but we'll find a spot
    somewhere for Friday qualifying!
    
    Kate

    Not going to the GP this year, however, if years past the BEST (IMHO)
    place to eat, meet, dance, get drunk, etc. is the Old Munich downtown. 
    Can't honestly remember where it is (it's not in the "old" section,
    however.  It's a German beer garden, two levels, a German band, and
    LOTS of fun.  Think also there's a metro station close  by.  Maybe one
    of our Canadian readers can fill in details, but the place is a blast.
    

    The Old Munich is on Rene Levesque Boulevard EAST of St Laurent St.
    I'll vouch that the place is fun but there are LOADS of good
    bars/pubs/restaurants.
    
    If you're into ribs, the ABSOLUTE BEST in the WORLD are at the
    Bar-B-Barn on Guy St. between Rene Levesque and St Catherine (right
    downtown). Bring an appetite but if at all possible make reservations!
    
    Stan

    The Old Munich is not *really* on Rene Levesque Boulevard, it's on the
    corner of Rene Levesque and (I think) St. Urbain.
    
    Don't drive there (drinking and what-not) and don't walk back (the
    neighbourhood ain't the best (your being english, pissed, etc).
    
    Stan

    These places are all near our Hotel, BAR-B-Barn is just around the
    block.
    
    They don't take reservations and there is always a 1/2 hour wait or
    more. Best Ribs I ever tasted though.
    
    How'bout we meet on Friday after the last timed session in middle
    ground. I've seen some people sitting East and some West. We should meet
    by the middle stands (don't have my tickets here, so I don't know the
    gransdstand number) at the ESSES, inside the track, just before the
    straight to the pit entrance, I expect it will be 2:30 if there are no long
    delays. 
    
    There is a walkover bridge, T shirt concessions, (that's if they haven't
    gone changed things again this year) should be easy to get to, no matter 
    where you're sitting.
    
    This is a good place to watch the cars at full speed thread through the
    corners, I have to grit my teeth just watching.
    
    Wear something DIGITAL and we will see what happens from there.
    
    Looking forward to the weekend fun. One more day here for me, we go
    Thursday, to be fresh for Friday mornings practice, I stretch it out as 
    much as I can. Take Monday off too, just for the heck of it.
    
    Fred
                                                               

    
     I will be up on Thursday afternoon. My seats are Grandstand 11,
    section 1, row T, seat 15. My plan is to walk around a bit, checking
    out the cars at different parts of the track. I'll make it around to
    the pre-determined location and scout around for DECees. I don't have
    any DEC clothing so I'll look for useguys. 
    
    See Ya There!
    CERASO

    Looked for "Digital" folks at the specified location, but no luck.
    I had on my Digital logo hat.
    
    They did change around some of the bridges, etc this year so I wasn't
    exactly sure of the location, but I wandered around (and spent money
    on souvenirs in the process..)
    
    Schumacher !

    Couldn't see anybody, wore my DIGITAL shirt.
    
    Grand stand was no more, there were two walkover bridges, I was at the
    closest to the pits, by the last souvenir stand.
    
    Seats got screwed up, we were in the East end of the stands near the 
    hairpin, got to almost touch them as they came out of the turn. We wanted 
    West end top, still real good. 
    
    Seems like there were a lot more people this year, couldn't get into the
    stands without a ticket as in past years.
    
    Enjoyed ourselves, very good weather, only rained on our corner for 2
    minutes during lap 50 or so. Cars didn't even notice.
    
    Booked the rooms for next year as we left.
    
    Sorry I missed you all.
    Fred
    		P.S. hard enough to find somebody when you know what they look
    		like, impossable to find somebody you don't know.