It appears you have not registered with our community. To register please click here ...

!!

Welcome to Russian Women Discussion - the most informative site for all things related to serious long-term relationships and marriage to a partner from the Former Soviet Union countries!

Please register (it's free!) to gain full access to the many features and benefits of the site. Welcome!

+-

Author Topic: Formula 1 Sochi 2017  (Read 13364 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« on: March 02, 2017, 02:13:54 AM »

If you can get to Sochi I have two free Main Grandstand tickets for :

Thurs - Pit lane access - you get close to the teams,

Fri - 1 and 2nd Practice sessions

Sat- Practice 3 and qualifying

Sun - The Race and associated support races.

I have already offered another 1 to a member - but these tickets are for FANS.. if you want to bring a loved one - let me know I'll try to get a promotional / staff price. The free ones are for members only

Your GP tickets double up as a Free rail ticket on race day ( return for free all the way to / from Krasnodar ) and accommodation isn't THAT expensive - if you stay in Sochi and get the train direct to the circuit - the stop after the Olympic Village. The F1 media circus, teams and drivers stay in the Olympic Park bed factories.


S.C went with friends last year and pronounced it boring - so won't be coming:)

I won't be in the Grandstand - as I'm the UK rep for the organisers and will be in the stand opposite.

IF you are a fan - it's one of the best value F1 events and Thursday is one of my fav days as the crowds can get really close to the cars and drivers.

IF anyone is interested - I'm sure you'll find a way to contact me :)

Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2017, 08:48:17 AM »
Arrived in Sochi for the preparations for the F1 show - it was beautiful weather - snow-capped mountains in the distance and S.C. waiting to pick me up and get out of the airport ;)



Sadly, one just can't just tip up - one must 'register' one's visa. Years ago this involved wasting hours of one's life with the Federal Migration Service - now ... 20 mins at the Post Office !

 

Then off to YOTA to kick my data sim into life - I use it in a Mi-Fi router and it allows my UK based mobile ( cell) to call the UK as if I'm there - not bad - considering it's 4 USD / minute roaming ... 1000 roubles / month for unlimited data at min. 20MBs is preferable.
 
« Last Edit: April 15, 2017, 12:24:42 PM by msmob »

Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2017, 09:45:08 AM »


This year, yours truly is doing all the English PA announcements for the event  - so you will hear my dulcet tones on the PA system - if you tune in over the race weekend.))

Got stopped by the Russian Traffic Police - AGAIN, on the way to the circuit... :))  This time madame was at the wheel and had taken the wrong motorway exit and sent us 5 km up the motorway spur  to the Mountain resorts.. She was late leaving the motorway and her erratic driving - naturally attracted the attention of 'Mr DPS Policeman'...She had been driving down the middle of both lanes -  'indecision'

 I shut up - but when it looked like he was going to issue a fine - I heard the word 'straf' - I introduced myself as her 'guide' - pointing out the 'navigator' - sat nav was in front of me - and I had told her left - meaning right. really - so it was 'my fault' - and that we were late for a meeting at the F1 circuit.  S.C proudly told him I was the 'voice' of the weekend :))

He cracked - let her off with a warning to " listen to me - but only if I spoke better Russian "  and off we went !

Got a great shot of the Airport runway - looking out to sea, though - so was 'glad' of the diversion.





We arrived at the ticket office and Maxim - a student of Sochi University - whom I knew from last year - handed me over my accreditation and off we headed to the Media Centre

My desk is in a huge office that overlooks the Start / Finish straight and I had Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen for 'company'





Took the bus back - 55 Roubles  - and it dropped me off near home.

I will drive tomorrow as although it was 23C and sunny, today - it will only be 11C and rainy, tomorrow :( 
 




Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2017, 05:59:37 AM »
So, today I was recording the English PA announcements... BOY  getting the emphasis on some Russian Pop / Rock stars names - who will be appearing during the F1 weekend - HARD :)

Andrey - who is in charge of AV Media techie stuff  - took me to the 'Cooldown Room' - where the Podium drivers take on fluids, check their times and positions of other competitors and prefer their sponsors' caps - before appearing on the podium - after the race.



I'm not a  shy person - but it was scary using profession kit, wearing headphones and reading from scripts ....


Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2017, 02:16:21 AM »
It's fascinating to watch the kit arrive and erected, so quickly and even MORE impressive how quickly it is packed away ! FOM ( Formula 1 Management ) and the Sports governing body (FIA) guys are now on the ground erecting temporary buildings and large cargo aircraft are delivery huge boxes of kit  - in addition to that arriving by sea .




S.C. is NOT into F1 and yesterday the weather was good - so it was time to hit the beach )  They rescued a Cormorant that was clearly injured - and exhausted - following a storm 36 hours early. There is an elderly that rescues sea birds and it was too big to fit in the lady's normal shopping bag.  They walked to the local park - where there is a zoo and delivered the bird to the vet, there




On the way back from the zoo, she stopped and posed - many FSU ladies like to pose - amongst the greenery and flowers that make Sochi so beautiful



Note the 'Irish content' - an Aran Sweater ! It is just about sunset and the temperature is falling to 16C / 61F

Meanwhile, one of the volunteers - a student from Portugal - was doing a passable rendition of Fernando Alonso ..



He took this photo of a team garage - before it is 'taken over' - and filled with kit








Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2017, 05:11:04 AM »
It's the Monday that marks 4 days until the 'stars of F1' start arriving. From Thursday, the general public can start using their tickets to visit the pit lanes.

The weather has been DREADFUL - wind and driving rain - this would make for a great GP - but Svetlana - who formerly worked for the LADA PR team in PR - now responsible for digital content at Sochi's circuit- was more concerned if she could wear a 'summery outfit' ! :)  You will see her and many of the team - later this week... It is forecast to be warm  - 24C  - so Svetlana WILL be pleased :)




The track is full of the pallets of kit for the team and over the weekend the Safety and Medical cars arrived






Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2017, 06:48:46 AM »
Drove through pouring rain to the circuit and wondered when the promised sun would arrive !

I made a short video from one of the media rooms - where the world's press gather to edit photos



Svetlana, with the dark hair and light jumper is writing content for the circuit and speaks great English - having been part of a Russian team in the World Touring Car Championships - she has 'seen the light' and arrived in F1 :)



« Last Edit: April 25, 2017, 08:53:46 AM by msmob »

Offline ML

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11662
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Ukraine
  • Status: Married > 10 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2017, 05:52:51 PM »
I don't see any dark haired woman wearing light jumper . . . or dark jumper . . . or no jumper.
A beautiful woman is pleasant to look at, but it is easier to live with a pleasant acting one.

Offline Anotherkiwi

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4089
  • Country: nz
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Looking 1-2 years
  • Trips: 1 - 3
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2017, 07:12:30 PM »
I don't see any dark haired woman wearing light jumper . . . or dark jumper . . . or no jumper.

You weren't looking closely enough - she's right at the end of the clip, at the desk nearest the camera.

Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2017, 06:44:22 AM »
Well spotted, AK ! :)

Yesterday, the rain stopped, the sun came out and  my 'children' - volunteers - who are from the Sochi Olympic University -  became 'actors- for an idea of mine .....  We got a male student - who looks like Spanish 2-time World Champion - Fernando Alonso -  and a Finnish lass - to be his 'mystery lady' and we did an interview in the Pit-lane and on the track ;)

So... meet 'Fernaldo Alfonso'...


Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2017, 07:53:01 AM »
Today, 'Fernaldo Alfonso' and his mystery Finnish companion took a walk in the Sochi Paddock on the Wednesday before the 4 day 'weekend programme' kicks off tomorrow - with the fans arriving to see their heroes in the pit-lane previews.



It seems our Alfonso is being confused with the McLaren Honda driver - who will complete in the Indy 500, in May !



Offline pokerintherear

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 269
  • Country: us
  • Spouse's Country: No Selection
  • Status: No Selection
  • Trips: None (yet)
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #11 on: April 27, 2017, 06:41:55 AM »
What is the average ticket price for race day?

Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #12 on: April 27, 2017, 10:09:58 AM »
Min, gen.admission - no grandstand is 5000 Roubles a 4 day Grandstand ticket is 386 USD ....Paddock stuff 2000 dollars plus

Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #13 on: April 28, 2017, 01:59:00 AM »
Yesterday, Thursday - was day one of the official F1 long weekend

I was tasked to escort winners of a competition to 'meet and greet' the Toro Rosso team - where Daniil Kvyat is at his home Grand Prix



At the request of a board member - I asked Carlos NOT to take out Stroll - the Canadian - his reaction was PERFECT !




We were taken to the teams hospitality and garage. I am not allow to publish photos of the car's rear :)


The 17-year old winner stopped and posed / got the autograph of all drivers save Hamilton, Alonso and Vandoorne. But she DID get 'Fernaldo Alfonso' in a selfie !  The student - who looks like the Spaniard.

Here with the most polite F1 driver: Valtteri Bottas ..



We also stopped Bernie Ecclestone - he put his fingers to his lips - to stop us talking - and sneaked up to Daniel Ricciardo and kissed him on the cheek as he gave an interview.... I asked him not to use his tongue and he spun around to find the source - with a smile ;)... I hope someone got the grin on his face ..


He arrived wearing a sports jacket and carrying a briefcase and left wearing a VTB Bank F1 jacket ..was he making a deposit or a withdrawal ;) ?

'My' guests day was made by Ekaterina of Toro Rosso - it is her first year with the team:




She went out of her way to make them feel special

PS I'm not really 'in' to selfies... I'm just the guy in the blue shirt that appears in the reflections ))

Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2017, 06:16:13 AM »
Nothing like the sound of a Mercedes engines revving in the pits below me - just before practice 2 at Sochi's F1 GP - to wake one up ;)

The Media Centre is directly over the Merc and the Red Bulls' Garages.

Here we see the start of Practise session one... Sveta - from Tolyatti -  is used to covering World Touring Car racing and this is her first F1 session ... She likes Hamilton and Alonso - and is hoping to get good shots of them leaving the pits


We are behind one-way glass and I'm trying to zoom in on the Main Grandstand as another of our board members is rumoured to be here also.




Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #15 on: April 29, 2017, 03:18:02 AM »
This guy just 'bought a programme' from me ...



- Just after Practice 3 - before qualifying on Saturday 29th April 2017

His glasses are less loud than mine !!

If you aren't into Formula 1 -  never mind ....   ;)

He is the only person I'll bother for a selfie.

Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #16 on: April 30, 2017, 08:47:21 AM »
Race Day !

VVP and the Deputy PM turned up - along with Bernie and the top brass of Liberty Media...

BORING...

I was first in the press conference - grabbing my 'daughter', Raija - who is Finnish and studying at the Sochi Olympic University to translate his VERY first words to the press - in Finnish ;)

Fernardo and Fernaldo 'met' at last



Loads of action and I DID say Bottas was a guy to be reckoned with ... ;)




Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #17 on: April 30, 2017, 11:06:00 PM »
Well, the F1 circus has moved on and I have over-indulged myself in the action.

SC has been so tolerant  - as I was leaving early and coming back so late.

The night before the race we met up with a fellow board member - who had come to see the race and we went to an Uzbek restaurant in Sochi

SC ordered food for me and I had a ''Live Beer", Nut paste wrapped in Aubergine ( Egg-plant) - Hachapuri - ( if someone could remind me of the Uzbek - rather than Georgian name )  very cheesy 'pie slices' and Lamb Shashlik to DIE for ...

This picture says it all .... me after 15 hours on the go and SC after a day on the beach :)



Our guest had an unexpected treat ... I heard the owners announce that they had a VERY special guest - a former Soviet Gold medal winning Ice Hockey player who has also won the Stanley Cup ...Alexey Gusarov



I didn't catch the name of the guy and folks on another table told us who he was and he was HUGE and very kind

Hopefully, t'other member can regale the tale, better :)

I shot a vid of the band performing what - initially - sounded like a very eastern piece....then realised it was Michael Jackson....   K who was one of our party - found the lyrics and I TRIED to 'sing' along ;))

I'll spare you THAT video ..






« Last Edit: April 30, 2017, 11:12:13 PM by msmob »

Offline mhr7

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1983
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: No Selection
  • Trips: Resident
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #18 on: May 01, 2017, 01:43:04 AM »
Gusarov played for my hometown team, the Avalanche. I remember watching him play.
"After your death, you will be what you were before your birth." - Schopenhauer

Offline Bounder

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 345
  • Country: ru
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Looking 1-2 years
  • Trips: 4 - 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #19 on: May 01, 2017, 01:48:46 PM »
Gusarov played for my hometown team, the Avalanche. I remember watching him play.

Yes, he won the Quebec Nordiques' stolen cup there.

Offline LAman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2116
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: No Selection
  • Status: Looking 3-5 years
  • Trips: 4 - 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #20 on: May 01, 2017, 05:36:53 PM »
Yes, he won the Quebec Nordiques' stolen cup there.


Actually, they HAD to move to win a Cup. The Cup winners now usully reside in the States ( so much for the Canadian hold on hockey). What year was the LAST Canadian team to win a cup???? I am not sure, because I ran out of fingers and toes!!!!

Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift

Offline Bounder

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 345
  • Country: ru
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Looking 1-2 years
  • Trips: 4 - 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #21 on: May 02, 2017, 03:16:42 AM »

Actually, they HAD to move to win a Cup. The Cup winners now usully reside in the States ( so much for the Canadian hold on hockey). What year was the LAST Canadian team to win a cup???? I am not sure, because I ran out of fingers and toes!!!!

I believe it was 1994, but your assertion about the Nordiques is incorrect. They were a miserable team in the 80s and 90s and through all those trials and tribulations had eventually built up a very strong team through draft picks. In their final year in Quebec, they finished the season first overall in the league, but were eliminated in the playoffs. Next year they moved to Denver and won the cup with the team that Quebec built.

Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #22 on: May 02, 2017, 07:45:44 AM »
Svetlana - who I mentioned before - wanted a photo taken - I tried to get in the mountains and the finish line :


We have one-way glass so I was able to see Bounder in the main Grandstand !

Sveta - is Russian Motorsport Promoter / Journo - decided that she wanted to be 'closer to the action' ... As you can hear at the end of the video  - I am ' scared ' We have 'go anywhere' passes, but during the run-up to the start we are not allowed on the track



But, if she wasn't scared - why should *I* be frightened - so I follow her ...  We knew the Security guard and he allowed us access to a temporary media photo point in the pit lane - provided we didn't go onto the track. From there we observed the drivers returning from a parade lap on the back of a truck


I started by zooming in on MY seat and then got the drivers as they returned from their parade lap on the back of a truck ..

Near the end - we think the roar of the crowd is for Daniil Kyvat - but it transpires Hamilton decided to milk the crowd ..



We went back to the Media Centre - where I observed the GP - with all the info that the commentators have - the TV feeds  and screens showing who is on a hot lap - purple and who might have a penalty - or should be getting out of the way.

I filmed Bottas rounding the last corner and beating Vettel - and headed off to the Press Conference room as I was asked ( by Sveta ) to record Bottas' - the winner -  first words in Finnish - as he had never won a F1 race, before.  She wanted to view the Podium ceremony.













« Last Edit: May 02, 2017, 07:49:09 AM by msmob »

Offline ML

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11662
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Ukraine
  • Status: Married > 10 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #23 on: May 02, 2017, 12:35:03 PM »
Svetlana - who I mentioned before - wanted a photo taken
Why is she so fat ?
A beautiful woman is pleasant to look at, but it is easier to live with a pleasant acting one.

Offline msmob

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10618
  • Country: ie
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouse's Country: Russia
  • Status: Married 0-2 years
  • Trips: > 10
Re: Formula 1 Sochi 2017
« Reply #24 on: May 02, 2017, 07:26:24 PM »
Why is she so fat ?

It's a hormone only FSU can women produce ....makes happily married blokes believe they are looking at grossly overweight women ...   

 

+-RWD Stats

Members
Total Members: 8883
Latest: Leroy14
New This Month: 1
New This Week: 0
New Today: 0
Stats
Total Posts: 541009
Total Topics: 20849
Most Online Today: 2013
Most Online Ever: 12701
(January 14, 2020, 07:04:55 AM)
Users Online
Members: 11
Guests: 1866
Total: 1877

+-Recent Posts

Re: American With Russian Fiancé - Scheduled For K1 Interview In Warsaw, BUT.... by krimster2
Today at 02:48:08 PM

Re: What to do by krimster2
Today at 01:09:03 PM

Re: American With Russian Fiancé - Scheduled For K1 Interview In Warsaw, BUT.... by Trenchcoat
Today at 12:51:13 PM

Re: What to do by Trenchcoat
Today at 12:33:48 PM

Re: If you don't know what you are talking about, post away anyway by Trenchcoat
Today at 12:24:44 PM

Re: American With Russian Fiancé - Scheduled For K1 Interview In Warsaw, BUT.... by krimster2
Today at 11:16:08 AM

Re: American With Russian Fiancé - Scheduled For K1 Interview In Warsaw, BUT.... by ML
Today at 10:31:43 AM

Re: What to do by krimster2
Today at 09:47:10 AM

What to do by 2tallbill
Today at 09:37:41 AM

Re: If you don't know what you are talking about, post away anyway by 2tallbill
Today at 09:18:17 AM

Powered by EzPortal