There’s a lot of sport on this weekend. The WRC in Poland
and the Tour de France in Frenchland, while closer to home there is Wimbledon in
Londonshire and a huge weekend of motorsport just to the north.
We’re spoiled for choice, but I am at the biggest event of
them all. After heavy overnight rain the tarmac was damp and puddled in places
this morning but it is mostly dry. Temperatures are quite high and it’s quite
humid so tyre choice will be critical.
And I suppose that it’s a sign of age these days that the drivers all
look so young, like policemen who look as though they are straight out of
school.
The spectator bankings are filling up and I suppose there
must at least a few dozen here by now. And there’s plenty on track action to
keep them amused plus all the facilities that a modern track venue must have
these days. Catering too has to be provided and the rolls and sausage, chips
and curry sauce must fight for custom alongside the home-baking and selection of vegetarian options that must be
provided these days to cater for all tastes.
And as the sun rises over the vast expanse of this pre-war
facility and glints off the gathered ranks of painted bodywork, smoke hangs in
the air as driver ‘burn-outs’ warm up the tyres. Driving gloves are pulled just
that little bit tighter over the fingers, helmets pulled down and visors
adjusted, the cacophonous crescendo rises and the competition gets underway at
this two day festival of speed, mayhem and glamour.
More later ...