?

[touring fan]

Pretty much every social group has a stereotypical image attached to them.
So, what do you think the stereotypye of a motorsport fan would be like? What image do people who aren't interested in racing have of motorsport fans?
I'll start off with an anorak, our stereotype is wearing an anorak.

[John]

I dont know maybe covered in mud all the time?? or boy racers for the young fans (or boy racer wannabies)??

But we all know that motorsport fans are intelligent, funny, all round brilliant people - dont we?!? ;)

[Les]

wearing thermals like I did today - it was ruddy freezing...

[cos]

Quiet and polite!

Compare football 'fans' shouting abuse at players and referees with motorsport fans appluading the winner at the end of a race and generally being nice!

[Amanda]

Originally posted by John
I dont know maybe covered in mud all the time??

I was after Knockhill last year!!

[Paul Rayner]

Originally posted by cos
Quiet and polite!
I'll go with that. Quiet, eating sandwiches in their portable chair by the side of the track on race day.

That's what all the TV producers seem to like zooming in on, anyway, very rarely the groups of people with air horns and banners, cheering and obviously enjoying themselves!

[Les]

Originally posted by cos
Quiet and polite!

you have obviously not been within 500yds of me when one of my boys has been punted then ;)


Amanda - I can still see that woman's face in the airport toilets seeing me wash my feet and sandals

[Amanda]

Originally posted by Les



Amanda - I can still see that woman's face in the airport toilets seeing me wash my feet and sandals

I had forgotten about that! We have had some great laughs haven't we?

[Reynard]

Or in my case wearing a bright blue Sparco jacket and black Sparco race boots as daily wear. OoooerrrrÖ.

Trackside, IÃ*d say the camera equipment and having a spare change of clothes and waterproofs permanently in the boot of my car. Also wearing walking boots and that bright blue jacket. Oh, and last year I was the only one openly wearing that bright pink Kelvin Burt / RML t-shirt at Rockingham. I donÃ*t think anyone else had the guts to do that.

IÃ*d agree with wet and muddy though ñ have done that one often enough. Worst one was the August bank holiday BTCC meet at Brands in 2000 where I ended up coming home looking like a drowned rat. The weather was atrocious but I stayed to the end. Some dedication.

[Stuart]

Reynard, were you at Summerfest 98 at Silverstone?
Luffield was packed as the meeting started. When the rain got really hard (and it was torrential) I had the terraces more or less to myself - I was the only person who had gortex waterproof trousers with me!
I had to give up filling in the grid in my programme though - and that really annoys me!

[Les]

ahh the memories of the rain at Brands. Amanda's fleece sodden and hanging down to her knees. my program soaked even though it was inside my coat.

My bag is still packed from last year all in readiness.

[Amanda]

I was trying to forget the rain at Brands! My pockets filled up with water and so did my mobile phone!!! It was worth standing in the rain to see Jason win the 2001 championship though.

[touring fan]

So our typical fan is wearing an anorack, waterproof trousers, carrying a camera, covered in mud, soaked to the skin, and is asleep on a tripod stool. I like it!:D

[Stuart]

I've never fallen asleep on my Tripod stool but otherwise....
That said, I have a friend who couldn't see anything through the crowd at Luffield during the Grand Prix last year so she caught up on some sleep! She woke up for the BRDC Historic Sports Car race which she thought were far more interesting!

[Amanda]

touring fan ~ now I know where I am going wrong, no anorak and I refuse to wear my waterproof trousers as I might see someone I know!!!!!

[touring fan]

Waterproof trousers are a brilliant think to take to a racetrack. (especially if you end up wearing them under your jeans cos you failed to get the out of your bag before the monsoon started:cool: ) I'm wondering if it's possible to fall asleep on a tripod stool without falling off.

[Les]

Originally posted by touring fan
I'm wondering if it's possible to fall asleep on a tripod stool without falling off.
no problem at all!!


So we are in waterproofs, soaked, covered in mud, with a bag containing....

camera, autograph book, spare pens, and suntan lotion - don't forget that!!

[AussieV8]

We stand from Saturday morning to Sunday flag fall on top of Mt Panorama and the only time we move is to go to the loo and sometimes at night that doesn't happen... I know GROSS:p

[Reynard]

Backpack - everything is in a large backpack, preferably one with a storm flap. Stops the rain from soaking the contents. And I've learnt that unless I'm at Rockingham (where the toilets are 1st class) it's always prudent to carry some bog roll as well.

Stuart: nope, I wasn't at Silverstone in '98. Only been to Silverstone once actually, and that was for the 2001 Powertour finale which was a night race for the GTs. It's usually further than I'm prepared to travel to a race meet but I couldn't resist GTs in the dark, especially with a friend driving one of the Parr Porsches. We got very wet then too...

[touring fan]

I've always struggled with tripod stools on slopes, I sometimes take a deckchair with me (less chance of falling off backwards if I drop off too) and I never leave for a race meeting without a large supply of black bin liners ( millions of uses for them at a meeting).

[Mocko]

Surely the average British rally fan isn't seen at any rally stage without a beanie hat.

[Reynard]

I genuinely don't bother with seating anymore. If I have to run away from imminent splatting by an escaped race car, it's just something else grab hold of in a hurry - camera gear takes priority. Besides, I spend most of my time moving around, so it's just extra weight to have to carry.

Ah, the joys of being a photographer...

I agree about the bin liners though - makes good impromptu wet weather gear or groundsheets.

Also, I keep a nice little item in my camera bag - it is a carrier bag with a hole cut in the bottom. When it rains, I put my camera in the bag with the end of the lens poking out of the hole (secured by an elastic hairband) and hey presto! My camera stays dry so that I can keep on taking photos. Unfortunately, I still end up getting wet...

[Claire]

I have two bags, one for the races that I spectate at and one for the ones I marshal at. They both have the basics but each has their own special bits, as dry as my marshal coat keeps me I'd rather not wear it in the BTCC paddock. I'm also not allowed to have my camera on post so that stays at home, but the thing I always have is a big smile on my face. I love being at the BTCC and watching the racing and talking to friends and my favourite drivers but I also love being able to get involved as a marshal and giving something back to the sport that I love. Not sure what makes a typical motorsport fan but we all have one thing in common come the weekends there is no where else we would rather be than trackside come rain or shine. :D

[Reynard]

Originally posted by Claire
as dry as my marshal coat keeps me I'd rather not wear it in the BTCC paddock

Err, I've seen you wear that coat Claire, and I know exactly what you mean. As bright as my blue Sparco jacket is, your orange marshalling coat really takes the biscuit! :D

Actually, I take my hat off to the marshals for having the nerves to wear the bright orange togs. Unfortunately there's not much choice in the matter as they've got to wear something that is a) highly visible and b) can't be confused with the signalling flags.

Needless to say, I know quite a few marshals and they're top lads & lasses. Without them dedicating their spare time to do their jobs (and without any pay) we'd not have any racing at all.