since I'm new here i'll explain: my screen name here is a nickname bestowed upon me by some nascar lovers I work with.otay, well, if you spend any time over at H-T or T-I.net you might've seen these photos already, but the for the good people of NWP who appreciate the nice things in life i wanted to share this amazing experience with you too...
Back in october while on vacation from Afghanistan i went to Japan for the Gran Prix at Fuji, only thing is i didn't buy a race ticket... i scored a paddock pass through connections at Honda Racing F1 and spent the full weekend (wednesday-sunday) in the Honda Racing F1 garage, stayed at the hotel with the team and rode to and from the track everyday with Jenson's team of mechs.
i lived the dream and these are some of the better photos from the first few hundred captured by my new SLR. I've also got pics from my point&shoot too...
the full gallery with larger images: http://picasaweb.google.com/py...nD40#
Fuji-san:
Ross Brawn in the background watching over practice
His disapproving glare can crush you. 
Thankfully he didn't mind me in the garage.
car set up on suspension alignment gear. ride is height adjusted to the decimal of a mm
our cf hoods, trunklids and canards are a joke...
this is the composites prep and repair area of the garage. Engine covers standing up on the right. left side of photo you can see the the end of the radio rack then a spare front nose/wing. F1 Photographer Lorenzo Bellanca in back, left of center, putting away some of his equipment
thurs night pit lane atmosphere
Rubens' car
Rubens' form fitting seat
well-wishes from Japanese school kids in Gotemba
engine cover going on to Jenson's car
scales Honda uses to corner weight the car. Then the car is rolled down to scrutineering to see how it weighs in there
rolling the car back from the scrutineer's scales
ferrari boys working late
Spare engines tucked in for the night (thurs night)
metal porn. 
your header will never be this bad-ass.
never, ever.
I have a Hy-tech and seeing these in person still made me weak in the knees.
team kit i was given so I'd fit in while helping in the garage. It doesn't matter how poorly they've done this year (or how funny it looks 
), it was an honor to be able to wear that get-up and i wore it proud 
this is me... in a totally candid moment. I was fortunate and didn't have to wear the horrid FILA's that were part of the team kit and just wore my green Adidas. The guys were jealous.
friday morning before practice
CTR in our hotel parking lot. I want one. bad.
a CTR driving by in Gotemba, close to the hotel
Accord hanging out by Gotemba train station. dude was really cool and flattered i wanted pics of his rYdE
heading into a noodle shop for some REAL ramen. so, SO good!
Sunday morning riding into the track with Jenson's mechanics
Rodrez: take notes >>> F1 photographer Lorenzo Bellanca setting up a camera to take shots of the Honda pit stops
fuelers prepping the rig
prepping the tires and other misc for the grid dressing of the car
grid girls make great subjects, plus these ones are jDm y0!
waiting for the race to start. note all the people in the background on the grid
behold!!! the pit stop lollipop!
front-left wheel gun, back up wheel gun, and front wheel fairing ready for action
Ross Brawn in his fire suit.
doh! the cars have started on the formation lap- its a rush to vacate the grid
its race time. everybody is at the ready.
taken thru a 2-way mirror. Nick Fry and race team cheif mechanic Matt watching the race. Matt and the fuelers have red balaclavas and inverted color (green VS white) fire suits to stand out from the crowd
i loved the red Alpine Stars fire-proof booties. they offset the uniform just like the red highlights on the race car
another taken thru the 2-way mirror. team members watching the race
engineer watching the data stream, er, river coming in from Jenson's car
heading on down to the podium ceremony
Me again! this pic was taken by my good friend on the team during the podium ceremony while I took the photographs that follow...
champagne!!! 
the Ferrari mascot. dont be fooled, the mascot is NOT the horsey. nope. THIS guy is their mascot. dunno why but I hate this guy. He makes my Honda-loving skin crawl
the Flav and his boo in a congratulatory smooch. Shes a babe. see next image...
bravo! Flavio!! hugs all around
my friend Tim walking past the cars in Parc Ferme
pit stop roster. did you make the cut?
pack up is so high paced and intense I didn't get the camera out to shoot any shots b/c i was too damn busy!
5 hours after the race the garage et al has been fully packed and cars prepped for shipping to China
almost nobody ever gets to see this: the post race, post clean-up team meeting and pep talk. Its a cool thing and reminds you that, in fact, this is a team
.
.
.
.
If you're still hungry for more I'll get the pics from my point and shoot posted up too
Modified by F1snob at 8:30 PM 11/24/2008
