Toronto Grand Prix July6-8th

[yearoftherat]

Being new to Toronto, I'm thinking of going to the Toronto Grand Prix this year. Just wondering if anyone has gone or is planning of going this year.

Toronto Grand Prix (http://www.grandprixtoronto.com/)

[Xerox]

I'm going to this as I have for the last few years (since I can't afford F1 Grand Prix in Montreal).

I usually get cheapo GA tix for 3 days and walk around the track to take pix.
I will rent a 100-400mm Canon L lens this time :)

[yearoftherat]

Does the 3 pass give you pretty good acesss to the different area?

I checked Ticketmaster and you can get tickets for about $20/day or a day pass for $49. I know Justin might go so if there are others interested maybe a group outing...

Are you renting the lens from Vistek?

[Xerox]

I don't think the GA tix allow any special access (ie. paddock, VIP lounge).

You can try to get packge tix from certain companies like CAA, Bell, etc.

Apparently Wal-Mart is selling tickets: package for $75 (not sure the details).

Yes, I will rent from Vistek (weekend rental rate)

[MattC]

i wana rent a telephoto lense as big as my arm.

and a fisheye.

[S.F.W.]

I think I'd like to go. Don't know if I would go to all three days though. I went a few years ago, and enjoyed myself.

[Xerox]

i wana rent a telephoto lense as big as my arm.

and a fisheye.

I rented a Canon fisheye lens before but I completely forgot about the 1.6x crop factor. It's just a normal wide angle lens with the crop :(
Luckily someone I know had a full frame 5D so we used that instead. :)
If you want fisheye on a camera with a crop, you have to use a lens that will still have the effect even with the crop.

I notice you had a 350D right?

So that we don't take this thread off topic, if you want to continue we can go here:
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=13538&page=4

[yearoftherat]

I can get tickets through Concierge Connection

Gold Grandstand (Section 11): $187.50 (reg. $205.75) Save $18.25!
3-Day reserved seating on the start / finish line and directly on top of the action in Pit Row. These tickets include access to the Champ Car Paddock and are the best seats at the track!

Silver Grandstand (Sections 21, 22, 23): $136.95 (reg. $145.75)
3-Day reserved seating along the start / finish straight-away and directly across from the action in Pit Row! Great views of Victory Podium.

NEW!Turn 3 (Section 3): $136.95 (reg. $145.75)
As one of the most coveted viewing locations, this limited seating grandstand offers a prime view of the best passing opportunities before the cars prepare to tackle a series of challenging turns.

NEW!Turn 9/10 (Section 91): $98.50 (reg. $105.75)
Witness cars drivers as they weave through the final 3 turns.

Bronze Grandstand (Sections 31 & 32): $75.25 (reg. $81.75)
3-Day reserved seating located at the best twists and turns on the track.

Thunder Alley Grandstand (not reserved seating): $60.65 (reg. $65.75)
The Thunder Alley Grandstand will be General Admission. Located right in the heart of Thunder Alley, where all of the off-track action happens, this 3-day seat is on the Lakeshore Straightaway - the fastest part of the track!


Not cheap by any means but if you want good seating...

[Xerox]

Just my opinion on "good seating"...
I would say that the most exciting seats are at turns where you can see the cars slow down, handle the turn, and accelarate so you actually see the car for a long time. Great passing opportunities too.
Seats at straight-aways are kinda boring cuz you just see the car go straight and only see it for a split second as they blow past.

[yearoftherat]

So your saying that its better to get the GA tix as you can walk around and see more. Can you see any part of the track with the GA tix? Were you able to get good pics last year?

[Xerox]

I'm just saying that if you're going to get seats then seats at corners are better, in my opinion.
I just get GA cuz it's the cheapest and I'm always walking the track.

GA will allow you access to the grounds so you can actually get pretty close to the track/fence. In most areas of the track, you can get a ~5+ meters back from the media area (media pass gets you right up to the track either with no fence or an opening in the fence). Get media pass if you can afford it and want good pics.

Keep in mind that with seating tickets you can also walk around just like GA.

Some of my pics from last year with 75-300mm:
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=13686&highlight=molson+indy

[yearoftherat]

I know someone that works for one of the sponsors of the GP so maybe I can hit em up for some passes..if not then its the cheapies for me

Nice pics of last yrs race.

[rktsci]

Having been a number of times...I am most intrigued by the new grandstand in turn 3...right at the end of the Lakeshore straight coming into the hairpin. Usually that spot was a corporate suite.

Also the turn 9/10 grandstand is also pretty good although their is a pedestrian bridge that can sometimes kill the view.

[1flycdnM3]

Been at Thunder Alley the past 3 years now and I LOVE IT! Go with a huge group of friends and just get absolutely annihilated drunk and get autographs from the drivers and lots of souvenires (usually buy a hat and shirt). Drinks are insanely expensive, but going with a big group we all end up buying about 2-3 rounds of drinks each between the 15 of us. Great fun and definately worth the price. I hear alot of complaints from the people that purchase GA tickets.

[Xerox]

I hear alot of complaints from the people that purchase GA tickets.

But what were the complaints? GA is just GA - nothing more to it.
The type of tix you should get depends on what you are looking for at the event. I'm into taking photographs of the race cars in motion so the thunder alley wouldn't be ideal for me.

[MattC]

I wouldn't mind going to this thing, i've lived in toronto my whole life and have never been, might be cool to snap some shots with the old cam.

[Wild Weasel]

Is Champ car racing as boring as F1?

Watched the F1 season opener in Australia. The guy that scored the pole drove around a bunch and then won. Nobody tried to pass him.

Just watched the Montreal race yesterday.

The guy who won the pole drove around a bunch and won. Nobody tried to pass him.

At least one of the other cars hit a wall and exploded in a million pieces, having little to no impact on the race. Of course, I could have got that from the highlight reels. It's not as though he was doing anything particularly interesting before hitting the wall, so the cameras weren't really on him.

NASCAR might be a bunch of rednecks driving around in circles, but at least it's exciting racing. :)

[Xerox]

Is Champ car racing as boring as F1?
...
NASCAR might be a bunch of rednecks driving around in circles, but at least it's exciting racing. :)

I completely agree with you that F1 racing has become boring. The most exciting part of the race is passing that sometimes happens while coming out of the pits...the announcer goes wild!

But watching the actual F1 cars go around the track is just amazing.

I also agree with you about Nascar....at least there's passing and side-by-side racing.

I just goto the GrandPrix/Indy to take pics since that's what I enjoy. I don't really pay attention to the race. I didn't even know who won last year while I was at the event.

[jaguar]

I have been to F1 in Montreal and Molson Indy in Toronto. Molson Indy is so much better. Tons of free stuff, car shows (with A/C!), lots of hot chicks, and REAL washrooms! I love F1 more than Champ Cars but since the Gilles Villenue circuit is located on an island. You get portable potties with no sink, no car shows, and no A/C just to chill out for a while. I still go back to Molson Indy every year partly because I get in free but even if I had to pay, its still cheaper and more stuff to do.

[yearoftherat]

Well if there is enuff interest should I start a role call and see who wants to go?

[Xerox]

CAA VIP Ticket Offer:
This was originally a PDF. I made it a graphic since I don't have a place to host the PDF (I took down my P1 server)
The savings aren't significant (I saved $5.00 on GA tickets) but it's better than nothing.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p101/planetxerox/GrandPrix_CAA_Promo.jpg

[Wild Weasel]

I completely agree with you that F1 racing has become boring. The most exciting part of the race is passing that sometimes happens while coming out of the pits...the announcer goes wild!


I actually found the most exciting part to be the start. That was really the only part where they had to jockey for position and try to out drive one another. Once they fell into line, it was all over.