Alex Zanardi

[Steve Fox]

Originally Posted by Richard Duvall

I was hoping to get to Brands to see some of the cycling but was initially put of by the London2012 website saying that access must be by train and then shuttle bus. I had hoped I would be able to simply drive up there as I do when I marshal! No tickets available now!

We went on the train, bit of a bind, takes about 25 minutes from Waterloo to Sevenoaks but then nearly an hour by shuttle bus (6 or 7 miles?)
The main problem with driving (apart from people being turned back by the constabulary) is that the course is using part of the main road down to scratchers lane, round the back and in at post 16. So there is only one way in and that is from the Wrotham direction.
Tickets are limited because the public access is only along the Brabham straight, from the assembly area exit at post 24 up to the pit lane exit at post 2, I had imagined that we would have a nice day wandering up to Hawthorths for a gander but it was not to be.
The other thing that was a little arsey was the bag search and drinking water confiscation at the gate. Ironic really, being a first-aider my scanned bag contained all manner of odd stuff, my belongings were largely ignored as the woman behind me tried to sneak 500ml of water in. I can (generally) see the point although it was obvious that it was a closed bottle of drinking water. Isn't that what rules are for though, to spare the use of common sense?

Anyway, our visit was brief as we had only gone there to see Alex (and to have a bit of a nose about) but a good day was had.

[Aysedasi]

What's the problem with bottles of drinking water?

[m1fcf]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

What's the problem with bottles of drinking water?

They are not the 'official' drinking water that the company has probably paid many hundreds of thousands of pounds (or even millions) securing the rights to.

That, and the same type of security mumbo-jumbo as liquids on airplanes.

Just my opinion!!

[Steve Fox]

I assume that it is the whole airplane thing, I guess one could sneak in anything nasty but clear if water were allowed. To be fair it did say what you could bring in when the tickets were booked.
The branding thing is bizarre, even the vinegar bottles at the fish and chip stall had black pvc tape over the "Sarsons" label.
I had on a BRSCC shirt and a Brands Hatch cap.

[ascarmarshal]

@ Richard Duvall you don't need a ticket to see the road cycling as the road sections are free as is the park and ride from Wrotham.

There are free water fountains inside. As for the branding it is due to the Oymplic Marathon in Bejing that has caused the crazy branding rules. Nike put their branding all round the course when another sporting brand (ADIDAS I think) had the sponsorship deal.

[safetysam]

Fantastic second gold for Alex. Can he get a third in the team event?

[ascarmarshal]

Just got back from the cycling marshalling out the back on Scratchers Lane. Alex's race was a very tactical drafting event

[sublimao]

Absolutely yes Alex can go for the hat trick !
Second gold medal the same day of his son's birthday!
Who knows his next target...his story is not over yet.
Thanks again Alex

[Steve Fox]

Originally Posted by sublimao

Who knows his next target...his story is not over yet.

Here is a clue as reported by the daily mail:

‘On Monday I will have to find something different, otherwise life will become a bit boring. I will give my wife a good week, to relax, to go shopping, to do all the women things, and then back to business.’

Zanardi said he had only ever come second and third at Brands Hatch in a car but revealed Jimmy Vasser, who owns an Indy500 team, had promised him a spot behind the wheel if he won gold.

‘I’ll have to call him back tonight and say, “Hey Jimmy, here I am, I got the gold, how about the car?”’

[Tal Aras]

Originally Posted by m1fcf

They are not the 'official' drinking water that the company has probably paid many hundreds of thousands of pounds (or even millions) securing the rights to.

That, and the same type of security mumbo-jumbo as liquids on airplanes.

Just my opinion!!

It was for security and nothing to do with sponsors. As a Gamesmaker, I had to empty my water bottle before security, even though it was heavily logo'd by one of the sponsors.

[Greem]

Interesting interview with Zanardi on Webber's BBC website column.

[Woolley]

There is a separate thread running in Parc Ferme covering much of the same ground. As the original poster said, this isn't marshal related, so I'll close this thread and invite you to continue the discussion in the main thread.