If you are a car fanatic like us here at Backstage, you must attend a Formula 1 race once in your life. It is definitely part of the “bucket list”. So we decided a last minute road trip from Toronto to Montreal to watch the 2012 Canadian GP. Join us and take a look into our 1200km round trip.
6:00am: Half asleep I leave my house to go pick up the boys for the epic weekend. MSG DC @ 6:10am. “You ready? I’m outside” … no reply. Call him and he just woke up WTF. Looks like we are going to be late.
After waiting for DC to get ready we grab our buddy Ho-Yan, grab some coffee and hit the hwy, 40 minutes late… thanks DC.
Rest Stop 1. 10:30am we see BATMAN !!
The C-Coupe is treating us good … but no where as gangster as the Bat-mobile.
Ok time to hit the road again …
Almost there …
Finally arrived into Montreal @ 12:00 pm … and we are greeted by a lovely Audi R8. Gotta love Quebec’s no front plate law.
Our male model Mr. Ho-Yan Lee
Ho-Yan is not even out of the car for 5mins and he manages to step on gum and gets it all over my brand new carpet in the Benz
Maid boy Ho-Yan LOL ….
All Clean !
Our Hotel room for the weekend …
So we were told that our room has a “european kitchen” …. ORLY ? … we were lied to.
After settling in to our room we make our way to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and get in line to buy our tickets. Started to get very excited. Standing in line you can already hear the cars revving getting ready for Q1 of qualifying.
Tickets !!
Because of the 40 minute delay in the morning, we missed out on Q1 qualifying while standing in line but eventually made it to the front of the line, bought tickets, and ran to track side to catch Q2 and Q3.
The sound of a F1 car is amazing on TV, in real life it’s 10 times better. The first thing I said to the guys when the cars passed by was “mother of god” with a big smile on my face. The speed is insane, and the braking is unfathomable. How do you tell your brain to step on the brakes at 60 meter mark while traveling 300km/hr? F1 drivers have no soul.
Male model Ho-Yan making a second appearance trackside.
Ferrari Challenge ! picture 30 Ferrari 458 italia’s door to door racing ! sounds like a V12 symphony.
After Ferrari Challenge we headed back into town to check out some night life and parties. Our map of downtown Montreal for the night.
No shortage of nice cars around downtown on F1 weekend. First up C6 Z06 right outside our hotel.
They know how to throw a party here. Close the whole street and fill it with exotics and patios with lots of alcohol.
Jacques Villeneuve’s B.A.R Honda on display at the Belvedere Vodka booth.
Some of the local bars on the street.
As we continue walking down the street we begin to understand the type of glamour F1 brings to a city when it’s in town. Bentley Flying Spur with huge 22″ rims.
A T-Rex sitting on gold Volk CE-28n’s was getting some attention by the lovely ladies.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage. What a sound this car makes !
This Lamborghini Murcielago sounds better though …
Baby Rolls Royce Ghost, and a stunning SL550.
Haven’t seen one of these in awhile. Ferrari 360 Modena spider.
4 bikes, 4 girls riding in heels. I almost had a nosebleed.
Lamborghini Gallardo spider
All black Flying Spur, followed by a all black S550.
We walk back to the festivities and make a stop to look at look at the Lotus.
Streets are packed !
Hmmm looks like a regular balcony.
Nope. parties everywhere !
Hella Flush Miata sitting on Works.
Across the street from where we decided to stop for dinner. No shortage of Ferrari’s here.
Our dinner spot for the night. Beautiful patio.
Cheers to a awesome weekend so far !
Tired from the long drive and all the walking and being beat down by the sun we head back to the hotel to relax and get ready for race day!
Sunday (race day) 8:30am
Start the day with some breakfast on a cafe patio.
10:00am: Walking through the gates at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for race day!
Start the day off with some Formula 1600 action.
…And then some Porsche Cup. These guys go HARD… 4 spins/crashes in a 30 minute race.
Then some Canadian Touring Car.
Waiting around for the main event to start the grand stands begins to fill and the energy begins to build in the crowd.
DC modeling for the camera.
Ho-Yan enjoying his sun burn.
Driver parade begins as all the drivers get chauffeured in these vintage Austin Healey’s.
Almost time for the main event ! F1 media helicopter in the air !
1:55pm Warmup Lap.
2:00pm First lap of the race!
What a amazing sound the cars make as they fly by. The crowd was going crazy all cheering for their favourite drivers, but when Lewis Hamilton took the lead from Fernando Alonso the Ferrari crowd was silenced from the uproar of the Mclaren fan’s.
Hamilton just passed using the KERS device on the back straight seconds before the turn where we were sitting. Heres the clip at the 18 second mark in the video, Lewis Hamilton is leading the race!
After 70 laps, it all came down to the final 10 laps but Lewis Hamilton managed to hold the lead and win the race! Our first F1 race and our favourite driver wins! AMAZING !
Hamiltons victory lap !
After the race we took a walk on the track along with thousands of other fans!
Me and DC.
Me and Ho-Yan.
Look what we stumbled upon … the AMG booth. Red Black-Series … one day you will be mine.
SLS Convertible. Seeing this thing on the track was menacing!
6:30pm Time to grab a quick bite to eat and head back to reality… What a epic trip!
11:00pm DC thinks its bed time … HAHAHA technology owns him. Guess its time for a rest stop.
Many many bugs were killed on the way.
1:30am Toronto ON. So after 1200km’s, great food, great times, great friends, and one awesome experience, we are finally home. Definitely a trip to remember and we will be going back for many years to come! Thank you Montreal for the good memories!