Montreal for Canada GP

[imported_NA]

Anyone going to Montreal for the GP June 5th - 8th? My 135 should be here in time and may caravan up with some friends. Problem is I'll be the kid in the sandbox with the inferior toys - friends has 997 Turbo and new M3...

[TazioNYC]

I am -- I'm going with two friends in my 135 and another is driving his 135I up from Boston.

Where do you sit? I'm in search of some new parking locations -- I usually park outside the city in Longeuil and take the metro in, but my STI was stolen from those lots a few years ago, and I'm worried the 1 has a similar aura to it. I'm thinking of scouting some in Montreal proper.

[mtla4]

Ill be there... I live 10 minutes from the track. Dont worry youre 1er will not be stolen. STI=engine in 2.5 rs in WRX, BBS Wheels, Brembo=$$. 135 well cant do anything with the parts.

[bats]

Can anyone here explain how the park and metro works? Is it convenient. cheap, pita? Are these lots owned by the city/track?

My buddies are thinking about going, but never gone to Montreal.

[spudw]

I'll be in Grandstand 24 at the Casino Hairpin. No 1er though...

Not sure if you can do it anymore, but the circuit used to be open to anyone with a car on Wednesday or Thursday. Would be great to have some shots of a 1er doing a lap of Gilles Villeneuve.

I wonder if BMW will have any 1ers there?

Anyone want to meet up at the circuit on the Friday or Saturday?

[mtla4]

Originally Posted by spudw

I'll be in Grandstand 24 at the Casino Hairpin. No 1er though...

Not sure if you can do it anymore, but the circuit used to be open to anyone with a car on Wednesday or Thursday. Would be great to have some shots of a 1er doing a lap of Gilles Villeneuve.

I wonder if BMW will have any 1ers there?

Anyone want to meet up at the circuit on the Friday or Saturday?

Track is always open. The thing is 30 km/h limit on it.

[TazioNYC]

I drove the circuit in the off season, unfortunately it wasn't in the 1 series. it's fun to muscle it over the curbs, but it's a park and people bike and rollerblade around it, so the limit is like 20 mph.

[TazioNYC]

Originally Posted by bats

Can anyone here explain how the park and metro works? Is it convenient. cheap, pita? Are these lots owned by the city/track?

My buddies are thinking about going, but never gone to Montreal.

I have a friend whose family has a house in upstate NY that my friends and i stay at -- we drive up to Montreal each morning. The city proper is across the river from the road that I-87 turns into in Canada. The track is on an island in between. The track is the second to last stop out f the city -- Longeuil is the last stop on the line, so going there and coming back is easy since most go into the city. You park in the metro parking lot and the Longueil locality opens up some gravel lots. Once you get off the metro ('it's like the subway, like $CDN 2 or something), you're on the island next to the track. You have to walk with the crowd, get your tickets scanned, and the walk across to the track island. Since Jacques Villenueve started racing in F1 (and since he left), it's been very crowded. The hard part is there is an intersection with a road that official and VIP vehicles (once we saw Bernie), and you have to wait. Depending on the crowd, it can be a long wait. But that's it -- aside from the threat of getting your car stolen, it's the most efficeint and easy sporting even I've ever been to!

[imported_NA]

Originally Posted by TazioNYC

...But that's it -- aside from the threat of getting your car stolen, it's the most efficeint and easy sporting even I've ever been to!

Why would our cars be stolen? Is Montreal safe?

[mtla4]

Originally Posted by NA

Why would our cars be stolen? Is Montreal safe?

Montreal is safe...I live there.
Tips: dont park downtown(20$ parking sucks)
dont drive downtown cant go anywhere traffic is bad
Like someone said park in Longueuil or Brossard take the bus or Metro its 2.75$

[spudw]

Originally Posted by bats

Can anyone here explain how the park and metro works? Is it convenient. cheap, pita? Are these lots owned by the city/track?

My buddies are thinking about going, but never gone to Montreal.

There is no parking at all at the circuit, unless you are a VIP or are with a team. You have to park downtown. Virtually every Metro Station has public parking near it. Usually around $15 per day.

We always park at the corner of Guy and De Mainsonneuve (just North of De Maisonneuve), near Concordia University's Downtown Campus. Same parking attendant every year and he takes great care of us. It's a short walk to the Guy Metro Station.

Guy is on the green Metro line. You take the Honoré-Beaugrand direction on the green line and get off at the Berri-UQAM Metro Station. At Berri-UQAM you tranfer to the orange line and that will take you to the Ile St. Helene Metro Station. After that, just follow the crowds onto the circuit. You cross one bridge and plan for a 20-30 minute walk, depending where your grandstand is located.

Friday is usually at half capacity and is pretty tame. Leave more time for travel on Saturday and Sunday - the crowds are more significant, but never too crazy. Leaving the circuit on Sunday after the race can be trying. We've usually had to wait an hour or more to get onto the Metro.

Overall, it's a lot of fun. This will be my 11th Canadian GP and I've never had a bad experience.

[spudw]

Originally Posted by NA

Why would our cars be stolen? Is Montreal safe?

It's safer than most large US cities. No need to worry.

[TazioNYC]

Originally Posted by NA

Why would our cars be stolen? Is Montreal safe?

My STI was stolen, so I had to include that. But MTL4 is right -- I've driven up there and parked in a variety of nice cars, and I just got unlucky. But every year there ARE cars stolen from lots -- the police told me so when I was dealing with them. My tip is to get as close as you can to the metro station because there are on-duty cops there.

[TazioNYC]

Montreal is a VERY safe city. Everyone is incredible nice, the food is great, and the women are cute. This year will be my 15th race -- it's one of the highlights of my year.

[mtla4]

Originally Posted by TazioNYC

My STI was stolen, so I had to include that. But MTL4 is right -- I've driven up there and parked in a variety of nice cars, and I just got unlucky. But every year there ARE cars stolen from lots -- the police told me so when I was dealing with them. My tip is to get as close as you can to the metro station because there are on-duty cops there.

I solved the theft problems by getting out of the scene(honda,mazda,nissan). Going to the movies with a type-r,STI,VR6,GSR or leaving them at the bus depot=asking for it. I always had an other (low key car-beater) for local runs. Stolen luxury cars are SUV to be exported to the middle east or eastern europe(X5,Denali,Escalade). Montreal has a big Port. If you guys plan on driving R32s,STIs and so here forget it(Rent a car)

[TazioNYC]

But you think a 1er is ok?

[mtla4]

Originally Posted by TazioNYC

But you think a 1er is ok?

N54 swaps are not popular. Its not like a kid will buy a 1992 318 and swap an N54 in it along with the brembo brakes and sports seats. Lets say an R32 as way more appealing parts(you can swap the 3.2 engine in an MK1-MK2-MK3-MK4-MK5) R32 seats, big brakes, 4 wheel drive(differential floor etc) same for rsx-s,civic si engine in EF,EK,EG civic. Kids buy them for 2K steal a car slap the parts.

[koala]

I had planned to but I'm going to Japan June 10-25th and I know I wont be rested up enough after the parties in montreal to want to make a 12 hour plane flight to Osaka.. haha.

So I'll settle for watching it in HD.

[runciter]

There's a good parking lot on the corner of St-Hubert and Rene-Levesque. It is one block from the Berri Metro station and the Berri station is only 1 stop to Ile St-Helene (the name of the island where the track is located)... Rates are good but keep in mind that everything costs 3x what it should on GP weekend, including the women

[imported_NA]

Originally Posted by runciter

...but keep in mind that everything costs 3x what it should on GP weekend, including the women

I'm becoming well aware of the increased costs! Our hotel is charging the rack rate with a 4 night minimum stay required... They do however offer free parking and are near a subway stop. We are leaving Baltimore, MD at 7am and hoping to cover 555 miles in under 10 hours with stops.

[EspressoBoy]

Train yourself to let go, every1 you fear to loose.
- avatar is acting up again... he drank all my Romulan Ale! Here Lizzard Lizzard...

recipe I can give if force is used to PM me

[cjcjag]

Maybe spudw will know this after attending the CGP 11 times... my daughter and I will be attending this year. Today she asked if there is any possibility of seeing the drivers (she's a big Lewis Hamilton fan). I'm assuming there might be an entrance where the drivers come into the park or a gate into the paddock area where fans can wait. Can anyone suggest where she might be able to get a glimpse of her star or better yet a chance at an autograph?