A LOOK BACK // THE 2008 ITALIAN GRAND PRIX

With twelve months having passed since the ColdTrackDays staffed crossed the globe in order to attend one of motor racing's greatest events, and with the 2009 Italian Grand Prix set to start in but a few days, I thought it would be appropriate to have a look back on our experiences at Monza in 2008... [read more]

When we arrived in Milan, having flown up from Brindissi in the South, we were greeted with an abundance of rainfall and gray skies.

The weather, while certainly not optimal, didn't stop the Italian fans from attending their Grand Prix. These guys, with their obvious love of Brazilian driver Felipe Massa, somehow managed to walk in unison all over the F1 village. A great show of support.

Wandering around the F1 village is one of my favorite things to do at a Grand Prix. In the McLaren booth, Lewis Hamilton's 2007 F1 chassis was on display, and while the differences between '07 and '08 were subtle, it is interesting to look at the car now, with the massive changes we have seen in 2009.

With our general admission tickets we were able to find a suitable spot along the back straight. The rain began to fall much harder just as the field saw the green flag wave, and while standing in the rain for two or three hours is not on my list of favorites, it was well worth the discomfort in order to see Sebastian Vettel collect his first ever Formula One victory.

As soon as the checkered flag waved, the 90,000+ in attendance scurried to get on track. Seeing as how we were on the back side and Monza is a massive facility, we ended up marching nearly 3/4 of the way around the circuit in order to reach the podium. An amazing experience, one I will certainly never forget.

After the Grand Prix concluded we were able to make our way to part of the original circuit, which includes the infamous Monza banking. Having watched the film Grand Prix countless times throughout my childhood, this was an especially important moment for me. The sheer size and grade of the banking can not be adequately described in words. Amazing.

Shortly after we launched ColdTrackDays, I sat down and put together a list of must see motor races; The 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Grand Prix of Monte Carlo, the Isle of Man TT, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Indianapolis and Daytona 500's, and of course, the Italian Grand Prix. Having already checked a few of those boxes in our first year, I must say, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza is an event I will never forget and one that I would suggest for any motorsport fan.

For additional photos from the 2008 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, click here

For additional photos from our trip to Italy, click here

Photo/Editorial: Justin W. Coffey