5:45 am, Stuey is to meet me at Cullompton bullring, then head off down to the BP garage to fill up for the journey.

5:52 Stuey arrives, a herd of cows holds the bugger up (common in these parts!)

5:55 we fill up and head off

6:00 we get on the M5, and head towards Silverstone

8:55 we arrive at the gates 

9:00 we get into the building and head up to the 4th floor, overlooking Bridge, Brooklands complex, and Luffield corner.  We tuck into bacon rolls and coffee all laid on for us.

9:30 we are lead down to the paddock area for a tour of pit-lane before testing begins, but a jobs-worth security guard refuses to let us in!  They always let people in up until 10:00 normally.  After a couple of calls, we are allowed to have a quick look, and a couple of pictures.

10:00 We all get a briefing of the company who invited us all there (MiTech) and how they integrated the networks for Jordan and Benetton.  but oh dear, the cars are out sooner than they expected, screeching past the building now how much of our attention do you think the poor guy had ?

10:20 we all pile out onto the balcony and watch the cars go by.

11:20 I go inside to get another drink, and have  go at Grand Prix 2 with the Microsoft Force Feedback Steering Wheel.

11:30 back on the balcony for more action as more drivers come out.  Also chatting to some other people, and telling them we are going to spend the afternoon in pit-lane, they don't seem to be believing us!

11:45 we are told a good spot is down at Copse corner, so Stuey and I set off down there.  We stand by a gate right next to the pit-lane exit, great spot to the cars coming out.

12:20 we get chatting to a gorgeous blonde babe (who wanted to streak up pit-lane - never did though, shame!) then disappear under Copse tunnel, and up the opposite side to the grandstand area opposite pit-lane.

12:35 funny thing, Stuey sitting on railings.  Johhny Herbert screams down pit-straight, Stuey falls of railings - funny as hell !!! (sorry Stu!)

12:50 we climb a raised platform looking down on pit-straight, wow what a great view.

13:00 we head back to the building for our lunch, and a can of Foster's

14:00 they do a draw, some guy got third prize, and pulled out my name for second place, I got a Jordan clock, and I pulled out Stuey's name for first prize ! - a 1:18 scale replica of Damon's 1999 Jordan.  What are the chances of the two of us getting first and second out of 50-60 people ???

14:25 down to main reception and get our media passes (we didn't tell the others we do work for websites)

14:35 we go back and tell some of the others that we did get our passes, and whilst we are there, we collect our goody bags, including a nice black Jordan T-shirt! very nice - I love it!

14:45 we walk straight in through the paddock and right into pit-lane!  wow, we are free to walk ANYWHERE in pit-lane, we spot the nice blonde babe, who is gob-smacked at seeing us there, and also Sarah wo is in our group is also shocked at seeing us there.  We spend the next 2 hours or so walking up and down pit-wall, and the pit-lane area, from one garage to another standing just feet away from the drivers sitting in their cars!  Using way too much film in the cameras but who cares ???

17:20 I have now collected signatures from Jos Verstappen, Johnny Herbert, Eddie Irvine, Patrick LeMarie (BAR test driver), and Jacques Villeneuve.  We try for more, but can't seem to get any more today.

17:30 we head off towards home

21:10 I arrive home, and Stuey has another half hour or so to drive.

Long day, but the best in a very long time, we'll do it again though!