Forget The Cars, It's All About Beer, Giant Meat Pies And Other Distractions
The Age
Monday March 4, 2002
The giant meat pie is chatting to his mate, the formula one car. A giant yellow condor wanders past.
Welcome to the Grand Prix, where the best-dressed fan competition is in full swing.
Forget the corporate tents and the Neighbours starlets; the general admission area is where the action is, and it's a world away from champagne and air kisses.
Beer is the drink of choice, and although it's not yet two o'clock in the afternoon, some of the race-goers are looking a little the worse for wear.
The huge crowd roars as more best-dressed contestants - or perhaps that should be best-undressed - take to the stage.
``We want chicks," screams a guy in a red jacket, clutching a beer as he ogles the bevy of beauties in bikinis.
Meanwhile, the giant meat pie has taken third place and will go home with a $2000 cheque.
``We blew the car up on the way down, so we needed the money to pay for the costumes and our trip," says the prize-winning pie, Dave Purtell of Brisbane.
``It was well and truly worth the trip," he said, clearly enjoying his maiden Grand Prix experience.
On stage, the yellow condor - a Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya fan - is jeered by the jingoistic crowd as he explains that the condor is his country's national symbol.
``Tell someone who cares," screams the same red-jacketed patriot. ``Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi!"
The competition over - it was won by a very bewildered-looking three-year-old boy in a mini Ferrari racing outfit - the crowd disperses and people hurry off to find a good vantage point for the race.
Among them are Jade, Nathan, Colin and Luke, a group of friends from Castlemaine. They are wearing matching yellow and blue Hawaiian shirts and are having a great time.
``I just like it; the whole atmosphere and everything," says Nathan, 17.
``And the grid chicks," adds Colin.
© 2002 The Age
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