31st March 2011
I was on Twitter and Jason Plato (if you don't know who he is then google him) tweeted that he was going to put a competition up at lunch time. Lunch time came and went and eventually there it was. All you had to do was text what number he was going to race with this season. I thought easy, number 1 as he won the championship the previous season. So i got my phone and text which cost me £1.50. The prize was a trip in his helicopter from Brands Hatch and he would personally call the winners. I had entered and that was that, there was no chance i was going to win especially as it was something you could enter multiple times.
1st April 2011
I had had the most awful day which was mostly spent in tears. My whole world seemed to be crumbling around me and there was nothing i could do to stop it. Feeling very down i sat on my bed mulling over what had happened that day with nothing else on my mind. At about half five in the evening my phone started ringing with an unknown number. I had made a few calls that day so i assumed it was somebody replying. I answered the phone and got this response 'Hello Tracey, it's Jason Plato'. He had rung to tell me i was one of the winners of his competition! I was speachless but not enough so i didn't ask him if this was an April Fools joke. Which he said it wasn't, obviously. Then i went into rant mode of 'But i didn't get tickets, i didn't think i was going to win! Can i get one on the day? Do they sell them on the day?'. To be honest i felt sorry for the poor bloke. He was absolutely lovely and patient but after 2 minutes of my shocked rambling he said 'I'd better go i've got to crack on'. I put the phone down in absolute shock, so much so i was shaking. Then came the 'i must tell everybody' moment. Of course most people didn't have a clue what i was on about but then they don't follow the BTCC so that's understandable. Of course i instantly posted my news on Facebook and Twitter which was retweeted by Mr Plato much to my delight. Then people just started congratulating me on Twitter which was so strange but lovely. I could not believe it. I had gone from despair to delight in the space of a few hours, from one extreme to the other.
2nd April 2011
This day was spent trying to work out how the hell to get to Brands Hatch. I had never been to Kent before and never driven on the M25 so was getting a bit OCD about things. I had two satnavs, a map, written instructions and i had memorised every junction of importance. There was no way i was going to get lost. I checked my car filled it up with the various fluids it needed and was set. All i needed now was some sleep. Yeah right.
3rd April 2011
I set of at 7:30am and the roads were pretty clear. The M25 was confusing. 3 lanes, no 5 lanes, no 2 lanes, no 3 lanes is better, no let's have 4, no let's stick with 3. What?! Anyway i negotiated this randomness and got to Brands two hours after i set off. What surprised me was how tiny the circuit was. I've only been to Silverstone and Thruxton so i was a little taken aback. I got there for the first Formula Renault race which was a little dull. The Ginetta Juniors however was good. I was stood near the start of Paddock Hill Bend. You can't believe how steep the bottom of that bend is until you see it! Anyway one of the Ginettas went straight into the wall at the top of Paddock Hill and took out a couple of cars which resulted in a dust shower for us from where the car went into the gravel trap in front of us. The race was red flagged and restarted as it was a pretty nasty crash and totalled the front of the poor lads car. Fortunately he got out of the car seemingly unscathed.
Next up i saw the first BTCC race which was also delayed because someone had a problem and the car parked up on the run up to Druids. It was a fantastic race. From where i was stood you can see a lot of the circuit. The only completely blind spots were the pit straight and the top of Druids because there are trees in the way. That is why i missed Matt Neal being punted into the gravel. Bloody trees. Jason Plato won anyway so i was happy. After lunch was the second race by which point i was getting rather nervous because straight after this i had to go to the Chevy stand. To be honest i watched the race but i didn't really take it in because i was stressing about getting in this helicopter. JP won this race as well which was fantastic. A good start to the season. I still can't get over how short the Indy circuit is.
After the race i made my way up to the Chevy stand, massively nervous by now. I got there and one by one all the winners arrived. We sat at a table and chatted. The chap that was with us said Jason was hopefully going to come over to say hello before we left if not he would see us after. I was rambling on, i think through nerves and then had a panic because i thought i'd forgotten my camera! I'd just forgotten where i had put it. Anyway the chap said we had better make our way over to the chopper which was a long walk for me as i was now terrified. We got to the silver helicopter and one by one had our pictures taken stood next to it, then a group one. There was a chance to sit in the front, not a chance! We had a briefing and were told that when we landed we had to get out with the rotors running. As if i didn't have enought to worry about! For someone who is scared of flying it does beg the question why i entered a competition to go in a helicopter? I've learnt over the years that you should take every opportunity you can because you never know what is around the corner. Despite my nerves i was looking forward to it with huge excitement.
So we all got in i sat facing forwards on the right hand side. The pilot was lovely and said he was going to do this this, that and the other including checking everything was working to which i replied 'Good!'. The sick bags were also pointed out to us. I was still rambling on mostly through nerves. They took some more photos of us inside the chopper with our headsets on.
It was at this point that Jason appeared. Bless him. He shook all our hands and chatted very briefly before the doors were shut.
Our seat belt consisted of the same thing you get in an airplane and the windows were huge. It was so noisy once the chopper was started up and i have never pooped my pants as much as when the thing took off. I instantly went quiet. Jason was still on the ground and waved to us as we flew off, which was nice. I have a problem with airplanes but that is nothing i have discovered compared to the problem i have with helicopters. I cannot even begin to describe how i felt. All i had to hold on to was the leather seat, there were no arm rests. It is such a bizarre sensation. You don't feel like your moving but bobbling up and down a bit with the wind which by the way i hated. All i could think of was that it was going to drop out of the sky. Planes seem very sturdy and safe whereas this seemed flimsy and unsafe. It's clearly not as i am still alive able to write this. I looked out of the window but there was no way i was looking down. A head for heights is a necessity.
We flew passed the Queen Elizabeth bridge and follwed to Thames up river. I was taking loads of pictures of everything. Most of them i don't even know what they are! Lets just say i got a bit trigger happy with my camera. As we headed towards London we could see so much but it was a little cloudy. If it had been a sunnier day we may have been able to see further. At one point we could see City Airport, the Thames Barrier and the Millenium Dome.
We flew right passed City Airport and the planes looked so tiny. Well everything did to be honest. We also saw the Olympic Stadium from afar. I would put my picture up but it looks a bit like a spot the ball competition.
We flew over the Thames Barrier which was pretty impressive. I don't know many people who can say they've done that in a chopper.
We travelled a bit further up river and just before the Millenium Dome we turned to go back.
It was at this point my hands clamped down even harder onto the seat as we banked left. If you looked left you could see the ground below practically. I on the other hand prefered looking out of the window next to me at the sky. I don't think i said two words on the flight. That is how bloody petrified i was, to the point of silence. We flew back to Brands and i took photos of various things including a random golf course. It just made me chuckle seeing it from the sky.
We didn't actually fly over Brands which was disappointing but we got to see a little of it from the air. It is absolutely tiny. I thought it was a tiny circuit from the ground but it's even smaller from the sky.
I never even thought about the thing landing and that was almost the worst part. It wasn't to bad until we got close to the ground at which point it felt like it was going to fall to the ground. Anyway it landed and i don't think i could have got out of it any quicker than i did. Headset off, legs slid onto the ground, head down and run. It's funny as soon as i was out of the chopper i started talking again. Albeit slowly but it wasn't long before i was rambling away. I didn't let on just how ill i felt. I would never have forgiven myself if it had had to be cut short because i am a complete wimp. It was amazing and i'm so pleased i did it. How many people can say they have flown up the Thames and across the Thames Barrier in Jason Platos Agusta 109 twin engined helicopter?
The other winners were lovely and if i'm honest i do feel a little bad because i did ramble on a lot. Nerves and excitement were to blame i suspect. Afterwards we went to the Q&A session for Plato and McDowell which was enjoyable. My favourite question was 'How much did you laugh when you punted Matt Neil off into the gravel?' It was directed at Alex McDowell who said he had to losen his belts but i creased up when JP interupted and said 'I undid mine!'. When the Q&A session finished he came over and we said thank you etc. I said 'I must apologise i think i left some claw marks in your seat'. What a thoroughly lovely bloke and a surprisingly strong handshake.
As usual i managed to make myself look hideous. I was trying to see the camera screen but the sun was glaring on it so i leant back, hence my numerous chins. everytime i get a picture with someone it always turns out crap.
So that was what happened after i sent one text with the expectation that nothing would come of it. It just goes to show you never know what is going to happen. To be honest despite being terrifed that has got to be one of the best things i have ever had the good fortune of doing. It was an amazing experience which i shall never forget. A day of firsts for me. The first time i've been to Brands, the first time i've been to Kent, the first time i've been on the M25 and the first time i have been in a helicopter (and possibly last).
Well done to Jason on winning the first two races and lets hope the winning continues. Most importantly of all is a thank you for Mr Plato for letting us have a ride on his chopper.
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