Maybe not really what you thought I am working as a truckie for one of the GP2 teams and we have just had our first test at the Paul Ricard Curcuit in the South of France.
The GP2 series is replacing the old F3000 series on the European F1 tour. the car has a Carbon Fibre Dallara tub and a 4lt V8 Renault Engine producing about 600bhp compared to the 450bhp of the old F3000âs.
The car includes Carbon Fibre brakes, Paddle Shift, fly by wire throttle, full ground effect and down force. There are still problems, but when the drivers did get out they thought the brakes, acceleration and grip were awesome.
On the right is our 2 drivers Scott Speed in the Red Bull Overalls and Can (pronouced Djan) Artam in the shades
Parked up in the Novotel car park at Macon, No sleeping in the cab on this job hotel all the way. Altogether there were 4 race truck in the car park.
The Curcuit is in the hills and you have to go through some tight villages and bends on the way up.
As you might guess I wasnât driving at this point, Just enjoying the ride and keeping an eye on things like high kerbs or branches that might damge the truck. Because of the low belly lockers we also have to take care on and off the boats. If it looks tight then one of us get out and if needed raises the suspension. Sorry if you get stuck behind us, but damage is not an option.
Parked up outside the garage, first thing unload, set-up garage and then wash the truck, weather looks good but the water was turning to ice when we washed the truck.
Anybody want a job as a tyre fitter, itâs a bit cleaner working environment than your average ATS. The trucks are immaculate incuding the tyres. In the background is the Peterbuilt unit and fridge trailer that has the fuel for the cars. Itâs all delivered to the curcuit, which saves us the hassle of ADR. Not sure what spec the fuel is, but it isnât bog standard pump unleaded. and it costs ÂŁ20 per litre.
Muckles, the Jordan junior truck was having some work done where we park our trucks (or did park our trucks) (Roy Humphrey near Diss) probably paintwork as they do most of the Formula 1 teams there, weve had McLaren taking up our parking spaces for the last few months.
I just got laid off Monday as my boss got taken under and i am looking for another job doing continental
I got to ask, anything going mate?? And i realise from your pics, all the trucks are left hookers, which is what i drive, havent driven right hand drive for around 7 years.
What do you do when you get to places? Is your job done once youâre there or do the drivers double up as pit crew / tea boy?
Paul
The first job on arrival is to set-up the garages or awning, then clean truck etc.
Once things are up and running, we do fuel and tyres and some running about with parts. Everybody makes tea, but you have to catch the mechanics at it or they seem to forget you .
The truckies also make up the pit crew, at the moment the plan is that I do the front jack, which means I stand in front of a car coming into the pit lane hoping heâll hit his mark and not me
kindle530:
Muckles, the Jordan junior truck was having some work done where we park our trucks (or did park our trucks) (Roy Humphrey near Diss) probably paintwork as they do most of the Formula 1 teams there, weve had McLaren taking up our parking spaces for the last few months.
I just got laid off Monday as my boss got taken under and i am looking for another job doing continental
I got to ask, anything going mate?? And i realise from your pics, all the trucks are left hookers, which is what i drive, havent driven right hand drive for around 7 years.
Youâre right about the Jordan truck at Roy Humpreys. The team is another Norfolk based tream called Super Nova. I think the Jordan Junior team stuff will be coming off when it gets painted this year. Our truck also goes up there.
Itâs almost all continental work, which is new for me, the only UK trip is Silverstone.
Sorry no jobs, itâs one of those jobs where everybody knows everybody else, so jobs tend to go by word of mouth. I didnât even know about this job ubtil they phoned up and asked me if I was interested. They donât like to advertise because the phone doesnât stop ringing.
If you were interested you could try teams in lower formulaâs, I started in Formula Ford, or look in Autosport, for support jobs, Bridgestone advertise for tyre fitters, but the main criteria seems to be having an HGV not trye fitting, also catering teams advertise, I think after driving the truck you end up checking door passes etc. With all these jobs you have accept that the truck driving is a very small part of the job.
Good for you Muckles!! Keep us informed of how it goes and keep those great pictures coming!!
Youâre doing the kind of job I always wanted to do and iâd be lie-ing if I said I arenât just a tiny bit jealous
In an ideal world iâd like to work for one of the World Superbike Teams, or maybe driving Kylie Minogues huge motorhome on one of her world tours and get invited for regular âsleep-oversââŚ
Nice one Muckles, showed them to junior Snax this morning heâs dead impressed , he wonders wether you get to drive the car aswell
Told you it was worth getting a digi camera. all you need to do now is link your lap top to the web, and hey presto Muckles Walker T/net racing correspondent
I did a couple of months as a rigger on Bernie Ecclstones outfit based at Biggin Hill, Kent. Couldnt stand it for more than that, quit at San Marino and caught the first plane home.
Treated as if you were lower than a piece of dirt.It was made clear that you were fortunate to be there, that they could replace you tomrrow with no problem, that you should be grateful to be working for them!!!
Everybody scared of upsetting the bosses, everybody cleaning everything non-stop (we even pushed a broken down,clapped out van out of the warehouse and had to wash it!!)⌠I spent 6 hours one morning with a can of Mr Sheene and a duster polishing anything that I could see and this was inside the huge mobile studio that we dragged around!! Told them i was a truck driver not a skivvy! âŚThen was shown a pile of plastic wheels, chair backs and seats. There you go, the âforemanâ said, there`s about 250 chairs in bits there, put them all together then when you have finished let me know and I will come and inspect them!!! Then you can clean them to!!!
Truck driving was only a minor part of the job and they had quite a turn over of people. Never again!
Ive never met such a mass of egos and poseurs in my life. Everybody was best mates of course with"Shue" or âRalphâ or âJaquesâ or âMe and DCâ etc. The stories of when âme and micheal were in the barâ or ââŚso I said to JacquesâŚand then he said to meâ !!!
The best way to describe it is like working in a bubble that looks great from the outside but when you finally get inside it STINKS!!!
I am working as a truckie for one of the GP2 teams and we have just had our first test at the Paul Ricard Curcuit in the South of France.
hotel all the way. Altogether there were 4 race truck in the car park.
itâs one of those jobs where everybody knows everybody else, so jobs tend to go by word of mouth. I didnât even know about this job ubtil they phoned up and asked me if I was interested. 
