Some six months ago, officials from the Budhh international circuit visited my college JIIT,Noida to select volunteers for the 2nd edition of Indian Grand Prix. I, like many others wanted to be a part of this mega event. Some 500 students were there at the JIIT auditorium from the university itself to make the selection process tough and all the more competitive. The selection of volunteers was based on GD and the forms that we filled to show how good or bad we were. Out of all those only 155 were selected to be a part of this spectacular journey. I was one of the lucky ones who got selected and was happy. The fact that some of my friends didn’t make it through made me sad but nevertheless there is always a next time. The volunteering started 1 week before the final race that is 28th october 2012.The first few days were not so exciting as it involved only the making of entry passes, the allotment of different zones and work that the volunteers were required to do. So ofcourse i was bored, but the next thing i know…it was the experience that i am going to remember for the rest of my life.
Entering the main grand stand of Budhh International Circuit is the first thing i remember. It was large,big,huge,bulky,enormous,extensive,extravagant,grand,gigantic and ofcourse beautiful! The main grand stand is surely one of the best things about BIC, India’s racing arena. There what i saw was a learning in itself. 3 Days prior to the IGP 2012, Everyone from the pit crew of different teams to the sweeper, everyone was doing his/her job so well. They were doing it so smoothly that sometimes you may think that they are just hanging out there. This was not only the case of the main grand stand people but everywhere around the circuit, everyone was relaxed and this is only possible when you are well prepared. It was perfection on display and that too in our very own India(and that too in UP).
One day before the IGP, there was an autograph session with the formula 1 drivers.Only a few people got a chance to be present right in middle of the track with their favorite drivers, the selection was based on some online competition. But being a volunteer i was allowed there(ofcourse) and therefore got a chance to see the likes of Vettel, Webber and Schumacher. Many of my friends also got their autographs and took pictures with them(i being a lazy boy missed that oppurtunity). Nevertheless, watching Schumacher and Vettel was big in itself!
Finally the day arrived and the practice session started and that was the first time i saw the mean machines racing through the circuit.It was awesome and the noises the engines of racing cars generate pumps your heart and it starts beating to an all new level. Although it is great to watch such thing but it becomes difficult to sit and watch the full race. You are bored after some time. It becomes difficult to hear such a loud noise after a point of time, even though you have your ear plugs on. 
But i have no complaints, the life outside the circuit was great too. On the race day itself, that is 28th of october, there were a lot more people who were coming in to watch the Indian Grand Prix 2012. Some of them were ‘desi’ but many of them were ‘Gore’. Some of them were seen complaining about the facilities there, according to me they were just restless, they already had created an image in their mind about India and the people here. In our language i would call them ‘Dramebaaz’, but that wasn’t the end. Many of them were generous. I met an Australian guy named Ted, he was from Perth. We talked about cricket(ofcourse) and how famous australian cricketers are in India. He too was a fan of Sachin and Virat Kohli. Then there was an English lady, who kept looking for her husband throughout the race but she found him at last drunk, enjoying the race all alone. There was a NRI family, 2 couples who shifted to London some 30 years ago and talked about how life is different there and how India’s image is improving on the global level. Man! It was so nice to talk to people from all around the world.
The day was filled with lots of fun, first there was ‘Rock the Race’ concert which was embraced by Shaan and Vishal-Shekher duo.Shaan, all the way rocked the event, he was on fire, performing 1 hour straight with a live band.Vishal Shekher duo was good too.
And the race, it was good too.Though Schumacher was out in the first lap but Vettel made sure that he retains the Indian GP title. I saw the first 30 laps, then i was bored and me and my friend got out of the stand. He wanted beer and i wanted a pic with a blonde(no offence).He got his beer in no time(beer was flowing everywhere, literally) but i never got that pic, not because i was shy to ask for a pic but because the blondes were either with their strongly built hubbies or boyfriends or they were so hot that i did nothing but stare.
All in all, i had a great experience. Made quite a few new friends, and more importantly spend a hassle free week with cars, beer and blondes.
Manoj the blogger 