Formula One lyme for Constant Spring Golf Club
THIS Sunday, die-hard Formula One fans are expected to converge at the Constant Spring Golf Club in St Andrew for the 7:00 am start of the Spanish Grand Prix.
This pilgrimage, dubbed the F1 Lyme, began six years ago with four friends — Ray Matthews Jr, Stewart Lynch, Norris Crooks, and Andrew Gauntlett — who shared a passion for Formula One racing. They would gather at each other’s home to watch the adrenalinepumping event. However, the venue has shifted to several popular Corporate Area hotspots to accommodate its growing numbers.
“It started in our living rooms,” Matthews told Auto. “Eventually, more people started to come over and it reached a point where we couldn’t fit everyone into our homes.”
The group’s numbers has grown through the use of social media such as Facebook. The group page lists 95 members.
“We were initially at Cuddy’z for the first two years. Then we bounced around after that to the Village, and the Constant Spring Golf Club,” said Matthews.
For the lyme, F1 fans are encouraged to leave their couches and experience the camaraderie of persons sharing their passion. The recent 1:00 am season opener at the Acropolis in Barbican in March saw a turnout of around 30 persons.
“It’s free to all to attend, but we ask that fans try their best to support the host facilities, like the bar and kitchen,” said Matthews.
He said the only hiccup with the F1 Lyme is sometimes the difference in time zone in some of the countries the races are held.
“The early morning races play havoc with the attendance numbers, but we’ve still managed to grow from strength to strength each year,” Matthews said.
The ‘core four’ have been to actual F1 races. Matthews has attended the Silverstone Grand Prix in Britian; Canadian Grand Prix, and the Indianapolis Grand Prix in the United States.
“As great as an experience F1 Lyme creates for the local fans, there’s nothing like a real F1 race and I’d like to pass that feeling on,” Matthews said.
With this in mind, Matthews hopes to formalise the group with a fee structure to fund a yearly raffle. The winner of the prize would be a trip to a F1 Grand Prix.
