Simple, the friend we are going with is the GP on duty that day. So, he gets free tickets and the best spot parking inside the arena at the First Aid point. Normally his wife tags along and gets bored but this year she will have us 2 while John works - some injustice there for him I think.
The only draw back is we have to be there first thing and leave when John finishes duty at the end of the day but I can live with that I think.