Your not dreaming it.
In the days of Tony Mason and William Woolard etc doing in stage reports they would often get to their 'secret' locations for filming and find our vehicles beat them too it
As I said an OS map and general knowledge of the stage layout is all that is needed
Same on this years Jim Clark we whilst doing chase I popped into a stage for a quick look at the action to see Tony Mason and his wife (who do still follow the events) stood next to Louise Aiken Walker and her family.
As for BRF you thought Pf was bad