105 replies to this topic

[splendid splinter]

The 2009 Canadian Grand Prix has been dropped from the calendar. No North American races next year. Thanks, Bernie. You prick.

Edited by splendid splinter, 07 October 2008 - 12:05 PM.

[simonus]

Let me preface by saying I know nothing about the FIA.

Why the hell was Montreal dropped? Angry canucks want to know!

[splendid splinter]

Let me preface by saying I know nothing about the FIA.

Why the hell was Montreal dropped? Angry canucks want to know!

All I've read so far is that there were "contractual problems", whatever that means. Could be that Ecclestone was asking for more money than the organizers were willing to dish out to retain the race. I believe that's part of the reason the US Grand Prix was dropped - the price was just too high for them. It's a shame - I've been to the CGP a couple of times now and it's a really fantastic weekend. Usually beautiful weather, a fun race, and a great party scene. I was looking forward to going again next year, but now it looks like Europe or Brazil are the only reasonable options, and those trips will cost twice as much as a trip to Montreal would have.

[Spacemans Bong]

THAT WAS INSANE.

[pockmeister]

THAT WAS INSANE.

Complete madness. I think I had a heart attack when the rain started to fall in the last 5 laps, and I'm convinced I died when Vettel sneaked past Lewis. The shock of seeing Glock on slicks with no grip coming back down the field brought me back to life.

Absolutely amazing stuff. Lewis is on the front of every paper in the UK today. Plenty of good fortune involved today, but that's probably karma for him, given the crazy stewarding this year, and the penalties he's been given by the FIA.

If anyone wants to read all about the race, try here: http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/71943

On a related note, that was the last race that ITV will carry in the UK - the BBC have won the rights back from next year. So that means no more in-race commercials for us here in Britain, and also likely means the demise of James Allen as lead commentator. I don't know whether you have to suffer his commentary in the US, but he's up there with the very worst in terms of innane comments and generally missing the point...

[MarkInLondon]

On a related note, that was the last race that ITV will carry in the UK - the BBC have won the rights back from next year. So that means no more in-race commercials for us here in Britain, and also likely means the demise of James Allen as lead commentator. I don't know whether you have to suffer his commentary in the US, but he's up there with the very worst in terms of innane comments and generally missing the point...

All hail the return of King Murray!

What's the betting Lineker gets to host - or Clare Balding?!

[fletcherpost]

All hail the return of King Murray!

What's the betting Lineker gets to host - or Clare Balding?!

I loved Murray Walker - didn't we all?

Will some of the ITV team go to BBC. Not Steve Ryder who loses another prime gig. But Brundle and Co...

[pockmeister]

All hail the return of King Murray!

What's the betting Lineker gets to host - or Clare Balding?!

Ugh, Balding hosting it doesn't bear thinking about... She prefers 4 legs to 4 wheels.

Current rumours around the Beeb are Jake Humphries to lead the coverage, Jonathan Legard to be lead commentator (he used to be 5 Live's lead before switching to football), with Brundle coming over from ITV to ensure we all know what's going on. It's also rumoured that DC will be one of the pundits. No news on pit lane crew yet, or on whether Suzy Perry can be tempted away from MotoGP.

[fletcherpost]

Ugh, Balding hosting it doesn't bear thinking about... She prefers 4 legs to 4 wheels.

Off topic. Is Claire Balding a dyke? I've often wondered.

[pockmeister]

Off topic. Is Claire Balding a dyke? I've often wondered.

Oh yeah, openly so. She's "married" to her female partner. And maybe to some of her dad's horses too.

[fletcherpost]

Oh yeah, openly so. She's "married" to her female partner. And maybe to some of her dad's horses too.

I never checked...but she looks like a dyke. But a nice dyke.

Glad Formula 1 is going to the BBC again. No adverts...makes a difference.

[Spacemans Bong]

Suzy Perry needs to fuck off. She's rubbish in MotoGP. Rossi won't even talk to her because he thinks she's too thick.

[pockmeister]

Suzy Perry needs to fuck off. She's rubbish in MotoGP. Rossi won't even talk to her because he thinks she's too thick.

So who would you suggest the Beeb use to fulfil that crucial F1 role of "Pit Lane Dolly"? Key abilities must include:

1) Looking good in a fire-proof suit

2) Being nice to Button when he retires

3) Being leered at by the Toro Rosso boys

I'm a bit stumped for ideas...

[czar]

Is the second great open-wheel split upon us?

Formula One has been thrown into chaos after the Formula One Teams Association (Fota) carried out its threat to set up a rival championship in 2010.

Eight of F1's major teams have been frustrated by deadlocked talks with world motorsport boss Max Mosley over his controversial budget cap proposals.

"The teams have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 F1 Championship," said the teams.

"We've no alternative than to commence preparation for a new championship."

BBC

Edited by czar, 18 June 2009 - 08:16 PM.

[Infield Infidel]

A fun synopsis of the who situation on ESPN's F1 blog

To FOTA, this is some hybrid of the last straw and the perfect excuse to pounce. It's been no secret for a decade that the big European manufacturers, especially the Germans, believe they could run F1 far better than Mosley, and make vastly more money without Ecclestone's notorious raking in of vast personal profits.

This time, they're calling out the kingpins: "The FIA [Mosley] and the commercial rights holder [Ecclestone] have campaigned to divide FOTA," the statement read. The implication: This time, no way.

"These teams … have no alternative other than to commence the preparation for a new championship which reflects the values of its participants and partners," the statement continued.

In other words, Mosley and Ecclestone aren't going to force a junk division into the world's most sophisticated form of motor racing. A $60 million cap would have done that -- let upstart teams come in with technological leeway over the established, higher-spending teams.

"This series will have transparent governance," the statement read, another slap at the old regime.

Mosley, of course, has been under fire from the teams on a separate issue, last year's release by a London tabloid of video of him in an escapade with prostitutes in a Chelsea "dungeon." Teams called for his resignation, but he has refused.

They should have figured out a way to oust Mosley after that super creepy sex tape

[Spacemans Bong]

They need to get rid of Mosley and Ecclestone. Both of them are dinosaurs.

I say not entirely jokingly that Bernie Ecclestone is singlehandedly responsible for killing F1 in this country.

[Infield Infidel]

So with Massa's injury, Ferrari needed a replacement driver for the rest of the season. Who do they get? Only 7 times F1 champion Michael Schumacher. This should be fun.

[AusTexSoxFan]

So apparently Foruma One is coming back to the US.... via Austin?!?!?

I still can't believe this. F-1 in Austin

[Spacemans Bong]

Austin?

What the fuck? Where?

And when are they going to hold this?

Color me very skeptical they ever have a GP in austin.

[AusTexSoxFan]

You and me both. I have no clue where this would happen.

They are saying it would be starting in 2012 so it would have to be a road course since there isn't anything remotely close to a track here.

This all means that the international racing audience will get to see our famous homeless cross-dresser Leslie Cochran who prances around downtown in a bra and panties. Dude always runs for mayor and usually gets about 8-10% of the vote.

[czar]

You and me both. I have no clue where this would happen.

They are saying it would be starting in 2012 so it would have to be a road course since there isn't anything remotely close to a track here.

This all means that the international racing audience will get to see our famous homeless cross-dresser Leslie Cochran who prances around downtown in a bra and panties. Dude always runs for mayor and usually gets about 8-10% of the vote.

From what I heard yesterday, the plan is to build a new purpose-built road course a few miles east of the airport. (Road course meaning a permanent non-oval facility; street course is where they block off city streets and run downtown). Hermann Tilke will design the course, and they hope to break ground in the next few months. Tilke's last track (that I know of) was the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi and that took ~ 2 years to build IIRC.

I'm still a little skeptical, but much less so than I was yesterday afternoon.

[TwoDownInTheNinth]

From what I heard yesterday, the plan is to build a new purpose-built road course a few miles east of the airport. (Road course meaning a permanent non-oval facility; street course is where they block off city streets and run downtown). Hermann Tilke will design the course, and they hope to break ground in the next few months. Tilke's last track (that I know of) was the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi and that took ~ 2 years to build IIRC.

I'm still a little skeptical, but much less so than I was yesterday afternoon.

I'm pretty skeptical about anything Tilke gets near, what with this being a man whose dulled down about everything he's touched and all (notably Bahrain). The people at Silverstone stopped just short of saying they didn't want Tilke on their renovation project because they were afraid he'd ruin it.

Who knows though. Maybe he comes up with a good design this time.

[Spacemans Bong]

Well, he is capable of them - they're racing on probably his best track this weekend (Turkey) and he's got one or two other good ones.

The promoter said he specifically wanted a fast, challenging track, so hopefully that means more Turkey/Malaysia less Abu Dhabi/Bahrain.

[cgori]

Bump, now with 100% less Bahrain.

First race is now Mar 27 in Melbourne.

[cgori]

2 practices in the books in Australia. Red Bull and McLaren looking good so far, times overall look pretty quick. Qual should be very interesting.

[Infield Infidel]

This is a couple weeks old, but damn this will be awesome. An F1 announced a race along the Hudson river, with a view of Manhattan, in 2013

http://www.nj.com/ne...es_first-e.html

Formula One fans will cheer on their favorite drivers and brightly painted, open-wheel cars as they compete at speeds of 60 to 200 miles an hour around a 3.2-mile circuit, with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop.
As is common in Formula One racing, the course will incorporate local streets, including the stretch of Boulevard East that runs past Semprini’s house, as well as River Road along the Hudson’s west bank, where a garage complex for the race is already under construction opposite the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken. Race sponsors and racing personalities joined elected officials near the garage site for yesterday’s announcement.
"It’s going to be an absolutely spectacular race," Steve Matchett, a Formula 1 commentator for the racing cable network Speed Channel, told the large crowd of local reporters and racing press.
Matchett went so far as to compare the waterfront location and split elevation of the Hudson County course to the storied Circuit de Monico, which wends through city streets and along the picturesque harbor of Monte Carlo.

Edited by Infield Infidel, 12 November 2011 - 07:43 PM.

[Spacemans Bong]

The best thing about the NJ and Austin tracks is that they will show F1 cars off. F1 hasn't raced on a quality track in America in 30 years and now it looks like they'll have two at the same time. Indy was a poor track that would have been loathed by everybody if it wasn't Indy. Its only saving grace was that it was at least a good circuit for overtaking.

Now we've got a really challenging road course in Texas with lots of elevation change and some very fast corners, and a very, very fast street circuit with possibly even more elevation change, some stunning views and some legitimately challenging corners (that left down to the hairpin has no runoff; I'm actually surprised they're not doing anything to that).

This is the best chance F1 has to gain a foothold in America in a long time and I don't think they're going to gain many, if any, better chances than this should this fail.

[czar]

I've heard Austin is pretty iffy right now for 2012 and if they don't answer the bell in 2012 you have to assume they end up with the same fate as USF1. They have already moved next year's USGP from the summer to November under the guise of "it's hot in Texas" although construction remains well behind schedule.

Not to mention the timing of the announcement of the NY/NJ race seems a bit fishy to me. Maybe I'm reading too much into it and they are still full go for 2 races in 2013, but it is Bernie after all.

[ribbito]

I read today on twitter that "Developers halt construction at Circuit of the Americas". @JennaFryer retweeted from @SpeedFreaks. Not sure of the source but if true, not a real good sign for Austin. @JennaFryer is mostly NASCAR but occasionally tweets IndyCar and F1 info. Was looking forward to seeing my first F1 race in person.

[Mr. Wednesday]

Looks like some sort of a back-office spat is killing things in Austin. There appears to have been a falling-out between the guy who originally floated the F1-to-Austin thing and the people who will actually be running the track, leading to uncertainty about the sanctioning status of the race. It's prompted the Texas comptroller to publicly state that the $25 MM on offer from the state will not be paid until after the event takes place.

[cgori]

The best thing about the NJ and Austin tracks is that they will show F1 cars off. F1 hasn't raced on a quality track in America in 30 years and now it looks like they'll have two at the same time. Indy was a poor track that would have been loathed by everybody if it wasn't Indy. Its only saving grace was that it was at least a good circuit for overtaking.

I'm sorta curious what you consider a "quality" track.

I went to all but 1 of the F1 races at Indy, and I have personally driven on a lot of the "name" road course tracks in the US (Laguna, Sears/Infineon, Mid-Ohio, Road America, VIR, Summit Point, etc) plus Catalunya in Europe, and there was nothing "wrong" with Indy -- you had overtaking as you note, a plausible technical/infield section, excellent top-end speed going coming off the banked section, and decent sightlines for qualifying if you knew where to sit. The asphalt compound and the combination of the banked corner and technical sections made for some interesting setup decisions. I would agree that Laguna Seca would be a better venue but that would be a logistical disaster, I think, I'm just picturing 150k people in Seaside and it makes my head hurt.

If they do the NJ race, I'll probably go to that one. My usual F1 group had been thinking Austin for quite some time, but I think the NJ track will be easier to arrange for travel for everyone, plus it will be an easier sell with some of the wives. One of the guys got transferred to Munich so we might still try for a European race but that's a long shot.

[Spacemans Bong]

I can't find a link to this, but I believe Indy was poorly rated by the drivers.

Indy had good overtaking and a long flat out section. I believe it was the longest in F1, or at least the longest since Hockenheim was changed. But it was short and not very challenging - there wasn't a difficult fast corner anywhere on the track, since turns 4, 12 and 13 were all easily flat out. There was also the chicane/double hairpin turns 9 and 10, which was maybe the worst sequence of corners in F1 at the time. I remember Derek Bell ripping into it on TV at practice on the first USGP in 2000.

It was flat as a pool table, short and it didn't show off F1 cars very well. The big thing F1 has is their speed around the corner. On Turn 13/1, they were going around that 30-40 mph slower than an IndyCar does. While it was nice to be racing in Indianapolis, it was also on an infield road course, which is something Trans-Am and AMA Superbikes do and not Formula 1.

Now saying that, I am not somebody who thinks Laguna Seca is an appropriate place for F1 so I was fine with Indy But it was never going to be a classic grand eprueve on that circuit. But that's what makes Austin exciting (as long as Tavo Hellmund doesn't fuck this up for everyone), because it's an American road circuit with the legitimate ability to host Formula 1 but also the elevation change, the length and the challenges to really test a driver. There's lots of fast corners, there's some awkward slow corners, there's a lot of up and down. Jersey has even more elevation change, one really fast corner and lots of little wiggles which will be interesting on bumpy public streets. F1 hasn't had that 1-2 punch in America since the days of the Glen and Long Beach, which not coincidentally was the peak of F1 in the US.

Edited by Spacemans Bong, 25 November 2011 - 04:29 AM.

[cgori]

The elevation is a good point, as is the flat-out-ness of the Indy track.

Watching F1 at Laguna would be tremendous if only for that elevation change -- I will remember watching those turbo-powered Zanardi-era CART cars in the Corkscrew for the rest of my life, such a great, great thing to see.

I actually don't care if the drivers think the track is fun, as a spectator I care how the experience is, if I'm going in person (on TV, they honestly all come out about the same). Indy was decent to good, Laguna is excellent, because you can sit in certain spots and see 80%+ of the track, except the Corkscrew. There are some tracks where you can only see one turn, no matter where you are, which is rather annoying (Indy had some sections like this, and others with decent multi-turn visibility).

[Spacemans Bong]

The elevation is a good point, as is the flat-out-ness of the Indy track.

Watching F1 at Laguna would be tremendous if only for that elevation change -- I will remember watching those turbo-powered Zanardi-era CART cars in the Corkscrew for the rest of my life, such a great, great thing to see.

I actually don't care if the drivers think the track is fun, as a spectator I care how the experience is, if I'm going in person (on TV, they honestly all come out about the same). Indy was decent to good, Laguna is excellent, because you can sit in certain spots and see 80%+ of the track, except the Corkscrew. There are some tracks where you can only see one turn, no matter where you are, which is rather annoying (Indy had some sections like this, and others with decent multi-turn visibility).

The old line about Monaco being like cycling around your living room would apply to Seca. It's just so short and there would be very little room to overtake. It's really narrow in parts as well, especially the run up the hill from Turn 6 and ending at the Corkscrew.

Too bad, if the apocryphal story about Bernie Ecclestone (whose greed has blown up in his face in America more than once) choosing Phoenix over Seca is true then it certainly set F1 back in America for years. F1 probably would have outgrown Seca right around when the grooved tires came in in 1998 but if F1 made a seamless transition to Indy who knows how the series is in the US.

[ribbito]

Linkage

Kimi Raikkonen to Lotus Renault. Assuming Kubica comes back sometime near the beginning of the 2012 season, Renault looks like they are serious about making the Big 3/4, the Big 4/5. (depending on how you view Mercedes)

[cgori]

Hey, it looks like it might be competitive again, now that they've outlawed exhaust-gas diffusers.

[cgori]

Great race in China. The last ~15 laps, I haven't seen that much passing from p2 through p12 in years.

[cgori]

Four races, four winners. Lotus is competitive again. I hope this continues.

[ethangl]

Just a few days to go, I don't suppose anybody else is going to the race?

[Spacemans Bong]

Austin looks phenomenal.

[splendid splinter]

Just a few days to go, I don't suppose anybody else is going to the race?

I'll be in town for the race. Arriving Friday, departing Monday, sitting in Grandstand 12.

Edited by splendid splinter, 09 November 2012 - 03:24 PM.

[ethangl]

I'll be sitting in 11.

FYI, they held a 5k race at the track last weekend, and apparently traffic was nightmare. An hour and a half delay. I really don't have any faith in the city doing much about it so close to the race, so I'm planning on getting to the shuttles as early as possible.

[splendid splinter]

Thanks for the heads-up. The shuttles depart from 15th and Trinity, right? Any other locations? I was planning on getting to the shuttle a couple of hours before the start of the race event, but it sounds like I should be giving myself even more of a cushion - is that what you'd recommend?

[ethangl]

My shuttle location is north of the airport at the county expo center. I think yours is the only other location.

That 5k race I mentioned only had about 5,000 participants. That is less than 5% of the anticipated crowd for the race, and apparently it was a clusterfuck.

Friday and Saturday should be very informative. If there are problems on Saturday I would definitely recommend a lot of cushion.

[splendid splinter]

My shuttle location is north of the airport at the county expo center. I think yours is the only other location.

That 5k race I mentioned only had about 5,000 participants. That is less than 5% of the anticipated crowd for the race, and apparently it was a clusterfuck.

Friday and Saturday should be very informative. If there are problems on Saturday I would definitely recommend a lot of cushion.

Thanks - Maybe we'll arrive extra early on Saturday (if possible) and if it turns out we don't need that much of a cushion, we'll adjust for Sunday.

Any recommendations on food/drink? We're eating at Uchiko Friday night - that's the only solid plan we have. Definitely want to get some barbecue, although it seems like a lot of the really outstanding places close in the afternoon - if you know of some great spots that would be open into the evening, let me know. I was also thinking of hitting Hopdoddy one night for burgers. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. No idea whatsoever on where to go for drinks.

[Mr. Wednesday]

I highly recommend the Mexican Martinis at Trudy's.

[ethangl]

Uchiko and Hopdoddy are both good choices. I actually prefer Uchi to Uchiko, but their menus are totally different and both are worth the expense. I also love La Condesa.

The best BBQ place in town right now is Franklin Barbecue. It'll be kind of tough though, typically you have to get in line around 9 - 9:30am and wait a couple hours -- it's a commitment. All the tourists in town will probably make it even worse.

If you are renting a car, you might want to head out to Lockhart, a small town about 30 miles south of Austin. There are several top notch places there -- Smitty's, Kreuz Market, Black's. Asking for sauce in these places might get you some dirty looks.

If you don't want the hassle there are a number of places in town, like County Line, that are okay. Franklin is in another class.

As for drinks, there are a ton of places, it's hard to recommend anything w/o knowing anything about you or what you drink. If you are staying downtown, in your 30's or older, and are not a hipster, I would say the Warehouse district is your best bet.

Edited by ethangl, 14 November 2012 - 12:34 PM.

[splendid splinter]

Uchiko and Hopdoddy are both good choices. I actually prefer Uchi to Uchiko, but their menus are totally different and both are worth the expense. I also love La Condesa.

The best BBQ place in town right now is Franklin Barbecue. It'll be kind of tough though, typically you have to get in line around 9 - 9:30am and wait a couple hours -- it's a commitment. All the tourists in town will probably make it even worse.

If you are renting a car, you might want to head out to Lockhart, a small town about 30 miles south of Austin. There are several top notch places there -- Smitty's, Kreuz Market, Black's. Asking for sauce in these places might get you some dirty looks.

If you don't want the hassle there are a number of places in town, like County Line, that are okay. Franklin is in another class.

As for drinks, there are a ton of places, it's hard to recommend anything w/o knowing anything about you or what you drink. If you are staying downtown, in your 30's or older, and are not a hipster, I would say the Warehouse district is your best bet.

I may try to hit up Franklin Barbecue on Monday, since I don't fly out until late afternoon. We don't have a car, so as awesome as Lockhart sounds, that's probably out of reach for us, but I'll keep it in mind. We'll most likely be in the downtown area - any suggestions there? Is Lambert's worth a visit? It seems a bit fancified, but also seems to get good reviews.

Sounds like the Warehouse District is the right spot for our crew - all over 30, no hipsters in the group.

[ethangl]

Lambert's has good food but... it's upscale and tries to be more than just be a BBQ place -- like, they do brunch, they have a bar, they serve appetizers, steak, fish, etc -- whereas a real BBQ place sells smoked meat by the pound, has a few shitty sides, maybe some pie or cobbler, and that's it. So if I was to recommend a place for the true TXBBQ experience, Lambert's is not on the list. And I don't like their brisket.

[ninjacornelius]

Franklin BBQ is closed on Mondays. Without a car, it'll be tough to get to any other top-notch barbecue places around town. I'm not a big fan of Lambert's, either.