Formula 1 & Other Motor Racing

[Cowboy Ronnie 78]

Quick poll - who is your preferred driver: Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton?

 

I'm predicting a landslide

[TLC 9]

Quick poll - who is your preferred driver: Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton?

 

I'm predicting a landslide

I'd prefer a landslide involving both....

 

F1 has bored me since they brought back fuel stops. My tiny mind can't cope with fuel stops and tyre stops because from about lap 10 to the end of the race I've got absolutely no idea who's really in the best position. Plus too many races seem to be won and lost due to pit stops rather than driving skills, or at least they did before I stopped watching. I appreciate I'm probably missing the point, who'd have thought it?

[Cowboy Ronnie 78]

Quick poll - who is your preferred driver: Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton?

 

I'm predicting a landslide

I'd prefer a landslide involving both....

 

F1 has bored me since they brought back fuel stops. My tiny mind can't cope with fuel stops and tyre stops because from about lap 10 to the end of the race I've got absolutely no idea who's really in the best position. Plus too many races seem to be won and lost due to pit stops rather than driving skills, or at least they did before I stopped watching. I appreciate I'm probably missing the point, who'd have thought it?

 

Plus, we miss the crashes. No one has died in a GP in 13 years. Which is not to say people watched hoping for death, but the big fireball phenomenom is largely a thing of the past.

 

Here's wiki's list of GP deaths (apologies if already posted on this thread)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Formu...fatal_accidents

[Octopus of Odstock 2,217]

Quick poll - who is your preferred driver: Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton?

 

I'm predicting a landslide

 

Neither. Anthony Davidson's my favourite British GP driver. Great guy, articulate, funny & well-rounded individual.

Button is an arrogant little sh*t, Hamilton incredibly nice but oh-so-boring. He lives for motor racing only, which is great if you're an F1 team boss but pretty *yawn* when getting into a conversation with him.

 

Just an insider's opinion.

 

 

However, it might help CR, if you tell us on what basis we are to make a decision on how to "prefer" the above two - is it on driving skills, facial hair, tendency to get into trouble, whinging, niceness, which one has the pushiest dad, who has the nicest watch, who might be able to eat more custard pies if you put a gun to their head etc etc? If it is who is the better driver, then it's Hamilton.

 

 

By the way, add me to the list of utterly bored spectators of the first two races. Thank goodness I am dealing more & more with historics and nostalgia in motor sport right now and not the present day crap, I'd struggle to think of something exciting to write-up.

 

I don't want anybody dying, but there never seems to be any retirements, spins, first corner crashes like there used to be about 7-8 years ago. I hope 2008, with the new rules, changes everything but that's living in hope, more than expectation.

[Cowboy Ronnie 78]

Quick poll - who is your preferred driver: Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton?

 

I'm predicting a landslide

 

However, it might help CR, if you tell us on what basis we are to make a decision on how to "prefer" the above two - is it on driving skills, facial hair, tendency to get into trouble, whinging, niceness, which one has the pushiest dad, who has the nicest watch, who might be able to eat more custard pies if you put a gun to their head etc etc? If it is who is the better driver, then it's Hamilton.

 

I guess Hamilton seems such a welcome change from the likes of Button - entitled nobodies who adopt the playboy lifestyle, move to Monte Carlo, whinge that their team isn't good enough every five minutes and act like some sort of superstar before they've ever actually achieved anything. Almost seven seasons and 113 races before he finished first? Given the number of cars that break down in F1 a friend reckons with enough starts he'd pick up a win in his Vauxhall Astra.

 

Hamilton must already be leading Sports Personality of the Year. Good for him.

[TLC 9]

Given the number of cars that break down in F1 a friend reckons with enough starts he'd pick up a win in his Vauxhall Astra.

Going by my own experiences, your friend has an unusually reliable Astra. I reckon I could do it in my Peugeot 405, although I'd still be trying to build up sufficient revs to put it into 5th gear before I reached the finish.

[maryportfuncity 10,686]

I guess its a good thing only stewards have died since???

 

What, were they - like - sex criminals or summat?

[Cowboy Ronnie 78]

Given the number of cars that break down in F1 a friend reckons with enough starts he'd pick up a win in his Vauxhall Astra.

Going by my own experiences, your friend has an unusually reliable Astra. I reckon I could do it in my Peugeot 405, although I'd still be trying to build up sufficient revs to put it into 5th gear before I reached the finish.

 

even stuck in 4th I'd still back you in the 405 to finish ahead of Button

[TLC 9]

even stuck in 4th I'd still back you in the 405 to finish ahead of Button

Well it is a Diesel, so I shouldn't need a fuel stop, and at the speeds I'd be doing round corners I doubt I'd need a tyre stop either. It's allegedly a Turbo too, but not seen much evidence of that in the almost 2 years I've had it so shouldn't fall foul of the turbo ban... Just need to get myself some leatherette driving gloves (semicircle cut out of the back to allow the skin to breathe, of course) a rock driving anthems CD and I'll be away.

 

I remember the turbo ban because (apologies F1 fans for shaky knowledge) McLaren kept theirs for a season longer than most of the other teams (there was a 'transitional' year to phase it out) and won almost every race by a mile. When was that, '88 or '89?

[M.Lawrenson 11]

I remember the turbo ban because (apologies F1 fans for shaky knowledge) McLaren kept theirs for a season longer than most of the other teams (there was a 'transitional' year to phase it out) and won almost every race by a mile. When was that, '88 or '89?

 

IIRC, the turbo boost limit was reduced from 4 bar to 2.5 bar in 1988 (this means it had a pop off valve to limit the amount of pressurised air being forced into the engine), and turbos were outlawed in 1989 - thus bringing forth the amazing era of up to 39 cars trying to qualify for a Grand Prix. Those were the days...

[TLC 9]

IIRC, the turbo boost limit was reduced from 4 bar to 2.5 bar in 1988 (this means it had a pop off valve to limit the amount of pressurised air being forced into the engine), and turbos were outlawed in 1989 - thus bringing forth the amazing era of up to 39 cars trying to qualify for a Grand Prix. Those were the days...

Ta, that's what I'd like to think I meant.

 

But before I completely write off my memory, didn't McLaren have some sort of advantage that year (1988 I suppose) when it seriously looked like the competition were all driving Sinclair C5's? Did everyone else prepare in advance for the turbo outlaw by naturally aspirating their engines (if that's what it's called, my car knowledge begins & ends with Gran Turismo 4) before the 1988 season started, but McLaren still used the 2.5 bar maximum turbo boost limit for one more season or something like that? Fingers crossed...

[Cowboy Ronnie 78]

I remember the turbo ban because (apologies F1 fans for shaky knowledge) McLaren kept theirs for a season longer than most of the other teams (there was a 'transitional' year to phase it out) and won almost every race by a mile. When was that, '88 or '89?

 

IIRC, the turbo boost limit was reduced from 4 bar to 2.5 bar in 1988 (this means it had a pop off valve to limit the amount of pressurised air being forced into the engine), and turbos were outlawed in 1989 - thus bringing forth the amazing era of up to 39 cars trying to qualify for a Grand Prix. Those were the days...

 

So what was the deal with the car that had six wheels for a season or two. An Elf, maybe? I'd love to know the thinking behind adding an extra 33% of contact area between car and road.

[Olveres 8]

I remember the turbo ban because (apologies F1 fans for shaky knowledge) McLaren kept theirs for a season longer than most of the other teams (there was a 'transitional' year to phase it out) and won almost every race by a mile. When was that, '88 or '89?

 

IIRC, the turbo boost limit was reduced from 4 bar to 2.5 bar in 1988 (this means it had a pop off valve to limit the amount of pressurised air being forced into the engine), and turbos were outlawed in 1989 - thus bringing forth the amazing era of up to 39 cars trying to qualify for a Grand Prix. Those were the days...

 

So what was the deal with the car that had six wheels for a season or two. An Elf, maybe? I'd love to know the thinking behind adding an extra 33% of contact area between car and road.

 

Wasn't the six wheeler a Tyrell?

[maryportfuncity 10,686]

Yep!

 

And a few other six wheeled racing cars as well.

[Death Watch Beatle 41]

Hans-Joachim Stuck, former F1 driver & sportscar ace is a lucky man after a mammoth crash over the weekend. The link isn't the best, but it does explain, in English, some of his nasty injuries, including bruising to the heart! As a good friend of mine, I'm glad Hans is well & should pull through fine. Stuck becomes Unstuck

 

An excellent quote from the posters' signature:

 

"My first priority is to finish above, rather than beneath the ground." - James Hunt

 

DWB

[Guest Guest]

Is de Cesaris still involved in racing?

[maryportfuncity 10,686]

Is de Cesaris still involved in racing?

 

He's taken part in the 'masters' series which included a few real talents - Mansell, Fittipaldi - and some plodders like Eddie Cheever and our semi-retired shunt-monger. He still breathes and shows no signs of ill health. If you stick around you'll soon suss that OoO and M.Lawrenson have forgotten more about motor racing than the rest of the world ever knew, and can bring you up to date on De Crasheris' latest doings.

[Octopus of Odstock 2,217]

Is de Cesaris still involved in racing?

 

He's taken part in the 'masters' series. If you stick around you'll soon suss that OoO and M.Lawrenson have forgotten more about motor racing than the rest of the world ever knew, and can bring you up to date on De Crasheris' latest doings.

 

Ta MPFC. Quick answer - yes - but only in the historics/GPM type events - nothing serious or full-time. He works as a currency trader most of the time or windsurfs.

 

By the way, that reminds me. Alessandro Nannini was back in a racing car again, driving in a one-off GT race last weekend.

[harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,709]

Is de Cesaris still involved in racing?

 

Sorry, forgot to sign in before. I think we picked de Cesaris in 87 because he seemed to be a disaster waiting to happen in the 86 F1 c'ship. Perhaps our resident experts can clarify the situation - did he really deCrasharis as often as we imagined?

[M.Lawrenson 11]

Is de Cesaris still involved in racing?

 

Sorry, forgot to sign in before. I think we picked de Cesaris in 87 because he seemed to be a disaster waiting to happen in the 86 F1 c'ship. Perhaps our resident experts can clarify the situation - did he really deCrasharis as often as we imagined?

 

A de C crashed an awful lot early on in his career. He wrote off several McLarens during the 1981 season without injury, thus proving that carbon fibre was a safe material to make racing cars from. Andrea became less and less erratic as his career progressed, and by 1994 was reckoned to be a very good bet to get his car home. It's easy to get a reputation as a 'crasher', but very hard to rid yourself of it.

[maryportfuncity 10,686]

We could ask James Hunt (the shunt) about a reputation as a crasher........but he's dead!

[M.Lawrenson 11]

We could ask James Hunt (the shunt) about a reputation as a crasher........but he's dead!

 

Hunt crashed quite a bit too, though mostly in his Formula 3 career. He had a remarkable escape at Zandvoort in 1971 where his car overturned and skidded along the ground - he had his knuckles literally worn to the bone but was otherwise uninjured. Compare that to what happened to Roger Williamson two years later.

 

Hunt never seriously injured himself in a race car, but almost as soon as his career was over (he packed it in 1979 citing self-preservation) he had a major skiing accident while drunk and snapped most of the ligaments in his left leg resulting in major pain for a while. It was in this state he did his first commetary for the BBC - the famous 'plaster cast resting on Murray Walker's lap while drinking 2 bottles of Rose' one. A remarkable man, to be sure. Remarkable for what, I'm not so sure.

[maryportfuncity 10,686]

The biography of Hunt by Gerald Donaldson was an entertaining read. Given the sudden death had there been any warnings of heart trouble he'd ignored? I'm guessing Lawro or OoO might know.

[M.Lawrenson 11]

The biography of Hunt by Gerald Donaldson was an entertaining read. Given the sudden death had there been any warnings of heart trouble he'd ignored? I'm guessing Lawro or OoO might know.

 

Probably only Hunt would know about any warnings he had. People were surprised when he dropped dead, but not that surprised. What with all the booze, drugs and sex he probably just plain wore out (though I have read rumours of a congenital heart problem). Those who were with him in his final days said he appeared perfectly fine. There was certainly nothing wrong with his final BBC commentary 2 days before his death.

 

Octi probably knows more as he knows people who knew Hunt, and I'm fairly sure the subject would have been mentioned in passing...

[Octopus of Odstock 2,217]

Probably only Hunt would know about any warnings he had. People were surprised when he dropped dead, but not that surprised. What with all the booze, drugs and sex he probably just plain wore out (though I have read rumours of a congenital heart problem).

Octi probably knows more as he knows people who knew Hunt, and I'm fairly sure the subject would have been mentioned in passing...

 

It came as a complete surprise to everyone of WHEN he died. We knew that he might not make a grand old age, but we certainly didn't expect to be gone at just 45 years of age. I mean, 45 is nothing really, is it?

 

He was fine on the afternoon of the day (he died overnight) he died, playing snooker & chatting. Any heart defect was not discovered until years later.