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tracks may change to improve overtaking

Posted on March 8, 2011 by thatconsultantbloke

Good gracious, what will they think of next?

Are we to believe that those in power have finally woken up to the fact that many of these plastic tracks that they’ve inflicted on us might actually be pretty useless? It would be nice to think that they have.

So let’s see the stupid chicanes that have sprung up straightened back out (including those two abominations on the Mulsanne – it’s not just #F1 that’s been blighted) and have some fast straights leading to slow corners. OK, we’ll not change Monaco, but Barcelona, Abu Dhabi and a good few others would be so much better if sorted out. Modern F1 at Reims anyone?

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weekend round up – 6 March 2011 #NASCAR #F1

Posted on March 8, 2011 by thatconsultantbloke

#NASCAR – Well there’s still life in the old dog yet as MM grabs his 49th career Nationwide win and extend his lead for the highest number of wins in that class. It would have been nice to see him win again on Sunday, but never mind. I was also pleased to see a cup race finish under green for once rather than a succession of cautions.

#F1 – Fingers crossed for JYS to recover from whatver ailed him on his flight back to the UK. I was never a fan, but have always had the greatest respect and admiration for the bloke., and motor sport needs elder statesmen like him.

Bernie managed to get F1 into the headlines to make up for the missing Bahrain GP. A bloody stupid idea (akin to the competition caution that NASCAR love and I deride here as much as I can be bothered to), but it made sure that the press had some column inches to fill. If we are going to go down that route then why don’t we just make all the races virtual ones? Turn up on Saturday and draw lots to determine the grid and do that again on Sunday to sort out the result. Instand cost savings all round.

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NASCAR got something right

Posted on February 25, 2011 by thatconsultantbloke

I was very critical here the other week about NASCAR’s changes to the points system, but I didn’t mention the rule about only running in one championship. That has led to the situation where none of the three race winners at Daytona is leading the title race, becuase they are all nominated on a different division.

That is fine by me. I believe that it is right that the guys running in the Nationwide and Camping World series can race for the title without interference from more experienced guys. They still get to race against them, but having them out of the title race makes sense to me. It’s what we had here in Europe in the great days of F2 where the grand prix stars would turn out against the up and coming drivers, but only the latter could run for the title.

So praise where it is due. NASCAR generally do a great job, and this rule change is another example of that. I’ll still complain about some things, but I’m happy to acknowledge that they got this one right.

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The Bahrain GP is no loss, but let’s not forget the people

Posted on February 22, 2011 by thatconsultantbloke

So Bahrain is off because of the troubles. One of those races where the organiser’s wallet was deep enough to satisfy Bernie’s demands, but at what cost to the locals?

The traditional venues struggle to afford a grand prix because they have to be self funding, accepting that the pot includes sponsorship, but how many times have we heard the call for our government here in the UK to help the British GP survive yet another of Bernie’s negotiation strategies? It won’t happen and it shouldn’t. Yes we have a great motor sport industry in this country, but it has to be able to stand on its own two feet. The idea of taking public funds to subsidise the race is obscene to me, and so is the thought that the billions that have been poured into races such as Bahrain and some of the other new venues might have helped the plight of those in need of better education, health and other services.

Motor sport is a sport. Look at the ludicrous sums of money that go on football as a parallel where sooner or later there will have to be a change or the professional game will contract radically. Yes F1 should be the pinnacle of motor sport, but why are we trying to cap what the teams spend when, seemingly, there is nothing holding the costs of the races down?

Bahrain is no loss for me. I wish the people of that nation well and hope that they resolve the issues that have led to the race being put off.

Roll on Australia.

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weekend round up 20th February 2011 #NASCAR #F1

Posted on February 21, 2011 by thatconsultantbloke

#NASCAR – Really great to see the Wood Brothers having something to celebrate once again and well done to young Trevor for holding his nerve on that last lap. Once again though, why is it that NASCAR’s finest can’t drive round without wrecking? A record number of cautions the man said last night. You’ve read my thoughts here; park ’em for the next race if they wreck someone (and why not just park the#18 every third race just for the sake of it – he’d probably deserve it anyway). Well done also last night to the Double M in the #5 – coming back from the big one and two laps down. That, and seeing the #21 in victory lane again, cheered me up a bit. It’s been a long winter, but we’re racing again.

#F1 – This isn’t the place for politics (I write about those elsewhere), but the middle east situation is changing before our eyes. The unrest in Bahrain could result in a bloodbath if the GP goes ahead as scheduled and no-one wants to see that happen. To at least postpone it would make sense.

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