It's been a quiet day, relatively speaking. Buemi is dominating the test sessions, no matter what car he's in, so there's not very much to say on that front. There are other motorsport topics in the minds of those in the know, though, including:

  • Subaru have pulled out of the WRC. I don't really know much about any of that sentence, but it seems to have sparked some debate in the comments over whether manufacturers are necessary for motorsports. Debate can only be a good thing.
  • Hockenheim have held out their begging caps, with organisers bowing to local government in the hopes they can persuade Bernie to lower his fees. Good luck with that, chaps. Bernie will simply argue he has thousands of circuits lining the streets to join the calendar. But are there?
  • Pedalo led the way at the Algarve, which is still pretty, by the way. Apparently he was working on McLaren's KERS package for the entire day, and was faster than both Ferrari test drivers. Not sure that tells us anything, which is quite annoying.
  • For some reason, we're trying to convince "me" to dress up in a giant panda suit. He keeps saying no.

Please let me know what you're thinking and talking about. Don't feel limited by what I have listed above. The conversation is what keeps us going in these cold off-season days. I'll see you in the comments.

215 responses

  • me17/12/2008 at 00:03

    no

  • littlepurplegoth17/12/2008 at 00:08

    no

    Aw.... bless....

    Soon you'll learn 'why?' and then Christine really will be sorry.... :-P

  • Dom17/12/2008 at 00:15

    no

    It's starting to sound like he's not up for it...

  • me17/12/2008 at 00:16

    Soon you’ll learn ‘why?’ and then Christine really will be sorry….

    :D

    :D

  • lou17/12/2008 at 00:17

    Soon you’ll learn ‘why?’ and then Christine really will be sorry….

    haha XD :D

  • Journeyer17/12/2008 at 00:27

    Technology costs money. Car companies are run by lawyers and accountants, not the engineers. Therefore we have to ditch the technology to keep the manufacturers in Motorsports.

    But if manufacturers don't get to show off their technology and develop new stuff, why would they even bother to participate?

  • Journeyer17/12/2008 at 00:28

    Soon you’ll learn ‘why?’ and then Christine really will be sorry….

    Eh? :-/

  • littlepurplegoth17/12/2008 at 00:39

    I take it you've never had a toddler Journeyer?

  • littlepurplegoth17/12/2008 at 00:47

    Actually, scratch that...

    Why is a rather important thing to ask for anything really.

    Prehaps if enough people asked Max 'Why?' and carried on past the 'because I want to' stage, he might actually have to think about things a little more carefully.....

  • Journeyer17/12/2008 at 00:49

    Why is a rather important thing to ask for anything really.

    Ahhh... I'm kind of getting you now. :)

    Prehaps if enough people asked Max ‘Why?’ and carried on past the ‘because I want to’ stage, he might actually have to think about things a little more carefully…..

    Mind you, it's not like he'd have answered anything BUT that.

  • littlepurplegoth17/12/2008 at 00:52

    Even the most recalcitrant toddler can be made to break when you turn the question on them

    Its even more efficient on elected public officials and local authority bods.

  • Journeyer17/12/2008 at 00:56

    littlepurplegoth: 17/12/2008 at 00:52

    Even the most recalcitrant toddler can be made to break when you turn the question on them

    Its even more efficient on elected public officials and local authority bods.

    But isn't that what he has PR officers for, to hide from our questions?

  • Dirty Scarab17/12/2008 at 02:20

    I'm very impressed that you used the word 'recalcitrant' in a sentence :)

    Pedalo led the way at the Algarve, which is still pretty, by the way. Apparently he was working on McLaren’s KERS package for the entire day, and was faster than both Ferrari test drivers. Not sure that tells us anything, which is quite annoying.

    I think it tells us that the new front wing designs are pretty competitive?

  • Scott in Italy (now in Australia)17/12/2008 at 03:40

    Hi All,

    I was catching up on the f1 news and took a look at F1.com. It is an interview that Bernie has about the medal point system - and there is a poll question at the bottom - is it a good idea?. I wonder if it's f1's way of getting to know what real fans want.

    Last thursday i had record snow falls in Italy. and now after a stupidly long series of journeys i am in sunny australia where it is about 27 degrees Celsius. I hope you're not jealous if you're suffering in Europe :)

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)17/12/2008 at 06:53

    Last thursday i had record snow falls in Italy. and now after a stupidly long series of journeys i am in sunny australia where it is about 27 degrees Celsius. I hope you’re not jealous if you’re suffering in Europe :)

    Scott,

    Just did a similar Journey from Denmark to NZ. It is a long way and it's really weird going from Winter to Summer and back again :-(

    Strangely enough (and I think because the journey is so long and tiring - it takes two days to get there), I didn't get much jet lag at all - even with a 12 hour time difference!

    Hope you enjoy your time down there and that you are having a good holiday though :-D

  • Christine17/12/2008 at 09:14

    I was catching up on the f1 news and took a look at F1.com. It is an interview that Bernie has about the medal point system - and there is a poll question at the bottom - is it a good idea?. I wonder if it’s f1’s way of getting to know what real fans want.

    Say no.

  • Christine17/12/2008 at 09:15

    Apparently Lewis is going to be immortalised in wax.

    http://tinyurl.com/lhwax

    Isn't that nice.

  • me17/12/2008 at 10:04

    Apparently Lewis is going to be immortalised in wax.

    "He has undoubtedly won a place in the nation's hearts..."

    yup, second place apparently ;)

  • Jeremy17/12/2008 at 10:04

    Last thursday i had record snow falls in Italy. and now after a stupidly long series of journeys i am in sunny australia where it is about 27 degrees Celsius. I hope you’re not jealous if you’re suffering in Europe

    Anywhere near Wollongong, Sydney or Gosford in NSW Scott? We could send our own xmas message to Sidepodcast towers!

  • Jeremy17/12/2008 at 10:06

    “He has undoubtedly won a place in the nation’s hearts…”

    yup, second place apparently

    ouch :-(

    what would the 'people' know... bah humbug!

  • me17/12/2008 at 10:07

    We could send our own xmas message to Sidepodcast towers!

    that would awesome :)

    ouch! what would the ‘people’ know… bah humbug!

    nothing worth knowing.

  • Flibster17/12/2008 at 10:08

    Never been to Madame Tussauds waxworks museum - no real intention too either.

  • Christine17/12/2008 at 10:09

    Never been to Madame Tussauds waxworks museum - no real intention too either.

    I went once. Stood next to Hitler. Freaked me out. Never going again.

  • Christine17/12/2008 at 10:16

    I went once. Stood next to Hitler. Freaked me out. Never going again.

    Always gonna be a conversation stopper, that one ;)

  • Flibster17/12/2008 at 10:21

    They have Hitler there?

    Now it's just reminding me of the Waxworld Red Dwarf episode. :D

    Aaaaanyway - time to go pickup the new TV *YAY!* and then go to the hostipal for a scan on my throat to see if it's all good again. *BOO!*

  • Paul Jordan17/12/2008 at 10:21

    Can only assume subaru have pulled out following the fia's super decision to convert the WRC to S2000, not long after they introduced their new impreza. Silly fia. Who'll be next to quit the WRC?

  • Scott in Italy (now in Australia)17/12/2008 at 10:58

    Anywhere near Wollongong, Sydney or Gosford in NSW Scott? We could send our own xmas message to Sidepodcast towers!

    Jeremy, yep I am based around Gosford at the moment. my homeland :) Will be around Sydney a bit in January but not before. So if you're around Gosford, we could shoot an xmas message!

    Gavin, yeah I am enjoying my holiday, but still dealing with jet lag. Nothing like raiding my parent's fridge at 3am when I get bored...

  • Jeremy17/12/2008 at 11:12

    I am based around Gosford at the moment

    Awesome! Mum is in Umina Beach. I'm aiming to visit on Sat 27-12-08.

    Email me: thedigitaldevil @ mac dot com

    Just because Top Gear Australia is crap, it doesnt mean that 'Friends of Sidepodcast in Australia' is doomed before it begins :-)

  • Flibster17/12/2008 at 11:21

    Just because Top Gear Australia is crap, it doesnt mean that ‘Friends of Sidepodcast in Australia’ is doomed before it begins

    Am I the only person who enjoyed it?

    I'm not even from the colonies....

  • Christine17/12/2008 at 11:30

    Don't tell Jon but Ron is talking DNA:

    http://tinyurl.com/dennisdna

    "We can be pragmatic, but we will not cut into the fabric or DNA of F1," he told USA Today, "We don't want to take measures that impact the size of the audience."

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)17/12/2008 at 12:01

    I went once. Stood next to Hitler. Freaked me out. Never going again.

    Christine, that quote is Five Pints of Awesome!!! :-D

  • Dank17/12/2008 at 12:13

    Looks like F1 Racing Magazine are thinking of putting together their own F1 fantasy league for 2009. I received the following email from them today:

    Dear F1 Racing Panel Member,

    Could you handle the demands of being an F1 team boss and stay ahead of the competition?

    F1 Racing has some exciting developments in store for 2009 - including the world's best virtual Formula 1 championship experience. We are planning to create the definitive, worldwide F1 Racing Fantasy League. We value your expert opinion and would like your feedback on a few questions.

    Just follow this link to get your voice heard: Sporting Insights

    Thank you again for your participation.

    Hans Seeberg

    Editor

    F1 Racing

    The link to 'Sporting Insights' is a brief questionnaire they are conducting and asks what you would like to see from it. Seeing as Autosport's very own F1 fantasy league charges £10 per year (and isn't worth that at all), don't be surprised if this one follows suit.

  • me17/12/2008 at 12:33

    Looks like F1 Racing Magazine are thinking of putting together their own F1 fantasy league for 2009.

    surely that means f1racing are actually thinking of doing something with their website? that's v.interesting.

    have been reading a lot during the past couple of weeks about how newspapers are ditching print on mass and moving to online content, because that's what the advertisers are asking for.

    i've no idea how f1r can distinguish itself from autosport.com, but at least it sounds like they might be giving it a go. presumably itv's fantasy competition will have ceased now, so they should be able to hoover up a fair number of users... assuming the bbc don't weigh in there instead.

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 12:40

    I was catching up on the f1 news and took a look at F1.com. It is an interview that Bernie has about the medal point system - and there is a poll question at the bottom - is it a good idea?. I wonder if it’s f1’s way of getting to know what real fans want.

    You can vote no once with every browser you have on your computer and with every computer you have access to. Naturally I don't want to encourage that sort of behaviour but Max and Bernie control a lot of computers.

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 12:42

    I went once. Stood next to Hitler. Freaked me out. Never going again.

    All those people out looking for him and he is in a tourist attraction. As Captain Mainwaring would have said "That is a typical sneaky Nazi trick."

  • me17/12/2008 at 12:44

    You can vote no once with every browser you have on your computer and with every computer you have access to. Naturally I don’t want to encourage that sort of behaviour but Max and Bernie control a lot of computers.

    bernie also controls the website and the database that collates the results.

    not to put a dampener on proceedings but the final result will be exactly what bernie wants it to be.

    what's needed is a neutral third party to conduct the poll, sadly that was never on the cards was it?

  • Christine17/12/2008 at 12:44

    If the BBC have any sense, they'll start steering clear of competitions!!

  • me17/12/2008 at 12:46

    If the BBC have any sense, they’ll start steering clear of competitions!!

    hehe. maybe they should run the medals poll?

    it could be a phone -in and everything :D

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 12:50

    bernie also controls the website and the database that collates the results.

    And of course he didn't bother advertising the poll apart from on that thread. That is precisely why he needs to be shown that there is opposition to his stupid idea. He may in the end ignore the result but if he gets no opposition now it is a certainty that he will ignore our opinions

  • me17/12/2008 at 12:57

    And of course he didn’t bother advertising the poll apart from on that thread. That is precisely why he needs to be shown that there is opposition to his stupid idea. He may in the end ignore the result but if he gets no opposition now it is a certainty that he will ignore our opinions

    true enough. the poll should be hosted here:

    http://www.cvc.com/

    then they may realise what a twonk the man they have running the show really is.

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 13:13

    http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=36754

    Pitpass's take on David Richards buying Honda. Forget the F1 aspect of the story though. The second last paragraph says Dubai is struggling for money. Is that remotely possible?

  • me17/12/2008 at 13:22

    Pitpass’s take on David Richards buying Honda. Forget the F1 aspect of the story though. The second last paragraph says Dubai is struggling for money. Is that remotely possible?

    "Dubai is not bust, but government debt of $US80 billion ($123 billion) casts as big a shadow over the economy"

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,24712459-30538,00.html

  • Danny17/12/2008 at 13:22

    Looks like F1 Racing Magazine are thinking of putting together their own F1 fantasy league for 2009. I received the following email from them today:

    Dear F1 Racing Panel Member,

    Could you handle the demands of being an F1 team boss and stay ahead of the competition?

    F1 Racing has some exciting developments in store for 2009 - including the world’s best virtual Formula 1 championship experience. We are planning to create the definitive, worldwide F1 Racing Fantasy League. We value your expert opinion and would like your feedback on a few questions.

    Just follow this link to get your voice heard: Sporting Insights

    Thank you again for your participation.

    Hans Seeberg

    Editor

    F1 Racing

    The link to ‘Sporting Insights’ is a brief questionnaire they are conducting and asks what you would like to see from it. Seeing as Autosport’s very own F1 fantasy league charges £10 per year (and isn’t worth that at all), don’t be surprised if this one follows suit.

    It is funny that all of these competitions proclaim to be the best in the world. Even before they've written it in this case it would seem.

    Other Fantasy Competitions are also available ;)

  • me17/12/2008 at 13:24

    Other Fantasy Competitions are also available

    http://www.fantasyracers.com/

    don't know what you mean?

    http://www.fantasyracers.com/

  • me17/12/2008 at 13:41

    in vaguely related news. apple are planning to ditch trade shows:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7786895.stm

    anyone fancy speculating on whether tradeshows in general are a dying breed, and if so, what that might mean for autosport international?

  • Paul Jordan17/12/2008 at 13:47

    Autosport has been going downhill for a while, well the last 3 I went to were progressively worse (I think 03,04,05) each one with less stands, less accessibility. Similar to trade stands at the races, fewer and fewer, with less and less to show off. Tis poor form I think

  • me17/12/2008 at 13:55

    well the last 3 I went to were progressively worse (I think 03,04,05) each one with less stands, less accessibility.

    we joked a couple of weeks back, that if it was more affordable we'd have a taken a stand. i guess though the cost of venue has to be covered somehow.

    my biggest gripe about the event is the awful orange lighting the nec has installed which makes it so difficult to take photographs.

    last year it seemed like a pretty busy event, there were enough stands to ensure we got utterly lost, but at £60.00 for two of us, per day, it's a bit pricey.

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 14:07

    anyone fancy speculating on whether tradeshows in general are a dying breed, and if so, what that might mean for autosport international?

    I have been involved in a few trade shows and any company doing them knows that they are unlikely to do any business at them. If the shows are aimed at the public then business can be done but companies who only sell in specific industries tend to take the view that they have to be at the shows or rumours about them struggling will be started. In general unless they have something new to show or they want to get publicity for a big deal that can be signed at the show (although in many cases th deal in question has been completed months previously) there really isn't a business case for doing them.

    Companies tend to know all the other companies in thei own industry and their routine sales activity means that they are in contact with all significant potential customers. The only way to do business at a show is if you are moving into a new geographical area or a new area of business in which case you can make initial contact with potential customers.

    I think although Autosport International is branded as a trade show it is really for the public so is probably safe. No-one in the trade is going to do any real business at ASI. No racing driver is going to choose a team based on what they see at the show. No-one is going to choose an engine or suspension etc based on what they see at the show.

  • me17/12/2008 at 14:19

    I think although Autosport International is branded as a trade show it is really for the public so is probably safe. No-one in the trade is going to do any real business at ASI.

    ahh, good point.

  • littlepurplegoth17/12/2008 at 14:59

    Trade shows are, um, generally places to show that you aren't about to go bust... to feed customers and prospective customers food and drink (and a lot of vodka with decent music, if its the London Edge show, lol)... to get your brochures etc out to people for a fraction of the cost of doing it by post (for both customer and company), and, um, making sure that the venues don't close down through lack of use

    rofl

    Basically trade shows used to be very good for samples (and if I liked a product it was much easier to want to stock it - who takes on something blind or without being able to do some reasearch with it first, when a minimum order is £500 plus?), but in the last year there have been very few 'freebies' and generally those have been less useful ones as well :-(

    There are notable exceptions - but they do tend to be those where 'the public' get let in towards the end of the day, or on payment of a hefty fee. If you are in the trade and can't get a free or low-cost (less than a fiver) entry to a show, then it isn't a trade show.

    ASI is *not* a trade show, btw, its being run by the commercial/public team at that agency :-)

    As for Apple - well they have their 'own' things to do. But DP is going to see what he can gather at work today :-)

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 15:00

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72516

    BAN IT NOW

  • Christine17/12/2008 at 15:05

    BAN IT NOW

    So what we need is for Kub to say he doesn't like the 2009 wings and we're all in agreement.

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 15:06

    So what we need is for Kub to say he doesn’t like the 2009 wings and we’re all in agreement.

    Moderatly in agreement

  • Flibster17/12/2008 at 15:28

    Woo! All clear from the hostipal!

    Christine: 17/12/2008 at 15:05

    BAN IT NOW

    So what we need is for Kub to say he doesn’t like the 2009 wings and we’re all in agreement.

    Hasn't he already said the cars are ugly, or was that Klien?

  • Christine17/12/2008 at 15:32

    Hasn’t he already said the cars are ugly, or was that Klien?

    Klien was very outspoken about it. I think Kub's the one who said the view is better from inside the cockpit. Clearly not enough to convince R.G ;)

  • Journeyer17/12/2008 at 16:15

    Looks like Mr. Richards is pushing through, after all:

    From the Sun:

    And with Richards already eyeing the purchase of Honda’s F1 team, he told the British newspaper The Sun that this week’s developments [with Subaru] “clears the decks and gives me a bit of spare time to think about it”.

    From the Beeb:

    "I can focus now on where we want to be long term. Who knows? That might be in Formula One," he told BBC Oxford.

    So will he, or won't he?

  • Paul Jordan17/12/2008 at 16:31

    Of course he will, maybe the FIA changed the WRC rules to force his hand, knowing subaru would pull out and free up dave?

  • me17/12/2008 at 16:41

    Of course he will, maybe the FIA changed the WRC rules to force his hand, knowing subaru would pull out and free up dave?

    wow. now there's a theory :)

  • Journeyer17/12/2008 at 16:43

    wow. now there’s a theory

    i dont think the fia are so crazy as to destroy a major championship just to save another?

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 16:47

    i dont think the fia are so crazy as to destroy a major championship just to save another?

    Max Mosely is in charge.

  • Journeyer17/12/2008 at 16:48

    Max Mosely is in charge.

    But he also runs the WRC. So he still can't do that. Seriously.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)17/12/2008 at 16:52

    So will he, or won’t he?

    He's gagging for it since Frank Williams mothballed his 2008 F1 entry, so yeah, I reckon he'd jump at the chance of buying a complete factory as a constructor and then just stick a Cossie in the back for the first season just to get going :-D

  • Flibster17/12/2008 at 17:02

    Gavin Brown (RubberGoat): 17/12/2008 at 16:52

    So will he, or won’t he?

    He’s gagging for it since Frank Williams mothballed his 2008 F1 entry, so yeah, I reckon he’d jump at the chance of buying a complete factory as a constructor and then just stick a Cossie in the back for the first season just to get going

    Woth Brawns connections - could well be a Ferrari powerplant. The Cosworth is now 2 years old and I suspect hasn't been updated.

    How good would it be to see them branded as Aston Martin Prodrive though. :D

  • Flibster17/12/2008 at 17:05

    Vodafone have pulled the sponsorship of the England cricket team and apparently are planning to do the same to the Champions league...

    McLaren next?

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 17:10

    McLaren next?

    Wouldn't surprise me.

  • Jon Waldock17/12/2008 at 17:11

    Wouldn’t surprise me.

    If Vodafone go, Santander have already gone to Ferrari for 2010 i believe....

    so Mclaren would go too...

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 17:14

    so Mclaren would go too…

    Not neccisarily, there should be some intrested companies wanting to sponsor them. Especially with Hamilton driving.

    But it begs the question, if McLaren do fold, where would Hamilton go?

  • Flibster17/12/2008 at 17:18

    R.G (The Walking Northerner): 17/12/2008 at 17:14

    so Mclaren would go too…

    Not neccisarily, there should be some intrested companies wanting to sponsor them. Especially with Hamilton driving.

    But it begs the question, if McLaren do fold, where would Hamilton go?

    McLaren wouldn't fold. They'd get bought by Mercedes Benz

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 17:29

    Of course he will, maybe the FIA changed the WRC rules to force his hand, knowing subaru would pull out and free up dave?

    I thought Subaru were only dropping out for a year. Of all the motor manufacturers involved in motor sport at any level Subaru has had by far the best return on its investment. When they started rallying no-one had ever heard of them and all they real sold were utilitarian estate cars to farmers. Now they are a sought after premium brand who can demand ridiculous prices for their product.

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 17:31

    i dont think the fia are so crazy as to destroy a major championship just to save another?

    The ARE crazy enough though to destroy major championship after major championship. Personally I don't think they are competent enough to have dreamt up such a complex strategy. Rallying had been going downhill for 5 or 6 years at least. Manufacturers quitting rallying is as predictable as them quitting F1 as soon as the markets dip.

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 17:32

    But it begs the question, if McLaren do fold, where would Hamilton go?

    I am sure someone would be interested. McLaren will not fold though. There is not the slightest chance that will happen.

  • Christine17/12/2008 at 17:33

    McLaren wouldn’t fold. They’d get bought by Mercedes Benz

    Apparently Lenovo are gonna sponsor McLaren next year.

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 17:36

    Apparently Lenovo are gonna sponsor McLaren next year.

    Isn't that Williams sponsor?

  • Flibster17/12/2008 at 17:37

    R.G (The Walking Northerner): 17/12/2008 at 17:36

    Apparently Lenovo are gonna sponsor McLaren next year.

    Isn’t that Williams sponsor?

    Was. :D

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 17:37

    Was.

    :D

  • me17/12/2008 at 17:43

    good lord who keeps putting these videos in drop.io? there's only so many hours in the day!

    :)

  • Flibster17/12/2008 at 17:48

    Not guilty!

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 17:49

    good lord who keeps putting these videos in drop.io? there’s only so many hours in the day!

    It's only another two hours worth of video. You don't have to watch them today they will be there for a while. Is it possible with dropio to create a video library for these things? It would be a shame if no-one ever watched them after they left the front page. It would be good if people who are new to the site could access them easily in the future.

    I am sure another job is just what you need. :)

  • me17/12/2008 at 17:58

    I am sure another job is just what you need.

    you've been listening to alex :)

    yes. is the short answer. just not yet.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)17/12/2008 at 18:11

    Steven Roy said:

    i dont think the fia are so crazy as to destroy a major championship just to save another?

    The ARE crazy enough though to destroy major championship after major championship. Personally I don’t think they are competent enough to have dreamt up such a complex strategy. Rallying had been going downhill for 5 or 6 years at least. Manufacturers quitting rallying is as predictable as them quitting F1 as soon as the markets dip.

    It has happened before. The FIA fiddled with the Group C Sportscar rules for Le Mans in the late 80's to make the cars effectively F1 cars with roofs - the main rule change was that the engines went from a fuel efficiency Formula to a forced capacity of 3.5L (the same as F1 cars of the time - hmmm... :-) ) and the races were reduced from 1000km to 300km (also the same as F1!)

    This led to an escalation of costs for manufacturers to build a new car and try and catch Peugeot with their mighty 905's. The Manufacturers couldn't stand for it and they all pulled out - effectively ending the championship and making LMP's disappear for the next few years.

    Max and Bernie came up smelling of roses though - Mercedes and Peugeot both were able to enter F1 with their powerplants (as the FIA must have planned) and the main rival to F1 was killed off.

    The FIA did it again with the 'old' DTM in 1996 - messing with a well-proven formula, they tried to make it into a World Touring Car format and called it the 'ITC'. But Alfa Romeo and Opel pulled out after they realised the costs were so high and they were racing in countries where they didn't even sell their cars! The DTM then disappeared for 5 years... :-(

    Then the FIA bought the BPR GT series, and changed the original rules with a big loophole that said that 'to race a car model, you only have to make one road going version'. This was intended to help the small manufacturers but what it did was to ensure that Porsche, Mclaren, Mercedes etc. could make Prototype road-going race cars and race them as GT1's - eg the 911 GT1, the CLK GTR, Toyota GT1, Nissan R390. These cars proved too fast and ended up flipping over at Le Mans, so they were eventually banned.

    So yeah, the FIA have done it before and will do it again, just to satisfy their own ends. Sometimes it's because they don't know what they are doing, sometimes (like with Group C) they do it to eradicate competition to F1 so the manufacturers in that series end up in F1...

  • Jon Waldock17/12/2008 at 18:51

    http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/testresults.php?testID=1059

    If anyone needed any proof that Ferrari are sandbagging (after being a second slower than mclaren yesterday) then it is above...

  • me17/12/2008 at 18:53

    If anyone needed any proof that Ferrari are sandbagging (after being a second slower than mclaren yesterday) then it is above…

    good grief penfold!

  • Jon Waldock17/12/2008 at 18:57

    good grief penfold!

    unless infact, that is actually their real pace....

    if i was them and that is their real pace i'd be realllllllllly annoyed right now

  • me17/12/2008 at 19:01

    unless infact, that is actually their real pace….

    just how heavy is kers exactly?

  • Jon Waldock17/12/2008 at 19:02

    just how heavy is kers exactly?

    45kg springs to mind but dont quote me :P

  • me17/12/2008 at 19:11

    45kg springs to mind but dont quote me

    too late.

    ahh, never gets old :)

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 19:11

    if i was them and that is their real pace i’d be realllllllllly annoyed right now

    Doing a 'Honda'?

  • Jon Waldock17/12/2008 at 19:16

    Doing a ‘Honda’?

    nah, ferrari are sandbagging, honda are (were) just rubbish!!

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 19:17

    Jon Waldock: 17/12/2008 at 19:16

    Doing a ‘Honda’?

    nah, ferrari are sandbagging, honda are (were) just rubbish!!

    Unless Honda sandbagged for 2 seasons so they had a decent reason to leave F1.

    Surely not

  • Kathi17/12/2008 at 19:20

    Jon Waldock said:

    http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/testresults.php?testID=1059

    Amazing that PdlR set the same time in a Force India AND a McLaren.

  • Dan Brunell17/12/2008 at 19:23

    just how heavy is kers exactly?

    45kg springs to mind but dont quote me

    Maybe that is our biggest hope. If Ferrari cannot win with the new muppetish wings and KERS, they will surely be outlawed by midseason.

  • Jon Waldock17/12/2008 at 19:46

    Amazing that PdlR set the same time in a Force India AND a McLaren.

    yer that is quite wrong lol, i think its just mclaren and ferrari there today

  • Kathi17/12/2008 at 19:51

    yer that is quite wrong lol

    gpupdate always have very creative ideas about drivers' teams and nationality

  • me17/12/2008 at 21:06

    i'm liking the bbc's take on this one:

    "Cheap car firm to sponsor Ferrari"

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7788830.stm

    not taking the whole "historic event" rubbish too literally :)

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 21:08

    “Cheap car firm to sponsor Ferrari”

    The odds on when the first engineer takes off the last 'A'

  • me17/12/2008 at 21:11

    The odds on when the first engineer takes off the last ‘A’

    :D

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 21:27

    The link to ‘Sporting Insights’ is a brief questionnaire they are conducting and asks what you would like to see from it. Seeing as Autosport’s very own F1 fantasy league charges £10 per year (and isn’t worth that at all), don’t be surprised if this one follows suit. {}

    I have a bit of a problem. The second question (after I said that I am in a fantasy league) is "Which one?"

    This is fine except that I am involved in several leagues in various capacities (note that they are all free):

    Yahoo! Fantasy Grand Prix Game

    FSports Fantasy F1

    Home of Sports F1 Prediction Game

    Formula 1 Home Prediction Game

    Force Fans Online Prediction Game

    Guess The Length Of Sidepodcast's Podcasts Game

    With the possible exception of the last one, all of these could be construed as valid answers to the question. Please could someone advise me what I should write in the box?

  • me17/12/2008 at 21:32

    Yahoo! Fantasy Grand Prix Game

    FSports Fantasy F1

    Home of Sports F1 Prediction Game

    Formula 1 Home Prediction Game

    Force Fans Online Prediction Game

    Guess The Length Of Sidepodcast’s Podcasts Game

    :D

    With the possible exception of the last one, all of these could be construed as valid answers to the question. Please could someone advise me what I should write in the box?

    that's hysterical. i'd personally go with the last one. hehe.

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 21:33

    anyone fancy speculating on whether tradeshows in general are a dying breed, and if so, what that might mean for autosport international? {me - some time ago}

    Round where I live, computer tradeshows are amalgamating, so there are fewer to go to every year. So there'd be fewer for Apple to do (assuming it ever bothered to turn up at the ones that happen near me). They're also tending to get samier. It's largely a question of economies of scale, but Apple got to where they were by being different, not by following the herd.

    Autosport should be fine, as it's already one of a kind. Especially in a recession, being unique is one of the keys to making a decent profit.

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 21:37

    Amazing that PdlR set the same time in a Force India AND a McLaren. {Kathi - 10 comments ago}

    Doubly amazing since Force India have the grand total of zero engine units rated to do December test mileage in their possession at this point in time...

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 21:39

    I've solved the "Which one" problem by squeezing all of them onto the line, separated by commas. If Stuart C sees an entry with an absurdly long answer to Q2, it'll be mine...

  • me17/12/2008 at 21:40

    I’ve solved the “Which one” problem by squeezing all of them onto the line, separated by commas. If Stuart C sees an entry with an absurdly long answer to Q2, it’ll be mine…

    i'm amazed you didn't blow up the database :)

  • Kathi17/12/2008 at 21:47

    Amazing that PdlR set the same time in a Force India AND a McLaren. {Kathi - 10 comments ago}

    Doubly amazing since Force India have the grand total of zero engine units rated to do December test mileage in their possession at this point in time…

    I didn't know Pedro could push that fast

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 21:49

    i’m amazed you didn’t blow up the database {me - 2 comments ago}

    Luckily for them, Sporting Insights limits the size of the box to type the answer in to 200 characters.

    And I've just realised I forgot to mention the GP Wizard Predictions Game in the list. Oops.

    Did I mention I like fantasy F1 games?

  • me17/12/2008 at 21:50

    Did I mention I like fantasy F1 games?

    i didn't know that before but i do now :)

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 21:50

    I didn’t know Pedro could push that fast {Kathi - 2 comments ago}

    Me neither.

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 22:17

    I didn’t know Pedro could push that fast

    They must have some KERS system if it cn go that fast without an engine. Maybe they charged it up in the pits and let him go.

  • Flibster17/12/2008 at 22:18

    me: 17/12/2008 at 21:06

    i’m liking the bbc’s take on this one:

    “Cheap car firm to sponsor Ferrari”

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7788830.stm

    not taking the whole “historic event” rubbish too literally

    Thats not a real car. It's one of those Little Tykes plastic cars! ;) :D

    Oh please let the Ferrari guys have to use them at race weekends ;)

  • Dank17/12/2008 at 22:24

    Amazing things I learned today #217: My mate who regularly sells minichamps models on eBay recently sold one to a chap in Hemel Hempstead. The buyer responded with "Thanks, Anthony will love it"

    Looking at the buyer's details, it would appear to have been non-other than Anthony Davidson's old-man. Small world eh?

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 22:27

    Looking at the buyer’s details, it would appear to have been non-other than Anthony Davidson’s old-man. Small world eh?

    Small world indeed. Maybe shoulda done a swap with for one of Davidson' stuff, that woulda been cool

  • me17/12/2008 at 22:28

    Looking at the buyer’s details, it would appear to have been non-other than Anthony Davidson’s old-man. Small world eh?

    how cool is that??

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 22:33

    me: 17/12/2008 at 22:28

    Looking at the buyer’s details, it would appear to have been non-other than Anthony Davidson’s old-man. Small world eh?

    how cool is that??

    Speaking of which #173: How's the megamix coming along or have you thrown the recording equipment out of the window.

    If so, where do you live so I can nick it.

  • Dank17/12/2008 at 22:35

    how cool is that??

    This cool: lots.

    Just being a bit nosey, seems he's bought a few AD/Super Aguri related items recently. Aww, bless!

    I'll give him some privacy by not linking to his eBay account though. Maybe.

  • me17/12/2008 at 22:36

    Speaking of which #173: How’s the megamix coming along or have you thrown the recording equipment out of the window.

    downloaded all. thank you everybody for you contributions.

    there's over an hour of content to sift through so it'll take a while. due for release before the new year :)

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 22:36

    there’s over an hour of content to sift through so it’ll take a while. due for release before the new year...

    ...of 2010

  • me17/12/2008 at 22:37

    Just being a bit nosey, seems he’s bought a few AD/Super Aguri related items recently. Aww, bless!

    in terms of "f1 driver's dads", he seems like the nicest :)

  • me17/12/2008 at 22:38

    …of 2010

    shhhh.

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 22:43

    in terms of “f1 driver’s dads”, he seems like the nicest

    in terms of "f1 driver's", Anthony seems the nicest. Just a pity he is a poor driver.

  • me17/12/2008 at 22:44

    in terms of “f1 driver’s”, Anthony seems the nicest. Just a pity he is a poor driver.

    hey, he's better than sato ;)

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 22:46

    hey, he’s better than sato

    In terms of points per race, I doubt. Plus Sato was miles better than him in 07.

  • Dom17/12/2008 at 22:50

    In terms of points per race, I doubt. Plus Sato was miles better than him in 07.

    Blame the groundhog!

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 22:51

    Blame the groundhog!

    Groundhog, schmoundhog. Did the ever-lovable and thrilling Sato crash into a poor, innocent groundhog?

  • me17/12/2008 at 22:51

    Plus Sato was miles better than him in 07.

    was he? out of the two, who did honda try so hard to keep as a test driver, and who did they have to draft in as a replacement?

    to my mind sato is as good as useless, and in with a shot of a drive purely because of his nationality. davidson by the same comparison was screwed because there was already an englishman in a honda seat.

  • me17/12/2008 at 22:52

    Groundhog, schmoundhog. Did the ever-lovable and thrilling Sato crash into a poor, innocent groundhog?

    he wasn't thrilling, he was a bloody liability.

  • Dom17/12/2008 at 22:53

    Did the ever-lovable and thrilling Sato crash into a poor, innocent groundhog?

    Probably. He crashed into everything else... :P

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 22:55

    was he? out of the two, who did honda try so hard to keep as a test driver, and who did they have to draft in as a replacement?

    You are using Nick Fry as the ultimate arbiter of driving talent?? Button may be a decent driver but Nick Fry just agreed to pay him $24 to drive for his team for the next 3 years.

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 22:55

    there’s over an hour of content to sift through so it’ll take a while. {me - 11 comments ago}

    I am now starting to feel guilty as a somewhat disproportionate amount of that is mine...

  • Dom17/12/2008 at 22:57

    Button may be a decent driver but Nick Fry just agreed to pay him $24 to drive for his team for the next 3 years.

    If he's accepting that amount of money, then he's setting a pretty good example to everyone else. :P

  • me17/12/2008 at 22:57

    You are using Nick Fry as the ultimate arbiter of driving talent?? Button may be a decent driver but Nick Fry just agreed to pay him $24 to drive for his team for the next 3 years.

    you've lost me?

    my point: with the loss of davidson, honda had to draft in wurz. probably the best test driver of this generation (ferrari drivers being something of an unknown).

    davidson left a hole when he headed for aguri.

  • me17/12/2008 at 22:58

    I am now starting to feel guilty as a somewhat disproportionate amount of that is mine…

    hehe. it's perfect, and i'm enjoying listening. it's just going to take a little longer than originally expected.

  • R.G (The Walking Northerner)17/12/2008 at 23:01

    People on here really tend to disagree with me on a lot of things, the new wings, Sato, the brilliance of the Nurburgring.

    Probably. He crashed into everything else…

    I knew that was coming

    was he? out of the two, who did honda try so hard to keep as a test driver, and who did they have to draft in as a replacement?

    In a same car, Sato scored 4 points, Davidson 0. In Canada, regardless of groundhogs, Sato passed the then current two time world champion in a superior McLaren. Davidson did not. Sato also gained the team 10th in Austrialan GP qualy and 8th in Canada. Davidson did not. Surely, the fact that he's been in F1 for 93 races can't all be because of the nationality.

    my point: with the loss of davidson, honda had to draft in wurz. probably the best test driver of this generation (ferrari drivers being something of an unknown).

    Wurz was only a tester in 08, 07 was Christian Klien

    I am now starting to feel guilty as a somewhat disproportionate amount of that is mine…

    Don't worry, I sent in a 20 minute one as well. 10 minutes of waffling, erms and silence, but 20 minutes, it'll be fun to listen to though surely, the more surely means the more quality.

  • Dom17/12/2008 at 23:05

    In Canada, regardless of groundhogs, Sato passed the then current two time world champion in a superior McLaren. Davidson did not.

    Davidson did not need to, he was already ahead of both Sato and Fernando.

  • me17/12/2008 at 23:05

    In a same car, Sato scored 4 points, Davidson 0. In Canada, regardless of groundhogs, Sato passed the then current two time world champion in a superior McLaren. Davidson did not.

    if i hear that argument one more time...

    :)

    here's the thing, was the honda faster when davidson was a test driver, or slower?

    and was the uguri faster when davidson was a driver, or slower?

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 23:09

    but 20 minutes, it’ll be fun to listen to though surely, the more surely means the more quality. {R.G. - previous post}

    That is a very good point. I hope our contributions add weight to the theory.

    Oh, and a warning to me, if it's not too late - there is a little surprise at the end of my podcast...

  • me17/12/2008 at 23:09

    Oh, and a warning to me, if it’s not too late - there is a little surprise at the end of my podcast…

    intriguing.

  • R.G (Whatever I say you'll disagree with it)17/12/2008 at 23:10

    here’s the thing, was the honda faster when davidson was a test driver, or slower?

    2003 : Middlish

    2004 : Quick

    2005 : A bit Slower

    2006 ; A bit quicker

    Seems very rollercoaster to me.

    At SA you have to take into account SA had Sato, Ide the Idiot, Montagny and Yamamoto all in one season. Therefore disruptions within the team. Therefore unfair to compare the 2006 season with 2007, however, surely if Davidson had helped with the car, he would have scored points in races Sato was quick, ie Spain?

  • Jon Waldock17/12/2008 at 23:10

    and was the uguri faster when davidson was a driver, or slower?

    if i hear that argument one more time…

    here’s the thing, was the honda faster when davidson was a test driver, or slower?

    ah, i dont dispute hes a bad driver, but are you talking race driver or test driver? because they're is a big difference. wurz is undisputably the best current test driver, but he wasnt great racing

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 23:10

    you’ve lost me?

    Well it made sense to me when I was reading through the last couple of hours comments so ther. :)

  • R.G (Whatever I say you'll disagree with it)17/12/2008 at 23:12

    ah, i dont dispute hes a bad driver, but are you talking race driver or test driver? because they’re is a big difference. wurz is undisputably the best current test driver, but he wasnt great racing

    I thought we were on about who was better, Davidson or Sato.

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 23:14

    Surely, the fact that he’s been in F1 for 93 races can’t all be because of the nationality.

    Andrea deCesaris did 208 GPs because his father was the biggest tobacco distributor in Italy. Marlboro paid for his drive or their products suffered a severe drop in sales. A lot of drivers have had long careers for reasons that are nothing to do with ability.

    As it happens I agree that Sato is and always has been better than Davidson. They were team mates in the best team in F3 and Sato won the championship. Davidson is incredibly overrated.

  • me17/12/2008 at 23:15

    ah, i dont dispute hes a bad driver, but are you talking race driver or test driver? because they’re is a big difference. wurz is undisputably the best current test driver, but he wasnt great racing

    if i was a team boss, this year i'd consider him ahead of:

    - sato (useless and dangerous)

    - buemi (unknown and unexperienced)

    - sutil (outclassed by fissi)

    - kazuki (on par with sato)

    - piquet (on par with me)

    - kovi (he's just slow)

    so, yes i rate him as a driver who can develop a car and drive it fast.

  • R.G (Whatever I say you'll disagree with it)17/12/2008 at 23:16

    - sato (useless and dangerous) - buemi (unknown and unexperienced) - sutil (outclassed by fissi) - kazuki (on par with sato) - piquet (on par with me) - kovi (he’s just slow)

    As a test driver, I would agree with you, as a race driver. I'd have Sato, Buemi, Kazuki and Kovi.

  • me17/12/2008 at 23:17

    As a test driver, I would agree with you, as a race driver. I’d have Sato, Buemi, Kazuki and Kovi.

    and a very big repair bill.

  • Steven Roy17/12/2008 at 23:17

    if i hear that argument one more time… here’s the thing, was the honda faster when davidson was a test driver, or slower?

    This sounds like the Damon Hill argument. He is the only test driver in the history of the sport who was given total credit by the UK media for developing cars. Mansell, Prost and Senna were all in the team while Hill was there. They all stood around saying that Damon is here so we will let him do all the development.

    If you are going to use the test driver argument then luca Badoer and Marc Gene are the best around because the team won a load of championships with them in place.

  • me17/12/2008 at 23:19

    If you are going to use the test driver argument then luca Badoer and Marc Gene are the best around because the team won a load of championships with them in place.

    problem is, they haven't left. hence me saying they're unknown. i suspect both are better than wurz in truth.

    after davidson left, the honda got slower... conversely the suguri got quicker.

  • me17/12/2008 at 23:25

    Oh, and a warning to me, if it’s not too late - there is a little surprise at the end of my podcast…

    i just listened.

    wow, i had no idea, thank you :)

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 23:38

    You're welcome :)

  • me17/12/2008 at 23:38

    You’re welcome

    can we get a live rendition on sunday?

    pretty please?

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 23:42

    Depends on whether Skype will finally acknowledge the existence of the internet.

    If it does, then yes ;)

  • me17/12/2008 at 23:43

    Depends on whether Skype will finally acknowledge the existence of the internet.

    i'll take that as a yes ;)

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 23:45

    But I have to get Skype to acknowledge the internet first, which I haven't managed to do yet...

  • me17/12/2008 at 23:47

    But I have to get Skype to acknowledge the internet first, which I haven’t managed to do yet…

    definitely hearing a yes over here.

  • Alianora La Canta17/12/2008 at 23:53

    You would :D

  • Alianora La Canta18/12/2008 at 00:01

    That was a little too close for comfort. I decided to do a December challenge requiring one post per day. I got my 17 December post in... ...with about 20 seconds to spare.

    Maybe next time I should try procrastinating less?

  • me18/12/2008 at 00:02

    Maybe next time I should try procrastinating less?

    live commenting does that to you.

    i used to be so productive.

  • Jon Waldock18/12/2008 at 00:07

    Was just looking at some of the comments from earlier.....

    Don’t tell Jon but Ron is talking DNA:

    http://tinyurl.com/dennisdna

    “We can be pragmatic, but we will not cut into the fabric or DNA of F1,” he told USA Today, “We don’t want to take measures that impact the size of the audience.”

    oh.....dear....

    EVEN.JAMES.ALLEN.HAS.GOT.TO.RON.I.THINK.IM.GOING.TO.FAINT.AGAIN (after twice yesterday)

  • Christine18/12/2008 at 00:13

    Was just looking at some of the comments from earlier…..

    Damn, I thought I'd got away with it.

  • Jon Waldock18/12/2008 at 00:13

    Damn, I thought I’d got away with it.

    oh no...

  • Jon Waldock18/12/2008 at 00:15

    You know you don't do enough work when....

    ....your still up at 00.13 commenting....

    AND

    .....you just added a link to the realtime discussion onto your browsers toolbar....

  • Alianora La Canta18/12/2008 at 00:15

    live commenting does that to you.

    i used to be so productive. {me - 4 comments ago}

    But you are productive. It is simply that your creative energies are largely visible (and sometimes audible) on Sidepodcast :)

  • me18/12/2008 at 00:16

    …..you just added a link to the realtime discussion onto your browsers toolbar….

    dangerous, very dangerous. soon you can be as unproductive as me :D

  • Jon Waldock18/12/2008 at 00:18

    dangerous, very dangerous. soon you can be as unproductive as me

    its right next to the folder containing my f1 links, the folder with all the blogs in, and *drum roll please* facebook (the procrastination devil)

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 00:28

    dangerous, very dangerous. soon you can be as unproductive as me

    dangerous, very dangerous. soon you can be as unproductive as me

    Not a chance, try working for an ex-nationalised airline

    (Quote repeated for effect)

  • Steven Roy18/12/2008 at 00:30

    I just noticed on the front page one year ago today was the Sidepoddie Awards so I had to listen. I think you should have added a category on to the end of it for Christine's best impression.

    Christine's French accent.

    Christine's Lord March impression.

    Christine's Nick Heidfeld impression.

  • Christine18/12/2008 at 00:34

    Christine’s French accent.

    Christine’s Lord March impression.

    Christine’s Nick Heidfeld impression.

    Ja, das ist gut.

  • me18/12/2008 at 00:34

    I just noticed on the front page one year ago today was the Sidepoddie Awards so I had to listen.

    yay. that was worth installing then :)

    Christine’s Lord March impression.

    she did an impression of lord march?

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 00:34

    So am presuming that not only do the broadcasts start in SidePodCast time but the turn of the calendar day is no where near GMT as we know it :D

  • Christine18/12/2008 at 00:35

    yay. that was worth installing then

    Christine’s Lord March impression.

    she did an impression of lord march?

    Jolly hockey sticks and all that.

  • me18/12/2008 at 00:36

    Jolly hockey sticks and all that.

    oh. you have a good memory.

  • me18/12/2008 at 00:37

    So am presuming that not only do the broadcasts start in SidePodCast time but the turn of the calendar day is no where near GMT as we know it

    :D

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 00:37

    Bassano Clapper: 18/12/2008 at 00:34

    So am presuming that not only do the broadcasts start in SidePodCast time but the turn of the calendar day is no where near GMT as we know it

    Excuse me, am ever so slightly inebrieated and am suffering much disappointment from a London O2 show of The Mighty Boosh tonight

  • Jon Waldock18/12/2008 at 00:38

    Excuse me, am ever so slightly inebrieated and am suffering much disappointment from a London O2 show of The Mighty Boosh tonight

    Was it not good? They're meant to be brilliant live?

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 00:43

    inebrieated...

    Was it not good? They’re meant to be brilliant live?

    Point a: is difficult to spell when describing oneself

    Point b: No, I think it was all down hill from series 3 and now is like Saunday Night at the Palladium (much :( )

    Point c: I can't seem to get rid of these quote lines ( even more :( ) (well, not quite , but you get my point)

  • Jon Waldock18/12/2008 at 00:44

    Point c: I can’t seem to get rid of these quote lines ( even more ) (well, not quite , but you get my point)

    ah thats annoying

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 00:46

    Point c: I can’t seem to get rid of these quote lines ( even more ) (well, not quite , but you get my point)

    Jon Waldock: 18/12/2008 at 00:44

    Point c: I can’t seem to get rid of these quote lines ( even more ) (well, not quite , but you get my point)

    ah thats annoying

    Tell me about it. That's better

  • Jon Waldock18/12/2008 at 00:47

    You just need to make sure the cursors outside the quote box before you type

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 00:50

    Yeah, as long as it let's you click where you want

    You just need to make sure the cursors outside the quote box before you type

    The whole of tonight is just odd, too many Emos

    And prob Safari playing up but that would be going easy on the Emos

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 00:51

    AWWWW, it's not giving up on me !! :)

  • me18/12/2008 at 00:52

    AWWWW, it’s not giving up on me !!

    you okay there?

  • Jon Waldock18/12/2008 at 00:53

    you okay there?

    i belive he's having "issues"

  • me18/12/2008 at 00:53

    i belive he’s having “issues”

    i see. as he been reading cosmo again?

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 00:54

    me: 18/12/2008 at 00:53

    i belive he’s having “issues”

    i see. as he been reading cosmo again?

    I'm recovering now but yes, I think I was :)

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 00:55

    i see. as he been reading cosmo again?

    Refer to earlier Emo comments, I didn't realise it rubbed off

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 00:56

    Jon Waldock: 18/12/2008 at 00:53

    you okay there?

    i belive he’s having “issues”

    And don't let me turn a HULK on yo bad self

    Damn, must... find... camomile

    Or another Guinness

  • lou18/12/2008 at 00:57

    For the majority of the evening (when I've not been hammering nails into the beam in our ceiling to hang up decorations) i've been casually watching the comments fly by on the doohickey thing, i'd forgotten how much fun that can be :)

  • me18/12/2008 at 01:00

    For the majority of the evening (when I’ve not been hammering nails into the beam in our ceiling to hang up decorations) i’ve been casually watching the comments fly by on the doohickey thing, i’d forgotten how much fun that can be

    :D

    did you hit anything?

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:01

    did you hit anything?

    Thumbs?

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:03

    For the majority of the evening (when I’ve not been hammering nails into the beam in our ceiling to hang up decorations)

    I remember those days, thinking "was this why they invented drawing pins?"

    Then watching said pins fall out after 3 days

    Big A*s nails it is

  • lou18/12/2008 at 01:04

    did you hit anything?

    lol i only hit my thumb twice :D , which is good given my record with hammers (when i was about 5 i was 'helping' my grandfather and well cutting a long and rather painful story short- it didn't end well).. hammering nails into the ceiling is harder than it looks btw, specially when you are trying not to chuck the hammer at the TV (that woman from the Mclaren garage was singing with her band again ;) )

  • me18/12/2008 at 01:06

    that woman from the Mclaren garage was singing with her band again

    :D

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:06

    lol i only hit my thumb twice , which is good given my record with hammers (when i was about 5 i was ‘helping’ my grandfather and well cutting a long and rather painful story short- it didn’t end well)..

    Always look at the nail rather than the hammer. All a bit 'wax on, wax off'

  • Christine18/12/2008 at 01:06

    THAT woman!

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:08

    Always look at the nail rather than the hammer. All a bit ‘wax on, wax off’

    Am guessing that may have been lost. Lou, there is NO need to watch The Karate Kid unless you must see Mr Miyage

    And ignore the imminent remake at all costs

  • lou18/12/2008 at 01:08

    THAT woman!</blockquote

    she was surprisingly off putting

    I only had the royal variety performance on so i could catch Micheal McIntyre, and Rod Gilbert, i wasn't expecting HER to be there :P

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:10

    I only had the royal variety performance on so i could catch Micheal McIntyre, and Rod Gilbert, i wasn’t expecting HER to be there

    Glad to say I know of none of those folk

    Are they in modern, popular beat combos?

  • lou18/12/2008 at 01:10

    I've come to the conclusion that the doohickey doesn't like it when i quote things :P i always seem to do that... no idea how though.

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:11

    lou: 18/12/2008 at 01:10

    I’ve come to the conclusion that the doohickey doesn’t like it when i quote things i always seem to do that… no idea how though.

    Bill Gates doesn't like it

  • lou18/12/2008 at 01:12

    Are they in modern, popular beat combos?

    Micheal McIntyre and Rod Gilbert are awesome comedians, in fact they are my favourite comedians i'd say... well them and comedians such as Russell Howard and Lee Evans :)

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:13

    Do you use the normal Sidepodcast link or the (beta) live commenting {bit geeky} page [which is better]?

    http://www.sidepodcast.com/ria/ajax/

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:14

    Micheal McIntyre and Rod Gilbert are awesome comedians, in fact they are my favourite comedians i’d say… well them and comedians such as Russell Howard and Lee Evans

    For me it's Bill Hicks (R.I.P.) & Mark Thomas

  • lou18/12/2008 at 01:15

    Do you use the normal Sidepodcast link or the (beta) live commenting {bit geeky} page [which is better]?

    http://www.sidepodcast.com/ria/ajax/

    i use the doohickey real time thing for everyday stuff cause it means you can have convos in different threads (even though it gets a little disorientating sometimes :P ) - http://www.sidepodcast.com/realtime/

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:16

    Royal Variety Performance loses mucho credibility points IMHO

    Bill Hicks taught me well (google/youtube for info if nec)

    Ooh, and Eddie Izz about 6 or 7 yearsago

  • lou18/12/2008 at 01:17

    i've never had a comment go into moderation while using the real time thing, it kinda too me by surprise :)

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:17

    Ooh, and Eddie Izz about 6 or 7 yearsago

    Starbucks stole my spacebar

    (and my ability to spell went to Primark!)

  • me18/12/2008 at 01:18

    i’ve never had a comment go into moderation while using the real time thing, it kinda too me by surprise

    i done find it.

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:18

    lou: 18/12/2008 at 01:17

    i’ve never had a comment go into moderation while using the real time thing, it kinda too me by surprise

    Welcome to Club Frustration, drinks are coming... soon.

    Another ref lost in the ether - wham fan by any cance [who? says she]

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:21

    At this point, am SOOO glad I had the foresight to book a half day when on earlies tomorrow

    Being in charge of aircraft maintenance at 06:00 is not congruent with Mr Arthur Guinness' product consumption

  • me18/12/2008 at 01:22

    Being in charge of aircraft maintenance at 06:00 is not congruent with Mr Arthur Guinness’ product consumption

    pretty sure the passengers would be equally glad to know that too.

  • Steven Roy18/12/2008 at 01:25

    I only had the royal variety performance on so i could catch Micheal McIntyre, and Rod Gilbert, i wasn’t expecting HER to be there

    I missed Michael McIntyre but Rob Gilbert was brilliant. I have now seen him twice and he has been fabulous each time.

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:26

    me: 18/12/2008 at 01:22

    Being in charge of aircraft maintenance at 06:00 is not congruent with Mr Arthur Guinness’ product consumption

    pretty sure the passengers would be equally glad to know that too.

    I think I should refrain from further comment and refer you to Max's lawyers (or Flav's)

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 01:26

    pretty sure the passengers would be equally glad to know that too.

    Hence the half day booked in advance.

  • lou18/12/2008 at 01:28

    I missed Michael McIntyre but Rob Gilbert was brilliant. I have now seen him twice and he has been fabulous each time.

    Am really regretting not seeing Michael McIntyre in October now :( At the beginning i thought Rhod was going to do the same act as he did at the Apollo, am pleased he didn't :D

  • Steven Roy18/12/2008 at 01:29

    For me it’s Bill Hicks (R.I.P.) & Mark Thomas

    I have been a Mark Thomas fan for years. Some of his political stunts are unbelievable. When Ian Lang was the Potmaster General and threatening to get rid of the universal postal rate he gave out Ian Lang's address and told people any time they saw a free offer to order it for him. So he was getting sacks of mail every day. He got on to the post office and told them to sort out his legitmate mail form the junk and the PO told him it was against the law for them to do it and kept delivering the junk.

  • Bassano Clapper18/12/2008 at 02:05

    Mark Thomas acted on his evil impulses, Bill just b*tched about them to (much) comic effect

    "Hey buddy, we're Christians. We don't like what you said"

    "Then forgive me" :D

  • Flibster18/12/2008 at 12:46

    For me it’s Bill Hicks (R.I.P.) & Mark Thomas

    Bill Hicks - comedy genius - one of my all time favourite comedians.

    Not seen much of Mark Thomas though. Will have to rummage you youtube.

    I do have an awful lot of time for George Carlin as well. His "7 words you can't say on TV or Radio" taught me an awful lot when I was young. ;)

    When I was mch younger I got to see Punt and Dennis and then Newman and Baddiel live - Punt and Dennis were much better. Since then I've seen Rob Newman on his own - what a difference. Amazingly funny. He's a seriously clever chap - his material didn't go down well in a drunken audience as it was very high-brow comedy and they just wanted knob jokes. :(

    A lot of modern comedians just don't seem that funny to me. Micahel McIntyre *as mentioned above* is one of the few who does make me laugh. Russell Howard not so much, but has his moments.