Hello everyone, Thursday is upon us once more which means we've broken the back of the week, it is nearly race weekend!
Congratulations to Anthony Davidson (and Carrie!) on the birth of son Rohan yesterday! He says he's overwhelmed already.
As Gavin mentioned in yesterday's post, the new Silverstone Wing was officially opened this week and there's now an official video of the launch. Despite the silly name, the place looks fantastic now it is completed, I must admit to being a little sceptical when the plans were announced but was won over a bit when I saw it in person (under construction) last year and it looks even better now. Not quite convinced by the 'best in world' claims but it puts it right there amongst the best.
I love the idea of having the podium angled towards the fans at Club. I'm less sure of the idea of having a sort of garden in pitlane.
Wondering about the Magic Paddle which MercedesGP are using this year? Let's take a wander over to the Giggles Technology Centre to find out more about this unique device.
Did you see this test flight for the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo? This was a 'feather' test, as it descends from space the tail is locked into a different position and the whole thing acts like a feather, slowing it down to a safe speed to glide through the atmosphere to the runway. This was the first time it had been demonstrated by the actual machine, which for the test was dropped from the carrier plane 'White Knight'. Once the feathering is engaged it all looks a bit perilous and I'm not sure I'd want to be on board with it moving around like that!
Leigh tells us the first ever F1 Archive podcast is on the way, so keep an eye or ear out for that.
We've mentioned before the Twitter hashtag #firstworldproblems - I'm not sure if this has been found before but check out White Whine on the same theme!
Practice sessions for the Indy 500 keep being rained out - you don't want to be doing 220mph on an oval with no run-off. The drivers are sitting around all day, they are getting bored... then this 'planking' craze appears in Australia, and the Aussie drivers learn about it... it quickly spreads through the paddock! (If you do this, do it safely!)
F1 Weekend
I'm looking forward to the Spanish GP, and I haven't said that for a few years. I really hope the 2011 rules are going to transform this race into something worth watching. I'm not asking for fireworks, just some action compared to the boring procession it usually is! At the time of writing the DRS zone hasn't been announced as far as I can see with a cursory check, but it isn't too much of a stretch to assume it'll be the main straight. I think that'll bring the cars close enough together to see some real battles at La Caixa.
Speaking of La Caixa, I'd been pronouncing it the British way "La Caicksa" for nigh on 15 years, until I visited my sister in Spain last year and discovered they say the letter 'x' like a soft 'sh', so it is "La Caisha". I had no idea! Since then I've noticed Matt Roberts on the BBC MotoGP coverage pronounces Spanish X's as "sh" too.
Think you know about the Spanish GP? Take the quiz and find out! I only got a pitiful 3 out of 10.
After you've done the quiz, check out these excellent information posts..
- Preview & Track Facts
Other Racing This Weekend
Turning away from F1, the interest elsewhere this week is on the ovals with the highlights being Kimi in NASCAR, and the qualifying sessions for the Indy 500 (with Scott Speed joining in).
- NASCAR - All three series are in action this weekend and one of those is a very special event: the debut of Kimi Räikkonen in the Truck Series at Charlotte on Friday night. This was such a surprise to me, I can't wait to find out how he gets on! Of note for UK people with Sky TV, go to Premier Sports (ch.433) from 1am Saturday morning to watch the race for free, they are waiving their subscription for this one-off event.
- Elsewhere in the world of NASCAR, the non-points All-Star Race is on Saturday night, and there's a Nationwide Series race in Iowa on Sunday.
- IndyCar Pole Day & Bump Day - This weekend features qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. Saturday is Pole Day, the top 2/3rds of the field will be set in the long first session and that'll be followed by a Pole session for the top 9 fastest drivers. Sunday is Bump Day, so-called because once 33 drivers have set a time, the only way into the field is to 'bump' somebody else out of it - and remember this is one-at-a-time qualifying over a four lap average. The drama on both days is intense! This should be the most meaningful and exciting Bump Day in 15 years as for once it will feature actual bumping, there are many more cars than there are spots in the field.
- GP2 & GP3 Barcelona - the second weekend for F1's official support series
- F3 International Trophy - After a short hiatus the long-running Pau Grand Prix returns for Formula 3 cars competing in the FIA's brand new International Trophy.
- V8 Supercars are at Winton.
- The Blancpain Endurance Series for GT3 and GT4 cars have their second ever meeting, at Navarra in Spain. This is run by the people who run FIA GT1 but I'm not sure of the quality of the field just yet.
As usual I'll be investigating the race start times for these later tonight, so check www.toomuchracing.com tomorrow for more information.
I hope you have a great day!
It's snowing!! http://aijaa.com/v.php?i=008298061133.jpg
Delivering sheep in the snow can't be much fun
The older lambs and their mums were outside already, we had to catch them again and find some space in the sheep house. It's a bit cramped at the moment.
I guess you can't have little lambs running around in the snow. I suppose the sheep house was not designed with a thousand additional lambs in mind.
Have you seen these recent posts on sidepodcast.com?
- Daily: 19th May 2011
- Spain 2011 - Race Information
- Daily: 18th May 2011
- Red Bull and STR get Team Rankings points for a great weekend
- It's all about charity on this week's Christine's Rankings
Ive just been sent the most appealing groupon ever. 4 nights at the fairmont in monaco with a balcony overlooking the track for less than a grand...
struggling to fill the place?
I guess so... want want want
overlooking Portier I think
It's my birthday soon ;)
Would you be angry if i took 2 days off next weekend after you leave? :)
I'm not entirely sure that angry would cover it...
morning everyone
It will have to be a work thing then...
morning Leigh
morning mav,
how are you today?
Early Thursday Ping -->
http://theformulaoneandmotorsportsarchive.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/planking-at-indianapolis/
oh no, overlook the hairpin
at a loss for what to do today
how are you?
Not too bad. A bit tired, but with stuff to do today - ho hum.
:)
Starting from 5776 € for a 4-night stay according to their website, that's quite some deal
Wow - over €1400 per night. I think I'll stay in that weekend
;)
there'll be some idiot paying that who doesn't know the GP is in town and spend the entire weekend complaining about the noise
There are people who recently moved to Francorchamps doing that right now
well, sounds bad but if it offers the view of the track it is not such a bad deal given the cost of tickets in Monaco ...
don't get me started on brandshatch's neighbours
Morning..
Does it say who the package operator is?
Bernie Inc.
Sounds like it might be through a company I used to work for
finally got to reading the Turkey GP+ mag. Liked the Isle of Man movie article. Most of the riders in the article race every year in Macau and most of them party on Sat night after the race in a pub with the fans - very different bunch compared with the F1 drivers ...
Part of my extended family are bike riders, some of whom have done the TT - the word "nutters" comes to mind
Ooh I need to find out if Kimis race is live on tv here. I assume it will be somewhere.
yes, people who dare to ride bikes in places like Macau (or Isle of Man) can't be called anything else.
friend of mine is close to being a nutter but despite the best efforts of his buddies he never agreed to even go for a ride in Macau ... he says he is mad but not suicidal :-)
Not sure about Australasian TV, but I can't imagine there not being loads of streams
"North Carolina Education Lottery 200: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a 200-mile, fender-banging, bumper-to-bumper battle for the glory."
Is that the one? If so, 9.30 Saturday morning live on Speed. Sometimes I'm pleased I finally got around to getting my non-pay tv installed.
talking about nutters ... photo of nutter
That's it. It's a special broadcast for the Kimi race I believe, because they're showing it like that here too
I did a search for Nascar and it found 2 pages of results, I think they just show it 24/7 on Speed here :D
ahh good its also being repeated 3 times because the chances of me waking up at 9.30 on a Saturday are slim to none.
:)
Has everyone seen the fancy new F1Minute header? http://www.f1minute.com/
Very nice - it's very urgent (as it were)
I saw it on Posterous but seeing it on the actual site is much better :)
Urgent?
It grabs you.
Righto.
I love it. I know imagine you with a stopwatch each time you record F1 Minute :)
i now imagine it sounding like Countdown
Hehehe that's what I thought. I've been humming the tune the whole way out to the shop and back. Love the banner though :P
Which Shop? :)
Awesome
Park n shop. I'm not going near that silly samosa shop ever again
Someone in the family was a fairly well known superbike rider at national level, I don't know him though. He had to stop for some reason.
Tick..Tick... Tick.. Boom!
Love it :)
Pat, have I already made TMRG picks this week? Can't remember
There was nearly blood spilled last night when a vegetable samosa was found to contain a meat like substance
Dunno, I don't really look at it until Thursday nights.
I better check then
Ping: Should Indian GP Move for Bahrain?
http://www.vivaf1.com/blog/?p=6679
Hehe, the favicon confused me for a second there, because its a bit like the Firefox loading ticker which appears in the tab until the page loads :)
It's lamb. I wasn't impressed at all.
Still can't believe it's being considered.
Kimi news;
It took him an hour or two at Gresham to get up to speed, but when we got to Rockingham, in four laps, he'd run faster than we'd been there testing
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91490
Oops sorry, I don't remember pressing the link button on that first bit of text
I probably did thought because FF was having a funny
*though
Can I have new hands please? :)
JTV shows all the NASCAR races, in case you don't find any on your local telly.
I'm sooo not that dedicated to the Kimi cause :D
Hahahahaha! :D
Morning, Just been for a run: http://runkeeper.com/user/RubberGoat/activity/36050427
Love the F1 Minute Header!
HI Gavin,
How are you today?
eek, miles!
Fine, but knackered! Just had Paella for lunch though so I'm quite content. You?
Tired and getting tireder. Having one of those days in work now, but at least the week is nearly three-quarters through
:)
Now THAT is a logo! :D
When do we get a full-blown SPC logo?
Mine finishes in 3 hours - we have a bank holiday tomorrow and the outlaws are coming over for the weekend... :)
nice
Alonso extends Ferrari contract to 2016 http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91491
Didn't anyone tell him that Ferrari are quitting F1? ;-)
I think there's more to do on F1M, then I think it's FBFB's turn next.
Turtle!
Listened to the podcast you and Mr C guested on last night - nice effort by the chap involved. Was interesting to hear Crofty's story about getting into F1
phew, got my km back. Now your run makes sense to me :D
Gonna blog it shortly.
Marmite mouse?
Which one was this?
:)
he'll have been in F1 for 16 years by the end of the new deal....
15 (not including 2002). That'll take him to 3rd in the most-races-entered record.
even I don't plan that far ahead. That's terrifying.
he was still in F1 in 02, just a test driver (back when they had something do) ;)
I can see him possibly retiring then, depending of course how the the next few years go.
I wonder what happens when nobody at ferrari knows how to build a 4 cylinder engine?
seems shortsighted, I think Ferrari will struggle with change to small turbos
unless Alonso knows something we don't
they'll be all sort of clauses in it so he can get out I expect.
ooh in total I have been running for 10 hours 39 minutes and have gone 92.05km. I like stats like that :)
The turtle is back!
http://sidepodcast.com/post/a-chat-with-andy-meyrick-david-croft-and-the-sidepodcrew
His contract may have yearly or performances clauses - they're just options that may or may not be activated at the end of each year
Thanks - love the new audio player thingy!
Not ours, just an embed. Mr C will probably tell me off!
Ah, I thought it was like the one for F1Minute?
It looks like it, but the F1 Minute one isn't Flash and is therefore much better :)
ooh
I'm looking forward to hearing the parts that weren't in the previously posted chat, later on.
I take your 2016 and raise you 2034
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91493
You either love it or hate it ;)
Wow!!
So he'll be there until he's 35. I think he'll retire after that.
Suddenly I understand how Mr C feels when I start talking about going places :)
They'll still be racing the same cars then too!
Are any folks here from the Spa trip from last year?
*probably could have worded that better
yes
roger roger
Can you remember if the town of Francorchamps is near the circuit itself?
:)
If circuits could get points, I'd offer them to the folks at the Nurburgring, who have just sent me a local bus timetable for non-F1 weekends
:)
yes. it's tiny though.
Yes, it was less than 5 minutes walk away. My impression was that it was a sleepy village geared up to suck every last cent from teh F1 tourist...
10 minutes walk.
Or more accurately 10 minutes to the gate, 15-20 minutes coming back, steep hill :)
That might include the bit to the track itself not just the gate
Thanks all. Just looking at sorting out my F3 weekend there.
:)
I want to stay at http://www.hotel-de-la-source.com you really can't get any closer to the track :D
It's just not interesting to me in it's current format. Group A was awesome, and about 10 years ago there was a split in Aussie Motorsports and they had a 2L Super Tourer Bathurst (with Murray Walker commentating!). That was awesome!
Emma who is @deltachild on twitter might be a good person to ask too, she goes to Spa all the time for non-F1 races so I'm sure she'd have more relevant tips for you because I imagine other races are quite different to when the F1 is around :)
What's your plans? It's a little tricky to get to and from the circuit I think.
Oooohhh thank you
Nothing booked yet. I've been trying to sort Nurburgring first, because that coming up in about 6 weeks, with Spa 4 weeks after that.
I'm dropping the French race though - there's simply nowhere to stay near Paul Ricard, unless I plan to stay 20-30 miles away (which I don't)
Hire car?
I can't drive.
That looked great when we walked past. We should've had a cheeky drink in there (probably wouldn't have got in)
I think we used up our "cheeky drink in a hotel" allowance on Saturday though ;)
but does the local bus go around the nordshleife ?
'97 or so? I miss Super Touring. They need more than 2 makes of car. I would still watch it though if I had time.
Great idea
How hard can it be?
Think so. Super Touring in the 90's was great...
If I had a little cash to spare
It says it stops at the circuit welcome centre
If you could stay in Francorchamps Leigh, that would be great for you I reckon.
When you go to the next race or two, ask around and see what they're doing. Might even score a lift!
Aye - go to have a look later. I have a room provisionally booked in the village of Nurburg for the German race.
heheh :)
boring!
It's not just that though. Paul Ricard has virtually no facilities at all, because there are next to no races there anymore (it's just a test track mainly).
The teams / drivers / crew take up space at the circuit hotel and a few outer regions, leaving it difficult to find anything reasonable near by.
:D
Since I'm not confident that it would be possible to run Bahrain this year anyway, no.
I hear the place to be now is Scandinavian Touring Cars.
I read this in hard copy earlier but couldnt find a link, now i have!
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/formula-one/no-rush-for-changes-for-abu-dhabis-yas-marina-circuit
Changes to Yas may not go ahead this year.
I actually wouldnt mind them waiting then basing the changes on how the race pans out this year.
But i really did like the sound of some of the changes...
STCC is quite cool for that. I'm bored with WTXX.
Yes, in the interests of a fair experiment I suppose.
Very!
Aye - and previous GP2 races there have been decent (bar this year's GP2 Asia), so it's probably best to see how this year pans out.
One major side-effect: this probably keeps Vettel away from Maranello for the foreseeable future.
Have you seen these recent posts on sidepodcast.com?
- A chat with Andy Meyrick, David Croft, and the Sidepodcrew
- Daily: 19th May 2011
- Spain 2011 - Race Information
- Daily: 18th May 2011
- Red Bull and STR get Team Rankings points for a great weekend
Hmm. James Allen took those two facts and started banging on about Hamilton moving to Red Bull instead.
Haven't watched WTCC lately but my impression is the field is thin, so is BTCC
This Hamilton-Red Bull talk has really been gaining traction in recent weeks. But with Vettel contracted there for the foreseeable future, does Lewis really want to take that risk? Unless, of course, Vettel suddenly ends up at Mercedes.
Ouch - what a down turn.
Schumacher IS his idol, right? What better way to emulate him that than to do a Ferrariesque turnaround of his idol's team?
Who knows? I think he's the key though. Unless Rosberg/di Resta/the Hulk start winning for them
Vettel the key to Mercedes? I agree. Only Hulk seems to have race-winning pace of the trio, so far, and even that is no slam-dunk.
I just don't see it. It's easy to forget how important the likes of Rory Byrne, etc were to the Ferrari squad in the late-90's
Hulk? nahhhh
I fully believe the Hulk is a world champion in waiting. He's like Schumi and Vettel. In fairness he hasn't had a proper bite at F1 yet.
This time last year he didnt look that different to Pastor.
Of course there was brazil, but still.. that wasnt even enough to keep him over rubens
True. It took him a while to get settled in
I think he will win races, cant see him as a world champion though
I can't see Vettel leaving Red Bull myslef, just as much as I don't see Alonso or Hamilton moving teams.
He has class. I saw him in A1GP, at a track he never raced at before and he won by a whole lap. So much like Schumi it wasn't funny.
I think in the right package, he's a champion. Williams just isn't that right now
:D I was thinking the exact same thing. It wasn't exactly top-notch competition, though.
I think he actually looked poorer than Pastor at this stage but i think that's probably down to tyre changes
yes I have, the last link on the daily is wrong though
Yeah true. But it was something about the way he drove - he wasn't just content to win, he had to dominate. That's a big deal for me. Also he was ace in GP2...
Ooooh, so it is.
Im not convinced F1 is relevent to spec series. Its a different ballgame.
The success of kobyashi and difficulties of so many coming though who looked to be good but havent proved it hints that way.
Of course good drivers will shine in every series, but i dont think success is tightly correlated at all,
Fair point, but he was good at F3, A1GP and GP2.
Ooh ta, I forgot the http
di Resta has been much more impressive
if Hulk joins him at Force India he might have his work cut out
Exactly, Look at Hulk after 4 races last year vs a more experienced teammate, and DiResta.
No real contest.
Cant see DiResta getting a pole this year mind.
Now that would be a great pairing!
change of tyres has probably levelled the difference though
Looks like the FIA are worried about overtaking into barcelonas turn 1...
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91494
The longest DRS zone so far!
abu dhabi will be pushing the 1.2 km mark at this rate
That makes no sense whatsoever. He's got more chance of going to Mercedes!
Im glad im sitting at the end of it!
I wouldn't totally dismiss Hamilton-Red Bull. RBR are interested, no doubt, and it's a lot easier to attract top talent when they're this good.
okay so it was too long in Turkey, so in Spain let's make it... longer!
you'll have missed the pass by the time they get to the end!
Turkey's DRS zone was always a natural passing place. This one... not so much.
Still isn't
Well, we'll see. I think they did the right thing to make it effective. I don't think it'll be too effective in this case.
my old flatmate has asked me for tips for her trip to Monaco next weekend. I may be slightly jealous.
we'll see... but if they've completed the pass and moved over for the corner before they even get to the braking zone that's not going to be that entertaining
Still don't see it helping, unless overtakes that are nullified the next lap count :(
If this doesn't make Spain exciting then nothing will. I do hope the FIA know what they are doing, I'm not sure I can stand more criticism about too much overtaking.
It'll be as long as its longest zone to not feature braking... ...and I suspect it still won't suffice.
It's the nearest thing to a natural passing place Spain has.
I just can't see Hamilton sharing a team with Vettel.
It's the only place, right?
If Spain has any natural passing places, that's the one.
I agree - but I don't think Vettel is a total lock for Red Bull, either.
I don't have a problem with the Pirelli effect, they've been great
But pushing a button to go past is not difficult, especially when you don't need to even take the braking zone into account
True, but where would he go? Especially since he's contracted for 2012.
If she has a hire car and some patience, you can lap the circuit during the week (we did it on the Monday before the race), which isn't normally possible out of GP-time.
If there's a spare afternoon/evening, go for a drink at Hotel Columbus (owned by DC). Or if she can afford it, have a meal. Might spot famous people? We saw... Jim Rosenthal of ITV Sport..
Well, with Alonso at Ferrari, it's Mercedes or bust. Mercedes would love to have Vettel, that's for sure.
It's too much pointless overtaking that bothers me - the situation has ended up all energy and no meaning.
Didn't DC sell his share? or am I imagining that?
I dont mind it, but would be interesting to see if they could program it to close once the cars draw level
Oh, earplugs. You might get away without them at a more open venue but it is louder at Monaco with all the echoing (unless that was the difference between V8s and the V10s they had when I went)
Much better than nothing at all.
Dunno
I would rather have too much than have an overtake be something that takes place once every 4 races
Why?
I needed ear defenders even at Silverstone at 2009.
i thought you liked yas marina!!!
I'm not sure she'd recognise anyone from F1 circles :)
For me it's a lot worse than nothing at all. At least nothing at all takes effort and skill.
:D :D :D
Turn 10 is a far better spot
Because I got bored watching dry races last year. This year they have been brilliant.
What's the point of overtaking someone when they're just going into the pit lane anyways. It just doesn't make any sense to me.
Pirelli alone would cure your craving
DRS is rubbish
He just wants it better, that's all! ;)
I'm not sure about that.
china didn't need drs, overtaking was taking place all over the joint as drivers were on different aged tyres
china didn't have a lot of overtaking during the first stint when everyone was on the same tyres - drs wasn't helping
lols, I enjoyed watching the V8s overtake there! :)
I think this year is pointing to it being a car rather than a circuit problem
On each day of track action, it is opened at about 7pm if you want to pick up rubber marbles or walk the circuit - I went and watched the teams pack up for a while (harder now the pits face the other way).
Oh! The paddock. They probably use the new bridge now but they used to have to walk from the paddock gate at Rascasse, across the track and into the pitlane entrance to get to the pits. This was 2005. Some 'names' might still prefer to do that especially on Thursday when it is less busy..
There also used to be a gap between the paddock and the buildings, and the paddock and the water. Explore that to peer through.. Not sure if waterside is still accessible now Red Bull float their palace.
That's an interesting one. It's also far enough away from Turn 1 that DRS-activating it won't make Turn 10 an automatic place for returning the status quo.
I got thoroughly bored watching Turkey this year. The first three races worked for me though, indicating that it's the DRS rather than the other changes that were responsible for the problem.
#bringbackrefuelling
Just thought I'd throw that in.
have to agree, the inevitability of the overtaking in Turkey wasn't worth waiting for
With all the other changes, it would be interesting but I wouldn't dare predict what effect that would have on the racing (positive, negative or otherwise).
NIIIIIICK
I don't need to book something now do I?
I think the current overtaking takes far more skill than just sitting in a trulli train untill the pitstops, then doing a quali lap, pitting and then doing nothing for the rest of the race
Especially when it tended to stick people in the same places that they'd qualified unless they'd been clever enough to save at least 2 sets of tyres by doing minimal qualifying.
Agreed. And I hated refuelling for that.
i think some journalists' heads would explode if you threw fuel loads into the current equation
For a second, I read that as "Abu Dhabi is the nearest thing to a natural passing place Spain has"
Not sure about that, the drs was putting the cars closer together at the start of the lap.
I dont think we would have seen so many passes in the middle of the lap if they had been pushed back down that long straight
Lewis agrees with you too :)
Yeah, give them a call
More skill than pressing a button, waiting for the inevitable button-press on the next lap to return everything to square 1, rinsing and repeating 26 times subject to pit stops?
:D
Can't I wait until you get back? I don't know where to call.
I definatly think that requires more skill, and its racing as opposed to traffic. If i wanted high speed traffic i could drive to abu dhabi
If travelling in from Nice by train, allow an extra hour on Saturday and Sunday as compared to Thursday/Friday. Nice station, the train, and Monaco stations were rammed.
can't be right, surely silverstone is the nearest thing to a natural passing place Spain has
you're being very helpful, ta :) I will remember these for my trip, her trip will probably be all about booze and not actually watching the cars :)
Perhaps the comments can choose? :P
Im sure the websites have phone numbers :)
that's even worse!
DRS is a device to let slower cars keep up with faster ones?
For me, switching positions at the press of a button on a two-lap loop is high-speed traffic, just the same as overtakes due to offset pit strategies of equal speed but with less scope for breaking the loop.
Liking this debate about Spain's passing place :D
I meant as opposed to faster cars being pushed back by aerodynamics
From a list of what??? Dubai is a big place... Loads of them seem to be outdoor!?
Best get phoning then!
We managed both. :D
We could, if we knew what you two were gabbling on about.
On a different note
You're making no sense. Why are you offline?
Hehe, friday brunch
My preference is this one http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/dining/casualdining/saffron.aspx
*NotAsFishyAsItLooks
220 Dishes and a magican!
The magician must be the chef with that many menu items
I could buy 10 brunches for that price!
Unlimited help yourself alcohol puts the price up!
its actualy 330 rather than 395
alcohol at brunch, noooo thankyou!
Its traditional here, Brunch & Champagne, vodka e.t.c
Its more like lunch... 12:30-4:30
considering I've had one drink all year that doesn't sound good to me. I'd have two and then I'd be asleep under the table, definitely not getting my moneys worth :)
Ah, you need to start training with the evening ones, then build yourself up :)
I am content in my non drinking, it makes for a very cheap night when I do want to :)
I tried to book and ironically my phone ran out of credit just then!
Press conference: http://yfrog.com/h8cvtsbj
I have a landline, its under the bicycle :)
Looks like Vettel forgot how to do his buttons up!
ooh they have so many different countries of Spanish speakers this year!
Yeah I'm not that big a drinker. The last time I was drunk was July. I had one of those 'never again' moments and actually meant it.
isn't that Tim?
Isn't that Jaime?
Come have a teetotalling party with Mrs. Goat!
Oooh I was looking for that yesterday...
less pedalo
It is. Vettel's not there. Great time for a plug: http://sidepodcast.com/post/spain-2011-race-information
:)
Lunchtime drinking makes me sleepy. I do like a good pub lunch and a pint though, don't do it often.
Lunchtime makes me sleepy!
Sure you don't fancy Belgian beer cafe brunch nick?
if he's taking you to an expensive place because it includes all you can drink, and you don't drink much, I feel he's getting the better deal there :)
I do drink. I'm never having that much to drink again though. Ever.
Fair enough.
webber must be feeling like a spare wheel
Basically that's how my office used to be!
maybe hes like a tennis player and is oddly fluent in Spanish even though he has no reason to be.
:D he has the most legit reason of the lot to be there - he's last year's winner!
Oh, it is.
Silly torro rosso with there identical uniforms!
I realised last year at Spa that I hated the two teams choice of running liveries that were impossible to tell apart at speed,
Hehe well either way it's full!
NoSutil?
Boooo...... Next!
He can't comment anyway.
What a fun Q&A that would be
they've already really, really, really tried
http://www.metrof1.com/blogs/metrof1/2011/05/sutil-not-giving-anything-away.html
:D
Q: If you score points will you have a party afterwards?
Sutil: I don't know, maybe, absolutely.
what a mean question :-)
You didn't fancy Belgian Beer Cafe? Good reviews...?
Thursday's a little quieter now. It allows me to enjoy this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1Ar79f8aN8
Might explain why Lux was originally happy to keep it quiet...
...a rumour I heard in the paddock today is that Lux and other senior Genii people were in Shanghai's M1NT club with four or five Dutch models
Aaargh!!!
I got weary when I read the line about Sutil hitting on them.
#NotMe
Nah, its more of a pub, i dont think they would have any veg options
Ah oh dear
And we know Sutil is a ladies man... That's a dangerous mix.
I just realised what Lux reminds me of.
Road works.
They make the portable traffic lights at road works.
#PlankingFail
courtesy of nascar
http://www.whosay.com/JimmieJohnson/photos/30192
close jimmy, but no cigar
that's not what google thinks
Could be a time traveller.
Eric Lux Capacitor.
Hmmm... I wonder how the moment of tension would be soundtracked. Are we thinking cheap strings from a low budget thriller, poor phat synths from a mid-eighties action or is this a Spanish guitar spaghetti western moment?
phat synths. :D
Yes!!
With dodgy neon lighting on the walls in the background
I'm just disappointed he's not married to Dee
Where's Lukeh when you need him? :D
Yeah sorry about that. If you suggest something else I will ring them.
ennio morricone for me
:)
I like how on http://runthattrack.info/ how a lot of people add comments to their times as to why they could have been faster and one guy from Red Bull has just said Blah blah tired blah painkillers blah broken pelvis blah ash cloud blah general election blah
Hehee
hooray.
Apparently Indianapolis is nice and sunny and ready for cars on track in just under 2 hours time
:)
I've never noticed them before! I like.
even the slow people are all waaaay faster than me. There is a real distinct lack of woman represented which makes me :(
I like they have a 107% time too.
:D
Today when I told my brother about my run he said "thats not bad" and that made me feel proper runnery and stuff because previously when I told him about my runs he'd say things along the lines of "thats pathetically slow"
who is Matthew Kingston-Lee? he seems to be beating them Vettelesque ;)
Nothing compares to how slow I cycle
You should tell him about me! :)
he's a photographer. It appears he runs marathons in his free time so I don't think its a very level playing field :D
They've raised tons of money already, and we're only a few races in.
actuallly hes not a photographer, hes a digital technician. or is that what photographers call themselves these days?
I want to run around Korea!
That would be so cool.
It would be nice to contribute to the attempt to bankrupt UBS.
I wonder if they knew quite what they were doing.
I'm looking through the different circuits and I don't understand the three tables, why are some people's times in Overall not in the Fastest Individual Entry table surely it should have each person's quickest?
It doesn't work for me here... unlike the F1 Minute one which is aweeeeeeesooooommmememmemememememeeee
maybe its a mistake, in most circuits they seem to be in both.
Team Lotus should get #points for this on their trucks
http://yfrog.com/h2df0helj
Heheh. :)
They have French-registered trucks? I guess it makes more sense to have left-hand drive if you spend all your time on the continent
one more day to go ping http://amysrunning.posterous.com/week-9-day-2
and now sleep, for tomorrow is Friday. Again. Already. Why are my weeks going so fast?
Nice sunny day and I've got The Specials on iTunes - this is proving to be a nice Thursday afternoon.
:)
Ping: http://www.f1minute.com/news/fernando-alonso-signs-with-ferrari-until-2016
Schumacher did say that, didn't he? That's it, I'm starting Alonso to Mercedes rumours in 2020!
:)
I seem to remember Alonso making similar comments about McLaren. He definitely aid McLaren was the team he always wanted to drive for.
McLaren were defiantly the team he wanted to drive for since he was a child, but the dream turned into a nightmare ;)
Quick, quick, change the dream!
hehe :)
I think the difference is he's comfortable at Ferrari, and its not just having the team built round him. The mentality is very similar to his own, where as I think McLaren was big shock for him.
gmm articles have this in from a couple of months ago, so not sure how true it is:
"I am in no hurry to go; here, I even enjoy finishing second, eighth and twenty third"
I just wish he'd look more happy when does do that. :)
I think he will be happy there as long as he is number one. Just like Schumacher was happy until Kimi was signed for the other seat
I think you're right - they suit each other quite well.
Speaking of Fernando, he has picked his classic F1 races over on the BBC. With the Spanish GP 2006, Japanese GPs of 1989 and 1990, the 2000 Belgium GP and finally Korea 2010...
As all of them have featured before, Korea is the one with extended highlights :)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/05/fernando_alonso_picks_his_five.html
Had to share this with you: How not to cover a baseball ground during a rain delay! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTSIJzvNIM8
Typical!
I would love to know why they didn't just roll it to the in field and open it up where they wanted to put it rather than starting 100 yards away
Yeah, seems obvious doesn't it? Still, great fun to watch!
Here's another - free kick using wicked misdirection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haxdJT6MBoE&feature=player_embedded
Never seen that done before
Have you seen these recent posts on sidepodcast.com?
- A chat with Andy Meyrick, David Croft, and the Sidepodcrew
- Daily: 19th May 2011
- Spain 2011 - Race Information
- Daily: 18th May 2011
- Red Bull and STR get Team Rankings points for a great weekend
Has he been listening to Oasis recently?
Ping: http://www.f1bigpicture.com/news/talk-of-the-town
Evening
Thank Crunchie it's Friday tomorrow!
You know people round here get confused by what day it is and you post that. You are just trying to cause confusion
But it is Friday tomorrow. If anything, it should help! :)
I am not sure it will help much. There are two practise sessions tomorrow so that should help
You could be right. Being prepared for knowing what tomorrow is must be better than not knowing today ;)
Makes sense, kinda
Also first spacewalk tomorrow
Today, I saw an articulated lorry [co-op delivery] do a three point turn on a busy A-road during rush hour
I think everyone was a little stressed today
Ooh, anything exciting?
There are a few jobs on the list but no real biggy. The big deal with this mission is the alpha magnetic spectrometer and that was installed today using both the shuttle and station robotic arms. It is already installed and working.
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110519fd4/index2.html
I saw one do a 20-point turn in our little yard because he'd come to us instead of our site 20 miles away, and he was a bit annoyed about it.. :) :) Our regular visitors in artics can manage it no probs.
Finally (finally, finally) threw together a Facebook page for the F1 Archive
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_124269824319339&ap=1
There's not much on it yet, some more stuff will go up soon
:)
Using a powerful magnet to bend the trajectories of high-energy cosmic rays -- charged particles from supernovas, neutron stars, black holes and other cosmic enigmas -- scientists will look for evidence of antimatter and as-yet-undetected dark matterSounds good to me
He he
If it was 5:30 in the morning with no traffic, I don't think it would have been an issue.
He was so nonchalent about it, I think he does it everyday
Full details of the spacewalk are on pages 47 and 48 of
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/538352main_sts134_presskit_508.pdf
Looks like a mix of logistics, mechanics, electrics and plumbing
Or even nonchalant ;)
I've heard enough about blinking plumbing
I want to wring the neck of the Boeing 767 rear galley drain design team
Sounds fascinating but it still looked like a white box dangling off the robotic arm while they were installing it. I guess that is one of the problems. We get lots of coverage of the installation but not much follow up
Needs more foil and flashy lights
Maybe you should write to them with some advice before they design a 797.
Wonder what Boeing will do after the 797.
And a machine that goes ping
Always :)
Or just someone with a microphone saying "ping"
The Carbon Fibre 787 is the successor to the mid-range 767, I hope they have learned their lesson already!
Coffee grounds, congealed milk and T-piece pipe junctions do not a great mix make
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arCITMfxvEc
It's almost like it is designed to fail
We're trialling a regular drain cleaning fluid process but it's difficult to gauge effectiveness when the caterers introduce a coffee bag which is more liable to tearing, at the same time
:lol:
#TrueStory
Hard to believe that was before the NHS was privatised.
:)
I guess drain cleaning fluid is not formulated with bags in mind
Well, it's the bags that split in the sink spilling coffee into the drain
It's hard to tell if the programme is successful if the cause of the blockage is increasing in frequency!
@adamcooperf1:
#F1 My budget Barcelona hotel turns out to be a university hall of residence. Trying to blend in but I'm older than the professors
Party time
Anyone have an idea when Nico Rosberg's Mercedes contract is up?
Just thinking about who will replace Massa next year.
In fact, I wouldn't mind placing a bet he's not with Ferrari for 2012
I think it was a 3 year contract so next season should be his last
anyone know who's doing tomorrow's daily?
Nice place to stay, though I can see how the age gap might be an issue...
Lukeh's turn but not sure
sweet
It will :)
Should ;)
It's F1
Precisely
If he gets a podium this year [or better] his worth will increase, if he's looking to be snapped up
Whoever buys an iPad game for their cat , deserves everything that happens as a consequence
Why? Just why do these ideas even exist?
I guess there are enough people with more money than sense to make the effort worthwhile
Maybe they also do a nice line in iPad screen replacements :)
Maybe...
Good piece from Scarbs on the EBD use and restriction after the Canadian GP
http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/fia-ban-on-aggressive-off-throttle-engine-maps/