Saturday is here and the weekend has begun. We've got a week off from racing but must try and prepare for the back to back that is coming up starting with Australia next weekend. However, that is the future and now is now, and here are some things we're talking about:
- It was definitely Franck Friday yesterday, as the Frenchman was confirmed at a new team for Superleague Formula. Mr C and I have barely had anything but scorn for this formula in the past but now it's the best thing since forever. They do have online broadcasting though, and the season is only 12 races long, which makes me very happy.
- Given the happy news that we have another series to follow, I dutifully put all the SL events into our fabulous calendar. It's been a while since I gave the calendar a plug, so now is a good time. Did you know we do a brilliant calendar? So far, in non-F1 events, it covers rallying, the major Le Mans events and now Superleague. If there's anything missing that you'd like to see in there, please let me know, and I'll try and add it.
- I'll also plug F1 Minute today, although it doesn't really need it right now. Apple made the odd decision to feature it on the iTunes homepage and in their newsletter, meaning lots and lots of new people are tuning in. Yesterday's minute focused on the FIA's attempts to tighten up the championship, whilst F1 Big Picture is all about Virgin Racing. Don't forget Tweets of the Week as well. There should be another one of those along tomorrow.
That should do it for now. We're working on some fun blog posts today, so keep your eyes peeled later on. I'll see you in the comments.
welcome. weekend.
i want Wednesday please. Weekend, monday and tuesday can go away.
#aslongasinthatprocessivepassedmydrivingtest
Oh dear :(
Tuesssssssday.
Awwww good luck. I don't think whether you pass or not is to do with you. Maybe it's different in the city but any of my friends who came across slow moving farm vehicles on their test failed. It's not very fair....
it took me 6 attempts (5 officially, if work ask) to pass mine. Just don't think about it. Well, don't forget about driving properly, obviously, but it's best not to think about the test. That was my downfall the 1st 5 tries. (This was 16 years ago, on Alain Prost's Birthday)
Thank you! I agree. It's to do with anxiety levels on the day, and traffic.
Whenever I've done a mock test i've driven really well until he's said "and now we'll start the test" and then i go into a bag of nerves and drive badly. i cant cope with the silence, another lesson today though, and one on monday, so by tuesday should be ok. each mock test i do i get better so should be alright by then :)
i agree with the test thing - i failed 3 times due to nerves - the one i passed the examiner realised it was the test that worried me and put his clipboard down and told me to treat it like a lesson!
My examiner was NOT silent. He was really lovely. He chatted to me the whole time round. I once had to ask him to shut up so I could concentrate on one of my maneuvers :P
See, i want someone like that!!
If it's too quiet then i'll do my usual trick of asking how they became a driving instructor :D
Yeah he was mean in other ways though. He took me to basically the hardest corner in the city to reverse around. I'd been there once with my driving instructor and ended up with 2 wheels on the pavement :P I had to give up. It's a pure miracle I got round without incident on my test.
the worst thing about my test was that my instructor bought a new car the day before it and all the marker points in the car she had given me to reversing round a corner no longer applied
Around here it's not a case of being able to drive well as much as knowing the roads, its SO hilly here, and the hills always start after sharp bends, so anyone else would come up to the corner in 3rd and then try and rev up the hill and would have to change down half way, but just from experience i know i have to change to 2nd before i get there.
I'm feeling alot calmer about it than i was, but it'll beinteresting to see how i react later, another mock test today.
I had to go to the other side of the country to do a week long intensive course (in Chippenham), and spent the first half of the day walking around so not to think about the test. I've grown up since then. Wait, no I haven't.
right - i have to go to bed - gonna curl up with my Jenson book for a bit i think...
...night all
Night Rocket. I bet Lou loves you :P
night RR
Byeee Rocket
yeah - she was rather pleased to have another JB fan around!
Good night
SLeep for me too.
Night all
night Jon
Good night
watching Hot Chip videos on You Tube. I won't live stream this.
I will say that "Don't Dance" is one of the danciest tracks ever made though.
sleep is calling. night all, and hello to the night shift
My arm is really sore again. It's bad times now as there's basically no mark and there's no sympathy available :(
Awwwww!
:D
i have sympathy, it's just that i need sleep more.
night :)
Night :)
Good night.
I am just watching the latest Pointless before I go to bed
Ooooh what a good idea!
afternoon all. I slept a lot and missed a lot and now you're probably all asleep :(
this is what they've been up to at the F1 track today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hKm0eWvz8c
Hey Amy. On the road I am. A lot later than expected we left.
thanks to twitter and melbourneairport.com.au I reckon I can work out the flight numbers of every single F1 driver who is currently on their way here.
I feel I have forgotten where you are going?
Are any of them coming to breakfast with us? What day do they fly in?
Heikki and Jenson will be here tonight. They are all invited to breakfast but I somehow don't think you'll be able to give Lewis any encouragement in person.
Go (to the breakfast) Lewis!
:D :D
you haven't. I didn't mention it here previously.
On another note, I have in my hand... my Chinese visa! Wooohooo! :D
#uberstalker
:P
its only stalking if I go to the airport but at $26 for a return trip I say 'no thank you!'
Is it cyber-stalking then?... but as you are doing it by invitation (the stalkees are inviting you via twitter) it's more like a game of "fox and hounds".....
precisely!
in other news, help me with my dinner. I bought a few groceries for tonight yesterday but because I ended up going to the pub after work they are still in the fridge at work. I am hungry :(
Bowl of cereal now... go out for breakfast in the morning....
Simples....
ooh I do love cereal. I am going out for lunch tomorrow and by lunch I mean 'cake'
Ooooo...
I love cake!...
Have you been to any of the cake shops in St Kilda when you have been in Melbourne?
Of course...
They are legendary...
I am envious...
Only recalling yesterday the excitement I felt in 2007 getting ready to fly out to Oz for the GP... and then I got the perfect result... what a start to an epic year...
Got to go out and look after my gees now...
Later....
Morning all,
What goes on?
Morning
A Switch?
Nah.... just relaxing in my kitchen on a grey day
Signed Hekki?
Morning everyone :)
Today I am going bowling... Lets put it this way... I am not a good or proficient bowler... So this should be fun :)
I wonder if I will be better or worse than the time I went ice skating?
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/img-4168
Morning Alex
estimated time of arrival for his flight is 1 minute. I don't think I'd make it there in time :D
I seem to remember last time you won thanks to a gutter ball?
He's got to be quizzed about contact with animals (remember the horse), plants and mud by immigration as well as pick up his bags...
Morning :)
Don't mention the horse!
#confidentualfromchristinesrankings
I did indeed.
My worry is that I have been a few times and been pretty much the same every time I've got. Katherine has hardly ever been but always beats me on Wii bowling. She started poorly at real bowling but at the end she was doing very well (until the gutterball). I think she might have got her eye in.
And, shock horror, there are going to be other people there. I think Fourstar might edge it today.
There was even an 'in your face' on twitter!
Which reminds me I better start the trash talk now!
Mainly that "in your face" was because Katherine had said to me seconds before her gutterball, "don't celebrate too much, it looks like I'm gonna whip yo ass".
ahem
Here's my first trash talk
http://twitter.com/alexandronov/status/10768266197
This excites me. I love bowling and I haven't done it since I moved here :(
Why don't you go tomorrow? You must be able to book a lane now?
Ask Heikki to join you...
no one wants to go with me and I don't want to bowl by myself :(
Apparently there is a yearly bowling night for management at work and now that I am management I will get to go if they do one this year :D
ooh I could invite Catherine? She says on twitter; Landed in #Melbourne! Does anyone know if there's anything happening in the city tomorrow (Sunday)? ;)
There you go :)
+live streaming?
I have plans tomorrow though. But she can come for cake in St Kilda.
I may be able to do some... I'll have to see. Depends on the "other people".
Good morning all. Race day is finally upon me and the new season starts today. I should be taking the grid in 3.5 to 4 hours from now. If I have a chance, I'll be doing live updates to my blog ( http://coneassassin.blogspot.com/ ), so if anyone is curious, they can check it out at random intervals =)
I'll bowl with you. I suck at it but don't care. I'm sure I can rustle up some others to come too
ooh yay!
I don't think we will have time during the brief period you are in town. There is this thing called an F1 race that will take up most of our time ;)
that's brilliant, cheers jim
NP =)
I'm also getting a free transmission today for my 2010 season car I'm building, so I'm pretty excited about that. I'll be running last seasons car today unfortunately, but with any hope, I wont be outmatched like Hispania =P
Ping: http://sidepodcast.com/2010/03/20/f1-does-sport-relief/
Heikki wants to see Lady Gaga. We are no longer on speaking terms.
Maybe he's just curious like everyone else??
;)
It's just adding more fuel to my theory that I am the only person in the world who missed the Gaga bus.
The Gaga isn't really worth jumping on
you don't like gaga?
*That should say Gaga bus - now the context has changed completly
A Gaga bus would be quite something!
I found out that my old flatmate who was so upset at not having the money to go see the backstreet boys mysteriously found money to go and see gagas concert. If she wasn't in another country I would hit her for having her priorities so wrong.
not you as well? *cries*
she named herself after a queen song (probably), what's not to like?
her music sounds exactly the same as any other pop act but people act like shes the second coming of Jesus just because she dresses funny :(
she's a bit more clever than most other pop acts merthinks.
she must be, to have amassed the crazy fanbase she has.
Christine have you seen this new trailer for Doctor who? :D http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s7/doctor-who/news/a209692/the-second-who-series-five-trailer.html
Ooooooh. Looks ace!
I can't wait! 2 weeks to go :D
Can't wait - I'll wear my 13foot long scarf in celebration
:D
afternoon.
hi lou
how are you today?
I'm not watching, but in case anyone is, we've made a thread: http://sidepodcast.com/2010/03/20/live-mobil-1-12-hours-of-sebring-2010/
i've had the longest sleep ever, had a nice relaxing morning and now ready to get on with my pile of work, and awake enough not to need heap loads of caffeine to get me through our last performance this evening :) what about you?
not too bad - doing a little bit of writing and racing around bahrain on gp3 as part of the "leigh michael peter o'gorman formula 1 world championship (tm)"
;)
Ping: http://sidepodcast.com/2010/03/20/10-reasons-f1-in-australia-wont-suck/
At the track now, drivers meeting starts in 5 minutes. Updates at http://coneassassin.blogspot.com
Do you do autotests?
Autocross and time trials.
Fastest lap of the day looks to be a 48ish in overall. With my cars class, I'm shooting for 53ish.
loving the updates jim :)
i feel like we should organise a wave or something.
Lol, that's be awesome =)
Drivers meeting is coming to a close, hoping to run in the 2nd heat of my session so the first heat can further rubber in the track for me.
Offline driving here is very slippery, so precision will be key.
Hopefully my cam has full batteries so I can get some vids of today.
Yes, I get to drive in the 2nd heat. I also get to call the times in while the first heat is driving.
ooh, what does that mean?
Evening all!
Hey Lukeh
When a car completes a lap, I call their time out to everyone.
Evening :)
I'm a happy chappie today :D
*chapess
whyyyyyy?
Hiya Alison. Me too, work was oddly rewarding today.
I had the day off which is always a good start. Nick has bought aeroplane tickets which is also awesome! Pls I'm still proud of my amazing spending feats which I've just blown on some shockingly expensive train tickets....
1st heat is done. Warming up my car now to take the grid.
haha. its always the way. WOOOOO. i love good days.
Good luck! :D
Where is Amy when you need her?...
Heikki is looking for advice on Golf Clubs to go to via twitter....
She should be offering to help him....
She could be his caddy!
I'm running 49ish times, which is 4 seconds faster than I figured I'd run in. Now if I can stop hitting cones, that'd be nice.
Is it me or has all activity in the F1 world ceased for the rugby and ALMS?
Are you doing the 2 hours of Sebring on iRacing? Well done sir!
He's doing the american version of Autotesting :D
#reallife
theres rugby on?!?
Yeah, last I looked England were trying to beat the French. Not for the first time....
Hi guys BTW, long time no see. :D
Yeah, Harelquins and Huddersfield were on earlier.
Evening all
Hello :)
Heading home from the track now. What events from the day I could use my phone to gather are at http://coneassassin.blogspot.com
I got video from today in the cockpit so ill post that when I get home after I hug my cat and have a shower.
Is the arm feeling better?
We approve of being nice to cats muchly...
Sounds like you had fun today Jim...
A bit. It still feels a bit bruised. I'm just gonna leave it alone....
Yea, I did. All in all, it was a great opening day for the season and hopefully next week ill have the kinks worked out of my driving for the first real points event that I care about.
The car ran pretty good, but I could have used my racing tires. Hopefully they'll arrive in the mail by next week.
Ooooh Steven, Nick booked his flights. I think your harassment must have worked! :P
I am sure you have more power over Nick than me
I wouldn't be so sure! I wouldnt bring up things like that lest I be stressful.
Ping: http://sidepodcast.com/2010/03/20/homepage-is-where-the-heart-is-the-drivers-part-1/
not sure if this is of interest, but it starts in a few hours and is a bit like ski-cross but on skates: http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/World-Series/Red-Bull-Crashed-Ice-2010/001242785030624
i think redbull basically invented another new sport. it's live streamed free online though and might be fun to follow.
This better be in the olympics in four years time, looks insane
Ooh!
WOWOWOWO
Is it late enough for cereal and masterchef time?
Never
!?!?!?!
Only if it is on the iplayer
Cereal is awesome any time of the day
Always :)
alison,
it is never too late for greg wallace
thats a good thing!
You said I wasn't even time for masterchef and/or cereal :( My life is over!
No, but it's also chocolate and Sebring time ;)
I have no chocolate. I'm on a mission to be less fat! I also have no idea what Sebring is :P
Just realised that the leading car is a Peugeot with a driver with pink on his helmet. So close to being perfect
It''s the sportscar race we are watching and have been commenting on for hours
What are sportscars like? Normal cars or closer to spaceships?
Spaceships. Serious spaceships
Some at least look like normal cars, but others are more spaceship like :)
Just got back from coulthard driving the red bull in belfast!! Absloutely amazing, was anyone else there??
Check these out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=096zVChzsOw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XspWlTaAfWc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQDateHsJcI
They are proper racing cars. You won't see these in your local Peugeot dealer.
http://image.dieselpowermag.com/f/22836904+w750+st0/0907dp_02_z+peugeot_908_hDI_fAP+carbon_disc_brakes.jpg
That is the first comment I have seen on it.
Ohh nice! I only found out about that on Thursday otherwise I would of jumped on the train and headed down to Belfast.
Been dealing with a bit of a plague here though.
Spaceships with diesel engines in the case of the Peugeots and the Audis when they turn up for the next race
I have to say It was brilliant
http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/82205
fIRST LINK DOES NOT WORK FOR ME
Caps fail
O dear, try searching coulthard f1 show belfast in youtube
Cereal = so completely worth is
I go to Melbourne on Wednesday. Yaaaaaayyyyyy.
*excited*
There are a load of videos on youtube
really? ;-)
ahem. (sorry)
Lucky sod.........
;)
Would of liked to have seen that in Belfast this evening if I had known about it earlier. Still, getting to see the Festival of Speed they had at Stormount in 2000 had quite a few more F1 cars at it :)
No problem. I think it's great so many have uploaded them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=096zVChzsOw
try that. I didnt realise there would have been so many uploaded already
I will be seeing you there! I fly down Wednesday lunchtime and leave Tuesday lunchtime.
Where are you sitting for the GP?
what tickets did you decide on Mr Jeremy?
Cool! Coming to breakfast?
I'm sitting in 4 stands, but the Jones stand in Sunday
I'm going to cheapskate a little bit and go for Webber. Tiketek keep wanting me in row C. Do I want further back than that? I think so. I will ring them. No info on seats for that stand on the site.
I wouldn't miss it for the world!
sounds good, where the Webber stand is used to be part of Fangio because Fangio used to be much bigger so you'll still get a good view. I don't know about the rows, some people like to sit further back to see over the fence better but I quite like sitting closer.
Cool. All I need to work out is when and where. St Kilda is a small place I'm sure.
Do you think Claire will come if we tweet her?
I'm thinking maybe 9am on Thursday? Since gates open at 10.30? If anyone has any better suggestions i'm open to them :D
You're the expert
*Amy has been before*
ooh. good info. I have no reference point so any advice is welcome. I thought I might see more if Im higher up.
Maybe I should just let tiketek put me row C, seat 18
the first year I went I was a tourist and feeling lost and last year I didn't make it early on Thursday since I was at Super Awesome Vodafone Cricket.
their system apparently allocates "first come, best seat" but I guess they work from the theory that closer is better. I'm in the front row in Singapore!
I hate the Sebring :(
Can it be over now please?
Only two-and-a-half hours left Alison...
BOOOO
You don't like F1, you don't like Sports Cars. What do you like? :P
Also, I like that you call it "the sebring"
What do you hate about it? I only hate that the Audis are not there to make it a race and let McNish win again
Pancakes?
Love it
Nick
I think thats marginal to be honest
Someone caled it Le Seb Ring last year
That's so harsh!!
OK. A bit better than marginal
ooops
#sorryalison
and you Steven!!
my friend isn't texting me back about cakes :( maybe I will have to go get cake alone :(
Plus I bet I know which course Heikki will golf on, I could go stalky stalky. But I won't.
You don't need to tell me you are sorry
You have something better to do than stalk Finns?
Do. I expect him there on Thursday
This is how you end up on the naughty step!
the course is quite far from my house and not near public transport :( Plus its super private members only so I couldn't get anywhere near him :(
we can invite him on twitter, I don't like your chances though :D
I am already there
http://wiki.sidepodcast.com/page/The+Naughty+Step
hehe. "my" chances she says
Consider yourself glued down.
Considering he's been there for 10 months, he probably already is.
you expect him there, I don't!
I hope Lotus put up their autograph times soon, he's one of the only ones I count as a *must* see :D
I have been for ages. I like it there.
I'm not a nasty person :(
Only to Jon.
pointless being nasty to me
hoorah.
Where's the daily?
I guess Mr C is on daily duty
You're in it
Unfortunately today is not the 20th....
Have you been to sleep yet?
Can't believe I manged to sneak a pointless comment in without it being commented on ;)
By the looks of things he's already mixed up one thread by 12 hours, so he's on a roll ;)
We were watching a film.
Oooh. Anything good?
I noticed. I'm ignoring you. You're nasty.
So you didn't notice that we have another Christian Klien fan then?
The Invention of Lying.
Is that the one with Ricky Gervais? Really wanna see that.
Was good.
If I asked you if it was any good, should I believe you? :D
OOPS.
I refuse to believe you think I am nasty. Deliberately ignoring a pointless is concerning though unless it was a deliberate ploy to make me think it should be concerning and I figured that out then... This whole line of thinking is pointless
Morning all :)
Hello. You need to watch the live Red Bull stuff. Insane
i wish i could, but i have a friend round.. and i'm super tired.
Hey Lou :)
Trust me. You want to see at least two minutes of this. I have never seen anything like it.
Hi Lou's friend
she's not looking at the screen,
okay i'll put it on mute..
hey Alison, how are you?
I'm really good thanks :D
I should be going to be pretty soon though, I have work very early in the morning.
work on a Sunday??!
Sadly yes. Welcome to a career in retail....
How did the musical go lou?
Been there. Done that. Never again.
:o
Luckily our shop is in the city centre where noone shops on a Sunday so we never open, thank god, only at Christmas. I hate those 4 sundays... can't imagine how that would be the whole year round... *shudders*
I get my days off in the week though! They feel waaaay better than at the weekend because everyone else is at work. It's like you've skived off school or something....
it went really really well, they got a standing ovation and everything :) i'm really sad that's my last musical though :( although they are doing hairspray next year so i may come back :)
Awww yay for standing ovation! Am super proud of you :D
Great stuff Lou
:D
hehe i didn't do much other than press a button lots of times, read a script, dance around in the box and drink red bull. No falling down the hatch/ being dropped by the chair, or anything for me.
ooh more autograph times confirmed:
Mercedes 1700 - 1725
Lotus 1730 - 1755
I am going to be waiting a long time for Heikki :(
Sorry it's late: http://sidepodcast.com/2010/03/21/daily-21st-march-2010/