Well, there really is no F1 news at the moment, which is only fair, as we're taking a nice break and I guess the F1 people are as well. That being said, here are some of the other motorsport news happening at the moment:
- MotoGP practice sessions are apparently going to return to being an hour long after being slashed to 45 minutes in a bid to cost cuts. Friday practice was cancelled altogether, but from the next event, they will up the amount of practice time available to riders. It seems there are only so many places you can cut costs, then, before the teams start to rally against the regulations.
- The BTCC rounds to be held at Donington Park will go ahead after all. Apparently, they were in dispute as the track didn't hold the correct licences, but this issue has obviously been sorted and the three rounds will be held on 16th and 17th March.
- Team Ireland got the job done during qualifying at Brands Hatch for A1GP, with Adam Carroll taking pole position for both the feature and sprint race. Team Great Britain could only manage 14th with Dan Clarke behind the wheel.
That'll do it for now. Good luck talking about those things, as I've no idea what I just wrote about really! Hopefully there will be some more news, although I still understand if there isn't. Nevertheless, I'll see you in the comments.
Before i off to bed....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8030766.stm
This is amazing!
Night
she parked in a no parking zone for 3 weeks and the car doesn't get a ticket?
:)
Wait till someone drives into it because they didn't see it.
maybe she painted over it :)
That is amazing!
I assume that the illusion is less than perfect from another angle to the one in the picture.
It's like those 3D pavement drawings. They look amazing from one viewpoint but from anywhere else they look ridiculous.
I had hadd the doohickey go doocrazy, just to alert mr c.
i may need a little more info.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q127/Lukehmuse/doocrazy.jpg
my comment kept appearing from 6pm when i tried to comment overwriting my actual comment, then a message would appear saying i had to comment on the write daily post, even though it was... and that buttons problem from the other day
that is quite crazy!
What browser you using?
desktoppy doohickey
Sorry to add to the problems list... I have a small problem with the doohickey. Since (at least) yesterday is not allowing me to 'Reply': I press de button and nothing happens, but the quickcomment does work. Only thing I did was to upgrade to FF 3.0.10 :-(
correction: it does let me reply, but only to the active thread, apprently (didn't noticed it before)
Are you replying on the thread that is showing in the pull down menu because that is the only thread you can reply in. If you want to reply to a different thread change the thread in the pull down menu and your reply button should work.
s'what its meant to do i think, stops us replying in the wrong threads
looks fine on 3.0.10 to me (just upgraded). is it that you've got the daily post for the 3rd may selected, and most comments are still trickling in on the 2nd?
that's cool. and by design. apologies for the confusion.
THat's not a bug, it's a feature. The feature that saved the doohickey.
Hi Mr gates! :D
Nice :-)
Then it's not a problem :D
I'm off for the night. See you tomorrow chaps and chapesses :)
night scott :)
ROFL
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
nope, stil ROFL
Could even become a PMSLUMWFU but I'd be on the wrong website/newsgroup
Oi! For once, the phrase is entirely accurate.
That's waaay too long to be an acronym!
Sorry, I'm slightly susceptible after a major system upgrade last night...
Not on the newsgroup it comes from...
;-)
there's a newsgroup for people who use very long acronyms?
actually... it's even an acronym is it?
PLus she missed the G - it's PMSL Until My Green Wellies Filled Up :)
*not even.
roflcopter says all that and more in far less characters?
and argh... I even missed out a couple of letters... its longer than that...
Yes it is. Christine would like the group as it's the Archers Newsgroup (uk.media.radio.archers)
They have other acronyms including TWATBILI - That Was A Typo, But I Like It.
tell me why it's an acronym.
Grrrrr. It's not an acronym I use a lot, I just know what it means.
Although for sheer beauty and brevity
PEBKAC
takes some beating :-)
Technically it's not an acronym like "LASER" or TARDIS.
Is the correct term for things like PMSLUMGWFU an abbreviation?
Thinking about it, the correct abbreviation is ILUMGWO - I'll leave you to work that one out for yourselves.
How did Flibster manage to reply to LPG on yesterday's thread?
that was what i was thinking.
he's odd.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acronym
Too late in the evening for proper English (which I was never good at anyway!)
Good night all!
Next thing you'll be telling me Which Tyler lead the Pedant's Revolt. :p
It's an acronym. But usually one uses acronyms to shorten and simplify, not to put 25 unreadable letters one behind the other!
using Desktop Doohicky too....
night gavin.
night!
i wasn't asking to correct your grammar. i was asking cause i thought you'd found a way to say the phase aloud.
good night
You've obviously never read the uk.media.radio.archers newsgroup then. :)
Some classic 2DTV featuring Bill Gates and the paperclip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-hiV0Bj49w
there comes a point in ever persons life when a smiley is more than good enough.
;)
Ah. Actually it's not designed to be read out. Just like LOL isn't, which some of my younger colleagues seem unable to understand.
No. An abbreviation is where you take a word and shorten it. You can have a few abbreviations in a row (think kt 1 pr1) but they are still abbreviations.
An acroynym is where you reduce a phrase to a series of letters or numbers (or symbols, although that's maths again :-) ) the most clearly defined being the TLA, but much much longer ones are possible and still both correct and pertinent.
(as, for example, the aforementioned acroynyms or those more often seen here such as KERS)
Although the beauty in it is in find an acroynym that is itself pronounable as a word, preferably one that either shares something in meaning with the word it becomes, or has a meaning that flies in the face of that of the word.
If that's the usual acronym standard there, I wouldn't even be able to read it :-)
i was taught it's only an acronym if it is pronounceable. not that it makes any difference in the grand scheme of things.
Which reminds me of the "Committee for the Liberation and Integration of Terrifying Organisms and their Rehabilitation Into Society" from the Polymorph episode of Red Dwarf.
Space Program's people are very good at that...
That's what he says... amazing what just a couple of years in age can mean in pronounciation terms.....
I do say lol, rofl and similar wordlike acronyms out loud... although maybe than has more to do with a) length of tenure online (in which andy is actually a *little* shorter than I am, but that's because I started with the whole MUD on prestel thing...) and b) having more friends online than in RL due to the whole RPG/LRPG thing....
Its always an acronym... but sometimes it is a synomym as well :-)
Why call a screwdriver a screwdriver when you can call it an astronaut-powered metal fastener removal/reinsertion device?
Wiki page done, bit long though: http://wiki.sidepodcast.com/page/Pat+W
ace. i shall find your first comment now.
Ta. You did a few weeks ago but I can't remember when that was.
:D :D :D
Well, they'll surely find a way to turn S.C.R.E.W. into an acronym
You'll be wanting an acrostic next :-)
Lou!!! there's a question for you (of the hugely horrid sort!!)
no worries, easy to do:
http://www.sidepodcast.com/2009/02/10/episode-93-kers-for-5-year-olds/#comment-189972
Good example of saying accronyms out loud. I love real life twitter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzetybw-aBM
Thank you sir.
I thought it was called the thing that floated away in that white bag.
:)
there's another good one we found today by the same people, called:
"we didn't start the flame war"
however it contains multiple rude words, so i shall not link here. worth a google though.
Other acronyms I like
UORL
TSSOV
TOT
there are others, but it is now late....
T'is very funny though isn't it :-)
That is ace, I'm sure I mentioned it the other day when I saw it.
The web site is collegehumor dot com :)
surprisingly accurate!
ok i think i've got 2 evilish questions... can i ask both of them?
apologies, i thought you mentioned a different collegehumor vid?
please!
yay! :D
Long as they're not elvish questions....
although.....
I have created a monster
You are in charge. You decide what to ask.
Are you sure you want to host. it's not too late to bail out.
Had to triple read that to see elvish rather than Elvis questions :(
I hate to see where we would end up with 6 degrees of separation if two took us from evil F1 to elevs to Elvis.
:D
There would have to be a scandinavian driver in there somewhere....
OK, I have to go and make my dinner or I'll die in an hour...
Good night all
Good night
Has anyone tried the Philips shavers game?
First attempt was 11.92 seconds slower than Nico
see ya.
the quiz?
You do three questions then the odd driving game thing
It's not a quiz.
Must go to bed, night all - see you at 7 for the live shows.
ahh. i saw a quiz, moved on. i try now.
Oops, forgot the questions. You can't get them wrong though, just click the answers until it tells you you're right.
I got two easy ones and a guess and got them all right.
link?
http://www.attwilliams.philips.com/
http://www.attwilliams.com/news/view/929 Link at bottom of page
I've not been online for two days. The worrying thing is that it's taken me the best part of three hours to catch up what's happened here since...
You have done well to do it in that time
sorry :(
well done for trying though. i threw the towel in ages ago.
ok, that game is too hard.
Is that all? It takes me nearly that long after work each day.
I managed to get 9.2 sconds off Nico's time and haven't got near it since.
Drop.io'd a audio file of possibly the best sounding F1 engine of all time
I can't get it to work. It just says no preview available
that's hard with a touchpad....
it's a flac file. there's no hope in hell of that working on drop.io.
could you convert to aiff, wav or mp3 flibster?
i dread to think how difficult that must be.
i've given up now. lol.
touchpad + anything = :(:(:(
agreed. surely you can't photoshop with a touchpad, lou?
photoshop with a touchpad is alright ;) but i do have a mouse. it's just downstairs on my desk in the study. i'm upstairs on my bed with the laptop :P going downstairs at this time to get a mouse would be suicidal cause mum might catch me :P
She will be asleep. Unless she is on here with another name
I obviously can't speak for lou but personally with my laptop I lasted about a week with photoshop and a touchpad, I consider myself a patient person but phew...
lol yes she is asleep, but to go downstairs i need to go past my parents room, and we have very creaky floorboards, plus i have no flat surfice to put the mouse on once it's upstairs. :)
I found the game very awkward with a mouse. After about three runs I just started getting worse and worse. I will give it another go tomorrow. I guess it would be necessary to beat Nico's time to get anywhere in the comp
ok it's really late now and time for me to get some sleep. speak to you all tomorrow! night!! x
same here, damn time flying by unexpectedly...
night lou and all :)
G'day all!
Hi Sean. V8s about to start at Winton
Yeak, I ain't really into V8's.
*Yeah
at the supermarket, buying panel snacks
Good Morning, good call! :D
Hey everyone. Whoever's clevver idea it was to wake me up at 8am is an evil, evil person
I know I said I wasn't into V8's, but I just saw on the news that the top team (Team Vodafone) is under investigation. Turns out that all Vodafone teams are cheaters after all. ;)
But this was the first round with the new tyre rules!
Besides, WRC wasn't on until 2 in the afternoon, and I had to watch some motor racing :D
New Tyre rules? Control tyres or something else?
That includes Ferrari then when they won from 2000 - 2004 + a few years after that.
Hmm what for Mr Golding?
Similar to F1, they now have a softer tyre that's up to 2 seconds a lap faster but doesn't last long. It really helped spice up the racing. Variety FTW!
Some front air splitter I think. I'm not sure, I don't know much about it. Just heard it on the news. Probably like the diffuser incident, not like the McLaren incidents.
morning everyone :)
Evening. ;)
Typical Taxi Racers - nothing original, let's just steal ideas from other series!
BTCC FTW!
I feel slightly stalkeish, I have been going through people's profiles on the Wiki :D
Caffeine addicts, if you have a Wilkinson store nearby, they're doing Red Bull multipacks for the bargaintastic 75p - for four cans.
Stocked up now for the rest of the year. Woo! :-D
Not really. It's just about a mounting system for front splitters, which they have been using for ages. Storm in teacup.
Hey check out my new blog... im new at this so please be kind :D
http://girlsviewoff1.blogspot.com/
It's a start Alex. Look forward to reading what you have to say. What are you going to start with?
Not sure yet probs start with build up to the next race. All the political action haskinda blown over already....
Cool. It's good to read everyone's point of few.
just in case you want to know, this doohickey works also behind the great china firewall :-)
Excellent - have added to my RSS reader. Looking forward to your posts :)
Thank you! :)
Looking forward to seeing what you have to say :)
Afternoon all. What time's A1GP?
Don't know why but I just tuned in to BBC1 expecting Jake... :(
http://a1gp.alkamelsystems.com/LiveTiming.html
Starts at 2 on Sky 1
Ok, thanks!
Afternoon, peeps. What's the good word? :)
Shhhh, everyone's asleep
I'll come back later then...
I wish I was asleep. So tired...
Not asleep yet, watching a bad movie
Carroll's almost there!
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75030
Borat right? :-)
What's with the article cut off at the bottom?
I'm watching the logies, I have noooo idea who most of these people are
*shuts eyes and covers ears*
Haven't seen the sprint race yet....
Na. Alien raiders
That's why I don't watch it
Just spotted that Christine dug this on Facebook:
http://www.pitlanefanatic.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=928
Now that is VERY interesting
Seeing as the budget cap comes into effect next season, this means that all teams will count as cost-regulated. Well, that is unless Ferrari decide to play ball, and when have they ever done that?
So four-wheel-drive then?
Well according to the written rule:
"Article 9.1 Transmission types :No transmission system may permit more than two wheels to be driven.This Article will not apply to Cost-Regulated Teams"
So in essence, yes 4WD is allowed!
That one thing is huge. In touring cars no one could touch the 4wds
The FIA may have just shot themselves in the foot with that rule.
Very true. Honestly I can't see them allowing it, the performance advantage is too big
Well if you're going to drive KERS through the front wheels as well as the rear wheels, you would effectively be giving the car 4WD when you use it.
Hey guys! What have I missed? :)
1. Anyone watching MotoGP?
2. Any Hatton fans out there? :D
1. I'm trying but MotoGP doesn't captivate me that much...
2. Hehehehehe.Only 2 rounds as well!
No motogp spoilers!
Yeah. 250s = awesome
Yes...
1. Lorenzo oddly seems off the pace...
2. So you watched? We're really proud of our man Pacquiao - just unbelievable. :O
Rossi just set a new circuit record as well!
Gotcha. :) let's talk about hatton instead? we just heard it on the radio - we were on the road! will watch a replay once motogp is done. pacman, though... daaaang.
A1GP live feed's up. It's showing a support race atm.
Heard it on the radio as well. I didn't intend to, but someone went to the toilet and it seemed the ideal excuse. Pacquiao simply destroyed him
Ah don't worry you can talk motogp too. It's not on here for hours yet
The moment I heard it was Pacquiao-Hatton, I quickly thought Hatton's lack of defense would mean Pacquiao would eat him alive. But to hear it as it happened was just... wow. Really amazing.
Right, just watched the Bahrain Formula1.com video.
1. Nice song!
2. In the video, who's the girl beside Richard Branson?
Thanks Chris. Nice old style cars
I'll be honest, I thought Hatton would have kept him off longer, still get beat, but definatly not that early.
oh no... what to watch.. motogp or A1gp :s...
hey btw :)
Hatton? Pacqiiano?
both?
Thats what I'm doing. ;) And hi.
both? i can't watch both hile also doing textiles.. hmm i'll watch A1gp and hope motogp will be on iplayer later.
So did I... I mean, that was lopsided.
There's a story I heard that our local wet market was accepting bets on Pacquiao-Hatton. The moment they saw Pacquiao and Hatton at the weigh-in (and specifically how much more chiseled Pacquiao was than Hatton), they closed the betting right away. Apparently, it was obvious to some even then that it wasn't even going to be close...
I'm more into cars than bikes, so A1GP for me. Never watched a race before, so should be fun!
Also, hey!
A1GP will start after MotoGP.
Yeah, they're replaying this mornings sprint race on the live feed first I think.
Bah I can't watch Moto GP. I can't explain why, it just doesn't get me interested. :(
Meh, racing's racing. I'll happily watch both. :)
Anyone know what these old single seaters are? Look like maybe old F3 machines?
i wish i'd reminded myself about a1gp at brands a few weeks ago, mum said we could go and everything :( humph.
Also, why doesn't F1
The event schedule says its the FIA Lurani Trophy. Shall investigate
2nd place nicked the win on the line! :D
Cool little cars
For those intrested, Formula 3 cars with different classes
The two that they keep showing that are battling are Lotuii
There's many more Lotii in the field as well. ;)
Look like Historic Formula Junior's
Oooh. Lotus just won. :D
Cool
I thought I spotted a front engined car there
First and second in fact.
Yeah there was one. I spotted it earlier in the race. More a Caterham/kit car than one of those little single seaters.
Looked to be around the Lotus 27 model.
So early to mid 60's
Another thing about my dad's instructor position. Not only would he have to go to Bedford, he'd also have to travel all the way to Snetterton, Oulton Park and Brands. Ahh, what a shame... :D
Oooh, wonder what's next.
They're all owned by Palmer - makes sence.
Snetterton is my favourite of that bunch - I am biased though. ;)
Opening ceremony followed by the feature race
Snetterton is epic tbh. Not a huge track, but epic nonetheless :D
Where is everyone today, anyways?
(apart from who's already here)
Beats me, usually like this on a weekend afternoon (aside from when f1 is on of course)
Brands Hatch?
Which reminds me, there is a show on tonight?
i'm somewhere underneath a heap of cloth and thread doing my textiles... i take it other people are all outside enjoying the lovely weather.
yep i think so. i'm co hosting the panel with jackie...
7pm debrief, 9pm panel (ish). christine has a cold :(
Yup - Debrief and Panel.
I'm sort of here. When I'm not doing anything else.
Aww :( Hope she feels better soon. She might have caught it from you. Just sayin', though.
Aww. It must be that 'going outside' thats been the troublemaker. Hope she gets better soon
ah no :( i blame that trip to the beach ;) you guys should know going outside can be dangerous like that :P
I'm having an 'nothing interesting to say or comment about' day :(
The live feed for A1GP is showing the cameraman messing around with the focus and zoom. :D
The countdown to the intro has started.
and now the countdown
There goes the parade bus :D
nice blog alex. don't tell ollie, but the pink reminded me of his october theme ;)
LMFAO! Rossi's gone to a portaloo on the slowing down lap! :D
good on-line coverage. I wish F1 did this
Get well soon! SideCodral time...
So no live performances of Felipe Baby then?
that's the third time you've mentioned that girl in a week journeyer. love at first sight?
i assume she's a paid floosie, someone to follow him around and look attractive. same idea mallya has.
you can say that. hahahahahaha! ;)
mallya has one??
oh well... looks like i'll have to use an online feed for a1gp. shame, i was hoping they'd show it here...
It's been a funny sort of day...
Hello all! Sorry to hear about Christine... How about a hot honey and lemmon drink?
I don't think that was ever on the cards.
Explain? :P
Wow I really do have nothing else to do today. An hour spent photoshopping a face onto a £10 note is ridiculous.
Hey Alex btw. Breaking out the Lemsip, provided they have any, would be a good idea too :P
:D drop.io?
I like these grid graphics :)
mallya has two, who follow him around, and i think sir rich has two as well.
it's the done thing for men who've let themselves go.
Have uploaded it here, someone suggested it for a joke and of course I decided to give it ago. Lead singer of Muse if people are wondering, because I'm diverse and unpredictable like that ;)
Excellent :D
That USA car's sponsored by Jim Beam. Just noticed it on the sidepod.
Good suggestions from all. I do believe that the man used up all the cold remedies we have.
It's only fair, because naturally he had the black death, and I just have the sniffles.
Like I suggested to him when he was will, orange juice and echinacea will help greatly. Both are brilliant at giving your immune system a boost :)
you are such a drama queen.
Not mixed together though. Although apparently you can get fizzing echinacea tablets in orange flavour so... :P
It doesn't really know if it's going to be sunny or not. I've not really got much in the way of a plan. And I'm not really sure what to do next... Apparently we are off to the charity shop... dropping off not picking up.
Damn enforced pitstop, if you don't need tires then why enforce the swap?
It does seem a little daft considering how short this race is.
Star Sports starts showing A1GP... in the middle of the race. Nice...
It was overcast earlier this morning but now it's brightened up and it's lovely and sunny. :)
It's an established fact that men get flu much worse than women do. That's why we have our own class of flu (Man flu) because ours is so bad...
I believe it goes regular flu that women get, swine flu that swine get, avian flu that the aviation industry gets, and then finally man flu that men get.
It's so bad that they even have to make men larger tissues!
This, I believe is fact ;)
It's only a replay of the sprint race though :)
Thank goodness for that. :)
New Zealand down to 12th. Gavin's not going to be happy...
le bol's new f1 team now have a logo. i believe that pretty much guarantees their entry into the 2010 championship.
have we seen lola's f1 logo yet? case closed.
Back up to 11th passing Liuzzi?
This answers the question about which kind of flu is worse man or women's...
http://glumbert.com/media/mancold
Of course I am only joking :)
I'm still expecting lola's logo to be a 5 minute mess about on Paint
Or the logo they already have?
have they got an email? i design one for them :P
Damn - Lebanon was looking good again. :(
And then they go out with Lebanon... Oh well.
Good driving to prevent a crash there.
Sometimes I wonder what Lebanon is still doing in A1GP...
To make up the numbers?
They have had some good drives - sadly they have also had some really bad ones.
Woo for India!
Indeed.
So Ireland wins... where does that leave them in the standings?
More bad than good, I think.
Good on India - Narain really loves Brands Hatch - knows it like the back of his hand...
8 points ahead... not bad.
In a very good posistion
Well, I got back home from my 20 km hike hike in the woods after a detour to the local hospital.
Turns out that former American VP Dick Cheney was out hunting in the same woods, so saying "I'll be right back" with an Austrian accent puts you in his crosshairs for being a "Traitor to the GOP for marrying a Kennedy..."
before or after dropping their worst result
Palmer hasn't changed in the years since I had a very nice expensive dinner with him and other members and sponsors of the Tyrrell team in Portugal.
they won't drop until after the feature - they drop the worst weekend in general...
Very nice - nice contacts you have there! :)
I'm still three rounds behind... Is it Earl Bamber today because Chris Van der Drift told me he was racing the Renault World Series at Spa this weekend...
Yup, it's Bamber.
Ireland only need 6th to clinch the title.
Christine,
What's the RSS feed for your smarterthanyouraverage blog?
Boo. MotoGP provides some of the best racing on two wheels or four. The riders are real characters too!
http://smarterthanyouraverage.com/feed/
Minus points for you! :(
but a ping on the panel, no doubt.
Yesssssss!
They were awesome when Graham Rahal drove for them!
Ta :)
True - scored some points too. But Graham is more American than Lebanese...
Are you not a fan of the bikes either? :(
He was 'grandfathered in' - literally
Hehehe, watch this :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Ln9hkXPlc&feature=related
Hello lovely ladies!
nope. but more importantly, i don't think the girl with the pinger is either.
Oooh - wanting a A1GP race in Monaco...
That would have to be a F1 support race if it was to go ahead.
Aww what a shame. It's good action, you know...
At this moment in time I'll just be happy for another A1GP race...
You unfortunate people...
If they're gonna do that, they're gonna have to host the season-ender...
Watching the Pacquiao-Hatton replay... the British chants are amazing.
Now interviewing Adam Carroll's other half...
Brands is always well attended - because it's a damn good day of racing and isn't expensive.
I would love to see mroe races in different countries - but at the moment they are going to struggle to survive sadly. :(
Good point. What a place to hold it though. On the down side - racing at Monaco sucks. :(
That's weirddd!
not interested. in bikes or biking generally. no appeal whatsoever.
i would like schumi to take it up professionally though. i heard it can be quite dangerous... ;)
oh, let's not get into that... ;)
So even if you watched a race like Laguna Seca last year, still nothing?
http://allenonf1.wordpress.com/2009/05/03/three-days-to-save-donington-gp/
ARRRRRRGGGGGH!
Looks officially doomed to me now :(
I just hope that whatever happens, we have a track that can be used for racing on...
It is the way he does it. ;)
i wouldn't bother watching it though? on a one to ten scale of interest, biking is -100.
Good.
Agreed!
always was. from the morning it was announced.
Hehehe.
Emmo doing the announcement?
Very British person...
Boo!
I like that - camera whizzing up the grid from the back after everyone has left.
50 lap race?
Thats going to be tough.
To be honest - I don't want it at Silverstone either.
I would just like Silverstone to be better.
Where do you want it?
Here we go then, for what could sadly be the last time.
where is steven? he needs to tell me we will still have a british gp next year...
Here we go.
Ireland very far forward in his grid box.
Germany has stalled...
Nowhere in the UK is suitable unless someone builds a new track.
Couple of loop the loops, jumps, bit of driving through flames...
Correction - South Africa.
Brands Hatch probably?
South Africa even...
Start aborted - Another formation lap
Knowing all the environmentalists in this country, I doubt that would happen.
:D
I also feel the same way about Monaco though. Great venue - horiffic track and facilities
what's wrong with Brands?
True. Build a track within a radius of a village/town/city and you will have complains, no doubt, and its bloomin annoying cos it has got to have nearby access
Bit too short a lap?
Same thing thats wrong with Donnington and Silverstone.
Facilities for the teams and spectators are dismal.
Also access for Brands and Donnington are terrible, plus both need to be about 20 seconds longer for F1.
GOOOO!
Boo!
India out! :(
No 2nd podium for Narain - he goes out at Turn 1...
Here comes the safety car.
The ugliest of all safety cars.
NOOO! Not China as well... :(
but it's the racing that matters really surely? Plus Brands is great for watching the track action.
you've clearly never sat in a queue following a grand prix!
BTW, Love the Brendan Hartley pic on F1 Minute :)
Partially - if it takes you 2 hours to get in and another 3 hours to get out whats the point of going?
Silverstone actually got to be quite good at this bit with the new road system.
Donnington and their no car policy was just plain stupid.
In Europe that would be considered normal to bus in and bus out...
Britain's far from normal, though.
to which circuits?
SC in this lap.
i've sat in a few queues following races at Brands, a good few hours we were in the queues, but it didn't really matter to me back then cause i'd had a good day out... maybe it would be different for me now though. but yeah you're right i've not been to a gp so can't really judge what it would be like.
To events, not necessarily circuits.
to me that's unacceptable and would ruin a day out.
honestly atm i'd sit in a queue for hours if it meant i could see a live grand prix. that's probably because i would do anything to see one though :P
Hmm, Bernie should have the British Grand Prix at the Hungaroring as I think he still ownes the circuit and could make every single peeny of the race. The national Hungarian GP would be held at the circuit....
There is nothing in the rule books that says that the Race has to be held on circuit that is in the country that is hosting the race is there?
oh.
CUPCAKE ALERT!!!
http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed/http://www.cnet.com/8300-13952_1-81.xml
It's when you are in the queue on the way in - with the circuit radio on listening to the support races on that - and being able to hear the live engine noises outside. :(
Going back to the safety car...
I can't understand whats wrong with Ferrari road cars at the moment.
Technically magnificent - but just dreadful to look at.
Last attractive Ferrari roadcar was many years ago - they're just not stylish enough. Aston have hit it exactly right recently too.
In my street. Road's a bit bumpy and my house is a terraced house so we can all come together as a pit complex, but it'd be better than Donington that's for sure.
Hooray for New Zealand! :D
I'm not keen on the newer Ferraris either but today I saw a 360 and a 550 in the flesh and they still look magnificent!
550 isn't bad - the bonnet intake makes it look a bit like a pig. But the 360 has a pair of nostrils that challenge Kenneth Williams'
Netherlands hearly hit Germany in the pitlane. Germany on the way in and Netherlands on the way out.
Autosport International for example.
Interesting camera angle... Behind the steering wheel.
Where the plonky bollards did that come from?
GBR fastest lap!
What the hell has happened to him? Now overtaking?!
we drove to autosport, parked and wandered into the venue. no buses used.
Me and my dad have always parked and then taken a bus to the venue.
Parked at the NEC though?
Parking in the wrong place then. ;)
Lat time I went all I had was a 5 minute hobble. Just parked with everyone else even though I was on crutches.
I'm sure I did that one year for the Caravan show...
Sounds like the Ferrari engines are eating exhausts at this race.
it is an option. as there is an option to bus your way to silverstone.
the important thing is you have the opportunity to drive too.
Yeah
What happened to the feed?
Still there.
Never mind, it's back after a quick refresh.
so you drove to the venue. then took the bus a couple of hundred yards?
that's not what simon was proposing for donny. quite the opposite in fact.
Race for 3rd is looking goof.
Switzerland, Portugal and Monaco. If Portugal finished ahead of Switzerland, they take 2nd in the championship.
Germany out now.
Malaysia now in the gravel.
Not in a good position either - will need to move the car quickly
Very slow stop for iteland.
Looks like they had an issue with something stuck on the the front wing
But Netherlands got baulked by GBR as they exited their pitbox... so Ireland took the lead back. Barring a disaster, they should get the title.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivjybzdXVmI&feature=channel_page
He says "You won't get that on United Airlines" - I'd wager there'd be few others you'd get a rapping flight attendant on too!
That's awesome!
LOL!
Telemetry shows Carroll already on his last lap!
Last corner!
WOOHOO!
Well done Ireland!
Well done, Team Ireland! :)
IRELAND WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINS! :D
Amazing. A couple of seasons ago they couldn't score to save their lives and now they've won it! WD Ireland!
I think there may be some drunk Irish people at Brands later on... :D
Scratch that - some more drunk Irish people. ;)
Agreed! Now let's hope they get a chance to defend their title next season.
you think a1gp is finally over?
Sadly yes. No money, no sponsors, little support - it's not a good outlook!
i hope not, but let's face it - it's not looking good for them, is it?
texeira did say they were in advanced planning, though - let's see what they come up with.
In 2009 the numbers just don't justify such a fantastic idea and great racing, unfortunately.
That's the end of A1GP right there. No way could they afford to correct the errors and keep running.
GP2> A1GP
What a lovely trophy that is.
Unusual, but lovely.
Perhaps they could secure a little credit for the administrators by selling A1GP Hankies for the fans to cry into...
Ain't gonna happen. It is utterly impractical
Funny, yet sad, yet true...
go on...
Heavy as well
Steven, when you have caught up with our timezone, can you recall who tried it? I seen to recall Lotus trying it in the late 60's but the Engineers decided that wings were better (and the drivers didn't like 4WD anyway)?
I'd love to see it continue - the amount of money they have to pay Ferrari must be astronomical though.
in fairness, they had plenty of time to sort out those errors when the economy was booming.
they should be in a position of strength now :(
1. You lose power with the extra gearing/differential required
2. It uses more fuel
3. Extra weight
4. Drivers didn't like it...
but the original owners lost interest. having to sell out to texeira cost them time...
i understand the reasons. i still think that had a golden opportunity... and blew it.
any idea if any kers recovery from the front wheels can then be applied to the rear drive train?
1969 - Lotus 63
Was described by Graham Hill as a deathtrap.
9 races and no points.
Developments from that car ended up in the 72 - which is the most successful F1 car of all time. 5 years of success and 5 championship wins.
I think Sheikh Muhammed Haser Makhtoum Makhtoum Makhtoum Al-Makthoum Haser Makhtoum Makhtoum (correct me if I'm wrong there ;) ) had the plan to set up the thing and then sell it straight away. I don't think he lost interest at all...
Right - early night for me, then. Tiring day today plus having to work Asia hours does that.
Enjoy the live show. :)
Night Journeyer
He also wanted to enter it and race and didn't think that he could while he owned it.
Wouldn't you need to have some kind of generator at the front wheels somehow? Other than attaching it to the brakes, I don't know how you would do that...
Right... so what are we all up to then?
just applied for some top gear tickets... apart from that just textiles and revision.
But you already got some for QI. Not fair ;)
Hope you get em then. And enjoy it if you do
Awesome! (the top gear tickets that is) :D
Moi, rugby union on the tv and rugby league on the computer,
I'm going to help cook curry in a bit after the chicken's finished defrosting in the microwave, then I might have a bash on the 360 ahead of the Debrief. :)
hehe you should be a member of the applause store if you want some tickets for bbc things :P
yep me too... although i can't imagine they will be as easy to get as the Qi ones..
We will have a GP at Silverstone next year. I said it the day Donington was announced an I have never wavered for a second on it. Gillett will write Bernie a nice fat cheque to get out of his contract assuming he has any money and the BRDC will be on a final warning.
Absolutely nothing. Bah.
"I'll take a tenner now that the British Grand Prix will be here next year," Gillet told the Express.
Quote of the day :D
Brands won the contact ten years ago and ended up paying a forfeit fee because th couldn't make it happen. More chance of it being at Rockingham then Brands.
They have a policy that the audience has to be 50-50 regarding gender. I take it you'd go with your dad?
In a sense what Bernie has done has worked - because Silverstone FINALLY are upgrading the facilities to host the MotoGP round.
It could never meet modern safety requirements and would never get planning permission to make the mods it needs.
For the GP circuit you'd need alot more run off, space that Brands just dosen't have, and frankly, it would ruin it a bit for club races at the like. The best bit about Brands is that your so close to the cars, but you'd loose that if run off areas were made silverstone sized and bigger
And yet I'm confident that even without seeing the A1GP today that Brands Hatch is the most exciting racetrack in the UK...
What just happened in the GT race?
Medical car on track!
Have you got a video feed anywhere?
Was the A1GP feed - but they have just rewound it all the way back to the interviews...
I replied on the pitlane fanatic thread but th bottom line is so long as all the engines are near identical it would be insane to build in all the mechanical losses from a 4 wheel drive system. You also have to consider the excess weight, how you are going to route a propshaft to the front axle and install front drive shafts. That would totally screw up the aero and add a stack of weight and mechanical loss. Ain't gonna happen.
Runnig KERS on the front wheels might be possible but aerodynamically it would probably be a disaster too.
Quite a few F1 teams tried it starting with the Ferguson system and through to Lotus and others. They had a lot of problems because at that time they did not have the technology to vary the amount of power to the front and rear wheels so handling was difficult to say the least. I know a lot of drivers got spooked because they were used to steering the rear wheels with the throttle so when they got into a corner and tried that with 4WD the whole car stepped sideways and at that time drivers were a bit keener to avoid accidents so something that felt unnatuarl like that was to be avoided.
I suggest you read his reply - it's very good:
Exactly right. Everyone at Silverstone on the say it was announced from Damon Hill down said they would carry on with their plans so that if Donington didn't work out they would be ready. No-one outside of Gillett and co thought this would work. Bernie knew exactlywhat he was doing.
I just hope that after all this that we still have a Donington Circuit!
And I reckon by Bernie talking down Silverstone's chances, it spurs them on even more to make them and keep the GP.
Haven't they already started digging it up to lay the new surface?
Also demolished a grandstand or two...
And the Dunlop Bridge...
Thing is, I just can't see the Wheatcroft family letting it end this way...
There are quite a few replies on a couple of topics I have discussed over there in thepast couple of days. I need to find time to read a bit more of their content because it is of a very high standard.
It will revert to Tom Wheatcroft and carry on as normal. Wheatcroft is currently suing Gillet for $2.4 million in unpaid rent so may get the circuit back real soon before any real damage is done. Wheatcroft is a mate of Bernie's so they probably cooked the deal up together. Wheatcroft gets some work done on the track for free. Bernie gets a defaul fee. The BRDC gets a shot across its bows. Everyones a winner apart from Gillet who is a mug.
Is it just the panel tonight or will there be a debrief too?
7-ish?
Continuing on from walking on custard...
Mythbusters on Discovery +1 are swimming through syrup. :D
I disagree with that because Wheatcroft fought tooth and nail to get the Grand Prix in 1993 and I am sure he would like nothing more than to see another one there - that would be his legacy.
Brainiac did that
I've got an awesome idea for an F1 parody song now! :D
It is worth asking the question what if Wheatcroft had announced he was going to pull down the Dunlop bridge and a few other landmarks without the GP contract in place. The guy would have got pelters for destroying the history of the track. Instead he gets what he wanted in the first place potentially. Gillett gets all the grief and the bills for the modernisation. Wheatcroft gets his track in the condition he wanted it and Bernie can claim to have saved the British GP.
I read an interview with him in Motor Sport a couple of years ago and he was moaning about how much the GP cost him and how he didn't want another one. He put a lot of effort in to get the 93 race but I think he discovered that the downside was more than he anticipated.
That's assuming the track will still be upgraded - didn't the contractors walk off the job because they weren't getting paid?
Lou was looking for Lola contact info earlier. Try http://www.lolacars.com/
Hmm... didn't know that!
He has a right to feel bitter because only 30,000 people turned up. The weather was shocking - but what do you know? host a GP in April in the UK and it rains domesticated animals!
Apparently he expected 100,000 to turn up - which sounds a lot, but I can believe it because in 1996 they still had a stack of mint unsold programmes.
He would have lost a lot of money on that event, I am sure :(
Yes but they have started some of the work and all the plans have been drawn up and planning permission granted etc all with Gillet paying the bills. Now the building industry is in a mess Wheatcroft can get the job done for a fraction of the price.
Indeed. How very Bernie-esque.
I thought the Planning Permissions wasnt guaranteed yet?
There is a council meeting soon about it.
WHAT! no dunlop bridge! ... I'm extremely disappointed now, and more importantly that's the only landmark on the track other than the stands at the pit straight. It's like removing casino from Monte-Carlo.
Don't know. All I can tell you is that he got permission to start the work, but the planning process is loong and drawn-out...
I'm trying to compose a parody of the theme song to Fresh Prince of Bel Air all about Brawn GP :D
now that will be brilliant!
I would suggest anyone who is going to be on the sidepodpanel tonight reads the section called my biggest mistake in my wiki page.
http://wiki.sidepodcast.com/page/Steven+Roy
I've already got the opening verse, a chorus and the first part of the second verse. ;)
The bridge will be re-built on the site just not over the track. Aparently FOM did not like the idea of a huge Dunlop advert when Bridgestone is their sole supplier.
XD hahaha.
just to make it clear... i have 2 evil questions for everyone. i say evil... they may be easy for you. i've no idea. :)
So we've got 3 killer questions! oh lord.
curry time. in a bit :D
Typical...
Do we have any pre show preperation?
My monster turns up at just the right time. What have i done?
Check http://wiki.sidepodcast.com/page/Next+Week%27s+Panellists and read the last paragraph
Oooooooh I like a challenge. :P
ok, cool.
erm.... not really... maybe have your imagination ready?
:D Maverick is a brilliant writer .. please don't suggest he gets his own blog, I'd be lost without him
Make sure you've been to the loo? ;)
Brilliant, are yu going to sing it?
Planning permission was granted in January but it was dependant on Gillett signing a section 106 agreement. This is a guarantee that a transport management plan will be prepared before every major event at the track, and that construction traffic should not pass through nearby villages. However, despite construction beginning a few months ago, the agreement remains unsigned and the council is not happy to say the least.
On May 5th, just over week from now, the council will review its planning decision and, according to the local press, officers will recommend that councillors refuse planning permission if the agreement stays unsigned by the end of the month.
http://wiki.sidepodcast.com/page/Steven+Roy
Ooh err, haha
Good cop bad cop?
wilco :D
:)
how many questions have you got to ask btw?
This is also the document that Wheatcroft is refusing to sign because he has not received rent. Gillett as the leaseholder has to sign it and Wheatcroft as the freeholder has to sign it. Of course if Gillet defaults it only requires Wheatcroft to sign both sections.
I have 3 + the one killer but I could do more if necessary
I'll send you a PM on twitter
okay :)
Right. I'm off to get some food. See you for the debrief!
I can sing what I've got if you want. I might do one to the short version of the song and do the full one at a later date, maybe tomorrow.
It would be cool if someone could find the theme song for me to sing along to, but it is kinda short notice.
I have a link to download the full theme song but I dunno if it';s allowed to go posting it here... :S
pm over the wiki?
I'll upload it on drop.io for you Scott
If it has lyrics, I'll have to take them out on Audacity.
Ah, no idea about an instrumental :( I'll take a look though where it could be
agreed, really good posts these past couple of weeks.
Evening everyone... Just a quick message to say that sadly I won't be able to join you tonight :(
But I will watch the live rebroadcast in full! So remember to read out the best comments because it's hard to follow along again afterwards :)
That's a shame, still I hope you enjoy whatever you're up to
Ahh that sucks :(
A live show isn't a true live show without Giggles. :(
:( aww that's a shame. i hope you enjoy the show when you watch it though :)
Okay Scott, it's your turn to choose the lap challenge this week. :)
Enjoy what you be a doing tonight Mr Giggles, might as well takes this opportunity to say i will most likely miss the panel.
The giggles rap guy won't be able to provide songs? :(
*is hoping his Xbox returns by a week today*
Must get back into the competition!
Oooh I won, cool.
Erm, OK...we haven't done Spa yet so I say we run there in the Audi R10. :)
Nordschleife in something with evil nasty handling?
Don't worry - there wasn't much competition for this one!
Your live post awaits:
http://www.sidepodcast.com/2009/05/03/live-the-quietest-weekend-in-formula-1/
*searches for F1 levels on little big planet*
perhaps I should make a Sidepodcast level...
Seems like the field is crowded already with everyone running into each other - how many more teams are going to be allowed to join??? Also, what's up with the arrogance from the FIA to tell Ferrari to gth if they don't like the new money cap? I really don't want to see F1 getting NASCARized (is that a verb?), that would be a travesty and aweful business strategy just to make a quick buck.