Now that snow really isn't dominating the headlines anymore, I'm not sure what we're going to talk about. Just kidding, there's still plenty going on in the F1 world. Here are just a few topics:

  • The FIA and FOTA are bigging up cost cutting again, with Max suggesting many standard parts with just certain areas for development will be the way forward. He also thinks they won't be taking away the in-season testing ban anytime soon. Boo.
  • Although we know categorically that Peter Windsor isn't interested in this USF1 idea, it is an interesting concept. What new teams or old ones could resurface and fill up the grid? Which familiar faces would we see return?
  • Apparently, FOTA are starting to look at the intial results of a major market research initiative they undertook. I heard nothing about this. Anyone else approached for a spot of F1 research? I wonder who they polled.

Talking of polls, don't forget to register your vote in the latest Character Cup, if you haven't already, and if you feel like sharing, let us know which way you chose and why. I'll see you in the comments.

248 responses

  • me05/02/2009 at 00:11

    Although we know categorically that Peter Windsor isn’t interested in this USF1 idea, it is an interesting concept

    i think "categorically" might be overstating it. we become more confident with each passing minute though :)

  • Alianora La Canta05/02/2009 at 00:28

    One thing's for sure - FOTA didn't ask me for my opinion!

  • me05/02/2009 at 00:32

    how long has james allen been writing for the FT then?

    "By James Allen and Roger Blitz"

    link (subs req): http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d64a4742-f25b-11dd-9678-0000779fd2ac,Authorised=false.html

  • me05/02/2009 at 00:49

    how grateful are we the bbc took f1?

    "Way to cock it up ITV. Cut to ads during the last 3 minutes of extra time and miss the only goal of the match. At least the BBC now have F1."

    http://twitter.com/lewishenson/statuses/1177957440

    sounds strangely familiar :)

    moyles also chipped in (although he's biased, clearly):

    http://twitter.com/CHRISDJMOYLES/status/1177881546

  • Bassano Clapper05/02/2009 at 02:12

    Shameless (but useful) Apple App Store plugs

    (iPhone & iPod Touch)

    Time Lapse Photography:

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    Test your hearing:

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    p.s. Permalink and other coding guidance, or a linkages, would be useful somewhere on the site

  • Bassano Clapper05/02/2009 at 02:19

    Are Williams supposed to be holding onto Hamleys sponsorship - can't remember?

    "Baugur on brink of administration"

    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6698b058-f2a3-11dd-abe6-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1

  • Alex Andronov05/02/2009 at 08:34

    By the way... On the football last night I have been informed this morning that the anchor on the show was none other than Steve Ryder who had to spend about 20 minutes appologising.

    He must believe he's cursed!

  • Dank05/02/2009 at 08:46

    On the football last night I have been informed this morning that the anchor on the show was none other than Steve Ryder who had to spend about 20 minutes appologising.

    Steve 'we make no apologies' Ryder, making an apology? Gadzooks! :-D

  • Dank05/02/2009 at 09:11

    i think “categorically” might be overstating it. we become more confident with each passing minute though

    "I've seen something that I wonder if Stuart hasn't." - Ross Stonefield on the Autosport forums.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 09:47

    I’ve seen something that I wonder if Stuart hasn’t.” - Ross Stonefield on the Autosport forums.

    I'm sorry, that's a bit too cryptic for me - care to elaborate?

  • Lukeh05/02/2009 at 09:48

    By the way… On the football last night I have been informed this morning that the anchor on the show was none other than Steve Ryder who had to spend about 20 minutes appologising.

    Thatw as hilarious.

    ITV was a complete shambles last night.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 09:49

    Thatw as hilarious.

    ITV was a complete shambles last night.

    What happened?

  • Lukeh05/02/2009 at 09:51

    What happened?

    26th minute of extra time between Everton and Liverpool in the FA Cup, the game went to adverts and everton scored during the adverts (and turned out to be the winner), then they had a technical glitch getting back to the game, then it was too late by the time it got back. They showed the last few minutes, had a few more technical problems, then cue steve ryder after the match constantly apologising. then as the match program went off, ITV froze for a few minutes, it was entertaining viewing :D

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 09:54

    What happened?

    Everton beat Liverpool 1-0 in stoppage time - and ITV missed the winning goal.

    Why?

    They were showing commercials.

    Steve Ryder IS cursed. :D

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 09:54

    26th minute of extra time between Everton and Liverpool in the FA Cup, the game went to adverts and everton scored during the adverts (and turned out to be the winner), then they had a technical glitch getting back to the game, then it was too late by the time it got back. They showed the last few minutes, had a few more technical problems, then cue steve ryder after the match constantly apologising. then as the match program went off, ITV froze for a few minutes, it was entertaining viewing

    Adverts during the football? Is North One doing the football now the F1 has gone?

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 09:56

    I’m sorry, that’s a bit too cryptic for me - care to elaborate?

    Seconded. So he saw something that Stuart hasn't seen? Must mean none of us have seen it then. But the sentence construction just gets me all confused.

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 09:58

    Adverts during the football? Is North One doing the football now the F1 has gone?

    Yup, methinks so. After all, ITV did let go of F1 to concentrate on football. And we F1 fans are all the better for it. ;)

  • me05/02/2009 at 10:12

    Steve ‘we make no apologies’ Ryder, making an apology? Gadzooks!

    :D

    :D

  • me05/02/2009 at 10:15

    I’ve seen something that I wonder if Stuart hasn’t.” - Ross Stonefield on the Autosport forums.

    this is fun :)

  • Alex Andronov05/02/2009 at 10:15

    It must have been a technical problem. They aren't allowed to break like that.

  • Alex Andronov05/02/2009 at 10:20

    My guess is that it's this:

    http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/04/usf1-exclusive-the-pitch-behind-the-american-f1-team/

  • Alex Andronov05/02/2009 at 10:20

    via Keith @ F1F

  • Dank05/02/2009 at 10:29

    ITV's football mess-up on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qUx3RPdlcM :-D

  • me05/02/2009 at 10:39

    ITV’s football mess-up on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qUx3RPdlcM

    that went very wrong, didn't it!

  • Selidor05/02/2009 at 10:45

    ITV’s football mess-up on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qUx3RPdlcM :-D

    I actually saw the goal live on tv - my signal went to the Eon sponsership thing, went black for a few seconds, and then reverted to the game.

    Another article comparing this mis-hap to F1:

    http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/early-doors/article/131321/

  • me05/02/2009 at 11:12

    Another article comparing this mis-hap to F1:

    i think f1 fans finally drew a long straw :)

  • me05/02/2009 at 11:28

    didn't know this about ferrari:

    "[In the past] Ferrari committed a lot to testing because they had a special budget from Bridgestone, rumoured to be around £20 million per season, to carry out tyre development tests. Of course they would test all manner of new things on the car at the same time."

    http://allenonf1.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/schuey-on-ferraris-testing-plans/

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 11:35

    didn’t know this about ferrari:

    But we knew that Bridgestone made them their number 1 team, right?

    The complaint used to be that Bridgestone were making tyres that only suited Ferrari - that's why a lot of teams switched to Michelin...

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 11:36

    i think f1 fans finally drew a long straw

    I certainly have no problem with football getting bad coverage - it makes a nice change!

  • toxicfusion05/02/2009 at 11:36

    didn’t know this about ferrari:

    “[In the past] Ferrari committed a lot to testing because they had a special budget from Bridgestone, rumoured to be around £20 million per season, to carry out tyre development tests. Of course they would test all manner of new things on the car at the same time.”

    Intresting, but not really that suprising that the team was being paid to test tyres, as they were only front running team using the Bridgestone compound at the time.

    Why not test other components at the same time?

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 11:39

    Why not test other components at the same time?

    Depends on your testing methodology and whether you are testing the new stuff because of the tyres or as well as the tyres.

    Clever stuff from Ferrari - and you know Schumi tested until the cows came home (and had gone to sleep). It just shows how they gained such an advantage for so long :-)

  • Alianora La Canta05/02/2009 at 11:45

    Cut to ads during the last 3 minutes of extra time and miss the only goal of the match. {Lewis Henson - 27 comments ago}

    That would be against OFCOM's regulations as well as bad for the viewers. Football, unlike F1, has predefined breaks. Therefore it is subject to clause a) of Rule 6.7 of OFCOM’s Rules On The Amount And Distribution of Advertising, which says that sports with pre-defined breaks may only have adverts in those breaks.

  • Alianora La Canta05/02/2009 at 11:49

    the game went to adverts and everton scored during the adverts (and turned out to be the winner), then they had a technical glitch getting back to the game, then it was too late by the time it got back. They showed the last few minutes, had a few more technical problems, then cue steve ryder after the match constantly apologising. then as the match program went off, ITV froze for a few minutes, it was entertaining viewing {Lukeh - 17 comments ago}

    Oops! Good thing nobody at home was watching ITV last night, as they appear to have had an absolutely appaling evening of "hiccups".

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 11:50

    That would be against OFCOM’s regulations as well as bad for the viewers. Football, unlike F1, has predefined breaks. Therefore it is subject to clause a) of Rule 6.7 of OFCOM’s Rules On The Amount And Distribution of Advertising, which says that sports with pre-defined breaks may only have adverts in those breaks.

    Interesting... In NZ, Sky TV had the exclusive rights to show all the rugby. But they had to give coverage to a free-to-air channel, which delayed the coverage and had ad breaks while the game was running. The footage was 'frozen', however.

    How do they do ad breaks in sports in the US? In Indycar and NASCAR they tend to wait for the yellow flags, right? How do they do it for ballsports?

  • Alianora La Canta05/02/2009 at 11:53

    didn’t know this about ferrari:

    “[In the past] Ferrari committed a lot to testing because they had a special budget from Bridgestone, rumoured to be around £20 million per season, to carry out tyre development tests. Of course they would test all manner of new things on the car at the same time.” {me quoting James Allen - 7 comments ago}

    Paul Stoddart revealed it in February 2005, so it's not particularly news. But back then there were few testing restrictions, so nobody was in much of a position to complain until Ferrari started blocking attempts to reduce testing.

  • toxicfusion05/02/2009 at 11:55

    Depends on your testing methodology and whether you are testing the new stuff because of the tyres or as well as the tyres.

    I guess unless Ferrari come out say what they were doing, we will never know.

    If any other team was in the situation Ferrari where they could test new stuff as well as the tyres they would and be have the costs of the tests covered by someone else. I'm sure they would do the same.

  • Alianora La Canta05/02/2009 at 11:59

    Interesting… In NZ, Sky TV had the exclusive rights to show all the rugby. But they had to give coverage to a free-to-air channel, which delayed the coverage and had ad breaks while the game was running. The footage was ‘frozen’, however. {Gavin Brown - 2 comments ago}

    Confusingly, OFCOM has three different rules for advert breaks in sports, depending on what sort of sport is broadcast.

    Sports with pre-defined breaks can only have adverts in those breaks.

    Sports without such breaks can have adverts at any time the focus switches from one thing to another, provided no major events are happening at the time the "adverts button" is pressed. (If something happens two seconds after it's pressed, then too bad - there is no rule that forces the ad break to be stopped apart from the general ones preventing any single ad break being longer than 2 3/4 minutes or there being more than 9 minutes of ad break per hour).

    If it is a sport that has no such switches of focus or always has major action happening in it, then in theory ads can be placed whenever the broadcaster likes subject to the general rules being followed.

  • Jeremy05/02/2009 at 12:00

    how long has james allen been writing for the FT then?

    He co-wrote Mansell’s best selling autobiography in 1995 and in 1998 he followed it up with a second book: Michael Schumacher, Driven to Extremes. His biography of Schumacher, The Edge of Greatness was published in 2007 and is considered the definitive book on the seven times world champion. James has also been the F1 correspondent for the Financial Times since 1999.

    from:

    http://allenonf1.wordpress.com/about/

  • me05/02/2009 at 12:01

    James has also been the F1 correspondent for the Financial Times since 1999.

    oh.

  • Alianora La Canta05/02/2009 at 12:08

    I can't go to text processing class today because the campus I study it at is shut :(

  • me05/02/2009 at 12:10

    I can’t go to text processing class today because the campus I study it at is shut

    apparently the countries running low on salt :D

  • Alex Andronov05/02/2009 at 12:11

    apparently the countries running low on salt

    But we are chock full of British grit.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 12:12

    I can’t go to text processing class today because the campus I study it at is shut

    What the heck is 'text processing class'???

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 12:13

    But we are chock full of British grit.

    Alltogether now:

    "Land of Hope and Glory..."

  • me05/02/2009 at 12:13

    But we are chock full of British grit.

    :D

  • Rishi05/02/2009 at 12:26

    Some nice news for Christine...

    Bourdais is testing for STRnext week in Jerez!

    Optimism?

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73129

    :)

  • Christine05/02/2009 at 12:27

    Some nice news for Christine…

    Woohoo!

  • Rishi05/02/2009 at 12:27

    Woohoo!

    :D:D

  • me05/02/2009 at 12:28

    Bourdais is testing for STRnext week in Jerez!

    Optimism?

    that is an actual fact, right there.

    finally!

  • Rishi05/02/2009 at 12:30

    I know about time really!

    He definitely deserves it...

    Plus now STR continue with their Sebastienism!

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 12:32

    My guess is that it’s this:

    Just saw it now, too. Means one of two things:

    1. PW's non-denial may have more to it than it seems.

    2. Autoblog may have been led down the proverbial garden path. Their article doesn't have much in the way of sources to point to.

    If I were to guess now, I'd still lean towards the latter. If anything F1-related were going on, Stuart and co. would've gotten a whiff of it already and dropped hints for us. Nothing of the sort at this stage.

    BTW, I love this comment on the Autoblog entry:

    "Ah yes, an optimistic view. You have me almost convinced it could happen. Kind of the same feeling I get when I buy a few Super Lotto tickets with my change at the gas station."

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 12:35

    Interview with Bruno Senna (from Crash.net)

    Interesting... I for one would like to see him in F1 - it would be very interesting...

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 12:40

    Mark Webber "Rehab" Pics (Planet-F1)

    The first picture is especially amusing - but interesting nonetheless...

  • Stuart C05/02/2009 at 12:42

    oh.

    I'd also add – and this is a personal view here – that James is a very diligent journalist. I know you don't have to look far on the internet to find people who didn't like his commentary, but (like Murray Walker before him) he made it his business to stay informed. He was often one of the first people in the media centre of a morning, beavering away on his FT stuff, and he attended as many press conferences as possible – asking sensible, relevant, probing questions. I'm very glad he's still around.

  • Stuart C05/02/2009 at 12:46

    “I’ve seen something that I wonder if Stuart hasn’t.”

    Maybe Ross has...

    This is the sort of point where Bradley would cite Occam's Razor.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 12:47

    I know you don’t have to look far on the internet to find people who didn’t like his commentary, but (like Murray Walker before him) he made it his business to stay informed.

    I won't be popular for saying this, but I don't care. When you move away from a country that bought the ITV feed (race & qual action only), you appreciate that he wasn't that bad as a commentator. It was a very difficult job to follow Murray, and yes he made mistakes, but I think he did a good job.

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 12:51

    It was a very difficult job to follow Murray, and yes he made mistakes, but I think he did a good job.

    I'll be brutal here:

    Other commentators did worse (make that A LOT worse), but it doesn't take away from the fact that James did a bad job as a commentator. It's just not made for him.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 13:01

    I’ll be brutal here:

    Other commentators did worse (make that A LOT worse), but it doesn’t take away from the fact that James did a bad job as a commentator. It’s just not made for him.

    Accepted.

    But - let's wait and see how the BBC guy (Legard?) does first...

  • me05/02/2009 at 13:04

    I’ll be brutal here:

    Other commentators did worse (make that A LOT worse), but it doesn’t take away from the fact that James did a bad job as a commentator. It’s just not made for him.

    agreed. square peg n'all that.

    i don't care how bad other f1 commentators are, that doesn't make JA a better one. he wasn't very good at his job and we gave him a deserved amount of grief for that.

    like stuart though, i'm glad he's sticking around.

  • me05/02/2009 at 13:08

    But - let’s wait and see how the BBC guy (Legard?) does first…

    why? if he's rubbish, then get someone else in.

    i understand why croftie was overlooked by the beeb and why legard got the gig, but if the man doesn't cut it by mid-season, swap the two around.

    if allen was a commentator, you'd have been calling for his p45 years ago. why should we have to put up with mediocre?

  • me05/02/2009 at 13:08

    if allen was a commentator

    oops, i meant driver :)

  • me05/02/2009 at 13:16

    But - let’s wait and see how the BBC guy (Legard?) does first…

    some time ago, maybe before you was a listener, we did a round-trip across the globe to see who liked their commentary teams, and the general consensus was britain had it really good and pretty much everyone is hopeless in one way or another.

    however, as much as we appreciate there are people worse off than ourselves, we'll still moan like hell if ours isn't good enough :)

  • Christine05/02/2009 at 13:20

    we did a round-trip across the globe to see who liked their commentary teams...

    Well, we asked. We didn't actually take the trip.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 13:52

    some time ago, maybe before you was a listener, we did a round-trip across the globe to see who liked their commentary teams, and the general consensus was britain had it really good and pretty much everyone is hopeless in one way or another.

    Hmm, I think I heard a couple of these before when I was lurking :-)

    however, as much as we appreciate there are people worse off than ourselves, we’ll still moan like hell if ours isn’t good enough

    Absolutely, and I have no problem with that. I used to moan too until I moved to Denmark ;-)

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 13:54

    why? if he’s rubbish, then get someone else in.

    i understand why croftie was overlooked by the beeb and why legard got the gig, but if the man doesn’t cut it by mid-season, swap the two around.

    if allen was a commentator, you’d have been calling for his p45 years ago. why should we have to put up with mediocre?

    Agreed. I am just reserving judgement on the BBC until I see and hear it.

  • Kathi05/02/2009 at 13:54

    @Gavin

    What is the cheapest way to get from Stockholm to Copenhagen?

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 13:56

    What is the cheapest way to get from Stockholm to Copenhagen?

    Not sure. The car bridge has a toll, but there is a train from Gothenburg which is pretty good. You may even be able to fly quite cheaply (Cimber Air?)

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 14:07

    What is the cheapest way to get from Stockholm to Copenhagen?

    I haven't actually been to Sweden yet but I have plans to take a day trip skiing very soon!

  • Kathi05/02/2009 at 14:13

    I haven’t actually been to Sweden yet but I have plans to take a day trip skiing very soon!

    There is a conference in Copenhagen I want to attend, but at the moment it seems all a bit expensive. I can get to Stockholm for less than €30 but then I'm stuck :)

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 14:14

    What is the cheapest way to get from Stockholm to Copenhagen?

    My wife is a travel agent and she had a quick look for you. She said:

    well I am just looking at a random date 01 apr...

    SAS has got fares starting at dkk 403...for a oneway

    Norwegian is starting at dkk 191 + taxes...

    So I would say take a plane...

  • Kathi05/02/2009 at 14:21

    My wife is a travel agent and she had a quick look for you. She said:

    Thank you.

    Norwegian looks good. A pity that they don't fly to Finland

  • me05/02/2009 at 14:22

    a minor distraction:

    http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/01/problem-with-phone-orders.html

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 14:27

    a minor distraction:

    That's fantastic!

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 14:40

    More on the FA Cup Ad blunder thingy

    Frankly, I am quite glad it's a mainstream sport that has coverage issues for a change :-)

  • me05/02/2009 at 14:43

    Frankly, I am quite glad it’s a mainstream sport that has coverage issues for a change

    amazed they only got 1,000 complaints.

    just you wait, that show will win an award come the end of the year :)

  • Lukeh05/02/2009 at 14:46

    just you wait, that show will win an award come the end of the year

    It was the best coemdy I've seen ITV come up with for a while so bravo to them

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 14:55

    That’s fantastic!

    HAHAHAHA!

    Okay...

    HAHAHAHA!

  • Stuart C05/02/2009 at 15:19

    In other news, and enormously off-topic, this has caused great amusement (Christian Bale losing his temper with a member of the crew on the Terminator 4 set):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9KFiFPrO9s

    There is some bad language.

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 15:24

    In other news, and enormously off-topic, this has caused great amusment (Christian Bale losing his temper with a member of the crew on the Terminator 4 set):

    Apparently, it's relatively old, but it's the first time I've heard it.

    Some - no make that a lot of - crisp words there.

  • Stuart C05/02/2009 at 15:27

    Some - no make that a lot of - crisp words there.

    His diction is very peculiar. Reminds me of that exchange in a Roger Moore Bond (For Your Eyes Only maybe?)...

    Contessa: Ooops, me nightie's slipping.

    Bond: So's your accent!

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 15:28

    His diction is very peculiar.

    Sounds like a confused British-Australian-American hybrid.

  • Alex Andronov05/02/2009 at 15:32

    On the off topic Christian Bale thing I think it's a bit unfair to criticise him for it.

    He was in the middle of, what is apparently the most intense scene in the movie and the lighting director walked into shot ruining the scene for the second time. I think he probably had a pretty good reason to get angry with the chap.

    http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39984

  • Scott Woodwiss05/02/2009 at 15:38

    A new destination for the Sidepodtour perhaps?

    http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/73130

    Sounds really interesting.

  • Scott Woodwiss05/02/2009 at 15:40

    Bourdais is "edging ever closer" to keeping his Toro Rosso seat.

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73129

    He's scheduled to test with the team at Jerez. At least Christine can start to breathe a sight of relief. I think...

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 15:45

    He’s scheduled to test with the team at Jerez. At least Christine can start to breathe a sight of relief. I think…

    Erm, we've kinda touched on that already. Christine was more than relieved, to say the least.

  • Christine05/02/2009 at 15:45

    Erm, we’ve kinda touched on that already. Christine was more than relieved, to say the least.

    I think my exact words were... woohoo!

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 15:49

    Sounds really interesting.

    McLaren has always been on very good terms with the Science Museum, even launching their car there in 1995. So it's nice to see them giving back. :)

  • Alex Andronov05/02/2009 at 15:55

    In other news Chome will have extensions by may:

    http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2009/02/google-chrome-will-have-extensions-by.html

    And they are working on the RSS thing but when for it doesn't say:

    http://dev.chromium.org/user-experience/feed-subscriptions

  • Scott Woodwiss05/02/2009 at 16:00

    Erm, we’ve kinda touched on that already. Christine was more than relieved, to say the least.

    So you did. Sorry, I didn't see it above. :P

  • toxicfusion05/02/2009 at 16:15

    So I'm now the 200th follower of the sidepodcast twitter.

    Sorry for the random, haha.

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 16:15

    1. PW’s non-denial may have more to it than it seems. 2. Autoblog may have been led down the proverbial garden path. Their article doesn’t have much in the way of sources to point to.

    It is difficult to imagine an F1 team building up in secret nowadays

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 16:18

    It is difficult to imagine an F1 team building up in secret nowadays

    Difficult, but not impossible. Even so, there haven't been any signs that they're pulling off a secret project.

  • Selidor05/02/2009 at 16:19

    So I’m now the 200th follower of the sidepodcast twitter.

    (Balloons drop from ceiling) :P

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 16:26

    I won’t be popular for saying this, but I don’t care. When you move away from a country that bought the ITV feed (race & qual action only), you appreciate that he wasn’t that bad as a commentator. It was a very difficult job to follow Murray, and yes he made mistakes, but I think he did a good job.

    Whoever followed Murray was on a loser. Murray was one of a generation of sports commentators like Bill McLaren on Rugby who cannot be beaten. If you are the next guy up you are going to get hammered for not beig the original. The third in line will get tol that he is not Murray Walker but at least he is not as bad as James Allen. That is how these things always work.

    I get the impression from his writings which I have only recently become familiar with that he is not an "off the cuff" sort of communicator. Like Stuart said the guy searches out information and no doubt take a lot of time to make sure it ispresented as he would wish. Those are great attributes for a writer but not for someone who has to provide two hours of live commentary on a Sunday.

    I hope to hear him interviewd a few times over the season to see if he is more suited to that or he could do a few set pieces for BBC. He clearly has a lot to say. I think it is unfortunate that he is doomed to be remembered for the one thng he really wasn't suited to.

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 16:33

    Frankly, I am quite glad it’s a mainstream sport that has coverage issues for a change

    Frankly, I'm glad ITV have made a blunder so we can get the FA Cup back on the BBC.

    Evnin all

    Some nice news for Christine…

    :(

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 16:33

    a minor distraction:

    Goof job they didn't have to do Postman Pat live

  • me05/02/2009 at 16:37

    Goof job they didn’t have to do Postman Pat live

    :D

  • me05/02/2009 at 16:37

    So I’m now the 200th follower of the sidepodcast twitter.

    yay :)

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 16:41

    BAT racer hates me. Scott with exactly the same set up pitted on lap 1(I don't know either) caught me, passed me, made another pit stop and was still ahead of me. How can that be remotely possible? Infamy, infamy the stupid game has it infamy

  • me05/02/2009 at 16:42

    BAT racer hates me. Scott with exactly the same set up pitted on lap 1(I don’t know either) caught me, passed me, made another pit stop and was still ahead of me. How can that be remotely possible? Infamy, infamy the stupid game has it infamy

    next time maybe you should host the game...

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 16:43

    next time maybe you should host the game…

    why, why, why do I bother?

  • Scott Woodwiss05/02/2009 at 16:56

    Man, this championship might just go down to the wire!

  • Dan Brunell05/02/2009 at 16:57

    Morning/afternoon/evening... all.

    1. PW’s non-denial may have more to it than it seems. 2. Autoblog may have been led down the proverbial garden path. Their article doesn’t have much in the way of sources to point to.

    Absolutely. I am happy about a US F1 team is being discussed, but I won't believe it till there is a press conference.

    Random question: How many people on this blog have the game rFactor? This carries over from a previous post but the game rFactor has a really nice open infrastructure to plug tracks and cars into. I was thinking about doing some actual sidepodcast races.

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 16:58

    Man, this championship might just go down to the wire!

    Since I'm not BATracing, can you post the current standings here?

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 16:58

    Since I’m not BATracing, can you post the current standings here?

    Oh shoot, shall update the wiki asap.

  • Selidor05/02/2009 at 17:02

    How is it possible Ferrari dont recieve a single upgrade during the season? We're now the 3rd fastest team behind Macca and Toyota :(

    why, why, why do I bother?

    I believe it was Tom Jones who sang:

    "why, why, why....Toyota?"

    :P

  • Selidor05/02/2009 at 17:04

    Man, this championship might just go down to the wire!

    At this rate theres not enough races left ;)

  • Scott Woodwiss05/02/2009 at 17:06

    At this rate theres not enough races left

    Depends. I'm hoping that Ferrari unreliability kicks in and you don't score in the final two rounds, I score over 10 points and snatch the title :D

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 17:07

    Since I’m not BATracing, can you post the current standings here?

    http://wiki.sidepodcast.com/page/Sidepodcast+BATRacer+Game+(F1+2008)

    There ya go mate

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 17:07

    How is it possible Ferrari dont recieve a single upgrade during the season? We’re now the 3rd fastest team behind Macca and Toyota

    I will give you my upgrade in return for a bit of luck.

  • Selidor05/02/2009 at 17:12

    Depends. I’m hoping that Ferrari unreliability kicks in and you don’t score in the final two rounds, I score over 10 points and snatch the title :D

    The annoying thing is that it might actually happen!

    next time maybe you should host the game…

    Are we gonna do another one?

    After re-watching Brundles 60 years of Silverstone clips, I personally wouldnt mind a crack at the 1986 F1 carset, If only to pretend Im in a Lotus turbo :P

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 17:14

    Are we gonna do another one?

    After re-watching Brundles 60 years of Silverstone clips, I personally wouldnt mind a crack at the 1986 F1 carset, If only to pretend Im in a Lotus turbo

    That sounds like a good idea. A different car set and I think we should have a rule that no-one can drive for the same team in consecutive games.

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 17:15

    That sounds like a good idea. A different car set and I think we should have a rule that no-one can drive for the same team in consecutive games.

    Technically thats impossible for me.

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 17:17

    That sounds like a good idea. A different car set and I think we should have a rule that no-one can drive for the same team in consecutive games.

    Benetton should be a lovely team to drive for! :)

    And maybe the Eurobrun? :D

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 17:19

    Technically that's impossible for me.

    You can still drive a BMW-powered car - Brabham or Benetton beckon. :)

  • Selidor05/02/2009 at 17:19

    I think we should have a rule that no-one can drive for the same team in consecutive games.

    A sensible suggestion, though considering how much better Williams were back then Dom and Dan Brunell might object :P

    I will give you my upgrade in return for a bit of luck.

    Haha, Im sure you need Kool Tools to do that... ;)

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 17:23

    sidepodspace update

    Why is NASA so disorganised. They have no concept of meeting deadlines. The satellite launch I mentioned a few days ago should have been yesterday then today is now tomorrow. I won't hold my breath.

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 17:25

    Why is NASA so disorganised. They have no concept of meeting deadlines. The satellite launch I mentioned a few days ago should have been yesterday then today is now tomorrow. I won’t hold my breath.

    Must be the Obama reshuffle. Maybe the Bush 43 folks don't wanna move out? ;)

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 17:28

    Must be the Obama reshuffle. Maybe the Bush 43 folks don’t wanna move out?

    This is not something new. They have always been like this. I know things can interfere with a launch but when you have been launching the same vehicles for year you would think that by the law of averages some of them would fly on time.

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 17:30

    This is not something new. They have always been like this. I know things can interfere with a launch but when you have been launching the same vehicles for year you would think that by the law of averages some of them would fly on time.

    Call it bureaucratic red tape, then.

    NASA better be careful - the current economic situation doesn't give them much wiggle room. If they mess up, their budget will get HUGELY cut.

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 17:32

    NASA better be careful - the current economic situation doesn’t give them much wiggle room. If they mess up, their budget will get HUGELY cut.

    It may be the worst time possible to retire what is left of the shuttle fleet and introduce their new vehicle. The shuttle fleet only has a few missions scheduled before it is retired and they have only run a few preliminary tests on the replacement.

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 17:35

    Things are looking up for my laptop. MS Office no longer thinks my hard drive is trashed. Only had to install it twice to make it work.

    I HATE VISTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Journeyer05/02/2009 at 17:38

    I HATE VISTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    7 is the way to go. But for now, XP is where to be.

  • Alex Andronov05/02/2009 at 17:40

    I am heading home now.... I wonder if the doohicky is still operational?

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 17:56

    I am heading home now…. I wonder if the doohicky is still operational?

    :D

  • Scott Woodwiss05/02/2009 at 17:56

    You can still drive a BMW-powered car - Brabham or Benetton beckon.

    Don't forget Arrows too. They have BMW engines in the carset too ;)

    In fact, here's a full list of all the teams and engines in the 1986 set:

    Williams-Honda

    McLaren-TAG Porsche

    Lotus-Renault

    Ferrari

    Ligier-Renault

    Benetton-BMW

    Tyrrell-Renault

    Haas Lola-Ford

    Brabham-BMW

    Arrows-BMW

    Zakspeed

    Osella-Alfa Romeo

    AGS-Motori Moderni

    Minardi-Motori Moderni

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 17:57

    We can fit more people into the 86 car set too. That has to be good.

  • Scott Woodwiss05/02/2009 at 17:58

    Steven Roy: 05/02/2009 at 17:57

    We can fit more people into the 86 car set too. That has to be good.

    Yup, I count 14 teams which means 28 cars.

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 18:18

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73135

    Max reckons there will be 12 teams on the grid in 2010 including USF1.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 18:18

    Random question: How many people on this blog have the game rFactor? This carries over from a previous post but the game rFactor has a really nice open infrastructure to plug tracks and cars into. I was thinking about doing some actual sidepodcast races.

    I do ... it's so awesome! I must have so many cars and tracks for it.

    Name a time and I'll be happy to race you guys. That goes for Mario Kart Wii as well ;-)

  • me05/02/2009 at 18:20

    am guessing this isn't good news for mr. allen:

    "The Financial Times is dropping sports coverage and cutting its page count as part of a cost-cutting drive."

    "The FT refused to confirm how the move would affect staff, but the paper acknowledged it would reduce its commissions from freelance contributors, who include Huw Richards, Graham Otway and Pat Butcher."

    ...pat butcher?

    linky winky: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/feb/05/financial-times-axes-sports-coverage

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 18:24

    “The Financial Times is dropping sports coverage and cutting its page count as part of a cost-cutting drive.”

    Oh no!

    He might lose two F1 jobs in 4 months!

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 18:24

    He’s might lose two F1 jobs in 4 months!

    Can any one else see Wordpress closing his site as well?

    No reason why, but would probably be the biggest kick in the teeth ever.

  • me05/02/2009 at 18:29

    He’s might lose two F1 jobs in 4 months!

    is he still writing for itv.com? could be 3!

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 19:22

    Random question: How many people on this blog have the game rFactor? This carries over from a previous post but the game rFactor has a really nice open infrastructure to plug tracks and cars into. I was thinking about doing some actual sidepodcast races.

    On that note, does anyone know when and if the 2010 Donington track will be released to the public?

  • Craig05/02/2009 at 19:45

    One stop to score off possible venues for the Sidepodtour, unfortunately as it was a brilliantly interesting place...

  • me05/02/2009 at 19:48

    One stop to score off possible venues for the Sidepodtour, unfortunately as it was a brilliantly interesting place…

    awww bugger.

  • Scott Woodwiss05/02/2009 at 19:55

    I do … it’s so awesome! I must have so many cars and tracks for it.

    Name a time and I’ll be happy to race you guys. That goes for Mario Kart Wii as well

    What's your favourite mod for it?

  • Alex Andronov05/02/2009 at 19:56

    The doohicky is still running :)

    Coming up at 48 hours!

    Discussion Stats

    Contributor Count

    Aitch 3

    Al 1

    Alex Andronov 60

    Alex Harrington 1

    Alianora La Canta 59

    Andy Taylor 3

    Andy Taylor (it's an iPod Touc... 45

    Bassano Clapper 34

    Bluray 1

    CD 1

    Chris Harland 8

    Christine 25

    Craig 1

    Daily: 4th February 2009 | Sid... 1

    Daily: 5th February 2009 | Sid... 1

    Dan Brunell 14

    Daniel Hoyes 1

    Dank 12

    Danny 1

    Dom 14

    Don Speekingleesh 1

    F1wolf 2

    GMM 1

    Gavin Brown (RubberGoat) 61

    Jackie 6

    Jeremy 13

    Jon Waldock 1

    Journeyer 53

    Kathi 3

    Keith Collantine 2

    Kostia 3

    Lukeh 5

    Lynch 1

    Maverick 1

    R.G (He lives in a house, a ve... 13

    R.G (I'm going down, in a blaz... 11

    R.G (It's official, as clever ... 9

    R.G (It's official, as clever ... 9

    RCC (aka Rocking Copse Corner) 5

    Rishi 3

    SS Collins 1

    Scott Woodwiss 25

    Selidor 5

    Steven Roy 69

    Stuart C 12

    guille2306 10

    jolly 12

    littlepurplegoth 1

    lou 6

    me 131

    me (packing an it....) 49

    me (packing an itouch) 29

    terrie cairnes 1

    toxicfusion 3

    Topic Count

    Character Cup - Round 1, Hamil... 125

    Character Cup - Round 1, Koval... 29

    Character Cup - Round 1, Massa... 1

    Character Cup - Round 1, Räikk... 8

    Daily: 3rd February 2009 46

    Daily: 4th February 2009 422

    Daily: 5th February 2009 135

    Episode 92 - Fit to Race 3

    F1 Websites You Can Trust 74

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 19:59

    What’s your favourite mod for it?

    Ooh, tough one! I think it changes every now and then...

    I like GP79, CART 1995, EOAA GT, Ferrari 288 GTO...

    My favourite tracks are Thermalito, GPC 200 and Long Beach.

    I'll also plug the Spotter Plugin, RealFeel and TV-Style layouts too :-)

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 20:01

    My favourite tracks are Thermalito, GPC 200 and Long Beach.

    I love Thermalito. Haven't got rFactor, but watching it being made and watching races around it and its a fantastic, unique track.

  • Scott Woodwiss05/02/2009 at 20:01

    I like GP79, CART 1995, EOAA GT, Ferrari 288 GTO…

    World Super GT looks good, as does Touring Car Legends (all the Group A cars like the Sierra, GT-R and M3!). I also love the Meganes from what I played of it.

  • me05/02/2009 at 20:03

    Coming up at 48 hours!

    there was a time it wouldn't stay up for 48 minutes.

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 20:44

    ITV’s football mess-up on Youtube

    I had no idea it was that bad!

    Beeb produce some outstanding football coverage, and we have to put up with that...

    ITV are becoming more and more of a joke...

  • Alex Andronov05/02/2009 at 20:46

    ITV are becoming more and more of a joke…

    Michael Grade (head of ITV) said he was watching it as a punter and was deeply embarressed.

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 20:49

    Michael Grade (head of ITV) said he was watching it as a punter and was deeply embarressed.

    Didn't he say something like "I have a good supply of yellow and red cards waiting for workers."

    I don't find that very funny...

  • Alex Andronov05/02/2009 at 20:50

    I have just been informed that our electricity circuit at home will be turned off on Tuesday next week for the day for maintenance. So that is officially how long the doohicky will run.

    I wish it could be longer. But dems da breaks. How random to have an enforced powercut during this!

  • Christine05/02/2009 at 20:51

    I wish it could be longer. But dems da breaks. How random to have an enforced powercut during this!

    Oh no! Did you tell them about the Guinness World Record?

  • me05/02/2009 at 20:51

    I have just been informed that our electricity circuit at home will be turned off on Tuesday next week for the day for maintenance. So that is officially how long the doohicky will run.

    :(

    on the plus side. faster drops :)

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 20:52

    I wish it could be longer. But dems da breaks. How random to have an enforced powercut during this!

    I miss the football on tv to play football.

    I'm threating to go on strike.

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 20:52

    a minor distraction:

    That's too funny. :D

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 20:58

    Speaking of borrowing ideas, where do you think the inspiration for this article came from??? :-)

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 20:58

    I miss the football on tv

    Nah, it's just a bunch of ads nowadays.

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 20:59

    where do you think the inspiration for this article came from???

    Everyone's watching us!! Ahhhh!

  • me05/02/2009 at 21:03

    Everyone’s watching us!! Ahhhh!

    :D

  • Andy Taylor (it's an iPod Touch dammit!)05/02/2009 at 21:04

    I've just found this:

    http://cultofmac.com/the-new-leader-in-the-busy-mac-contest/7909#more-7909

    Wow. Now try this with Vista :D

  • me05/02/2009 at 21:05

    Speaking of borrowing ideas, where do you think the inspiration for this article came from???

    more subtle than autosport magazine at least :)

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 21:06

    Leading until the last lap on BATracer at Silverstone...

    Grrr...

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 21:06

    Everyone’s watching us!! Ahhhh!

    They put Spurs as bad week, fine them all you want spc. ;)

  • Andy Taylor (it's an iPod Touch dammit!)05/02/2009 at 21:07

    And this just emailed:

    http://www.computertan.com/

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 21:09

    Am not gonna be able to put up with PIERS any longer...

  • Lukeh05/02/2009 at 21:11

    Am not gonna be able to put up with PIERS any longer…

    A show showing us how amazing life is for rich people with no financial woe in the worlds most glamourous location despite all of us having to deal with this credit crunch and having a fraction of their cash whilst being presented by that idiot Piers Morgan?

    ITV are just mocking us. :(

  • Andy Taylor (it's an iPod Touch dammit!)05/02/2009 at 21:13

    Am not gonna be able to put up with PIERS any longer…

    the Oxtail English Dictionary defines "Countryside" as: "To kill Piers Morgan" :)

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 21:14

    the Oxtail English Dictionary defines “Countryside” as: “To kill Piers Morgan”

    Plus, he is a gooner.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 21:24

    Oh by the way, I managed to get "The Chain" onto my mobile phone. So now it's my ringtone and my wake-up alarm... :-D

  • Lukeh05/02/2009 at 21:24

    Is anyone still watching Piers Morgan's Ego Trip 2009?

  • me05/02/2009 at 21:24

    Is anyone still watching Piers Morgan’s Ego Trip 2009?

    yup

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 21:25

    Is anyone still watching Piers Morgan’s Ego Trip 2009?

    What a shame ITV isn't available in Denmark!

  • Lukeh05/02/2009 at 21:26

    yup

    The money being talked about is dizzying me. That watch...

    I'ms till interested to see what DC has to say. Oooh racing talk as I type..

  • me05/02/2009 at 21:26

    I’ms till interested to see what DC has to say. Oooh racing talk as I type..

    who's the f1 guy?

  • Lukeh05/02/2009 at 21:27

    who’s the f1 guy?

    I didn't catch the name and I certainly don't recognise him.

  • me05/02/2009 at 21:28

    I didn’t catch the name and I certainly don’t recognise him.

    he's never heard of monagasques!

  • Lukeh05/02/2009 at 21:32

    Hmmm... Monaco... and Mick Hucknall.

    Strange one that..

  • me05/02/2009 at 21:33

    Hmmm… Monaco… and Mick Hucknall.

    money's too tight to mention

  • Lukeh05/02/2009 at 21:35

    money’s too tight to mention

    oh that's good! *claps*

  • Andy Taylor (it's an iPod Touch dammit!)05/02/2009 at 21:36

    Hmmm… Monaco… and Mick Hucknall.

    Just when you thought it couldn't get any more grotesque, they wheel out Mick Hucknall. So glad I'm not watching.

  • Christine05/02/2009 at 21:36

    oh that’s good! *claps*

    Don't encourage him. :)

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 21:40

    I heard DC!! Where is he?

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 21:42

    I heard DC!! Where is he?

    Maybe they just said he'd be on to get somebody to watch...

  • me05/02/2009 at 21:43

    Maybe they just said he’d be on to get somebody to watch…

    hehe.

  • Lukeh05/02/2009 at 21:51

    Finally, some DC!

    *waits for obligatory crash*

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 21:52

    Yay F1!

  • me05/02/2009 at 21:53

    *waits for obligatory crash*

    he's jinxed!

  • Dom05/02/2009 at 21:55

    Is that it? Can I turn over now?

  • me05/02/2009 at 21:55

    Is that it? Can I turn over now?

    yup.

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 21:56

    yup.

    I'm watching 'Hustle', how to con a corrupted mp

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 21:57

    I’m watching ‘Hustle’, how to con a corrupted mp

    I'm quite liking 'The Real Hustle' at the moment...

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 22:00

    I’m quite liking ‘The Real Hustle’ at the moment…

    Thats alright as well.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 22:03

    Thats alright as well.

    Pretty scary though how easy it can be to get conned!

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 22:04

    Pretty scary though how easy it can be to get conned!

    Hmm, aye. Doesn't require zillions of work sometimes either

  • Andy Taylor (it's an iPod Touch dammit!)05/02/2009 at 22:09

    I’m watching ‘Hustle’, how to con a corrupted mp

    A documentary?

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 22:10

    A documentary?

    No, its a drama. A docu is more like The Real Hustle

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 22:10

    A documentary?

    No. Drama about a team of con merchants. One of the best programs on TV now.

  • Andy Taylor (it's an iPod Touch dammit!)05/02/2009 at 22:11

    No. Drama about a team of con merchants. One of the best programs on TV now.

    I was joking.

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 22:13

    I was joking.

    At least give us a hint ;)

  • Andy Taylor (it's an iPod Touch dammit!)05/02/2009 at 22:14

    At least give us a hint

    Sorry, will try harder next time. Would you like me to raise one hand when I am making a joke?

  • me05/02/2009 at 22:16

    Sorry, will try harder next time. Would you like me to raise one hand when I am making a joke?

    if you could, that would certainly help ;)

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 22:16

    Sorry, will try harder next time. Would you like me to raise one hand when I am making a joke?

    :D

    Hard to tell when someone is joking and someone is telling the truth

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 22:22

    Hard to tell when someone is joking and someone is telling the truth

    Many a true word spoken in jest? ;-)

    Night all :-)

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)05/02/2009 at 22:23

    I've been moderated for saying good night :-(

    Good night all!

  • Lukeh05/02/2009 at 22:24

    I’ve been moderated for saying good night

    Good night all!

    g'night mr brown

  • R.G (It's official, as clever as Mr C and will be attening the Fiji race soon)05/02/2009 at 22:24

    Good night Gavin

  • me05/02/2009 at 22:30

    dc on tv:

  • me05/02/2009 at 22:31

    btw: how many pandas did alex fropio earlier?

  • Andy Taylor (it's an iPod Touch dammit!)05/02/2009 at 22:33

    OK, so not a panda, but black and white and cute:

    http://www.free-penguin.org/

  • Christine05/02/2009 at 22:34

    btw: how many pandas did alex fropio earlier?

    I think it's just one panda.

  • me05/02/2009 at 22:37

    I think it’s just one panda.

    not camera shy then.

  • Christine05/02/2009 at 22:44

    not camera shy then.

    Why would you be if you're that cute?

  • Andy Taylor (it's an iPod Touch dammit!)05/02/2009 at 22:45

    not camera shy then.

    Unlike these pandas:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmmieeHlZvQ

    I wonder which one is me :)

  • Christine05/02/2009 at 22:46

    I wonder which one is me

    Hehe, that's brilliant!

    Trust me, there would have been no studio left if he'd have had roller skates on as well.

  • Andy Taylor (it's an iPod Touch dammit!)05/02/2009 at 22:47

    Trust me, there would have been no studio left if he’d have had roller skates on as well.

    Maybe next time then. (note to me: I have one hand in the air)

  • me05/02/2009 at 22:50

    Maybe next time then. (note to me: I have one hand in the air)

    awesome :D

  • Christine05/02/2009 at 22:51

    Maybe next time then. (note to me: I have one hand in the air)

    Can you get skates that will fit over panda paws?

  • me05/02/2009 at 22:53

    Can you get skates that will fit over panda paws?

    i'm not doing it.

  • Andy Taylor05/02/2009 at 22:54

    i’m not doing it.

    Here we go again.... :D

  • Steven Roy05/02/2009 at 23:30

    BAT racer runs completed

  • Joe05/02/2009 at 23:50

    Something which at present seems off-topic but anyway. Is the budget cap still going ahead? Also, I saw that some of the parts being standardised will be un-standardised by the FIA when all this gloom ends. Surely we could see sky rocketing budgets again then?

  • Journeyer06/02/2009 at 00:17

    Max reckons there will be 12 teams on the grid in 2010 including USF1.

    So USF1 IS true?? The question then is, given the article, how much of it is correct?

  • Steven Roy06/02/2009 at 00:45

    So USF1 IS true?? The question then is, given the article, how much of it is correct?

    I don't think Max saying somethin and that thing being true go together. Max said when he had his vote of confidence that he would not stand again. Now he is. He said they had to vote for him because he was the only person who could re-negotiate the contract with Bernie. No re-negotiation has taken place.

  • Journeyer06/02/2009 at 00:53

    I don’t think Max saying somethin and that thing being true go together. Max said when he had his vote of confidence that he would not stand again. Now he is.

    He changed his mind... I guess?

    He said they had to vote for him because he was the only person who could re-negotiate the contract with Bernie. No re-negotiation has taken place.

    Well, he didn't promise to re-negotiate, right?

    Also, those are campaign promises. In terms of cold, hard facts, has he been caught on the record lying?

  • Steven Roy06/02/2009 at 00:57

    Also, those are campaign promises. In terms of cold, hard facts, has he been caught on the record lying?

    He has been caught lying frequently. This is not the first time he said he would not stand for re-election. I am sure Alianora knos the details but he did the same toward the end of at least one of his terms and then he had hundreds of people contact him and insist he must stand.

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 13:11

    What the heck is ‘text processing class’??? {Gavin Brown - a lot of comments ago}

    Text Processing is a course I'm doing to learn how to type up letters, memos, reports etc. to business standard. I've been doing it since September 2007 at a local college. It's a fairly simple course once you know how to do it.

    I have a distinction in Level 2 Text Processing (the minimum qualification a lot of companies ask for that sort of work) and yesterday afternoon I got my results slip via the post to say I got distinction in the first part of Level 3 (the highest level possible on the course). There's one more exam to do in April and then I've finished (unless I want to do an add-on course like legal or medical text processing, and then I have to sign up next year).

    Unfortunately I can't go to class if the place is snowed under and elects not to open...

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 13:15

    This is the sort of point where Bradley would cite Occam’s Razor. {Stuart C - a few comments after Gavin Brown's comment cited in the previous comment}

    Somehow I like the idea of a journalist citing a philosophical concept at the sight of a news item :)

  • Jon Waldock06/02/2009 at 13:16

    yesterday afternoon I got my results slip via the post to say I got distinction in the first part of Level 3 (the highest level possible on the course).

    oooh. well done :D

  • Jon Waldock06/02/2009 at 13:20

    oh yer, i was going to ask....anyone really....

    like i said before, ive got a new laptop coming, its got vista business on it, but it comes with XP Proffessional disks too. I want to downgrade to XP Proff because some of the programs i want to put on there wont work with Vista.....my question is.....is the job of removing vista and putting on XP an easy(ish) one???

    ive read some bits and bobs over t'internet about it, it dosent look easy.....any suggestions???

  • Kris06/02/2009 at 13:22

    Text Processing is a course I’m doing to learn how to type up letters, memos, reports etc. to business standard.... {snip}

    So the legal add-on course is what you'd take if you wanted to be a paralegal?

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 13:31

    oooh. well done {Jon Waldock - 3 comments ago}

    Thank you, Jon :)

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 13:34

    So the legal add-on course is what you’d take if you wanted to be a paralegal? {Kris - 2 comments ago}

    Correct. The Legal Text Processing course teaches the legal terminology and markings common to the legal profession and would qualify me to be a low-level paralegal. High-level paralegals generally go on to take an ILEX course, but that is a serious time and money commitment, so I'd want to be sure I was going to find a use for the qualification before taking it.

  • Lukeh06/02/2009 at 13:36

    like i said before, ive got a new laptop coming, its got vista business on it, but it comes with XP Proffessional disks too. I want to downgrade to XP Proff because some of the programs i want to put on there wont work with Vista…..my question is…..is the job of removing vista and putting on XP an easy(ish) one???

    From my experience Vista is a pain to downgrade from. But this is Vista home edition when it first came out 2 years ago or so, but I haven't heard posigtive things since about downgrading to XP...

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 13:36

    a minor distraction: {me - a lot of comments ago}

    That's hilarious! I wouldn't have minded having a cake like that, though...

  • Kris06/02/2009 at 13:40

    {continuing from Lukeh}

    From my experience Vista is a pain to downgrade from. But this is Vista home edition when it first came out 2 years ago or so, but I haven’t heard posigtive things since about downgrading to XP…

    From what I've heard, reformat and start again seems to be the way to go:

    The Cd may not be a normal windows disk though, it may be similar to a system restore cd, which simply overwrites your hard disk with a sysprepped windows install - if its one of these you're on easy street.

    Easiest way to tell is to boot from the cd (dont give it permission to do anything until you're sure) and if it boots into the blue-backgrounded ugly XP setup program then its going to be a pain, if its a manufacturer specific thing then its more likely to be easy

  • Jon Waldock06/02/2009 at 13:42

    GAFFA TAPE FANS!!!

    this is possibly the greatest website ever.....its gaffa clothing...

    http://www.stuckatprom.com/contests/prom/archive.asp

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 13:43

    Is the budget cap still going ahead? Also, I saw that some of the parts being standardised will be un-standardised by the FIA when all this gloom ends. Surely we could see sky rocketing budgets again then? {Joe - 14 comments ago}

    The FIA still wants the budget cap, but several teams do not. As a result, there will be no budget caps until the FIA can figure out a way of forcing matters.

    I think budgets will remain as high as the market will allow if any components are allowed to be developed at all. Even if they're not, the variability in other elements of F1 teams means that budgets will still be as high as the market will allow. Since most teams would have backdoor methods of circumventing a budget cap if it were imposed, we can assume that the FIA cannot cut costs by itself (or even with the verbal agreement of team bosses). It's simply not within its power.

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 13:46

    So USF1 IS true?? The question then is, given the article, how much of it is correct?

    1) Where's the other team (mimimum) that will be necessary to make 12?

    2) Where is the evidence (other than a pitpass rumour) that USF1 is more than a logo on a website?

    3) How could USF1 afford the $12m forfeit for not entering the year after submitting the entry (which Toyota had to pay in 2001) without an obvious source of funds? The FIA Gala was held before December 15, which puts it in the previous entry year.

    4) Speaking of funds, how does USF1 expect to fund itself? No word has been forthcoming.

  • Alex Andronov06/02/2009 at 13:51

    3) How could USF1 afford the $12m forfeit for not entering the year after submitting the entry (which Toyota had to pay in 2001) without an obvious source of funds? The FIA Gala was held before December 15, which puts it in the previous entry year.

    They haven't made an official entry though have they?

  • Journeyer06/02/2009 at 13:52

    1) Where’s the other team (mimimum) that will be necessary to make 12?

    Max just said he was confident it would be 12 teams, but no promises. He did confirm, though, that USF1 has made an approach through Nick Craw, his US associate.

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 14:21

    They haven’t made an official entry though have they? {Alex Andronov - 2 comments ago}

    According to the [url=http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=36976]pitpass rumour, USF1 was granted an official entry at the FIA Gala[/url]. [url=http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=36736]This was held in 12 December 2008[/url]. The early cut-off date for the 2010 championship entry is 15 December 2008. So they'd have been forfeiting a year by three days if pitpass' rumour is true.

    The FIA isn't obliged to publish an entry list for 2010 until mid-December 2009, so we won't get confirmation one way or the other for a good ten months.

    Since this is the only place where I have seen a primary source mentioned for USF1 being more than a logo on a website, I have to use it to calculate the likely veracity of the rumour.

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 14:25

    I think I've had a comment land in the spam bin because I linked to pitpass twice :(

  • Christine06/02/2009 at 14:28

    I think I’ve had a comment land in the spam bin because I linked to pitpass twice

    Got it.

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 14:30

    It says in the Autosport piece Steven Roy found that Max Mosley believes there will be 12 teams in 2010. Assuming Honda gets bought (and Max believes that is likely to happen, which will please lou), there needs to be 2 new teams to make 12. If USF1 is one, what is the other?

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 14:32

    *Recoded to make links work - one day I'll remember to write HTML in HTML boxes and not BBCode...*

    They haven’t made an official entry though have they? {Alex Andronov - 2 comments ago}

    According to the pitpass rumour, USF1 was granted an official entry at the FIA Gala. This was held in 12 December 2008. The early cut-off date for the 2010 championship entry is 15 December 2008. So they’d have been forfeiting a year by three days if pitpass’ rumour is true.

    The FIA isn’t obliged to publish an entry list for 2010 until mid-December 2009, so we won’t get confirmation one way or the other for a good ten months.

    Since this is the only place where I have seen a primary source mentioned for USF1 being more than a logo on a website, I have to use it to calculate the likely veracity of the rumour.

  • Alex Andronov06/02/2009 at 14:35

    According to the pitpass rumour, USF1 was granted an official entry at the FIA Gala. This was held in 12 December 2008. The early cut-off date for the 2010 championship entry is 15 December 2008. So they’d have been forfeiting a year by three days if pitpass’ rumour is true.

    Gotcha!

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 14:38

    He changed his mind… I guess? {Journeyer - 22 comments ago}

    It's not the first time. He told F1 Magazine in January 2002 that he'd stand down at the end of 2005 because 15 years was long enough in office. That wasn't an election promise because he'd already been elected a couple of months before. Even taking into account journalistic deadlines, he'd have won the vote at some point prior to interview.

    He revised this in June 2004 to say that he'd be standing down at the end of 2004.

    Two weeks later he changed his mind again and decided to stay until 2005, but that he didn't think he'd be standing for re-election. At least he was honest enough to say "didn't think" rather than "wouldn't".

    Once he won the election in 2005, he said it would be his final term - until recently, when he decided he might stand again.

    Max Mosley is as adept at U-turns as any politician. Which is not what F1 or indeed motorsport needs.

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 14:40

    I am sure Alianora knos the details but he did the same toward the end of at least one of his terms and then he had hundreds of people contact him and insist he must stand. {Steven Roy - 22 comments ago}

    Well... ...hundreds might be exaggerating (this is in reference to the 2004 resign/unresign flip). Probably a key few dozen who think they need Max to guarantee the smooth running of their key national event. But Max made it sound like hundreds.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)06/02/2009 at 14:40

    Max Mosley is as adept at U-turns as any politician. Which is not what F1 or indeed motorsport needs.

    He never got the chance to be a real politician, that's why...

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 15:14

    He never got the chance to be a real politician, that’s why… {Gavin Brown - previous comment}

    Good point. That surname didn't help!

  • Journeyer06/02/2009 at 15:15

    Good point. That surname didn’t help!

    Mind you, the more we've known him, the more he's proving his apple didn't fall far from the tree.

  • Alianora La Canta06/02/2009 at 15:21

    Mind you, the more we’ve known him, the more he’s proving his apple didn’t fall far from the tree. {Journeyer - previous post}

    Unfortunately, you have a good point :(