Like a bird on the back of a buffalo, I am watching my little world move around me.
Life can be like baseball, or perhaps that should be cricket where I come from. You take what is thrown at you. And just when you think you’re on a home run…
It’s been a funny old week, both in real life and in motor racing. There I was, packing my bags for Sebring, when the family chief mechanic tells me he doesn’t like the look of something and packs me off to the workshop, where a very nice man takes it away and tells me to take it easy. I’m not very good at that.
Not a big deal, but no Sebring. So of course I tried to follow the race on the TV teletext service. Nothing, not a word, and ditto in the Sunday newspapers. But – having removed a sleeping cat from atop the laptop – the excellent Audi website brought news of a great victory for the new R15. That made my weekend, even though I missed a terrific race. Roll on Le Mans. Could be a cracker.
On top of all this both our cars failed the MOT test. My little Renault needs a new rear seat belt “receptor” and her bigger sister needs new brakes. New brakes? Have you ever heard of a modern car needing new brakes after 30,000 miles? No, nor have I. From here on in, Team Widdows is taking its Renaults to the local garage up the road. There we will find friendly mechanics and a lot less creative accounting.
On top of all this a Williams driven by Nakajima goes fastest on the last day of testing at Jerez. Can the car really be this good? Or are the others holding back? Tune in on Saturday to find out. And, just in case you can’t keep up with all the shenanigans, the World Champion this year will be the driver with the most points. And I think that’s a good decision. Meanwhile, how many teams will protest the new Brawn GP car once they get to Melbourne? All of them, probably.
Some things never change.
Hanging on the telephone earlier this week, listening interminably to that dreadful phrase “your call is important to us”, I realised that nearly a quarter of this year has gone by. Before we know it, we’ll have results instead of predictions. We will know what’s what and who, if anyone, has got the jump.
Win or lose, I wager that Fernando Alonso won’t need new discs, pads, hubs and heaven knows what else after a few laps. Oh yes, and they charge for washer fluid these days too. The coffee, taken in a deserted showroom, is free.
Don’t you get SpeedTV or MotorsTV in the UK? Also, the live-timing on the ALMS site pretty decent.
And you shouldn’t envy Renault’s treatment of Alonso. He got a pay cut!
watching Sebring on Speed was great! I’m down there next year for sure!
and like you, I long ago left the Mazda dealer behind with his “creative accounting”.
here’s to a great race come Sunday..or Saturday..or whenever I get to see it here!
It would be quite unfortunate if the first F-1 result of the year (can’t believe it’s 2009!) would be a break-through win by Brawn (or Toyota) taken away by protest and disqualification. There has been enough bad PR already and the season is not even underway yet. But I don’t envy those who would have to decide this diffuser rage with a definitive decision. It seems that a controversy is inevitable one way or another.
I’m betting on a ban on the double-decker diffusers. After Melbourne. And peace on earth too…
I’m writing from Italy.I saw the race live streaming on the web…
I think that it’s ashamed that we can’t see race like this in tv…
Riccardo, Finland and Portugal only have Formula 1 on pay-per-view…
Hello everybody, and thanks for all your comments. Just back from getting my MOT certificate for the wee Modus at the garage over the hill from me. Fast, efficient, friendly and good value. Goodbye to main dealers and hello good sense. A lesson learnt.
We don’t have satellite TV, only the UK terrestrial stuff, so no Motors or Eurosport. But, if Manchester United makes it to the finals of the European Cup,we may be tempted by the dreaded dish.
Yes, of course there will be a huge kerfuffle over diffusers this coming weekend. Ross Brawn chairs the Technical Committee of FOTA so he ought to know very precisely what is legal, and what is not. It will be an intriguing few days and let’s hope it’s full of surprises and excitement.
Meanwhile I saw a sign on a drain-cleaning company van today which proclaimed….”expertise in a fluid world”. Right.
RW
Well, so far the diffusers are legal and I say let it keep that way. Creativity should be encouraged, not punished. Let the others to deal with it and catch-up.
Agreed, absolutely. People like Brawn are good for motor racing, especially at this level. He’s smart, creative, and horribly clever. I hope they do well as it will make it a more open season. And I’d like to see Button back in the frame before it’s just too late.
The BBC will run the race without commercials, of course, so it had better be a good one.
The beauty of ITV was that you could nip out for a cup of tea in the breaks…………
Being there is best. It was better in the old days when we went to more of the races.
I was hoping the global recession might see some cost-cutting on the travel which, in turn, would be a gesture for the environment as well……
Meanwhile I’m off to talk to Aston Martin about their new LMP1 car for Le Mans. It’s supported by Gulf which is a point in its favour. Best racing colours ever?
RW
Gulf best, yes, but a photo-finish between them, Martini Racing and Alitalia. And JPS. And Silk Cut. And Gold Leaf.
I’m happy about the diffuser decision…but I confess I would probably be less enthusiastic should the suspects be Ferrari, McLaren and BMW. Do you think the decision would be made otherwise if it was like that? Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” and all that…
If you don’t have TV coverage of ALMS/LMS/Le Mans you can always listen to John Hindhaugh & co via radiolemans.com!
New brakes after 30k? Maybe not, but my 5 year old 45k Zafira (sorry, would love something tasty but need to haul loads!) needed a complete new set of brakes according to the garage, and some serious suspension work too. Not an abused car, and this _was_ the local accredited non-franchised.
Not amused. Creative accounting suspected but not in a position to challenge.
My 2000 New Beetle also needed new rear brakes suspciously often, unfortunatly that and other examples of “creative accounting” made me sell it and want nothing to do with another VW. And, in complete opposite to Dave, I bought a Mazda and have had nothing but good experiences so far.
The Gulf livery really is the most iconic. Anytime the words GT40 or 917 pop up, the mental image is of those cars in Gulf colors. The same way anytime someone mentions “Cortina” and the image that comes up is Jim Clark in a corner with the inside wheel off the ground… I’m guessing his ultra smooth driving also didn’t mysteriously “eat up” brakes.
I don’t think Jimmy ever touched the pedal!
Such a small world these days, huh? This is Bash the Dealers Week and I am on the front line!
I am cross with myself as I feel conned. Never again will I be forced to lash out crazy money on loads of new bits for my cars. And, as you say, how do we challenge this practice once we are presented with a 3-page bill that is in itself totally incomprehensible. Bah, humbug.
Yup, the Martini colours are great and they still look wonderful on the old Brabhams and Lancias. I’ve never liked racing cars dressed up as fag packets, especially that horrible yellow Jordan.
The Guvnor (my Editor) has just asked me to research a big feature on the Porsche 917 for our July magazine. Lucky me but where on earth do I start?! So many stories to be told…..
I’m bored with diffusers now. I mean, let’s just go racing and see who has it all together. My tea leaves tell me that it’s going to be a terrific race at Albert Park with lots of surprises. Let us hope so. I want to see a small team chuck a fast ball at the big boys.
First though, I need to dust down my books and jog the 917 archive that has been resting somewhere in the back of my mind.
RW
Williams 1st and 2nd in Friday practice……….now we’re talking.Great stuff, we all like to see Williams do well don’t we, or is it just a British thing?
Anyway, the air in Melbourne is feeling fresh already.
Yup, I knowe it’s only Friday.
RW
you can start that 917 research by reading the “Lunch With…” feature with Frank Gardner from a few months back in Motorsport. His recollection of that first 917 race at the Nurburgring is a classic story!
Dave, I know, it’s a great interview. Frank is just about the most ‘quotable’ driver ever to have livened up the sport!
David Piper is good on that particular story as well!
After second practice, it’s Williams-Brawn-Toyota. At the back are Ferrari-BMW-McLaren.
Diffusers…………..
RW
Brilliant interview!! The bit about the gauge reading gas pressure on the chassis was hilarious…
Rob, looks like, inevitably, you will have to endure a visit to the Porsche museum…
I agree with Rob in that at this point I’m tired of all the rows; the season couldn’t have started sooner, and in what way!
I’m not British, but still I’m very happy to see Williams do so very well, hopefully they can keep the advantage in qualy and in the race. Mclaren doing poorly does not surprise me, but Ferrari and BNW? The Ferrari camp seems confident but BMW did seem really puzzled about their lack of pace.
Tough I’m a Kimi fan, I’d hardly be upset if the race turns out to be Williams vs Brawn.
Speaking of the 917 and the 2009 season, I’ve just been sent this video. I don’t know if I should feel amused or horrified:
http://tinyurl.com/cbxbzq
I’m back. Been away to Aston Martin to have a look at the cars before this weekend’s race in Barcelona. Full report in next month’s magazine. Suffice to say, the cars look terrific and it’s a very brave – and typically British – effort.They won’t win Le Mans but they will look and sound wonderful on the 50th anniversary of Salvadori and Shelby winning in the DBR1.
As a result of my visit to Banbury, I predict that Mr David Richards will be back in Grand Prix racing next season.
I hope so as he would run a strong and competitive team.
Thanks for the video. Blimey!
RW
Sitting here reading the Doug Nye piece on George Monkhouse made me think that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the death of Dick seaman at Spa. As the memorial at the circuit has been destoyed apparently, I wondered if Lord March would be sympathetic to a statue of Dick in the memorial garden at Goodwood, if we could raise the funds /
I didn’t realise that the Seaman memorial had been destroyed! How sad.