Spare Parts (F1 odds and ends)

R.I.P. Dan Gurney .



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/42688070

 

mmmmmmm.........shiney pipework. The Eagle Weslake V12 was a think of engineering beauty.

 

Don't think it will happen , but be good if it did IMHO .


http://en.f1i.com/news/290413-jean-todt-may-soon-bad-news-ferrari.html

 

I look forward to their hissy fit.

 

Well deserved retirement Sir Stirling Moss




http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/42748656

 

yeah, Moss is a sporting legend, I wonder how many of today's F1 drivers would protest the a disqualification that gave them a WDC, I'd say exactly zero.

 

I sincerely hope this is not some clever posturing from Todt. He became FIA's president in part because he was thought more likely to toe the red line than Ari Vatanen – and heavily backed by outgoing president and self-confessed Ferrari fan, Max Mosley; as well as the other powerful sycophant with a vested interest in Ferrari: the one and only, all-powerful at the time, Bernie Ecclestone. But then, we all know Ferrari prefer to play with loaded dice – and not just some of the time…

Todt will need considerable courage to go through with what is likely to be seen as a bluff. But I sincerely hope he has the conviction as well as the renewed integrity he'll need to do it properly…

In my opinion, Ari Vatanen would have already overhauled Ferrari by now, and F1 would be in a far healthier state for it with a greater depth of real competition and a consequent improvement in relation to its fan-base; and Ferrari would know precisely that they stand or fall on the same ground as others, not some elevated perch to precipitate their putrid water upon competitors and organisers alike.

Play the game like everyone else, Ferrari – or show your true, cowardly hand by taking a long, unearned walk in any direction (or indeed, along any conveniently short plank)…

 

Shows what I know . I thought Todt was unopposed in the election .

The sport is what I love , 1981 to now for me . No team should be allowed to threaten that .

 

Well, due to support from all the important players (backed, bound, steered or gagged in one form or another by all-powerful and influential Ferrari), that was effectively what happened!

Vatanen is a sincere man with huge integrity; someone not to be bought; someone who seeks and is willing to fight for justice and equalities; someone with a relatively untainted view of what sport should be. Someone I can only hope Todt is beginning to admire, if not actually adopt some of his traits.
He was and is a manifestation of everything F1 (whilst still under the oppressive influence of Ferrari) fears.

In a sense then, like any other would-be newcomer to a weighted grid, Vatanen never had a real look-in. He was effectively little more than a candidate for the sake of appearances…

 

Time for change then

 

We can only cross our fingers and shout support for the (apparently) courageous stance Todt is now (apparently) taking.

Todt is a clever politician and I'll believe it when I see it. But if he is even partially instrumental in returning F1 to proper sport at some future point, I'll begin to see him in the light of a different, brighter day…

 

Call me a cynic (it's not an insult because I am one) but is he doing it for the sport, or is he doing it for liberty media, and therefore ker-ching?

 

B.E., you are a cynic! And if you've read my previous posts, you'll see that you're not alone.

But the great thing is, your million dollar question acknowledges the possibility that its cynical part may be disproved by its hopeful part. For now, Todt has allowed us a glimmer of hope. He may be playing to his audience but we have little else. Time will eventually tell of his deviance or conviction and integrity.

We can only cross our fingers that as he approaches this complicated junction, he doesn't continue the tedious route to Maranello but really is about to fork right in the direction of majestic scenery!

(Are we nearly there yet?)…

 

Remember this programme ?


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p017gkk9

 

Can't imagine insurance companies would allow it never mind the 'super stars' risking being shown up. They would just be too much to lose and not much to gain.

It would be great to see the program with modern day contestants.

 

Brian Jacks was the master of Superstars IIRC.

 

He was amazing, I remember him doing something like dips on parallel type bars, amazingly fast. Think his sport was actually Judo. He is now 71!!!! and lives in Thailand running a hotel!!!!!!

 

yeah, he was a judo master (7th dan I think), he used to destroy everyone in the gym, over 100 bar dips in 60 seconds, and I think his squat thrusts was even higher. Not really the sort of sport you'd expect to be linked to such physical fitness.

 

Daft idea IMHO .



http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/v...dds_with_Liberty_over_new_merchandise_scheme/

 

It didn't work last time with the same concept and same company!!!! I bet it's all down to money, nothing to do with what fans want.