We are apparantly all chess fans

We are apparantly all chess fans

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Aussie_05

Original Poster:

34 posts

253 months

Sunday 15th June 2003
quotequote all
When did F1 supporters stop being motor racing fans and become fans of chess!

As apparantly we now all enjoy watching a good bit of strategy as opposed to wheel to wheel racing. I'm tired of hearing the F1 comenators week in week out trying to conivince us that a race won in the pitlane was infact super exciting - like hell it is - i want to see some real racing.

Remember - the Villeneuve vs Arnoux epic at Dijon in 79. Well i wasn't even old enough to remember it first hand, but i've since seen it over and over and my god that is what i call racing!

Todays Canadian race was just a high speed precesion - yeah it was close, but it wasn't what i would call a fight for the win....

smeagol

1,947 posts

285 months

Monday 16th June 2003
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Absolutely agree. Back to watching the "highlights" I think. I think Martin Brundle summed up the problem nicely "as soon as they get into the dirty air then they have problems" So in other words you are going to get processional reacing because the car behind cannot use slipstreaming. Compare that you most other motorsport eg bikes the opposite is true ie the bike behind is faster due to slip streaming.

F1 used to have this affect. I used to get up early in the morning to watch it. I used to get that excited that I couldn't sit down. Now I almost fall asleep waiting for the leader for the last 30 laps win.

AJLintern

4,202 posts

264 months

Monday 16th June 2003
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I too was thinking of that Villeneuve vs Arnoux race while watching the the GP yesterday. We had four of the top driver in the top cars in a perfect position for an exciting race - what did we get? Nothing. The warm up lap was more gripping
Why can't they just make the wings smaller to reduce the effect of turbulence from the car in front? Or even better get rid of the wings totally if it means proper racing!

pawsmcgraw

957 posts

259 months

Monday 16th June 2003
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i too agree,the hype,more hype and even more hype!This last gp i turned the volume off as James Allen was just driving me mad.....what utter bull shit he comes out with.I don't think i have heard so much build up and hype about a race since the call for the last genral election.The only thing i can think is that Mr Allen is paid by how much he can praise F1 and Micheal Shumacher.Its all sooooo false and soooo transparent that its an insult to the intelligence of anyone who wants to follow F1.
I keep watching and everytime i say thats it ,no more for me.I think because i remember such fantastic races from decades ago i keep hoping the tide will change.I sit waiting,and waiting,and Mr Allen,we want racing not bloody chess and if we cant have that at least be honest enough to say so

FourWheelDrift

88,546 posts

285 months

Monday 16th June 2003
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After watching superb races in the World Suprbikes from Silvertstone, Ducati's first win in MotoGP from Barcelona and Bentleys 1,2 finish at Le Mans I was very happy with the Canada race as it gave me the opportunity to catch up with a couple of hours sleep.

The moment James Allan said "...for those of you just joining us..." for the 5th time I was out like a light.

steviebee

12,925 posts

256 months

Monday 16th June 2003
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What Canada showed was that the rules have closed the field but have done little to encourage out and out racing.

There's too much at stake for drivers to go for "outside" shots at overtaking. A few years back, we would have seen Ralph, Juan, and even Fernando go for the mad lunge - and probably pull it off. But now it's more a question of "happy with what you've got" - "better safe than sorry".

Remember when Hill went for the inside of Schummi at Silverstone taking them both out? OK, it was over optimistic, blindly so, but at least he went for it and if he had pulled it off (and others have done so), he'd have been a hero.

Make it 20 points for a win, then 10 for second, 7 for third...and so on. Then see them race!

castex

4,936 posts

274 months

Monday 16th June 2003
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Yes, several do seem to be complacent, and the new points system has done nothing to improve things.
I would also concur with the idea that the wings make it too difficult to stay close enough.
I don't remember a time when we didn't have wings, however, and in the past drivers got by thanks to the mistakes made by the guy in front more than anything; or by actually driving so well that they maximised every factor from a great many variables that today are pre-maximised for them.
Are Max and Bernie really going to just capitulate, allow the manufacturers to ride roughshod over the interests of the sport, the general public, and would-be racers the world over in this way?
They must keep their original word, ban driver aids, bring back manual gears and let the drivers' own skill do the talking for Arch-Brundle and the tiresome Allen.
I still enjoyed the race, even in French. It seems to be the case that Michelin are at the very least as good as Bridgestone on any given day, and the championship is definitely up for grabs.
I still can't help but be excited about Formula 1.

The DJ 27

2,666 posts

254 months

Monday 16th June 2003
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Being there and watching a modern F1 car is amazing, becuase they are SO fast. But on TV its crap. I agree, the last 10 laps in Canada should have been thrilling. But all we got was a close procession. BRING BACK BIG WIDE SLICK TYRES

williamp

19,262 posts

274 months

Wednesday 18th June 2003
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Agree, but why stop with big fat tyres. Surely another simple answer (and one which will reduce costs) is to do what they have in CART:

Welcome to F1. Here's the wing you'll be using for the season. The adjustment is here and here, and your sponsors logos go on here...

Or, a more extreme idea: have just 2-3 companies make the chassis (lola, etc). The manufacturers will still be happy, because they can supply the engines..

steviebee

12,925 posts

256 months

Friday 20th June 2003
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williamp said:
Agree, but why stop with big fat tyres. Surely another simple answer (and one which will reduce costs) is to do what they have in CART:

Welcome to F1. Here's the wing you'll be using for the season. The adjustment is here and here, and your sponsors logos go on here...

Or, a more extreme idea: have just 2-3 companies make the chassis (lola, etc). The manufacturers will still be happy, because they can supply the engines..


The trouble with this is that they would say if that's what you want, then watch Champ Cars! Even then, it is no gurantee of close racing (remember Brands Hatch!!!).

Also, I might be wrong but I'm sure the rules state that the teams must all make their own chassis. Minardi have bought all the old Arrows cars from last year but will be unlikely to race them (even though they are better cars than they ones they have). Having said that, Bernie now owns a stake in the team so you never know!