Bernie Ecclestone awarded BARC Gold Medal 19 Feb 18
Discussion
Kraken said:
You are aware of the infighting between the teams, back hand deals with promoters. small teams not getting any money to race etc etc that was common practice before Ecclestone took over? Same with TV rights. Teams weren't getting any serious money for the coverage. Not to mention that he was instrumental in the medical backup that is taken for granted these days.
I'd say the perception of whether the sport was popular outside of hard core motorsports fans depends on your individual circumstances. Certainly no-one I worked with at the time would discuss F1 and the majority weren't even aware of anything outside of F1. In the same environment today I know many would know and talk about F1.
These days is very different and the figures for audience penetration, viewing hours, brand recall etc back that up with F1 being a massive global brand.
As I said whether what has happened to F1 is good or not is a very debatable point but it employs massively more people than it did in the past and many would see that as a good thing.
Personally I've pretty much stopped following F1 since the Mercedes domination started which is nothing to do with Ecclestone, he was totally opposed to the new "engines" right from the start.
Was this the 'early days'?I'd say the perception of whether the sport was popular outside of hard core motorsports fans depends on your individual circumstances. Certainly no-one I worked with at the time would discuss F1 and the majority weren't even aware of anything outside of F1. In the same environment today I know many would know and talk about F1.
These days is very different and the figures for audience penetration, viewing hours, brand recall etc back that up with F1 being a massive global brand.
As I said whether what has happened to F1 is good or not is a very debatable point but it employs massively more people than it did in the past and many would see that as a good thing.
Personally I've pretty much stopped following F1 since the Mercedes domination started which is nothing to do with Ecclestone, he was totally opposed to the new "engines" right from the start.
I disagree strongly that those in power, which included Ecclestone, were responsible for the medical back up that is the norm today. The establishment was against it, and I remember when the leading monthly magazine ridiculed Stewart, one of those in the vanguard, for wanting safe circuits. Despite the claims of those at the head of the FIA, what we have today is there because of Senna, and to an extent Ratzenberger's deaths. This forced the hand of the complacent bosses and made them do something sensible.
I'm not sure when you think that Ecclestone sorted out the teams and established fair distribution. I think many teams are still waiting for it.
Don't get bemused by viewing figures. They mean little.
Ecclestone was, perhaps is, a clever chap. His business sense is unmatched by most in F1. That does not mean that he was good for F1.
I enjoyed F1 in the 'early days', and it was Ecclestone, and his support for Mosley, that started a decline for me.
Two people made far more of an impact on medical cover in 'the early days' - Jackie Stewart and Louis Stanley . As Derek has pointed out JYS was very much swimming against the tide and was subject to huge criticism from the traditionalists like Jenks who thought that racing drives should put up or shut up with the risk of injury or death. Read JYS account of his Spa shunt , or Brian Redman's tales of appalling or non existent medical care after racing accidents .
BCE was very close to Rindt of course and I suspect that he was greatly affected by his death at Monza in '70.
I am no MM fan but I seem to remember that his actions following the Senna and Ratzenberger deaths , and Wendlinger's serious accident , were swift and decisive.
BCE was very close to Rindt of course and I suspect that he was greatly affected by his death at Monza in '70.
I am no MM fan but I seem to remember that his actions following the Senna and Ratzenberger deaths , and Wendlinger's serious accident , were swift and decisive.
coppice said:
Two people made far more of an impact on medical cover in 'the early days' - Jackie Stewart and Louis Stanley . As Derek has pointed out JYS was very much swimming against the tide and was subject to huge criticism from the traditionalists like Jenks who thought that racing drives should put up or shut up with the risk of injury or death. Read JYS account of his Spa shunt , or Brian Redman's tales of appalling or non existent medical care after racing accidents .
BCE was very close to Rindt of course and I suspect that he was greatly affected by his death at Monza in '70.
I am no MM fan but I seem to remember that his actions following the Senna and Ratzenberger deaths , and Wendlinger's serious accident , were swift and decisive.
As you say, Stewart and Stanely. Had it not been for them the sport would have been banned. Yet Stewart is still attacked by the powers that be; it seems they haven't forgiven him for being right. Let's hope that's changed with Liberty.BCE was very close to Rindt of course and I suspect that he was greatly affected by his death at Monza in '70.
I am no MM fan but I seem to remember that his actions following the Senna and Ratzenberger deaths , and Wendlinger's serious accident , were swift and decisive.
As for Mosley's response, it was a case of stable door closing. The reason was, of course, the threat of litigation. It was on Mosley's watch. He would not have designed the new regs of course. It is remarkable how quickly those responsible came up with the new specs. It's almost as if they had them already on the table.
I suppose the real architect of safety in F1 is the threat of being sued.
I've read Watkins book , and his wife's come to that, and there is no doubt that he ,with BCE's support , continued to make huge improvements in medical care and we should be grateful for that. But the seismic shift happened long before SW's day , although God knows the fatality rate was still dreadful . But remember that before Stewart and Stanley , the best medical care at some circuits came from a fag smoking amateur volunteer in an old van - if you were lucky.
Drivers woke up to safety in the early 70s - and JYS was not only the catalyst, but just about the only drvieer with teh balls (and status ) to say 'enough's enough'.
But it isn't a competition - both SW and JYS deserve praise.
Drivers woke up to safety in the early 70s - and JYS was not only the catalyst, but just about the only drvieer with teh balls (and status ) to say 'enough's enough'.
But it isn't a competition - both SW and JYS deserve praise.
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