Vietnamese Grand Prix 2020
Discussion
BigBen said:
I am actually of the opinion that the quality of the racing matters a lot less when you are there, it is more about the atmosphere. For instance I did Monaco one year and it was great despite the race undoubtedly being a snooze fest on TV.
I do enjoy Monaco, but let's remember that much of the atmosphere is passion - for as long as any resident or frequent visitor can remember, part of Monaco is having the streets scream with racing cars each year. It's like F1 coming home, it's fully welcomed in Monaco and no complaints.That same passion isn't as ingrained in Vietnam, the heritage isn't there. That's not to say that being there wouldn't be very satisfying - I would go to all races, except France, if I could. But like most of us, I can't, so need to be selective.
I don't think a crap race weekend at Hanoi will be quite as satisfying as one in Monaco - but having said that, I do hope one of the PH members goes and reports back, for all I know it could be excellent as a race and race venue..
REALIST123 said:
Incidentally, the whole of the above is why I’ll likely never go to Paul Ricard....... for me it will always fail on both measures..........
Well we posted simultaneously yet both remembered to call out the French GP as an exception 
My god, that apocalyptic turdfest needs to be ditched. Even this season, best for years, and still the French GP was unaffected. It's impossible to elevate something so unutterably w
ky.I haven't been to Ricard for decades , but whilst it wasn't Spa, the circuit was not as bad as some , but it does seem to have become fashionable to sneer at it . The area is gorgeous , fabulous food of course (it's Provence, so it would be) and at least it is in a country with huge racing heritage,and not some godforsaken Middle East sheikdom . .
That said, my chief memory is the sight of little groups of ..err..working girls at every crossroads near the circuit. Odd, don't see too many down Towcester way ...
That said, my chief memory is the sight of little groups of ..err..working girls at every crossroads near the circuit. Odd, don't see too many down Towcester way ...
coppice said:
I haven't been to Ricard for decades , but whilst it wasn't Spa, the circuit was not as bad as some , but it does seem to have become fashionable to sneer at it . The area is gorgeous , fabulous food of course (it's Provence, so it would be) and at least it is in a country with huge racing heritage,and not some godforsaken Middle East sheikdom . .
That said, my chief memory is the sight of little groups of ..err..working girls at every crossroads near the circuit. Odd, don't see too many down Towcester way ...
It's a giant car park with a circuit painted on it, and the bits in-between painted in the colours of the French flag - because... National pride is more important than the global sport!?.. whatever. The colours and stripes are nausea inducing and the open plan layout removes any sense of speed. Or danger.That said, my chief memory is the sight of little groups of ..err..working girls at every crossroads near the circuit. Odd, don't see too many down Towcester way ...
I agree about the food though. And France does have an important racing heritage and remain important in the sport today. That just makes their GP circuit offering all the less excusable though. It's crap.
Edited by TheDeuce on Friday 13th December 18:06
coppice said:
I haven't been to Ricard for decades , but whilst it wasn't Spa, the circuit was not as bad as some , but it does seem to have become fashionable to sneer at it . The area is gorgeous , fabulous food of course (it's Provence, so it would be) and at least it is in a country with huge racing heritage,and not some godforsaken Middle East sheikdom . .
That said, my chief memory is the sight of little groups of ..err..working girls at every crossroads near the circuit. Odd, don't see too many down Towcester way ...
The food can’t make up for the other issues. That said, my chief memory is the sight of little groups of ..err..working girls at every crossroads near the circuit. Odd, don't see too many down Towcester way ...
Access is awful, even with the new P and R, the circuit itself is soulless and the coloured abrasive sections........
They should just keep it as the test circuit it is.
BigBen said:
I am actually of the opinion that the quality of the racing matters a lot less when you are there, it is more about the atmosphere. For instance I did Monaco one year and it was great despite the race undoubtedly being a snooze fest on TV.
You are so right . It is a sport which can only be appreciated fully by being there , seeing it, smelling it and hearing it - and preferably over the full 3 days. People tell me , from the infinite well of wisdom that comes only from watching grainy youtube footage, that the 80s turbo era of F1 was nothing special , because lots of racing was not as close as,now . And all I will say is that the 3 days I spent at Brands Hatch in 86 watching near uncontrollable turbo monsters at close range was mesmerising -and I have never seen anything better, anywhere. But ANY GP is an event if you are there - TV is a pale shadow of reality
coppice said:
BigBen said:
I am actually of the opinion that the quality of the racing matters a lot less when you are there, it is more about the atmosphere. For instance I did Monaco one year and it was great despite the race undoubtedly being a snooze fest on TV.
You are so right . It is a sport which can only be appreciated fully by being there , seeing it, smelling it and hearing it - and preferably over the full 3 days. People tell me , from the infinite well of wisdom that comes only from watching grainy youtube footage, that the 80s turbo era of F1 was nothing special , because lots of racing was not as close as,now . And all I will say is that the 3 days I spent at Brands Hatch in 86 watching near uncontrollable turbo monsters at close range was mesmerising -and I have never seen anything better, anywhere. But ANY GP is an event if you are there - TV is a pale shadow of reality
He’ll be taking me to Austin next year as a birthday treat...........how things change.
coppice said:
BigBen said:
I am actually of the opinion that the quality of the racing matters a lot less when you are there, it is more about the atmosphere. For instance I did Monaco one year and it was great despite the race undoubtedly being a snooze fest on TV.
You are so right . It is a sport which can only be appreciated fully by being there , seeing it, smelling it and hearing it - and preferably over the full 3 days. People tell me , from the infinite well of wisdom that comes only from watching grainy youtube footage, that the 80s turbo era of F1 was nothing special , because lots of racing was not as close as,now . And all I will say is that the 3 days I spent at Brands Hatch in 86 watching near uncontrollable turbo monsters at close range was mesmerising -and I have never seen anything better, anywhere. But ANY GP is an event if you are there - TV is a pale shadow of reality
We were at Melbourne last year, not our first GP and not a GP you'd perhaps cherry pick but travel plans and local friends made it easy, and what an occasion it was.
TheDeuce said:
I don't think a crap race weekend at Hanoi will be quite as satisfying as one in Monaco - but having said that, I do hope one of the PH members goes and reports back, for all I know it could be excellent as a race and race venue..
I'll let you know, got tickets to view turns 2-3-4, will be interesting to see how it turns out, but Hanoi's great regardless.Yetski said:
I'll let you know, got tickets to view turns 2-3-4, will be interesting to see how it turns out, but Hanoi's great regardless.
Have you managed to find a detailed seating plan anywhere?Those are big stands on those turns, be good to see what the seat allocations are like.
shtu said:
Have you managed to find a detailed seating plan anywhere?
Those are big stands on those turns, be good to see what the seat allocations are like.
No I haven't, I was hoping to get one when I received my seating allocation confirmation.Those are big stands on those turns, be good to see what the seat allocations are like.
I requested one this morning, and will post if I get any response.
TheDeuce said:
Back in November 2018 I said:Megaflow said:
Having watched the video about the ‘track’ on the F1 YouTube channel, I’ll be stunned if this happens in 2020. The area that is supposed to be the pits, paddock and final section of the circuit is currently a swamp, literally.
Looks like I am going to have to eat a large slice of humble pie. To go from a swamp to that in a little over 12 months is *very* impressive. Makes you wonder why it takes so long to build stuff over here. Yes, I know we have a hideously complicated planning procedure, but I assume that planning had already been granted in November 2019 for it and if we had planning at the same time, we'd still be bhing about some triviality in the paper work some where.Megaflow said:
Looks like I am going to have to eat a large slice of humble pie. To go from a swamp to that in a little over 12 months is *very* impressive. Makes you wonder why it takes so long to build stuff over here. Yes, I know we have a hideously complicated planning procedure, but I assume that planning had already been granted in November 2019 for it and if we had planning at the same time, we'd still be bhing about some triviality in the paper work some where.
Don't worry about it. I said the same about the 2012 Olympics - after the Wembley farce, I was sure red tape Britain would find a way of not being ready on time! I was very wrong though, it went without a hitch.hing about some triviality in the paper work some where.I think for Hanoi this is an opportunity to show they can organise and host a major event under the gaze of the world, no doubt they're taking that pretty seriously. Funny how governments suddenly get stuff done when the world is watching
TheDeuce said:
I think for Hanoi this is an opportunity to show they can organise and host a major event under the gaze of the world, no doubt they're taking that pretty seriously. Funny how governments suddenly get stuff done when the world is watching
To contradict this I was speaking to a friend who has been to check out the facilities and organisation, he suggested I give it a year to bed in. The main concern being the race weekend is also the pilot event for the facility.I am probably still going to go mind you.
BigBen said:
TheDeuce said:
I think for Hanoi this is an opportunity to show they can organise and host a major event under the gaze of the world, no doubt they're taking that pretty seriously. Funny how governments suddenly get stuff done when the world is watching
To contradict this I was speaking to a friend who has been to check out the facilities and organisation, he suggested I give it a year to bed in. The main concern being the race weekend is also the pilot event for the facility.I am probably still going to go mind you.
Are you planning on attending Friday onwards?
TheDeuce said:
I'm sure the city will be in turmoil handling the extra traffic etc, and organisation won't be what it might be at other destinations... But the circuit will be ready and functional, the race will go ahead. From the outside world it'll look smooth and slick like any other I should think. From your point of view, at ground zero, you'll probably see a few cracks and maybe some hold ups on the way in and ticket/security queue etc. But it's all part of the experience and even if it's a ballache it's surely worth it to go to a maiden GP
Are you planning on attending Friday onwards?
Yep that would be the aim, I would combine it with some sightseeing in Vietnam not having been there yet.Are you planning on attending Friday onwards?
Ben
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