Bernie Ecclestone: Good guy or not?
Discussion
Whilst at the Nürburgring last year, I had to wait whilst a Maybach was ushered onto the track piloted by none other than Mr. N. Lauda with a small boy in the passenger seat. When I was eventually allowed on the circuit, I noticed the yellow flags being waved as I exited out of Ex Mühle toward the barbecue area. The Maybach was parked up by the armco with a video crew trained on Niki and the small boy was out of the car in a position on the track which would have made it fairly simple to have run him over. As I passed by I noticed the grey hair and some fairly ridiculous looking glasses on the small boy, "so that must be Bernie then" I thought to myself.
Did I do the right thing passing him by?
Did I do the right thing passing him by?
He has clearly had a massive impact upon the business of F1 (and hence the sport). He's given it direction, cohesion and made everyone a pot of money to boot (most notably for himself).
Personally I feel he's now done all he can to raise the profile of the sport globally and we've achieved a state where his continual attempts to milk ever more money from the F1 gravy train are starting to be severely detrimental to the sport. We have races held in locations where there is not a huge local interest in the sport, and an ever expanding calendar where there is a danger of the traditional races that give the championship a sense of history being lost.
His continual sniping at Silverstone is also very boring (I had a great weekend there and the track and facilities are easily better than Spa, Monza and Montreal), he seems to have only one negotiating tactic left when it comes to the older cicuits - the threat of taking the race elsewhere.
I would have shouted 'time to get out of the way old man' and maybe clipped him with your wing mirror just to make sure he got the message.
Personally I feel he's now done all he can to raise the profile of the sport globally and we've achieved a state where his continual attempts to milk ever more money from the F1 gravy train are starting to be severely detrimental to the sport. We have races held in locations where there is not a huge local interest in the sport, and an ever expanding calendar where there is a danger of the traditional races that give the championship a sense of history being lost.
His continual sniping at Silverstone is also very boring (I had a great weekend there and the track and facilities are easily better than Spa, Monza and Montreal), he seems to have only one negotiating tactic left when it comes to the older cicuits - the threat of taking the race elsewhere.
I would have shouted 'time to get out of the way old man' and maybe clipped him with your wing mirror just to make sure he got the message.
chris_w said:
He has clearly had a massive impact upon the business of F1 (and hence the sport). He's given it direction, cohesion and made everyone a pot of money to boot (most notably for himself).
Personally I feel he's now done all he can to raise the profile of the sport globally and we've achieved a state where his continual attempts to milk ever more money from the F1 gravy train are starting to be severely detrimental to the sport. We have races held in locations where there is not a huge local interest in the sport, and an ever expanding calendar where there is a danger of the traditional races that give the championship a sense of history being lost.
His continual sniping at Silverstone is also very boring (I had a great weekend there and the track and facilities are easily better than Spa, Monza and Montreal), he seems to have only one negotiating tactic left when it comes to the older cicuits - the threat of taking the race elsewhere.
I would have shouted 'time to get out of the way old man' and maybe clipped him with your wing mirror just to make sure he got the message.
Very much agree with these thoughts, although I can't comment on Montreal as I have not been there.Personally I feel he's now done all he can to raise the profile of the sport globally and we've achieved a state where his continual attempts to milk ever more money from the F1 gravy train are starting to be severely detrimental to the sport. We have races held in locations where there is not a huge local interest in the sport, and an ever expanding calendar where there is a danger of the traditional races that give the championship a sense of history being lost.
His continual sniping at Silverstone is also very boring (I had a great weekend there and the track and facilities are easily better than Spa, Monza and Montreal), he seems to have only one negotiating tactic left when it comes to the older cicuits - the threat of taking the race elsewhere.
I would have shouted 'time to get out of the way old man' and maybe clipped him with your wing mirror just to make sure he got the message.
Eric Mc said:
chris-w
100% in agreement. He is well past his "best by" date and should quietly step away from the sport now.
What he did between 1972 and 1982 was vital to ensure the future of F1.
From on 1983 his influence has been detrimental to the sport.
the proble is who would you have replace him?100% in agreement. He is well past his "best by" date and should quietly step away from the sport now.
What he did between 1972 and 1982 was vital to ensure the future of F1.
From on 1983 his influence has been detrimental to the sport.
Cleary it *has* to be by dictatorship (committe's never work with this stuff) and it needs somebody who can counter Max the muppet too...
Tankman said:
Whilst at the Nürburgring last year, I had to wait whilst a Maybach was ushered onto the track piloted by none other than Mr. N. Lauda with a small boy in the passenger seat. When I was eventually allowed on the circuit, I noticed the yellow flags being waved as I exited out of Ex Mühle toward the barbecue area. The Maybach was parked up by the armco with a video crew trained on Niki and the small boy was out of the car in a position on the track which would have made it fairly simple to have run him over. As I passed by I noticed the grey hair and some fairly ridiculous looking glasses on the small boy, "so that must be Bernie then" I thought to myself.
Did I do the right thing passing him by?
That would have been the 30th anniversary of Lauda's crash. Bernie had someone hide a pig's ear in the grass past Bergwerk (where Lauda had his accident) and after wandering around for a bit, Bernie found it, held it up and shouted "Nicki, I've found your ear!"Did I do the right thing passing him by?
Bernie's a bloody clever guy and a total ruthless dictator - but sometimes organisations need someone that's got a vision and just goes for it.
I kind of like him for that
I don't think you could ever say he's done anything that was bad for the sport (well maybe selling half of it off to that german bank )
woof said:
Bernie's a bloody clever guy and a total ruthless dictator - but sometimes organisations need someone that's got a vision and just goes for it.
I kind of like him for that
I don't think you could ever say he's done anything that was bad for the sport (well maybe selling half of it off to that german bank )
Apart from taking F1 to deserted tracks with big money but zero audience and taking it away from F1's heartland. Imola? Magny Cours?I kind of like him for that
I don't think you could ever say he's done anything that was bad for the sport (well maybe selling half of it off to that german bank )
runnersp said:
woof said:
Bernie's a bloody clever guy and a total ruthless dictator - but sometimes organisations need someone that's got a vision and just goes for it.
I kind of like him for that
I don't think you could ever say he's done anything that was bad for the sport (well maybe selling half of it off to that german bank )
Apart from taking F1 to deserted tracks with big money but zero audience and taking it away from F1's heartland. Imola? Magny Cours?I kind of like him for that
I don't think you could ever say he's done anything that was bad for the sport (well maybe selling half of it off to that german bank )
runnersp said:
Imola? Magny Cours?
I had always heard (but never been so am only going on what others have said) that Imola was a bit of a dump and to be honest wasn't too sad to hear of it's demise as have long been bugged by the fact there were efectively 2 Italian GP's (yes I know it wasn't but let's be honest about it...) That said I would rather have seen them share it with Monza.As for Mangy Course - One man's political pawn is anothers great big stick. F1, comming to a Southern French race track as soon... (IMO)
Eric Mc said:
Woof - you are joking?
Not really - for the sport in general, he's got it right most of the time he works for the teams and himself to make money and develop into new markets
Putting pressure on circuits to raise their game is fair enough - Silverstone is guaranteed with the Lewis effect for several years to come
If you haven't done so already, I advise you to read the book "Bernie's Game".
As I said earlier, back in the late 70s and early 80s he did wonders turning what had often been a shambolic amateurish circus into a slick professional outfit.
That was the good bit.
In recent years his involvment has only been to the detriment of the sport - losing classic tracks, shifting to countries with no tradition or even affection for motor racing etc.
Luckilly, he can't hang around too much longer - although I remember saying that to myself ten years ago
.
As I said earlier, back in the late 70s and early 80s he did wonders turning what had often been a shambolic amateurish circus into a slick professional outfit.
That was the good bit.
In recent years his involvment has only been to the detriment of the sport - losing classic tracks, shifting to countries with no tradition or even affection for motor racing etc.
Luckilly, he can't hang around too much longer - although I remember saying that to myself ten years ago
.the big question is who or what is going to take over when the inevitable happens - assuming that Bernie hasn't found the secret of eternal life !
Eric Mc said:
If you haven't done so already, I advise you to read the book "Bernie's Game".
As I said earlier, back in the late 70s and early 80s he did wonders turning what had often been a shambolic amateurish circus into a slick professional outfit.
That was the good bit.
In recent years his involvment has only been to the detriment of the sport - losing classic tracks, shifting to countries with no tradition or even affection for motor racing etc.
Luckilly, he can't hang around too much longer - although I remember saying that to myself ten years ago.
As I said earlier, back in the late 70s and early 80s he did wonders turning what had often been a shambolic amateurish circus into a slick professional outfit.
That was the good bit.
In recent years his involvment has only been to the detriment of the sport - losing classic tracks, shifting to countries with no tradition or even affection for motor racing etc.
Luckilly, he can't hang around too much longer - although I remember saying that to myself ten years ago
.loneranger said:
I was told that he doesn't like Silverstone because the BRDC wouldn't let him join their club!
Don't thay have some fairly stringent entry criteria though??? Something like at least a couple of seasons of consistent success in an international championship. I think Bernie only ever went to F3 level in the UK. It's safe to assume that a BRDC member is a fairly handy racing driver, although I did see that logo on Jason Plato's overalls, so they must make the odd exception...Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff