F1 Night Racing - good or bad idea ?
F1 Night Racing - good or bad idea ?
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rev-erend

Original Poster:

21,619 posts

313 months

Tuesday 18th March 2008
quotequote all
Well do you think this will be a good specticle or just an idea poorly thought through ?

I've just watch the bikes - MotoGP that is a night race and a bit like Le Mans - there were so many flood lights that .. well it was like day light.

No glowing brake discs or flames visible ...

So what is the point ?

SamHH

5,078 posts

245 months

Tuesday 18th March 2008
quotequote all
In the case of Formula One, it's about the international television broadcast times. I'm not sure about the motorcycle Grand Prix racing, but I guess it's for the same reason. Personally, I'm not bothered about what time of day the races are held. I don't think the spectacle will be any better or any worse for the television viewer.

stockhatcher

5,165 posts

252 months

Tuesday 18th March 2008
quotequote all
SamHH said:
I don't think the spectacle will be any better or any worse for the television viewer.
ah yes, but surely if you are going to be bored stupid by 2 hrs of the gp then not having to get up early to watch it, will make it marginally more worthwhile?

cmsapms

708 posts

273 months

Tuesday 18th March 2008
quotequote all
It's nothing more than a gimmick, just like MotoGP in Qatar. Donington's MotoGp a few years back was darker!! (and colder, and wetter hehe)

rev-erend

Original Poster:

21,619 posts

313 months

Tuesday 18th March 2008
quotequote all
With SKY+ it make bu88er all difference.

I watch the GP when I wake up .. that way I don't get the result before I watch program.


JP_Midget

438 posts

240 months

Tuesday 18th March 2008
quotequote all
I prefer the GP to be on early am, 0430 was a little too early ideally, but I even found that better than having to give up a possibly sunny sunday afternoon to watch it.

BoRED S2upid

21,044 posts

269 months

Tuesday 18th March 2008
quotequote all
I think it will be interesting to see modern day F1 cars with Lights on them with all the aero packages and the importance of Aero in F1.

I hope its not too well floodlit but then again if it was too dark it could be very dangerous.


johnph

1,097 posts

258 months

Tuesday 18th March 2008
quotequote all
BoRED S2upid said:
I think it will be interesting to see modern day F1 cars with Lights on them with all the aero packages and the importance of Aero in F1.

I hope its not too well floodlit but then again if it was too dark it could be very dangerous.
The cars aren't going to have lights on them, the whole track will be floodlot.

IMO night racing is a good idea so long as its limited to one race a year (i.e. Singapore) otherwise it loses its uniqueness. The reason for the push to night races lies in having the races at better times for the european audience and another factor: heat

Malaysia wants to hold a night race because the lower tempratures will (in theory) mean more people are inclined to come andf watch the race, with the MotoGP at Qatar they managed to sell out the place.

Edited by johnph on Tuesday 18th March 16:59

profstoff

1,272 posts

256 months

Tuesday 18th March 2008
quotequote all
It's a gimmick, designed to artificially liven up a form of motor racing that has bu99ar all racing.

rev-erend

Original Poster:

21,619 posts

313 months

Wednesday 19th March 2008
quotequote all
profstoff said:
It's a gimmick, designed to artificially liven up a form of motor racing that has bu99ar all racing.
hehe

SamHH

5,078 posts

245 months

Wednesday 19th March 2008
quotequote all
profstoff said:
It's a gimmick, designed to artificially liven up a form of motor racing that has bu99ar all racing.
Is it really designed to liven up the racing? Everything I've read suggested the primary purpose is to get better television broadcast times for European viewers.

Al W

591 posts

256 months

Wednesday 19th March 2008
quotequote all
to me it's a joke, and with all the enviro-mentalists about these days, it's potentially another nail in the motorsport coffin. What greater proof of the gratuitous excesses of F1 than running floodlights around miles of racetrack, just so a few folk in Europe don't have to either get up early or watch the re-run later on. Pathetic gimmick.

Even the FIA mutters about using renewable energy, regenerative technology etc. How about starting by using daylight?

johnph

1,097 posts

258 months

Wednesday 19th March 2008
quotequote all
Al W said:
to me it's a joke, and with all the enviro-mentalists about these days, it's potentially another nail in the motorsport coffin. What greater proof of the gratuitous excesses of F1 than running floodlights around miles of racetrack, just so a few folk in Europe don't have to either get up early or watch the re-run later on. Pathetic gimmick.

Even the FIA mutters about using renewable energy, regenerative technology etc. How about starting by using daylight?
Good point, F1 is seen as the pinnacle of motorsport and thus is its figurehead, what F1 does reflects on motorsport at large, and atm, its making motorsport look very bad.

IMO F1 isn't the pinnacle in terms of technology, the ALMS/LMS take that honour. In term of excitement i'll hold off on that one until 2009 when we get the new aero rules.

XJSJohn

16,151 posts

248 months

Monday 24th March 2008
quotequote all
I think that the night race thing depends on the location of the circuit, a purpose built track such as Spa that is in the middle of nowhere (relatively speaking) does not realy provide for much excitement in something like an F1 GP where everything will be floodlit.

However a modern city center race like singapore will make for quite a spectacle for the F1 travelling show. Singapore looks very impressive at night with huge tower blocks, old classic colonial buildings and some stunning modern archetecture all lit up in some very creative ways.

The whole "spectacle" will look good. As for the racing .... i have seen the first test of the lighting system being used here .... its so damn bright that they will need sunglasses anyway, so racing itself will be no different!

Eric Mc

125,609 posts

294 months

Monday 24th March 2008
quotequote all
I wonder how much safety is compromised by night racing? Not just car, spectator or circuit safety - but crowd evacuation procedures, air ambulance services, TV helicopter issues, pre-race circuit entertainmaent etc etc etc.

mark69sheer

3,906 posts

231 months

Monday 24th March 2008
quotequote all
What does Bernie or indeed the advertisers themselves know about F1 viewing habits.
Most people who have families will watch the late night highlights or record the main event.
Even if they floodlight the events . . (to the detriment of safety and common sense) I probably won't be watching at the alloted time despite all the unnessessary efforts they have gone to just to get me to watch.

In fact I prefer to record the races on my freeview with HD recording so I can fast forward through the advertisments.
Jeez isn't sponsorship on the cars, the trackside,the mechanics,the timing,the pit girls, etc etc enough.


johnph

1,097 posts

258 months

Monday 24th March 2008
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
I wonder how much safety is compromised by night racing? Not just car, spectator or circuit safety - but crowd evacuation procedures, air ambulance services, TV helicopter issues, pre-race circuit entertainmaent etc etc etc.
Can't see how it would be any different from the night hours at Daytona, Spa or Le Mans.

phumy

5,827 posts

266 months

Monday 24th March 2008
quotequote all
Im going to watch it in Singapore, flight is booked and cant wait to see it, will i need a torch hehe

Eric Mc

125,609 posts

294 months

Monday 24th March 2008
quotequote all
johnph said:
Eric Mc said:
I wonder how much safety is compromised by night racing? Not just car, spectator or circuit safety - but crowd evacuation procedures, air ambulance services, TV helicopter issues, pre-race circuit entertainmaent etc etc etc.
Can't see how it would be any different from the night hours at Daytona, Spa or Le Mans.
F1 has quite strict regulations surrounding its activities - more so than "lesser" forms of motorsport.

A couple of years ago the British GP almost was cancelled because the weather was too bad to allow the emergency helicopter to fly - mainly due to poor visibility. I was wondering would having to fly the medevac chopper in the dark cause a problem.

SamHH

5,078 posts

245 months

Monday 24th March 2008
quotequote all
mark69sheer said:
What does Bernie or indeed the advertisers themselves know about F1 viewing habits.
I suspect they know a lot more than any of us do. Advertisers probably do loads of research about that sort of thing in order to get the most out of their money.