Dutch GP 1965

[9.3]

Just watched the ESPN channels 1965 Dutch GP, absolute classic with Raymond Mays commentating ("I can't see at the moment as the crowds are stand up in front of me" ) .

Seeing the glorious Zandvoort circuit with the ups and downs, the dunes, no run off areas, a spectator running across the track, the general proximity of everything really......

And then I watched the A1GP from Shanghai.

Am I living in the past, seeing everything with rose tinted specs or were things more exciting in those days? The whole ESPN series this last week with the 1970s GPs has been fabulous viewing and and great trip down memory lane. Had forgotten how good a driver John Watson was - he's now a commentator for the Sky A1GP, and has good insight.

[dxb335d]

Im so with you mate,

we are losing all the great tracks from high profile motor racing. I mean Zandvoort, ad Zolder are great tracks which were dropped long ago from f1 etc. Spa will be next and that for me is the best in the world.

I mean Bahrain, Malaysia and the like are not race tracks, there too wide and too souless.

Just hope we dont lose Spa, Interlagos, Monte Carlo and Suzuka. Tracks which are very challenging aswell as entertaining.


Carlos

[Paul Dishman]

'twas always thus

I remember in the 1970s people were looking back to the 1960s and 1950s as the good old days before commercial advertising on cars, when men were men, when they didn't have any of this namby pamby guard rails etc etc

[patmahe]

Paul Dishman said:

'twas always thus

I remember in the 1970s people were looking back to the 1960s and 1950s as the good old days before commercial advertising on cars, when men were men, when they didn't have any of this namby pamby guard rails etc etc

Yes but they've never been wrong, F1 has been in steady decline over the past 50 years, it has been turned into a business where a series of very fast billboards drive (as opposed to race) around excuses for circuits that are so sterile they feel like a dentists chair.

Luckily Formula one seems like it might be slowly turning things around, with the loss of driving aids this year, but many more steps are needed to get people watching and more importantly gaining a life long interest in F1.

[williamp]

patmahe said:

Paul Dishman said:

'twas always thus

I remember in the 1970s people were looking back to the 1960s and 1950s as the good old days before commercial advertising on cars, when men were men, when they didn't have any of this namby pamby guard rails etc etc

Yes but they've never been wrong, F1 has been in steady decline over the past 50 years, it has been turned into a business where a series of very fast billboards drive (as opposed to race) around excuses for circuits that are so sterile they feel like a dentists chair.

Luckily Formula one seems like it might be slowly turning things around, with the loss of driving aids this year, but many more steps are needed to get people watching and more importantly gaining a life long interest in F1.

F1 has been in decline for the past 50 years? But the championship has only been going since 1950. So 1958 was the peak? BRM V16, Vanwall, 4.5 litre Ferrari Thin wall special. Hmmm yes, I see your point

[patmahe]

williamp said:

patmahe said:

Paul Dishman said:

'twas always thus

I remember in the 1970s people were looking back to the 1960s and 1950s as the good old days before commercial advertising on cars, when men were men, when they didn't have any of this namby pamby guard rails etc etc

Yes but they've never been wrong, F1 has been in steady decline over the past 50 years, it has been turned into a business where a series of very fast billboards drive (as opposed to race) around excuses for circuits that are so sterile they feel like a dentists chair.

Luckily Formula one seems like it might be slowly turning things around, with the loss of driving aids this year, but many more steps are needed to get people watching and more importantly gaining a life long interest in F1.

F1 has been in decline for the past 50 years? But the championship has only been going since 1950. So 1958 was the peak? BRM V16, Vanwall, 4.5 litre Ferrari Thin wall special. Hmmm yes, I see your point

Ok maybe not the past 50 years but because of the points outlined in my post above, F1 is a shadow of its former self. Not saying I dont enjoy it - just saying it has the potential to be so much more.