Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler OT: Racing

If you're not an F-1 fan (or one of our resident Canucks), you might want to skip to another thread...

I had a conversation with someone the other day and we were talking about simple pleasures. What were some of the small things that never failed to make us smile? Well, without putting much thought into it I said, "Watching old footage of Gilles Villeneuve driving."

Now, I thought it was kind of funny that that was one of the first things that popped into my head, but I guess it was an honest answer. I've got a couple of video tapes of Gilles racing, including the '79 French Grand Prix and his duel with Rene Arnoux. I'll pop them in maybe once or twice a year and they never fail to make smile and lean a little closer to the TV, and occasionally laugh out loud. The guy was absolutely insane. Completely brilliant, but insane.

So I guess if I have a question, it’s for the Canadian members of this board: Is Villeneuve a legend in Canada? Has he been largely forgotten? Is anyone here old enough to actually remember seeing or attending some of his races? Any stories to share?

This doesn't answer your question as I am not Canadian! I justed wanted to say that it is great to have another F1 fan on this forum, I have an MPEG file of Dijon '79 (with Murray Walker commentary if that means anything to you) on my PC and I watch it every now and then to remember the good old days of overtaking.
I have been to the Montreal GP for the past 3 years and from what I have seen Gilles is definately not forgotten!

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...the good old days of overtaking...

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Oh, man...I don't know if that's overtaking or if that's just a death wish! Rene and Gilles acting like it's a NASCAR race, bumping tires in open wheel racing, passing on the inside, then on the outside, kicking up dirt, locking up the brakes...it just makes me giggle thinking about it.

Here's a really lousy quality clip of the race we’re talking about, if anyone’s interested. (MPG, 1.9mb)

Whoa! That was really cool!

I uh, "follow" F1 by reading about it Road & Track (mainly because when I was a kid, and still now, it was the only thing Ferrari raced in). That clip is amazing. I understand that they don't race like that any more. Sad...

I've tried watching NASCAR on TV. It was truly dull, I'm sorry to say. Maybe I'm just not cut out to watch racing.

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I understand that they don't race like that any more. Sad...

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No, they don't race like that any more. Love him or hate him, Michael Schumacher is one of the most freakishly talented pilots to ever get behind the wheel of an F-1 car. Combine that with the engineering and financial resources of Ferrari, whose annual budget would make most third world nations cry, and you have a juggernaut in every sense of the word.

I've had the pleasure of seeing Schumacher race, and the unfortunate truth is that it's one of the most hopelessly lopsided events in the history of motorsports. I'll wave the Ferrari flag until the day I die, but he has absolutely nothing left to prove. My humble opinion is that it's time for him to gracefully bow out; the sport might be better for it if there was some element of actual competition involved.

I'm just really happy that Ferrari cars don't suck any more. I agree with you about Schumacher. Man, it would have been amazing to see him race against Senna at both of their primes...such a tragedy.

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I'm just really happy that Ferrari cars don't suck any more.

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The late 80s through the mid-90s were a dark time for Ferrari. I don’t know if I’d say the cars sucked, but the company certainly lost focus. On paper a car like the Testarossa was a brute, but it had the soul of a guy wearing gold chains and a satin baseball jacket. When Luca di Montezemelo took the reigns the company made a dramatic turnaround.

I never had the good sense to appreciate Senna at the time. In those days Ferrari was lost and all of the races ended with Senna, Prost or Mansell on the podium - very distressing for a fan of the Scuderia. A race with both Senna and Schumacher on the grid (in their respective primes, as you said) would be amazing fun. They did race each other (Schumacher had been in F1 two seasons when Senna was killed), but he was still basically a rookie.

I was lucky (??) enough to see Gerhard Berger drive Senna's JPS Lotus-Renault at Imola last year to commemorate the 10 years since Senna had died at the same track - it was quite emotional. I also visited the memorial inside Tamborello corner. Not a weekend I will ever forget.

Yeah, I was the same way during that time, although I don't know if I think that about the Testarossa! After all, that was also the time of the F40, which was my favorite car for an awful long time...

I know that they raced, but I'd have loved to see them race each other at their respective primes.

Wow! I bet that was quite a weekend!

The thing that most struck me when I finally got to see my first F-1 race (Indy, 2001) was the sound. I have never in my life heard anything as ear-splittingly loud as an F-1 car echoing off the concrete walls at Indy, and that's from the son of a fighter pilot. We parked six blocks away from the track, and even at that distance it was like having the TV up way too loud.

Well Gilles is cetainly a legend to me, and to most other Canadians who follow F1. I wasn't lucky enough to see him race in person, something I still regret.

This June at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK Jacques drove his father's 1978 Ferrari 312. "I never thought I would do this," added the 1997 Champion. "It's something that you do once in a lifetime, and that's what it will remain. This run was like 'thank you and goodbye' to my Dad."

"The Canadian has been notably reluctant to talk about his father in the past but on Saturday he wore a helmet belonging to the Ferrari great, who died in practice for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix."

The pictures of Jacques in his dad's car, sent shivers up my spine.

The most incredible things about current F1 cars is the braking. I was at Silverstone by the pit entrance and the first few times the cars came in I was convinced that there was going to be a crash. They go from race speed to pitlane speed in the blink of an eye.

I'd give anything to go for a ride in one of the two seaters they use for pr work.

For what it's worth the Australian GP is only 85 days away, and now that the British GP is back on we may be getting 19 races next year.

I have always wanted to go to Goodwood! Is it true that you're expected to wear a coat and tie?

A lot of people like to wear "period" outfits in keeping with the cars but I don't think a tie is a requirement.

Goodwood is on my list of things to do before i go for the Big Sleep

This is from their web site:

"What should I wear?
As the Festival is an open air event staged primarily in parkland, comfortable shoes and casual clothing is best. Always bring some light wet weather clothing as, even in summer, British weather can be unpredictable! If you will be using our corporate hospitality pavilions, then smart casual dress is required."

Mike,

Yes, Indy is awesome for F1. I have also been lucky enough to be at Monaco for the last 2 years. F1 on city streets is something else again!!

Stuart, I'm envious beyond words. There are really three motorsport-related events I'd like to attend before I die, and two have already been mentioned here: Monaco and Goodwood. The third is Monterey in August. And I feel like the biggest schmuck walking for having missed this year's event - guess I'll have to wait another ten years before Ferrari is the celebrated marque.

Me, I'd love to see Le Mans. Mmm, prototypes...

That's one thing I can say I've seen. Almost 20 years ago, though, when I was just starting high school.

I forgot to mention that a pilgrimage to Maranello would be really, really cool...

I hear ya about NASCAR.....watching Billy Bob, Skeeter and Bubba turn left for 300 miles does not do it for me either......

Mike,

This is going to start to sound like bragging, so I should quit posting after this - but I have also been to Maranello a few times. I work in the industry and get to work with almost all of the F1 teams in one aspect or another so there are a lot of perks.
There is something about sitting in a meeting at Maranello in the summer with the windows open and hearing Michael or Rubens pounding around Fiorano while you talk.

Okay, now I just hate you with every fiber of my being.

[thinking] Hmmm...been to Indy, Montreal, Monaco, Maranello...must come up with something...how do I one-up this guy?...think, Mike, think!...come on... GOT IT!!! [/thinking]

I got a kitten three years ago!

[StrokingEgo]YOU GOT A KITTEN???[/StrokingEgo]

Uh-huh. And she's soft. Oh, and I drive a '94 Honda, too!

I RULE!!!

COOOL!
Does your kitten match your Honda?

Actually, ever since we moved from England we have wanted a kitten, so I am jealous.

Paint me green with envy

FYI

2005 Formula One calendar issued by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on Friday:


March 6 Australia

March 20 Malaysia

April 3 Bahrain

April 24 San Marino

May 8 Spain

May 22 Monaco

May 29 Europe

June 12 Canada

June 19 United States

July 3 France

July 10 Britain

July 24 Germany

July 31 Hungary

August 21 Turkey

September 4 Italy

September 11 Belgium

September 25 Brazil

October 9 Japan

October 16 China

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by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on Friday

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now, i am a NASCAR fan, but i am still smart enough to figure out, that doesnt add up? wouldnt it be the IAF?

N- national
A- association of
S- stock
C- car
A- automobile
R- racing

man, those hillbillies sure could spell!!

bubba, hand me my spit-cup.. PU-THWANG!!

bigjohn

"Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile"

oh, its french.. i knew there was a good reason why i didnt like it!!

bigjohn

dmn23 nailed it Big John, they are located in France so it's the French spelling.

For what it's worth I enjoy most forms of motorsports.
That includes rally, NASCAR, drag racing, and F1. Each discipline requires it's own individual set of skills so I respect them all.

It would be nice if open wheel racing in North America could get its act together.

i know ya'll been bashing NASCAR a little in here, and thats cool, to each there own.. i have never even been to a race with open-wheel cars, so i have no idea what i am missing. but i will say this..

i am a BIG NASCAR fan, and i get tired of the whole "its just a bunch of rednecks" attitude that everyone seems to have about it. there is just as much state-of-the-art technology that goes into the NASCAR's, as is in the open wheels. its just geared for different things. they are two completely types of automobiles, but the bottom line is still the same.. make 'em fast, reliable, and safe. thats what gets the drivers over the finish line. and as far as the excitement factor, i will take 43 NASCARS on a 1 mile oval, over 33 open-wheels on a road course any day. i guess it just comes down to what you are used to. and in my neighborhood, we got ford, chevys, pontiacs, and dodges. that works for me..

BTW- the NASCAR tracks/races i have been to are texas(3), darlington(2), rockingham(2), charlotte, and richmond. my wife and i want to go to the bristol night race before we die..

BTW#2- i am not angry or offended.. just got tired of reading all this without voicing my opinion.

bigjohn

Hey, I learned my lesson. I didn't take the NASCAR bait, I didn't take the French bait...you won't ever hear a crack like that again from me!

On a more serious note, I think you're right when you say that it just comes down to what you're used to. I've never been able to get into NASCAR, but I have respect for the fact that it's far more of a level playing field than F1 could ever hope to be. Gracefully and humbly begging your pardon, but I sincerely doubt there is as much (or anywhere near) the amount of state of the art technology in NASCAR. That's the whole point of F1, and one of its biggest weaknesses and sources of criticism.

By its very nature, F1 operates in a realm where the GNP of Iceland probably wouldn't be enough to field a team for one season. After the FIA was mentioned, I went out to their site to review the rulebooks for the 2005 season. Before you build an engine, hire a driver or pay an engineering team or anything close to building a car, there's a $48 million application fee just to compete for the season. FORTY EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS just for the "privilege" of placing two cars on a grid. You and I and everyone else here (including Stuart, I suspect) know that's completely insane and reprehensively vulgar. But that's the sport.

In terms of competition, I'd have to tip my hat to NASCAR. The guys are neck and neck and there's more passing than almost any other category of motorsport I can think of. When it comes to "Holy Christ, those guys are nuts" entertainment value, give me a WRC any day of the week. But there's just something about the F1 circus that will remain near and dear to my heart. And it is a shame that it's never really caught on here, because there's certainly a romance and glamour to it that few other sports offer.

I agree that F1 budgets are out of control, luckily some it finds it's way into my pockets so I can't complain too loudly! I went to the Daytona 500 a couple of years ago (my only NASCAR experience) and it was certainly entertaining, but not my cup of tea really. On the US open wheel front it will be really interesting to see the IRL cars at Watkins Glen and the other road courses this year. I hope it will eventually be like CART was at it's prime.

Didn't want to make it seem like I was bashing NASCAR. I'm sure they have a lot of talent. I just wasn't interested in watching it on TV! I'm the same way with football. If I go to a game, I have a blast (or at least I did when I was in college), but watching it on TV does nothing for me.

Growing up, my younger brothers and I were big Richard Petty fans. Reminds me of when one of my brothers built a model of Petty's car...came out great. Then our youngest brother took it to bed and put it under his pillow.....it didn't survive the night...when he woke up it was in pieces. What a scene that caused!

Then when I was in junior high, my Dad bought a Lancia Coupe(basicly a nicer Fiat at the time), and then I got into rally car racing....I think that is some crazy racing.

I my uncles helped fuel the car interests with their Datsun 510's and VW Sciroccos with headers and hard as a rock Konis. It was A LOT of fun to ride with them places!

I am still enjoy rally car and open wheel now.

hands down, the best racing i have ever seen, was at the fayeteville raceway in fayeteville, north carolina. it was a 1/2 mile dirt oval, and they raced several different classes(4cyl, 6cyl, stock 8, mod 8, etc). when i was stationed at ft bragg, we used to go out there every saturday night, and had a blast.. you wanna talk about guys that took this stuff serious.. about 2-3 times a year, the big 8cylinder winged sprint cars would come there.. talk about fast.. i swear, for only a 1/2 mile track, those guys were moving.. it was like a constant power slide, or drift as they like to call it now-a-days. most fun i have ever had at a race track.

bigjohn