Re: formula 1 discussion

[Luca <nodoubt@domain.elided>]

At Thu, 16 May 2002 10:26:47 -0400 "John Barbera" wrote:
>You're right, Luca, it's a show (capital letters, if you like).  And
>every two or three weeks I sit down and watch it.  I'm not really
>concerned with the politics of the series, and I don't mind if housewives
>swwon over the drivers.  It's simply a diversion, an excuse to get
>together with my friends and talk cars.

Definitely. We cannot deny that right now we're remotely togheter talking
cars using the F1 topic. I agree.
What I wanted to say it's that as a Show I don't feel SLAVE of it.
The next race will be held the same day I'll be at an Alfa Meeting. I'll
race myself.  Noway I am gonna skip this to watch F1 on a TV.
Anyway this is subjective. I got lotsa great friends that are regulars
in watching bikes or cars races on TV. What I said is just my opinion
that I shared.  My 0.02cents if you prefer.

>As for the technology/big budget complaint:  The alternative is to put
>all sorts of artificial constraints on the constructors (some of these
>exist already).  We have a series like that here in America - it's called
>NASCAR.  In this series the money doesn't go into the cars, it goes into
>marketing.  And with so much advertising money at stake, the organizers
>cannot afford to have non-competitive races.  Every rule in NASCAR is
>designed to keep the races as close as possible, artificially so, in my
>opinion.  The result is that the teams involved can do little to help
>their drivers win.  In the end it's all about the sponsors, not the
>sport.

In F1 it's all about TEAM.  It's been one year you got F1 back in USA.  
Here in old countries it never disappeared.  Believe me that TEAMS are

those ruling now. Most of the race positions are dealt at pitstops. Most
of the races are won upon team pitstop strategies.  
That's a good thing, if you sell it that way, but if you pretend (as it's
pretended here in EU) to sell it to me as a ACTION SHOW  you are 
definitely wrong to me.  Watch STC. Watch Rally. Watch WSBK. That's live
action.

>Currently, Formula 1 is dominated by Ferrari, not because the sponsors
>say so, but because Ferrari is the best team with the best cars and the
>best driver.  This will certainly change in a few years, as other
>big-budget teams like Toyota and Renault catch up.  I think that this
>kind of competition is exciting - really pushes the technological
>envelope.

look back in the latest years: the leading names are all the bigger ones. The
ones with money.  _Untill McLaren+Ferrari+Renault+BMW will quit F1, there
will be no chance for a Minardi to do something good!  That's the death
of competition to me.

>Am I jealous of the drivers in Formula 1?  Would I like to take Michael
>Schmacher's place behind the wheel?  Of course I would.  But the chances

but of course we all would like to. Having a lap with a 800hp hi tech monster
must be crazy.  If you race yourself you know that you don't need other cars
on the track to have fun! Just lapping alone is GREAT. I am sure Schumacher
enjoys the thing a lot... what I doubt is what I can enjoy in watching him
having 60 laps in the very same position w/o being attached or attacking any
other opponent. And warning: it's not ferrari! Almost no other car overtakes
opponents. I might accept seeing Ferrari brute leadership, with a real
bagarre on the background, but I neither see this!. Where's the action
entertainment
media are trying to sell me?

>that I'll be hired by Ferrari (or any other F1 team) are about as good as
>getting a date with my favorite supermodel.  But this doesn't stop me
>from driving my Alfa a little too fast on the back roads of Pennsylvania,

same here

>or going out with my girlfriend on Saturday night.

same here

I don't complain for what Schumy does.  I complain for the fact that this
great sport has been killed. And right now it's not offering what a car
enthusiast would see (overtakings, powersliding, clear feeling they're over
the top). It's offering a media show with 20 and something cars going around
keeping their place, stopping sometimes to fuel up and chance tires (this
procedure is nice to see... they are damn fast!).. then it's all about
gossip.

>Like you said, Luca, it's just a show.  Sit back and enjoy it.

As I told you I quitted watching F1.  I'll watch it again just if it
happens I really have nothing else to do. 
I believe I belong to a category of public. This show isn't offering what
I expect to see anylonger. End of the story.  There are MANY other car
events to see. Including the live ones (this past weekend, while Barrichello
was letting Schumy go I was watching live a car race event, new and vintage
cars, prototypes.... and so son. There was a Giulia Spring GTA too!!!...
pics available for those interested!)

Ciao
Luca

nodoubt, 
937 landpilot
"I like anything that don't talk." King Benny - Sleepers
937RS2, 75 Turbo, RM250


http://nvr2fst.supereva.it
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