For Those Interested in Formula 1 Racing

[Bob Bull]

The atmosphere at Silverstone over the weekend was quite amazing, with Friday and Saturday being dominated by the FOTA/FIA goings on, but on Sunday the matter was barely mentioned as all attention switched to the track. The crowd was massive and the number of flags, hats, posters, banners and outfits claiming allegiance to various drivers and teams, had to be seen to be believed. Funnily enough there seemed to be less Lewis Hamilton fans this year - for some reason, clearly many of the 'Brits' had switched to the Button camp this season. I am quite sure that you could not get a better organised, or better supported event than this race with all of the drivers praising the track and the fans and making pointed references to 'other places we have to go to'.
The success and the obvious enthusiasm of the spectators must not have been lost on Bernie as he now says that, should Donington not be ready next year, the race can be held at Silverstone again. Quite frankly he has been made to look a fool by the BRDC who made such a success of the event, and rather pointedly contrasted it with Turkey (where they say just 16,000 spectators turned up).
The FOTA team members also appear totally committed to running their own series next year, and I am pretty certain that nothing less than complete surrender by the FIA could change their mind. Is that likely? We know that Max does not like to be beaten - well, not by Team Managers anyway - so I think we will have a choice of what to watch on Sunday afternoons in 2010. Personally I am with the FOTA camp.

For a Three Counties Editor the Red Bull clean sweep was heaven sent and the celebrations at the motor home were frantic, however, I waited in the background for a chance to interview Christian Horner when a champagne soaked Sebastien Vettel walked in. 'Sebastien', I said. 'How did you get on?'

The look on his face was worth a fortune, before the penny dropped.

Oh! There were no Morgans racing.

[peter rafter]

'How did you get on?'

not bad, almost on a par with " did you enjoy the play mrs lincoln?"

no morgams , but a morgan driver in the support races, no?

[Bob Bull]

Sadly the Historic Race takes place at the same time as the Press conference for the GP first three, and I had to be there. Twice I wandered around the historic lines but there was no sight of any drivers, I should have tried the bar no doubt.

Question; Are you a Morgan driver if you are driving something else?

[Chris Acklam]

Great stuff, Bob. The crowds at the Silverstone GP are fantastic - completely barking in a lot of cases, but fantastic too. And you clearly used your years of experience to get the important part right - choosing the best hospitality spot.

Great interview technique. So what did you ask Max?

[Bob Bull]

According to the Red Bull Race Guide to Silverstone Vettel, 'has a unique sense of humour.' Then he is German.

Bob himself is not a very brave person, and he was not prepared to risk life and limb, let alone sanity, in the media scrum that surrounded Max and Bernie whenever they showed their face outside the FIA/Bernie Bus environment. It was like a swarm of bees around a honey pot, TV cameras, microphones, videos, cameras all held aloft as the mass moved like some Blob in a horror movie, a living, single entity crushing all in it's path. Max at least is tall enough to be glimpsed occasionally through the scrum, but Bernie? Well he looked like a drowning man sinking beneath the tsunami of press.

Now Chris! Don't be provacative! I promised not to mention my dining arraangements to avoid accusations of smugness, suffice to say I did not need to enter the Paddock Diner or bring sandwiches.

Did anyone attend over the weekend?

BB

[JERRY KNIGHT]

Did anyone attend over the weekend?
BB

I would have loved to have done so Bob but I just felt it was my duty to support the Morgan chaps at Brands Hatch. It was a much better race than the f1.
Why cant I get this 3 countries radio on my radio . I have even tried an old valve set and that didnt get it either.

[Bob Bull]

Jerry,
Can't receive BBC Three Counties? Best bet is to move a little further north, say .. to Hertfordshire. Kent is just Kent but Hertfordshire is one of THE THREE COUNTIES.
There is an alternative and that is to swap the old brown bakelite model for a computer, after all everything will be digital soon anyway, and then you can use the internet to listen to any radio station. http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties is what you need to plumb in.

I am sure that the racing at Brands was a lot better than Silverstone's offering, but was there schism in the paddock, lavish hospitality, famous people to interview and an endless supply of 'A-list Celebrities' to goggle at?
Let's face it if you want to attract the International Media to an event you need more than just good racing. I for one saw not a single lap of live racing on Sunday, and watched the GP from the Ferrari Media Centre on Italian TV. It might sound glamorous but in reality being a member of the Media is not all that it might seem from the trackside, I eagerly await the Bentley Drivers Club meeting to get back to what motor sport is really all about.

Any chance of a breakaway Morgan series next season?

Bob the Poser.

[John Clarke]

Hi Bob

Jonno and I were there on Sunday - many thanks to Keith for the tickets.

We breezed into Silverstone at 7.00am, parked opposite the main entrance (without booking) for only 15 pounds and set up camp at Farm (the twisty bit before Bridge). As you say, fantastic atmosphere - loads of Brazilians partying all day - what ever they were on, I want some!!! The English fans seemed more confused this year sporting Vodaphone T shirts, Jenson hats and waving Ferrari flags!! Talk about covering every base.

The Red Bulls were a class apart - Jenson only really came alive at the end as he hunted down the Williams and Ferrari but sadly, needed another couple of laps.

Wandered into the infield during the Porsche race and met up with Keith and Billy fettling Keith's monster Cooper. The engine alone weighs more than my Series 1. Tried to get into the BRDC enclosure at Farm by sauntering through the farm yard - startled the farm cat who shot across the farm yard and under a hedge - and I thought that animals only were present at race tracks in France. Couldn't get entry into the enclosure - shame really, as their stand was half full throughout the day.

Back to the outfield, we stayed to watch Keith compete in the Historic Sports Cars, timetabled immediately after the GP. A white Lola T70 blitzed the field. Keith seemed to have a decent race running in the top half of the field.

Leaving Silverstone was relatively easy, we were home for 6.00pm.

So, Silverstone was a huge success - as much as I like Donington, I cannot imagine how they are going to get nigh on 200,000 fans in and out of the venue. What was Bernie thinking of????? Added to which, the drivers spoke so highly of the Silverstone experience I began to wonder whether it was a put up job?

[Phil Egginton]

The follwing draft FOTA schedule has been leaked onto the web......

Provisional FOTA 2010 Schedule

March 3 Buenos Aires Argentina
March 21 Mexico City Mexico
April 11 Jerez Spain
April 25 Portimao Portugal
May 2 Imola San Marino
May 23 Monte Carlo Monaco
June 6 Montreal Canada
June 13 Indianapolis United States
July 1 Silverstone United Kingdom
July 25 Magny-Cours France
August 15 Laustizring Germany
August 29 Helsinki Finland
September 12 Monza Italy
September 26 Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
October 10 Marina Bay Singapore
October 24 Suzuka Japan
November 8 Adelaide or Surfers' Paradise Australia

I have a certain vested interest in the 25th April date!

[TonyLees]

Did anyone attend over the weekend?
BB

I would have loved to have done so Bob but I just felt it was my duty to support the Morgan chaps at Brands Hatch. <snip>

not only that but Jerry was there in the paddock handing out helpful advice and (more importantly) cold BEER after the race!
Cheers Jerry!

[Bob Bull]

Peace in our time.

Max has given way and will not stand again as president of the FIA and there will be a full Formula 1 field next season!

Details of any agreement have not been published as yet except that the two sides are reconciled, but we must assume that FOTA has pretty much got it's way.
No budget cap in 2010 and a new Concord Agreement to be signed by all teams valid until 2012.
Hailed by many as Good News I rather liked the intentions of FOTA to make life better and cheaper for the spectators, lower ticket prices, closer racing, more variety of circuits etc.

Is this the end of discord? Will the teams revert to distrusting each other? Who wil replace Il Duce? answers on a postage stamp to.......

Quiz night questions; 1 Who is the Vice President of the FIA? 2. Who is Vice President for Sport?

Nobody I spoke to at Silverstone had any idea.

Scoop

[Chris Acklam]

Quiz night questions; 1. Who is the Vice President of the FIA?

Miss Whiplash?

[Bob Bull]

"OOH! You are awful .....but I like you"

[Mark Shears]

Hi Bob,

I understand Nick Craw is Deputy President of the FIA. He was elected last October and is the head of ACCUS, the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States.

It was rumoured that Max wanted Jean Todt to be appointed to this position with a view to Todt being Max's successor. You can imagine how popular this was!!!

Cheers

Mark

[Bob Bull]

Mark,
I am glad to recieve evidence that you are still with us, and I hope you remain so until the BDC.

Yes indeed you have question 1 right, but what about number 2?

Nick Craw is American and was the Big Noise in the SCCA for many years, so not a bad choice, but what qualification does the other guy have?

You can't claim the prize of a Jim Clark video just yet.

Bob.