OT: Racing 2008-2009 (Spoiler Alert)

[pk500]

Rodster and any others bummed about the cancellation of the Dakar:

Here are a bunch of Dakar-related torrents, including all stages from last year, to help tide you over for the next year and give you a feel for this unique, wonderful event:

http://www.racing-underground.com/

Just do a search for Dakar.

Take care,
PK

[Rodster]

1) This years Dakar Rally has been canceled due to terrorists threats by our friends from the religion of rest in peace. Bummer I was so looking forward to it. The organizers say they will try next year.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64518

That is a damn shame. A depressing development that these sub-human animals can interfere with a peaceful sporting event.

Next year, I think every competitor should be allowed to carry a firearm and shoot to kill at any terrorists or bandits. No, I'm not kidding. That might put these f*ckers back in the holes from which they came -- for good.

Take care,
PK

Come on PK tell us how you really feel.

Yeah those lowlifes are not high on my list either. We need to quit all this political correctness and call them out for what they are bastards and not worthy of existence.

[Rodster]

Well Ferrari launched it's car today. What a work of art! An absolutely beautiful car. I love the all new low slung nose cone and it looks wider too. Ferrari engineers say the car is basically all new within the FIA rules.

They solved last years long wheelbase problem so the car should be very fast on every track this year.

Here's a picture of the new red car.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64530

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 1942.shtml

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 3849.shtml

[Dave]

Relative to the other teams, it looks great. But there's just way too much going on with today's F1 car designs.

I long for the days of beauties like this

[Rodster]

Relative to the other teams, it looks great. But there's just way too much going on with today's F1 car designs.

I long for the days of beauties like this

You can thank Bernie and Max for where car designs are today. I do prefer like most F1 fans to have as few winglets and aero crap as possible but todays cars derive most if not all of their grip from aerodynamics and not mechanical grip where it should be.

As much as we long for cars of old there is a trade off. Some of those cars where death traps. Todays cars are much much safer in design and safety. Kimi hitting a tire barrier at 180mph and walking away with a stiff neck, Lewis hitting a tire barrier head on at 160mph and racing the next day. Robert Kubica absolutely destroying his car in a high speed shunt walking a way with a concussion. That's progress in safety and i'll take that rather than reading about them in an obituary column the next day.

Dave no question cars of yesteryear were remarkable and fairly simple in design compared to todays cars but I prefer the safety of the current F1 car.

That's why I like to fire up rFactor's F1 1979 mod every now and then.

[Dave]

All the ugliness in the world is worth it if it is in the name of safety.

I agree with your aero vs. mechanical grip statement. Today's cars have sprouted so many mini-wings, lumps, horns, and crevices that they are monstrosities.

[pk500]

That Ferrari is ugly as sh*t, just like every current F1 car. F1 cars won't be pretty again until ALL winglets, barge boards, three-planed front wings and vented sidepods are banned forever.

Rodster, I agree that the gains in safety in modern F1 cars are terrific, especially compared to the death traps of the 60s and 70s. But the winglets and other horrendous appendages attached to current F1 cars have almost nothing to do with those safety advancements and everything to do with the shift from mechanical grip to aerodynamic grip that you described.

There is no way that anyone can tell me that today's F1 cars are "gorgeous" compared to the Lotus that Dave posted or any of these past F1 beauties:

1986 Lotus John Player Special


1961 Ferrari Sharknose


1979 Ferrari


Take care,
PK

[Rodster]

Well I guess i'm in the minority here on DSP as I think the F2008 looks awesome.

[GB_Simo]

F2008 is a nice colour, I suppose. I wish I could find a decent picture of the Eagle T1G from its 1967 peak but since I can't this'll have to do:



I haven't really, really been keen on a more modern car since Williams FW14B in 1992:



One last one that might be just me - Brabham BT45 in the red Martini livery from 1977, especially with John Watson's helmet colours:



Give me any one of those over a contemporary Formula One car. In fact, give me a GP2 car over a contemporary Formula One car.

[pk500]

Very interesting, three-part series on F1 circuits from the 50s, including aerial photos, at this blog:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/

Take care,
PK

[Rodster]

Thanks for the link. I'll be sure to read it as i'm a history buff and seeing how things were at that time in history.

[GB_Simo]

Part four of that series is now up, if I'm looking in the right place. I'd heard about what had happened to Riverside, but not actually seen it until I looked at the aerial map view - there's really nothing left of the place.

[pk500]

This F1 tracks' series is up to part five. Really interesting. Plus it has me jonesing to play Grand Prix Legends or the 1955 F1 mod in rFactor!

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Part 7 of the F1 circuits series is live:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2008/01/11/f ... -7-1971-4/

Man, this series is a fun read!

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Now here's a link for F1 anoraks: The top 10 F1 videos on YouTube, capturing some epic moments in F1 history:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2006/06/27/1 ... os-part-x/

Enjoy!

Take care,
PK

[Rodster]

Now here's a link for F1 anoraks: The top 10 F1 videos on YouTube, capturing some epic moments in F1 history:

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2006/06/27/1 ... os-part-x/

Enjoy!

Take care,
PK

Ah the racing gods have spoken.

Thanks for the link PK. One thing I learned from watching those videos is that Senna was just as ruthless in winning as Schumacher was.

edit: The 1979 French GP was amazing between Villeneuve and Arnoux. Now that's racing boys. I also had a chance to read a little more while watching the videos re: the Prost v Senna falling out.

[pk500]

Very cool, 15-minute video on the construction and anatomy of the awesome Aston Martin DB9 sports car raced in the ALMS:

http://www.speedtv.com/speedvideo/?bcpi ... 1369819601

Take care,
PK

[Rodster]

Can one of you Dakar Rally experts explain something to me I found downright odd in last years Dakar Rally. In Stage 2 in Portugal there were a few of the bikers who were penalized 10 minutes for driving too fast.

I forgot their names i'll have to watch it again. Excuse me but isn't the purpose of motor racing to go as fast as you can? I really found that strange.

[GB_Simo]

Can one of you Dakar Rally experts explain something to me I found downright odd in last years Dakar Rally. In Stage 2 in Portugal there were a few of the bikers who were penalized 10 minutes for driving too fast.

I'm not one of the experts here, but I'm sure the entire route is speed-restricted now as a safety measure. I suppose it does seem odd, speed limits in a race, but then the Dakar isn't really a test of speed at all - it's a test of physical and mechanical endurance more than anything else.

[Smurfy]

PK, have you seen the Peter Windsor piece in a recent F1 Racing issue where he claims that some of Ralf's performances in last year's Toyota helped to show how good Jarno Trulli has become? Thinking of your likely reaction to that was a source of great amusement to me when I read it on Christmas morning. Just when I thought I was the most ardent Trulli defender on the planet, a professional comes along and takes it that step too far...

I'd like to point out I was a (partial) Trulli defender, at least to the extent I disagreed with PK listing him as a has-been. There also has to be a reason why Toyota is sticking with him. They've never been shy of booting their drivers. And let's not forget that Ralf was never a slouch in a Formula 1 car. So now that I've got Peter Windsor and Adam driving, let me get on the Trulli bandwagon.

Besides, I owe a special debt to Jarno as he's the driver in one of the best photos I've ever taken in Montreal.

[GB_Simo]

And let's not forget that Ralf was never a slouch in a Formula 1 car.

Woah there, fella! Ardent Trulli defender that I am, even I've never gone that far...

In fairness to Ralf, there was a spell in mid-2003 where he briefly looked like the best driver in Formula One, and his 1999 with the Williams Supertec was a marked contrast to the struggles of Alex Zanardi in the sister car. Lately, though, he's only seemed to be quick when it suited him, and that didn't ever seem to be on a Grand Prix weekend.

[Smurfy]

Okay, I'm exaggerating to heat up the argument.

But if you look back at the 2005 and 2006 stats, Ralf competeted quite well against Trulli. At Jordan he was still very young and had to contend with Fisi, though he still had races where he was faster. At Williams he demolished Zanardi. Even against Montoya - in 2002 Montoya got his 7 poles but Ralf seemed to have the car set up better for race day. In 2003 he was knocked out of contention in Germany when he got together with Rubens and Kimi. Otherwise, he had a good shot at the title too.

I wonder if having children and that crash at Indy dimmed his focus?

And by the way...

With the new staff at Honda, could we see a Button revival? He hasn't done too badly against Rubens and he's possibly the cleanest racer out there. I think the British press tended to blow his horn too loud, but that doesn't mean I don't think he can be a threat if Honda gets it's act together. With traction control gone, he could benefit quite a bit as he didn't lean on it as much as most other drivers.

[pk500]

Patrick Head once stated it best about Ralf: When the car was set up absolutely perfect for his desires, he was among the fastest drivers in F1. But when even the slightest thing was wrong, Ralf couldn't drive the car, wouldn't drive the car.

Safe to say that Ralfie didn't inherit the mental strength gene of his older brother.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

I'd like to point out I was a (partial) Trulli defender, at least to the extent I disagreed with PK listing him as a has-been. There also has to be a reason why Toyota is sticking with him. They've never been shy of booting their drivers.

You write as if driving ability is the only reason Toyota keeps or sacks its drivers. Trulli is a competent driver, but the list of sacked Toyota drivers before Ralf doesn't exactly put Trulli into the warm glow of the klieg lights:

Mika Salo -- the best of the sacked Panasonic Toyota Racing drivers not named R. Schumacher. Should have won Hockenheim in 1999 in a Ferrari with relative ease before pulling aside to give Irvine the win and points. A very capable racer in a variety of equipment. But he also has that Finnish trait of speaking his mind. Who knows -- maybe that got him into trouble with the Toyota brass. Plus he was getting up there in years.

Olivier Panis -- one lucky win at Monaco in 1996 when only a handful of cars finished. A journeyman.

Allan McNish -- out of his depth in F1. One of the world's best sports car drivers, but that doesn't always equate into F1.

Cristiano da Matta -- just because you kick ass in post-split CART means you can cut it in F1. Zanardi and da Matta are perfect examples. We'll see if Bourdais can break the trend this year with Toro Rosso.

Again, Trulli is competent driver. Among the top-third in F1 right now? Not a chance.

But from all accounts, he might be the nicest guy in the F1 driver corps, along with Barrichello, and that can go a long way toward a team keeping him. He's a steady, if unspectacular, hand behind the wheel, and he's very good with the team and sponsors.

Take care,
PK

[GB_Simo]

If this is true, then it's going to be one Hell of a stretch to keep on referring to the event as the Dakar...:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64687