www.theblisspages.com - motor racing
www.theblisspages.com - motor racing
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: Classic Festival at Brands Hatch 2004
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: Formula One farce - Indi 2005
: future Formula 1 regulations
: goodwood festival of speed 2007
: Historic Superprix 2004
: rush hour in regent st
: truck racing
I used to do a bit of racing (mainly autocross) in my youth, as you can see in this action shot of me in my Yellow Peril!
The first car I raced was a 1964 Ford Anglia estate, which I bought for £8.50, drove into the ground, raced every month, eventually rolling it on the track (an old runway), and sold for £10! It was before the era of seat belts, and I used to tie myself to the driver's seat with a couple of old trouser belts before a race. The car was bog-standard apart from grippy tyres, and the handling was fun - I rarely had all the wheels on the ground at once.
I also raced a Renault 10, which was a bit of a pig, and it's only moment of glory was a hill climb in a very muddy field. The rally-spec Escorts had people jumping up and down in the boot to give them traction as they crawled slowly up the slope. With a rear engine, I had no problems with grip as I drove in a relaxed manner straight up the hill, with the stereo adding musical accompaniment.
My Yellow Peril was another matter though! It was a Renault 8s, and had been owned by a real enthusiast. Platinum spark plugs, hand-built engine with a Renault 12 head, custom exhaust, huge twin Weber carburetters, lowered and stiffened suspension - it was fantastic fun to drive, with superb handling (in the dry). At a drag race it once tied with a full race-spec Anglia 1500GT - not bad for a road-going 1100!
I also raced a Lancia Beta, which was a lovely car, and deceptively fast. I only wish I could have raced one of the Fiat Uno Turbo's I owned a couple of decades later, as they would have been very competitive.
We used fields, disused runways, car parks - anywhere we could get permission. In retrospect, it was amazing that there were no enforced safety standards at the club - I don't think they'd get away with it today, but in the time I was there, there were no significant injuries - just a few wrecked cars and a lot of fun!
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In 2004, I had a great time at Brands Hatch, and I went again in 2005
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topI've always enjoyed Formula 1 and have followed it since the mid-sixties. Over the years, I've gone to Grand Prix at both Brands Hatch and Silverstone, and prefer the former. I'd hate to see the race leave British shores, though, so can't really complain about Donnington.
| date | country | track |
| 14 March | Bahrain | Sakhir |
| 28 March | Australia | Melbourne |
| 04 April | Malaysia | Sepang |
| 18 April | China | Shanghai |
| 09 May | Spain | Catalunya |
| 16 May | Monaco | Monte Carlo |
| 30 May | Turkey | Istanbul |
| 13 June | Canada | Montreal |
| 27 June | European | Valencia |
| 11 July | Britain | Donnington? |
| 25 July | Germany | Hockenheim |
| 01 August | Hungary | Hungaroring |
| 29 August | Belgium | Spa-Francorchamps |
| 12 September | Italy | Monza |
| 26 September | Singapore | Singapore |
| 03 October | Japan | Suzuka |
| 17 October | Korea | ? |
| 31 October | Abu Dhabi | Yas Marina |
| 14 November | Brazil | Sao Paulo |
Some problem areas that are turning spectators off the sport are:
I suggest:
The single-lap system used in recent years was replaced by a new knockout format from 2006, with multiple cars on track throughout the qualifying hour on Saturdays (from 14:00-15:00 local time) split into two 15-minute sessions and a final 20-minute session, with five-minute breaks in between.
In the first two 15-minute sessions, cars may run any fuel load and drivers knocked out after those sessions may refuel ahead of the race. However, the top-ten drivers must begin the final 20-minute session with the fuel load on which they plan to start the race. They will be weighed before they leave the pits, and whatever fuel they use in the 20 minutes may be replaced at the end of the session.
For qualifying and racing, I still like the idea of a weight handicap per point which has been mooted, which would really help the slower teams in the latter half of the season. What do you think of these ideas? Let me know your views.
top2009 was exciting, with new regulations, and in UK, TV coverage back to the BBC after twelve years. No more ad breaks - and coverage was good.
Some cars looked very competitive from the start, including Brawn (nee Honda), but McLaren were slow, with Hamilton 16th and 18th in the first two practice sessions in Australia, which let to an exciting season, and another British Champion, Jenson Button.
I enjoyed another exciting season, with Lewis Hamilton winning the championship on the penultimate corner of the last lap on the last race. Unbelievable!
2009 came with new regulations, and in UK, TV coverage moved back to the BBC after twelve years.
I enjoyed an exciting if controversial season, with Lewis Hamilton proving a sensation, but missing out by one point. After his team, McLaren, were found in possession of Ferrari secrets, all their points were forfeit.
With new regulations, one completely new team and several rebranded, and many drivers having moved, it was anyone's guess as to who was going to be at the front this year. I enjoyed the season right up to its nail-biting finale.
Despite my misgivings, the 2005 championship was anything but boring, and although Alonso in the Renault won the driver's championship, he did not had an easy ride. The European round was a prime example, with Raikkonen's dramatic suspension failure in the last lap providing a nail-biting finale to the race.
Minardi started the season with an untested car, but the new car was significantly faster, putting them at nearly the same level as Jordan. It will be interesting to see what will happen next season, as they have been bought by Red Bull Racing, and Jordan are also changing name to Midland F1.
I hoped the 2004 championship would be as exciting as last year's, but for the reason why not, see my poem, a blur of red. Schumacher won nearly all the races, and Ferrari has twice the number of points as the next team in the championship which it won with four races remaining. BAR has taken over second place in the championship.
Renault and Williams were predicted to be strong, with McLaren expected to struggle, but their new car was a significant improvement. BAR is much stronger than anyone thought - probably including BAR Honda!
The 2003 championship was superb. Every race was exciting, and many circuits saw plenty of overtaking manoeuvres, and the final race at Suzuka was no exception.
There were only two points in the end between the first two drivers, with M Schumacher on 93 points, Räikkönen on 91 and Montoya on 82.
Michael has taken his sixth championship, the first driver ever to have done so.
In the constructor's championship, Ferrari predictably romped home, with only two points (again) separating Williams-BMW on 144 and McLaren-Mercedes with 142. Sadly Minardi didn't manage to get any points in the whole season.
For in-depth coverage of formula 1, see the following sites:
topThe 2009 Le Mans 24 hours race was on 13th & 14th June, clashing with the London and Brighton World Naked Bike Rides. Therefore, I couldn't have raced, even if asked. Pedal power rules!
See these Le Mans links:
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: © Mike Bliss 2009