2014 - F1

It's difficult to say anymore, I used to race SCCA and back in the 60's it was pretty grassroots, but even then there were guys who could outspend everyone else and win - I think that's where the old saying came from "how fast you want to go - how much do you want to spend?"

I also like NASA racing, but the same thing holds true there as well, the deepest pockets usually own the faster cars, making it hard for the average guy to compete.

I'm currently trying to get involved with their Chump Car series, I'll let you know if/when it happens and how it turns out.

But F1 wasn't always the exotic, out-of-reach-of-the-average-guy series...there was a time when gentlemen racers could compete and win with a very small team - those days are long gone out of all motorsports series it seems.

But F1 has evolved far and away from any other series in terms of cost, technology, availability of the drivers to the fans and so on, so the only way the average guy has to participate is thru TV, so to me it's mostly just a TV show these days.

 

Your kidding right? Those gentlemen drivers you speak of were almost always rich gentlemen or son's of very rich gentleman.. Never has F1 been a "grassroots" race series where money wasn't necessary to get the checkered flag... Albeit what was a ton of money then is not today.

 

Spending money to win is in everything. Racing, ball sports, games, business, and politics. My kids will even go on about how people spend all kinds of money to win on video/pc games and that takes the fun out of it.

It's just the way the world is and always has been. :smile5:

 

I honestly don't see much of a difference in F1 now as in prior years. All the drama, the mountains from molehills, the petty rivalries, the griping about rules changes, and the relative scarcity of passing is all the same as it ever was.

What is different is that it's slicker looking, more polished, more regulated and a whole lot safer. And sadly the cars are a bit more homogenous.

In my dream world, F1 would have safety and weight restrictions on the cars, be open-wheel, and that would be about it. I'd love to see what the designers could come up with if they had fewer rules to be hemmed by, but I understand the costs would go up astronomically, and so I see why they don't do that.

Now, if only I could somehow take Bernie's place... no one would notice if he were suddenly over 6 feet tall and bald, right? Hmmm... bad idea perhaps. Besides, he doesn't make the rules....

 

Colin Chapman was NOT wealthy when he started racing Lotus cars in F1, neither was Bruce McLaren, Bernie Eccelstone, Frank Williams, John Cooper and a bunch of others....yes there were some well off guys, and of course Ferrari - but even Ferrari was not wealthy when he started his F1 career - as he famously said we sell road cars to fund our racing.

In that era just about anyone could win with their design in any given race, and just about any driver could die on any given weekend as well.......so it was obvious things had to change.

But the cost of attending an F1 race today makes it pretty impossible for most people, and the cost of actually racing in F1 has gone to the moon making it almost impossible for a startup to win anymore.....you only have to look at Marussia, Caterham and any number of recent teams to see that. So for most it's so much easier to just watch it on TV....making it no different that any other reality TV show really.

 

I think Lucas is right.

 

Recommend much, just watched it!!

 

What if the FIA specs a safety cell that has to be the same across the board and then let the designers have at it. The designers can do a front module, rear module and side pods. :idea:

 

Mark Webber and Jenson Button both seem to think it was Rosberg's fault. And Martin Brundle said when it happened "I don't know what he was thinking, that was very clumsy." And went on to observe that Nico had never gotten fully alongside, and therefore Lewis had the right to the racing line and it was Nico's responsibility to get clear.

I'm on the fence, though honestly I do have to wonder why Nico was being so aggressive so early and trying a difficult pass when there was plenty of time to pass Lewis later and safely.

I guess his blood was just up, the red mist had descended, and he really wanted it that badly is all. Poor judgement for such an otherwise accomplished driver.

 

I think you may have nailed it!

 

Remember when Lewis left a top team doing great for a floundering team? Everybody thought he was nuts till that team started kicking ass.

<total speculation - disregard> Lewis is talking to McLaren & Ferrari. McLaren cause of Honda returning and Senna being his hero. Ferrari cause he knows he can beat Alonso. Does Lewis think he can do the "genius jump" again - absolutely.

p.s. F1 contracts get bought out on a regular basis.

 

Sounds like Nico & Lewis are reading a script typed up by the Benz press office. I hope they continue to race each other hard, but fair. Time will tell.

 

They are certainly not drinking buddies.

 

That's exactly how it sounded to me too......word for word.

I think it was just a wee bit egotistical of them to say they deprived the fans from seeing them race at the front - like there are no other cars out there capable of challenging them - even tho ONE other driver has won three times this season so far.....

Personally I'd be happy if they took each other out at the first corner every race remaining and let the rest of the field catch up and make a real race of it to the end.

But then a shortage of ego has never been a German problem......:cornut: