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Posted on: F.1 2009 discussion and SDC F.1 Pool
at 11/22/2009 12:25am

Hadn't heard that, though did see an item on the news speculating that Mercedes would want an all-German driver ... more(+)

Smersh wrote:Guess what - we've gone back into "Schumacher Mode." (According to Eddie Jordan anyway.)

Hadn't heard that, though did see an item on the news speculating that Mercedes would want an all-German driver line-up. Not sure why the Poms are so excited with the all-Brit line-up at "New Zealand" team, McLaren hehehe!!

Just so long as we don't go into "Danica Mode" at the USA team, I will be forever grateful.

Speaking of football, yes, a World Cup thread sounds like an excellent idea. Do we have any volunteers to run the SDC comp for the event or would you like me to have another lash at it in 2010? I need to review what happened last time and see what improvements might be made to the point's-scoring method we used. My faded memory is suggesting to me it went quite well with bonus points for Golden Boot/World Cup Champion, but perhaps I'm recalling things nostalgically rather than accurately.


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Posted on: SDC's Bill Wright Dies
at 11/17/2009 2:18am

This is very sad news, and also sad that we should initially question the veracity. The times we live in I guess. I ... more(+)

This is very sad news, and also sad that we should initially question the veracity. The times we live in I guess. I can't profess to have known Bill at all directly, but I did know of him through his many contributions here. We are all the richer for our shared experience of this community and, though his voice now goes silent, we should rejoice in all that he brought to this place.

My sincere condolences to Diana and all who loved Bill.


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Posted on: F.1 2009 discussion and SDC F.1 Pool
at 11/17/2009 1:56am

Team Mercedes, eh! In the immortal words of one Arthur Daley, that's been a "nice little earner" for Ross ... more(+)

Team Mercedes, eh! In the immortal words of one Arthur Daley, that's been a "nice little earner" for Ross Brawn. Buy it for nix with all the hard work already done by Honda then flick it off only 75% a year later for a 250 million clams. He's a very shrewd man is our Ross.

And, because I couldn't find the football thread in a quick search, I can't resist gloating a little about the magnificant "All Whites" qualification for the 2010 World Cup ... woooooooo-hoooooooo!!! Only done once before, in 1982, our football team is finally going to be seen on the big stage again. Quite the best sporting result for me this year without reservation, we dealt to Bahrain 1-0 in Wellington over the weekend just gone. The country has gone football mad and it's been the only topic of conversation for most the past couple of days.

Word has it that there have been a few disgruntled UK-types (no doubt Welsh and Scots) calling the BBC and complaining about New Zealand's "easy" entry into the final 32. Seem to think the All Whites are taking the place of a more "deserving" side in the competition. Well, to those people I say send your poxy, second-rate teams down under and we will spank your backsides and send you packing as well!!! The cheek of it! Living on the back door of the best domestic football competition in the world, yet having two of the most consistantly underwhelming national sides in world football, you should be more embarrassed at turning up at European group qualification, rather than worrying about who else got in "at your expense"!

Fact is, we beat the fifth best team in the Asia confederation home and away to fairly earn our right to play in South Africa. That's 5 of 32 available spots which are granted to two confederations, Asia and Oceania ... hardly a generous share considering it's a World event. So, stick that in your pipe and smoke it Wales and Scotland!



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Posted on: F.1 2009 discussion and SDC F.1 Pool
at 11/05/2009 4:26pm

Thanks SpeedFreek and, yes, agree with the lads in congratulating newsartist for yet another year of the "best ... more(+)

Thanks SpeedFreek and, yes, agree with the lads in congratulating newsartist for yet another year of the "best kept secret" F1 tipping comp in all the InterWeb.

Smersh, didn't I hear that the Canadian was back again in a provisional timetable for next year? Maybe I'm confusing myself there. And, with respect to KERS, it was only gone by "mutual agreement" of the teams rather than a rule change. When everyone was finding it hopeless at the start of the season, it was a no-brainer, but I seem to recall that one of the teams was talking about persevering with it into Season 2010 now that they had the kinks largely ironed out? I thought it was Ferrari but, again, maybe I'm imagining things. I'd be surprised if at least one team didn't turn up with it next season. As I say, I think a couple of them were starting to get it working properly towards the end of this season.

Kimi, the ice-cream man! I was listening to somebody saying he is by far the highest paid driver in F1, on 23 million squid. From memory, next was Lewis on 6 million. Given that Kimi is so disproportunately paid compared to the rest of the field, I wonder if he will be able to command such good money in 2010, given he had a pretty indifferent season (certainly not aided by the car in the first half though)? I've heard there is talk he might step away from it next season, maybe money is the problem. From team owner's points-of view, you'd prefer guys like Kimi to go away to make the wages bill look far more respectable. Maybe a Schumy type, who wins everything and looks the business, might deserve the money. But you can't really say Kimi is three times better than every other driver in the field.

And, what about the Renault/Toyota news? They are dropping like flies, it's very sad. I think it's financial, but a part of me wonders if it hasn't in part been related to the Max Mosley FIA change? It was Jean Todt that got the job as Maxie's endorsement. However, my understanding was that most of the F1 teams were backing the other candidate, ex-rally racer Ari Vatanen. When he didn't get the job, and fearing Max might still be pulling the strings in the background, I just wonder if that isn't helping make these decisions easier? (Assuming Renault do decide to walk away)

Hampton Downs ... I'll let you know when there is some proper racing footage available. That demo doesn't give a true indication of the elevation changes, which apparently sets this new track apart from everything else available for open wheelers in Aust and NZ at the moment. They were going to hold a round of the A1GP there next year, but it looks like that competition is now dead in the water too. She's a tough go in motor racing at the moment, that is for sure!



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Posted on: F.1 2009 discussion and SDC F.1 Pool
at 11/03/2009 8:52pm

Thank you, Sir! I limped in, in best Jenson style. Though I was a bit disappointed when I wandered down the hallway ... more(+)

Smersh wrote:
Congratulations to SpaceKiwi the 2009 SDC Drivers' Champion!

(It got a bit interesting when Hamilton dropped out, because my drivers Webber, Button and Heidfeld were all up there, but Vettel and Barrichello sealed it for you!)

Thank you, Sir! I limped in, in best Jenson style. Though I was a bit disappointed when I wandered down the hallway and back to bed to discover that it wasn't lined with Japanese girls in miniskirts, applauding the accomplishment! Maybe next season.

Roll on 2010. It will be great to see all the new teams and drivers, the return of Lotus of course, an American entry to hopefully get some of their number fired up about F1. Also looking forward to seeing where all the drivers eventually end up. Still hoping that Hartley will play some part, even if only as a test driver. My old mate Bob McMurray sounded optimistic that he (Hartley) will be in the mix somewhere.

Not looking forward to the loss of refueling, and also some of the famous circuits that are threatened. Hopefully a deal can be stitched together for the British GP. I have to say, I not really a fan of all these new gimmicky tracks. F1 is as much about the history as it is about the new tech in my view, and circuits should have an element of risk about them. Call me old-fashioned if you want but circuits which have paid the ultimate price in loss of life should always win out over these new-fangled jobs with miles of run-off, etc.

Anyway, that's about it I suppose. On the local front, they have just opened a new circuit here in NZ called Hampton Downs. If the hype is to be believed, it is the flashest purpose-built racetrack in all of Australasia. It's only a Category 2 but, if Donnington and Silverstone can't get their collective acts together, have Bernie give me a call! I'm sure we'd be happy to billet a few F1 types!! Here's the gen on the track. Click on the link down the bottom and you can ride around the circuit in a BMW "F1" car.

http://www.hamptondowns.com/Track.wse

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