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MELBOURNE GP: So what’s to lose ?
It’s this time of the year again, and the nanny state Grand Prix propaganda machine is once again in full swing on the eve of that F1 grand parade of Albert Park. As usual, the propaganda is singing the praises of F1 and the grand parade, even with the change of government late last year, [...]
Continue reading...SENNA: A review and an unforgettable life experience
10. March 2011
A race against time, like the Great Man setting his pole position laps around the world, I race to arrange an opportunity hundreds of kilometres away in a different state. An opportunity I wouldn’t want to miss for the world. The opportunity to view the result of Asif Kapadia and Manish Pandey’s project simply [...]
Continue reading...IS F1 REALLY WELCOME IN KOREA ?
18. November 2010
South Korea recently hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix race at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, South Jeolea, turning on an entertaining race due to the unpredictable weather and conditions. Whilst it was commendable effort by the Koreans, beneath the gloss in the paddock of the Korea International Circuit there are very much [...]
Continue reading...AN INDIAN GP?… LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
11. October 2010
“Be prepared” is not only the Boy Scout marching song, but is also the mantra for anybody that is preparing and running a large event who would like to get it right. Clearly, the Indian Commonwealth games organizing committee has obviously demonstrated that the above phrase is not in their “to do” list before they got started on planning the games. With such unrivalled magnitude of preparedness as a nation for staging major events, could we really bear the sight of the staging of an Indian Formula 1 Grand Prix or a First grade Grand Farce? To be fair, India is not alone in major event disasters and being unprepared. Recently, a Red Bull F1 car was driven by Karun Chandok around the Korean F1GP track to demonstrate the track to the world. However, the track’s final surface has not been applied and paved; so the car was driven around at significantly reduced speed, the facilities are well behind schedule and the F1 event in only a matter of weeks’ time. As recent as the Singapore GP weekend, statements from no other than Bernie himself and other team principals not having confidence that the Korean GP will run smoothly hit the media. They have serious doubts the track and all facilities will be tested and working perfectly. It remains to be seen whether the Koreans will deliver or not, despite their national pride. This is very much a mirror image to the situation before the 1988 summer Olympic games, where Korean national pride ruled over all else, even if not everyone and everything is quite ready in time for the games.
Continue reading...MEMO TO BERNIE: TAKE YOUR RACE AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR…
28. September 2010
The choice of holding the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in the modern era has always been a controversial one; since Jeff Kennett sensationally (or infamously, according to South Australians) announced in late 1993 that a deal has been concluded with Bernie Ecclestone to host the race in Melbourne’s Albert Park from 1996 onwards. Even before a wheel was turned there was already strong opposition to the Grand Prix by environmentalists and the “Save Albert Park” movement; local residents and the usual NIMBY’s affected by the construction of the track and the annual build up and tear down of fencing and facilities before and after each event. To add more fuel to the fire of opposition to the Grand Prix, the Victorian State government and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation is attracting the ire of ordinary residents and taxpayers of Victoria by posting a bigger loss to the Formula 1 Grand Prix each year since 1996. It has been announced recently that the 2010 event has lost $49.2 million dollars, which means, by my calculations, that over the past five years, the Australian Grand Prix has lost a total of more than $185 million dollars. That same $185 million dollars could be very well used in building desperately needed road, public transport or health infrastructure or to fund proper education of Victorian youths. Instead, taxpayers of the state of Victoria, have to line the pockets of one of the richest men in the world for the right to a frivolous activity and to pay the imbeciles who supposedly run it.
Continue reading...YOUTH, EXPERIENCE AND THE UNMENTIONABLES
17. July 2010
It’s a great thing to see a F1 team manager finally recognising that youth is not the simple answer or solution to hiring an F1 driver. The announcement of former Super Aguri & Spyker driver Sakon Yamamoto being given a second chance to race this year in the German Grand Prix for HRT comes after his drive the British GP a fortnight ago. Unfortunately, that comes at the cost of the popular Karun Chandhok being cast aside. This age long debate of balancing youth or experience in professional employment continues to be a raging argument in motor racing. As the current F1 season has turned out, Michael Schumacher’s return to full time racing has not produced results and the seven time World Champion is lagging well behind his much younger team mate Nico Rosberg. (A situation not helped by yet another Brackley dud). On the other hand, an experienced drivers such as Sakon has been recognised and rewarded for his persistence, qualities and experience directly related to the job at hand.
Continue reading...F1: PINNACLE OR RIDICULE ?
25. March 2010
The Formula 1 circus has once again returned to Melbourne for the annual Australian Grand. Amidst the controversy of the processional previous race of Bahrain as well as the poor organization and lack of performance of the new teams, I’m thankful that I am no longer a fan to what is supposed to be the pinnacle of motor racing. Unlike previous years when I was living and breathing Formula 1, where I would be literally stalking drivers and know first hand when and where they will make appearances. I no longer have any feelings for any of this; and given how poorly Formula 1 at large continues to treat its fans, I would not at all be surprised if a queue of dissatisfied former Formula 1 fans forms behind me from all over the world. I am at a loss to understand a sport which requires a “working group” to encourage and manufacture an on track action called “overtaking”. It is beyond ridiculous that such a basic action of the sport has to be encouraged or manufactured by a committee for it to actually happen in the arena. Matters are not helped either by today’s Formula 1 drivers.
Continue reading...THE SUN SETS ON JAPAN
5. November 2009
With the unsurprising announcement of the withdrawal of Toyota from Formula 1 effective immediately, along with the confirmation of Bridgestone of their withdrawal from 2010 onwards, it seems the bleak picture I painted towards the end 2008 of a mass withdrawal of Japanese interest in worldwide top flight motor sports has been finally realized. Japanese motor racing fans currently have very little to cheer about on an international scale. Toyota has now followed Honda’s lead in withdrawing from Formula 1, Subaru and Suzuki no longer grace the World Rally Championship, and Kawasaki took its own hibernation from Moto GP also, save for providing a bike for Marco Melandri. Kazuki Nakajima and Kamui Kobayashi have now joined the jobless Japanese Formula 1 driver’s queue, which already has claimed the popular Sakon Yamamoto and Japan’s most successful F1 driver Takuma Sato.
Continue reading...THE FORMULA THAT CAN NOT BE CURED
20. September 2009
With the latest scandal in Formula 1 involving race fixing claims splattered in all manners of media, I certainly was glad I’m no longer a Formula 1 fan. I very definitely do not want to be associated with those scammers, liars, cheats, nor any of the like-minded ego-maniacs that populate this field. However, I find it very disturbing the sort of level Formula 1 as a brand image and its integrity has sunk towards with scandal after scandal within and beyond the last ten years of its existence. If you’re still interested in this sport or entertainment, or whatever you’d like to call it. I’m sure you’d be asking when any of this will ever stop, so you can get to enjoy your Formula 1 racing again. Having watched and studied the field for almost 20 years, I really don’t like the prospects of any of these huge egos with limitless pockets being put in their place and coming to terms that honesty, sportsmanship and values are not just merely words in press releases and sponsorship proposals.
Continue reading...WHY I WONT BE AT THIS YEARS AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
21. March 2009
Every year since 1996 when the Australian Grand Prix first came to Melbourne, I’ve always looked forward to it as the highlight of the year. The opportunity to watch my favorite sport live in person without exuberant travel expenses is always a good opportunity. To live that “chasing the dream” lifestyle if only for one week of the year. However, 2009 will set another precedent for me as I chose to shun the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park and Formula 1 as a whole. To my friends that I have made over the years at Albert Park especially wonderful fellow fans and former members of the Super Aguri F1 team who have found employment elsewhere and are traveling to Melbourne, I apologize for not being able to see you at the AGP this year. For those of you who know me well, your first reaction to my statement above would be: “Is it only because Takuma Sato lost his ride?” That is partially correct. Amongst other arguments, for a sport to encourage and changing rules to suit overtaking then deny a competitor who doesn’t need rule changes to be able to overtake on track is well beyond me. However, that is not the entire story. I estimated I’ve spent over AUD$10,000 over the last 13 AGPs I’ve attended, and that is not including the souvenirs that I have purchased. However, I’ve found other than making friends at autograph alley and being given some very special privileges by Takuma Sato and his management as well as my friends at SAF1; my memories of the AGP are almost always of working like a slave for meager student wages to save up to fund my one big splurge each year at the AGP. However, for where the money has gone, I’ve learnt the hard way that trackside F1 fans are still very much being given a raw deal by F1, the FIA, race organizers and certain local businesses.
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