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Tag Archive | "Super Aguri"
YOUTH, EXPERIENCE AND THE UNMENTIONABLES
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...WHY I WONT BE AT THIS YEARS AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
Saturday, March 21, 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.
Continue reading...AND ALL THAT (HONDA) JAZZ
Friday, October 24, 2008
It is common practice for any person who has an idol of any kind to ask for their idol’s autographs. Sports fans especially would do that all the time; asking their favorite sportspeople to sign items of interest such as caps, programs, photos or similar memorabilia. Motor racing fans in particular may even ask their favorite drivers to sign some unusual items such as car parts… or if you’re like THIS “mad bastard”… ask them to sign a whole car… Perhaps one may wonder… what drove me to ask Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson to sign my 2006 Honda Jazz?
Continue reading...TAKU FANS FROM MELBOURNE TO MONTREAL
Friday, October 3, 2008
We are not alone. I came in contact with Yusze Tong at Melbourne 2003 and he was a Michael/Ferrari fan and I of course was caked in Jordan yellow, but we both have one thing in common: Takuma Sato fans based in Melbourne, Australia. We decided to make a banner for Taku for Melbourne 2004 and our efforts were seen of course on TS’ official website and a tradition was started where we would make a banner for Taku every year for the AGP. Yusze and I both also ended up posting a message on TS’ official forum whether if any fans are travelling to Melbourne for the race. We had a group of about 10 from Japan join us at Melbourne as well as everybody else we met at the track over the course of the week… a rather formidable little army! There are many that were surprised that Taku had non-Japanese fans and even more so when they discover we’re Melbourne locals. This started another tradition also where we would try to make as many friends as possible and be united as Takuma Sato fans without bounds or barriers such as language and communication difficulties.
Continue reading...TAKING TIME WITH TAKU
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Taku, as we all affectionately know and call him, was initially a name, which I came across on top timesheets and scorecards in the 2000 British F3 championship when I joined In Pit Lane in that rainy September in year 2000. I became interested in his performances when I spotted him more frequently than not in F3 related articles and the praises that everyone was giving him. When I saw some footage of his driving in the 2000 Macau F3 GP (unfortunately eventually crashing out) and over the course of 2001, when Ant was his teammate and the pair dominated the British F3 championship, my mind was set. I enjoyed keeping myself up to date with his performances and especially enjoyed that win at the Macau F3GP in 2001. I was therefore overjoyed when Eddie Jordan hired Taku, and Ant became BAR Honda’s test driver in 2002.
Continue reading...THE BIRTH OF AN OBSESSION
Thursday, September 11, 2008
When a person discovers his or her interest in something, be it an object, sport, or anything, chances are that they will pursue it further and develop a certain taste for that item of interest. But when they discover there are many more people around them that share the same passion, they will connect and bond, and they become a group. But when there is a considerable amount of people that are dedicated to the same cause, it becomes a movement and more than likely, it’ll gain momentum and attract more likeminded people to join the movement. That I hope, describes most of us who enjoy watching F1 racing and especially, those of us who support Takuma Sato and Super Aguri F1 team during its existence.
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Saturday, July 17, 2010
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