91 replies to this topic

[cooper997]

It's on again... hopefully for 4 days!

 

Without these guys and girls it won't happen...

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

and this will probably be as close as I'll get to an F1 car.

 

 

This will get nostalgic soon

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Part of the Bond promotion

 

 

Stephen

 

 

[cooper997]

A teaser, as I've just looked at the clock and I need some sleep before back into the AGP for more sore feet.

 

Former Repco engineer, Nigel Tait gives his Matich SR4 Repco V8 some jungle juice for its morning awakening.

 

 

Stephen

[Gary C]

Event looking dodgy now, McLaren have already pulled out.

[Michael Ferner]

No surprise there! I can't really believe it's going on at all. Don't these people read the news?

[sabrejet]

Arrogant idiots.

[10kDA]

When the bottom line becomes top priority?

[Gary C]

Cancelled

[68targa]

It's the correct decision. 

[Michael Ferner]

Really surprising it took them so long! In the administration where I work, we have put out a recommendation to cancel everything over 1,000 people at the beginning of last week, and have cancelled all our own meetings with 100+ people. You can't say this was unforeseeable, an event of that size should have been cancelled before the teams even got on the plane. Very poor management.

[SJ Lambert]

Are you at the track this morning Stephen?

[Lee Nicolle]

Cancelled

Not yet, but no spectators allowed in the track

[opplock]

It is now, at least the F1 event. Per Autosport:

A statement from the organisers read: "At 9am today the Australian Grand Prix Corporation was advised by Formula 1 of their intention to cancel all Formula 1 activity at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

"In light of this decision and updated advice this morning from the Chief Health Officer of the Victorian Government's Department of Human and Health Services, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation confirms the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is cancelled immediately.”

[SJ Lambert]

https://m.youtube.co...h?v=BR2JtsVumFA

[Glengavel]

When was the last time a Grand Prix was cancelled? I can't think of any.

[SJ Lambert]

https://podcasts.app...pisode/23796699

[SJ Lambert]

None of these appear to be in the same league as Melbourne

[Henri Greuter]

When was the last time a Grand Prix was cancelled? I can't think of any.

Bahrein 2011 and if it comes to being on the ground and not raced, Belgium 1985, though at least there had been practice to find out why it was insane to havea race on that track that weekend.

One event cancelled due to health concers was of course the CART event at the Texas oval where drivers were affected by the G forces because of the speeds on the banking over there. That was also after practice.
Incredible enough, there are still some people who are still critisizing that decision and feel that the race should have been held and that this contributed to the demise of CART.

[cooper997]

Are you at the track this morning Stephen?

James, not long home after an early start. At track around 7.30 as Historics were set for an 8.15am driver's briefing and 9am on track demo. I had some involvement with Scuderia Schudmak, Louis Santin driving Phil's Alfa Romeo 8C and was asked to help Nigel Tait with the Matich SR4 - mainly with startup procedure both days with battery connection/disconnection and jungle juice duty this morning. All a bit of fun.

 

This morning was completely up in the air, no one had a definite knowledge of what would happen. Driver's briefing was on schedule, after that things were up in the air. The fast cars were asked to fire up and queue in front of each side of the Historics tent, as per schedule to get things moving (60 cars involved). Then they were held there, finally moving off to Turn 15 service road. Another wait set in of at least an hour. Various unofficial comments were made regards what was happening, a young chap attending the Cooper T53 checked social media and found out the crowds were building at the gates, but not allowed to enter. Eventually Richard Williams and another chap walked through the line telling everyone it was all over. So initially the cars headed back to the tent and ultimately an hour later again, many had headed off. Including Louis and the Alfa, back to the playhouse both of us get to tinker in.

 

The only 'on track' today were the 2 Minardi 2 seater F1 cars doing corporate laps when Louis and I arrived.

 

Being at a loose end, I went off to see the sights and see where I could get. Just about everything was in closed or pack up mode. Various staff were stood down and even infrastructure (temporary fences, etc) were being packed up. There was a media scrum gathering, but security were keen to keep us at several arms length.

 

Saw the Carrera Cup cars being packed up and Supercars going into the huge trucks. Mentioned to 3 chaps packing up one of them that "Beer c'clock will be early today." In typical Aussie retort came "Can't come f..ken quick enough!" Saw the army and their tanks heading down pit straight anti-clockwise, but even they didn't have the firepower to beat this one!

 

About the only thing missing at this year's Australian GP was tumbleweed blowing through the venue, because the joint was sooo empty

 

All that effort and taken out by something made in China..

 

F1 can be grateful Heineken is their official brew. Because they probably don't want to be reminded of Corona in any form - beer, car or virus.

 

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 13 March 2020 - 10:15.

[Michael Ferner]

One event cancelled due to health concers was of course the CART event at the Texas oval where drivers were affected by the G forces because of the speeds on the banking over there. That was also after practice.
Incredible enough, there are still some people who are still critisizing that decision and feel that the race should have been held and that this contributed to the demise of CART.

So, could this be the end of FOG? CART was critized for poor management then, but that was nothing against this embarrassment.

[cooper997]

What would Jack think about this...

 

Stephen

[Tim Murray]

Looks more like Roy Salvadori to me ...

[cooper997]

As the AGP Promotions Department said to the AGP Financial Controller "At least we get 2 years value out of #25!"

 

 

Stephen

[sabrejet]

When was the last time a Grand Prix was cancelled? I can't think of any.

 

I must be getting old.

[68targa]

Or Achille Varzi ?

 

[Charlieman]

You can't say this was unforeseeable, an event of that size should have been cancelled before the teams even got on the plane. Very poor management.

I guess that your risk assessment and mine would be similar. Best wishes for a safe journey to those going home, find something interesting to do if stuck in isolation, sympathy with ticket holders and local participants, and a big fat raspberry to everyone "organising" this fiasco.

[Michael Ferner]

In my county (p 98,000) we had one case the day before yesterday, three as of yesterday evening, and six as of noon, today. Our next neighbour Luxemburg (p 600,000) is on a similar curve. So, it's coming, and it's coming fast. We are extremely well prepared, but it will be… interesting to see how things pan out.

[Glengavel]

I must be getting old.

 

I'm no spring chicken either but I'd forgotten about Belgium 1985 (which was eventually run later that year), and Bahrain 2011 is too recent for me!

[Leif Snellman]

With multiple races now in danger the closest we can find would probably be the 1955 season when the French, German, Spanish and Swiss GP's were scratched.

[cooper997]

Supercar pit row and garage ghost town...

 

Just 4 Supercars sat on pit row and a further 4 in garages when this photo was snapped Friday lunch time. DJR Team Penske already had their truck loaded, locked and getting ready to rumble by then.

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

The other side... the F! boys were not quite as quick. But probably a lot more gear to shuffle.

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

And in between the Supercar and F1 camps was the Minardi F1 2 seater garage being stripped out also.

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Multiple Bathurst 1000 winner, Steven Richards helps push the DeWalt Commodore to the transporter - meanwhile the Australian Army rumble past with one of their tanks.

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Before any of the above photos were taken I was at the rear of the Supercars pit garages watching the teams load up. Here DJR Team Penske are in the process of tucking away their lead driver's Mustang. Note many of the teams had blankets on the rear underside of the car for the loading. All hiding their trade secrets no doubt.

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Thursday afternoon and Paul Faulkner's Williams FW07 gets a brake bleed after the Historic demo. Paul is the one pouring in the fluid. Also note some other categories got some track time and a small crowd came through the gates - refer the big screen behind.

 

 

Stephen

[cooper997]

Early Thursday morning and the big sporties gather... Bennett McLaren M1A, Berryman Matich SR3, Hemmings Elfin 400 and pushed forward is the Harbarrow McLaren M6B and Tait Matich SR4.

 

 

Stephen

[Henri Greuter]

So, could this be the end of FOG? CART was critized for poor management then, but that was nothing against this embarrassment.

What is FOG ????

 

As for poor management by CART in that era, I think that at the time there was indeed some poor managements though I will instantly admit that I honestly wonder what was the right thing to do?

 

The one thing however that I felt to be the most not to understanding aspect. That people, so called race fans, at that time felt that the race should have had been held after all, for whatever reasons. There were moments in history of racing of which you knew that drivers were imposed to risks  that could lead to a catastrophy.

This was one of those occasions in which drivers were protected against themselves and others, a moment when common sense prevailed just in time.

Motor racing is dangerous, that has to be accepted. But once you reach a point that drivers, while racing, get into a situation of human discomfort that can result to making errors, driving errors that could result into accidents that could not only involve himself but others at the track as well???

For me, it was, despite the consequences, still the best possible decision to make for the drivers.

 

It was of course not related with driver error due to physical conditions occurring while racing. But there were concerns about safety related aspects occurring during Las Vegas 2011 before the race, they were not taken seriously and we know what happened.

Texas 2001 could so easily have been the event that prevented Las Vegas 2011 to happen.

[cooper997]

Paddins Dowling's Maserati 4CL came over for the Phillip Island Classic last weekend, became a static display at Albert Park. Paddins having flown back home.

 

 

Stephen

[john aston]

I'm no spring chicken either but I'd forgotten about Belgium 1985 (which was eventually run later that year), and Bahrain 2011 is too recent for me!

I'm the guy who was on the coach en route to Spa on Saturday evening - just as were about to board the ferry at Dover the driver was told to head back to London as the race had been cancelled . But Page and Moy rebooked us  to Zandvoort . And seeing the circuit's last Grand Prix until 2020 (maybe ) and Lauda's last win was ample compensation .

[Tim Murray]

Ee, you were lucky. We arrived on the Saturday morning, hung around all day hoping something might happen (highlight of the day - watching Sir JYS walk the track) then got carted off by Page & Moy for a nice day out in Bruges on the Sunday, so we missed the F3000 race.

[Michael Ferner]

What is FOG ????

 

 

Er, that's wikipedia for you! I did not recall the name of the organisation that runs F 1 now (Liberty, is it?), so I googled "F 1 Chase..." and the autocomplete showed the family name I'd also forgotten , and then wikipedia told me he was the boss of the Formula One Group. Not commonly used, I gather...

 

On further reading, it appears that this is what once was FOCA, or even more oncer F1CA...

 

 

Else, I completely concur with you: that (TX 2001) was one of the (very few) sensible decisions by CART at the time.

Edited by Michael Ferner, 14 March 2020 - 12:32.

[DCapps]

Multiple Bathurst 1000 winner, Steven Richards helps push the DeWalt Commodore to the transporter - meanwhile the Australian Army rumble past with one of their tanks.

 

 

Stephen

 

Stephen, its not a "tank," it's an Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV), a variant of the LAV-25 series of fighting vehicles which includes the M1126 Stryker of the US Army.

[Michael Ferner]

Gee, Don - do you also collect chassis numbers of tanks?

[Henri Greuter]

Er, that's wikipedia for you! I did not recall the name of the organisation that runs F 1 now (Liberty, is it?), so I googled "F 1 Chase..." and the autocomplete showed the family name I'd also forgotten , and then wikipedia told me he was the boss of the Formula One Group. Not commonly used, I gather...

 

On further reading, it appears that this is what once was FOCA, or even more oncer F1CA...

 

 

Else, I completely concur with you: that (TX 2001) was one of the (very few) sensible decisions by CART at the time.

 

 

OK, I was thinking way too far.  Thanks for explaining.

[opplock]

Ee, you were lucky. We arrived on the Saturday morning, hung around all day hoping something might happen (highlight of the day - watching Sir JYS walk the track) then got carted off by Page & Moy for a nice day out in Bruges on the Sunday, so we missed the F3000 race.

 

When I left the circuit on Saturday Anthony Marsh was assuring spectators over the PA that the GP would go ahead. Sitting outside a bar that evening people started wandering past claiming to have been told by mechanics that the race was cancelled. That was confirmed as dusk fell. Ken Tyrrell presumably drew the short straw and his transporter was first to leave as soon as it got dark. Seeing that drive past left a sour taste in the mouth.

 

We decided to leave Sunday morning only to learn days later that the F3000 race had taken place and was won by Mike Thackwell. We went to the 1,000km race in September determined to find someone in authority and obtain a refund but poor Stefan Bellof's accident put an end to that idea.

 

Tim, we probably met up with your group in Bruges. At that time we knew several of the P&M couriers. 

[68targa]

Thanks cooper997 for all of the photos - if not exactly action shots for obvious reasons it gives us all a flavour of what might have been.

 

I have always enjoyed getting in bright and early and watching a paddock wake up to be some of the best moment in a weekend.

 

I was'nt aware that so much other action normally goes on at Melbourne apart from the GP . Supercars, histroics and ASLAV racing !

[Ray Bell]

I believe there was also to be a race for the S5000 cars...

 

That would have added value to the show.

 

And by the way, this was to have been the 27th running of the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited by Ray Bell, 14 March 2020 - 14:57.

[Tim Murray]

Tim, we probably met up with your group in Bruges. At that time we knew several of the P&M couriers.

So maybe we met without realising that, 35 years later, we’d be interacting on an internet forum. I remember some of the P & M couriers very well but have absolutely no memory of the one on this trip.

[cooper997]

Stephen, its not a "tank," it's an Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV), a variant of the LAV-25 series of fighting vehicles which includes the M1126 Stryker of the US Army.

 

Donald, thanks for the clarification. With your lifetime of military service you won't get any argument from me. Call it generic ignorance with me referring to it as a tank.

 

Stephen