34 replies to this topic

[madmac]

On channel 4's "faking it" at 9 PM tonight a computer games designer tries to fake it as a racing driver after 4 weeks training at the Johnny Herbert race school.

Just thought I'd let you know, looks interesting.

[Bumper]

Yeah I saw that in the tv guide, will definitely watch tonight. I thought it said he was gonna spend 4 weeks with an F1 team (rather than the J Herbert school). And which team would that be? Well, we'll find out I guess.......

[EvilPhil]

its not alex young is it ? is he a computer game designer ?

[daSilvium]

some 'puter games tester called Phil Deane.

I think he gets to race in a Caterham 7 championship in the TV prog.

[BRG]

There was a story the other day about a promising young female karter (Serena Hampton?) who won a race against this guy - apparently, he came last and all the drivers were girls except for him, but he didn't know that until the end, when they took their helmets off. Presumably, this was an exercise in teaching him humility! But we shall see tonight - it should be a laugh.

Some of these shows have been quite good - I liked the one about the burger-van guy that they successfully passed off as a fancy chef.

[kanec]

Can't watch anymore of it. What an arse.

[pRy]

Some of these shows have been quite good - I liked the one about the burger-van guy that they successfully passed off as a fancy chef.

Yeah saw that on a plane. Great episode. The guy really did a fantastic job to fool all the judges and win the thing.

[pRy]

To be fair, they could have done a little better with him. I mean, taking him to a bar in Monaco and meeting DC is hardly an introduction to the entire atmosphere of a racing paddock. They should have took him to an F1 race and let him mull around as a guest and let him soak up some of what happens there. He would have learnt alot off the track. And after all, he only failed because of his off the track interview.

[Liquid]

What a dick that guy was. Really arrogant. It bothered me to see such a great oppotunity wasted on someone like that. I would have LOVED to have had a chance to put in a few laps in an FRenault at Rockingham.

I was a bit surprised to see that they didn't get him on the track with other cars before he took part in a real race. I thought that was a little dangerous. Going quick in a car was one thing but mixing it up with other cars on the same tarmac is something else altogether.

[madmac]

Originally posted by kanec
Can't watch anymore of it. What an arse.

What a moron that guy was, right from the off you could see the instructor's didn't like him. Right at the begining when he met JH and was trying to say how much he had 'learn't' from PC games, I think the look on JH's face said it all. All in all a waste.

[mikedeering]

Originally posted by Liquid
What a dick that guy was. Really arrogant. It bothered me to see such a great oppotunity wasted on someone like that. I would have LOVED to have had a chance to put in a few laps in an FRenault at Rockingham.

I was a bit surprised to see that they didn't get him on the track with other cars before he took part in a real race. I thought that was a little dangerous. Going quick in a car was one thing but mixing it up with other cars on the same tarmac is something else altogether.

I was surprised they just chucked him in a race like that as well - with no experience of mixing with other cars. It was probably a good job he had problems in qualifying and started from the back! Still, he managed to pass someone which was something I suppose.

It must have been so frustrating for his mentors - the guy was a complete arse out of the car (hmm bit like Mansell!) He seemed to think it was all a joke and he didn't have to try hard. To be fair to him, he was obviously OK in the car based on his performances, but what a cocky sod! That interview at the end was cringeworthy! Giving advice to other competitors! As if! And talking about America with that tennis guy in Monaco - that was truly tragic (being drunk is no excuse!)

But then the mentors didn't really try and teach him about what to say - he wouldn't listen to that specialist they got in (forget her role). He spent a day at Brands Hatch with the BTCC, but he seemed more concerned with chatting to the girls - and making a fool of himself with his sunglasses...

It was the first faking it where I wanted someone to fail - although I also wanted him to pass for the sake of his teachers. Actually, I don't recall a faking it where someone has failed - although I haven't seen all of them.

[JDeRosa]

if any of us had been given the same opportunity I doubt we'd have wasted it like that prick! Being a video games tester (another cool job) he's probably always had things go his way, maybe even presented to him on a silver platter...but what a wake up call this must have been for him, f*****g serves him right too. Let me have a go next time.;)

[Breadmaster]

well who would have thought ...another world record broken.
which one you ask?

the one for shouting "cock end" at the telly as loud as you can.

lucky lucky sod ...and then wasted oppotunity!
cocky arrogant little ****!

He was an arse to that american tennis bloke, he was an arse at the BTCC meeting and he was a cocky little sod 98% of the time. what a waste!

He wouldn't admit his mistakes, he wouldn't ask for help -he needs a kick up the arse.

the only consolation is that while you may think his job is pretty cool he probably gets paid £4 a year for playing the same level over and over and over and over.


Arrrrrrrrrrgh!

[pRy]

Well to be honest, what he said about learning driving lines and braking distances on the Playstation is fairly true and he did show a good knowledge of seeing driving lines when he did his first road test, so that wasn't total BS on his part. But yeah, he did talk a little too much about how much his game testing would help him. I think he also tried to carry over too much from his playstation, messing with braking distances for example meant he went off alot of times. His "Woah David Coulthard!" when DC walked into the room was sooooo fanish it was hard to watch. I've had the pleasure of meeting an F1 driver and I certainly didn't put the word "woah" before anything, if atall, I said.

His little "nice arse" hand signal walking behind those poor three paddock girls at Brands Hatch was terrible too. They should have kicked him out for that. And what was he thinking trying to pick a fight with that French? guy. What was he saying? something about how they should be thankful for the British or something?

He did do pretty ok in the race itself, at least he didn't spin and he did manage a pass, and he did fool them pretty much too. But his "I'm an F1 driver" attitude was totally wrong. I get the feeling this may be due to him not having a "real" job so to speak. Maybe he has not had to deal with "people" before in a professional way. Never had to be courteous or polite with people who are important.

I also got the feeling he is not a hard core F1 fan too.

His reply to the "Why is Schumacher so successful" comment was hilarious.. the "Well it's gotta be his consistancey, I mean when he goes off the commentators go nuts" lol. I mean if I answered that I think I'd go for "Well first he is very tallented, he has alot of natural skill" then you go onto "He is very dedicated to his job, he trains hard, he has a huge knowledge of how the car works, he talks to his engineers, he motivates his team, he never gives less than 100%, he does everything to create the best package for both him and his team. He also ensures he gets what he wants. He puts in the work, both on and off the track, and he reaps the rewards of that dedication."

All in all it was an interesting programme anyway.

[Bumper]

Well the writing was on the wall from the instructors' first impressions of him: "What a tosser!" to their last goodbye wishes: "He was a right arrogant little prat, and I'm not being disparaging here......just being genuine!". Priceless! The guy messed up big time, any other racefan would have given their right arm to get a chance like this but he just didn't seem to be bothered to make an impression. His cockiness reminded me of a young Eddie Irvine, but at least Eddie has the racing talent to get away with it all. Even I could have taken those corners better than he did, and that says a lot For me it was interesting watching DC (doing his PR thing and plugging his Columbus Hotel) driving the tosser around Monaco and going through the famous tunnel with normal traffic around, that was weird to watch as I only know that tunnel from F1 races, completely empty except for F1 cars going through it at high speed, and now there was this bumbling traffic going through it.
This was the first time in the Faking It series that the jury actually overwhelmingly guessed who was the odd one out, I wonder why

[madmac]

About the jury 'sussing' him out. It was interesting to see that the team managers caught on but the Journo was fooled. The Journo works for "the Sun" so not suprising really!

[Breadmaster]

Stan Peicha is also the Sun's fishing correspondant -

[BRG]

I think this was the first failure in thjis series. So at least we have the consolation of some proof that motorsport is a lot harder than cooking, DJing, fashion photography, car-sales and all the other activites where someone has successfully "faked it".

He was a cocky little sod, but I thought that made him more authentic as a racing driver - after all, most of them are just walking egos!

[Bumper]

Originally posted by BRG
I think this was the first failure in thjis series. So at least we have the consolation of some proof that motorsport is a lot harder than cooking, DJing, fashion photography, car-sales and all the other activites where someone has successfully "faked it".

Don't forget the one where they made a lawyer pass off as a gangsta rapper, even more cringeworthy as this one

[mikedeering]

Originally posted by BRG
I think this was the first failure in thjis series. So at least we have the consolation of some proof that motorsport is a lot harder than cooking, DJing, fashion photography, car-sales and all the other activites where someone has successfully "faked it".

He was a cocky little sod, but I thought that made him more authentic as a racing driver - after all, most of them are just walking egos!

I dunno - I think he had the judges fooled on his actual racing - it was the OTT BS that sprung from his lips during the interview that was his undoing. The Sun journo didn't pick him as the fake, but that was because he thought the guy was so obviously not a racing driver that he was a red herring brough in to trick the judges!!!

[nigel red5]

The guy was a total arse-wipe, and never applied himself to the task...
The one thing i thought of at the end of the programme was that Derek Warwick must be feeling a bit of a clown, after offerring him a testing role in a Vauxhall BTCC car That was priceless.

[peetbee]

OMG
I taped it & watched it last night. I thought the whole thing with the Faking it series was that people TRIED to succeed at the chosen topic.

I agree with the instructors, a lot of people would have given anything to have the same opprotunity over 4 weeks. It was nice to see them proved right at the end of the show! I've never wanted anyone to fail before but I made an exception for this guy.

[green-blood]

what a sad prick....

come on you'd have to peel most of us out of the car if we were given 4 weeks to become a racing driver at Rockingham... did he really believe that even modestly succesful drivers like Phil Bennet didnt know more than him.

I reckon the misfire in qualifying saved him, they didn't suspect him becasue he was last on a mechanical, his overtaking move fooled them, not 1 of them had him as first choice on the driving....and then he started telling Martin Donnelly - MARTIN DONNELLY - how to put the cap on the expansion bottle....and what are "pre-baked" tryes....

Come off it, you're on an all expenses paid trip to Monaco with Johny Herbert, you've met Dave Coulthard and done the jet set thing, so of course your gonna get pissed at dinner, telling Herbert he's only human and anything he can do I can do too!!! and then abuse some american tennis pro - eh you're a computer game tester, God to 13 year olds, but a waster in the real world (nice 1.1 Fiesta) - and all this with a camera crew in your face, surely that would put you on best behaviour...

sir you are a dick

[sensible]

Just watched it - I have to agree with the comments here. He didnt put himself across well.

Just occurred to me though - he's and F1 fan who works with computers - there's gotta be a chance he's been to atlas f1. maybe he's even a regular. who do you reckon?

[madmac]

Originally posted by sensible
Just watched it - I have to agree with the comments here. He didnt put himself across well.

Just occurred to me though - he's and F1 fan who works with computers - there's gotta be a chance he's been to atlas f1. maybe he's even a regular. who do you reckon?

Maybe it's "the sensational poster" who has been strangely quiet lately.

[Evo One]

I think he's Bira

[Ferrari_F1_fan_2001]

One of the judges - Martin Donnely? Was that the same Martin Donnely that Ayrton Senna saved at Jerez in 1990 when Donnely's Lotus plunged into a barrier and Donnely was ripped from his seat and lay on the ground and Senna came to save him?

[Breadmaster]

yep - that's him.....

[condor]

I watched the prog too....and agree with most of the comments here.

What a wasted opportunity.

Though how did such an obvious pratt get through the preliminary interviews to appear on the show? The channel 4 researchers probably got their knuckles rapped too.

[green-blood]

strangely I doubt it.

He was dick alright, but he was such a miserable failure that it made for good TV. It wouldn't be very interesting if everyone breezed the challange...I'd say that one episode will have gotten them more comment than any other...

[FredF1]

Originally posted by Ferrari_F1_fan_2001
One of the judges - Martin Donnely? Was that the same Martin Donnely that Ayrton Senna saved at Jerez in 1990 when Donnely's Lotus plunged into a barrier and Donnely was ripped from his seat and lay on the ground and Senna came to save him?

Err...

It was actually Pierluigi Martini who 'saved' him.

He deliberately spun his Minardi in front of Martin to shield him from oncoming traffic.



On the subject of the program.

Seemed very odd that they never gave him any training driving on track with other cars.

His manoevre in free practise was pure 'computer gamer' though - "You're not coming through here matey - I've got the damage level set to zero"

[Ferrari_F1_fan_2001]

Originally posted by FredF1



Err...

It was actually Pierluigi Martini who 'saved' him.

He deliberately spun his Minardi in front of Martin to shield him from oncoming traffic.



"

Yes i know, but it was Ayrton Senna who seemed to take all the coverage though, sorry i just read about it in an F1 magazine and just noticed Luigi's name mentioned too, sorry about that, both Ayrton Senna and Pierluigi Martini's should be saluted for their actions that day, we just dont see people like that in F1 anymore (probably coz its so safe an accident like that would never happen again!)

[pRy]

We do still see it in F1.. it's just not as noticable. Ayrton as late as the weekend he died showed simular concern. I also noticed when JV had a big crash at Japan, Schumacher slowed up and looked towards JV's car before driving away again. I can only assume he was looking to see if JV was ok or something like that.

Also recall how Eddie Irvine helped the marshals free Burti from the tyres at Spa.

I think any driver, put in a situation like that, would obviously help.

[kanec]

Originally posted by FredF1
Seemed very odd that they never gave him any training driving on track with other cars.

Maybe because he was such a complete **** in the first place they wanted to teach him a lesson or two?

[Clatter]

Originally posted by pRy
I also noticed when JV had a big crash at Japan, Schumacher slowed up and looked towards JV's car before driving away again. I can only assume he was looking to see if JV was ok or something like that.

Nah, just rubber necking. See on the motorways eveytime theres an accident.