33 replies to this topic

[Breadmaster]

Paul Stoddart suggests spicing up Sunday Mornings with a Celebrity GP : link to GrandPrix.com....

Looks like a great idea to me as long as they don't do a Mansell: lovely Atlas link...no piccie though....

[A3]

Why not an F1 fan Championship?

[Shiftin]

I do agree with the fact that there should be more action on the track on Sunday. I mean all you have is a porsche-supercup race (at least at the Nurburgring where I recently was).

The only activity on the track is marshalls who clean the track and cars that clean the track with a safetycar now and then. It takes to long IMO.

It would be great if the spectators could see some more action or demo's on the track. Things that come to mind...

- demo WRC-car sliding through corners
- GP-bike demo
- old F1 car
- Ford Transit with F1 engine and stuff like that
- DTM car? etc.
- just something to wacth..... to keep us fans busy..

[pRy]

I think they should send in, the clowns. Those daffy-laffy clowns. Send in those soulful and doleful schmotes by the bowlful clowns. Send in the clowns.

[Bernie Ecclestone] They're already here

[baddog]

I know this is a bit radical, but how about a program of high quality support races?

I hate all this fluff. celebrity races my bottom.

[pRy]

I've always had this idea that the Australian GP should be opened by U2 playing "Hold Me Kiss Me Thrill Me" on the grid live

[Suzy]

"Celebrity" races? No thanks! (Shouldn't Paul Stoddart be concentrating on trying to fund his F1 team rather than things like this?).

Well, so far we have the Porche Supercup as a support. But there is usually the F3000, F3 races and there was a historic race after the GP last year. We used to have the MGF Cup supporting the Grand Prix (not had a timetable of events yet - or my tickets).

But, good news for Tin-Top fans like me: negotiations are underway to bring the BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) as a non-championship support race to the Grand Prix starting in 2004. The best of British motorsport will be supporting the GP if that works - and I am grateful.

[jaisli]

Whatever Paul needs to do, within reason, to keep Minardi afloat, fine. At least he's being creative and hasn't (yet) stooped to have the whole team picket in front of the McLaren garages. While I find the idea mildly less distasteful than his Silverstone threat it kind of irks me on a personal level.

While it was before my time that the F1 pits were really accessible to plain fans, every time I see somebody like Ozzy Osborne or Sean Combs or Michael Douglas smooching up and down the paddock or getting in everybody's way on the starting grid I want to throw something at the TV. It's probably plain jealousy on my part but are any of these publicity hounds really racing enthusiasts? I bet a good majority of the posters on this forum would love to be able to pop in and out of the pits at will but will never be able to because they haven't been in a few movies or bit the head off a flying rodent. Shame on them.

Mixed feelings when it comes down to it. While there are plenty of on track events I'd rather see at least with a celebrity race we could assume those celebrities behind the wheel have at least a clue what they're doing and want to be there for reasons other than just being seen.

jaisli

[Breadmaster]

Originally posted by baddog
I know this is a bit radical, but how about a program of high quality support races?

now there's a good idea!

[A3]

Originally posted by jaisli

While it was before my time that the F1 pits were really accessible to plain fans, every time I see somebody like Ozzy Osborne or Sean Combs or Michael Douglas smooching up and down the paddock or getting in everybody's way on the starting grid I want to throw something at the TV. It's probably plain jealousy on my part but are any of these publicity hounds really racing enthusiasts? I bet a good majority of the posters on this forum would love to be able to pop in and out of the pits at will but will never be able to because they haven't been in a few movies or bit the head off a flying rodent. Shame on them.

Hear, hear !

[AdrianM]

jaisli
What they should do is run historical F1 cars. Organise to run some of the classic F1 cars. Get some of the stars of the past to run some laps.

[mikedeering]

I thought the latest plan was running an extra F1 qualifying session on Sunday morning?

[Alapan]

Not at all a bad idea - and since Paul already has about 6 2 and 3 seaters; he can rent the cars to other teams and make some more money

[100cc]

- demo WRC-car sliding through corners
- GP-bike demo - DONE in sepang
- old F1 car - Done in sepang
- Ford Transit with F1 engine and stuff like that - not a ford.. but DONE in Magny
- DTM car? etc. Done in germany maybe??
- just something to wacth..... to keep us fans busy..

The problem is they do one thing... then nothing... followed by nothing...... followed by nothing. Having all of the above all in the sunday... plus some more support races... would be great.

[Ray Bell]

There are swags of races at Albert Park, of course...

Tintops, Formula Fords, maybe Formula Holden, and they pack it out with some crazy celebrity event. And there are Historic cars of some sort, and one year they ran some old Can-Am cars.

Of course, watching on TV you never know when which events are held, it's possible some are held on Saturday.

There is the warmup, however...

[Rob29]

yes,Ray pehaps someone can explain how Australia manages to have that many suport races?
Silverstone blamed Bernie E for cutting down. Excuses involving his now non existent TV servce.
We used to have at least 3 support races on race day-F3,Touring cars & Historic.

[pRy]

I don't think support races really are required on GP Sundays. People go to the GP to see *Formula One*.. they get up early, walk god only knows how long a distance to their stand, sit down, and wait for the F1 to start. They don't really have any interest in watching some stupid lower formulas. During any support races they are usually stuck in some long queue waiting for food or looking for t-shirts, or asleep in a stand getting sun burnt.

So no.. I don't think more *racing* is required per say... but stuff like stunt bike displays, aerial displays, parades by local student bands or just local students, demonstrations, that sort of thing, would be pretty cool. Maybe some laps by old F1 cars, with the announcer telling the crowd whos car it used to be and what it did.. like "And here we have Nigel Mansells 1991 Championship Winning Williams, driven by...." "And here we have Aryton Sennas 1988 McLaren, driven by..." .. etc etc etc... Bernie could pay car collectors to come and bring their cars to the track and get some ex-racers to drive them. I'm not talking Mansell etc but guys like Brundle, Blundell.... guys who are alreaddy at the track. Brundle used to do 2-seater McLaren laps and he didn't seem to mind that. And I imagine he would *love* to get behind the wheel of some old cars and have a few laps of fun.

Also, better food options, more merchandise, and hell, throw in some more freebee girls, like the ones who as a kid, you used to say to yourself "Hot damn, its good to be a fan of motorsport" as you looked at their boobies and knew your dad didn't mind because damn, this was motorsport son, and those are breasts as she handed you a freebee Mobil 1 sticker!!!

Colder beer too. And at the hot races, some of those fire engines that spray the stands with water.

And get some more mexican waves going. Has anyone ever wondered how a mexican wave starts? I mean, is it just one guy?

[jaisli]

Originally posted by pRy

And get some more mexican waves going. Has anyone ever wondered how a mexican wave starts? I mean, is it just one guy?

Yes. His name is Carlos Novoa. The SOB spends his whole life attending sporting events worldwide just to start that stupid, obnoxious wave. Here he is practicing.

Actually I'm one of those people who sits and pays attention to the support races on Sunday. I think it's great and wish there were more of them. It's during the parades that I buy my hot dogs.

jaisli

[Breadmaster]

I disagree with pry too......

more racing!

[furr]

Originally posted by baddog
I know this is a bit radical, but how about a program of high quality support races?

I hate all this fluff. celebrity races my bottom.

while for most parts im sure the average f1 event goer will agree with you. but for me watching some of the support races in melbourne was a bit of a yawn. drivers i dont know, driving cars im not really interested in and driving them really.....s..l..o...w..l..y. well in comparison anyway. or worse cars really not made for that type of twisty track almost having to pull a 3 point turn to get around some of the hairpins.

id rather chatter, bring a good book, sunbath and wait for the main events.

[wawawa]

Well, if some super-rich attention-lovers with cash to burn want a super-fast, super-costly chaueffer-driven ride which keeps the real show in business, that's OK by me.

[baddog]

Originally posted by furr


while for most parts im sure the average f1 event goer will agree with you. but for me watching some of the support races in melbourne was a bit of a yawn. drivers i dont know, driving cars im not really interested in and driving them really.....s..l..o...w..l..y. well in comparison anyway. or worse cars really not made for that type of twisty track almost having to pull a 3 point turn to get around some of the hairpins.

id rather chatter, bring a good book, sunbath and wait for the main events.

I will NOT have you say anything bad about 'Bob Jane T-Marts Nascar Sensation'...

Shaun

[LB]

oo the age old are you a Motor racing fan or a GP fan debate( its not mutually exclusive btw)

I loved support races half the time they were better than the GP anyway.I can remember back to the mid eighties where we had touring cars, formula ford, f3, thundersports, a houses of parliament v house of commons race, and that was just Sunday.

F3 has been dropped at silverstone this year it seems theres hardly anything left..) F3000 porsches and masaratis I think and the F3000 is on saturday - it really should be Sunday morning.

[furr]

Originally posted by baddog


I will NOT have you say anything bad about 'Bob Jane T-Marts Nascar Sensation'...

Shaun

'Bob Jane T-Marts Nascar Sensation' can suck my balls frankly ;) if your car is driving around the track slower than me walking around the track, you really dont have a part to play in a "festival of speed"

[Breadmaster]

Originally posted by LB
oo the age old are you a Motor racing fan or a GP fan debate

I am a motor sports fan........and thus want support races.

I am surprised and find it difficult to comprehend other mindsets about this matter.....if it's got wheels and an engine it's good!

[Bart]

Would insurance be a problem? What if Ronaldo injures his foot? Or, worse, Kylie injures her bottom?

[wiligates]

Originally posted by pRy
I don't think support races really are required on GP Sundays. People go to the GP to see *Formula One*.. they get up early, walk god only knows how long a distance to their stand, sit down, and wait for the F1 to start. They don't really have any interest in watching some stupid lower formulas. During any support races they are usually stuck in some long queue waiting for food or looking for t-shirts, or asleep in a stand getting sun burnt.

Hanging on in quiet desperation is the english way ?
Try that here in Australia and there would be no one at the track . When your paying F1 ticket prices for four days , F1 racing alone is not enough by a long shot . What you called stupid lower formulas usually serve up a better spectacle than the F1 race .

[Shiftin]

I sat at the Dunlop-curve at the ring. From my point of view this point of the track looked like the "Circus Maximus"... I was discussing this with my brother..

It's our form of entertainment... and I like spectacle and entertainment. I want to see as much entertainment and action as possible.... Burning rubber

---------->

[Tomecek]

Stoddart made his dream comes true and organized celebrity race. It was won by Jos Verstappen despite fighting from back of starting grid. It was very interesting for Verstappen and others, Verstappen was surprised by similarity between two- and single seaters, they were only seconds per lap slower. I'd love to see something each Grand Prix Sunday morning

Race results:
1. Jos Verstappen/Jay Kay
2. Gianmaria Bruni/Justin Hawkins
3. Patrick Friesacher/Teddy Sheringham
4. Vitantonio Liuzzi/Matthew Upson
5. Nicolas Kiesa/Curtis McLean
6. Paul Stoddart/Esther Ledieu
7. David Saelens/Jodie Marsh
8. Rob Gray/Raymond Vermeulen

[Shiftin]

We are discussing it here Tomecek...

Make sure you read the last posts... Poor Jodie...

[Tomecek]

Originally posted by Shiftin
We are discussing it here Tomecek...

Make sure you read the last posts... Poor Jodie...

Such stupid thread titles ok, my fault

[djned]

i don't understand why the european races have so few support races and yet the australian gp (down the road in my home of melbourne) has a full weekend of racing?!

the only thing we are missing is a decent open wheeler support race of the calibre of F3000.

apart from that there's never a quiet moment.

what the hell is going on in europe?!

[zfh10]

Originally posted by pRy
I've always had this idea that the Australian GP should be opened by U2 playing "Hold Me Kiss Me Thrill Me" on the grid live

This is too deep for me....

[jonpollak]

Well,...even though this may be my ONLY chance to get onto the grid to wave to you lot while Martin interviews my charge....I must admit...sounds like desperate measures doesn't it?

I was approached by these folk a few months ago...
MOTOROCK.COM
I told them to come back when they have a deal in place.....
Look at the road these CART folk are taking....
Get rockstars to play at the races

Now..what do we want on Sunday mornings?

I SAY...F1 HISTORIC RACE....TGP or whatever...F1 cars as they were

Teach the punters a bit of history any way you can!!!

Jp

PS...Bart...Sid has done some proctology..... NO?