33 replies to this topic

[100cc]

heh... i just had to start a thread to join the club of "where to watch F1?".

So anyways.... will be in Chennai over the weekend. Where's a good place to watch the gp? I hope the hotel room has it so that there's no need to go see the city.

[brett_sequeira]

hi dude,
yeah chennai is fully under CAS. so you will get to see it in your hotel only if you are in a 5 star like the TAJ corromandel.
to watch the race there are a few sports pubs but they get crowded. i suggest you go to the pub at the Corromandel they had a big screen during the US GP. plus it has the ambience of a nie english pub and the beer is not too expensively priced.
hope you get to watch the race

[skinnylizard]

sorry u have to be in chennai..

[dgsg]

For the sake of a dim wit, where on planet earth is chennai?
Thanx

[wawawa]

Originally posted by dgsg
For the sake of a dim wit, where on planet earth is chennai?
Thanx

South India - formerly known as Madras.

[metz]

Originally posted by wawawa
South India - formerly known as Madras.

For the sake of another dimwit...... what was wrong with Madras?

[fifi]

Originally posted by metz

For the sake of another dimwit...... what was wrong with Madras?

they fancied a name change

[dgsg]

They could have changed it to Peking, it's not being used any more

[zango]

Some background on the various name changes in India: http://www.ocf.berke...pers/india.html

[prathi_psg]

You could try out Le Royal Meridian. I've watched a good amount of races in 2002 and 2003 in their pub but not sure if they screen it yet. The audio-video effects were awesome.

Pradheep.

[100cc]

yeh those Indian folk enjoy changing the names of places for some reason.

thanks for the tips. Now all I have to do is hope that I get put into a 5-star hotel for the weekend.

[Sandeep Banerjee]

Originally posted by 100cc
yeh those Indian folk enjoy changing the names of places for some reason.

Yea, they changed the name of my city from Mumbai to Bombay, wtf.

[skinnylizard]

Originally posted by Sandeep Banerjee


Yea, they changed the name of my city from Mumbai to Bombay, wtf.

they can change it to whatever they want. they still call it bombay.
its this lame hangover where they think changing a name asserts an identity.

[umapathypon]

Originally posted by Sandeep Banerjee


Yea, they changed the name of my city from Mumbai to Bombay, wtf.

It's the other way round.The name changes are mostly due to some stupid politicians trying to fool the people by exhibiting their Indian-ness.;)

Welcome to India,100cc.

[100cc]

oh yeh for those in India/from India. I've heard a lot about Chennai(and how its not the greatest place). How is Coimbatore? I'll be there for the most of my ~10 day visit.

I was in Mumbai a few months ago so you can compare to that .

[Niraj]

As a very proud Bombayite, I would have to say that no city in India would stand up to comparision with Bombay. Am sure that there will be others who will dispute what I have said, but then I am biased :)

Niraj

[dgsg]

Originally posted by umapathypon
. . . . stupid politicians . . . .

Are there any other kind?

[cozworth]

100cc, I read in another thread (i think karlth's Rotaxmax thread) that u were racing in a karting championship, which one is it? Will it be shown on any of the sports channels? (Starsports, Tensports???)

[Scoop]

Originally posted by 100cc
yeh those Indian folk enjoy changing the names of places for some reason.

thanks for the tips. Now all I have to do is hope that I get put into a 5-star hotel for the weekend.

Chennai wasn't a name change.. It was always known as chennai in the local language. It was only appropriate to call it the same in any other language (english).


And, it's a great place. I'd prefer chennai to any other cities in india. Ofcourse, i'm biased.

[Scoop]

Originally posted by 100cc
oh yeh for those in India/from India. I've heard a lot about Chennai(and how its not the greatest place). How is Coimbatore? I'll be there for the most of my ~10 day visit.

I was in Mumbai a few months ago so you can compare to that .

you'd have said that about mumbai, if you started your trip from the south

have a good trip. Coimbatore is a great place too.

[Deepak]

Come to Hyderabad.... its the least expensive city but much cleaner than the messy bombay i had been in and far better than chennai too.

Banglore comes close but Hyd is pretty cool

[umapathypon]

Originally posted by 100cc
oh yeh for those in India/from India. I've heard a lot about Chennai(and how its not the greatest place). How is Coimbatore? I'll be there for the most of my ~10 day visit.

I was in Mumbai a few months ago so you can compare to that .

Coimbatore is a nice place.But,it's not a big city in the same sense as mumbai or chennai.The climate is certainly going to be much better in Coimbatore than both Chennai and Mumbai(which are both kind of humid).Bangalore is probably the best place around,though i hear hyderabad is picking up nowadays.

[Scoop]

Originally posted by umapathypon
Coimbatore is a nice place.But,it's not a big city in the same sense as mumbai or chennai.The climate is certainly going to be much better in Coimbatore than both Chennai and Mumbai(which are both kind of humid).Bangalore is probably the best place around,though i hear hyderabad is picking up nowadays.

i recently visited bangalore and then chennai with a foreigner, and he was impressed with chennai. except for the climate, bangalore is really pathetic these days. I've been to bangalore a long time ago (many years ago) and its still the same, except usage has gone up and everything seems to have deteriorated. I went to chennai after 3 years, and things seem to have become much better.

Coming from chennai, i was concerned this foreigner would get the wrong impression of chennai, but i was happy to show bangalore and then chennai because it turned out chennai is looking much better now

[kodandaram]

Originally posted by Scoop


i recently visited bangalore and then chennai with a foreigner, and he was impressed with chennai. except for the climate, bangalore is really pathetic these days. I've been to bangalore a long time ago (many years ago) and its still the same, except usage has gone up and everything seems to have deteriorated. I went to chennai after 3 years, and things seem to have become much better.

Coming from chennai, i was concerned this foreigner would get the wrong impression of chennai, but i was happy to show bangalore and then chennai because it turned out chennai is looking much better now

yeah right and I am sure u are also going to tell me next that he came from New York and said Chennai looks better .........

dude ........pls stop that angle .....this is just totally OT .... I would like you to refer to the Times of India paper archive online ....search for an article which rated 25 cities in India on different counts like - standard of living , cleanliness , infrastructure ...and so on. And in the final standings Bangalore was P3 and Chennai P5 .,,,,,,,.......... and interms of cleanliness , infrastructure , accessibility to civil amenities etc ...Bangalore was always rated in the top 3. Standard of living was P5 IIRC and Cost of living was higher IIRC than in Chennai - which is just about the only thing in which Chennai was rated better .........and you come up with ur idea's based on some foreigners impressions ...........duh !

You must take him to the Chennai City Central Railway Station - which I happened to have the "privelage " to visit last week .........and not to mention all other "eye-candies" ......... in terms of cleanliness Chennai really sucks in some areas. Pls don't think I am slaggin off Chennai but to say it looks better than B'lore is plain bull ........sure B;lore has its problems but it certainly is not as cumbersome as Chennai .....and it certainly looks better. I would be more than pleased if you came over in August 2nd-3rd week - I will show you all over B'lore and you can judge for urself. That is an open invitation and I am not boasting. Contact me if interested. PM me.

In B;lore racing pubs have sprung up in every nook and corner where u can watch WRC and F1 with the other guys at the PUB on a large projection screen. Awesome entertainment with reduction on some of the ver few merchandising items and also cheap beer and food. I don't think there are such places (at least not many if they exist) in Chennai.

[Scoop]

Originally posted by kodandaram



yeah right and I am sure u are also going to tell me next that he came from New York and said Chennai looks better .........

dude ........pls stop that angle .....this is just totally OT .... I would like you to refer to the Times of India paper archive online ....search for an article which rated 25 cities in India on different counts like - standard of living , cleanliness , infrastructure ...and so on. And in the final standings Bangalore was P3 and Chennai P5 .,,,,,,,.......... and interms of cleanliness , infrastructure , accessibility to civil amenities etc ...Bangalore was always rated in the top 3. Standard of living was P5 IIRC and Cost of living was higher IIRC than in Chennai - which is just about the only thing in which Chennai was rated better .........and you come up with ur idea's based on some foreigners impressions ...........duh !

dude, you want to live in the times of india statistics, go ahead. And it wasn't the foreigners impression alone. read my post carefully. (and others who claim other cities than bangalore in this thread itself).
And, i've spent time in bangalore, and it's my opinion. And i know lots of people who can show me around bangalore and agree that its not in the best of shape. duh!

[The Vulcan]

Its a pity F1 needs to be watched via large screens and TV - I was hoping that the near future will hold an opportunity for a live F1 race in India. It was coming close to being a reality but now I hear it would still remain a dream! Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad or Mumbai we still need the television ... and miss the atmosphere - the smell, sound, sight, feel ... and the experience of live action!!

[kodandaram]

Originally posted by Scoop


dude, you want to live in the times of india statistics, go ahead . And it wasn't the foreigners impression alone. read my post carefully. (and others who claim other cities than bangalore in this thread itself).
And, i've spent time in bangalore, and it's my opinion. And i know lots of people who can show me around bangalore and agree that its not in the best of shape . duh!

LOL ! So I was right when I picked ur angle in ur first post .......u are doing this just to get your opinion about other cities off your chest. It must be because u had a bad experience in B;'lore .....or worse still .....u can imgaine .urself ......


ITs really not about which city is actualyl better - I dont' care if B'lore in reality is actually worse off than Madras/Chennai - its the way you put it ......as if its a matter of fact ...while clearly you have no idea about it .....being in b'lroe for few years ago and then visitng infrequently and you know its better than chennai ?? Yeah right .... I can just as well say the same thing about Chennai ...or any other city . The point is that based on what you have posted - u clearly have no idea about B'lore these days - and yet on what grounds u claim it is worse than chennai ?

You are living in a fantasy land .......in your dreams. I don't know which places you visit in B'lore when you come here .....sure if you are talking about some of the slums - yes the conditions are bad there - but then again slums in B'lore are a rarity compared to Mumbai and other cities that are rapidly progressing. While we house the cream of the IT industry ......Chennai is the home for ..."........" pls fill in .......

Look honestly I am not here to market or advertise B'lore but your ill-made observations show that ur actually pint was to slag off b'lroe and not to keep to the topic... which has made me go OT ......so pls keep to the topic and avoid ego-trips.



back to the topic -

We didn't have live coverage today , as STAR and ESN are both showinh the match

[Scoop]

Originally posted by kodandaram



LOL ! So I was right when I picked ur angle in ur first post .......u are doing this just to get your opinion about other cities off your chest. It must be because u had a bad experience in B;'lore .....or worse still .....u can imgaine .urself ......


ITs really not about which city is actualyl better - I dont' care if B'lore in reality is actually worse off than Madras/Chennai - its the way you put it ......as if its a matter of fact ...while clearly you have no idea about it .....being in b'lroe for few years ago and then visitng infrequently and you know its better than chennai ?? Yeah right .... I can just as well say the same thing about Chennai ...or any other city . The point is that based on what you have posted - u clearly have no idea about B'lore these days - and yet on what grounds u claim it is worse than chennai ?

You are living in a fantasy land .......in your dreams. I don't know which places you visit in B'lore when you come here .....sure if you are talking about some of the slums - yes the conditions are bad there - but then again slums in B'lore are a rarity compared to Mumbai and other cities that are rapidly progressing. While we house the cream of the IT industry ......Chennai is the home for ..."........" pls fill in .......

Look honestly I am not here to market or advertise B'lore but your ill-made observations show that ur actually pint was to slag off b'lroe and not to keep to the topic... which has made me go OT ......so pls keep to the topic and avoid ego-trips.



back to the topic -

We didn't have live coverage today , as STAR and ESN are both showinh the match

that's some strange imagination of your own making and weird assumptions and explanations.

[flyingfin]

Since the topic of India has crept up...thought I can insert this question here

Is it really possible for India to host an F1 race ?..i mean with tobacco advertising banned in India and F1 looking for new circuits which permit tobacco adv. will it ever be able to host an F1 race....or is it that the tobacco ban does not affect F1 coming to India ?

[Deepak]

Originally posted by flyingfin
Since the topic of India has crept up...thought I can insert this question here

Is it really possible for India to host an F1 race ?..i mean with tobacco advertising banned in India and F1 looking for new circuits which permit tobacco adv. will it ever be able to host an F1 race....or is it that the tobacco ban does not affect F1 coming to India ?

Good point.

But as in a lot of EU countries where Tobacco Advertising is banned and yet F1 has somehow managed to hold onto a few circuits thanx to some exclusivity. I dont intend to say that its wrong and i know the situation is going to get bad for F1 really soon but having lived in India for all my life i have known that bending and breaking rules in this country is not very difficult.

Corruption, though reduced, is very blatant and the goverments will do anything , even create a exclusive section in the tobacco ban legislation whereby F1 is exempt from the ban, to just create money for themselves and obviously it looks good on the state's report card.

So it isnt hard at all and tobacco ban will just be easier than many other issues to handle. The biggest hindrance to F1 in india is the cost justification. Right now more emphasis being laid by the new goverment at the centre on rural development and irrigation projects. No doubt it is the right thing to do cos the rural sector in this country is in taters.

So everytime money is spent on any billion dollar project in urban india where it does not serve a social purpose fingers will be pointed and questions will be raised.

So knowing how things move in this country i give 10 years for a F1 race and about 5 years for the construction work to begin on a modern F1 circuit. These are my most optimistic estimates.

[skinnylizard]

i think Deepak is very misguided in his opinion there. any F1 effort from the govt will be non-existent. its not a priority nor is it important in the scheme of things.
Any F-1 push will come from private industry + govt backing.
The tobacco ban means nothing. All rules and regualtions can be changed, altered or broken anywhere in the world. India is no exception.
at present there is no support or demand for an Indian GP. besides i think they would do well to host a round of mabe the Nissan World Series or Moto GP before jumping into F1.

[kodandaram]

I agree with Skinnylizard

[Deepak]

Originally posted by skinnylizard
i think Deepak is very misguided in his opinion there. any F1 effort from the govt will be non-existent. its not a priority nor is it important in the scheme of things.
Any F-1 push will come from private industry + govt backing.
The tobacco ban means nothing. All rules and regualtions can be changed, altered or broken anywhere in the world. India is no exception.
at present there is no support or demand for an Indian GP. besides i think they would do well to host a round of mabe the Nissan World Series or Moto GP before jumping into F1.

Effort from govt non-existant?!?!?!

Well.... you are pretty much mis-guided. Most of the effort has to be goverment becos for something as big as F1 where money involved is huge everybody wants a piece of pie.

If you just look at all the attempts made to woo F1 into india the initiatives have all been by the respective goverments of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra on the advice of the private party involved. So it is a three party deal one being Formula One Administration, the goverment of the respective state and the private party whose function is to see to it that all the construction work is carried out as planned and schedules.

it is not for nothing that Chandrababu Naidu from AP and Shinde of Maharashtra met F1 officials twice in EU and in their respective states. For matters of Power, Land and Water the goverment involvment is a necessity.

To give an example, all the IT parks in the souther states were possible only thanx to goverment initiative and contracting the work to a respective third party private or public. Once the IT parks were done it was now the time for the IT companies to come and take up space in them.

There are a lot of things not important yet goverments do get involved because they want to get the state and city on the world map.

And the stupid comment that there is no demand for F1 is unbelievable. Living in a small city of Hyderabad, i know 3 clubs for Formula One fans whose memberships exceeded 1500 each in a matter of 8 months and i am a member in one of the clubs. I heard from one of my fellow bombay friends that its even bigger there , nearly 3 times.

And have you looked at the statistics as to how many indians have travelled to malaysia in the last 3 years just to watch race? I already know 20 guys in my city travelling to china.

SO please the demand is here. Look at the TV ratings.
It is just that right now the goverments have more important social considerations which is understandable.

[prathi_psg]

oh yeh for those in India/from India. I've heard a lot about Chennai(and how its not the greatest place). How is Coimbatore? I'll be there for the most of my ~10 day visit.

I was in Mumbai a few months ago so you can compare to that .
*************************************************************

100 cc, this is to your question on how Coimbatore is. (I am from Coimbatore, though right now in Michigan). It is a beautiful city, very small, very peaceful and neat (when compared to Mumbai or Chennai). The weather will be very good at this time of the year. There is a beautiful hill station called Ooty, less than 100 kms from Coimbatore. It is called the Queen of Hillstations, so beautiful, so lovely. Don't miss Ooty.

Pradheep.