Time ago it was published that an eccentric millionaire had bought one of the firstly-released Ferrari F40 (a total of 1315 items at US$ 400,000 each were produced along 1987-1992) to left it as a sculpture master piece laying in their Manhattan apartment. :sick:
Swords are high between FIA (Max Mosley) and FOTA (teams), with FOM (Bernie Ecclestone) as an interested witness.
Only two teams have conditionally signed to participate in next year F1 FIA championship. The remaining teams are talking to each other in order to organize their own segregated championship. A number of circuits (Monaco, Indianapolis, Silverstone, Mugello, Magny Cours) and pilots (inclusive of Massa and Alonso) have declared they will be in FOTA championship if it is eventually organized. Teams say they want to be out of the so called "British (Bernie Ecclestone but specially Max Mosley) dictatorship".
Recent news: Pilots have had a meeting this morning and the conclusion in Marc Gené (Ferrari 3rd. pilot) words was "we wish an agreement between FIA and FOTA, but if there is not such, we will look forward for the FOTA championship; we support teams in this crossroad." Next week may be the end of the culebrón.
"Unfortunately, the FOTA representatives announced that they had no mandate to discuss the FIA's 2010 financial regulations. Indeed, they were not prepared to discuss regulation at all," today's statement read.
The FIA condemned FOTA's financial proposals, stating: "It became clear that these would not be capable of limiting the expenditure of a team which had the resources to outspend its competitors."
That is a great shot. Good for Peugeot, they deserved it. Like Audi, but they have worked very hard for this and did through quite a few cars at it. Great race by team Risi Ferrari as well.
Hopefully this doesn't lead to two mirrored series like CART and Indy. Would really ruin it. They better get their act together and come toe a compromise.
If the major teams stick together there isn't much Ecclestone and Moseley can do about it, there's no substitutes for Ferrari, Renault, Brawn , McLaren, BMW-Sauber, Toyota and Red Bull/Toro Rosso.
BBC says the FIA had set a 19 June deadline for five teams - Brawn, BMW-Sauber, McLaren, Renault and Toyota - to convert their provisional entries into unconditional ones or risk being excluded..
I just saw Bernie Ecclestone on BBC News (via BBC America and he said "Talk to Max." If that's really his attitude there will be a split and that's probably a good thing. They say you should be careful what you wish for but the present regime has killed popular races at Indy, Spa, Montreal and even Silverstone (F1's birthplace) in favor of poorly attended races in places like Kuala Lumpur, Bahrain and Istanbul.
IMO they don't know what they are doing. It's absurd to have no F1 races in North America, still the biggest auto market in the world.
Max Moxley may have pulled the rope too much this time. He is about to throw not only the ball but the players out of the field. And this time even the magic referee (Ecclestone) could be not able to balance the row. Lately, Ecclestone himself has envisaged F1 more as showbussines rather than sport. Looking more for 'new' money and exotic places, as you mentioned.
And this time even the magic referee (Ecclestone) could be not able to balance the row.
I was really taken aback by Bernie's remark to the BBC Reporter this AM. Instead of just saying "no comment". He said "Ask Max". Bernie's greed mechanism must be atrophying with age. If the makers and all the top flight drivers walk he loses control of the sport and a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Am I the only one who thinks Ecclestone is a ringer for Mongomery Burns of The Simpsons?
Specialized journalists commenting on Saturday practice of Silverstone Grand Prix said that rumor in the padlock is FOTA strongly awaits Max Moxley will be forced to give up his FIA leader position in a top FIA meeting which will be held next Thursday. Ecclestone should also share F1 management power with FOTA to prevent FOTA launching of its own Racing Series.
Mosley (69 year-old) is said to be very stubborn indeed but now is ropedancing. Ecclestone (79 y-o) is trying to save his incredible income :sick: . Half of the benefits Eccs gets from track owners and other sponsors of F1 as a group is for himself; the other half for FOTA. I believe FOTA is eventually fighting the big battle to get full control of their business.
FOTA won't push forward any alternative championship. Max Mosley won't be next FIA president. 2010 F1 Championship will be run under the same rules than current 2009 Championship, though there will be some sort of cup for teams costs next year.
Don't worry Steve, it's always a soap opera in F1. The next battle will be over venues since the makers don't like having to go to peripheral markets like Dubai and Turkey while F1 gives the short end to North America and Britain.
Yeah, I believe it has become as intrinsic to F1 as high-rev. engine noise and petrol/rubber scent are. I believe too that FOTA will push Eccs back to visit again North America.
Speaking of Ecclestone, you have to wonder if the makers, now realizing their clout as a unified whole, aren't thinking about how to show Bernie the exit. They have to be as sick of his capricious decisions about venues etc. as we are.
In agreement to my honest, pure, monetarily uninterested opinion, the makers, now realizing their clout as a unified whole,should thinkabout how to show Bernie the exit.
"Tony George will no longer serve as president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his family's biz. This follows last month's report that George had been ousted from his position at an annual meeting, which his family wholeheartedly denied."
"General Motors filed papers last Tuesday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan canceling 30 of its sports sponsorship contracts, which include four team agreements it has with the National Hot Rod Association.
In addition to ending its NHRA involvement, GM also terminated sponsorship agreements with the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, Ryan Newman Motorsports, the Oakland Raiders and five-time British Open champion Tom Watson."
Shades of the infamous GM Racing Ban of the 1950s and 60s out of which somehow emerged Corvette Gran Sports, Chapparal Chevys and the mighty McLaren M8-Chevy
"Mayfield refuted his stepmother's claims with this response: "She's basically a whore. She shot and killed my dad. For her to come out and do this is pretty ballsy. Everybody that's ever known me knows I never, ever have been around her for more than 10 hours of my life." Mayfield's father reportedly died in 2007 due to a self-inflicted gun wound, and Jeremy is currently looking to serve his stepmother with a wrongful death suit."
"Hyundai Steals The Show - Rhys Millen, competing in the 2WD Time Attack Class in a Hyundai Genesis Coupe, wasn't exactly a dark horse but he definitely surpassed expectations.
Tajima Quickest But The Hill Still Won - A purpose-built car with a Suzuki sticker on the side doesn't have much relevance to the real world of cars, but that's what makes Pike Peak so unique
After 2010, the whole road will be paved, and a chapter of Pikes Peak will be closed forever. Expect to see many more formula-style cars and guys in Ferraris once the gravel is gone. The 10s will fall, and the asterisks will rise."
Belgian GP's Spa-Francorchamps Circuit License Suspended Until 2026
Too bad. Spa-Francorchamps Circuit is one, if not the, most funny circuits to watch a race. And, according to many pilots, to drive on. It is plenty of quick corners and step hills like those that can be appreciated in the picture! A real up-down, right-left track, not a plain one like most are.
Spa claims it has worked with residents to manage noise from the track since the 2007 complaint and is expected to challenge the ruling. For its part, the residents' group says it never wanted the racetrack to close down -- just a reduction in noise levels.
Hopefully Spa-Francorchamps Circuit may come back to racing in the next future.
And then street vendors could do busy business selling cans of largely missed freshly polluted air and 16,000-rev-sound horns. Never ending technology would have get not only human but also dog over excitement!!!
The time has come. Currently I have a 94 miata almost fully spec'ed out. I don't run in the SM series but do autocross and track days. Less now due to life changes (read on). The miata is also my commute car once or twice a week, just to keep it running, and when the wife is using the V40. So, now we have a new baby, and daycare schaeuffering needs may require a change. So do I, with costs in mind, keep the miata for motorsports/driving events, and buy a used small car like an aveo, then try fitting all three cars in the garage? Or do I sell the miata, and try to find a reasonable baby seat capable car that will also meet my needs for a sporty car? Please don't ask me to buy a camry. It will send me to paternal postpartum depression.
He's probably crying because they pissed away a few billion for nought. Toyota's departure means not one Asian maker left in Grand Pric racing yet a significant portion of races are held in Asia.
Something wrong with that picture? I for one think F1 needs to focus more on Europe, North and South America, less on marginal markets in Asia
Comments
Just $7,000 for this conversation piece:
Auto art is cool - I paid $10 for this '49 Jeep truck grill that hangs over my garage door:
Regards,
Jose
Only two teams have conditionally signed to participate in next year F1 FIA championship. The remaining teams are talking to each other in order to organize their own segregated championship. A number of circuits (Monaco, Indianapolis, Silverstone, Mugello, Magny Cours) and pilots (inclusive of Massa and Alonso) have declared they will be in FOTA championship if it is eventually organized. Teams say they want to be out of the so called "British (Bernie Ecclestone but specially Max Mosley) dictatorship".
Recent news: Pilots have had a meeting this morning and the conclusion in Marc Gené (Ferrari 3rd. pilot) words was "we wish an agreement between FIA and FOTA, but if there is not such, we will look forward for the FOTA championship; we support teams in this crossroad." Next week may be the end of the culebrón.
Regards,
Jose
#9 Peugeot 908 Hdi / Marc Gené
Marc Gené (Spain) is currently 3rd. pilot of F1 Ferrari racing team. #9 two other pilots were D. Brabham (GB) and A Wurz (Austria).
Corvette Racing (USA; J. O'Connell (USA); J. Magnussen (DNK); A. García (SPA)) was first in LMGT1 class (15th altogether).
Corvette team
Official timing-general
Regards,
Jose
Nice photo of the Corvette in the Straightline story:
The FIA condemned FOTA's financial proposals, stating: "It became clear that these would not be capable of limiting the expenditure of a team which had the resources to outspend its competitors."
FIA Standing Its Ground in Spending-Cap Fight (Inside Line)
Regards,
Jose
If the major teams stick together there isn't much Ecclestone and Moseley can do about it, there's no substitutes for Ferrari, Renault, Brawn , McLaren, BMW-Sauber, Toyota and Red Bull/Toro Rosso.
BBC says the FIA had set a 19 June deadline for five teams - Brawn, BMW-Sauber, McLaren, Renault and Toyota - to convert their provisional entries into unconditional ones or risk being excluded..
I just saw Bernie Ecclestone on BBC News (via BBC America and he said "Talk to Max." If that's really his attitude there will be a split and that's probably a good thing. They say you should be careful what you wish for but the present regime has killed popular races at Indy, Spa, Montreal and even Silverstone (F1's birthplace) in favor of poorly attended races in places like Kuala Lumpur, Bahrain and Istanbul.
IMO they don't know what they are doing. It's absurd to have no F1 races in North America, still the biggest auto market in the world.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Regards,
Jose
I was really taken aback by Bernie's remark to the BBC Reporter this AM. Instead of just saying "no comment". He said "Ask Max". Bernie's greed mechanism must be atrophying with age. If the makers and all the top flight drivers walk he loses control of the sport and a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Am I the only one who thinks Ecclestone is a ringer for Mongomery Burns of The Simpsons?
Bernie>
Burns>
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I cannot help but posting this:
I fully appreciate that this is a Formula One blog but it is also about motorsport and this footage from the Circuit de Catalunya last weekend is some of the best motorsport I've ever seen. Ed Gorman, London Times.
MotoGP World Championship; Barcelona Racing; Valentino Rossi (ITA) vs. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA)
Enjoy the Italian atmosphere. And, you may look as well at Jorge Lorenzo putting the Barça Flag on his back at the end of the race.
Regards,
Jose
Regards,
Jose
The brinkmanship continues:
Schism Is Real, Says Formula 1 Teams Association, Affirming Plan to Start New Series
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Regards,
Jose
FOTA won't push forward any alternative championship. Max Mosley won't be next FIA president. 2010 F1 Championship will be run under the same rules than current 2009 Championship, though there will be some sort of cup for teams costs next year.
Regards,
Jose :shades:
Edmunds calls it a win for FOTA.
Gee, ya think? :P
Don't worry Steve, it's always a soap opera in F1. The next battle will be over venues since the makers don't like having to go to peripheral markets like Dubai and Turkey while F1 gives the short end to North America and Britain.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Yeah, I believe it has become as intrinsic to F1 as high-rev. engine noise and petrol/rubber scent are.
Regards,
Jose
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Regards,
Jose
Tony George Ousted From IMS CEO (Straightline)
It doesn't overshadow this story though:
NASCAR Confirms Jeremy Mayfield Tested Positive for Meth
jordi-gene-espabila-a-su-abuela
and Ricardo Patrese (ex F1 driver with six GP won between 1982 and 1992) doing the same to his wife
Ricardo Patrese and wife in Jerez Circuit
Regards,
Jose
This could go on for quite a while.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
In addition to ending its NHRA involvement, GM also terminated sponsorship agreements with the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, Ryan Newman Motorsports, the Oakland Raiders and five-time British Open champion Tom Watson."
GM Scuttles NHRA Contracts (Inside Line)
Some Ban!
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
More Drama: Last Mayfield Employee Resigns (Straightline)
It all makes you believe that NASCAR really does stands for "Non Athletic Sport Centered Around Rednecks."
Regards,
Jose
Tajima Quickest But The Hill Still Won - A purpose-built car with a Suzuki sticker on the side doesn't have much relevance to the real world of cars, but that's what makes Pike Peak so unique
After 2010, the whole road will be paved, and a chapter of Pikes Peak will be closed forever. Expect to see many more formula-style cars and guys in Ferraris once the gravel is gone. The 10s will fall, and the asterisks will rise."
Hyundai Shines, Ford Falters And The Hill Is Still King--Pikes Peak Reflections (Straightline)
Fiesta "crash" video here - Ford Fiesta Rallycross Crash at Pikes Peak
(Don't overlook the guy behind the hay bale).
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Oh well at least Silverstone and Montreal will be around for a while.
Bring the USGP back to The Glen, where it belongs!
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Too bad. Spa-Francorchamps Circuit is one, if not the, most funny circuits to watch a race. And, according to many pilots, to drive on. It is plenty of quick corners and step hills like those that can be appreciated in the picture! A real up-down, right-left track, not a plain one like most are.
Spa claims it has worked with residents to manage noise from the track since the 2007 complaint and is expected to challenge the ruling. For its part, the residents' group says it never wanted the racetrack to close down -- just a reduction in noise levels.
Hopefully Spa-Francorchamps Circuit may come back to racing in the next future.
Regards,
Jose
Electric motors and tire tech that doesn't hum on the tarmac.
The high "silent" frequencies of the tires would set every dog within 25 miles to howling though. :shades:
Regards,
Jose
Check out my post about the "sound racer" gizmo from the other day:
steve_, "Auto Parts Bargains and Coupons" #341, 19 Sep 2009 11:25 pm
Formula One comes to you now.
Suggestions?
Much appreciated.
You can store it at my house if you run out of room with all the Big Wheels and bassinets stashed in your garage. :shades:
Anyone got any racing stories that aren't about doom and gloom or infighting?
Ferrari Theme Park in Abu Dhabi Nearing Completion
Sad
Regards,
Jose
Edit: And, Suzuki and Subaru quit the World Rally Championship.
steve_, "Formula 1" #3, 3 Nov 2009 10:04 pm
Something wrong with that picture? I for one think F1 needs to focus more on Europe, North and South America, less on marginal markets in Asia
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93