Topic: These kids just don't understand

[nicanary]

We old 'uns are always moaning on about the youngsters of today and their obssession with Ecclestone's modern idea of Grand Prix racing, a.k.a. EffWun. They apparently have no concept of anything which happened pre-1990 or thereabouts, maybe a vague idea that cars were raced, but probably behind a man with a red flag.

There are errors galore in documentaries, even sometimes in the commentary at race meetings.

I enjoy general-knowledge quiz shows on UK television and regularly tune in to "The Chase" at 5pm each afternoon on ITV. It's a way of stimulating my mind as I shout and rant at the screen in response to the complete imbecility of those who decide that displaying their stupidity on national television is a good idea. From time to time the show includes a question on motor racing, inevitably on EffWun.

In the last few months we've had-

"In what decade was the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix first held?" The 3 options for the answer were 1) the 20s, 2) the 30s, 3)the 50s.
I really don't know what I would have said if I'd been the contestant. Give them the answer they expected, or just reply sarcastically?

"In 1952 Alberto Ascari was the first driver to win the Formula One World Championship for what team?" This was in the early rounds of the quiz with no options provided. I would have been tempted to counter the question with the classic " it's a trick question!" but that round is being timed, and it would have lost me money.

I blame Bernie for all of this. He's introduced the sport to the masses, and now they're getting bored and switching off. Ha bl**dy ha. You should have left well alone, my little friend. The right crowd and no crowding.

Inverted snobbery, moi?

[Carnut]

I always used to blame Jackie Stewart, hardly scintillating himself, with his safety obsession.  Stirling Moss hated it, always saying the inherent danger was part of the fun.  He undoubtedly got a kick out of it.

Now though I feel that the number and regularity of deaths was unacceptable and it's much better today when most of them reach retirement..

But all the sanitizing and rules and regulations have in all honesty led to completely boring racing.  I always enjoy the F1 weekends but more for the interiews and politics than the actual race itself, most of which I generally sleep through!

[nicanary]

I always used to blame Jackie Stewart, hardly scintillating himself, with his safety obsession.  Stirling Moss hated it, always saying the inherent danger was part of the fun.  He undoubtedly got a kick out of it.

Now though I feel that the number and regularity of deaths was unacceptable and it's much better today when most of them reach retirement..

But all the sanitizing and rules and regulations have in all honesty led to completely boring racing.  I always enjoy the F1 weekends but more for the interiews and politics than the actual race itself, most of which I generally sleep through!

Same here. I don't think I've watched an entire race for some years now. I fully agree that we should not condone a lack of safety - nobody should die if it's possible to prevent it, but IMO the drivers accept the risks, as do the entrants and spectators.  Even after Jackie had started his campaign, the racing was still interesting and entertaining, but it was when BCE decided that GP racing had to be a business, rather than a sport which entertained people, when the rot set in.

The new-style fans on the whole don't have any idea of what they missed out on. If they enjoy what they see now, what would they make of one of the old-time Monza slipstreaming festivals? Or the pack piling down to Eau Rouge en masse in one tight bunch? In addition. I'm disappointed that the organisers seem to think they need to pay lip service to the green brigade with hybrid engines. It's only 20 cars a race , the emissions aren't going to change the world for a couple of hours. I know it helps to develop road engines, but can't they just use sports car racing for that, and leave F1 as nice and noisy?

I'm just happy that I lived through a more interesting time.

[nicanary]

"The Chase" has got one right!

Which driver concurrently held the F1 WDC and Indycar Championship? Choices were Emerson Fittipladi, Mario Andretti and Whining Nige. The contestant (a young woman- not being sexist but a 20-something female football fan will probably not be very informed on 80s motor sport) opted for Emmo, and of course the answer was Mansell. He had flounced off from Williams in a huff when he found out that he would have to race against Alain Prost as his teammate the next year (as you know, Prost would amble round the track at smooth and quiet pace, and then the stopwatch would reveal he was faster than anyone else). Paul Newman was more than pleased with his new signing, who broke the track record when he first stepped into his new Indy car.

[gilescooperuk]

Going slightly off topic, F1 doesn't hold any interest for me but it is the second round of the wrc this weekend, and channel 5 in the UK have reasonable coverage on terrestrial tv (not paying for sky).

That still is real motor sport all it takes is one minor mistake and everything goes out of the window often literally...

[nicanary]

I think the PR/Media people at Goodwood (did I hear a muttering in the ranks?) must have a work experience kid from St. Finians Primary in Hove. They have issued a press release in advance of the Goodwood Revival which claims that Stirling Moss had his first competition experience there (not) in a Cooper-Norton (not) and ditto Tony Brooks (correct) in an Austin-Healey (not).

Does nobody check anything these days?

[gilescooperuk]

Someone better have a word with djetset then....

Only two weeks to go before the event (there Friday and Saturday this year with grandstand tickets both days)

[nicanary]

Someone better have a word with djetset then....

Only two weeks to go before the event (there Friday and Saturday this year with grandstand tickets both days)

I'll be there all weekend, also with grandstand tickets after having a severe lapse in energy levels last year. I'm staying at the Uni following your recommendation, but I have no idea when I'll arrive (long story) and my plans for the weekend revolve around further arrangements which have not yet been finalised. Having said all of which, maybe I'll bump into you at the campus. I'll stand up in the breakfast room and shout out your name   .

[Carnut]

We must all meet up.
I'll be there Thurrsday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and won't leave until Monday morning.
Nicanary knows where to find me so looking forward to meeting Giles and anyone else present as well at some time during the event.
What about an AutoPuzzles lunch?  Djetset?!