Mad busy month

I've spent the last three weekends either at parties (including one hosted by me and the wife) or away from home.  We all need some time at home now; either in front of the TV (or PC), or catching up on household tasks.

 

While I've been busy having fun, it's been hard to keep up with F1.  I haven't even seen this weekend's race, and I fell asleep during the highlights.  I'm hoping to get back to my routine now our social life is less hectic, and that routine includes keeping abreast of news and the occasional post to this site.  I also want to work more on my businesses (need the money).

 

I haven't done any racing lately, partly because we've been busy and partly due to cutting back on spending.  Of course, if anyone wants to give me money to race in return for me promoting their business (ie sponsorship, AKA advertising), please let me know in the comments (won't be published).  I'd love to do regular karting races (or anything further up the motor racing scale).

 

There are a couple of things on my long list of to-dos that relate to racing, I've got to find out whether I was successful at the assault course round I wrote about earlier, and I have a Rally Experience to book (birthday present from last year).  More to follow on these.

 

So much I want to do, but so little time.  Better than being bored!

My trip to the F1 Grand Prix Silverstone 2005

With the British Grand Prix on this weekend, I thought you might like to read my post from my trip to the 2005 GP. Click here to see it.

F1 Drivers face 1000% licence fee rise

The FIA has announced that the fees F1 drivers pay for their racing licenses will increase by up to 1000%. My wife said "Well someone's got to pay for all Max Mosley's prostitutes"!

Read about the licence fees here at the BBC Motorsport website.

Race in a real F1 race, as it's run, from your sofa

I can't see this happening for a few years, and I think there would be a subscription model that's fairly expensive. But there's the potential to play an F1 racing game against real F1 drivers, live, real-time, as the race is run, as if you were really there on track. Read about it here on the BBC motorsport website.

Now that's what I call a racing simulator!

Hamilton has the wrong attitude

This BBC report says that Hamilton thinks the 10 grid-place penalty is harsh, and the rule is 'silly'. He's currently my favourite driver, but his attitude is beginning to wind me up.

You don't crash in the pit lane, period. It's the most dangerous part of the circuit, and you need to have respect for all the people who work there. On the track you're only likely hurt yourself or another driver; and that's the risk you accept when you go racing. On the track, you respect yellow flags for the safety of yourself and the marshalls. The pit lane is a permanent danger zone, and rules are in place to protect people there. There is no excuse for not observing pit-lane rules.

I accept that the red light was on at the end of the pit lane to stop cars exiting the pit into the train of cars following the safety car, but it's still a pit lane rule. If you don't adhere to that rule, the people in the pit lane are at risk.

Hamilton's attitude is bordering on Michael Shumacher's attitude; I'm number one and I'll do what I want. As F1 uncensored said on Twitter, Hamilton lacks humility. I don't agree with much of what F1 uncendored says (grin), but I agree on this point.

Come on Lewis, you're losing the respect of the fans (and those who work in F1 I assume). Far better to say "I made a mistake, I'm sorry, and I've learned from it".

Former Toyota boss Ove Andersson dies in vintage rally crash

Sad news. He had a head-on crash as he rounded a corner.

Read the BBC Motorsport report here.

Lewis and Rosberg get grid penalties - F1 | ITV Sport

As I expected, Lewis Hamilton is penalised after running into the back of Kimi Raikkonen as Raikkonen waited at the red light at the end of the pitlane at Sunday's Canadia Grand Prix. Rosberg, who ran into the back of Hamilton is penalised too. The penalty is 10 grid places at the next F1 Grand Prix in France (2 weeks time). I had posted on Twitter within seconds of the accident that Hamilton should be penalised (and I'm a fan of his). Here's the full story Lewis and Rosberg get grid penalties - F1 | ITV Sport.

In the previous race, Adrian Sutil had been running fourth when a mistake by Raikkonen caused him to run into to back of Sutil and put Sutil out of the race.   It's ironinc that Hamilton put Raikkonen out of the race with the crash in Canada while Raikkonen was waiting at the red light for the cars following the safety car to pass; a safety car deployed after Adrian Sutil crashed.

Before the race, Ted Kravitz had interview Robert Kubica saying something like "From your position on the grid, you would hope for a win", to which Kubica replied "I don't think so". He won though with a fantastic drive. He made a 24 second gap in eight laps to ensure he remained 1st after his pitstop. Amazing.

If you twitter, please follow me for quick updates.  www.twitter.com/ColinBowen.

Ferrari boss makes Mosley U-turn - typical duplicity

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Ferrari boss makes Mosley U-turn

Just some news after Mosley gets through his vote of confidence. Basically, the big companies with enough clout were honest enough to call for his resignation. The myriad small companies and organisations that would suffer if Mosley became upset with them, they all voted for him to stay. Since the minows have more clout than the big boys, Mosley wins.

So You Want to be an F1 Driver - Round 2

Just a very quick post to say that I competed on Round two last Thursday.  I'm not out of the competition, but I'm not in either; I'm on the 'maybe' list.  Depending on how many people went through on the day, and whether organiser Tim Matthews takes pity on me, maybe I'll go though.  As soon as I hear, I'll let you know.  The good news is that my friend Kaz has gone through to Round 3.  I hope to see him there.

 

I had intended to go into more detail in a post on Thursday evening, but staying on to do the assault course a second time and a (soft) drink with Kaz after the event made it a late return to the Travelodge for me and I didn't get a chance.  A long drive home followed by sickness (not me), tiredness (me), and mayhem at home the following day put me behind for the weekend.  If I get a chance to post more about the event at the weekend, I will.