Formula One

[jodieohdoh]

Alan,

The other half was watching rally footage on ESPN at the weekend, I cannot BELIEVE how they chuck those cars around in snow & ice, it's death-defying stuff. And then he goes "I'm thinking about having a go at navigating, what do you think??"

...

I think it's time to up his life insurance

I'm going into the right business then!

[aland]

Alan,

The other half was watching rally footage on ESPN at the weekend, I cannot BELIEVE how they chuck those cars around in snow & ice, it's death-defying stuff. And then he goes "I'm thinking about having a go at navigating, what do you think??"

...

err honest answer... the risks in rallying are a lot higher than in circuit racing purely due to the terrain and lack of tyrewalls and gravel traps, I have seen a heck of a lot of big uns in rallying where both driver and co-driver walked away but last season scotland had 1 death in rallying a driver by the name of Jimmy Girvan, I cant remember the last time we had a death or serious injury in circuit racing. It depends on what he wants to do and what car he will be in, the guys down at Kames (muirkirk) do rally time trials that are basically rallies on the sprint track, the same stuff happens at crail, inglston and Knockhill these are bascally rallies using the perimiter roads of the circuits and are relatively safe. Your OH also has to take into account the kit he will need to go go-driving, you are looking at a FIA racesuit, fireproof underwear, boots, gloves and helmet and for that you are looking at £1000 to get decent kit

also take into account as part of the risk factor how long it might take to get help, on the track marshals will be at the site of a incident within 20 seconds and a fully equipped rescue unit with a doctor, paramedics and crew within 1 minute on a rally stage it will take much longer typical response could be 5 minutes and if you are in cardiac arrest you will be dead within 5 minutes, at least on a circuit you will be recieving specialist help, also we at knockhill are 10 minutes max from leaving the track to getting to resus at dunfermline, less if we call in the helicopter, plus on circuit we have a fully equipped medical centre to FIA standards that can handle most things. Thankfully it is rarely needed

worth thinking about

[davadvice]

F1 today is boring, go and watch real racing

loved the documentary about Graham Hill, he was from the days that sex was safe and motorsport dangerous

I have to say now that there has been some excelent racing this season that the above statment is now untrue. I did agree with you in terms of previous seasons but this year has been great IMO.

Today will most likley be the usual presession.

d

[InkMan]

Unusually I am enjoying the Monaco GP. Strange to see a couple of pit stop communication difficulties.

Anyway, it's the Indianapolis 500 tonight. I have money on either Franchitti making it a hat trick of wins at 4/1 or Will Power at a surprising price of 15/2. Placed each way bets on them both as one of them should make it into the top four which covers my bet.

Hopefully Dario Franchitti will win and have some decent coverage in the shit-rag tabloids that have only covered his previous wins due to the massive race ending crash last year or who he is married to.

Shuggy

[RDR]

From a spectators point of view I just don't see the point of F1.
Lots of virtually indentical cars going round in circles.
Where's the entertainment in that?
Besides which it's a rich mans sport to follow. How can ordinay people afford to get involved.

Agree with all the points re rallying. But again, and I have been to watch rallies, there is a limited amount you can see at any given moment. Much more easy, though, for the ordinary person to be involved.

[InkMan]

I'm not Lewis Hamilton's biggest fan but the reaction to his Ali G quip is outrageous. It was a flippant remark to a situation that was pissing him off. Even if you think his stance in incorrect there was no genuine intention to imply racism.

So much for my Indianapolis prediction. I'm just glad I never put money on JR Hildebrand. Poor sod!

Finish to 2011 Indianapolis 500
http://youtu.be/4EGq_yKp2-A

Shuggy

[banjo]

oh dear,oh dear.

[Josef]

[Dexter St. Clair]

Nuvolari looks anxiously over his shoulder.

[jodieohdoh]

I'm not Lewis Hamilton's biggest fan but the reaction to his Ali G quip is outrageous. It was a flippant remark to a situation that was pissing him off. Even if you think his stance in incorrect there was no genuine intention to imply racism.

So much for my Indianapolis prediction. I'm just glad I never put money on JR Hildebrand. Poor sod!

Finish to 2011 Indianapolis 500
http://youtu.be/4EGq_yKp2-A

Shuggy

The boy's got some growing up and mind-expansion to do. The Ali G comment was bad because of the way he said it- he had a face like a well skelpt arse and he was acting like a petulant child- in a situation which was of his own making. Calling his driver colleagues "stupid" was the moment he lost my interest. Shut the hell up and get on with what you're meant to be good at!

[hungryjoe]

Bo fecking ring.

[The Egg Man]

Bo fecking ring.

F1 is always going to be a bit boring. It's the same people doing pretty much the same thing, going round and round a circuit, time after time in different parts of the world - only the scenery changes.

Sometimes there's a bit of excitement when a pit stop goes wrong or an overtaking chance is taken or there's a shunt. The rest of the time it's as exciting as standing on the bridge at Harthill watching the traffic.

[jodieohdoh]

Good thing nobody's making you watch it then!

[hungryjoe]

Good thing nobody's making you watch it then!

I used to love it, but the cars are now so fast and so aerodynamic, that there are very few overtaking opportunities. Really, there's very little racing going on.

[The Egg Man]

Good thing nobody's making you watch it then!

Of course, but up until now we've been forced to pay for it.