Formula 1 Is Back

[SLED]

lol, snap.....he's got you there Rhys

[RubyRS4]

And his opinion on Webber is any less than your opinion on Danica Patrick and female drivers.

Thought not.

Pot, meet Kettle.

-D

Well ...

As a matter of fact, I have spoken to Mark Webber about F1. Some people are aware that I'm a race official for the MotoGP and World Superbikes! As well as a Team Supervisor for the V8 Supercars (I'm allocated a shed/team and I scrutineer the activites of that team). I travel interstate 3-4 times a year for events. Mark Webber was at MotoGP in the pits last year, along with Eric Bana ... and yes I spoke to him too about cars.

My opinion is based on my understanding of racing and tuning, working within international race events, speaking with racers (domestic and international) and having been a racer myself, and brought up in a family of racers. I think I'm far more qualified for my opinion than most.

I've also met and had drinks with Troy Bayliss (had breakfast with him too a month ago btw), Casey Stoner, Chris Vermulen, Ant West, Loris Capirossi ... shall I go on?

Edited March 27, 2009 by RubyRS4

[Damo_R34]

no.

[SLED]

ROR, poor Krishy....look what they've done to your thread bud!

I suppose I can't bring out the stick cause it's OT unfortunatley

[RubyRS4]

ROR, poor Krishy....look what they've done to your thread bud!

I suppose I can't bring out the stick cause it's OT unfortunatley

Poor Krishy

I'll hold off on the whoring

Altho it has been an eye opener ... I'm interested to see what tech they are still running, what they've abolished, and what new tech are in the cars and how much play drivers really get within the race. Might do some googling later on and brush up on my knowledge

[Damo_R34]

suprised no-one has posted the calendar. With some rounds as little as 7 days apart, the turnaround of packing up, prepping the cars, then setting up, is unreal! Huge job!

2009 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar (provisional)

29 March Australia

5 April Malaysia

19 April Bahrain

10 May Spain

24 May Monaco

7 June Canada

21 June Great Britain

28 June France

12 July Germany

26 July Hungary

9 August the sphincter of the universe

23 August Europe (Valencia)

6 September Italy

13 September Belgium

27 September Singapore

11 October Japan

18 October China

1 November Brazil

15 November Abu Dhabi

[RubyRS4]

suprised no-one has posted the calendar. With some rounds as little as 7 days apart, the turnaround of packing up, prepping the cars, then setting up, is unreal! Huge job!

We're all too busy trying to sound smart

Thanks for the calendar Damo. Might try to watch a few and see if it more enjoyable than from 10 years ago.

Damo, packing and unpacking doesn't take long. I went to a track day the day after an international event last year, and the international teams had clear right out!!! If MotoGP is anything to go by, I'm sure the F1 teams are quite efficient in relocating week after week.

Edited March 27, 2009 by RubyRS4

[SLED]

yeah look, in all seriousness, with all this F1 talk on here, I may have to get into it this year as well cause it's been years since I really enjoyed it.

[Damo_R34]

within 7 days, they finish up in England, move everything to France, have prepped the cars, and are racing again. Pretty unreal stuff. I'd imagine all of the stuff they unpack pretty much rolls straight off, then straight back onto trucks.

[RubyRS4]

yeah look, in all seriousness, with all this F1 talk on here, I may have to get into it this year as well cause it's been years since I really enjoyed it.

Same.

within 7 days, they finish up in England, move everything to France, have prepped the cars, and are racing again. Pretty unreal stuff. I'd imagine all of the stuff they unpack pretty much rolls straight off, then straight back onto trucks.

I'm pretty much guessing based on how things operate in the international paddock at Phillip Island ... but the way some of these trucks/mobile workshops are set up, its little wonder they move so quickly. If you ever can, get behind the scenes one day. Some races at PI you'll see the racing and the riders etc. What you don't see is the thousands of guys employed in the background, behind the scenes buzzing away like worker bees. Seeing the 'focus' on the faces of the team mechanics/engineers first thing in the morning on race day. The level of skill and organisation is God-like ... and its full on all the time.

This is what I enjoy about being part of "the team" and has kept me going back for 8 years.

Edited March 27, 2009 by RubyRS4

[rhys5169]

And his opinion on Webber is any less than your opinion on Danica Patrick and female drivers.

Thought not.

Pot, meet Kettle.

-D

*sigh*

ok, old mate ruby went about making miss truths, and commenting on sumthing he clearly has zero idea what he's talking about.

i expressed my opinion based on watching indy for many years, having a good understanding of the cars,series, drivers and her driving which is of a sub par level.....

please sled, he hasn't got shit.

[Dohmar]

*sigh*

ok, old mate ruby went about making miss truths, and commenting on sumthing he clearly has zero idea what he's talking about.

i expressed my opinion based on watching indy for many years, having a good understanding of the cars,series, drivers and her driving which is of a sub par level.....

please sled, he hasn't got shit.

Um... I think Ruby's qualifications are more than enough, given his marshalling and general experience in motorsports.... ever heard of the term "Armchair General" ? Sounds like you're the one who's commenting on something you know clearly nothing about (in a professional capacity). In your opinion, she might be sub par, but like I iterated before, if anyone is at that level of driving they don't suck. If she did, she'd be a consistent last...

Fact is, you think your opinion is worth more than his. It clearly isn't.

-D

[RubyRS4]

Thanks Dohmar. Its a pointless discussion anyway without the background/experience to back him up. But if Rhys wants to dig a deeper hole, let him go.

People know I've been there and done that, like you said "in a professional capacity", rather than watch it from a lounge chair, or bs on a keyboard.

Its in my resume Rhys. Want a copy, it might surprise you. Come back to the table when you've got a better hand.

More people should get out and do some marshalling and have some fun. God knows we're always needing the numbers. See things you just don't see on tv, and be a part of the 'buzz' of activity behind international motor racing.

Do it long enough and you'll rub shoulders with some solid people in the industry.

Pitlane MotoGP ... noisest working environment there is.

Okay ... now I'm just showing off

Edited March 27, 2009 by RubyRS4

[Dohmar]

People know I've been there and done that, like you said "in a professional capacity", rather than watch it from a lounge chair, or bs on a keyboard.

I just thought it was hilarious that he called you a keyboard warror.... lol... pot meet kettle v2.0?

-D

[PREISS]

in defence of webber, the bloke has the worst luck in the world.

rarely has he got a bad finish due to "his driving", its generally car failure, car failure, car failure...... put him in a ferrari/mclaren and i garuntee you he would top 5 every race. i mean take a look at his qualifying, he is more than likely always in the top 10.

i think he is a bloody good racer, just has never been given a solid race car to compete at f1 level, and all the hate towards him, you realise he every year finishes mid pack at the end of the year? that aint THAAAAAttt bad is it to warrent the hate?

well said I say.

There are worse drivers than Webber. People expect too much.

People saying F1 doesn't require large amounts of skill ? come on.

Drive your F1 car around corners full pelt without 'electronics' etc helping you and youll die.

They are professionals and the best drivers in the world. Remember that.

[Dohmar]

People saying F1 doesn't require large amounts of skill ? come on.

Drive your F1 car around corners full pelt without 'electronics' etc helping you and youll die.

They are professionals and the best drivers in the world. Remember that.

Thats true, but the driving aids and all the other stuff made it less competetive... you'd find that the variables were minimised and that left a few companies with a technical advantage that simply needed a competent driver, not a brilliant one.

This year I reckon will be great to watch, simply because they're moving it back to an even playing field where the drivers own skill comes to the fore, rather than having stuff like traction control and stability, auto gear changes etc make it easier...

We don't want the drivers to have it easy We want them to use their shoes to break, like fred flintstone

-D

[PREISS]

Yeah well said Dohmar.

Even with aids (hah) I have great respect for the drivers. The concentration and skill is very impressive. Taking corners At speeds our cars couldnt do going straight.

The flinstone idea sounds intersting . Bigger feet better stopping. Unfair.

[RubyRS4]

well said I say.

There are worse drivers than Webber. People expect too much.

People saying F1 doesn't require large amounts of skill ? come on.

Drive your F1 car around corners full pelt without 'electronics' etc helping you and youll die.

They are professionals and the best drivers in the world. Remember that.

Most of the above arguments are true.

There are huge amounts of variables. Yes F1 racing requires skills, in many many areas, but most drivers don't possess skills in all key areas. Its not just sitting in the car (ready to go) and cutting some fast laps. There is so much development involved.

Skills vary from driver to driver, team to team, car to car, mechanic to mechanic, manufacturer to manufacturer. Endless possibilities, and endless things to go wrong, but it all comes down to the driver who is ultimately using this equipment. Just being an excellent driver isn't enough ... not at this level.

Yes, there are other drivers worse than Webber. Unfortunately, we're aussies and he's aussie ... so we're quite patriotic, and he just hasn't pulled his weight. So he stands out a bit more than others.

The question is: has the reduction of (auto) technology and giving the drivers more to do with the car, the reason why Webber has fallen behind? Hence, requiring him to develop more skill with the car/team/myself?

Edited March 27, 2009 by RubyRS4

[PREISS]

Last statement has some real quality behind it.

Time will tell I guess.

[TALBO]

DNFs are also the driver's fault. Drivers are asked for feedback and ideas on how the car performs. Many times machines fail (any motor racing, including bikes) its from lack of feedback, or guesswork because the driver/rider cannot provide the feedback, and also because the wrong changes were made (ie a risk). A particular track may have a longer and faster straight, so "X" will ask his team for higher rpm for a pass opportunity in the race. This may then break the engine. Whereas "Y" driver asks for useable power out of corners as the top end is good enough. Just one example. Webber has been breaking cars, but its not the teams fault alone.

Back to Webber ... he has no real communication with the team in terms of car set up. This is both his and the team's fault. But mechanical failures is not entirely the fault of the team. Webber must wear his failures too.

I agree, I just wanted to sugar coat it a little.

I think anyone (not singling Mark out here) in sport that's shoots their mouth off without so much as even a win to their name is a toss. Win GP's first then let that speak for itself.....