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[TheBoy]

... I'm having trouble understanding the need to focus on every bloody thing else except the simple and unadulterated speed of the event.

Its a race, or at least should be. Thats the issue. It requires cars to get quite close together, in order to overtake.

Yes, just watching them go around on their own is a specticle - thus I tend to go to the few practice cars they hold at Silverstone, esp as they are usually free . 

Would F1 work if it was just time trials?  I think not

I never stay the day on the practice days, as, TBH, it does get boring watching them fly round.  In any racing, close racing is what makes it exciting, no matter which motorsport you follow. Or IHMO anyway.

With Silverstone, I have seen over the years, the track move further from the stands, and you do lose the sensation of the speeds. Sadly.  Bridge, one of the best spectator corners on any track - seeing a F1 at full chat through there makes the hairs stand up on your neck (moreso before they removed that section where you used to be able to sit) - has gone as deemed unsuitable for F1 due to the danger.    .  People can no longer see F1 cars hurtling towards them, and then change direction with the flick of a wheel.  I'm delighted I was able to see this, and saddened that others no longer can.

[feeutfo]

There was an interview with Guy Martin I saw this year for the TT, he said one of the reasons he raced was because it's dangerous, if it makes a mistake, he's dead. Thats the appeal for him!

3 people died at this years TT, the died loved that they where doing, despite the risks. Just hope the PC, H&S squad don't decide to "improve" the TT

That event only survives due to IOM govt. greed! Fantastic as it is now, they should build a new long short circuit from one of the fantasy race track threads dotted around the WWW and keep some exceptionally talented people around...

... But, as I keep telling myself when one of the lads at work asks for advice re his racing, re lines, gearing, various circuits, suspension set up(no idea ) if it wasn't for racing itself he'd be riding the same on public roads.

Anyway, f1 is the pinnacle of speed! There is nothing more with corners. If you don't like it go find something better. And of course there IS nothing better.

Thats crap. It survives because it is the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world and people still queue up to compete on it as its the ultimate challenge for rider and machine.
The kind of people who still view short circuits as sterile,neutered and geared for those who have no sense of history or real passion for the ultimate (and therefore most dangerous) of experiences.It is thankfully devoid of the types who started going to watch bikes when Fogarty was winning and stopped going when Hodgson breaked off to the U.S.
People who appreciate the Joey Dunlops of this world as opposed to the Casey Stoners.

... And it feature nowhere in any world championship. It's been dropped and survives on a shoe string for the Russian roulette types with no brain. It's a fantastic event, don't get me wrong, but it's completely irresponsible from every angle. As said previously, death in spectator sport has no place, and will mean the end of it if that continues. It's called progress. Irritating as that may be to some. Tough, deal with it!

[albitz]

Dont ever assume that progress by definition means progress in the right direction.It often isnt.

[feeutfo]

Dont ever assume that progress by definition means progress in the right direction.It often isnt.

What, so hugely talented people with massive following competing under great pressure staying alive longer isn't progress ? Or any other individual ...

People you admire, people you want to pay to go and see perform, again and again, people like Senna! who incidentally died on a corner where there is no run off to speak of, where there are no spectators at all, where even tv cameras barely convey the story as they can't get close enough! What a complete waist of a life!

I want see these guys compete, not die!

[albitz]

I havent noticed anyone arguing that point Chris. Its just that , as is often the case with progress, we throw the baby out with the bath water. Ive been watching all forms of motorsport since the mid 70,s and Im utterly convinced that most of it is more about showbiz and big bucks than good quality racing these days.
Slow the cars down to suit the tracks, dont destroy good tracks to accomodate ever quicker (but much less spectacular to watch) cars. 20 years or so ago cars were quite a few seconds per lap slower over a given distance than todays cars, but the racing was a hell of a lot better.
They keep introducing artificial mickey mouse contraptions to try to reintroduce that, but its like trying to convince intelligent people that James Last was a modern equivalent to Beethoven.
Im a bit of a purist about motorsport, and there aint much pure about any of it these days.

[feeutfo]

I havent noticed anyone arguing that point Chris. Its just that , as is often the case with progress, we throw the baby out with the bath water. Ive been watching all forms of motorsport since the mid 70,s and Im utterly convinced that most of it is more about showbiz and big bucks than good quality racing these days.
Slow the cars down to suit the tracks, dont destroy good tracks to accomodate ever quicker (but much less spectacular to watch) cars. 20 years or so ago cars were quite a few seconds per lap slower over a given distance than todays cars, but the racing was a hell of a lot better.
They keep introducing artificial mickey mouse contraptions to try to reintroduce that, but its like trying to convince intelligent people that James Last was a modern equivalent to Beethoven.
Im a bit of a purist about motorsport, and there aint much pure about any of it these days.

Maybe you missed the previous re buy products of drivers not
Dieing. FFS move on Albs. Those days are gone! And good riddance!

[albitz]

Phillistine.

[Shackeng]

I was at boarding school at Brackley in the late '40s and early '50s. We used to cycle to Silverstone on practise days, (must have been truanting I guess as I think Saturdays were race days then) We could walk into the pits, and talk to the drivers, I had lots of their autographs, Juan Fangio, Mike Hawthorn, Peter Collins, never got Moss. It was the same on bike race days, I had Geoff Duke and many others, my dear old Mum threw them all away!
Fangio was my favourite car driver, he always looked so smooth.

[tunnie]

I was at boarding school at Brackley in the late '40s and early '50s. We used to cycle to Silverstone on practise days, (must have been truanting I guess as I think Saturdays were race days then) We could walk into the pits, and talk to the drivers, I had lots of their autographs, Juan Fangio, Mike Hawthorn, Peter Collins, never got Moss. It was the same on bike race days, I had Geoff Duke and many others, my dear old Mum threw them all away!
Fangio was my favourite car driver, he always looked so smooth.

Small world!

Winchester House?

[Shackeng]

MCS

[tunnie]

MCS

Magdalen College School was private then? Never knew that!

[Shackeng]

Certainly it was fee paying. I'm not sure when it changed, in the late 60's I think. I still go to OB's day occasionally.

[feeutfo]

Phillistine.

...and Stoner on his Honda leads Rossi by 100 points on the same bike Stoner won the Championship on.

[TheBoy]

We are all different.

For me, and I'm guessing Albs, whilst we don't want to see anyone hurt (although motorsport is dangerous), we get the excitement from racing, and being able to see that racing.  I'm guessing chrisgixer cannot see the fascination with racing.

To chrisgixer, I'm guessing that outright speed, and man and machine getting the utmost from the combination is more exciting than close racing.



I know chrisgixer does bike track days, so can I can see his point of view.  My landlord, when I first moved out from home, did the amateur superbike series (cant recall what it was called), and came home most weekends having lost another friend.  Nobody wants to see that. It is critical bikes have run-off areas, even on straights. Cars can get away with much less.

[feeutfo]

We are all different.

For me, and I'm guessing Albs, whilst we don't want to see anyone hurt (although motorsport is dangerous), we get the excitement from racing, and being able to see that racing.  I'm guessing chrisgixer cannot see the fascination with racing.

To chrisgixer, I'm guessing that outright speed, and man and machine getting the utmost from the combination is more exciting than close racing.



I know chrisgixer does bike track days, so can I can see his point of view.  My landlord, when I first moved out from home, did the amateur superbike series (cant recall what it was called), and came home most weekends having lost another friend.  Nobody wants to see that. It is critical bikes have run-off areas, even on straights. Cars can get away with much less.

For me it's always been about the doing. Stuff the watching!....by comparison. Once tried, what's required at top level becomes far more clear, however distant, no matter the pursuit.

Bikes have always been an easy(cheap) way into motor sport for me. Comparing performance level with cars, it takes alot more cash on four wheels to go half as quick...so to speak.

... Although the gonads do shrink with age... And lack of fitness. 

There's nothing like caining the arse of a sports bike. Competition,"racing" will happen at track days too, it's why we go, although it's frowned upon by event organisers above a certain point.
But after racing at a basic level, track days don't quite cover the buzz. A 600 starting grid among fellow beginners is a very scarey place. Mistakes are made more often at that level and all sorts of strange ideas on how to go about things avail, ESP on the first lap.

However from lap two onwards, nirvanah... From outright terror, to pure joy, fantastic. There's alway someone to race with, no matter your individual level or bike performance. Ding dong all day long.