Showing posts with label Formula One. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Formula One. Show all posts

Monday, September 24, 2012

Robert Kubica's Injury - Part 2

Back in February 2011 Formula 1 racing driver and upcoming star, Robert Kubica had a serious crash whilst rallying in the off season. Here is my blog about Robert Kubica's crash.



Very much like his fellow driver Felippe Massa's near death experience with a piece of debris entering his cranium, Robert's injury put all of Formula 1's eyes on him. Unlike Felippe, Robert was unable (so far!) to return to the pinnacle of open wheel racing, which is Formula 1.

But good news! Robert is back to racing.

Autosport had this to say:

Robert Kubica took victory on his return to competition in an Italian domestic rally on Sunday.
The event was the first motorsport contest the Pole had entered since sustaining horrific injuries in a rally accident in Italy in February 2011.
...Kubica won all four stages of the Ronde Gomitolo di Lana rally to claim victory by nearly a minute over Omar Bergo's WRC Mini.
Robert Kubica

Before the start of the rally, Kubica told Italian television channel SkySport24 that the event marked the start of "a more active phase" in a recovery that he still hopes will bring him back to Formula 1 eventually.


And we're all sitting here waiting for your return sir!

Get well soon Bob.



kthanxbai!

 http://jumblerant.blogspot.com
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Friday, September 21, 2012

Top Gear Laughs

I've been a fan of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and The Hamster from the TV show 'Top gear' for the last 10 years or so. Its always fun to see someone discuss the pros and cons of cars you will never, ever, in your life drive. I guess its some kind of 'living by proxy' (or do I have that completely wrong?).

English: The BBC Top Gear presenting team of ,...

Anyhoo, in the last few years they've become sillier and funnier and their collection of laughs and antics just cracked me up. So much so, in fact, that I had to put my coffee down for fear of snorting it out of my nose! 

Here it is:



My personal favourite show of the entire show was their special trip to Vietnam, it was just so up close and personal about the trio and I think we got to see a bit of who they really are.



kthanxbai!

 http://jumblerant.blogspot.com
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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Why F1 Racers Basically Drive Lying Down

I've always loved Formula 1 and have written about it a few times Monza F1 Accident , I found me a new hero and Formula 1 easy driving

This interview is a simple, no-frills explanation of what the business end of a formula 1 car feels like to drive.



Hat tip to gizmodo.co.uk

kthanxbai! http://jumblerant.blogspot.com

Thursday, February 23, 2012

I found me a new hero!

I've been a Formula 1 racing fan for many years now, going back to my childhood in the 80's.

Fast women and loose cars; its what I do.

Anyway, I've been living in a country that doesn't have an F1 presence, for the last 15 years and even though I'm originally a Brit, none of the UK based drivers really excite me.

And then I found him when our eyes met over a YouTube video.

A driver who is hungry for a win, has proven himself in the past, is willing to push the boundaries slightly, and best of all, works for a British F1 team.

Lady and gentlemen, I present to you - Vitaly Petrov. My new Formula 1 driver.

And why the hero part in the blog title? Because as well as having to deal with the British media on a daily basis, garner sponsorship for himself and, it appears, fight for his drive every season, he still has to drive exceptionally fast around a track with other, like-minded nutters.

We haven't had a death in Formula 1 since Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton de Silva Senna in 1994, but five drivers have died while driving a Formula One car at the Nürburgring; only the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has had more casualties!

Sadly Dan Wheldon died in October in Las vegas whilst racing in IndyCar, so these guys are not just fancy hair and interesting accents. This is serious stuff.

So, well done Vitaly - and good luck!




kthanxbai!

 http://jumblerant.blogspot.com
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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Robert Kubica and Formula 1



There has been a lot of talk in the Formula 1 world about who is going to be in which seat next year. Fair enough, we're now off season, the teams need sponsors and as such they need to create content for the newspapers to advertise that they still exist.


Which isn't the case for Renault. Robert's team have changed their name, officially, to Lotus-Renault GP - aka 'Lotus'. For me that simply signals that they have a new sponsor.

So no more Renault, they are now Lotus.

So where does Robert fit in to all of this?
Eric Boullier has already stated, after signing Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean for 2012, that the team’s relationship with Kubica is at ‘point zero’, making it increasingly unlikely that Kubica will return to Formula 1 with Lotus. Since then, the Pole has been very keen to quickly demonstrate that he is fit enough to return to Formula 1.
- F1zone.net

So that sucks!

But wait - there's more!

Team principal Boullier had already admitted that they are not going to help him regain form if he is not committed to the team, saying "I will not bring a car for him and make a nice test for him if in 2013 he has signed already an option elsewhere".


- teamspeed.com


So things are now up in the air.

We shall see what happens to Renault Lotus in 2012. They dumped both of their drivers from this year and their name. What are they running away from??!!




kthanxbai!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Formula 1 - Easy Driving

A friend of mine and I were chatting the other day over a pint of wine... and I found out that he used to be an F1 fan but stopped when he started working on Sundays.

I tried to update him about the goings on in the sport and tried to explain to him just how much more technologically challenging the driver's role is today.

Here are 2 views of how the steering wheel in an F1 car creates challenges for the driver.




kthanxbai!
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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Formula 1 Blog

I've mentioned before that I am a Formula 1 addict. If you don't know what Formula 1 is, well, maybe you live in Swaziland, or are an American, well it is the ultimate in car racing. Not the ultimate in open-wheel, or 'The World Series' - but in the world.

Ever.

I watch races whenever I can, download those that I can't watch live, and listen to podcasts to explain to me what I miss.

Lewis, Robert, Kimi, Fernando, Nico, and Felip...There are 2 main podcasts that I listen to, Formula1blog.com and Sidepodcast.

Out of all the Formula 1 blogs out there, I only listen to these 2 - and why? Because they are run and presented by 'normal folk'. We can't really call anyone willing to wake at 2am to watch a car race 'normal'. Let's just call them, well, 'dedicated'.

Both of the podcasts sound like friends, sitting in a pub or living room, discussing the race.A discussion that is slightly too informed for me to join in with, but very interesting indeed.

In 2013 the USA will be hosting a race in Texas. The work started on the track a while back, but Formula 1 is about money, not being polite, or equal, but cold hard cash. They were waiting for the dosh to be on the table to tell the world that F1 would grace The Lone-star State with their presence.

Recently, Todd,  the main culprit (!) from Formula1blog.com has started writing for the Huffington Post in the UK and his writing is very interesting indeed. I highly suggest you pop over there and give it a look, I know I'll be following it very closely.


kthanxbai!
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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Twitter, iPhones and Fast Cars

I do love me some fast car action.

I have been a fan of Formula 1 for over 25 years (OMG!!) and I can always be tempted to watch some of the feeder formulae too.Formula One 2011

There are some great Formula 1 blogs out there. I personally think that Sidepodcast and Formula1blog.com are two of the leading ones. In fact is was Sidepodcast's latest announcement that brought me to write this blog entry.

I follow Formula1blog.com's Todd aka 'Negative Camber' and Grace via my iPhone, and their weekly podcast.

And on Foursquare.

And Twitter.

And I comment on their forums and website.



Sidepodcast have just launched a great App for the iPhone which brings you the latest Formula 1 info as written and read. And they have a seriously awesome SERIES of weekly podcasts. And they have live race coverage. And tweet like crazy.


Heikki handing back the Sidepodcast banner :)Image by lukehmuse via Flickr



Hey Toto, we're not in Kansas any more. Waving a flag and wearing a Ferrari top just isn't gonna cut it as a fan. This is some serious technology that's being used here - and all for free (to the end-user) and all created by fans without any advertising or business model.

This surely is the way the world is going. And as always, its the 'little people' with a passion who lead the way.

You heard it here first...


kthanxbai!
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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Finally, An Inspirational Formula 1 Story

The Formula 1 season began last Sunday with the first race at the street circuit in Melbourne, Australia. It was a very exciting and interesting race with some twists and turns at the end.

But that's by the by.

I follow F1 quite seriously and thus read 50 - 100 blog entries a day on the subject. Recently one has really come to the fore with their interesting but personable attitude to the sport, and to their followers.

www.formula1blog.com is where they are and if you even consider following any open wheeled racing - listen to their blog. It rocks.

Normally F1 stories are quite dry and technical; how will the new wings affect down-force, how will the new tires perform and what will Grace be drinking next week? But they came up with a great story about Lewis Hamilton's younger brother;

This coming weekend, another Hamilton will be making his motorsports debut at England’s famous and historic Brands Hatch circuit. A constant figure of familial support in the McLaren garage over the last several seasons, Nicolas Hamilton, younger brother of 2008 World Champion Lewis, has signed with the championship winning Total Control Racing team for the 2011 ELF Renault Clio Cup series.

Nineteen-year old Nicolas, who has cerebral palsy, has already tested a BMW M3 GTP, race prepped by PalmerSport, as well as one of TCR’s Renault Clio Cup racers. Team principal Lee Brooks said, “Obviously it’s fantastic for the team to be running Nicolas in his first season in the sport. As Lewis’ brother, it’s guaranteed he’ll attract a lot of attention in the paddock throughout the year but we’re confident he’ll make good progress and become a very quick racer in his own right. Nicolas has superb passion for motor racing and great support behind him so it is a great honor for Total Control Racing that he will be racing with us.”

The deal for Nicolas to drive in the series was brokered by his father, Anthony Hamilton, who said “Nicolas has followed his brother’s career from an early age and it was natural he would want to get behind the wheel competitively himself.”

“I have loved motor sport from a young age and watching my brother achieve so much has given me inspiration to make my racing debut.” Nicolas himself admitted. “I know this will not be easy, but I hope that my doing this will give inspiration to others who have challenges in their life. I can’t wait to be racing.”


kthanxbai!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Formula 1 in a nutshell

If you are interested in Formula 1 (open wheeled car racing) and whatever news those cheeky little monkeys are creating look no further than F1 Minute.

Felipe Massa. Formula 1Image by .:fotomaf:. via Flickr


Created by the geniuses behind Sidepodcast this daily podcast, made by Christine, talks about the most interesting Formula 1 news of the day - but in just one minute.

For a great example of what you'll find over at F1 Minute here is their first F1 Minute video from 4th January.



kthanxbai!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

A mix of two loves

That title sounds a bit naughty doesn't it? I think I'll leave it there to raise the number of visitors to the blog from Google.

Jenson ButtonImage via Wikipedia


Anyway, with the Formula 1 season now over and the last Grand Prix watched, analyzed and misanalysed I thought I'd share with you two things I love: Fry & Laurie and Auto Racing. Like oil and water mixed in a puddle they show a myriad of color .. blah blah blah

Enjoy the sketch



kthanxbai!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Keeping shtum

I'm a huge car racing fan, specifically Formula 1. I've been a fan since I was 11 and saw the speed that these guys drive at.

Stirling Moss at the Nürburgring in 1961 .Image via Wikipedia


There was a huge race this Sunday, a championship deciding race, but due to circumstances beyond my control I was unable to watch it. As always I decided to download it and watch it in my own time.

No problem there except I can't read my emails because I get Brawn F1 team news sent there. I can't read blogs in Google Reader as I subscribe to 15(ish) F1 blogs (with Sidepodcast probably being the best one out there right now).

A modern Formula One car: Michael Schumacher's...Image via Wikipedia



I also have friends who phone me during the races to chat about whats happening so I haven't been answering the phone to certain chaps. Sorry!

And I can't even check the news with the amazing Morning Coffee software in Firefox as all of the UK press will be putting the results on the front page.

So all day I've been bored at work waiting to rush home to watch the race. I even left the office early only to find that 'Her Indoors' had paused all downloads to make her Facebook surfing slightly faster and forgotten to start it going again. Grrr!!!

Now all is downloaded, I have watched the introduction, I have a 7 month old baby boy with a baby head cold in his exer-saucer beside me and I am watching the race.

UPDATE:

So far in lap 1; 2 crashes, 2 drivers arguing out fo their cars, one pit fire, one car driving off from his pit-stop with the fuel hose still attached.

I guess its not very proffessional but fun to watch!~!

kthanxbai!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

I'll explain my love to you

Actually I'll allow the masterly Joe Saward in his Grand Prix Blog explain it. The mixture of love for Formula 1, in it's purer form, and the desire or need to blog;

Blogs are about opinions, not just straight journalism… I would rather write of the good things that Grand Prix racing has to offer, rather than the latest sleazy scandal. .... It is a universal truth that those who live by the sword must accept that they will likely die by the sword as well. Flav knew the rules of the game and he has only himself to blame if he has been caught.
And he continues straight into the meat of the matter, and the reason that I was shaking my head last night and kept telling Her Indoors (aka Mrs Jumblerant) 'I don't get it, I just don't understand why they did it'.

Renault F1 RS01Image by Patrick Mayon via Flickr


The sordid tale of Singapore 2008 has no place in F1. It is a tale of miserable cynical people, people with no souls. Where is the passion in doing such things? Where is the joy? Where is the pride? Where is the honour? It was all just to keep them on the Renault gravy train. To keep their jobs when they did not deserve to be kept....

Winning is not about finishing first, winning is about passion, about pride, about the joy and the thrill of the contest.

And if you have to manufacture that, then you are lost… and have no place in the sport.
Yes Joe, that is how I feel. And thank you for putting it so eloquently. That is why I read your blog.



kthanxbai!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Nelson Piquet Jr crashed for Alonso and Renault

So, what the gosh darned rooting tooting is that title all about then?

I am a fan of Formula 1. Any sport that can end in serious pain if you make a mistake gets my attention. Formula 1 has the added draw of having a large amount of information flowing throughout the year and not just on race day.

Crashes are not uncommon but generally do not alter the final result as they either happen at the first corner to some back markers or later on in the race to a couple of cars who are fighting for position and then take each other out.

There are some famous crashes such as Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton deSilva Senna's fatal crashes (in the same weekend), as well as Michael Schumacher taking himself or nearest competitor out, and a couple of beauties when cars went, literally, flying over others.

That's not the point though. The level of danger involved is the point.

Any crash involves pieces of car flying at high speed in all directions. This allows the energy in the crash to dissipate without harming the driver. But it also means that basically, bits go flying everywhere. Tyres have landed in the crowd killing spectators and we are coming to terms, in F1, with the fact that Felipe Massa is going to be out for the rest of the season because he was hit in the head by a piece of debris that fell off another car in front of his during a practice session.


He was hit in the helmet with a 800g piece of coiled metal at over 180mph that left him unconscious. He is recovering now and has a beautiful scar (above) to tell the tale.

And that is where today's revelations leave me with my mouth agape and my mind not comprehending what happened.




Nelson Piquet Jr.'s intentional crash, in the the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Today it was revealed that one team, Renault, had asked one of its drivers, Nelson Piquet Jr., to crash on purpose. The FIA stated that Renault had planned and carried out actions:
to cause an intentional accident with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of their other driver, Fernando Alonso, who went on to win.

The team stated
“The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the F.I.A. concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix,”
Which is pretty damn shameful, dangerous and ultimately, suicidal for the careers of those involved.


So what also gets my goat here, and you may notice that I'm still very annoyed and shocked by it all, is that they actually thought that they could get away with it.

In an industry where millions of dollars hang in the balance for every point a driver can make people are going to be ruthless. And they are going to have very long memories.


The chap on the left, Flavio 'Flav' Briatore, has been in Formula 1 for a very long time. He helped to bring Michael Schumacher into the limelight. He was teh Team leader for Renault.

The chap on the left is Pat Symonds. He too has been in F1 forever and he was Flav's no. 2 man.

Today they both left their current (and probably last) Formula 1 team after the team admitted that these two individuals had in fact conspired with their no. 2 driver, Nelson Piquet Jr., to alter the outcome of the race.

Nelson Piquet Jr.Image by eugeneflores via Flickr


And the chap on the left got immunity. He is the driver of the car, Nelson Piquet Jr.

What a super chap, eh? He told the governing body of Formula 1 about the evil team leader's plans to corrupt the outcome of the Championship Race.

Except that he waited a year to tell them.

And only after he was fired by his manager and team leader, Flavio Briatore.

Revenge may be sweet Mr Piquet but I think you kinda shot yourself in the foot this time.

kthanxbai!

All photos are copyright people who can afford, or get invited to Grand Prixes.