Motorsport Off Topic Thread

Dimi said:
Any chance of a driver boycott happening next week?

The letter and now this stupid decision to continue with the qualifying format.

I'd love it to happen, just to show how absurdly out of touch the rule makers in the sport are, stay in the cars during qualifying just to prove AGAIN that this format is a shambles.
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Any chance? I would guess none. Though I wish they would as something does need to happen to shake it up and stuff changed.

Glaucus said:
Ffs

I hope I can get into another sport this year so I can give f1 up.
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The exact reason I am trying to get back in to Aussie V8's again this as it has been years since I watched every race. WEC looks good too though the races are a little long to casually watch.
 
Greboth said:
WEC looks good too though the races are a little long to casually watch.
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This is one of the main issues with the WEC - 6 hour races are really quite long. I wish someone did a "long highlights" thing (something that I think someone like the BBC should pick up as it'd be cheap and innovative) of around an F1 GP length which would be really good, but I don't know of any sadly. Would make it easier to follow.
 
WEC looks reallly cool. It's a shame it's 6 hours tho - I haven't got that kind of patience to get into it, a 2.5 hour race on a Sunday would be brilliant.
 
BTCC season starts next weekend, anyone going to Brands Hatch?

Full grid of cars, 11 different manufacturers and some new cars/names out there. Shaping up to be a good season.
 
I'll be following wec this year and thinking about following NHL, I liked watching ice Hockey when at uni. But the online stream is reasonably expensive and wouldn't really now where to start.
And that's the main reason I still follow f1, I know it, I know the history etc. But they keep blocking my main interest in f1 which is the technology side of it. Williams in the early 90s :), and the rapid move forward all around that era and before. Now it's add another winglet, it's just not that interesting.

These hybrids are great, but they've blocked the development. Should allow unlimited energy recovery and usage.
 
Skeeter said:
I will be at Brands next weekend.
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:)
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Went to the test at donington on tuesday and will probably go when its there in april. Handy living 15 mins away. But i would like to go either oulton or snetterton this year... whichevers best for photography.
 
Glaucus said:
I'll be following wec this year and thinking about following NHL, I liked watching ice Hockey when at uni. But the online stream is reasonably expensive and wouldn't really now where to start.
And that's the main reason I still follow f1, I know it, I know the history etc. But they keep blocking my main interest in f1 which is the technology side of it. Williams in the early 90s :), and the rapid move forward all around that era and before. Now it's add another winglet, it's just not that interesting.

These hybrids are great, but they've blocked the development. Should allow unlimited energy recovery and usage.
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They have effectively unlimited recovery and usage. The limits are on how much battery power you can store and a somewhat limit on what the mgu-k can harvest for safety reasons. MGU-K can harvest as much as you can get out of the car and the MGU-H harvesting is unlimited.

Really the limits on storage are so that qualifying isn't absurdly faster than in the race. If you could store 4 laps worth of energy you'd be disgustingly fast in qualifying and 8+ seconds off in race pace , actually you'd be carrying another 25-50kg of battery for the whole race just to look faster in qualifying.

They could get more mgu-k power by harvesting from front brakes as well, though this would again increase weight by requiring a much heavier mgu-k, it's a safety issue. You bomb down a straight, hit 250mph, mgu-k fails and both the front and rear brakes are half the size because they rely on mgu-k braking for both.... you are looking at the potential for a sickening crash with a small fraction of the braking required. F1 is significantly faster than LMP1 cars and open cockpit design, so much more dangerous in a crash.

They absolutely should keep one set of full brakes for safety reasons and wouldn't gain enough power to be worthwhile risking it. At Spa they harvested around 3Mj per lap from mgu-h and 1Mj per lap from the mgu-k.

As it stands they have increased harvesting every year so far. The rules are badly written and instead of highlighting this technological greatness.... Sky/F1 together just cry "it's too complicated" and never explain anything to the fans any more.
 
smr said:
Went to the test at donington on tuesday and will probably go when its there in april. Handy living 15 mins away. But i would like to go either oulton or snetterton this year... whichevers best for photography.
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I went to the media day as well - looks to be a decent line up and don't think any of the liveries look bad this year.

Not been to Oulton, but have been to Snetterton for last 3 years for BTCC, personally think it is one of the best tracks for Spectating, as the grass banks over the infield section give great views for photo opportunities.

Was actually quite disappointed with Donington from a spectators point of view (first time I've been), as couldn't imagine going on race day, as would struggle to find anywhere to sit - as it's all stones (apart from Grass on outside of Craner's). Also need a longer lens to make the most of Donington, as was struggling with my admittedly low-end 55-200mm.
 
Is it just me who (although pictures are very good) find it personally quite boring?
I was going to get into it, but all pictures (when good) kind of look the same?

There are only so many cars and so many places you can take pics.

Good pics tho guys
 
Yeah Donington is pretty pants for photography, I'll still go for the Qually but really only because I'm 15 mins away like I say so it's nice and easy to get to. I thought Snetterton sounded quite good for spectactors from what I'd read a while back so I'll go there this year I reckon.

Redgates probably the easiest place for shots if you can get close to the fence - after I took some shots here I was told to move back by one of the marshalls lol

BTCC Qualifying - Redgate by Joel Spencer, on Flickr

But it's quite exciting watching the cars giving it the beans before the pit straight, flying over the kerbs :D

Turkington 3 Wheelz by Joel Spencer, on Flickr
 
Skeeter said:
Is the Pirtek focus blue chrome? Hmm... :/
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Yep it is blue chrome - actually quite like the look of it in person.


413x said:
I was going to get into it, but all pictures (when good) kind of look the same?

There are only so many cars and so many places you can take pics.
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I go 100% because I enjoy the racing, but still like to try and take photos whilst there, as it both gives me something to look back on, and also keeps me interested throughout the day (and between races - e.g. in the paddock taking photos of other cars and drivers).


Janesy B said:
There's not many places at Dongington where you can get head on shots unless you have a 600mm lens and stand at the bottom of the old Hairpin.

Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Snetterton give you a better chance to capture the action.

-snip-
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A 600mm is out of my price range unfortunately (likely a 70-300mm will probably be what I will get next), but as you say at other circuits there are a lot more opportunities.


smr said:
Yeah Donington is pretty pants for photography, I'll still go for the Qually but really only because I'm 15 mins away like I say so it's nice and easy to get to. I thought Snetterton sounded quite good for spectactors from what I'd read a while back so I'll go there this year I reckon.

Redgates probably the easiest place for shots if you can get close to the fence - after I took some shots here I was told to move back by one of the marshalls lol

-snip-

But it's quite exciting watching the cars giving it the beans before the pit straight, flying over the kerbs :D

-snip-
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Great pictures both of you.
 
I love this response by an F1 fan to an article on planetf1 where Alonso is talking about wanting faster cars:

Seeing as F1 is becoming more and more of a fake entertainment package - they should have the 2004 Ferrari enter a race kitted out with full tyre war spec Bridgestones! Any current car that can stay within two laps of this 12 year old machine by the end of the race gets extra points! Plus some ominous Metallica type song should play every time the car is on screen
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I would love to see this. F1 really is going more and more backwards.
 
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