Thru the years

[Dare]

[Chameleon]

Oh, the memories...

One day we will look back on today and remember it in the same way, even though we complain that there's no passing, it's all politics, the rules are all wrong.  Distance gives perspective and "things in the mirror may be closer than they appear."  F1 is the finest of sports and yes, there is still sport in there somewhere.

[rmassart]

Those guys waving the chequered flag, did any of them ever get hit? They were getting a little too close. No wonder they've moved them up into a box!

[Chameleon]

Okay, this is going to be a "thinking as I type" post so I may ramble and end up saying something completely opposite to how I started out.  Bear with me.

I, too, noticed the bravery (or was it foolhardiness?) of the guy with the chequered flag in that video.  There was one, I think he was the American GP guy, who was famed for his mad flourishes and cavorting at the end of a GP.  It was a flamboyant addition to the sport at a time when danger was accepted as part and parcel of the whole thing.

Nowadays, as Massart has pointed out, we stick the guy in a box so that he can't endanger himself and others.  But we allow the most dangerous moment in motor racing to continue without a thought of how it might be adjusted (well, okay, sometimes someone mentions rolling starts but that would ruin the spectacle).  Yes, the start is unbelievably dangerous and creates more serious pile-ups than any other stage of the race.

I am continually amazed that all the dodging about to gain better traction or position does not cause even more accidents than it does, in fact.  And then we channel this confused bunch of cars travelling at different speeds and three abreast into the first corner, invariably one of the tightest parts of the circuit.  It's no wonder that many drivers end their races right there.

How about if we were to re-introduce something from the past, couple it with something more modern and attend to the safety issue at the same time?  From the old: have a brave guy standing at the front, just ahead of and between the two leading cars, who drops a flag to start the race (no kidding, they really used to do that).  Now, to prevent him being mown down in the ensuing chaos, we paint lines between each grid position that the drivers must not cross, similar to the new idea of a line from the pit exit that cars leaving the pits must not cross on pain of being beaten up by the stewards.

These lines would end at a point say 100 yards beyond the starter's position and we could paint a line across the road there to indicate that from there onwards it was okay to swap lanes and jockey for position.  The cars would be doing a reasonable speed by that time and there would be less chance of accidents caused by speed differentials.  It would be tough on anyone stuck behind a car that stalls on the grid but hey, that's life.  Perhaps the rule would be that you can't pass a stalled car until the starter has removed himself from the road.

It would be more of a spectacle than waiting for a bunch of red lights to go out, you must admit.  Anyway, it's just a thought...

[johnbull]

I still wouldn't like to be the starter, no matter what they paid me, but I like the idea Chammy.

It's different, and it could bring a bit of excitement.

Can we have Max as starter for the first GP, followed by Bernie, Flav and Todt.

[cosworth151]

There is a similar procedure in short trak oval racing over here. A large traffic cone is placed at the "break" point for the start. All cars must go to the outside of the cone on the start. After the cars pass on the first lap, the cone is pulled off the track by an attached rope. It serves a similar function but without the risk to the flagman.

Can we have Max as starter for the first GP, followed by Bernie, Flav and Todt.

I'd like to see them yanked off the track by an attached rope!

[Chameleon]

Yes, I thought they might still use that basic format in some forms of racing in the States.  And, with John's nominations for starters, I think we're on to a winner here.  We could even extend invitations for the position beyond the realms of motor sport, starting with politicians and then lawyers and bankers.  The possibilities are endless!

[johnbull]

Yes, I thought they might still use that basic format in some forms of racing in the States.  And, with John's nominations for starters, I think we're on to a winner here.  We could even extend invitations for the position beyond the realms of motor sport, starting with politicians and then lawyers and bankers.  The possibilities are endless!

Can I have first choice here, please ?

[Chameleon]

It's yours, John!  But Max and Bernie have to go first, that's the only stipulation. 

[johnbull]

Fine by me.

Can I sign on the dotted line?

[Chameleon]

Sure, John, just sign right here:

................................................................

.oO(I wouldn't be a Maltese politician right now for all the tea in China...)

[johnbull]

Sure, John, just sign right here:

................................................................

.oO(I wouldn't be a Maltese politician right now for all the tea in China...)

Why, what have you been hearing about Maltese politicians?

[Chameleon]

To my shame, I know absolutely nothing about Maltese politicians.  I was merely going by the theory that everyone hates the politicians closest to them because they affect one the most. 

[johnbull]

To my shame, I know absolutely nothing about Maltese politicians.  I was merely going by the theory that everyone hates the politicians closest to them because they affect one the most. 

Very good point.

At the risk of being OT let me just sum up politicians. All of them. Whatever country they mail be in.

You have a lawyer, doctor, architect, someone that's making an absolute packet from his very successful practice. These are all highly intelligent and successful people.

And they quit their practice to become politicians, in the knowledge that even as ministers, with the highest salery, they will only get less than a 1/10 of their original salery.

But of course they all love their country so much.

Sorry to have gone OT but it's a very sore point. The word starts with C and it's not carburation, but similar. ;)And there's plenty of it around.

[Chameleon]

It seems my guess wasn't far out, John. 

There's a little English working class ditty that fits the bill quite nicely, I think:

It's the same the whole world over
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the money
Isn't it a bleedin' shame?

Just a small part of the innate wit and wisdom of my beloved English working class...