Real racing thread

[rong]

BBC Sport - Bahrain Grand Prix: Force India car flees petrol bomb protest

Maybe they should allow this in the race, would certainly be exciting.

[OngBonga]

Crashes are cool.

Mark Webber Crash Valencia '10 - YouTube

Haha Webber, I remember this one. Dude you can't drive through another car, you have to go round it.

Ukyo Katayama

I remember this one well too, I was in shock when this happened, this guy was my favourite driver after Damon Hill at the time, thought he had no chance but somehow he walked away without a scratch. Great crash, one could always rely on Ukyo when it came to this aspect of F1.

[DoubleJ]

Schumi and Kimi 1,2 just one time please

well, ya got part of yer wish

[supa]

Great fucking race. Love that Kimi's back and running strong in the Lotus. He was so not stoked with 2nd place lol. Grosjean on the other hand super stoked with 3rd.

[DoubleJ]

He was so not stoked with 2nd place lol

No, that is the official Kimi-Happi-Face (TM)

When he's un-stoked, he has a choc-ice in his hand

Grosjean's start was unbelievable.

but WTF are the Macca pit crew doing? 4 FUBAR stops in 4 races?

[jjbish]

What a points race we are coming to. Wide open and can go down to wire. I like that.
I really think another race series could increase competitiveness if they changed the tire rules like F1 has.

BTW, was just whining about start times. I am/was being selfish. Typical 8am Sunday at my house. Wife watching main TV, son watching 2nd TV and 3rd TV is in daughters room and she's asleep.

[CoccoBill]

Wife watching main TV, son watching 2nd TV and 3rd TV is in daughters room and she's asleep.

I'll have to congratulate you either for watching the race from the projector screen in your home theater, or for your wife allowing you to use internet in your cage in the basement.

[jjbish]

I'll have to congratulate you either for watching the race from the projector screen in your home theater, or for your wife allowing you to use internet in your cage in the basement.

If you only knew how close this is to the truth
I'll have to post a pic soon.

[supa]

Fortunately my wife is just as big a fan as I am, therefore no dispute.

[boost]

If you only knew how close this is to the truth
I'll have to post a pic soon.

do you have any balls, or does your wife keep them in a jar of embalming fluid on her vanity?

[DoubleJ]

talking of balls, what are peoples' views on the Rosberg v Hamilton/Rosberg v Alonso moves?

a) Just good racing or
b) Setting a dangerous precedent?

[supa]

Anxious and waiting for wife to get home with food so we can watch round 2 of MotoGP in Jerez. Gonna burn some dead animal on the BBQ as a sacrifice for Rossi and a memorial to Supersic.

I wish Vale' could get the Duc working for him. we're missing some great racing without him running up front.

Some fun. Rossi vs Lorenzo Catalunya - YouTube

[boost]

wow, that was amazing. Makes me want to stop traveling, go home, and get back into vintage motorcycle racing. I only dipped my toes in before I left, haven't even been in an actual race yet, but doing a track day was enough to get me hooked...

[DoubleJ]

another fascinating quali session for the Barca GP

rilly luvin this season

[supa]

Haven't watched quali yet. Watched practice last night. Def gonna be a fun race. Yeah, this season is awesome.

@Boost. More details on your vintage racing please. I assume your into early cb750s and stuff?

[DoubleJ]

Haven't watched quali yet

try and catch it b4 the race. Q3 at least.

plus there's a sting in the tail

[Hoopy]

Great drive from Maldonado, really thought he was gonna get caught by Alonso in the last 5 laps.

[DoubleJ]

Great drive from Maldonado

+1

really thought he was gonna get caught by Alonso in the last 5 laps.

nah - reckon they had it covered. Maldonado looked after his tyres better; I think he'd have had some to spare if Alonso had caught him.

Nasty mess in the Williams garage after the race ; hope everyone is OK

[jjbish]

Didn't have the chance to watch yet. But what a great season this is going to be.

We could have a 8 way champion battle with 5 races to go if it continues.

[DoubleJ]

so what do yous guys think about the effect the new Pirelli tyres/tires are having on the season?

Mateschitz weighs in on tyre 'lottery' debate

[boost]

Haven't watched quali yet. Watched practice last night. Def gonna be a fun race. Yeah, this season is awesome.

@Boost. More details on your vintage racing please. I assume your into early cb750s and stuff?

cb350. It is my first bike... pretty good size to learn on for the street and track. I have become friends with a large group of vintage bike racers/riders, and I really can't wait to settle back in Chicago so I can really dig in. There's a pretty healthy group of guys in the 175 or 200cc class that all run cb160's. The 160's are tiny motors, but it looks like a ton of fun running on the track with a full pack, and you really can work on technique at a comfortable speed.

Here's a pic of my cb350, which is sadly very far away from where I currently am living. I completely rebuilt it, and did almost all the work myself. I did a lot of the welding, but had a friend help out and guide me with that, and I had a shop do the powder coating on the frame and a few small bits. I rebuilt the motor, painted it, formed the seat myself out of sheet from an old computer case, etc etc...



Most recent pic I could find, but that's more or less how it sits today.

[boost]

p.s. please post awesome compilations and whatnot. Esp motorcycle related stuff. Speaking of motorcycle related cinema.. if anyone wants to see one of the greatest documentaries ever made, check out On Any Sunday by Bruce Brown. It's my favorite sound track of any movie, and the documentary itself just makes you want to do anything and everything possible with a motor and two wheels between your legs.

[boost]

not exactly racing, but it's a well put together cool video that I figured you guys would enjoy.

Free Ride Enduro - Hard Enduro Flanker - YouTube

[DoubleJ]

Monaco, Baby! Yeah!

[supa]

!!!!!11!!

[supa]

Yep, that's Monoco.

[supa]

Oh yeah, 2 GPs on tap for next year in the US. Jersey and Austin. Plan on attending one or both. Who's in?

[DoubleJ]

Yep, that's Monoco.

pah

what a let-down

well, i suppose we were due a damp squib sooner or later

[supa]

lol, was it the cars doing 360s in the beginning of the race or the ones flying 6ft in the air that bored you?

[supa]

[DoubleJ]

lol, was it the cars doing 360s in the beginning of the race or the ones flying 6ft in the air that bored you?

nah. that was fun. but that was the first 30 seconds of the race.

the bit i didn't like was the "OK, it's going to PISS down with rain! But 10 mins AFTER the race has finished" bit

[PlayToWin]

cb350. It is my first bike... .

Hey Boost - That looks like a nice bike. I bet it would be a lot of fun to race.

Since we're on the subject of vintage racing, here are a couple of mine. The BSA 500 single-cylinder handled great, but the motor had trouble finishing races.

I still have the '72 Yamaha 250 but my racing days seem to be over. They're not the best pics, but it's all I could find quickly.

[supa]

cb350. It is my first bike... pretty good size to learn on for the street and track. I have become friends with a large group of vintage bike racers/riders, and I really can't wait to settle back in Chicago so I can really dig in. There's a pretty healthy group of guys in the 175 or 200cc class that all run cb160's. The 160's are tiny motors, but it looks like a ton of fun running on the track with a full pack, and you really can work on technique at a comfortable speed.

Here's a pic of my cb350, which is sadly very far away from where I currently am living. I completely rebuilt it, and did almost all the work myself. I did a lot of the welding, but had a friend help out and guide me with that, and I had a shop do the powder coating on the frame and a few small bits. I rebuilt the motor, painted it, formed the seat myself out of sheet from an old computer case, etc etc...



Most recent pic I could find, but that's more or less how it sits today.

No idea how I missed this the first time around. Nice bike. Mad respect for working on the bike yourself, it's something that I think not enough people do and puts you in a league above the standard 'motorcycle enthusiast'. Looks like a bunch of fun too. Nice work. I came really close to buying a cb750 on the cheap about a month ago but didn't want to spend all summer screwing with it so bought the bandit instead to feed my instant gratification.

Speaking of summer and motorcycles, we gotta meet up before you split Cali. Get your bike sorted yet?

@Play, more pics of the yammie plz.

[PlayToWin]

@Play, more pics of the yammie plz.

Here's one from the track. I've haven't ridden it more than a dozen laps in three trips to the track! Never got it sorted for various reasons. It did feel good...very light-weight, but it had gearbox issues among others. It should be ready to go now, but I haven't tested it yet.



I'd like to restore it to original paint scheme, white with a red stripe down the center of the tank and tail-piece. Here's what it should look like. Note the massive front drum brake. It's the best drum brake ever made (all the vintage racers want one). After this model, disc brakes and water-cooling were used.

[PlayToWin]

Despite not having great luck with vintage bikes, I did quite a few races on my GSXR 750. Much excitement was had.

[jjbish]

Happy Schumi finally made a podium. About time.

And Kimmi gonna roll this I think

BTW. this place has died lately

[Pascal]

Bump.

Been a decent F1 season so far but not amazing, still some great races. Big news today - Hamilton to Mercades and Perez to McLaren. Happy for Perez but think Hamilton is making a mistake...

[supa]

Hamilton what??? Rhetorical cuz I'm gonna google it as soon as I post this but I agree, huge mistake. Haven't been able to keep up cuz I'm working 60 hour week right now.

Sucks but it's good monies.

[supa]

^Confirmed. Will be fun to see what Perez does with a McLaren.

[DoubleJ]

...Big news today - Hamilton to Mercades and Perez to McLaren....

zzzzzzzzz.....

keep up guys.

this has been going on since before the half-term break

also means that Herr Schumacher has no seat for 2013. Will likely move into a management role at Merc.

also means that Sauber will need a new driver for 2013

[Pascal]

Only confirmed today tho - I'd heard the rumours but really thought Hamilton would stay at McClaren. No way can Mercades car compete with Red Bull/Ferrari/McLaren imo, he's got to be in it for the money.

[DoubleJ]

...he's got to be in it for the money.

dunno 'bout that. Lewis wants more WDC titles. He wouldn't move for just $$$$s

sure, Macca wasn't prepared to pay him the $$$ that Merc are rumoured to be shelling out, but there're other factors:
* the chance to work w/ Ross Brawn - a multi-championship winner (7 with Schui, 1 with JB)
* new 2014 engine regs (Merc are a factory team, Macca a customer)
* the new Super Simulator that's rumoured to be in progress @ Brackley
* being bezzies w/ Nico

[chemist]

he's got to be in it for the money.

dunno 'bout that. Lewis wants more WDC titles. He wouldn't move for just $$$$s

sure, Macca wasn't prepared to pay him the $$$ that Merc are rumoured to be shelling out, but there're other factors:
* the chance to work w/ Ross Brawn - a multi-championship winner (7 with Schui, 1 with JB)
* new 2014 engine regs (Merc are a factory team, Macca a customer)
* the new Super Simulator that's rumoured to be in progress @ Brackley
* being bezzies w/ Nico

That's what I thought, and why I thought the rumours had no substance,
but obviously he or his management do care about the money and the bigger international publicity and money making opportunities that Mercedes group has to offer over the smaller but more competitive maclaren.

[DoubleJ]

...obviously he or his management do care about the money...

yes, of course. I'm sure XIX have a strategy to develop BrandHamilton than extends way beyond the end of his racing career.

But no way was the salary the only factor in LH's decision to move.

How it all pans out remains to be seen over the next few seasons, but I think it's pretty clear that he needed out of McLaren ASAP, as relationships with Uncle Ron had soured beyond reconciliation.

Also, with due respect to Pascal, i think it's way too early to say that Mercedes cannot compete with RBR/Ferrari.

Don't forget that only 6 or 7 years ago, RBR were a joke. A fizzy-drinks company that had no place in F1 at all.

So if they can go from laughing-stock to WC in 6 seasons, what do you think a colossal force like Mercedes could do with the weight of Petronas behind them? Especially as they will be way ahead of the curve when it comes to 2014, and they are one of only two teams that build their own engines.

There's also a parallel from not so long a go about a young Champion moving to a big-name constructor who were thought to be hopelessly uncompetitive and rebuilding the team around himself.

The team was Ferrari. The driver was Michael Schumacher. The result was 5 WDC titles.

[DoubleJ]

...so Hamilton to Ferrari 2013?...

Yea, and verily they shall call him semiNostradamus

[CoccoBill]

Don't forget that only 6 or 7 years ago, RBR were a joke. A fizzy-drinks company that had no place in F1 at all.

So if they can go from laughing-stock to WC in 6 seasons, what do you think a colossal force like Mercedes could do with the weight of Petronas behind them? Especially as they will be way ahead of the curve when it comes to 2014, and they are one of only two teams that build their own engines.

What made it possible for RBR? Adrian Newey.

[DoubleJ]

...Adrian Newey...

Ah, yes. Another interesting parallel that i'd forgotten about - thanks for reminding me.

Newey designed the championship winning cars for Hakkinen at McLaren, then got 'disgruntled' and made the "OMG! What is he doing? He's Crazy!" move to joke-team RBR, only to go on to win the Championships in 2010 and 2011.

so, yeah, don't write off the Mercs just yet based on only 3 seasons of data

[chemist]

There's also a parallel from not so long a go about a young Champion moving to a big-name constructor who were thought to be hopelessly uncompetitive and rebuilding the team around himself.

Yes but Hamilton is no Schumacher or Alonso.

Hamilton and Vettel can drive when they are provided with a good package including the car, support and strategy.

Schumacher and Alonso are able to do more than just drive,
they provide feedback of their requirements to the team (a bit more specifically than just 'I want a faster car') which helps to improve the package for them, and they are able to think strategically themselves on and off the track.

[DoubleJ]

hmmmm.....

so what - in your opinion - is Ross Brawns' motivation in replacing Schumacher with Hamilton, then?

If Brawn is talking about 2013 being an "evolutionary" phase for the team, why would he hire a driver who wasn't capable of fulfilling that role?

[supa]

hmmmm.....

so what - in your opinion - is Ross Brawns' motivation in replacing Schumacher with Hamilton, then?

Going out on a limb here but it could have to do with how Schumi keeps crashing his fucking cars.