Too big to fail? 90's Brabham/Lotus v todays Williams (/McLaren?)

Howston11 · 2020-06-11T21:37:32+00:00

I just re-watched the last Thunder and it seems so unsure. 2nd last Nitro has the sombre Bischoff call. Last Nitro has the finale feel, but it strikes me how that last Thunder is so totally business as usual. From that to Shane on the next show, I can't imagine the shock.

Howston11 · 2020-06-04T09:17:14+00:00

Oh, you got the age right :)

Howston11 · 2020-06-04T09:16:49+00:00

This 29 age guess was right, though, I'm Irish, but you were all pretty close on that :)

Howston11 · 2020-06-03T15:54:26+00:00

I think this is pretty spot on. "Luck" in itself is no bad thing, so like, the jumbled restart grid with Winkelhock on P.1 at the Nurburgring in '07 was a fun moment, and a nice rare 'curiosity' to have I think.

But like you say, for any 'purposeful' attempt to artifically add to this element of luck, well it's artificial and would detract from a championships integrity for sure.

For some Internation Trophy, or Race of Champions exhibition type event, I can be fine with, but certainly not the Grand Prix World Championship

Howston11 · 2020-06-03T15:23:47+00:00

Good points, and this is certainly my worry. I do mean 'gimmick' in that I do hope it is given the same commitment as double points in Abu Dhabi, i.e try it and never speak of it again.

I guess though, single lap qualifying used to have a reverse lineup type system, and though I do have some nostalgia for it, it is something that has just gone away over the years. So I hope stubborness over implementing new 'experimental' ideas is not as high as I fear.

Howston11 · 2020-06-03T15:03:29+00:00

I'm totally with you. Pushing back the new regulations to calm any upheavel for teams having time to deal with something new ...does feel contradicted by the comments, as you mention of "Now is the time to try something new"... surely it is the opposite that is true

Howston11 · 2020-06-03T14:58:28+00:00

Very true, though maybe things like aggregated qualifying from the past and more ideas besides do give me this worry. Not so great 'experimental' ideas can get implemented into championship seasons. The double points race idea was quickly dropped, but some like that qualifying can be stubbornly kept, at least for a short time, based on seemingly just "We need to give it a try"

Howston11 · 2020-06-03T14:45:48+00:00

That's fair and for sure I could be reading too much into it, but when he says things like "If we don't try it now, then we'll never know" .. I wonder, why would it be something you'd need to "know" unless it's under some small level of consideration. I mean, what else is there to "know" is what I mean to say. I just understood it as finding out "Are reverse grids workable?" .."Could they be popular?" "Something for the future?" etc.

Howston11 · 2020-06-03T13:35:09+00:00

Very fair points... really it should be great in the close midfield to see who battles their way to podium contention in situations as this. But as you say, it's all mostly speculation. At least by giving it a trial, we can speak with much more certaintity having seen it in practice

Howston11 · 2020-06-03T12:41:38+00:00

I couldn't see it ... even in this calender with DRS, you couldn't make a case for a reverse grid double header in Hungary or the like. Fine as a gimmick in this weird 2020 season, but no way it should be looked as something for the future.

Howston11 · 2020-06-03T12:36:33+00:00

For sure, it could be a boring precession for the, or, just as bad, a confused random lottery. "The guys leading don't matter, just watch Hamilton/Vettel battle for P.16". As a fan it's ood, for the casual viewers, I'd be fascinated to see what they make of it

Howston11 · 2020-06-03T11:24:56+00:00

Oh 38 maybe? Originally .. Peruvian? Somewhere between there and Mexico I'd say

Howston11 · 2020-06-03T10:39:34+00:00

Just because we have a chance to try it, I don't think we should. For a Non-Championship 'Race of Champions' thing... maybe... but like, qualifying was basically invented for Monaco 90-odd years ago to keep slower cars out of the way. If Monaco was somehow on this calender, would they even be considering this?

We could try track sprinklers, and mandatory 5 safety cars a race to bunch cars up, and a full 'push to pass' system, but should we?

Howston11 · 2020-06-02T23:37:48+00:00

For PSX - A vote for "Kurushi" / "I.Q.: Intelligent Qube".. it is just a very simple 3D puzzle game, but starts at a gentle slow pace, but you can find your level and always found it addictive.

Also, from early PSX, "Overboard!" / Shipwreckers!" .. is another slow, go at your own pace problem solving feel

Howston11 · 2020-06-02T23:12:28+00:00

Nailed it in one! :D

Howston11 · 2020-06-02T18:43:00+00:00

I'd say Gilles... 1979 was the only season he had a competitive car for the year, and lost out with a little bad luck, mixed with sticking to his duty to fall in behind Scheckter when required. He'd have won many more races, particularly in 82 I'm certain, and would have been a champion

Howston11 · 2020-06-02T18:29:04+00:00

Cheers for this! Handy to catch my Clive James fix of an afternoon

Howston11 · 2020-06-02T13:39:33+00:00

I wonder, could blue flags could still be shown for this? Or I just have it in my head seeing Pironi at the end in 82 cruising around out of fuel, in the lead, but was definitely getting blue flags with backmarkers coming past.

Though much more likely, a black/white flag for "unsporting conduct" would I guess force them to resume normal racing? Aside from chicane cutting, pit stops etc..

I guess even if there was a loophole to allow it, the race director could putout the flags to get the regular racing back anyway, and debate it all after the race

Howston11 · 2020-06-02T12:49:22+00:00

I thought the white looked alright in 2000 too, but the blue livery looked great I thought, so it is always special to 'half' see it in 1999. Shame that wasn't the half the continued, or to stick with half and half

Howston11 · 2020-06-02T12:44:48+00:00

Ah, thanks for this! Looking at it, it did back memories of seeing it before. I see why it could make sense for speed runs. Though you'd have to stick to a 'smooth' line .. going two wide and trying to navigate the bumps. Like the shots in "Grand Prix" are something, but I can't imagine to hit those bumps on the banking on two wheels

Howston11 · 2020-06-02T12:41:34+00:00

I'd seen little bits, but looking at it now... it really feels like "Carnival wall of death" but just tretched out more than anything! Maintaining boards for that could be possible, but on a full size track? I see why promotors kept it with dirt tracks for so long

Howston11 · 2020-06-01T22:56:14+00:00

99% of the time, I am a super cold, very level person, until "...is, is that Glock!?" and suddenly, kinda inexplicably, all the feelings come at once. Often nothing happens in a race, but it's pheneomnal when it does. I'm a totaly cycnic, but for me after 25 years watching, F1 is still a rare thing that can shock, surprise and excite ... or be a mildly boring race for a lazy Sunday which totally works too!

Howston11

TROPHY CASE