So Stoxnet hate me, join the queue!! However, it is foolish of me to really "launch an assualt" (their words, not mine, most reasoned folk have admitted that I made a lot of good points) on the F1's without looking and passing judgement on the debacle that has befell the mighty Tooz. Meh...sh.
It has been quite a closed season for the good folk of F2.
Now, in this man's opinion, which like the fellow man, am entitled too, the committee took some brave decisions for the greater good of the sport. Sort of reign in the development a bit, too allow catchup, and to try and make it slower. Car attendances have been on the wain for a few years, due to a culmination of things. The price of fuel, the cost of racing and an uneven playing field were the main grumble. Now unless the new Emir of Qatar is Deane Wood, fuel prices remain out of control (the fuel discount card was a very good idea btw) Tyres are under consideration, but it might be the track surfaces which cause the added degradation, with some some tracks having drifting events, which require diesel to be put down to give the drift smoke. As a result, the asphalt can deteriorate over time, making it more abrasive. Perhaps a tyre rule like Formula 1 will bring the wallet openers back to that of the scrimpers, limiting the amount of tyres that can be used in a meeting.
Now with an air of caution, the majority of rules had been talked about at a higher level for some time. Some drivers decided to sell up and throw their toys in the pram hastily, stamp their feet and hark back to the good old days when northern gobshites thought they run the show. Yes, at the moment, the drivers would like some consultation, but selling up and going off to another formula isn't going to solve the problem. The promoters still own the cards, the rulebook and stamp their feet whatever the formula, so as my mum would say "it's biting your nose to spite your face"
Dave Richardson of RCE is a very very clever bloke. Too clever for F2 many would say, his engineering has taken chassis design to another level. The debate of whether they are race cars or stock cars is for another time, but the sheer supremacy of these cars has perked the ears of the powers that be. Whether its in act of being fair to all, or a luddite like look at technolgy they don't quite understand or fathom. Like the people of Shipham look at the moon
I seriously think that they are the foolish ones - do you think that Daveyboy RCE hasn't thought about this already, and I know some were looking at 2013 spec towards the end of the season. Those who are moaning and saying that their car is scrap or rendered useless are doom mongers!
The latest set of rants have been caused by the latest set of clarifications of the rules, with one thing in particular, the mesh cab guard. Now for the background to this, the mesh was brought in to protect the drivers from loose material that gets thrown up. When it was introduced it was met with protests (seem to remember "What is this grasstrack kak, Mr Coventry" adorning a few cars), but in general, and with what happened to Felipe Massa (albeit at a higher speed), its been generally accepted.
It was announced The mesh now has to be welded and not held in place with zip ties or have any. Great idea in November/December when cars aren't painted, but when cars are being prepped and painted, more notice is better than last minute changes which would incurr costs onto an already stretched finances of our drivers.
However, depends on where you sit on this debate, common sense has prevailed due to the uproar and furore or Brisca F2 has flip flopped and showed weak leadership.
However, points need to be made that if F2 has mesh, should all the other formula? If an F2 can be hit by a stone, surely bangers need it too, if not more so. I remember in my only trip to Warton, every formula had mesh across the windscreen. Bear in mind, Warton is in a quarry!
I don't think anyone questions the legitimacy of the mesh, just the timing. Rulebooks should be released at the very latest after the world final, and those are the rules of the game for the following season, unless there are safety concerns, or there has been a new discovery of an advantage....
I think F2 is in a state of flux at the mo. The drivers are unhappy that they have no say, the promoters are fed up of low turnouts and petulant drivers, and the fans are left with a substandard product. Perhaps now is the time to look at a new radical way forward
I do think that due to the fact the season goes to Mid November now, promoters, drivers and driver's associates need to have year long correspondence and meetings, maybe at a regional level, and then a national level, so that the great, the good, the grumpy, the greedy and the gobshites can sit and discuss the way forward...
For 2013, and beyond, a focused approach must be taken, and if the promoters have to appoint an independent chairman to act in all parties interest, then surely this must be a good thing. No accounts of bias or favouritism to any party, a neutral working party to draw up rules, fixture planning, with more driver, and get this, more fan involvement. Without the fans, there is no formula, and man cannot live on bangers alone...
For many Formula 2 promoters, F2 is not the primary focus of their bread and butter. For the tracks where F2 is the sole focus, things have to be done with the greater good in mind. It may cause a ballache for those in areas not affected by these rules but . How many more seasons can Birmingham, NIR et al survive with sub 30 attendances before they pull the plug.
I've been watching Formula 2 for near on 30 years now. Changes come, drivers throw baby out with the bathwater, but the following season, its the moaners who work a way around it. If for season 2014, square wheels and a lemonade bottle full of lemon juice and bi carb as a power unit, the usual suspects would rise to the top, but some would fall foul for using Diet Coke and Mentoes....
Not long now....
Cheers'n gone
Jonny
It has been quite a closed season for the good folk of F2.
Now, in this man's opinion, which like the fellow man, am entitled too, the committee took some brave decisions for the greater good of the sport. Sort of reign in the development a bit, too allow catchup, and to try and make it slower. Car attendances have been on the wain for a few years, due to a culmination of things. The price of fuel, the cost of racing and an uneven playing field were the main grumble. Now unless the new Emir of Qatar is Deane Wood, fuel prices remain out of control (the fuel discount card was a very good idea btw) Tyres are under consideration, but it might be the track surfaces which cause the added degradation, with some some tracks having drifting events, which require diesel to be put down to give the drift smoke. As a result, the asphalt can deteriorate over time, making it more abrasive. Perhaps a tyre rule like Formula 1 will bring the wallet openers back to that of the scrimpers, limiting the amount of tyres that can be used in a meeting.
Now with an air of caution, the majority of rules had been talked about at a higher level for some time. Some drivers decided to sell up and throw their toys in the pram hastily, stamp their feet and hark back to the good old days when northern gobshites thought they run the show. Yes, at the moment, the drivers would like some consultation, but selling up and going off to another formula isn't going to solve the problem. The promoters still own the cards, the rulebook and stamp their feet whatever the formula, so as my mum would say "it's biting your nose to spite your face"
Dave Richardson of RCE is a very very clever bloke. Too clever for F2 many would say, his engineering has taken chassis design to another level. The debate of whether they are race cars or stock cars is for another time, but the sheer supremacy of these cars has perked the ears of the powers that be. Whether its in act of being fair to all, or a luddite like look at technolgy they don't quite understand or fathom. Like the people of Shipham look at the moon
I seriously think that they are the foolish ones - do you think that Daveyboy RCE hasn't thought about this already, and I know some were looking at 2013 spec towards the end of the season. Those who are moaning and saying that their car is scrap or rendered useless are doom mongers!
The latest set of rants have been caused by the latest set of clarifications of the rules, with one thing in particular, the mesh cab guard. Now for the background to this, the mesh was brought in to protect the drivers from loose material that gets thrown up. When it was introduced it was met with protests (seem to remember "What is this grasstrack kak, Mr Coventry" adorning a few cars), but in general, and with what happened to Felipe Massa (albeit at a higher speed), its been generally accepted.
However, depends on where you sit on this debate, common sense has prevailed due to the uproar and furore or Brisca F2 has flip flopped and showed weak leadership.
However, points need to be made that if F2 has mesh, should all the other formula? If an F2 can be hit by a stone, surely bangers need it too, if not more so. I remember in my only trip to Warton, every formula had mesh across the windscreen. Bear in mind, Warton is in a quarry!
I don't think anyone questions the legitimacy of the mesh, just the timing. Rulebooks should be released at the very latest after the world final, and those are the rules of the game for the following season, unless there are safety concerns, or there has been a new discovery of an advantage....
I think F2 is in a state of flux at the mo. The drivers are unhappy that they have no say, the promoters are fed up of low turnouts and petulant drivers, and the fans are left with a substandard product. Perhaps now is the time to look at a new radical way forward
I do think that due to the fact the season goes to Mid November now, promoters, drivers and driver's associates need to have year long correspondence and meetings, maybe at a regional level, and then a national level, so that the great, the good, the grumpy, the greedy and the gobshites can sit and discuss the way forward...
For 2013, and beyond, a focused approach must be taken, and if the promoters have to appoint an independent chairman to act in all parties interest, then surely this must be a good thing. No accounts of bias or favouritism to any party, a neutral working party to draw up rules, fixture planning, with more driver, and get this, more fan involvement. Without the fans, there is no formula, and man cannot live on bangers alone...
For many Formula 2 promoters, F2 is not the primary focus of their bread and butter. For the tracks where F2 is the sole focus, things have to be done with the greater good in mind. It may cause a ballache for those in areas not affected by these rules but . How many more seasons can Birmingham, NIR et al survive with sub 30 attendances before they pull the plug.
I've been watching Formula 2 for near on 30 years now. Changes come, drivers throw baby out with the bathwater, but the following season, its the moaners who work a way around it. If for season 2014, square wheels and a lemonade bottle full of lemon juice and bi carb as a power unit, the usual suspects would rise to the top, but some would fall foul for using Diet Coke and Mentoes....
Not long now....
Cheers'n gone
Jonny
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