Archive for September, 2006
F1 in the news
Slightly later than usual - a round up of the F1 stories doing the rounds. (All links external).
“Flat Out, Flat Broke: Formula One The Hard Way!” (Perry McCarthy, 2002)
A friend of mine has an almost pathological hatred of ‘cheeky chappy’ cockneys. So he is the last person I would recommend this autobiography to.
I wouldn’t have much difficulty encouraging anyone not cursed with the same affliction to read it, though. Because McCarthy’s own account of his often disastrous attempts to make it as a [...]
Chinese Grand Prix 2006 preview
With Michael Schumacher’s retirement confirmed, all eyes turn to the nail-biting championship battle between the Ferrari driver and reigning champion Fernando Alonso.
For evidence of that, look no further than this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, where the Shanghai International Circuit owners have devoted a grandstand each specifically to supporters of Alonso and Schumacher.
Schumacher may have a [...]
“The Last Road Race” (Richard Williams, 2004)
I’ve always been fascinated by the Pescara track. It is an anomaly in Formula One history, used only once for a World Championship race.
And, at 25.5 kilometres (15.8 miles) in length, the longest circuit ever used for F1 - though many might automatically assume that record belongs to the Nurburgring.
So I was delighted to come [...]
No Japanese qualifying on ITV either
ITV have delivered another blow to Formula One fans hoping to watch the thrilling denouement of this year’s championship live.The broadcaster will not show the qualifying session for the Japanese Grand Prix live.
They are also refusing to show the same session for the Chinese Grand Prix live.
As ever the only recourse for F1 fans is [...]
“1½ litre Grand Prix Racing 1961-65″ (Mark Whitelock, 2006)
There is nothing new under the sun. Just as the FIA provoked intense debate when they imposed 2.4-litre V8 engines from 2006, so there was similar distaste over the imposition of 1.5-litre engines after the 1960 season.
This new book from Mark Whitelock turns the spotlight on this “largely overlooked” period of Grand Prix history. He [...]
ITV drop live qualifying again
With just three crucial qualifying sessions and three vital races left in 2006, British viewers won’t get to see at least one of them, thanks to ITV.
Even though the qualifying session at Shanghai in China will be taking place very early in the morning in British time, ITV are not showing it live.
The company runs [...]
“The Cruel Sport” (Robert Daley, 2005)
Having recently looked at Dr Stephen Olvey’s “Rapid Response” on safety in CART racing, I thought it would be a good time to review a similar book on the dangers of earlier Formula One.
“The Cruel Sport” was first published in 1963. Journalist and photographer Robert Daley covered F1 for the New York Times but grew [...]
“Rapid Response” (Dr Stephen Olvey, 2006)
Dr Stephen Olvey is best described as American racing’s answer to F1’s Professor Sid Watkins.
Olvey was at the forefront of improving driver safety in Indycar racing from the 1970s until the series dissolved in 1995. He remained with the new Champ Car series until it collapsed in 2003.
The demands for better safety in American racing [...]
“Schumacher: The Life of the New Formula 1 Champion” (Timothy Collings, 1994)
Carrying on our recent theme of Michael Schumacher book reviews, this very early book dates back to the winter of 1994 when the German had just seized his first world championship.
This book makes especially interesting reading in the light of everything Schumacher has accomplished in the 12 years since his first World Drivers’ Championship. Not [...]
