The Watkins Lecture

Suze · 12 Jan 2007, 22:46 (Ref:1813694)

Surprised no-one else has started a thread yet, so thought I would.

So, what did everyone think? Was it too in-depth? Just enough? What everyone expected?

I hadn't been to a Watkins lecture before and personally really enjoyed it, I was worried it would be to the extreme of either too simple or too in-depth and to be honest I wasn't sure how "sharp" Watkins still is, but thought he did a grand job and was in-depth enough for me without being too much.

For anyone who wasn't there, he was introduced by Paddy Hopkirk and afterwards presented an award to James Winslow for his actions in saving another driver in Asian F3 earlier in the season.

Watkins spoke on various subjects including side impacts in WRC, HANS device, head injuries and the HIC, helmets etc (inc for youths), problems with karts and F1 cars launching, side, frontal and rear impacts in F1 etc and various other bits and pieces.

allanh · 15 Jan 2007, 09:23 (Ref:1815556)

I thought it was informative and interesting, and anything would have been an improvement over last year. Well done Proff.

Suze · 15 Jan 2007, 10:25 (Ref:1815594)

I thought no-one else here had been for a while there....

Jennifer_ni · 15 Jan 2007, 11:44 (Ref:1815643)

I thought it was much better than last year also found it a bit to in depth but some very good info given! Well done!

Stoowert · 15 Jan 2007, 13:55 (Ref:1815722)

I haven't got over Bernie yet! A round trip of 150 miles, just to get wound up! Plus I still don't see the point of marshals attending the show, unless for something specific ie new overalls. Saying hello to someone on the marshal's stand apart. Hardly worth a day off work. Save your hellos until your training day - the main reason for me attending anyway!
That should generate a few replies!

deadsquirrel · 15 Jan 2007, 17:47 (Ref:1815846)

I too enjoyed the lecture - lots of interesting stuff, but it was a little 'rushed' in places, and hard to even read some of the slides before they were changed (although this is not a complaint!).

I would like to thank MSF for their hospitality - coffee before and a glass of wine afterwards was much appreciated. I resisted the Mini print at the lecture, but when I got to the MSF stand and there was '1 left' I gave in!

Looking forward to next years already

Nick Kirby · 15 Jan 2007, 20:32 (Ref:1815957)

really good lecture, just shows the impact the Prof has had on safety

DarrellB · 15 Jan 2007, 22:08 (Ref:1816034)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoowert

I haven't got over Bernie yet! A round trip of 150 miles, just to get wound up! Plus I still don't see the point of marshals attending the show, unless for something specific ie new overalls. Saying hello to someone on the marshal's stand apart. Hardly worth a day off work. Save your hellos until your training day - the main reason for me attending anyway!
That should generate a few replies!

I don't see the relevance this has to the current thread.

This years lecture was back to the safety aspect and what the Motorsport Safety Fund is about. It was worthwhile for anyone involved in the medical/rescue aspect of the sport even if some of the maths were a bit heavy going Sid managed to bring the relevance of the information through.

I feel the lecture was worth attending from a rescue point of view even if most of the show isn't.

SouthportFC Fan · 16 Jan 2007, 12:36 (Ref:1816479)

Totally agree with Stoowert.

The only relevant day for us is the Friday when we can attend the Watkins lecture. What's said is usually applicable to us, if only for the 'other point of view'.

Race cars are meant to be seen moving at proper speeds, not on a display stand or in a hanger.

ss_collins · 16 Jan 2007, 15:42 (Ref:1816652)

Surely you need to understand the machine to be able to deal with it - sometimes you miss a lot only seeing a car on track. Not criticising just saying that I thinks its always worthwhile for marshals to get a close look at the cars (this is not the reason that on too frequent an occassion I visit the MP's!) Its a shame that often they don't get the chance.

DarrellB · 17 Jan 2007, 20:00 (Ref:1817859)

Agreed Sam, but I'd say it's better (and cheaper!) to wander round the paddock before/during/after a meeting to get a closer look at the cars.

I thought the lecture this year was excellent; exactly what I'd expect from a motorsport safety lecture. Every year we say we will go into the Autosport Show just to make the trip to Birmingham worth while.......it doesn't, in my opinion.

Rosie

(Oops. Realised I am logged onto Darrells account. Sorry.)

**Woolley** · 17 Jan 2007, 20:30 (Ref:1817872)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrellB

Agreed Sam, but I'd say it's better (and cheaper!) to wander round the paddock before/during/after a meeting to get a closer look at the cars.

If we get the chance, which is rare.

Many of the cars at the show are mock-ups, show cars, presented looking finished but not actually. If you could remember the detail of the car you saw newly presented at the show several months later, chances are it'll be different anyway.

More to the point, when FBMW introduced their much vaunted extraction seat it coincided with my only proper visit to the show. I made the point of going to look at it and asked the rep for details and the chance to get up on the roped-off car to see it properly. Not only did the rep know nothing about it, it wasn't fitted to the car on show. Added to which, they put various cut-off and extinguisher switches in unusual places, but they weren't marked on the show car and we didn't know about them until we first saw the cars in competition months afterwards.

For me, the whole thing is pointless. You can stand on a mock-up F1 grid. Why, I've done it on a real one. Before the FIA told us not to. You can see race cars standing still. I want to see them going, and if they're static, I'm probably pushing it or helping someone out. Part of your ticket pays for the live show. I don't spectate. The odd occasions I've gone to a race circuit when ot marshalling I'm like a fish out of water. On top of all that, having freely given my time to help all these businesses make money all season (and I don't have any objection to that) I don't really want to pay a sizeable chunk of dosh to go and visit them.

deadsquirrel · 17 Jan 2007, 21:05 (Ref:1817900)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolley

Many of the cars at the show are mock-ups, show cars, presented looking finished but not actually. If you could remember the detail of the car you saw newly presented at the show several months later, chances are it'll be different anyway.

Yup - says he who pulled the towing/snatch strop off the Seat BTCC car at the weekend - oops! :-)

**Woolley** · 17 Jan 2007, 23:18 (Ref:1818024)

LOL. So that was presented the way they intend to race it? I hope you gave it them back with a strongly worded letter of complaint about it not being fit for the task.

deadsquirrel · 18 Jan 2007, 06:45 (Ref:1818148)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolley

LOL. So that was presented the way they intend to race it? I hope you gave it them back with a strongly worded letter of complaint about it not being fit for the task.

Well, I was boldy suggesting the strop was better than the tincan fabricted hoops they used to have, as the strop would be looped round something substantial in the frame, and therefore would take more abuse in a snatch. One can be wrong sometimes

Doc Hollywood · 18 Jan 2007, 07:56 (Ref:1818176)

Hmmmmm, I thought I was posting on a thread about Sid Watkins but I seem to have stumbled accross a (misplaced) discussion about the merits (or lack thereof) of the Autosport show which, apart from the fact their both held in the NEC at the same time, have little to nothing to do with eachother.

Personally I've made the pilgrimage on 3 occasions now and I find it does exactly what it says on the tin.

As for the Prof. I found his lecture to be quite good, It focused on a different aspect of accidents and whats being done to protect the competitors in the event of a resonably serious accident aswell as looking at the scientific side of crash and injury analysis.

Maybe for the next lecture they could focus on circuit construction, spectator/marshal safety and maybe advances in medical back-up.

deadsquirrel · 18 Jan 2007, 08:19 (Ref:1818186)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Hollywood

Maybe for the next lecture they could focus on circuit construction, spectator/marshal safety and maybe advances in medical back-up.

would it be out of place for us to suggest some names for next year on this thread?

DarrellB · 18 Jan 2007, 10:27 (Ref:1818294)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadsquirrel

would it be out of place for us to suggest some names for next year on this thread?

Having recently read his book I would suggest Steve Olvey would give a very interesting lecture.

Doc Hollywood · 18 Jan 2007, 11:56 (Ref:1818376)

Why not get Michael Schumacher....?!

Ok Ok its very unlikley but he does do some stuff for the European Union about road safety etc. I know during his time with the GPDA he was well known to advise on circuit saftey and car safety and needless to say he knows the Prof.! Not beyond the bounds of possibility....?

PapaJuliet · 18 Jan 2007, 23:22 (Ref:1818915)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadsquirrel

Yup - says he who pulled the towing/snatch strop off the Seat BTCC car at the weekend - oops! :-)

We broke four off two cars at Donington last year after they had decided to come and visit.

PJ

PS that's 2 off each of 2 cars before anybody decides to get pedantic.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Syd Watkins lecture	lynxlad	Marshals Forum	7	2 Nov 2006 21:59
The watkins Lecture/Bernie's comments (merged)	allanh	Marshals Forum	134	30 Jan 2006 21:46
Bored in a lecture so.....	Try Hard	Sportscar & GT Racing	59	18 Feb 2003 16:03
Lecture about the Paddock	Newey	Formula One	4	19 Oct 2001 20:17