[Official] Rate the race: US Grand Prix

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

It is one of the better of Tilke's Turkeys, the setting looks sterile and uniform, easy-run offs plague it but despite these turn-offs, I get it that it's the dimensions and trajectory of the track that makes that it raceable and it is a raceable track.

Still think Tilke should be barred from the sport and a restraining order issued to ensure he never, ever picks up a pen again!

The layout for the track was conceived by Tavo Hellmund and 1993 Motorcycle World Champion Kevin Schwantz, with the assistance of Tilke. Maybe it's the assistance that wasn't needed?

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by bauble

Sorry Texas, but I do not rate it at all, just another Concrete & Crayons Tilke fest. Lots of space, totally featureless, and lacking anything resembling a corner.

I'm afraid that watching cars swerving around a lot of painted lines does not do it for me, the only danger anyone was in was of getting dust on their overalls when using the vast run-offs.

Having spent the day at a wet Silverstone watching club level racing, dodging showers, and talking to genuine people, I know where I was better off

COTA is not a Herman Tilke designed circuit. the basic track design and its corners were drawn out on a paper napkin by Tavo Hellmund and Kevin Schwantz so I am not so sure where you get that info from ?

I am not fortunate enough to have been to many other circuits, I am biased I suppose but I think COTA is an amazing facility. We get to see a lot of the race track depending on where you sit of course...

I met fans from all over the world, many from England and they were super impressed, they looked and sounded like real racing fans to me...

[chillibowl]

im a fan of the track. nice to see a modern race track built in a western nation which surpasses both aesthetically and conceptually tracks like Sochi, Abu Dhabi, India, Korea etc.

seeing it filled with people also cant be overstated either.

gave it a 7. lots of wheel to wheel up and down the field (did Button take a chop at Alonso? - hes a guy fighting for his job). only let down with Nico's seeming inability to take the race to Hammy. he does great in quali but disappears in races imo.

exactly what i needed to restore some measure of faith that this thing we love can be saved.

[JeremySmith]

I know this thread is about *rate the race* so excuse that I digress,but the drivers seem to really enjoy the challenges given to them racing at COTA, I think that should be good enough for most of us, not everywhere can be Spa or Silverstone and I don't think it should be...

[Aysedasi]

Oh, I wish everywhere could be like Spa......





.... the old Spa........

[ASCII Man]

The most boring race I forced myself to watch start to finish. 3/10

Such a waste of my time.

[Lancsbreaker]

"Not everywhere can be like Silverstone" - thank heavens! The most boring circuit in UK for a Club racer - the national circuit at least.....

Anyway, back on topic - not a classic but a good race with action throughout the field. Shame about the SC, and Perez reducing the field even further, but I still reckon the race merits a solid 7 - verging on 8.

[bauble]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Oh, I wish everywhere could be like Spa......





.... the old Spa........

That would make today's drivers soil their underwear, and modern fans cringe in terror just to watch.

Bring it on!

[Born Racer]

It must be said - that's a fascinating range of scores.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by bauble

That would make today's drivers soil their underwear, and modern fans cringe in terror just to watch.

Bring it on!

If only.....

[bauble]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

It must be said - that's a fascinating range of scores.

It shows that we all have different ideas as what constitutes a good race.

Interesting to see the diverse opinions, and to disagree with some.*







*All right! In my case most.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by bauble

That would make today's drivers soil their underwear, and modern fans cringe in terror just to watch.

Bring it on!

I wish but there's always rFactor.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I wish but there's always rFactor.

Oh yes, the old Spa in 1965 GP cars - I just love it....... But we digress

[stripedcat]

I've sort of got mixed opinions on the race - it was better than last year's - but no where near as good as 2012 with the epic Hamilton versus Vettel battle. That was probably the best race of the 2012 season.

I admit the Alonso and Button battle was pretty good. As was Riccardio dicey overtakes. Not forgetting the feisty Vergne. I think we sort of lost a lot of the tension in the race because of the way the Rosberg and Hamilton fight was shown - when it came it lacked the drama of the other battles.

A fairly good 6 from me.

As for the track, well, I quite like it. Hey, I'm no fan of Tilke, by the way. His only other decent track is Sepang. This track has elevation change, interesting first corner, superb esses section and a really good flow to it. I know it has huge run-offs(and I suppose something has to be done to turn 15) - but it does seem like a lot more effort was put into this track.

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by bauble

Hi, my post was not aimed at comparing Silverstone with Austin as a circuit, merely that I prefer what I think of as 'honest' racing as opposed to the 'manufactured excitement of Eff Wun'. Silverstone used to be considered an 'airfield circuit' when compared with Spa, Nurburgring, Zandvoort etc. Nowadays when compared with any of Tilkes C&C nightmares it looks fabulous.

One's opinion of circuits, races, drivers is coloured by one's past experiences of such things. Being closer to 80 than 70 means my perspective is broader than most. It is best to ignore my comments as just the ramblings of a Silly Old Fool. A title I am happy to own too.

Kind regards,

Bauble.

Fair enough Bauble, and thanks for the clarification. Not a lot stands up to some of the epically long tracks of the past. However, in the space they had and within the remit, I think the track designers did a superb job and I personally thought the scraps for the lower points placings entertaining.

Perhaps my ten was a bit OTT as there are clearly more amazing races, but it was an emotional judgement and what is appreciation of motorsport if not pure feeling and subjective interpretation?

[bauble]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Fair enough Bauble, and thanks for the clarification. Not a lot stands up to some of the epically long tracks of the past. However, in the space they had and within the remit, I think the track designers did a superb job and I personally thought the scraps for the lower points placings entertaining.

Perhaps my ten was a bit OTT as there are clearly more amazing races, but it was an emotional judgement and what is appreciation of motorsport if not pure feeling and subjective interpretation?

Yes BR, I saw my first motor race on the Isle of Man in 1951, all on public roads, and my first GP at Silverstone in 1952. In various races I have seen and heard V16 BRM, 1951 V12 Ferraris, Maserati 250F, etc, and seen drivers wearing tee shirts in the cockpit, So my perspective on the USA GP is skewed in comparison with anyone who might have only seen racing over 5/10 years.

I understand why some rate it highly as it probably compares well with many of the races we have seen at places like Abu Dhabi, Sochi etc.,

One advantage of being old is one is always right, because who listens to the kids anyway.

[dsg]

Back in my day...

Originally Posted by Steven Novella

When someone looks at me and earnestly says, “I know what I saw,” I am fond of replying, “No you don’t.” You have a distorted and constructed memory of a distorted and constructed perception, both of which are subservient to whatever narrative your brain is operating under.

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/i...ory/#more-6849

While the racing from past eras was much better than what we get now, it is also quite likely that it never happened.