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24 Dec 2003, 10:46 (Ref:819834)
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#1 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,384
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F3 2002 Alan VDM, What happened
Reading through some old reports in autosport for the 2003 seasons. In september Alan VDM driving for Carlin was in 8th position in the championship, with Kerr and Country fighting it out.
What happened to VDM this year, had the field weakend ? did he get his act together ? did carlin give him more attention ? I am curious to what happened to make a driver jump from 8th place in the championsip to romping the whole series the next year. |
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24 Dec 2003, 11:19 (Ref:819859)
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#2 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,189
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Isn't that how it often goes? That's why drivers stay in for more than one season. I think VDM was definitely team leader this year where Courtney was last year
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__________________
"we love the winter, it brings us closer together"
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24 Dec 2003, 11:25 (Ref:819863)
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#3 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 402
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There were a lot of factors involved, including the surgery that Alan underwent at the end of the 2002 season, the fact that he really began to believe in himself, that it was his 2nd year in the category (and with the same team/engineer) and he's smart enough to know that consistency was the key - his major rivals were new (either to F3 in general or to BF3)
And finally - In Macau last year (and through the whole of this year) I had threatened to beat him to a pulp if he failed to win the 2003 Championship! 
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__________________
Anyone can brighten a room... some do it by entering, others by leaving ;)
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24 Dec 2003, 12:35 (Ref:819931)
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#4 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 2,188
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Dont people understand that it takes time to learn how to win the championship.
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__________________
A Saudi saying, "My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies a jet-plane. His son will ride a camel."
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24 Dec 2003, 13:07 (Ref:819952)
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#5 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,384
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I completly understand, I am just curious what the factors where for VDM as 8th to a easy romp is a big step
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24 Dec 2003, 21:51 (Ref:820207)
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#6 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,066
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As far as I could see it, Alan Van der Merwe just upped his game this year. At the start of the year he had won two car races, and I was one of many people who didn't rate him that highly. One year on, and he's won one of the most prestigious junior racing championships, and well done to him!
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24 Dec 2003, 22:07 (Ref:820216)
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#7 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,968
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I didn't back him to win the title either - which is why he was particularly deserving of a place in my 'Driver of the Year' top 5, which I am sure you will have avidly read about in this week's MN!
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24 Dec 2003, 22:32 (Ref:820228)
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#8 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 402
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Hey Paul - as you know, I said he would do it right from the start!! And I never doubted him for a minute...
P.S. Anyone who's intersted might like to know that I have picked the last FIVE BF3 Champions before the season started (since Marc in 1999)! Place your bets now... |
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__________________
Anyone can brighten a room... some do it by entering, others by leaving ;)
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26 Dec 2003, 16:08 (Ref:820800)
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#9 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,384
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don't say PK this year!
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26 Dec 2003, 19:38 (Ref:820869)
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#10 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 402
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I gave the '04 Champ his instructions at the Donington meeting when VDM wrapped up the '03 title...He responded by giving me his phone number and telling me that I have to call him on Jan 1st and remind him!
I intend to make that call... |
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__________________
Anyone can brighten a room... some do it by entering, others by leaving ;)
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27 Dec 2003, 00:08 (Ref:821002)
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#11 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,035
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Quote:
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__________________
le bad boy
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27 Dec 2003, 01:13 (Ref:821041)
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#12 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,721
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Quote:
(My money's on Nelsinho, in any case, if he stays in F3.) |
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__________________
Interviewer: "Will the McLaren F1 be your answer to the Ferrari F40?" Gordon Murray: "Hmm... I don't think we have anyone at McLaren who can weld that badly..."
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27 Dec 2003, 01:52 (Ref:821046)
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#13 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,967
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Why not start a poll in the New Year when a lot of the drivers will be known?
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__________________
Sit in a chair, lift your right leg off the ground, point your toes forward and draw CLOCKWISE circles in the air with your foot. Then raise your right hand and draw the number 6 in the air with your index finger. Your foot will change direction. If you can't even do this simple coordination task, how could you drive a racing car?
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27 Dec 2003, 04:41 (Ref:821082)
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#14 | |
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Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 664
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Don't doubt the "power of the Lollipop".
The new champion will have something in common with the 92 & 98 champions. |
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28 Dec 2003, 09:07 (Ref:821715)
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#15 | ||
 Race OfficialVeteran
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 10,259
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and the 83,85 & 91 champions
 - well lets hope it is a close series with a handful of drivers in contention 
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28 Dec 2003, 13:55 (Ref:821822)
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#16 | ||
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Registered User
Racer
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 161
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Quote:
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28 Dec 2003, 13:57 (Ref:821824)
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#17 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 402
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Why doesn't anyone mention the Champion who first realised the power of the lollipop?
The 98 champ may have started it all but the 2000 winner was the one who made it stick! |
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__________________
Anyone can brighten a room... some do it by entering, others by leaving ;)
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30 Dec 2003, 23:35 (Ref:824027)
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#18 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 413
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Does anyone know what Alan will be doing in 04? I heard a rumor he was to test for Carlin in Dallara Nissan (sounds logical enough), but that was back in October. Nothing since.
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