Another Opportunity for Great Racing!!

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

If the question's legit, then the blue run-off is abrasive, and red even more so. According to Wikipedia, a skid in to the red stuff will almost certainly force a tyre change.

Selby

Yes. I never understood why this kind of surface variation isn't used elsewhere.

[ECW Dan Selby]

Me too. I'd much rather see that than lots of plain black tarmac... Plus, it's a means of punishing the driver for running wide!

I think they have a few bits and pieces in Sepang and Bahrain, and it does certainly brighten the place up. Why do I feel like i'm talking more like a housewife trying to redecorate the living room...?! (not a sexist comment, I hope!)

Selby

[bella]

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

I think they have a few bits and pieces in Sepang and Bahrain, and it does certainly brighten the place up. Why do I feel like i'm talking more like a housewife trying to redecorate the living room...?! (not a sexist comment, I hope!)

you sound nothing like a housewife. you haven't mentioned "scatter cushions" once

i suppose it's valuable sponsor space in a couple of cases? putting down that kind of colour on the ground would probably reduce the visibility of a logo on top of it maybe.

[ECW Dan Selby]

Originally Posted by bella

you sound nothing like a housewife. you haven't mentioned "scatter cushions" once

i suppose it's valuable sponsor space in a couple of cases? putting down that kind of colour on the ground would probably reduce the visibility of a logo on top of it maybe.

And to think we're told that safety is paramount

See, I think we could really add some interesting colour to the outside of these horrible, dull roads... And while we're at it, a few scatter cushions around the tyre walls might brighten this silly track up!! Silly boys and they're silly cars!

Selby

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Down F0rce

Paul Ricard is just a testing facility these days, isn't it? Not much point in having a race if people can't go and watch it.

Selby's right they do have races there. This is the calendar for the year:

http://www.circuitpaulricard.com/calendar-c-2.html

[ECW Dan Selby]

It must just boil down to sponsorship then. Seems crazy.

Selby

[bella]

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

See, I think we could really add some interesting colour to the outside of these horrible, dull roads... And while we're at it, a few scatter cushions around the tyre walls might brighten this silly track up!! Silly boys and they're silly cars!

why do they have to go in circles so many times. can't they just do it once? and get those drivers in a suit and tie for press conferences while we're at it. they look like they all need a good meal.

perhaps they could have the tarmac sponsored by ikea, put down some nice rugs and have some nice furniture for when they retire and for the marshals, and then give the tyres a nice lick of paint and get dulux to sponsor them

[bjohnsonsmith]

The Paul Ricard track is owned by Excelis, which in turn is owned by Bernie. So if the French GP were to be held at Paul Ricard, wouldn't Excelis have to pay the sanctioning fee?

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by bella

perhaps they could have the tarmac sponsored by ikea, put down some nice rugs and have some nice furniture for when they retire and for the marshals, and then give the tyres a nice lick of paint and get dulux to sponsor them

Off topic comment alert I have to type this or my brain will explode! I skim read that and saw another sponsor, I thought that they would sponsor what happens a few hours after a driver gets an extra mobile phone number on the walk to the podium ... Thanks for reading, you've been a wonderful audience. Don't forget to try the veal and tip your waitress. We now return you to the topic

Off topic comment alert I have to type this or my brain will explode! Dodgy jokes aside, F1 does under-exploit the sponsorship potential it has, but that's a side-point Thanks for reading, you've been a wonderful audience. Don't forget to try the veal and tip your waitress. We now return you to the topic

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The Paul Ricard track is owned by Excelis, which in turn is owned by Bernie. So if the French GP were to be held at Paul Ricard, wouldn't Excelis have to pay the sanctioning fee?

Well, yes, but Excelis is one of Bernie's companies ...

[Matt]

Bernie would have to fund the race out of pocket. Can't see that happening.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Matt

Bernie would have to fund the race out of pocket. Can't see that happening.

He would be indirectly paying for it himself via Excelis, however I think the problem with having the GP at Paul Ricard is that it potentially causes a conflict of interest, in that he stands to benefit from hosting the event as well as organising it and other track owners will see this as unfair.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Matt

Bernie would have to fund the race out of pocket. Can't see that happening.

Bet it would be the lowest sanctioning fee of the season!

[chillibowl]

do we really know what the sanctioning fees are now days (rather what can BE get away with asking for)?

Montreal has is a deal with a reported fee of 15 million in Canadian dollars (around 11mil Euros). granted its in N.America and a sponsor and fan favorite but i would think places like the UK, Italy, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Germany all fall into that category and if they were able to renegotiate their deals in the current economic climate they would be able to negotiate much better deals for themselves.

[bjohnsonsmith]

In the aftermath of the Donnington GP saga, Silverstone managed to broker a 17 year with Ecclestone.

There is more detail of the deal here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8397777.stm

[wnut]

So 12million pounds @ 7% compounded increase over 15 years = 33 million in final year - bargain.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

He would be indirectly paying for it himself via Excelis, however I think the problem with having the GP at Paul Ricard is that it potentially causes a conflict of interest, in that he stands to benefit from hosting the event as well as organising it and other track owners will see this as unfair.

Run them all at Ricard....just change the layout and the background....Is that unfair?

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

Run them all at Ricard....just change the layout and the background....Is that unfair?

Green F1! Save all the wasteful traveling.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

Run them all at Ricard....just change the layout and the background....Is that unfair?

Well it would be to British GP, Italian GP, German GP, Spanish GP, Hungarian GP fans, who want to go to a GP in their own country.

I excluded Canada, as it is on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean and Monaco as they've got special dispensation on the fees because it is a very old established race; so much for the French GP, after all this is where it all started.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Well it would be to British GP, Italian GP, German GP, Spanish GP, Hungarian GP fans, who want to go to a GP in their own country.

I excluded Canada, as it is on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean and Monaco as they've got special dispensation on the fees because it is a very old established race; so much for the French GP, after all this is where it all started.

Who said anything about spectators.... You'd save a fortune in grandstands and building spectator facilities.
The only spectators would be those who were associated with sponsors etc although Bernie could run a lottery for maybe a 1000 people per GP to come and rub shoulders with the paddock club.....
Another revenue stream...
There would be no general admission for anyone, they'd all have to watch it on TV........ whats unfair about that? Bernie would say they're all treated the same...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

Who said anything about spectators.... You'd save a fortune in grandstands and building spectator facilities.
The only spectators would be those who were associated with sponsors etc although Bernie could run a lottery for maybe a 1000 people per GP to come and rub shoulders with the paddock club.....
Another revenue stream...
There would be no general admission for anyone, they'd all have to watch it on TV........ whats unfair about that? Bernie would say they're all treated the same...

What's unfair is that those race fans who want to got to the actual event wouldn't be able to. I love going to Silverstone, TV will never capture the atmosphere or the sounds and smell.

Now if Bernie could incorporate a virtual televisual experience that captured the sounds and smells of being at a GP then I think your idea could be a winner and great source of revenue. Ticket prices could vary depending on what package you wanted, e.g. virtual grandstand being the cheapest, virtual pitwalkabout a little more, or virtual grandstand including starting grid walkabout with Martin Brundle even more still.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

What's unfair is that those race fans who want to got to the actual event wouldn't be able to. I love going to Silverstone, TV will never capture the atmosphere or the sounds and smell.

Now if Bernie could incorporate a virtual televisual experience that captured the sounds and smells of being at a GP then I think your idea could be a winner and great source of revenue. Ticket prices could vary depending on what package you wanted, e.g. virtual grandstand being the cheapest, virtual pitwalkabout a little more, or virtual grandstand including starting grid walkabout with Martin Brundle even more still.

Well of course....you could dial up a pitwalk with DC for 75 Euros, Brundle a shade more at 125. For 250 you could share bernies private suite above the pits and have drinks with Max...virtually. The real experience would be 2500.

Its not unfair...you could attend..... for a price. How much would it be worth? $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Scarcity puts the price up endlessly.

You could also take virtual rides on practise days...The permutations are endless.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

Well of course....you could dial up a pitwalk with DC for 75 Euros, Brundle a shade more at 125. For 250 you could share bernies private suite above the pits and have drinks with Max...virtually. The real experience would be 2500.

Its not unfair...you could attend..... for a price. How much would it be worth? $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Scarcity puts the price up endlessly.

You could also take virtual rides on practise days...The permutations are endless.

They certainly are endless, you could buy a virtual seat with your favourite driver, I think this is a real winner. Also there is the Green aspect to consider, without hordes of spectators going to the race track, carbon footprints would be reduced, exhaust emissions reduced and fuel not wasted.

[bravo]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Off topic comment alert I have to type this or my brain will explode! Just had to share this little story. Once my wife saw a Old English Sheepdog and turned to me and said, "isn't that Durex dog cute?" I nearly wet myself Thanks for reading, you've been a wonderful audience. Don't forget to try the veal and tip your waitress. We now return you to the topic

If you're going virtual you might as well spend £40 on F1 2010/11 and get to drive the cars too!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by bravo

If you're going virtual you might as well spend £40 on F1 2010/11 and get to drive the cars too!

Why not, that could be a further ticket option.

Also I was thinking why not have two multiple configuration tracks, one in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern hemisphere, thereby extending the season and potentially having GPs all year round.

[wnut]

"If you're going virtual you might as well spend £40 on F1 2010/11 and get to drive the cars too!" Bravo


Sounds good, can you overtake or is it impossible?