Why Gentelmans Racing In Gp And Not F1?

Artwinter · 10 Jul 2001, 17:56 (Ref:115334)

Why in the days of GP racing was it gentelmans racing? And now in modern F1 it is dog eat dog in every race?

Gwen

**Craig** · 10 Jul 2001, 18:05 (Ref:115340)

Money.

Liz · 10 Jul 2001, 22:35 (Ref:115415)

And the modern perception that "gentleman" is an insult akin to "sissy".

Valve Bounce · 10 Jul 2001, 23:28 (Ref:115424)

Because of satellite links for television, many sports have evolved because "the world is their stage". I remembr whe mervyn Rose was kicked out of amateur tennis because he sold catgut for tennis raquets. Looking back at it, we can see the injustice of this outrageous act of bureaucracy, how a few people managed to control this sport. Since televising sport all over the world, and cable and satellite TV came into being, the money thrown around in sport is mind boggling. Real Madrid paid oodles of millions for Zidane, I saw that yesterday. Rugby Union has gone professional several years ago, and I am sure everyone here can think of many other sports that have changed because of television money. Winning is no longer a sporting achievement, it is opening the door to fortune. How much do you think Goran will be able to get for appearing at a tennis match in the future because he won Wimbledon? I think Craig summed it all up - money.

Minardi fan · 10 Jul 2001, 23:31 (Ref:115427)

Got to be money.

However there are some gentlemen racers around - although the last most obvious one was of course Katayama.

marcus · 11 Jul 2001, 02:19 (Ref:115462)

yeh what the minardi fan said

Liz · 11 Jul 2001, 02:33 (Ref:115466)

Well, for just a little longer there's Cranky Mika. He's a gentleman racer.

Alan Jones · 11 Jul 2001, 04:45 (Ref:115485)

Liz said:

Quote:

Well, for just a little longer there's Cranky Mika. He's a gentleman racer.

I reckon DC might disagree with you there Liz. DC, now there is a true gentleman's, racer

Minardi fan · 11 Jul 2001, 10:22 (Ref:115544)

Mika is not a gentleman racer - remember how he sulked because DC won at Spa in 1999?

THE KAT RULEZ.

Airhead · 11 Jul 2001, 10:23 (Ref:115545)

True Alan,

How many guys pull over and let their team mate win due to a gentleman's agreement?

Go DC you good thing! Just gotta win the next 7 races!

bghaw · 11 Jul 2001, 16:18 (Ref:115709)

Oh c'monguys...MIKA NOT A GENTLEMEN RACER??? The man couldn't be MORE composed on the track. Look at the way he's handled the 2001 season thus far...

Spot on Amof... DC is a gent indeed.

GOOOOOO MIKAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Gt_R · 11 Jul 2001, 22:33 (Ref:115877)

I'm sorry to differ in opinions...
But i do NOT think that DC is a gentleman racer. Firstly, its not very frequent that he decides to go wheel to wheel with somebody, unless he has absolute advantage...and about the gentleman part, no. Gentlemen dont do what he and Ron and Haug did at Monaco, and dont go about waving at their opponents and then being oh-so-revengeful on circuit (remember the spa quals). Gentlemen doesnt give some the idea of hypocrisy and dont go whine to the media about their rivals (i prefer the Eddie loud approach, not DC). DC is acting like a gentleman...but i think its more due to the money and image he wants to portray instead of inborn.

As for Mika, i always thought he was quite gentlemanly...he was a good loser, do not whine to media, and although he can be quite boring at conferences...he comes accross as a rather true individual (see the diff? DC just seem fake...). And if u think its all biased...no...because i think Damon (one who i sometimes criticize) is also quite a guy!~

Alan Jones · 11 Jul 2001, 22:49 (Ref:115886)

Hey, don't get me wrong here posters but I don't see Mika as a gentleman, more as a SNAG. Remember the crying incident....

A man truly in touch with his feminine side...

Mekola · 12 Jul 2001, 00:03 (Ref:115924)

One important actual gentleman racer was of course Giovanni Lavaggi, who is a count and an engineer. He was champion at Interserie and he raced in F3000, F1, CART and now in FIA SCC Championship with a Ferrari 333 SP-Judd of his own team GLV Racing.

Total-F1 · 12 Jul 2001, 16:41 (Ref:116182)

Giovanni Lavaggi - translated as "Johnny Carwash" - which I always found highly amusing!

F1 is a professional sport nowadays - the Gentlemen racers were amateurs racing on their own money against the Professional drivers and the big manufacturers...

Neil C · 13 Jul 2001, 18:37 (Ref:116705)

Quote:

Originally posted by AlanJones
Hey, don't get me wrong here posters but I don't see Mika as a gentleman, more as a SNAG

Sensitive New Age Guy?

Total F1, I don't think the "gentleman" is defined by pro/am status or from where his funding was coming. It's more a matter of manners and graciousness, something that is quite foreign to most of the "me first" generation.

Total-F1 · 13 Jul 2001, 19:16 (Ref:116717)

What I said was a gentlemen racer used to be, in the pre-championship years

Now, a Gentlemen driver is a guy with an "after you, Claude" approach who moves over for anyone...

And what's wrong with "me first" ?? Isn't that what racing is all about??

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Open Wheel Racing Series To Acquire Championship Auto Racing Teams	RaceTime	ChampCar World Series	105	8 Oct 2003 10:34
Aussie Racing Cars- bloody good racing.	Mattracer	Australasian Touring Cars.	15	6 Jun 2003 10:48
The theory that road racing requires more talent than oval racing	Joe Fan	NASCAR & Stock Car Racing	14	15 Aug 2002 12:42
Dale Coyne Racing and Project Racing Group join forces	KC	ChampCar World Series	2	6 Mar 2001 20:58