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1 Oct 2008, 12:05 (Ref:2301954) | #1 | |
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The night racing fad.
I haven't been on in a while, so forgive me if this has been done.
The Singapore night race, then. I loved it! Brilliant! After the misery of the post-Belgian GP shambles, F1 needed a shot in the arm like no other time and boy has it got it since. First Monza with its surprise winner and, for me, the icing on the cake - a terrific new event on the streets of Singapore. The problem I have though is that Bernie and others seem to want to make night racing a more regular thing on a number of circuits in that same sort of timezone. I hate to be miserable, but I hate the idea of this. What made Singapore so exciting, so fresh was it was A) unique to F1 and B) the perfect setting for a night race. The addition of a Suzuka/Malaysia night race or whatever is planned nowadays fills me with dread. It just wouldn't be the same in terms of spectacle (no fancy buildings or streets at Suzuka, although nice ferris wheel admittedly!) and would also detract from the uniqueness of the Singapore event. It would get to the point of "oh, here's another night race". Please Bernie, no more. Keep it as it is I beg of you! It really isn't that hard for the fans to get out of bed early in the morning, provided F1 is kept as a decent spectacle. |
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1 Oct 2008, 12:50 (Ref:2301986) | #2 | ||
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Malaysia has just said no to a night race..What they are prepared to do is push the race back by two hours..
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/...to-night-race/ |
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1 Oct 2008, 13:44 (Ref:2302034) | #3 | ||
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IMO there should be no more than 2 night races per year.
Singapore should be one, and if I was to suggest another it would be moving the Aussie GP back to Adelaide and running that at night. |
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1 Oct 2008, 13:51 (Ref:2302042) | #4 | ||
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it'd like overtaking, isnt it? too much and it just takes the shine off it...
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1 Oct 2008, 15:51 (Ref:2302111) | #5 | ||
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I agree with two night races limit. Singapore plus a street race in Europe. As good as the thought of cars racing past landmarks in London is at night, I doubt it would happen. What about Potsdam (for Berlin) or Paris?
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1 Oct 2008, 16:39 (Ref:2302141) | #6 | |
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A Paris night race would be brilliant. As long as the rowdy young ones don't turn the F1 cars over and set them on fire.
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1 Oct 2008, 16:48 (Ref:2302148) | #7 | ||
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IMO Singapore will be the only night race for the time being, but all the far flung races in Asia will probably be forced to move back their starting times.
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1 Oct 2008, 20:24 (Ref:2302313) | #8 | ||
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I wouldn't mind seeing Monaco at night...that'd be kinda neat. A European night-race won't happen though, since putting the timezones out of kilter in this fashion would defeat what Bernie is trying to achieve.
For sure, if we are to get anymore night-races, then I think only really street-tracks will work. I can't really see how it can function properly on road circuits. This is why Bernie's apparent appetite for night-races concerns me. I personally like a good street-track, but there are not many of them to go about (far too many are a bit pants). I fear that we may be about to get a few more crammed on the schedule in the name of night-races, and more than a couple will likely be able to have the attribute of "pants" applied to them. I like things like Monaco, and Singapore, since both are interesting tracks, but I also like these races because they are not the norm. To have a calander half-full of street venues, well, that defeats the point IMO. I think, too, a street-dominated schedule is not a productive approach (the same is true for a schedule with a high proportion of street, if not dominated as such). I believe no road-racing series should be street-free, but I think letting the schedule get overfull of them is a bit of a folly (I believe this has been shown in practice). Last edited by Dutton; 1 Oct 2008 at 20:33. |
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2 Oct 2008, 00:23 (Ref:2302429) | #9 | |
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Since the majority of the people that can actually be bothered to watch F1 are mostly based in Europe it's hardly surprising that FOM want as many night races in Asia as possible.
Night races in Europe would clash with programmes that the TV companies consider to be more important viewing for that time of day. |
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2 Oct 2008, 01:27 (Ref:2302444) | #10 | ||
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Yup. TV viewership is the only reason night-racing has appeared, and is the only reason that will cause an expansion (and will dictate where it happens). I think we all know that.
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2 Oct 2008, 09:52 (Ref:2302625) | #11 | |
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I can't see Suzuka ever becoming a night race and I'd prefer it were kept on the calendar than lose it because of the race time in Europe. I liked Singapore, but actually I prefer the races at funny times, it means I can set the video and watch them over breakfast, leaving more of the weekend free.
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2 Oct 2008, 10:42 (Ref:2302669) | #12 | ||
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What's the point though. It was lit up like daytime, and other than a lot of flood lights it was almost impossible to tell it was night time. It didn't improve the racing, or add to the spectacle. It is 100% purely to get more money into Bernie's pockets by having a big audience and a big hosting fee.
I'm not against night races, but I don't see anything whatsoever special about them. If you want a night race, then leave it dark and may the best team (who can design, fit and run the least problematic lights) win. |
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2 Oct 2008, 12:13 (Ref:2302737) | #13 | |
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Interesting article here about Abu Dhabi:-
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71050 Good idea for them to consider a night race, especially if the circuit is likely to be bland - hopefully Bahrain will take the hint! |
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2 Oct 2008, 12:36 (Ref:2302748) | #14 | |||
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Quote:
B) I think they were very lucky it didn't rain. If it had, I think we would be screaming in concert with the rest of the sport, why did they take such a stupid risk? In general though I agree. It's a gimmick, and like any gimmick, it works, but will only work while there is a novelty value to it. |
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2 Oct 2008, 12:53 (Ref:2302764) | #15 | ||
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This thread has reminded me about the distasteful business of money in F1.
The powers that be want more money for F1 races so is prepared to hawk them off to the highest bidder irrespective of levels of corruption or human rights abuses in the country. Those same powers that be that complain that these far flung places aren't near enough Europe to make the races convenient viewing. Well boo hoo Bernie - bring the races back to Europe if you don't like it.... |
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2 Oct 2008, 19:26 (Ref:2302993) | #16 | |||
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Quote:
Anyway, apart from all this, I just don't see the great harm that having a race in such a place achieves. So said government, or whatever, gives some of its cash to Bernie: this isn't really any different to the other chosen causes that they give their money to, but in this instance it can actually provide something tangible that some people might actually get some enjoyment out of. If the standard of a government is to start being taken into consideration, where is the line drawn? Italy has a fair old corruption problem, whereas the likes of Australia and the US have legitimised corruption. Argentina doesn't have a race anymore, but in times in the past it has held races whilst its governments have been doing shocking things. Or is corruption an example of an acceptable misbehaviour, given it only "indirectly" hammers the population's quality of life? Do we also start to consider the potential abuses that a country's legislation could allow, even if it is, by and large, not actually used in that way (although certainly is to an extent)? If I think about the "anti-terrorism" legislation that the likes of the US and the UK has, for instance, well, it is not exactly the most friendly stuff when it coems to peoples' rights, the previously accepted rule of law, and so on. Where does it end? The right to determine what is acceptable lies with whom? Last edited by Dutton; 2 Oct 2008 at 19:31. |
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"The world is my country, and science is my religion." - Christian Huygens: 17th century Dutch astronomer. |
3 Oct 2008, 08:59 (Ref:2303290) | #17 | |||
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All good points Dutton and I respect what you say but....
Quote:
I'm looking forward to hearing how the Olympics have dramatically changed the lives of the people of China for example......but not holding my breath. Anyway, my reference to funding by dodgy governments has deflected the point of my post. The main point I was trying to make is that Bernie's given far flung countries the races and then whinged about the times they're having the races at precisely because of where they are whilst the countries these races used to be at, by and large, were in "better" time zones. And why has it changed - to line someones pockets. Nice that. |
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"If we are all god's children, what's so special about Jesus?" - Jimmy Carr |
3 Oct 2008, 09:32 (Ref:2303320) | #18 | |
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Arguably that sending sporting events and Western audiences to these countries you want to boycott draws more attention to the country and in turn pressures them to 'clean up'.
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3 Oct 2008, 09:39 (Ref:2303324) | #19 | |||
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Quote:
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3 Oct 2008, 09:56 (Ref:2303330) | #20 | |
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They want to be involved in Western civilization and sporting cultures. They want to assimilate with us. They will have to change to be able to do that. Can't you see?
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3 Oct 2008, 12:37 (Ref:2303413) | #21 | |||
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Quote:
I must visit your paradise one day!!! |
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3 Oct 2008, 12:40 (Ref:2303415) | #22 | |
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Care to challenge (or change) my opinion with some intelligent and intellectual argument?
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3 Oct 2008, 12:46 (Ref:2303421) | #23 | ||
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Nope, because I recognise a zealot when I see one.
Reality will never mean anything to them. |
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3 Oct 2008, 12:49 (Ref:2303424) | #24 | |
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Ironic.
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3 Oct 2008, 12:54 (Ref:2303430) | #25 | |||
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<wishes he hadn't popped in the little comment about certain countries now>
Anyway as we were saying..... Quote:
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"If we are all god's children, what's so special about Jesus?" - Jimmy Carr |
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