TV Radio Times

mattmarvell · 10 Dec 2018, 21:04 (Ref:3869274)

I just found out something I never knew or if I did I'd forgotten... I was flicking through an old edition of the Radio Times (Online) 16th July 1983
and the British Grand Prix was held on a Saturday ... was this a regular occurance... why was it held on a Saturday ?

kipper · 10 Dec 2018, 22:32 (Ref:3869299)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattmarvell

I just found out something I never knew or if I did I'd forgotten... I was flicking through an old edition of the Radio Times (Online) 16th July 1983
and the British Grand Prix was held on a Saturday ... was this a regular occurance... why was it held on a Saturday ?

It was due to limitations on the use of Silverstone on Sundays, as the Brands Hatch races took place on Sundays. I'm not sure what changed after 1983, but the 1985 race took place on the now more conventional Sunday.

Even now, Silverstone still has restrictions on Sunday usage - there is a cessation of track activity for about 20 minutes to allow the church bells to be rung.

**Aysedasi** · 10 Dec 2018, 22:55 (Ref:3869307)

It was a common thing. I always remember the 'Church Break' at Thruxton, which was my local circuit.

Mike Harte · 10 Dec 2018, 23:22 (Ref:3869313)

Back in the 60s, motor racing was not permitted at Oulton Park on a Sunday, either. It was a real pain for us to have to prep the car after work on a Friday evening before the long drive up there from London, just in time to sign on and go for scrutineering.

S griffin · 11 Dec 2018, 12:19 (Ref:3869394)

The last F1 race to be held on Saturday was the 1985 SA GP. Don't know why South Africa had their race on a Saturday?

Rob29 · 11 Dec 2018, 17:31 (Ref:3869473)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

The last F1 race to be held on Saturday was the 1985 SA GP. Don't know why South Africa had their race on a Saturday?

Think it was for similar religious reasons.was scrapped altogether from1986 until revived for 2 years to replace the USA in 92-93. Saudia Arabia is racing this coming Saturday

S griffin · 11 Dec 2018, 21:10 (Ref:3869532)

Well it was scrapped in 86 because of growing political pressure to withdraw due to apartheid

rbs · 12 Dec 2018, 08:15 (Ref:3869598)

Don't know why South Africa had their race on a Saturday?[/QUOTE]

SA had races on a Friday & a Monday as well in the 60's. Usually it was New Years Day.

Rob29 · 12 Dec 2018, 15:15 (Ref:3869688)

Yep-and Britain had F1;F2 F5000 races on Good Friday & Easter Monday 1964 I remember going to F1 races on saturdays at Snetterton;Goodwood(monday);Aintreel;Silverstone before the GP at Brands Hatch.

coppice · 12 Dec 2018, 16:33 (Ref:3869708)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipper

It was due to limitations on the use of Silverstone on Sundays, as the Brands Hatch races took place on Sundays. I'm not sure what changed after 1983, but the 1985 race took place on the now more conventional Sunday.

Even now, Silverstone still has restrictions on Sunday usage - there is a cessation of track activity for about 20 minutes to allow the church bells to be rung.

Brands races could be on Saturdays too-my first GP there was in 1972 was a Sat, but my last , in 1986 on a Sunday.

Earlier this year I noticed that the clueless bint who writes The Times F1 reports mentioning there had never been a Saturday race in GP history

Rob29 · 12 Dec 2018, 17:18 (Ref:3869714)

Quote:

Originally Posted by coppice

Brands races could be on Saturdays too-my first GP there was in 1972 was a Sat, but my last , in 1986 on a Sunday.

Earlier this year I noticed that the clueless bint who writes The Times F1 reports mentioning there had never been a Saturday race in GP history

Just as bad as the equally clueless reporter for Sky TV who thinks F1 started in 1950 .I think only yesterday some idiot said the Indy 500 used to be an F1 race

**Aysedasi** · 12 Dec 2018, 18:10 (Ref:3869727)

Well, it counted for the World Championship for a while, so he wasn't entirely wide of the mark......

S griffin · 12 Dec 2018, 18:21 (Ref:3869731)

F1 started in 1947. Gp racing started in 1906

**Adam43** · 12 Dec 2018, 20:28 (Ref:3869764)

The first GP was on a Tuesday and a Wednesday.

I’ve driven the circuit too. Although not back in 1906.

**Aysedasi** · 12 Dec 2018, 22:14 (Ref:3869784)

Yes, I remember your exploits - how long ago was that now?

**Adam43** · 12 Dec 2018, 22:19 (Ref:3869787)

Crikey. I’m not sure, a good five or so years ago.

Edit: it was.

So I started the race on a Friday 107 years too late.

coppice · 13 Dec 2018, 07:36 (Ref:3869831)

So..similar to Alonso's McLaren Honda then, based on its 2017 reliability....

Rob29 · 13 Dec 2018, 11:30 (Ref:3869881)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Well, it counted for the World Championship for a while, so he wasn't entirely wide of the mark......

Way of the mark-not drivers every scored a championship point and in the 6-10 F1 or F2 races that counted 1950-60

**Aysedasi** · 13 Dec 2018, 18:34 (Ref:3870006)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob29

Way of the mark-not drivers every scored a championship point and in the 6-10 F1 or F2 races that counted 1950-60

Sorry, run that past me again? Are you saying that what I wrote isn't correct?

mattmarvell · 14 Dec 2018, 15:18 (Ref:3870238)

Thanks for the replies, interesting and what I half expected... of interest from that weekend I found a recording of a Radio 1 outside broadcast on the Friday night by Andy Peebles which included interviews with Derek Warwick and Murray Walker.

morninggents · 15 Dec 2018, 15:14 (Ref:3870514)

I think nearly all UK Grands Prix were held on Saturdays up until the early 1980s.
Similarly all league soccer matches, rugby, horse racing, first class cricket, etc. were also held on Saturdays and virtually never on Sundays. Come to think of it shops and supermarkets didn't open on Sundays - only news agents, sweet sops and (some) petrol stations.
All changed in the late 70s/early 80s.

jimclark · 16 Dec 2018, 03:01 (Ref:3870613)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob29

Just as bad as the equally clueless reporter for Sky TV who thinks F1 started in 1950 .I think only yesterday some idiot said the Indy 500 used to be an F1 race

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Well, it counted for the World Championship for a while, so he wasn't entirely wide of the mark......

1950-1960, to be exact.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob29

Way of the mark-not drivers every scored a championship point and in the 6-10 F1 or F2 races that counted 1950-60

Huh???

A little evening delight, eh...?

edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

F1 started in 1947. Gp racing started in 1906

So true, but the WDC started in 1950 (and the WCC in '58). Maybe that's what the presenter meant...

jimclark · 16 Dec 2018, 08:59 (Ref:3870634)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimclark

A little evening delight, eh...?

On rethink, apparently morning delight, eh?

edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimclark

So true, but the WDC started in 1950 (and the WCC in '58). Maybe that's what the presenter meant...

Also on rethink, maybe that's what the presenter actually stated....

Akrapovic · 16 Dec 2018, 13:24 (Ref:3870674)

If you want to get really pedantic (which I think is what we're all doing here

) then you could argue Formula 1 didn't really exist until 1950. The non-championship events from 46-49 were using the agreed-upon regulations, but it never had a set name. Formula 1, Formula A, etc. It was only when Formula 3 came along in 1950 that F1 and F2 got their set names.

I don't think it's wrong to say F1 started in 1950. It's pretty obvious what is meant.

And it was certainly part of the F1 World Championship. Whether drivers scored a point or not doesn't matter -

https://www.formula1.com/en/results....ce-result.html

jimclark · 17 Dec 2018, 04:15 (Ref:3870763)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

And it was certainly part of the F1 World Championship. Whether drivers scored a point or not doesn't matter -

https://www.formula1.com/en/results....ce-result.html

More betterer...
http://www.statsf1.com/en/grands-prix.aspx
and
http://www.statsf1.com/en/grand-prix-indianapolis.aspx

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