US Grand Prix

As regular readers will know, I am an avid Formula One fan and have been for many years. On the whole I try to keep my views and opinions to myself for they are both strong and controversial, but for once my silence is broken.

Whichever way you look at it, Sunday's race at indianopolis was a complete farce. The world watched a pathetic six car Bridgestone prosession complete the 73 laps whilst the Michelin runners lay dormant in the pits. I'll avoid the in-depth analysis that has gone before on this subject, but the fact is that Michelin advised all teams running it's tyres to not race on safety grounds. The final banked corner was generating too much lateral load in the left rear tyre, causing a failure onRalf Schumacher's Toyota on Friday and potential problems being identified in all Michelin tyres for all teams brought to the circuit for the weekend.

In an attempt to avoid a sporting and commercial disaster, the teams got their heads together to come to a solution. They found one; the Michelin teams would start from the back of the grid and score no points in the Grand Prix regardless of the result, under the proviso that a temporary chicance be built before turn 15. This would slow the cars down sufficiently through the final turn to prevent any potential tyre failure. Not ideal, but there would be a spectacle.

In an alarming display of idiocy, the FIA disagreed with this solution. It appears that the Michelin-shod teams will now be summoned to the FIA for 'Damaging the sport'. What a load of tosh. Nobody can deny that Michelin made a grave mistake with their tyres, but what team would ever allow it's drivers to race when the manufacturer of such a key component advices against it? Who remembers the European Grand Prix? Mclaren came under intense criticism for allowing Raikkonen to continue with a tyre that was clearly at risk of failing. All I ask is for some consistancy.

Max has suggested that the Michelin teams should simply have 'gone slower' through the final corner. Max's single seater racing career was both short and unsuccesful and that's no wonder with this ridiculous notion. How much slower is 'slower'? I don't believe for one second that he was in any position to quantify this. Also, if driver A's interpretation of 'slower' is quicker than driver B's, what is driver B going to do on lap 2? Within 3 laps they'll be going at racing speed.

In my view F1's reputation has been permanently tarnished, especially in the US. Minardi team boss Paul Stoddard (who incidentally runs Bridgestone tyres) has called for Mr. Mosely's resignation. I see no better way for F1 to begin it's recovery.

F1, Cornwall and the Midwife

It’s been little over a week and a half since I last gave an update here and much has happened.

Griff, Paul, Rach and I went to Silverstone to watch the F1 testing a week ago, last Friday. I happened to notice it on the ITV F1 website that all the major teams would be there, the icing on the cake being that it was free. Frantic holiday form filling ensued to see the four of us travel up to Northamptonshire for a fun, free day of F1 action. Needless to say, it was amazing. Back in the day I was quite the F1 attendee but the sport is not what it once was and this was the first time I’d seen the cars in action since 2000. The noise, speed and general atmosphere is something that TV cannot convey, try as they might, and would encourage anyone slightly interested in the sport to take time out to go look for yourselves.

It was a busy Friday as no sooner did I get back from Silverstone, it was time to head to Cornwall. We had been planning to go and see my parents for some time, but amazingly this was to be the first time we’d been down to Hayle in 2005. It was great fun doing absolutely nothing for 2 days.

Last Thursday we went to see the midwife for the 24 week checkup. Fi looks pregnant now rather than fat and little one is kicking quite strongly now. It is time for rhe mess that is our spare-spare room to be transformed into a nursery. It’s quite a nice size for a baby (smallish) and a room we don’t currently use so the disruption should be minimal. Best news is that Fi’s mum is coming over to help decorate it!

Griff in a Bog

Here is another picture from our ride on Bank Holiday Monday. Just the other side of a stream, Griff rode into unusually sticky mud. Here is the result!

In trying to escape the quick-mud his right leg sunk, resulting in a stuck shoe. Oh how we laughed!