Ah, finally Spa time!

XYXPDQ <qwrtz123@gmail.com> wrote:
> Ah, finally Spa time!
>

Yes, always a highlight of the season.

--
Sir Tim

On 26/07/2023 5:22 am, Sir Tim wrote:
> XYXPDQ <qwrtz123@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Ah, finally Spa time!
>
> Yes, always a highlight of the season.

Agreed. It's the race that I always look forward to more than any other.
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy little classification
in the DSM"
David Melville

This is not an email and hasn't been checked for viruses by any half-arsed self-promoting software.

On Tue, 25 Jul 2023 08:35:13 -0700 (PDT), XYXPDQ wrote:

> Ah, finally Spa time!

My favorite of the year. It's on my bucket list to get there someday.

On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 11:35:15 AM UTC-4, XYXPDQ wrote:
> Ah, finally Spa time!

Spa, Monza, Monaco, and COTA are the only places that really interest me anymore. I wish they could run at Watkins Glen again. I have many great memories (and dead brain cells) from the 70s there.

Hey you kids, get off of my lawn!

On 2023-07-25 19:34, fleemos876 wrote:
> On Tue, 25 Jul 2023 08:35:13 -0700 (PDT), XYXPDQ wrote:
>
>> Ah, finally Spa time!
>
> My favorite of the year. It's on my bucket list to get there someday.

It's on my bucket list to race there someday.

JP <jpayne543@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 11:35:15 AM UTC-4, XYXPDQ wrote:
>> Ah, finally Spa time!
>
> Spa, Monza, Monaco, and COTA are the only places that really interest me
> anymore. I wish they could run at Watkins Glen again. I have many great
> memories (and dead brain cells) from the 70s there.

I would add Suzuka to your list (and probably leave Monaco off it).

--
Sir Tim

On 7/26/2023 3:42 PM, Sir Tim wrote:
> JP <jpayne543@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 11:35:15 AM UTC-4, XYXPDQ wrote:
>>> Ah, finally Spa time!
>>
>> Spa, Monza, Monaco, and COTA are the only places that really interest me
>> anymore. I wish they could run at Watkins Glen again. I have many great
>> memories (and dead brain cells) from the 70s there.
>
> I would add Suzuka to your list (and probably leave Monaco off it).
>

86 COTA, another Tilkedrome. Near Austin, but still in backwater Tejas.

On 27/07/2023 7:42 am, Sir Tim wrote:
> JP <jpayne543@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 11:35:15 AM UTC-4, XYXPDQ wrote:
>>> Ah, finally Spa time!
>>
>> Spa, Monza, Monaco, and COTA are the only places that really interest me
>> anymore. I wish they could run at Watkins Glen again. I have many great
>> memories (and dead brain cells) from the 70s there.
>
> I would add Suzuka to your list (and probably leave Monaco off it).

Agreed - though Monaco qualifying is exciting.

Maybe it's time for the Monaco GP to become a new format, maybe like an extended qualifying session
over (say) two hours (no refueling) with each car having to do at least forty flying laps (using
two compounds) and their four fastest laps (two from each compound) being added together for their
'race time'?

Just off the top of my head... I guess you'd have to put a minimum time on their 'out laps' so they
don't unduly influence cars on fast laps.

That could be very interesting, a real challenge for the tacticians. (So I guess that would rule
Ferrari out!)
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy little classification
in the DSM"
David Melville

This is not an email and hasn't been checked for viruses by any half-arsed self-promoting software.

On 7/26/2023 10:21 PM, ~misfit~ wrote:
> On 27/07/2023 7:42 am, Sir Tim wrote:
>> JP <jpayne543@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 11:35:15 AM UTC-4, XYXPDQ wrote:
>>>> Ah, finally Spa time!
>>>
>>> Spa, Monza, Monaco, and COTA are the only places that really interest me
>>> anymore. I wish they could run at Watkins Glen again. I have many great
>>> memories (and dead brain cells) from the 70s there.
>>
>> I would add Suzuka to your list (and probably leave Monaco off it).
>
> Agreed - though Monaco qualifying is exciting.
>
> Maybe it's time for the Monaco GP to

go away!

> become a new format, maybe like an
> extended qualifying session over (say) two hours (no refueling) with
> each car having to do at least forty flying laps (using two compounds)
> and their four fastest laps (two from each compound) being added
> together for their 'race time'?
>
> Just off the top of my head... I guess you'd have to put a minimum time
> on their 'out laps' so they don't unduly influence cars on fast laps.
>
> That could be very interesting, a real challenge for the tacticians. (So
> I guess that would rule Ferrari out!)

On 7/25/23 08:35, XYXPDQ wrote:
> Ah, finally Spa time!

Yes, I very much appreciate Spa.
A fair hunk of my liking it comes from the history, and
the fact that many parts of the race track are still
very recognizable to what it was in the 1950's, 1960's and
1970's.
In 2016 we spent 3 weeks in Northern Europe, and I picked
the timing to match up with a Track Day at Spa.
I did a fair amount of research ahead of time. Google Maps,
and satellite view, and street view all allowed exploring of
parts of the old complete circuit. I arrived early the day
before to check out the old areas.
It seemed special to me to drive over the same areas like
Fangio, Moss, and Jim Clark drove.
Oh, yes, it frequently rains there.

On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 1:12:38 PM UTC-4, a425couple wrote:
> On 7/25/23 08:35, XYXPDQ wrote:
> > Ah, finally Spa time!
> Yes, I very much appreciate Spa.
> A fair hunk of my liking it comes from the history, and
> the fact that many parts of the race track are still
> very recognizable to what it was in the 1950's, 1960's and
> 1970's.
> In 2016 we spent 3 weeks in Northern Europe, and I picked
> the timing to match up with a Track Day at Spa.
> I did a fair amount of research ahead of time. Google Maps,
> and satellite view, and street view all allowed exploring of
> parts of the old complete circuit. I arrived early the day
> before to check out the old areas.
> It seemed special to me to drive over the same areas like
> Fangio, Moss, and Jim Clark drove.
> Oh, yes, it frequently rains there.
The elevation changes/scenery make it great as far as I'm concerned.
The rain just adds to the challenge.

Dan

On 7/28/2023 12:15 PM, Dan the Man wrote:
> On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 1:12:38 PM UTC-4, a425couple wrote:
>> On 7/25/23 08:35, XYXPDQ wrote:
>>> Ah, finally Spa time!
>> Yes, I very much appreciate Spa.
>> A fair hunk of my liking it comes from the history, and
>> the fact that many parts of the race track are still
>> very recognizable to what it was in the 1950's, 1960's and
>> 1970's.
>> In 2016 we spent 3 weeks in Northern Europe, and I picked
>> the timing to match up with a Track Day at Spa.
>> I did a fair amount of research ahead of time. Google Maps,
>> and satellite view, and street view all allowed exploring of
>> parts of the old complete circuit. I arrived early the day
>> before to check out the old areas.
>> It seemed special to me to drive over the same areas like
>> Fangio, Moss, and Jim Clark drove.
>> Oh, yes, it frequently rains there.

> The elevation changes/scenery make it great as far as I'm concerned.
> The rain just adds to the challenge.
>
> Dan

Put another way, despite their intent, it's not yet a Tilkedrome.

On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 8:35:15 AM UTC-7, XYXPDQ wrote:
> Ah, finally Spa time!

Friday qualifying was fantastic!

On Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 2:11:45 PM UTC-7, XYXPDQ wrote:
> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 8:35:15 AM UTC-7, XYXPDQ wrote:
> > Ah, finally Spa time!
> Friday qualifying was fantastic!

The sprint race was a blast. Start seemed odd; they drag the field around behind the safety car on full wets but half the field pits before even crossing the start line and the rest pit at the end of the first.

Top marks to Paistri for a great drive.

On Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 10:09:38 AM UTC-6, Alan wrote:
> On 2023-07-25 19:34, fleemos876 wrote:

> > It's on my bucket list to get there someday.

> It's on my bucket list to race there someday.

you sure told him
you juvenile fucking douche

On 30/07/2023 10:30 am, XYXPDQ wrote:
> On Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 2:11:45 PM UTC-7, XYXPDQ wrote:
>> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 8:35:15 AM UTC-7, XYXPDQ wrote:
>>> Ah, finally Spa time!
>> Friday qualifying was fantastic!
>
>
> The sprint race was a blast. Start seemed odd; they drag the field around behind the safety car on full wets but half the field pits before even crossing the start line and the rest pit at the end of the first.
>
> Top marks to Paistri for a great drive.

Yes, surely that implies that whoever made the decision for the 4
formation/safety-car laps was rather inept.

geoff

On 2023-07-29 17:52, geoff wrote:
> On 30/07/2023 10:30 am, XYXPDQ wrote:
>> On Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 2:11:45 PM UTC-7, XYXPDQ wrote:
>>> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 8:35:15 AM UTC-7, XYXPDQ wrote:
>>>> Ah, finally Spa time!
>>> Friday qualifying was fantastic!
>>
>>
>> The sprint race was a blast.  Start seemed odd; they drag the field
>> around behind the safety car on full wets  but half the field pits
>> before even crossing the start line and the rest pit at the end of the
>> first.
>>
>> Top marks to Paistri for a great drive.
>
>
> Yes, surely that implies that whoever made the decision for the 4
> formation/safety-car laps was rather inept.

Formula 1 has a problem:

While the extreme wet tires can make racing at F1 speeds possible, the
amount of spray they throw up makes it impossible to see what's ahead of
you.

I remember my first time racing in the rain at Seattle and headed
towards turn 1 at speed for the first time in practice and with 3 or 4
Formula Fords about 30-50 yards in front of me, I couldn't see the
turn-in point AT ALL.

Fortunately, it was only practice, and I could just back off.

I also remember following two Formula Fords into turn 1 at Mission in
heavy rain...

....seeing them both edging inward as the lead car tried to prevent the
car chasing him from trying an overtake underbraking.

I lost sight of them in the spray, but was taking the classic racing line...

....when one of the cars emerged from the spray and there was very
quickly exactly one RF89's width of track remaining for my RF89.

When I got back to the paddock, I discovered that all the white paint on
the right side of my right side American Racer tires had been left on
the wall at the outside of turn 1.

On Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 7:02:47 PM UTC-6, Alan wrote:

> I remember my first time racing in the rain at Seattle and headed
> towards turn 1 at speed for the first time in practice and with 3 or 4
> Formula Fords about 30-50 yards in front of me, I couldn't see the
> turn-in point AT ALL.
>
> Fortunately, it was only practice, and I could just back off.
>
> I also remember following two Formula Fords into turn 1 at Mission in
> heavy rain...
>
> ...seeing them both edging inward as the lead car tried to prevent the
> car chasing him from trying an overtake underbraking.
>
> I lost sight of them in the spray, but was taking the classic racing line....
>
> ...when one of the cars emerged from the spray and there was very
> quickly exactly one RF89's width of track remaining for my RF89.
>
> When I got back to the paddock, I discovered that all the white paint on
> the right side of my right side American Racer tires had been left on
> the wall at the outside of turn 1.

this is bullshit
from a trolling fucking idiot

On Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 7:02:47 PM UTC-6, Alan wrote:

> I remember my first time racing in the rain at Seattle and headed
> towards turn 1 at speed for the first time in practice and with 3 or 4
> Formula Fords about 30-50 yards in front of me, I couldn't see the
> turn-in point AT ALL.
>
> Fortunately, it was only practice, and I could just back off.
>
> I also remember following two Formula Fords into turn 1 at Mission in
> heavy rain...
>
> ...seeing them both edging inward as the lead car tried to prevent the
> car chasing him from trying an overtake underbraking.
>
> I lost sight of them in the spray, but was taking the classic racing line....
>
> ...when one of the cars emerged from the spray and there was very
> quickly exactly one RF89's width of track remaining for my RF89.
>
> When I got back to the paddock, I discovered that all the white paint on
> the right side of my right side American Racer tires had been left on
> the wall at the outside of turn 1.

yawn

Excellent race today. That little bit of rain mixed up the tire strategy nicely.

On 2023-07-30 4:23 PM, XYXPDQ wrote:
> Excellent race today. That little bit of rain mixed up the tire strategy nicely.
>

I haven't been paying too much attention to the situation with Perez and
Red Bull. But I must admit I assume that being outclassed so soundly by
his teammate has to be worrisome for him.

There are teams where one driver consistently beats his teammate: I
think of Hamilton and Bottas, for example. But when you are 22 seconds
behind in identical cars, well, it makes me wonder how long Perez will
be with Red Bull. Marko has been fairly short with drivers who didn't
seem to be up to the task in the past.

There is considerable bias in my observations: I cannot find it in me to
like Verstappen. Not anyone I'd like to go for a beer or pizza with. But
the man can drive! (Unless Perez is quite hopeless at driving, which I
don;t think for a minute.)

So when I admit that I cannot avoid praising Versteppen's driving skill,
that is despite my antipathy towards him as a person.

On 31/07/2023 10:11 am, Darryl Johnson wrote:
> On 2023-07-30 4:23 PM, XYXPDQ wrote:
>> Excellent race today. That little bit of rain mixed up the tire strategy  nicely.
>>
>
> I haven't been paying too much attention to the situation with Perez and Red Bull. But I must admit
> I assume that being outclassed so soundly by his teammate has to be worrisome for him.
>
> There are teams where one driver consistently beats his teammate: I think of Hamilton and Bottas,
> for example. But when you are 22 seconds behind in identical cars, well, it makes me wonder how
> long Perez will be with Red Bull. Marko has been fairly short with drivers who didn't seem to be up
> to the task in the past.
>
> There is considerable bias in my observations: I cannot find it in me to like Verstappen. Not
> anyone I'd like to go for a beer or pizza with. But the man can drive! (Unless Perez is quite
> hopeless at driving, which I don;t think for a minute.)
>
> So when I admit that I cannot avoid praising Versteppen's driving skill, that is despite my
> antipathy towards him as a person.

I've heard it said that Verstappen likes his car to drive a certain way that's different to how
most drivers like their cars and that, in recent years RBR have embraced this philosophy on both
cars. This has been put forward as the reason nobody else seems to do well in the second car.

I don't know if there's truth to that but I can't deny that the combination of Max and that RBR car
is mighty. I would like to see how well another top-tier driver does in the other car but RBR don't
seem likely to put anyone in the other car who might upset Max. It seems that their preference is
just to have someone who will consistently get second or third place. That's a fine line to tread.

I'd like to see them put Liam Lawson in it for next year but don't think that's likely as there's a
good chance Liam would take too many points away from Max.
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy little classification
in the DSM"
David Melville

This is not an email and hasn't been checked for viruses by any half-arsed self-promoting software.

On 2023-07-30 19:01, ~misfit~ wrote:
> On 31/07/2023 10:11 am, Darryl Johnson wrote:
>> On 2023-07-30 4:23 PM, XYXPDQ wrote:
>>> Excellent race today. That little bit of rain mixed up the tire
>>> strategy  nicely.
>>>
>>
>> I haven't been paying too much attention to the situation with Perez
>> and Red Bull. But I must admit I assume that being outclassed so
>> soundly by his teammate has to be worrisome for him.
>>
>> There are teams where one driver consistently beats his teammate: I
>> think of Hamilton and Bottas, for example. But when you are 22 seconds
>> behind in identical cars, well, it makes me wonder how long Perez will
>> be with Red Bull. Marko has been fairly short with drivers who didn't
>> seem to be up to the task in the past.
>>
>> There is considerable bias in my observations: I cannot find it in me
>> to like Verstappen. Not anyone I'd like to go for a beer or pizza
>> with. But the man can drive! (Unless Perez is quite hopeless at
>> driving, which I don;t think for a minute.)
>>
>> So when I admit that I cannot avoid praising Versteppen's driving
>> skill, that is despite my antipathy towards him as a person.
>
> I've heard it said that Verstappen likes his car to drive a certain way
> that's different to how most drivers like their cars and that, in recent
> years RBR have embraced this philosophy on both cars. This has been put
> forward as the reason nobody else seems to do well in the second car.

I've heard it too many times from too many different knowledgeable
people to doubt it very much. Verstappen seems to like a very "pointy"
car, and a lot of drivers don't seem to care for that. You need to be
super-precise not to get the car to over-rotate, but if you can stay on
top of it, you'll use less steering input to turn into the corners, and
make your front and rear tires share the workload more equally.

And with grip, sharing the load equally always results in more overall
grip than a less even split.

>
> I don't know if there's truth to that but I can't deny that the
> combination of Max and that RBR car is mighty. I would like to see how
> well another top-tier driver does in the other car but RBR don't seem
> likely to put anyone in the other car who might upset Max. It seems that
> their preference is just to have someone who will consistently get
> second or third place. That's a fine line to tread.

Ummmmm... ...Sergio Perez is no slouch as a driver. Is he in the very
top tier? No, I don't think he is, but Verstappen isn't just beating him
by a little: he's destroying him.

And it's not just the lap times. Verstappen seems to have a knack for
pulling the performance out of the car while doing less damage to his
tires than most.

>
> I'd like to see them put Liam Lawson in it for next year but don't think
> that's likely as there's a good chance Liam would take too many points
> away from Max.

Please.. ...just give it up.

Don't let your personal antipathy for Verstappen convince you that he is
not one of the very best out there.

I don't like him, either, but there is simply no denying that he is in
very rarefied company among current F1 drivers.

Is he faster than Hamilton in equal equipment: I really don't know, but
I would LOVE to see that battle.

~misfit~ <shaun.at.pukekohe@gmail.com> wrote:

> I'd like to see them put Liam Lawson in it for next year but don't think
> that's likely as there's a
> good chance Liam would take too many points away from Max.

I think you are allowing your patriotism (nationalism?) run away with you a
bit Shaun :-)

--
Sir Tim