Lewis got his groove back and Johan exhaled.

[jb44]

Silverstone 2008 will be remembered rather fondly by many I suspect, but for me personally it was the race which restored my faith. Up to now I've had a devil of a time getting really exited about F1, and the fault lied entirely with me. No traction control, the prospect of three or four drivers being genuine contenders, yet I stayed strangely indifferent. I kept wondering whether it was due to my advancing years, perhaps increasing cynicism had eroded my ability to stand in awe of the gilded gladiators of racing. Even James Allen had ceased to be irritating

But yesterday really moved me, great weather, great racing and ye verily, James Allen : "And they would be telling him, just keep it on the island Lewis." I bit my knuckles. Lord, wasn't Lewis great? Surrounded by nay-sayers, (myself included) criticised by armchair pundits, (ditto) and written off by the media, he proved us all wrong, and I fell in love with this glorious youth all over again. Thank you Lewis, for making an old man feel young again.

Now nobody is claiming that the rest of the season is going to be anything other than a hard brutal and desperate fight, and Raikonen, Kubica, Massa and perhaps Heidfeld (spelling?) are all sniffing blood and glory. Kimmi has certainly proven the worth of perseverance, and I am really beginning to rate Kubica. And Massa? Variable, not consistent and with a talent for self destruction, Massa needs to learn that winning battles are irrelevant, winning the war is everything. 3 Quotes : "There is no point in being the fastest retiree."(Mario Andretti) "To finish first, one must first finish." (Jenks) and to put that in perspective : "You can neaten up speed, but you can't speed up neatness." (The Great Andretti, again) Talented, brave but immature, Massa has a lot to learn. But he is capable of taking the crown.

As Alexander the Great lay dying, his generals asked him who should succeed him. His reply was a simple one : "The best." Such is my wish for 2008.

To end on a bit of a downer, I can't say I am thrilled by either Max Mosley's survival skills, or Bernie's shafting of Silverstone. I have nothing against Donnington, but I have the feeling that this latest Machiavellian manoeuvre is Max and Bernie's two fingered salute to the B.R.C. Moral pygmy's, the both of 'em. Great Britain is the heartland of Formula 1, surely there is place for 2 G.P.'s on the Sceptred Isle? Remember the good old days when traitors were shot? Now they just get buggered by dildo-wearing whores. Max Moseley is an embarrassment to the sport, and Bernie, by protecting this filthy little pervert, brings it further into disrepute. "Lions led by donkeys" is how the brave warriors of the First World War described themselves; "Warriors led by trannie-slaves." applies to F.1 in 2008. What times, what mores.

But none of this can dull the gory of Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone on the 6th of July 2008. A Sunday I shall remember, just as I remember a Sunday at Donnington when Ayerton Senna became a god. Life can be very good indeed.

Kind Regards
Johan Buchner

[sotty]

Loved the post. Im with you on the Massa theory. I tried my hardest not to be impressed by Hamliton yesterday but I was. As discussed on another forum we are only half way through the season and Hamilton needs to take the championship to convince me.

But boring it's not.

[Luke]

I've been lucky enough to visit many GP's over the years. But I've been really lucky to see 3 brilliant races live. Firstly the Mansell v Piquet race at Silverstone, then the stunning first lap by Ayrton Senna at Donnington in '93 and yesterday Hamilton at Silverstone. It p1ssed down all day but there wasn't one seat empty or a spare bit of grass not sat on. The cheer when LH went passed HK was a loud as when Mansell passed Piquet, and when he was standing on his car in the pitlane the place erupted!! A fantastic weekend of racing.

[jb44]

I do envy you very much, being stuck down south, I have never seen a Grand Prix live. To me, like many, F1 is a television sport. I wonder if you would be so kind as try and explain the effect of hearing a top-flight G.P. car in full cry. Does it move the soul?

You are a most fortunate man, should you ever get to meet Lewis, tell him he is the young immortal I never was. What do you make of the Silverstone/ Donnington swap?

Kind Regards
Johan

[Mook]

Originally Posted by jb44

I wonder if you would be so kind as try and explain the effect of hearing a top-flight G.P. car in full cry. Does it move the soul?

The whole thing just rumbles right through you - it's completely surreal.

The best place I've been when an F1 car has come past at full chat is Spa, before they re-designed La Source (the hairpin at the top after the Start/Finish line). You walked into the track and then the footpath used to run alongside the track, but about 10 feet below the level of it, so you were walking about 10 feet from the cars accelerating from La Source at full whack down to Eau Rouge.

The noise is just stupidly deafening and totally feckin awesome. No other way of describing it

[Cuprabob]

Seeing them come off the last banked turn at Indianapolis and going down the straight at above 200mph and seeing them suddenly lose speed for the first corner,braking which seems like a few feet away.

As Mook says the noise has o be experienced to be believed but it's how quickly they can shed speed that really impresses me.