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Post by René on Oct 14, 2019 18:12:58 GMT
Wonderful photos Mikael! Thank you so much for sharing. I always love pictures from the fan's perspective, like being there. The atmosphere must be wonderful at Suzuka and I hope it was a memorable event for you!  The race was good even if my favourite team managed to lose again. It must have been a big disappointment for the Japanese fans that Max's race didn't last long. Clearly Charles's mistake but I was a bit annoyed with Max how vocal he was about giving Leclerc a penalty. It wasn't on purpose and it's not that Max never had contact with another driver! Anyway, well deserved win for Valtteri. He was the fastest Mercedes all weekend and made no mistakes. A shame that Lewis can not be happy for him on the podium which is also a bit annoying. Seb drove a solid race after the false start and the fight with Lewis in the end was great. Leclerc's recovery was strong and his pass on Kimi in the 130R was breathtaking. I do agree that continuing with the front wing damage after the first lap collision was dangerous so that penalty was correct. Had the debris hit Lewis on his visor instead of his car's mirror it could have been very nasty. Strong racing also by Albon and Sainz. I was never a Sainz fan but I am more and more impressed by his driving. Very good. |
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Post by mikael on Oct 15, 2019 11:14:23 GMT
Thank you kindly for your comments, Carl and René.
Carl, frankly speaking, I don't know what type of car Kubica was in at the driver's parade.
Yes, it was extremely lucky that the Sunday weather turned out so fine.
As to the date, I saw that a commenter on MSM questioning why this event "hasn't been rescheduled long ago." Actually, the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo were held at a similar time, in the period October 10-24. At this time of the year, the summer heat has lifted, and the weather is generally really nice. Also, the peak of the typhoon season is passed as well. (September is worse; this was typhoon no. 19, after all. Most likely, there will not be many more.) So it isn't all madness to schedule the Japan GP in October.
The perfect time for the Japan GP might be in the spring, say in April or May, when then the weather is mild and nice too, and there are no typhoons. But at this time the weather is nice is Europe too, so I guess they (Japan) don't easily get a slot in that period.
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Post by charleselan on Oct 15, 2019 12:04:12 GMT
Some beautifully atmospheric photographs Mikael which illustrate a race circuit that has history; atmosphere and some seriously enthusiastic fans. Thankfully the weather was excellent for race day and that the typhoon passed without too much drama in that particular area of Japan.
I have only viewed the seven minute highlight on YouTube and read some initial reports online, not sure whether i will watch a more detailed race coverage or not.
Ferrari seem adept and c*cking things up in some way or another this season, and this was another example, but good for Valteri Bottas in winning with some style. Charles Leclerc made a small error which he manfully admitted to, which is far more than the recipient of his error would and has ever done, however that same individual is excellent at complaining about something he has frequently done to others himself.
A lot of complaints about Leclerc driving a car with bits falling off; one has to laugh at this as Gilles did much the same thing on many occasion, Zandvoort '79 anyone. Love them both and never ever give up.
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Post by mikael on Oct 15, 2019 14:10:09 GMT
Thank you very much JC. Watching a race live, it's not easy to have a good overview, if you're positioned such that you cannot really see the "scoreboard" - and if the letters on the nearest TV screen are too small. So it's more about watching and enjoying small details, like the steadiness and rhythm of a certain driver. But this is something I really enjoy; so I always find it's worth the time and the money to go.
Yes, there are a good number of true enthusiasts in Japan. On the seat in front of me was a young (and pretty) lady, in complete Raikkonen outfit and, lo and behold, with precise copies of Raikkonen's underarm tattoos! ("Iceman" on the left arm and some kind of "tribal" symbol on the right.) Here in Japan, tattoos are still taboo, and rarely seen, as they are strongly associated with the criminal underworld (the Yakuza) - so this was really something!
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Post by charleselan on Oct 15, 2019 14:59:11 GMT
Thank you very much JC. Watching a race live, it's not easy to have a good overview, if you're positioned such that you cannot really see the "scoreboard" - and if the letters on the nearest TV screen are too small. So it's more about watching and enjoying small details, like the steadiness and rhythm of a certain driver. But this is something I really enjoy; so I always find it's worth the time and the money to go.
Yes, there are a good number of true enthusiasts in Japan. On the seat in front of me was a young (and pretty) lady, in complete Raikkonen outfit and, lo and behold, with precise copies of Raikkonen's underarm tattoos! ("Iceman" on the left arm and some kind of "tribal" symbol on the right.) Here in Japan, tattoos are still taboo, and rarely seen, as they are strongly associated with the criminal underworld (the Yakuza) - so this was really something!
Mikael, I don't think that being at a race meeting can be bettered, it is the atmosphere; sounds and smells that really make it something special. I haven't been to a race meeting for well over 20 years now, the last ones were Club races at my then local track at Castle Combe. Being at the British GP was the highlight of the year for me from about 1969 until 1992 (my last). I really like your observation of the pretty young lady in front of you in the stand, obviously one of Kimi's devout followers, wonderful to be that young and have such a passion for a driver  . JC |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2019 16:02:00 GMT
Combe was something special before the chicanes.
Coincidentally I initially stopped going to the GP in 92 as well although i did return for '96 and '97 but those were my last.
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Post by René on Oct 15, 2019 17:38:15 GMT
A lot of complaints about Leclerc driving a car with bits falling off; one has to laugh at this as Gilles did much the same thing on many occasion, Zandvoort '79 anyone. Love them both and never ever give up. Yes true. However, I do think with the carbon bits and the speed Charles was going it was more dangerous then with the aluminium parts flying of Gilles's cars. But yes... I also loved the way Charles didn't slow down. But it was dangerous... but hey, it's F1!    |
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Post by robmarsh on Oct 15, 2019 17:55:08 GMT
Nowadays I think the drivers complain more to unsettle the driver than for a valid reason. Lewis could have tried a different line if he didn't want to get hit by shrapnel. I also thought Lewis had a face like a long wet weekend after the race. I thought he was improving!
I also suspect Max will get more vocal as Albon gets closer and Leclerc begins to overshadow him. One of the highlights of the free practice commentary was having Jack Aitken in the commentary box. He seems another nice English lad and spoke more sense than all the others in the box put together.
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Post by charleselan on Oct 15, 2019 18:58:24 GMT
Combe was something special before the chicanes. Coincidentally I initially stopped going to the GP in 92 as well although i did return for '96 and '97 but those were my last. Joe, Castle Combe is a great venue and I only started going there as I wound down my main Press Photography work. Strange really as it was the nearest track to where i lived. Did you race in the Formula Ford races in the early to mid 1990's? For me they were the highlight of the saturday race meetings especially watching the legend that was Bob Higgins. I had one somewhat memorable time when Chris Rea stuffed his Ferrari GT4 into the sleepers at Tower Bend, lovely bloke and brilliant guitarist and singer as well as a dedicated motor sport and Ferrari fan. I did actually get there one easter weekend in the 1980's and had a long chat with Jim Crawford who was racing his F. Atlantic Chevron in the Libre event, he was another smashing guy and very quick. JC |
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Post by Carl on Oct 15, 2019 20:39:37 GMT
I remember how impressive Jim Crawford was at Indianapolis, accurate and aggressive in passing and always very fast.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2019 22:47:12 GMT
Combe was something special before the chicanes. Coincidentally I initially stopped going to the GP in 92 as well although i did return for '96 and '97 but those were my last. Joe, Castle Combe is a great venue and I only started going there as I wound down my main Press Photography work. Strange really as it was the nearest track to where i lived. Did you race in the Formula Ford races in the early to mid 1990's? For me they were the highlight of the saturday race meetings especially watching the legend that was Bob Higgins. I had one somewhat memorable time when Chris Rea stuffed his Ferrari GT4 into the sleepers at Tower Bend, lovely bloke and brilliant guitarist and singer as well as a dedicated motor sport and Ferrari fan. I did actually get there one easter weekend in the 1980's and had a long chat with Jim Crawford who was racing his F. Atlantic Chevron in the Libre event, he was another smashing guy and very quick. JC
Hi JC
I did indeed race Combe in FF1600 from the early 90s... before the chicanes. I will say that Tower was one of the scariest corners in the country to me. Right up there with Gooseneck and the Mountain/Hall bends at Cadwell. I loved Camp in those days.
When i went back many years later i still loved the place, but the chicanes had reduced the challenge, just a little.
Speaking of musicians at Combe, I met Mark Knopfler there one weekend... my memory is a little hazy now, i am sure he had a Rocket, but whether he was racing that or something else i'm not sure.
The other musician encounter i had was at the Vingt Quatre Heures d'Escargot in '93 when Mike Lindup of Level 42 lost his brakes (i assume) and stuffed me very hard from behind into Turn 1 (Honda?) at Mondello Park. Thank goodness we weren't going very fast.
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Post by chrisb on Oct 16, 2019 4:22:46 GMT
Great comments chaps and some wonderful photos Mikael and Rene, really captures the essence of what we enjoy
one of the many things that really irritates me is someone who shall we say is 'prone to give their opinion, but woe betide if you do the same' and that seems epidemic in F1
as have been very busy have yet to watch the race although as usual I did follow it lap by lap with Crash and Autosport, I voted for Bottas and laughed at the suggestion someone elsewhere made that this will make the championship outcome less of a certainty,
I love 'live' motor racing events, having been attending races for 55 years this year is the 1st I have failed to see a race live and really miss it, something I am going to try and remedy before the year end, I stopped going to the British GP in about 2010 - it just wasn't great anymore, and a confession I have been to neither Castle Combe nor Cadwell Park, and this must be rectified methinks
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Post by charleselan on Oct 16, 2019 11:06:48 GMT
I remember how impressive Jim Crawford was at Indianapolis, accurate and aggressive in passing and always very fast. Jim Crawford was one of those drivers that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Colin Chapman gave him some outings in the old Lotus 72 in 1975 at time when the old girl was way past its best; Jim was on a hiding to nothing and was lost to F1 afterwards. He was a very quick and talented driver, one of the few that came to prominence in the British Formula Atlantic series. He then went over to the USA and ran a converted F1 Ensign in the dying days of Can Am and then on to Indycar as you have mentioned Carl. Like Nelson Piquet his career was cut short by sustaining severe leg injuries driving in that series. I think I am correct in saying that after he recovered from those injuries he had a boat of some sort, and died later of a heart condition. |
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Post by charleselan on Oct 16, 2019 11:22:19 GMT
Joe, Castle Combe is a great venue and I only started going there as I wound down my main Press Photography work. Strange really as it was the nearest track to where i lived. Did you race in the Formula Ford races in the early to mid 1990's? For me they were the highlight of the saturday race meetings especially watching the legend that was Bob Higgins. I had one somewhat memorable time when Chris Rea stuffed his Ferrari GT4 into the sleepers at Tower Bend, lovely bloke and brilliant guitarist and singer as well as a dedicated motor sport and Ferrari fan. I did actually get there one easter weekend in the 1980's and had a long chat with Jim Crawford who was racing his F. Atlantic Chevron in the Libre event, he was another smashing guy and very quick. JC
Hi JC
I did indeed race Combe in FF1600 from the early 90s... before the chicanes. I will say that Tower was one of the scariest corners in the country to me. Right up there with Gooseneck and the Mountain/Hall bends at Cadwell. I loved Camp in those days.
When i went back many years later i still loved the place, but the chicanes had reduced the challenge, just a little.
Speaking of musicians at Combe, I met Mark Knopfler there one weekend... my memory is a little hazy now, i am sure he had a Rocket, but whether he was racing that or something else i'm not sure.
The other musician encounter i had was at the Vingt Quatre Heures d'Escargot in '93 when Mike Lindup of Level 42 lost his brakes (i assume) and stuffed me very hard from behind into Turn 1 (Honda?) at Mondello Park. Thank goodness we weren't going very fast.
Hi Joe, I would probably have seen you racing FF at Castle Combe then and maybe have some photos of you from that period. I liked Tower from a photographic perspective as one could get some great shots at that point. I seem to recall that at that time the guy who used to win most of those races (sorry can't remember his name Ian ?) tragically was killed there at a meeting I did not attend. The photo attached is a quick scan of a B&W 10X8 print I have to hand that I took in probably 1992/3 featuring the above chap and just behind him is Bob Higgins at Tower.  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2019 22:10:38 GMT
Hi JC
You are referring I think, to Ian McArdell, who was killed the year i started racing FF1600.
If you have any pictures of me, i was in a black Lola T644E usually number 2, 12 or 72, around '93-'96, and i must admit, not terribly competitive. '93-'94 i had a red/white helmet and '96 it was blue/white.
I was racing again '98-'00 but in the Everyman series by then and i didn't return to Combe until the 2010s.
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