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Post by René on Nov 15, 2023 18:16:12 GMT
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Post by Carl on Nov 15, 2023 19:25:42 GMT
I've only stayed overnight in Las Vegas once or twice, and had nightmares each time of zombies attacking. The hotels are simply conduits for the sensory assault of the massive casinos.
The city was a boring desert crossroads for decades until mobster Bugsy Siegel learned gambling was legal in Nevada and constructed the first elaborate neon outhouse. Except for connoisseurs of huge dancing water displays, Las Vegas is best experienced as you drive through enroute to the Grand Canyon.
The main focus in Las Vegas will be how to bet and real racing fans will probably have nightmares of zombies playing slot machines.
Assuming lessons learned, the odds are in favor of a good race. The circuit is promising, but with mid-November daytime temperatures ideal, I don't understand why the race is at night. Even with an abundant American television audience, is F1 catering to GMT?
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Post by René on Nov 15, 2023 20:24:51 GMT
I've only stayed overnight in Las Vegas once or twice, and had nightmares each time of zombies attacking. The hotels are simply conduits for the sensory assault of the massive casinos. The city was a boring desert crossroads for decades until mobster Bugsy Siegel learned gambling was legal in Nevada and constructed the first elaborate neon outhouse. Except for connoisseurs of huge dancing water displays, Las Vegas is best experienced as you drive through enroute to the Grand Canyon. The main focus in Las Vegas will be how to bet and real racing fans will probably have nightmares of zombies playing slot machines. Assuming lessons learned, the odds are in favor of a good race. The circuit is promising, but with mid-November daytime temperatures ideal, I don't understand why the race is at night. Even with an abundant American television audience, is F1 catering to GMT? I never liked slot machines, only slot cars.  And good point regarding the time the race is run. I can only assume it's because of the glitz and glamour effect the night race will have with all the illuminated buildings and so in the background. Because timing wise it would have made more sense to race in the afternoon. That is evening in Europe so perfect to watch a race. The race is now at 7 in the morning here in Europe which means I will have to get up early on Sunday...  |
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Post by robmarsh on Nov 16, 2023 10:49:20 GMT
My wife and I went to Vegas in March 1984 for a week, primarily with a view to riding a donkey down the Grand Canyon and going to the lake nearby there. The canyon rides were closed as there was still ice around so that was out. There was such a pervading air of evil around the place that we spent the first night trying to book a flight out of there. We never made the second night and have never been near the place since. I love the desert but not Vegas. Interestingly I had a couple of silver dollars on me which I thought I would get rid of in the slot machines at the airport. I kept winning. I wonder why.
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Post by René on Nov 16, 2023 12:37:07 GMT
Sounds like a visit to forget Rob. My business partner visited Vegas last summer as part of an America trip and he had the same experience. Not really impressed. Here's an interesting comparison between the old track and the new layout. How tiny the track was in the early 80s! No wonder they called it Mickey Mouse.  |
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Post by mikael on Nov 16, 2023 17:45:42 GMT
A very interesting comparison between the old circuit and the new. Yes, the old circuit looks more like a karting track than a Grand Prix circuit.
The new circuit actually looks interesting - apparently a fast, "sweeping" circuit - with a "serious" home straight. I wonder how long that straight actually is ... ?
Had it been a couple of decades ago, we could probably have expected some smoking, "seized" engines. But the new (present) engines could probably "survive" a Grand Prix incorporating even a straight like the original Mulsanne straight (at Le Mans), with a length of 6 km.
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Post by chrisb on Nov 16, 2023 20:37:15 GMT
Over here the big news has been the Beatles last record, queue emotional moment, and I can’t get away from the image that the new circuit looks like the Yellow Submarine maybe just me but…..
the difference in size is quite striking and hopefully will make the racing a bit more interesting, he says, I understand Max is being very critical of well basically everything about the place, razzmatazz and the circuit, personally I would like to see what it’s like once the cars have been out.
Las Vegas is one destination that has never in the slightest been of any interest to me, I guess most countries have a somewhat smaller version, the UK being Blackpool and the thought of staying there is just no
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Post by Carl on Nov 16, 2023 21:46:04 GMT
Las Vegas has several facets, some abhorrent, others ordinary. It can be fun to pass through and have lunch away from the glitz and false glamour. The power players are all obsessed with money, but most people have day to day lives and ordinary jobs.
If somehow attendance and economic impact are below expectations, the power players will bemoan the malevolence of fate, but the ordinary people won't care.
The way from Southern California to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, higher by 1000 feet than the South Rim ten miles away and more crowded with huge ponderosa pines than people, takes you through Las Vegas to refuel, eat and enjoy the light show.
I hope we'll be pleasantly surprised by a circuit that resembles both a famous submarine and Snoopy, dressed for a prewar Grand Prix in cloth cap and googles. |
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Post by robmarsh on Nov 17, 2023 8:54:49 GMT
An inauspicious start. I don't normally watch the team principals' interviews but given there was nothing happening on track it was very entertaining. Fred Vasseur was rightly peed off. Tonto was trying to play the statesman and defend the indefensible as was James Vowels and Zak said nothing of importance.
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Post by mikael on Nov 17, 2023 15:43:10 GMT
Yes, they (Las Vegas) might perhaps have found inspiration in this old suggestion for properly shaped national motor racing circuits. (From a Danish motor sport yearbook, circa 1968; originally from "Automobil Revue" of Switzerland).
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Post by René on Nov 17, 2023 20:15:05 GMT
An inauspicious start. I don't normally watch the team principals' interviews but given there was nothing happening on track it was very entertaining. Fred Vasseur was rightly peed off. Tonto was trying to play the statesman and defend the indefensible as was James Vowels and Zak said nothing of importance. It's a farce so far. Of course something can go wrong on a new circuit but this was quite dangerous. Even the seat was damaged and Carlos sustained an impact on his neck and back. And then they also give him a grid penalty for something that he and Ferrari could not do anything about. The responsibility lies 100% with the FIA but they punish the driver and the team! ‘Force majeur’ apparently didn't apply here, unbelievable. And then they asked (and forced) the fans to leave the circuit for FP2… Not sure yet what to think of the track but it’s better than Miami at least. I hope Charles wins, that can ease the misery somewhat. |
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Post by René on Nov 17, 2023 20:17:25 GMT
Yes, they (Las Vegas) might perhaps have found inspiration in this old suggestion for properly shaped national motor racing circuits. (From a Danish motor sport yearbook, circa 1968; originally from "Automobil Revue" of Switzerland). The Italian layout has some interesting curves. And a small infield kart track!  |
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Post by Carl on Nov 17, 2023 22:43:05 GMT
Investigative reporters Woodward and Bernstein were instructed by a celebrated secret informant to "Follow the Money" to the source of Watergate corruption. In Las Vegas, where do you start to follow money and in what direction? What a sad turn of events and humiliating embarrassment for the F.I.A., Liberty Media and the Grand Prix organization. For want of a drain cover, the practice session was lost. For want of attendance, money was lost. When money is lost, according to a venerated Las Vegas tradition, the code of honor often secures payment in harsh ways. Martin Brundle was the most knowledgeable commentator. As usual when controversy arises, David Croft was held incommunicado in a bare hotel room. The "Sphere" is hyperactive, way too bright and could cause a multi-car collision While Simon Lazenby bellowed like a sea lion in discussion on pitlane with Karun Chandhok, a SkyTV graphic informed that FP2 would restart at 10 am, leaving viewers to guess the time zone. The team principals should have told the interviewer that an impression of the event overall, despite his prepared notes, was not of foremost importance and pushed his chair over as they left the stage.
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Post by René on Nov 18, 2023 10:10:31 GMT
Ferrari 1-2 in qualy!  Unfortunately not a front row lockout tomorrow with that crazy penalty for Carlos but still, great performance by the red team and pole #23 for Charles Leclerc. Crazy number for someone with 'only' five wins. More poles than Alonso! Also fantastic result for the Williams team and especially Logan Sargeant. To be so close to Albon should give him that mental boost that he needs and starting p6 on home soil is great for him and the fans. Well done. Hamilton and Pérez out in Q2 was surprising and even more the McLarens out in Q1. Looking at the top 10, this will most likely be a race between Charles and Max.  |
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Post by mikael on Nov 18, 2023 11:58:42 GMT
As to the manhole cover incident, apparently these ground effect cars pose some unique engineering challenges also to the road surface. Quite fascinating, actually, that the (ground effect) forces are so large that a such a heavy cover can be lifted up ...
Had it been, say, even Indycars, nothing would have happened, most likely.
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