Prologue

[mikael]

Very interesting, Carl - thank you for sharing.

It's probably easy for journalists to go a step too far nowadays, when internet news-sites have to be filled up in a rush, constantly - with very little time (if any at all) for peer reviews.

It could happen, perhaps, that the piece appears later in a shortened and edited (censored) form ...(?)

----

Interesting to compare this piece with the writings of Robert Daley, which later were collected in his books

1. Cars at Speed (1961)
2. The Cruel Sport (1963)

Daley's work - and style - is very different, with a much deeper fascination of the sport itself; but of course, the sport was also completely different back then ...

[robmarsh]

Brilliant piece of journalism.  She captured my feelings about ultra rich people, the essence of F1, ie the technical excellence and the feeling of a beast waiting to pounce, and the character of LH perfectly.  I wish I had the skill to write like her. The arrogance of rich people like Ratcliffe and the corporate bosses and the condescending manner in which they behave are so accurate. 

I think the reason it was removed is some egos got bent out of shape, probably the corporate executives or the very rich people she made look so fake and insincere with their very expensive clothes and USD70 steaks while vast portions of the world are living in squalor and going hungry. They were looking for fawning praise and glory and instead got shown up for what they are, a throwback to medieval  times.

My absolute disdain for people like that has been strengthened by her comments.  In fact if not for the technical excellence of the cars and the skill and indeed humbleness of most of the drivers, I would give up F1 altogether just based on the people who have access to it and are lauded for the ability to attend.  A perfect target if one wanted to get rid of all the not so nice people in this world would be the Paddock Club on race day.

[chrisb]

That's how you say it- an excellent piece of journalism, don't think she will get any further invites though. 

F1 is in a parlous state and only the fans and journalists see this apparently 

as for it's removal I am reminded of a wonderful William Powell film called 'Libelled Lady' except this is no comedy - a tragedy probably - wonder why no European magazines haven't picked this up? 

With regards to the 'super rich' - when I was very young I was very fortunate to meet a number of extremely comfortably off people through my Grandfather and what always struck me and stayed with me they were all down to earth, friendly and yet incredibly self- confidant without coming across as arrogant, I have no doubt that some of their families are now super-rich and talking to friends who also know extremely wealthy people - their main subject is yup- themselves- arrogance is prevalent and dare I say it - although not collectively - extremely boring - 

Thanks Carl for showing this - 

[Carl]

In her article, Kate Wagner makes many valid points about the arrogance of extreme wealth.  A newcomer to Formula One, she is clearly overwhelmed by its domination of the sport.

Meanwhile in the real world, there is a steady erosion of democracy in America. Corporations have been declared legally equivalent to people. The Supine Court, no longer supreme, has ruled that money is speech protected by the first amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech, thus allowing unlimited dark money donations and foreign influence in American elections.

In one of the greatest speeches ever made, Abraham Lincoln declared that the importance of the Civil War then raging was "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

It's clear that American democracy is dying a death of a thousand cuts, one at a time and unnoticed by many. The question is whether it will continue or turn around. Kate Wagner is at times strident, but exactly on point.

[René]

Mar 12, 2024 8:20:08 GMT mikael said:

It could happen, perhaps, that the piece appears later in a shortened and edited (censored) form ...(?

I hope not! What would there be to censor?

The article is well written and very to the point. A refreshing view from an outsider. Her observations are sharp and for some apparently uneasy, hence the removal of the article.

F1 is a money sport, always has been. But the wealthy people described are not race fans. I understand teams need the big money but this unfortunately also brings in dubious figures and posh people who only want to show off their ridiculously expensive wardrobe and juwelry. It is not new but it has grown a bit out of control.

I like her observations of the drivers. 

[René]

Mar 12, 2024 18:18:21 GMT Carl said:

In her article, Kate Wagner makes many valid points about the arrogance of extreme wealth.  A newcomer to Formula One, she is clearly overwhelmed by its domination of the sport.

Meanwhile in the real world, there is a steady erosion of democracy in America. Corporations have been declared legally equivalent to people. The Supine Court, no longer supreme, has ruled that money is speech protected by the first amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech, thus allowing unlimited dark money donations and foreign influence in American elections.

In one of the greatest speeches ever made, Abraham Lincoln declared that the importance of the Civil War then raging was "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

It's clear that American democracy is dying a death of a thousand cuts, one at a time and unnoticed by many. The question is whether it will continue or turn around. Kate Wagner is at times strident, but exactly on point.

The political situation in America is very worrying. Restricting freedoms and women's rights, minorities and dissenters in the conservative states is terrible. Fake news, making journalists suspicious, banning books. A suffocating right-wing trend that we see taking hold throughout the free world, including in Europe and here in the Netherlands.

Undermining democracy. Very worrying.

[Carl]

Kate Wagner wrote: "It is hard to describe what I felt looking at that car (with bodywork removed) The closest phrase I have at my disposal is the technological sublime. I pictured a living, breathing animal of extraterrestrial origin, hooked up to a thousand arcane sensors that delivered messages in little pulses. All the tubes and sculpted carbon-fiber parts and the endless net of wires all working in service to the godhead engine, formed something totally incomprehensible to me, a feat of engineering so vast it breached the realm of magic."

 For a novice to write one of the very best descriptions of Formula One technology is absolute brilliance!!

[robmarsh]

Absolutely, and maybe that is what we all miss when we say the races are boring, the perfect technical masterpieces these cars are.

I must say I always enjoy the half an hour before the race starts, when the cars are on the grid, the various cooling devices are making a noise, everybody is outwardly calm and professional, going about their business and the absolute assault on the senses made by 20 cars is about to be released. 

I remember watching a mother cheetah and her two cubs stalking a young impala antelope one evening.  The latent power and menace in the cheetahs was palpable.  The outcome was predictable but waiting for the final explosion of muscle and sinew during the kill rush was scary, sad and exciting. Same as a GP from the half hour before the start to the rush down to the first corner.

[René]

Nice comparison Rob and cool that you saw that in real life. It's the build-up and anticipation before the actual explosion of power that can be just as fascinating. It is a pity that the outcome in Formula 1 is now just as predictable.