Paddock Notes From Valencia
After I mentioned the Nascar.about.com story about motor sports and the Olympics on my IHT F1 blog The Red Bulletin paddock newspaper in today's edition notes that there has already been a motor sports category at the Olympics. That happened in 1900 at the Paris Games and there were cars such as the Panhard-Levassor and Delahaye. Today, of course, motorized vehicles are outlawed at the Olympics.
Also from the Red Bulletin, as story working checking out the www.myF1dream.com site. An interesting experiment in trying to get fans to create their own Formula 1 team. The effort is several thousand fans strong - and the budget is so far built up to the level of many a failed Formula 1 team in the past: $0.00.
The British newspapers have started talking about the Lewis Hamilton and racism story again this weekend. Hamilton had been the victim of racist comments at a test session in Spain over the winter. But this morning during the McLaren Mercedes "meet the team" press conference in the team motor home, when asked if he feared any racist happenings at the race this weekend, Lewis said no. And I judged the expression on his face to be saying that there just simply was no story there whatsoever.
Comments
I admire Hamilton’s professionalism in trying to play down the racism. I went, excitedly, to my first F1 in Valencia and was shocked at the treatment of Lewis and his family by the Alonso fans around me. “Moro” was used repeatedly and they were booed and hissed everytime they appeared. For us Hamilton t-shirt clad fans it was very uncomfortable. We were relieved when Alonso went out and hundreds of fans filed out of the stands.
I always thought motor sport was one of gentlemen and did not expect to see such a display of racism and lack of sportsmanship. How can people spend so much on tickets and then leave before the 10th lap?
Why was Valencia awarded the event when Spain is already known for racism in sport? How were they allowed to call it a street circuit when it clearly isn’t? It was purpose built!! How did a Brit in a customised van drive in last Thursday and park practically next to the track, sit on top of the van with excellent views and spend the entire w/end without being quizzed once by police?! He couldn’t believe it himself. I could go on….
Next time I will pay the extra and go to Silverstone a) to enjoy sportsmanship b) to feel safe
Delaney, Thanks very much for your insight. This has helped me understand what I could not pick up at the track. I did get the distinct feeling that Hamilton was being booed when he arrived on the starting grid. I was at his starting spot when he drove up, and I heard the spectators above whistling in what seemed an unfriendly manner – but as I’m mostly used to the “boo” I could not be entirely sure. Or perhaps I was just so disbelieving that I didn’t accept it. On the other hand, that “Moro” bit was something I would not have picked up at all. Having checked that one out in a Spanish-English dictionary, I can see that Hamilton was certainly yet again being a gentleman to avoid controversy.
Yahooooo