w3rkn
Well-Known Member
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- #1
I have been a Formula One fan for 33 years...
It was a Thursday morning. I was 13 and walking the paddock of the Detroit Grand Prix with My uncle who had carte blanche anywhere because of Sponsors.
We had happened upon the team's garages, and at one of them We stepped in and I was interested in watching the mechanics scurry about, we got close enough so that I was rubber necking trying to look into the F1 car...
...as I was picked up from under the arm & lifted into the air...
...and heard a funny foreign voice behind me say something broken like "do best not to touch anything, sit..." ...
...as I was placed into the cockpit of a F1 car by a Robert Redford looking Findlander with a bushy mustache....
...whom happened to be KeKe Rosberg... !!
It was just moments later that in another garage another teamed fired up a car. I had never heard a F1 car until that moment... and I am sitting there with one in my hand... !! I can not even begin to explain it. The goosebumps and hairs on my body where fused with that concussive sound. I have been insane ever since. (Physics have become my religion.)
THAT^ ... was my FIRST TIME to any automobile race!!
(I win? :first: )
I have been hooked on road racing and formula one ever since.
To see what those cars could do in those streets, literally blew my teenage mind. Your eyes couldn't conceive of such awe inspiring man made things. These cars were not possible. The mind doesn't want to accept what you are seeing.
(Coincidentally, I grew up 5 miles from Detroit Dragway)
The Grand Prix itself was an incredible Cultural Event for me.
And over the past 33 years, Formula One Grand Prix remains a roaming World Fair. Because after all the hoopla and fanfare, it's own written formula eventually gets into your head. You learn whats possible and soon understand these drivers are some of the best athletes in the world, and are one step beyond fighter pilots.
That^ is why People trek all over the world (19 Countries now?) Just to see these supermen, thrash these $200m machine around, engineered by some of the worlds greatest Engineers. They are pure machines themselves and superb athletes and again.. Formula One drivers are some of the most respected Drivers in the world. The epitome of human & machine. Most start their career at age 4 or 5.
Look all the ego & testosterone on display here:
[ame]
And for to guage, or order of magnatude, consider this; Michael Schumacher Net Worth is $800 million, that is more than LeBron James, Kyle Busch, Bret Favre, Sidney Crosby, Alex Rodriguez combined ...!!!!)
So anyways... :frusty:
Some Drivers, on their "off-time" from Formula One, race in other events and typically sit on the podium, whether it's 24 hours of Le Mans, or World Rally Championship, etc.. (Again in their "off time" from F1).
These guys can drive anything, because they are not human.
One of them is Kimi Riakkonen. (teh Iceman)
He is one of My favorites and is an insane driver. He holds the second highest record for total fastest laps in F1. He is a crazy Findlander (like them all), & grew up in the dirt backwoods of Finland. He a natural born rally star & his brother is a rally Champion.
Kimi is rather a different sort of guy, always analytical and Dr Spok'esque & somewhat dry. But again He is uber respected & fast.
This weekend Riakkonen was brought in to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, to try and break the over-all, all time record record....!(f'yeah), but while at the event, Ken Block and Kimi bumped into each other in passing... and that was caught on video.
Ken Block & Kimi Raikkonen:
[ame]
https://grrc.goodwood.com/festival-...mi-raikkonen-never-smiles#eoPU4FzBybcl5ELA.97
The meeting is also a RARE display for Kimi, as you never see him smile and at ease. It is also kinda kewl to see Kenny somewhat humbled and adjust to the room. Also note, that during the exchange you can hear Ken Block invite Raikkonen to come and try out his "new car?". (Meaning the new Focus RS, Mustang..? omgwtf..??)
Kimi has been known to try other forms of motor sports! He left Formula One to try "other" forms of racing, to see what else he could have a go at. I am not sure their over-all friendship but I wonder if after the cameras were turned off (as Kimi mentioned), if those two had a more relaxed exchange. It looked like He wanted to talk to ken more, but was bothered by the Lenses.
Personally, I would love to see Kimi & Ken Block both on a Ford Racing Team. Specially after Ford announced a new Le Mans challenge and Ford Racing new commitment & support for their stuff in autosports.
Lastly, if you ever a chance to attend a Formula One event, do so. And understand that Grand Prix's are NOT a one day thing. F1 events are 3-days. (Fri, Sat & Sun)
The Unites States Grand Prix held at the newly build Circuit of the Americas in Texas, held the last weekend in October.
Sorry if rambling, it has been a rainy day...!
It was a Thursday morning. I was 13 and walking the paddock of the Detroit Grand Prix with My uncle who had carte blanche anywhere because of Sponsors.
We had happened upon the team's garages, and at one of them We stepped in and I was interested in watching the mechanics scurry about, we got close enough so that I was rubber necking trying to look into the F1 car...
...as I was picked up from under the arm & lifted into the air...
...and heard a funny foreign voice behind me say something broken like "do best not to touch anything, sit..." ...
...as I was placed into the cockpit of a F1 car by a Robert Redford looking Findlander with a bushy mustache....
...whom happened to be KeKe Rosberg... !!
It was just moments later that in another garage another teamed fired up a car. I had never heard a F1 car until that moment... and I am sitting there with one in my hand... !! I can not even begin to explain it. The goosebumps and hairs on my body where fused with that concussive sound. I have been insane ever since. (Physics have become my religion.)
THAT^ ... was my FIRST TIME to any automobile race!!
(I win? :first: )
I have been hooked on road racing and formula one ever since.
To see what those cars could do in those streets, literally blew my teenage mind. Your eyes couldn't conceive of such awe inspiring man made things. These cars were not possible. The mind doesn't want to accept what you are seeing.
(Coincidentally, I grew up 5 miles from Detroit Dragway)
The Grand Prix itself was an incredible Cultural Event for me.
And over the past 33 years, Formula One Grand Prix remains a roaming World Fair. Because after all the hoopla and fanfare, it's own written formula eventually gets into your head. You learn whats possible and soon understand these drivers are some of the best athletes in the world, and are one step beyond fighter pilots.
That^ is why People trek all over the world (19 Countries now?) Just to see these supermen, thrash these $200m machine around, engineered by some of the worlds greatest Engineers. They are pure machines themselves and superb athletes and again.. Formula One drivers are some of the most respected Drivers in the world. The epitome of human & machine. Most start their career at age 4 or 5.
Look all the ego & testosterone on display here:
[ame]
And for to guage, or order of magnatude, consider this; Michael Schumacher Net Worth is $800 million, that is more than LeBron James, Kyle Busch, Bret Favre, Sidney Crosby, Alex Rodriguez combined ...!!!!)
So anyways... :frusty:
Some Drivers, on their "off-time" from Formula One, race in other events and typically sit on the podium, whether it's 24 hours of Le Mans, or World Rally Championship, etc.. (Again in their "off time" from F1).
These guys can drive anything, because they are not human.
One of them is Kimi Riakkonen. (teh Iceman)
He is one of My favorites and is an insane driver. He holds the second highest record for total fastest laps in F1. He is a crazy Findlander (like them all), & grew up in the dirt backwoods of Finland. He a natural born rally star & his brother is a rally Champion.
Kimi is rather a different sort of guy, always analytical and Dr Spok'esque & somewhat dry. But again He is uber respected & fast.
This weekend Riakkonen was brought in to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, to try and break the over-all, all time record record....!(f'yeah), but while at the event, Ken Block and Kimi bumped into each other in passing... and that was caught on video.
Ken Block & Kimi Raikkonen:
[ame]
https://grrc.goodwood.com/festival-...mi-raikkonen-never-smiles#eoPU4FzBybcl5ELA.97
The meeting is also a RARE display for Kimi, as you never see him smile and at ease. It is also kinda kewl to see Kenny somewhat humbled and adjust to the room. Also note, that during the exchange you can hear Ken Block invite Raikkonen to come and try out his "new car?". (Meaning the new Focus RS, Mustang..? omgwtf..??)
Kimi has been known to try other forms of motor sports! He left Formula One to try "other" forms of racing, to see what else he could have a go at. I am not sure their over-all friendship but I wonder if after the cameras were turned off (as Kimi mentioned), if those two had a more relaxed exchange. It looked like He wanted to talk to ken more, but was bothered by the Lenses.
Personally, I would love to see Kimi & Ken Block both on a Ford Racing Team. Specially after Ford announced a new Le Mans challenge and Ford Racing new commitment & support for their stuff in autosports.
Lastly, if you ever a chance to attend a Formula One event, do so. And understand that Grand Prix's are NOT a one day thing. F1 events are 3-days. (Fri, Sat & Sun)
The Unites States Grand Prix held at the newly build Circuit of the Americas in Texas, held the last weekend in October.
Sorry if rambling, it has been a rainy day...!
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