One day soon the current Pace Car procedure will ruin a Formula One Grand Prix and affect the results of the Driver’s World Championship in a major way.

We inherited the system from the United States where spins and accidents on the Ovals are quite frequent and luckily, not too dangerous. The majority of their races are exceptionally long and the “bunching-up” of the cars adds extra interest and prevents boredom.

One of our options for F1 would be to freeze the lap times of each competitor prior to the incident and then start re-timing when the pace car came in. The aggregate times would then settle the outcome of the race.

If a car had to make a Pit Stop, then the time of visit would affect its race time, as normal. The big drawback would be the difficulty in “following” the race, particularly as a spectator at the track concerned.

Perhaps modern technology can come up with an answer?

GT

The costs of policing are ever escalating and in most cases, whether solved or not, murder investigations cost millions.

In the circumstances, would it not seem sensible, seven days after the event, to offer a reward of £500.000 for information leading to a conviction. This could be much more effective and cost-efficlent than plodding on with the investigation.

If you know someone who would be interested in this proposal, please pass it on.

GT

One sunny day in the late fifties, I visited George Fairweather’s, the gent’s hairdressers in Westover Road, Bournemouth. Even in those days, George operated an appointment system and I was welcomed by “my” man, Harry.

I wriggled about a bit in Harry’s chair to make myself comfortable. Harry finished tying the ribbon around my neck which kept the shawl in place and I was able to view the mirror in front of me. 
 

I noticed that George himself was fussing over a distinguished, dapper- looking chap in the adjacent chair. I recognised him straight away. It was Viscount Montgomery of Alamein.
 

Both the Viscount and I left our respective chairs at the same time. George was kind enough to introduce me, as the famous man seemed to be in a good mood. 
 

 “This is Viscount Montgomery” George said.
 

“It’s an honour to meet you Sir” I replied.
 

I then said “Do you have your famous cap with you?” 
 

 “No” said Montgomery. “I never wear it at the seaside”. 
 

Even now, some fifty years later, I will never forget how priveleged I was to meet him. What a great man.

GT

What is it about Lewis that makes him so good? In interviews he says he doesn’t know. The response of a modest man? Yes. However maybe something else is at play.

Years ago they said that Stirling Moss had exceptional reaction times. It was thought then, that through the seat of his pants, as he felt the car move below him, he would react accordingly.

Currently, the theory is that the brain, in this case, Lewis’s brain, makes the decisions as to how he reacts, prior to him being aware of it actually happening. This means that having learned the circuit, his brain controls his movements and that he, himself, does not have to make an actual decision as to how he handles the car. Should this be the case, I for one would like to learn more on the subject.

I really do not know what the truth is, but just put this forward as a matter for thought and discussion.

GT

I was at Silverstone earlier this week and heard, from a normally completely unreliable source, that Donington may not be having things all their own way.

It is common knowledge that Bernie Ecclestone has not got his new contract with Donington Circuit, but with a promoter. That promoter will have to come up with a FIA approved circuit by June 2010.

My disinformation is that the promoter may well be none other than 'mega-money' man Frank Sytner and that his prefered circuit is Aintree. It is well known that Frank has ties with Liverpool that go way back and Liverpool is where his business career started. Frank went on to become one of the great Motor "Traders" along with Willie Green, Dick Lovett and Nick Faure.

I have tried to contact Frank for confirmation, but all his Butler, Clarence, would say is "Mr Sytner cannot be disturbed. He is on his boat on Poole Park Lake". Let's hope he makes it to the Classic Meeting so that we can get at the truth. Be sure to ask him when you see him.

GT 

 Sunday July 13^th. At home. 

I have just finished watching the Moto GP on BBC 2 and how exciting it was. Casey Stoner, Valantino Rossi, Chris Vermulen – 1,2,3. However, it wasn’t just the actual racing that I found somehow very appealing.

 Why do I love the “bike racing”? Why can’t I wait for it to come to Silverstone? What’s the big difference between Moto GP and F1? It’s something to do with the people and their attitudes. The BRDC are really lucky to have both John Surtees and Stuart Graham as members. Both great bike racers and both friendly, charming and approachable.

 Have you noticed how the bike racers respond naturally to the interviews? Have you noticed that F1 drivers say nothing but, when they do, it’s absolutely obvious that they are being paid. Watching ITV, it is painfully obvious that Jenson, Rubens and the tall, good-looking Oz chap are being paid for what they say. Mostly what they say is very boring. However, with Suzi Perry, there’s something very different. There is a chemistry between Suzi and the bike-racers which has always been there. It’s because bike-racers don’t fancy themselves as prima donnas as much as the F1 heroes do. 

Let’s go back a bit to the Superbikes and “Foggy”. Carl Fogarty was one of our great British riders, but, a very hard and unusual man. However, he always “opened-up” for the odd interview and quip. Certainly not a bit interested in fees. He raced against another one of my favourites, who fell off today, but is still a great rider. Colin Edwards. I would love to meet him but feel as though I have, all because of Suzi Perry. When she talks to him on the grid, I have to ask myself, “Has he or hasn’t he”? 

All in all, these bikers are great racers and great blokes. Valentino refused a move to F1 and Ferrari because he felt F1 was “too formal”. He, Colin Edwards and the rest of them enjoy the 'cameraderie' they get from their family, pals and their motorhomes in the pit area. Long may it last. 

G.T.

Motor Racing has always provided the practical basis for the development of new technology. Disc brakes are just one example.

KERS, Kenetic Energy Recovery Systems, are shortly to receive the attention of the top brains in F1 design, as they will be required on all cars shortly. See "Letters to F1 Teams" on the F!A link.

I wanted to know all about KERS, googled it and was directed to a valuable mine of information provided by Keith Collantine at the "F1 fanatic website", to which there is a link on our main portal page.

Read all about it at http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2008/04/17/problems-with-kers-and-its-impact-on-f1/

By promoting KERS the FIA and Max are, in my opinion, most definitely on the right track .....

GT

We shall see, what we shall see, when we get to late 2009.

GT

I am writing this on Thursday afternoon and am looking forward to Silverstone, the Motor Home and a full weekend of the British Grand Prix.

I was at the F1 Testing last week. McLaren had the ground floor of the Clubhouse for their sponsors. Lewis was in attendance and I glimpsed someone under real pressure. Sure, he clocked fastest time for the three days, but was this meaningful?

Every day, I have been reading about Lewis in the Press. Yachting, helicoptering here, helicoptering there, Catwalks, you name it and he's done it all over the last few days. I have not read much about Massa or Raikonen, but then I do not read their local press. Maybe they were just resting.

Last night I saw Nadal. I wanted Murray to win, but Nadal, what a committed player. You could see it in his eyes. he was there to win. I saw nothing about publicity. I saw nothing about sponsors. I saw someone who was totally concentrated on just the one thing. Winning.

Maybe, by the time you are reading this, Lewis will have won the British Grand Prix. I sincerely hope so. Either way, I would say to his manager "please do not count your success on income alone".

GT

GT.