Not a Non Story...

b1ackcr0w · 3 Apr 2006, 12:16 (Ref:1568958)

Frankly, I think most people could care less about which garage who walked through Blah Blah Blah...

I find it astonishing that people are interested in that, and yet aren't talking about the amount of wheels that were flying around the place, free of their tethers during the Aus GP.

Lest we forget, the tragedy there some years back being one of the main drivers for tethers being there to start with.

Marbot · 3 Apr 2006, 12:24 (Ref:1568968)

I don't think that it's the tethers that are breaking,it's what they are attatched to more likely.I suppose that if all the tethers were some how joined together as one there wouldn't be a problem.

QuickSilver · 3 Apr 2006, 12:25 (Ref:1568970)

hey b1ackcr0w, did you hit the cough-medicine a little early today?
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Piglet · 3 Apr 2006, 12:38 (Ref:1568979)

We noticed that as well 'crow, as well as quite a lot of gaps in the fence - it may have been the camera angle and perhaps these gaps were protected by an overlap in the fence but I noticed a couple of cars going in next to what appear to be significant gaps.

One of the early accidents (can't remember which) had a wheel bouncing well towards the crowd.

luke · 3 Apr 2006, 12:40 (Ref:1568984)

The wheels I believe stayed on wheel on Schumacher's impact in the final turn.

b1ackcr0w · 3 Apr 2006, 12:48 (Ref:1568992)

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

hey b1ackcr0w, did you hit the cough-medicine a little early today?
-

I fail to get your point QS. Most of what is being discussed is of little consequence, (Fissico's gee up, Which garage TBC walked through etc). But wheels coming off F1 Cars at the Aus GP is literally a life and death issue.

**Bononi** · 3 Apr 2006, 12:53 (Ref:1568995)

That's the F1 forum, mate...

always like that.

Anyway, you're right about that, and when I said before the GP about the odds of this track, no one really care. It left me the impression, this year, that something has to be done about Melbourne track.

b1ackcr0w · 3 Apr 2006, 13:00 (Ref:1569000)

Quote:

Originally Posted by luke

The wheels I believe stayed on wheel on Schumacher's impact in the final turn.

I think you're right about that, but I counted two off Liuzzi's and at least a rear off Massa's. The one that really had me scared was Klien's where the Left front looked like it could go anywhere as he came in for the second impact.

Big Mac · 3 Apr 2006, 13:20 (Ref:1569025)

Quote:

It left me the impression, this year, that something has to be done about Melbourne track.

Bononi I’m curious to know what you mean. Are you suggesting that the walls are pushed back and massive tarmac areas are installed like so many of the lifeless, over sanitised circuits that are raced on currently? Or are you talking about the design of the walls themself?

The impact that surprised me the most was Kliens. Somehow the tyre was torn right off the rim. Heaven knows where the tyre ended up. I can't recall that happening previously.

**Bononi** · 3 Apr 2006, 13:27 (Ref:1569034)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Mac

Bononi I’m curious to know what you mean. Are you suggesting that the walls are pushed back and massive tarmac areas are installed like so many of the lifeless, over sanitised circuits that are raced on currently? Or are you talking about the design of the walls themself?

The impact that surprised me the most was Kliens. Somehow the tyre was torn right off the rim. Heaven knows where the tyre ended up. I can't recall that happening previously.

Not sure about a massive change of tarmac areas and pushing back walls... but something has to be done. Maybe a track change ?

Anyone in the line ?

Big Mac · 3 Apr 2006, 13:43 (Ref:1569054)

I reckon that you'd struggle to get the track changed due to the presence of the "save Albert Park" lobby group and the close proximity of the other sporting venues around the track (Soccer Stadium, Golf course, Swimming Centre, Driving Range, Cricket Ovals just to name a few.)

I’d leave the track as is. The AGP Board has always been quick to rectify any safety concerns that arise, such as the increasing the catch fencing height after the unfortunate death of Graham Beverage in 2001.

Plus problems with cars spearing of left, right and centre this year was a result of low tyre temps and pressures, which were in part caused by the race being restarted so many times and the cooler weather in Melbourne at this time of the year.

**Bononi** · 3 Apr 2006, 13:51 (Ref:1569059)

Ok, leave the track as it is. I would suggest that it's time for the Australian GP happening in another track.

Silk Cut Jaguar · 3 Apr 2006, 13:58 (Ref:1569069)

I remember hearing that the wheel tether strength had been doubled recently (for this season?) so the fault must lie with whatever keeps it attached to the chassis.

ss_collins · 3 Apr 2006, 14:35 (Ref:1569104)

I noticed this too, with Kliens shunt - the tyre and rim came away from each other and the car leaving the rim shooting off like a cannon ball

Knowlesy · 3 Apr 2006, 15:37 (Ref:1569148)

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1ackcr0w

Frankly, I think most people could care less about which garage who walked through Blah Blah Blah...

I think Jarcey was only having a slight play around with that thread!

We don't have to be serious 100% of the time, so no need to be uptight.

Marbot · 3 Apr 2006, 15:48 (Ref:1569167)

Well we could slow the cars down,to say,100mph max.

Formula on is a dangerous sport,it says so on the entrance ticket if you're lucky enough to have one.

The cars are just not going to be 100% safe..ever..if they were,what would be the point.OK,so at least the spectators should be 100% safe,so that rules out Melbourne and Monaco to start with.

Hugh Jarce · 3 Apr 2006, 20:12 (Ref:1569429)

Quote:

Originally Posted by knowlesy

I think Jarcey was only having a slight play around with that thread! We don't have to be serious 100% of the time, so no need to be uptight.

Thanks Knowls for your kind and correct assessment - I keep forgetting to hold my left hand up for some to indicate a joke -

mind you I guess MS could have gone into the Toyota garage to avoid missing the flying wheels, which could have hit him on a tender fleshy bit if he had been foolish enough to walk up the pit lane to his own toilet!

**Adam43** · 3 Apr 2006, 20:16 (Ref:1569442)

Even if a tether breaks it has still done its job as the energy of the impact has gone into breaking the tether, not the kinetic energy of the wheel. If the wheels are breaking instead of the tether then it shows that the tether has reached the limit of what it can do and it is pointless to improve it further.

Hugh Jarce · 3 Apr 2006, 20:23 (Ref:1569453)

I guess some of this is also down to the nature of the impact. In MS's crash I thought the tethers performed as required, despite a hard wall contact.

As Adam notes, everything has a stress / failure point beyond which it is impossible to design. In fact I was amazed with some of the suspension failures that we have seen that the cars have stayed so well in tact.

And, what about the rear wings that have been flying off - I mean if a steward copped one of those - well, it doesn't bear thinking about.

Stone Man · 3 Apr 2006, 21:21 (Ref:1569519)

To get an exciting F1 race the primary ingredient is the TRACK they race on..think about the best races you've seen and "street" circuits are always up there.

If safety is your PRIME concern (Not just a major concern) Motor Racing is not your sport!

Suze · 3 Apr 2006, 21:54 (Ref:1569564)

I had this discussion the other day....Albert Park isn't my favourite track, but the reason I love it is because it's the first F1 track I learnt to "race" on when I first got a proper steering wheel and pedals (no sortof PS things when I was growing up). I learnt every little bit of it like the back of my hand - hence why I still love it now!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stone Man

If safety is your PRIME concern (Not just a major concern) Motor Racing is not your sport!

Disagree, safety is a prime concern but we all know the risk are higher in motor-racing than some other sports.

b1ackcr0w · 3 Apr 2006, 22:35 (Ref:1569594)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stone Man

If safety is your PRIME concern (Not just a major concern) Motor Racing is not your sport!

Stone Man,

I work as a marshal 40odd sometimes 50 days a year. I've loved the sport since I was a child, but I've also seen at first hand the effects it can have. It's the job of everybody involved with the sport to constantly re-evaluate the competition against safety. Technology doesn't just reduce lap times, it also reduces the amount of death and injury within the sport. With such a fluid and finely balanced situation, somebody has to take safety as their prime concern in order to correctly balance the risk inherant in the sport against its benefits. Otherwise, those who don't like or understand the sport will inevitably try to stop it.

I put my heart and soul into this sport, it's insulting in extremis to be told I don't belong, please don't do that again.