SpeedTV F1 Guys?

Just a quick question...
Was searching for the Australian GP Speed coverage so I could set up the dvr and I noticed that Steve Matchett is no longer listed as an announcer.
Any news on this or am I the only one in the dark? Also, the new guys are Dave Nichols and Brad Doty....I'm wondering if the website is just screwed as I've never heard of these two (plus curious absence of Peter Windsor)

 

First I heard of it. Matchett was great. Can't imagine the replacement, if he is gone, will be as good...

 

As long as they don't bring back Rick Debruhl or have Derek Daly to fill in. I sure hope Matchett stays, I enjoy him and Hobbs. Varsha seems too much of a dork for me.

 

Their site is all screwed up after a complete redesign. Matchett is still there.

http://www.speedtv.com/members/steve_matchett

 

Our regional FCA annual dinner is tomorrow night and we have Steve and David coming to talk at our dinner. I can ask

I met Steve at the national event at WGI last fall - he even wrote a piece on his Speed Blog about my car - he worked on 288GTOs when he was a Ferrari tech back in the 80s. He's a cool guy and a real enthusiast.

 

Please God, no Derek Daly - I KNOW a steering wheel goes around!!! I KNOW wheel nuts are in the MIDDLE!


I loved Hobbs, hope he's still with them... Its sad to see the guys go.




-J

 

I like Varsha well enough, but if they could get say, Brian Redman to team with Matchett and Hobbs...

 

The only reason I like Varsha is that he's not Rick DaFool or Derek Daly - and that doesn't say much for Varsha.

He's the best of the rest, but not a patch on Matchett or Hobbs. They could seriously do so much better, and I really dont get why Speed feels the need (hey that rhymes) to have an 'anchorman' in their broadcasts... Matchett and Hobbs do pretty well together. They need someone that compliments them, not someone to try to be the ringleader and control them.

 

Oh come on Mike. You have to admit it's funny when Varsha compares Flavio's taste in clothes to Elvis'

 

You know who else I really like though? Townsend Bell. He picked up on LOTS of things that Matchett and Varsha missed this year when Hobbs was out. He'd commented back when he was in F3000 as well during the North American races when there was no F3000 races.

If anyone of the Speed group leaves, I hope Townsend takes their spot.......but I'd seriously miss Hobbs and Matchett, especially Matchett.

 

I know Bob Varsha socially, and he is a true gear head. loves racing and has been following F-1 for 30 plus years. I dont know anyother announcer short of Jackie Stewart who has as much real first hand F-1 knowledge. Jim McKay & Chris Economacky (sp?) from ABC Wild World of sports was the only other american announcer that I can think of that even attemted to understand F-1... and that was a long long time ago.

Derek Daily knows his stuff, but is just not a good communicator... some of the ALMS guys could do well in F-1, but I think Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett are about as good as you get.

I used to run into Bob at F-1 races in the 80's when Bisigano was with him... and he was always very nice, got you into the right areas to see the drivers up close... Bisigano was worthless... all he cared about was getting to the right party that night.

 

Yeah, Townsend did s fantastic job when he filled in.

 

Agreed on Townsend Bell, he's done very well on air.

Matchett makes it feel like you're watching F1 with a REAL insider - his technical knowledge doesn't come of as "look at what I know" but rather "step into my world and I'll teach you a few things," if that makes any sense.

Hobbs is great for his child-like enthusiasm, brilliant wit, and his flexible use of the (British) English language. That, and he uses comic book catch phrases.

KABLAMOOOOOOOO!!!!

 

i wish they would get rid of windsor and put somebody in that the drivers will actually talk to on the grid. I much prefer ITV when i can get it. Here is a little something to warm you guys up.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2699287242835801899&q=itv+f1&total=222&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2

 

Yes, +1 on Townsend Bell.
To me Hobbs makes the show, would love to see those two and Matchett.
Also agree sometwhat about Windosr, but also can see thats a very hard job, often drivers are not wanting most of the stupid questions that must be asked and it seems to get anywhere on the grid, that announcer has to be overly aggressive.

 

I never liked Townsend Bell. He was an utter miserable failure and embarassment to himself as a race car driver, and it's hard to take much of what he says seriously (IMO).

The thing with Hobbs and Matchett is that they both are very connected to F1. Hobbs as a driver and Matchett as a mechanic/engineer. They both obviously still keep in touch with people "in the game". Varsha seems to be more of an outsider. I wish they would find someone who is very much an insider to F1 who would commentate. I can't think for sure who they could find to do that, but maybe there must be several people who would want the job

 

John Bisigano. Now that brings back memories. He always wore his collar up way AFTER it was in style (if it ever was).

Matchett is great. Hobbs is funny but either I am losing my hearing or he is mumbling quite a lately. Varsha is OK for a lawyer.

Does Windsor have any friends who are F1 drivers? You can't tell it from the dismissive way they seem to treat him. The drivers might be more interested in talking to a former F1 driver. My pick would be Schumi. How about Jackie Stewart?

Considering these guys are not at actually at the race, they do a pretty good job. However, it is always best to have F1 Live Timing on during the race because they miss alot. Plus you can see what's happening during the all too frequent commercials.

 

I think that they are by far the best crew in racing. Varsha can be a bit dry at times but overall I think they all balance out quite nicely.

IMO, Townsend Bell was a good driver, not great but good. Won the Indy Lights championship if memory serves, saw him lap the entire field at Milwaukee one year. Not great in CART but not bad.

 

Townssend Bell is really great, Jackie Stewart, you can't get he out of the Pub to be able to mumble some coherant sentences.

 

For a few years, when ABC was doing F-1 races, they had Eddie Cheever doing the color commentary. He could never understand F-1 pit strategy. I remember the first time it happened, the year Hakkinen won Indy on a one-stop strategy, Hakk pits deep into the race and comes out in 3rd or 4th place--and Eddie exclaims, "Hakkinen does not come out in Front! A huge lead change!" He could have talked about tire wear, fuel strategy, etc, but he just plain did not know.

This was not an exception. He did this over and over.

I also agree with the comments on Derek Bell--one too many crashes.

And one more thing . . . what is it going to take to get Crybaby Hamilton off the covers of the magazines? Last time I checked, Kimi was WDC.

 

The latest F1 Racing has Kimi on the cover. But you are right about the Crybaby Hamilton being on to many covers lately.

As far as the Varsha/Hobbs/Matchett/Windsor situation -

Varsha is very knowledgable but can be to serious. I met him at the Airport in Atlanta during a layover on my way to Indy in 2006. We did have a good 10-15 minute conversation. All around he is a nice man.

Hobbs is absolutely worth having as a commentator. He keeps me laughing while watching. Also had the opportunity to have met him on the bus from the Rental Car place to the Airport in 2006. He was even funny then. Had no problems talking to me and my wife. Was able to talk with him all the way through Security and he even had to crack a joke about that.

Matchett is absolutely great to have on the team. With his Mechanics knowledge, he just knows what to say so that the veiwing audience can catch on to it. I had to buy his book "The Mechanics Tale" when I stopped off at a bookstore in Burbank in December. Have not had the chance to read yet.

Windsor is just to nice. He needs to push to get the real questions out that should be asked. Not the same old ones that seem to pop up at every pre-race show. I am sure he knows everyone very well, but he does have to keep it on a professional level when working.

All of these others that have filled in on Speed or Fox have not been so great.

 

some of the ALMS guys could do well in F-1
====================================================

Calvin Fish, Dorsey Schroeder anchored by Lee Diffey on ALMS is a good combo, but so is Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip anchored by Mike Joie on NASCAR.

Suggested F1 speed line-up - Mario Andretti anchored by Alain De Cadenet with Niki Lauda (just kidding!) and Gerhard Berger in the pitlane

E

 

They finally fixed their web site? That thing was so chaotic and user-unfriendly that I gave up on it more than a year ago. What a mess. They must have had an intern design it.


Jack.

PS: I like all of the Speed F1 crew.

 

I think you need a good anchor like Varsha... and he is not an outsider... he is well connected to F-1 types thru various managers, and sponsors. He knows what is going on.

Peter Windsor, is a F-1 stallwart... and someone who is well respected by the F-1 community, I think he is a bit dry, since he is focused on all the technical parts, and less so on interview techniques...

As for Hobbs - well you need a comedy relief person somewhere... he tends to say the same stuff every race... as a driver he was not up there with the big guys, but was very respectable in Sports cars and Formula 5000.... think he had a knack of being in the wrong car at the wrong time.

Matchett, is a good all round bloke!

 

I always stayed at the Omni for Indy F1. Hobbs & Varsha were always at St. Elmo's or the Omni bar later than you would expect someone who had to do what they do the next day. Last year Hobbs is doing commentary of the 24 hrs. of LeMans at the bar on Sat. night late. Great guys. They even bought rounds. I could show you pics, and have, but I'm really drunk in them cause it's way after midnight. Just regular guys who live racing.