I think Damon Hill was minded to tell Bernie to get stuffed (or words to that effect ) if he approached Silverstone and asked them to step in.
This seemed pretty risky from the beginning....I seem to remember one of the promoters saying he thought there would be "no problem" raising sufficient investment from individual bond holders. I think in even the best economic conditions it's pretty difficult to raise money for this type of facility. Let's hope that the project doesn't fail before it's been completed....whenever that might be. Meanwhile, BernieMax stand by tut-tutting and clucking their tongues. Maybe they'll have Tilke come in and build yet another coma-inducing clone. If F1 goes begging to Silverstone I hope they're told to sod off. Jack.
Sad. I was hoping for Donington to become the home of the British GP. But things never looked good. No surprise. I just hope they will now finally build out Silverstone grandstands so that they deserve that name.
It never ceases to amaze me how many FChatters seem to dislike BE... He is a very competent-successful capitalist that took a sport that was on the brink of insolvency a few decades ago and turned it to the world wide money making spectacle it is today. Sure it has made him rich, that's what running a successful business is supposed to do. How can so many Ferrari owners and/or wantabees seem to dislike the strong manager-leader of a capitalist organization that works...are you guys jealous of his wealth? F1 is not a charitable organization...it exist to make a profit...the best business model to make a profit is based on a strong manager, not via committee. If Donington wants to host a GP, it needs to bring its infrastructure up to modern standards. Such a requiremnet is no different than those required by other sports from tennis to NASCAR.
I can agree to an point, however he enlisted that vile man Mosley to do his dirty work, and for that reason he is as bad.
I thought FIA and FOM are 2 stand alone things but F1 NEEDS FIA so that races are allowed to be held (atleast in europe)...correct? As a person, I happen to like Bernie, I look up to his success and I like his humour (for some reason many don't get it?). Business wise i'm not entirely sure since I don't know the real corralation between FOM (bernie) and FIA (MaXXX).
But what is really so vile about Max? Just because he may enjoy role playing in his intimate relationships does not necessarily make him vile. Some people role play as secretary-boss, doctor-nurse, ect...that doesn't mean that they support sexual harassment in the work place. When I was a kid we played cowboys-Indians, cop-robbers and war...someone always had to be the Indian, robber and Nazi...that didn't mean we agreed with their politics...it was just a game.
Yes he sure did do a good job of destroying the village in the name of saving it. Or has been said of certain missionaries. "They came to do good and did very well indeed."
Bas there friendship started here from Wiki : In 1971, British businessman Bernie Ecclestone bought the Brabham team, and Mosley recalls that: Within about 20 minutes of [Ecclestone] turning up at the [GPCA] meeting, it was apparent that here was someone who knew how many beans made five and after about half an hour he moved round the table to sit next to me, and from then on he and I started operating as a team. Within a very short time, the two of us were doing everything for the GPCA, instead of everyone moving around in a block, and from that developed FOCA. Bernie the clever sod has used Max ever since, in theory they have worked as a team. Although in separate jobs, as long as Bernie made $$ the fuss Max made didn't matter, in fact it helped keeping F1 in the headlines. However when FOTA showed unity with there breakaway it was a step to far. Plus I can't believe that Bernie in the end stood by him over his sex exploits considering the nature of it.
The whole thing with saying Hitler got things done and might not have had any direct involvement with the Holocaust was real benevolent.
Well Hitler did get things done didn't he? Although what he chose to get done was evil. vile and reprehensible and a justification for dropping him in vat of acid alive to die as his skin is burned off layer by layer.
MotoGP has already scheduled around the trade of Donington to F1 for the use of Silverstone. The provisional schedule reflects that move for 6th June of next year: 11 April - Qatar* - Losail 25 April - Japan - Motegi 2 May - Spain - Jerez 16 May - France - Le Mans 30 May - Italy - Mugello 6 June - Great Britain - Silverstone 26 June - Netherlands** - Assen 4 July - Catalunya - Catalunya 18 July - Germany - Sachsenring 25 July - United States*** - Laguna Seca 15 August - Czech Republic - Brno 29 August - Indianapolis - Indianapolis 12 September - San Marino & Riviera di Rimini - Misano 19 September - Hungary - Balatonring 10 October - Malaysia - Sepang 17 October - Australia - Phillip Island 31 October - Portugal - Estoril 7 November Valencia Ricardo Tormo-Valencia MotoGP fans and racers lamented the loss of Donington to their schedule in this year's race, so I suppose it is possible that it will return if F1 drops out. It is a very well attended and popular race for motorcycle racing fans and must provide a fair amount of dosh for Donington for that weekend considering the attendence.
nice quote from Damon Hill on Silverstone vs Donington and the EP: ".....we want to make sure we are not sacrificed for a palace in the middle of a desert."
