F1 - GP (General Purpose)

Chode ^ | 8/5/2009 | Chode

[Chode]

This will be a general purpose thread for F1 news and pings that really don't require a thread of their own.

[Chode]

i guess he was out one way or another at Brawn but an all Brit lineup could be historic if the car performs

[Leo Farnsworth]

Michael Schumacher has reportedly held ‘preliminary talks’ with Mercedes GP that could see him make a comeback next season.

http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_5706009,00.html

Might be interesting. He has some history will Ross Brawn...

[Chode]

an all German lineup vs an all British lineup... could be an historic year ahead

[Chode]

looks like Brawn is none to happy wi the world champion...

Brawn GP will not allow World Champion Jenson Button to be involved in any team activities for McLaren before the end of the year.

Brawn chief executive Nick Fry said they would view any such activities "very dimly", while also hinting he felt Button, who sealed his move to McLaren earlier this week, had been disloyal.

"Jenson will not be doing anything at all for McLaren until the end of this calendar year," said Fry in The Guardian. "And if he does, we will be looking on it very dimly.

http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_5705913,00.html

[Chode]

F1 gossip... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8378258.stm

[Elle Bee]

thank you for the fix

.

[Chode]

Bitte...

[Chode]

Former Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen has agreed to race for Citroen's junior team in the 2010 World Rally Championship.

The 30-year-old, who left Ferrari a year early at the end of the 2009 season, will compete in 12 of the 13 events for the Red Bull-backed team.

"This is a new but very exciting challenge," said the Finn, who won the 2007 F1 drivers' title with Ferrari.

"We have a one-year contract and we will see how it goes for the future."

The one-year deal keeps alive the chances of Raikkonen returning to F1 in 2011.

After being replaced by Fernando Alonso at Ferrari, he entered negotiations with former team McLaren but failed to agree financial terms.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8394585.stm

British GP saga close to conclusion

The saga of the future of the British Grand Prix continues to drag on - but all the indications are that Silverstone is inching towards concluding a deal with Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.

I heard whispers earlier this week that a deal had actually been done, if not yet signed. But Damon Hill - the president of the British Racing Drivers' Club which owns Silverstone - tells me that is not yet the case.

Hill says there is "no reason to think it won't be signed" but long experience of working with Ecclestone has taught him not to presume anything will happen before it actually does.

"It would be almost inconceivable for there not to be a British Grand Prix next year," Hill said on Thursday, "but until it is signed, there is always the possibility that will be the case."

There is no doubt that both the BRDC and Ecclestone's F1 Management (FOM) company are keen to sort it out and secure the race's future in the wake of the fiasco over Donington Park's failure to raise the funds needed to fulfil its contract to host the race.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2009/12/british_gp_saga_inching_toward.html

[Elle Bee]

one of my favorite toys back around '72 I had a Peacock Blue automatic Citroen SM

.

[Chode]

dude... in highschool my friends Dad(who raced in some of the first races through town) SOLD them!!!

he even took us a few laps around the Glen in a 1972-SM, 150mph+

did you won one???

[Elle Bee]

two actually

A white 5 speed and a Peacock Blue automatic

Great car

The front wheels are a tire (Michelin SWS) width wider than the rear so it stops in a straight line and would actually ride on three tires because of the hydraulic suspension ... though don't try and fast corners

I picked up the Blue one in Port Everglades and shortly thereafter came up upon and passed a FL Stater Trooper while he was pulling over an other speeder on a big curve on the highway

He waved off the other car and came for me and I pulled over and waited.

As he approached the car I released the hydraulics dropping the car down almost on the tires

I handed him my export registration and a Florida license

He said, "Didn't you see me pulling that other car over?" Though not usually prone to profanity the trooper asked, "What the f____ is this?"

I explained that I had just picked it up at the port and this was my first drive on this side of the puddle

He handed me back my fist full of paper work and told me he never wanted to see me on his highway again.

I thanked him sincerely started the car and raised the car back to the second level he just stared at me with his hands on his hips as I pulled away

It's a great car and if I thought someone could keep one on the road I'd have one today

Aviation grade aluminum and the smoothest ride on the road

Bob Cressman of Cressman Ferrari in Hollywood?? took good care of them and was far better than the dealer (who also sold VW's in Lauderdale) an SM will hold its own with any car today, either standing still or with the Maserati W-6 screaming

[Elle Bee]

.

[Elle Bee]

The front wheels are a tire (Michelin SWS) width wider than the rear so it stops in a straight line and would actually ride on three tires because of the hydraulic suspension ... though don't try and fast corners

They were Michelin XWX tires

.

[truth_seeker]

Then you might appreciate this NSU Ro 80, built 1967-1977 with a Wankel Rotary engine. Voted European Car of the Year.

This preceded Mazda’s use of the Wankel, if I recall correctly.

NSU of course was absorbed into Audi, but was a separate company at the time of this car.

http://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/890/

http://www.cartype.com/pages/3814/nsu_ro_80__1967

[Chode]

Outstanding...!!! wonderful car. iirc he paid like $18000

somebody left it up one night and it blew a seal...

[Elle Bee]

looks a little Peugeot and a little Studebaker Avanti in the rear

the Wankel is still a great concept

.

[Elle Bee]

I think I paid in the area of $14K in France then brought them in as used vehicles there was a healthy tax break

I can remember taking it in for new hydraulic$ (the valves and seals in the spheres and a dose of nitrogen) and a pricey tire change at the Importer in Englewood (or Cliffside ? or Englewood Cliffs??) NJ .... met Francis Ford Coppola there also waiting for a fix on his ... very pleasent man

[Chode]

old Lester was certified to work on Citroen / Ferrari / Lamborghini / Maserati / Lotus / DeTomasso / MG/Morgan/Triumph/Austin's, you name it... and people came here from miles around as he was the closest certifiedwrench.

[Chode]

Sauber's 2010 championship entry secured

The FIA confirmed on Thursday that BMW Sauber have been granted a slot on the 2010 grid - taking the place of the departing Toyota team - subject to them signing the Concorde Agreement that governs Formula One racing.

BMW announced earlier this year it was withdrawing from the sport at the end of 2009 and last week sold the team back to original founder Peter Sauber, having abandoned previous plans for it to be purchased by investment group Qadbak.

Throughout the sale process the team has had no confirmed entry for 2010, the 13th - and final - slot for next season having been awarded to the new Lotus team. But now, after Toyota's exit and months of uncertainty, the future of the Swiss squad, who made their F1 debut in 1993, looks assured.

A statement released by the FIA said: “The FIA has written to inform BMW Sauber AG that their application for an entry in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship has been successful. Subject to their signing the Concorde Agreement, BMW Sauber will be awarded the 13th entry in the Championship, taking the place of the departing Toyota team.

[God luvs America]

still no news on drivers for USF1