Pre Australian Grand Prix "sack the race, no one cares" thread

[OzBomber]

Well it's that time of year again. Left wing w***ers writing ridiculous articles about how the race is doomed and how getting 20,000 to watch a horse race is better than 110,000 watching F1.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/gp-needs-its-booty-and-bling/story-e6frfhqf-1226262292420

If anyone's interested on its health, there's been a 55% percent increase in general admission ticket sales this year. We got 300,000 to the race last year with terrible weather so if we get some decent weather you'd think we'll be in for some big crowds.

 

[Herbs]

Old mate can GAGF. Aaaaaand he can stick the horse racing up his arse.

 

[rayven]

[YOUTUBE]Use9mA1OXHA[/YOUTUBE]

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Where do we start with this topic? John Faine saying, once again, that he's never been to the GP and that it's a waste of taxypayers money. Gerard Whateley banging on about how "there's no goodwill for this event anymore", again. The idiot doesn't mind forking out a few mil for Tiger Woods's presence. I wonder if he'll approve of the race if Black Caviar was allowed to compete in it? Richard Stubbs asking his callers to if we've had enough of the event, while subtley, expressing his own dissatification and question "Do people really take notice of this event overseas?" Only for many callers to say "Yes", again.

I'm not sure what the breaking point is as far as the finances are concerned, but notice how the whole media focus on the $50 mil cost? Where the race loses $10mil? In the context of government finances, a bargain.

Something that annoys me is that the specialist press over here, or those designated to talk about motorsport, don't defend it. On SEN for instance, you can openly criticise the race infront of Tony Schibeci, Tony will say nothing back, just takes it like a b****. I've read articles in Auto Action where they don't make an effort to come up with figures to support the race, instead the inference is that the race may cost too much. No wonder Auto Action is such a s*** magazine now.

I suppose the biggest factor whether or not it's a success or worthwhile, so far, is that the race has lasted multiple terms of government, from both sides of politics.

 

[rideclutch]

How much does it help that we're the first race of the year? Kinda ensures strong viewership in Europe and such, perhaps even some travelling over. Seems that it would be easier to disguard if it were say, just another random race in the middle of the fly-aways. Just a thought.

 

[TheStinger]

SKY Sports over here in the UK recently bought the rights to show F1 exclusively and paid quite a pretty penny and are setting up a dedicated channel for it, so I would imagine they are banking on the fact that F1 still has a big audience here in Europe. And all of the events around Europe are always well attended, depsite how expensive the tickets are.

F1 fans will travel vast distances to see the races and the injection of money into the economy from some of the big wigs that are associated with the event is bound to be significant. And the coverage does mean that people around the world will get to know the city and want to come, so the benefits to tourism are enormous.

I recently met an American guy in Paris while we were waiting to go up the Eiffel Tower and after finding out I was from Adelaide he said how he went there for the Grand Prix years ago and has gone a few more times for the Clipsal 500 as well. Now, he works in the Auto Racing industry as a mechanic but I am sure that he is not alone in being attracted to a country and a city because of the Grand Prix.

People need to get their heads out of the sand and realise there is a bigger picture than just the four days of the race.

 

[rideclutch]

SKY Sports over here in the UK recently bought the rights to show F1 exclusively and paid quite a pretty penny and are setting up a dedicated channel for it, so I would imagine they are banking on the fact that F1 still has a big audience here in Europe.

The audiences are indeed still large, but I do know of a lot of F1 fans that won't be forking out the 10/20 pounds or whatever it is per month to pay for Sky.

People need to get their heads out of the sand and realise there is a bigger picture than just the four days of the race.

Yep, well said.

The effect the race has on Melbourne/Australia's tourism and economy is pretty much impossible to calculate. It's just one of those things that can't be accurately measured financially, but as a world event it's something that puts Melbourne, and indeed Australia on the map.

 

[Jesse Custer]

There will always be enough nuff nuffs that shoot their mouths without thinking. Think of the exposure this city and our country gets. Its one of the biggest stages of the year. The crowds are getting bigger every year. Its hard for the residents that live there i suppose.

But the positives heavily outweigh the negatives. Hopefully one day we can think of something to shut these idiots up once and for all. Clearly crowd figures, publicity isn't enough for them.

 

[Simple Jack]

There will always be enough nuff nuffs that shoot their mouths without thinking. Think of the exposure this city and our country gets. Its one of the biggest stages of the year. The crowds are getting bigger every year. Its hard for the residents that live there i suppose.

But the positives heavily outweigh the negatives. Hopefully one day we can think of something to shut these idiots up once and for all. Clearly crowd figures, publicity isn't enough for them.

That's ok, I have an easy solution.

If you live in a penthouse on Queens road or one of the ones on St Kilda road with a vew of the track and you fnd it hard having the GP each year, you can swap with me.

I'll just have to deal with the yearly Formula one practice sessions, qualy and race to watch from my balcony....

 

[imadodgyumpire]

SKY Sports over here in the UK

You're in the UK? How does the GP compare to the Aus Open as far as presence there is concerned? Obviously, the Aus Open lasts for two weeks and that would mean a bigger presence, but even if you compared it to the just the Mens final or the last three days?

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Just heard. listening to Red Symons's show, John Faine was on it, that the Government was looking to EXTEND the GP contract! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha!

Anyway, also heard that either Government or AGPC representatives will be on John's show, defending the race, it starts 8:30.

 

[Jakko]

Just bring it back to Adelaide. Our track is better and we get almost as many fans just for the clipsal 500.

 

[mattys123]

Here's another lovely anti race article by the Herald Sun and News Ltd.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/g...ernie-ecclestone/story-fn7q3txe-1226285646478

MELBOURNE would lose the Grand Prix if the Baillieu Government cuts its cash handout to the event, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone warned last night. In an extraordinary threat issued from London just two weeks before this year's event, Mr Ecclestone said unless taxpayers kept pouring at least $55 million a year into the race, it would be taken from Australia.
"If we were having a divorce from our friends in Melbourne, we would probably be walking away from Australia," Mr Ecclestone said.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/g...ernie-ecclestone/story-fn7q3txe-1226285646478

 

[Simple Jack]

In summary;

Bernie is Bernie.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Even F1 journos like Jon Noble are saying "Bernie's trying to make Australia a night race, it's that time of year again". It's just routine now.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

I think it's more that European TV want a night race, rather than Bernie (I remember listening to the BBC world service a couple of years ago), but it's not as inflammatory to say that.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

"If we were having a divorce from our friends in Melbourne, we would probably be walking away from Australia," Mr Ecclestone said.

"Melbourne is a sports city. It's got the major sports"

"People like to go to Melbourne. (Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman) Ron Walker does a good job.

"We wouldn't want to leave Melbourne."

"We would have a look. Maybe we could help subsidise that a little bit," Mr Ecclestone said.

"I haven't bothered to look into this in any shape or form. We have a contract," Mr Ecclestone said.

"Up until 2015, we're in good shape. After then, I really don't know. I haven't spoken to anybody. Normally, I would speak to Ron Walker."

Where is the "extraordinary" threat?

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Was listening to Richard Stubbs this afternoon. One of the topics for the talkback callers was, paraphrasing "If we discontiued the GP and you had their budget for another festival, what would it be?"

The people of Melbourne are not an inspired bunch, because some of the suggestions were...

A remote controlled pirate ship battle at Albert Park Lake. That was Richards idea.

Bring WWE here.

Another music festival.

An Oktoberfest style p*** up.

Not sure they should be responsible for spending $55mil...Even just $55.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

What time would Formula One ideally like to start the race in Melbourne?

 

[Simple Jack]

A remote controlled pirate ship battle at Albert Park Lake.

That sounds pretty excellent.

An Oktoberfest style p*** up.

Could probably get behind this idea.

 

[OzBomber]

What time would Formula One ideally like to start the race in Melbourne?

Ideally 9-10pm so that the race is on in prime time (early arvo) over there. But we'll never bend of like Singapore do. It would kill off atleast half the crowd and costs would skyrocket.

 

[Simple Jack]

Ideally 9-10pm so that the race is on in prime time (early arvo) over there. But we'll never bend of like Singapore do. It would kill off atleast half the crowd and costs would skyrocket.

And if you started a 1.5 hour Formula one race at 10pm the locals would scream bloody murder.

Wouldn't really bother me. I watch all the other F1 races at that time anyway.

 

[NMFCMUFC]

Yawn.

Enjoy the race while it lasts I guess.

However since seeing the Singapore GP, I am not as against a night race as I was before, but that will cost a bloody fortune

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Don't know about any of you, but, since this thread started, I haven't noticed any major criticism of the race. I was looking out for it so I could post it here, but, there's been sfa. Maybe, the mainstream media and wider public have become tired of fu****' complaining about it?

 

[PAFC_1870]

you didnt see this?

http://www.news.com.au/entertainmen...e-bogan-daughter/story-fn907478-1226298931082