Three of the Best Formula 1 Races of All Time

The recent passing away of British racing hero Peter Gethin brought back memories for Formula 1 fans of his victory in the 1971 Italian Grand Prix, the closest race in F1 history.

The famous bout in Monza saw him crossing the line just 0.01 seconds ahead of second-placed Ronnie Peterson, with just 0.61 seconds separating the top five drivers in one of the most exciting ends to a race ever seen.

Over the years, Formula 1 has been the place to experience days of racing excitement like know other. We look back at three more classic F1 races which will live long in the memory and have been firmly cemented in the sport’s history.

Japanese Grand Prix, 1989

One of many classic battles between McLaren teammates and fierce rivals Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost as both went head-to-head for the drivers’ championship going into the penultimate race of the season. Despite sitting on pole, Senna saw Prost race ahead for a five-second lead right at the start but he clawed it back to just one second with seven laps to go in this potentially title-deciding race. Senna took a brave inside line but Prost refused to budge, with both cars … Read more at FryingPanSports

The Top 10 Iconic Sportsmen of the 20th Century

 

  1. Michael Schumacher (Motor Racing)

Forget the collisions and the controversies; it is without doubt that this seven time Formula One champion has to make it into the list. Considered one of or the best driver in History – the man who manage to turn round the formula one fortunes of Ferrari and the only driver to go an entire season with a podium finish at every race in the year 2002

  1. Michael Jordan (Basketball)

Basketball player turned Baseball turned Actor – Michael Jordan may have not been all that great at the latter occupations but he was one hell of a Basketball player. The 6ft 6” giant dominated the sport and led his team the Chicago bulls to three Championships. Didn’t do too well at the Baseball thing but we all admired him for his Talent and the fact that he was in Space Jam.

  1. Babe Ruth (Baseball)

Babe Ruth – the most famous Baseball player that has ever lived could in some people’s eyes be one of the most iconic sportsmen. With a career that spanned from 1914 – 1935 and hitting 60 home runs in a season a record that stood for 35 years, this American … Read more at FryingPanSports

Jimmy Johnson – Nascar Driver

Jimmy Johnson was born on September 17, 1975 in El Cajon, California. He graduated high school in 1993. You might think he began racing competitively after high school just like many other drivers, but Jimmy got started long before that. He started racing in competitive events when he was only 5 years old. To make the story even sweeter, he won his first big motorcycle race despite a knee injury. There is no confirmation on the type of knee injury. After all, how many five year olds return to a race after a real knee injury? F

or all we know, he told his mom he had a boo-boo. Whatever the case may be, he won. Following that race, he continued racing in various different forms, including swimming. His other two big sports were diving and polo.

Now you know Jimmy Johnson a little bit better than you did before, but we haven’t even gotten started yet. Did you know that Jimmy is 5 feet, 11 inches and 165 pounds? Of course, that weight might sway a little depending on the season, but he’s not a large fellow and he stays in good shape.

Jimmy Johnson rides the #48 car … Read more at FryingPanSports

A Look At The Fiat 500

Jennifer Lopez

After a long absence from the US, Fiat, largely due to the relationship they are involved with at the new Chrysler Corporation, re-entered the market with the Fiat 500. During their opening introduction salvos, they featured full page newspaper ads that high-lighted the small car. Quite honestly, the first impression, based on these ads was not particularly favorable. It looked like just another toy car doomed to quick extinction by American tastes for big and bigger.

Then something happened. Perhaps it was the Jennifer Lopez link, but when TV ads began appearing that gave close up views of this vehicle, perception changed. What a delightful little car this Fiat actually was, once you got up close and personal. This little gem has great, novel European lines, and extremely attractive styling. Like Jennifer, there is no doubt that this thing is hot, which may not be everyone’s favorite temperature. To be sure, it is small. Surprisingly, for its size it seats two rather comfortably. That is the market segment they are after.

Many American car buyers will not be impressed. To many, Euro style means unattractive. There is some apprehension about quality, as well as price and power. The Fiat 500 … Read more at FryingPanSports

Santa Pod Hosts European Drag Racing Finals

For most normal people in the British Isles, chugging to the shops in something dull, the idea of drag racing conjures up images of glamorous Yanks, sun-drenched desert airfields and blingin’ USA style showmanship, as ridiculously powerful nitrous-methane fuelled drag cars launch their sacrificial pilots into mind-numbingly fast races which are over in seconds.

drag carWell, small English village Podington in Bedfordshire may not be Arizona, but Santa Pod lives up to the image in every other respect. Between 8-11 September around 300 race teams and up to 25,000 spectators will descend on this normally peaceful corner of England for Europe’s most prestigious high-stakes drag racing meet for the 45th European finals.

The event plays host to the Top Fuel class of drag racer – the sport’s answer to F1, but with the horsepower of a NASA launch rocket under every bonnet. Top Fuel ‘cars’ can unleash an incredible 8,000bhp to hit top speeds of over 300 miles per hour in just a quarter of a mile of acceleration. The investment is astronomical, as are the prizes.

Although these vehicles have more in common with the Space Shuttle than a family hatchback, it is the challenge of 

Read more at FryingPanSports

How Do You Become A Racing Driver?

Motorsport has been big business for over half a century, and rightly so. Whether it’s the glitz and glamour of open-wheeled Formula One racing, the all-American thrills of NASCAR or the more obscure feeder series’ for these and other high profile racing events, seeing those death-defying vehicles race around might well inspire you to ask ‘couldn’t I do that?’. This blog post aims to answer that question with some simple tips and difficult truths:

The Age Question

If you’re a fan of motorsport, it won’t have escaped your attention that drivers are often very young. Michael Schumacher is the oldest racing driver in Formula One at 42, and despite being seven time world champion, he is considered past his prime (as he was five years ago, when he announced his initial retirement). The last time anyone over forty one a world championship was Jack Brabham, back in 1966. In the last decade, the only person over 35 has been Schumacher himself.

If you’re reading this how-to guide for yourself whilst seriously considering a career in motorsport, you will have to understand that starting young is considered essential for competing in most of the big-name championships. This doesn’t mean that there … Read more at FryingPanSports