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

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

Formula 1200 Is The Racing League For The Rest Of Us

Race car driving is challenging, fun and expensive. Many people who have the talent to become a competitive driver and appear on television in the Indy 500 or on the streets of Monaco in a Formula One car never get the chance. The sport is simply too expensive for most young talents to give it a try.

Harry O’Neal believes that just isn’t fair and knows an affordable way for boys and girls to test their talent on the track. Harry is the president of the Ontario chapter of the Formula 1200 Driver’s Association. If you aren’t familiar with Formula 1200, perhaps you have heard of Formula Vee. They are the same international racing league.

A decent Formula 1200 car costs between $10,000 and $12,000. Fees and expenses for a race weekend run from $350 to $500. Expenses will be higher if the car gets damaged, but not significantly. O’Neal points out that rebuilding the front end costs about $500 for a Formula 1200 car compared to $2000 for a Formula Ford.

O’Neal is quick to point out that the key to success in Formula 1200 is the driver’s skill. The rules dictate that every car in the field has … Read more at FryingPanSports

The “New” Grand Prix

The Grand Prix has been offering indoor go-kart racing for the last few years during the race, but this year organizers wanted to try something new. Event organizers approached Tom Kutscher, the owner of Kart Express, to set up an outdoor half-mile go-kart track with the sights and sounds of the Grand Prix in the background. For $15, fans can take a spin on the track at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour.

So far, fans have really taken to the new racetrack, but some others have come for something a little different. From flocks of young girls who turned out to see boy band sensation and celebrity race participant Kevin Jonas to fans looking for a chance to listen in on headsets as drivers talk to their crews to the aforementioned go-karts, the Grand Prix offered an impressive experience to the thousands of new and longtime racing fans in attendance. This has gone a long way towards turning the Grand Prix from something aimed at die-hard racing fans to a family-friendly event that promises to turn first-time attendees into lifelong fans.

Longtime racing fans such as 51 year-old John Reese, who has missed just one Grand Prix … Read more at FryingPanSports