Austin Anecdotes..
Just as I was ready to board the plane back to San Francisco came the shock news that this time round Bernie Ecclestone could really be on his way out. The boss of CVC made it crystal clear that if found guilty in one of the many court cases pending. Bernie would be dismissed from his job as the undisputed master of Formula One. Before people start passing judgment just let them listen to the folks in Austin. They love him. He put the city on the map of great destinations. Just been talking a FORZA subscriber in the departure lounge. Roger is the proud owner of a 246 and a 328. He has been telling me that motels that normally charge 50 dollars a night were asking 500! Like me, he would also like to see some closer racing in 2014. That was certainly the sentiment shared by the Shell people who very kindly invited me for the weekend. The size of their company is simply mind blowing as is their depth of understanding the business. Talking to a charming lady from one of their London offices she was telling me about the various challenges they face from Nigeria to Turkey. I've asked her about the recent Greenpeace Demo at the Belgian Grand Prix, a race they sponsor. Instead of jumping up and down they very wisely chose to ignore it. Much more relevant us their technical knowledge. A few years ago there was a massive explosion at a refinery in the UK belonging to a rival company. Shell's safety expert were on the scene almost immediately to offer help and with advice to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.
Just as I was ready to board the plane back to San Francisco came the shock news that this time round Bernie Ecclestone could really be on his way out. The boss of CVC made it crystal clear that if found guilty in one of the many court cases pending. Bernie would be dismissed from his job as the undisputed master of Formula One. Before people start passing judgment just let them listen to the folks in Austin. They love him. He put the city on the map of great destinations. Just been talking a FORZA subscriber in the departure lounge. Roger is the proud owner of a 246 and a 328. He has been telling me that motels that normally charge 50 dollars a night were asking 500! Like me, he would also like to see some closer racing in 2014. That was certainly the sentiment shared by the Shell people who very kindly invited me for the weekend. The size of their company is simply mind blowing as is their depth of understanding the business. Talking to a charming lady from one of their London offices she was telling me about the various challenges they face from Nigeria to Turkey. I've asked her about the recent Greenpeace Demo at the Belgian Grand Prix, a race they sponsor. Instead of jumping up and down they very wisely chose to ignore it. Much more relevant us their technical knowledge. A few years ago there was a massive explosion at a refinery in the UK belonging to a rival company. Shell's safety expert were on the scene almost immediately to offer help and with advice to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.
Coming back to Texas the story of the weekend belongs to
Governor Perry. Apparently Ferrari invited him to Maranello with his wife.
President Montezemolo duly took her for a spin around the company's Fiorano
test track in a California. The car is very nice pronounced the Governor but
there is something wrong with it. Puzzled look from Montezemolo. The name is
wrong said Perry adding California is the past, Texas is the future. Game, set
and match. We don't have to agree with him but I think it was really funny. The
look on Luca's face..
But back to the race. Watching from a stand instead of the
claustrophobic press office it was fascinating to see the racing live and from
above. Vettel's serene progress totally just amazing just as it was great to
see Alonso retaking a position with a masterful pass on Hulkenberg. There was a
lot of love and sympathy towards Felipe Massa who is leaving for Williams. I
think we would all love to see him do well although I am not sure he will ever
be the same again as before his horrendous crash back in 2009.
I loved the initiatives of the locals near the track. They were not only
offering parking for 20 or 30 dollars but in addition offered to drop the
customers at the circuit and collect them after the race. Some of them were
even doing BBQs to make some extra money. There were a number of very trendy
clubs all over the city and these were all jam packed with well healed
customers.
The My Yacht group who normally run a very successful weekend during the Monaco
GP did a great transplant from the Principality to the building normally
occupied by the good folks of the Austin Ballet. It was wonderful to run
into Sharon, Sally Swart's daughter. Now this will mean very little to most
people but I knew Sally when she was Jim Clark's girlfriend. If you don't know
who Jim Clark was then you are reading the wrong blog.
Now it is on to São Paulo and the final race. For most teams the season cannot be over too soon, for once great team such as McLaren the humiliation must have been quite hard to take.
Now it is on to São Paulo and the final race. For most teams the season cannot be over too soon, for once great team such as McLaren the humiliation must have been quite hard to take.
