Frankly Frankl - it will be a cracking season! - Frankly Frankl-life, luck, love and automobiles

Like most of you I am counting the days to 2019’s first race in Melbourne. Lots of new cars, lots of new faces. Some of them will look like schoolboys and let’s face it that is what they were until recently . Amazing, especially if you  realize that Louis Chiron started the Monaco GP in 1955 when he was nearly 56 years old!

Yes folks, times have changed . These days these kids are more or less bred for racing. Go-karts, simulators, video games. By the time they get to Melbourne they will know all the corners by heart. In the not so olden days Jim Clark or Graham Hill would walk the circuit . They would also drive stick shifts instead of pulling leavers. The steering wheel was just that and not a myriad of buttons and switches.

Still, even though the engines don’t sound like the V12s, V10s or V8s when the lights go out in a few weeks time it will still be fast and furious.

The new owners are having a real go. In Bernie’s days everything was very strictly controlled, the paddock had massive minders whose vocabulary consisted of one word: NO!

Now the whole ambiance is far more relaxed, a welcome change. I think Liberty Media were hoping to move faster with at least 25 races in 2019 but they’ve discovered that the teams, essentially the circus was not prepared to move so fast. I can understand it. If you watch the physical work as well as the huge concentration during the race you can understand it. One tiny mistake-and there have been several-can lose your driver the race. One slow tire change and there goes the victory to someone else. And when it is over the mechanics have to pack absolutely everything in record time. Yes, the boxes are precisely labeled but someone still has to dismantle everything and get all the equipment on the way to the next race, sometimes a few days away. The so-called double headers are an absolute nightmare. Mexican GP on October 27 and the US GP is just one week later in Austin.

So if your driver has a big crash-think Alonso in Spa, the car has to be  for rebuilt for Monza which  is the following weekend.   

So full credit to all the teams for getting it right every single time in 2018. Well done to Liberty for starting the races 10 minutes after the hour, they guessed, correctly that TVs-like mine- have to be warmed up from their slumber.

There is a very sad anniversary coming up in a few days-Michael Schumacher’s awful skiing accident in Meribel. I’ve skied there many times and so have tens of thousands of people, it is not a difficult piste. Michael was an excellent skier and the fittest sportsman I’ve ever met. A truly million to one accident which essentially robbed us of a great driver, father and philanthropist who gave millions to charity anonymously. If my good friend Jon McEvoy’s recent article is correct Michael was actually watching a race  on television with his mentor and FIA President Jean Todt. I just hope he will be well enough to  enjoy seeing  his son Mick on the F1 grid in 2020.

Now on to domestic matters. Some of you may know that a few weeks ago I became a grandfather for the very first time. The enclosed picture says it all.

I saw the family in Florida where I also had a chance to catch up with David Hobbs. Known him for a long time, his book-co-written by my very old mate Andrew Marriott is excellent.

My revised and updated book-Frankly Frankl- life, love, luck and automobiles is selling well. FORZA subscribers have been kind enough to buy it and with the 55 dollars all sent notes, observations, anecdotes. The print run is limited-499 copies just like Ferraris used to be until recently. The talk and book signing in Miami was a big success as was Doug Dolton’s local auto emporium full of fascinating cars. And- you will like this-I sold 20 copies at Rustic Bakery one Saturday afternoon. Great crowd, a 488, an F12-the locals loved it!

`If you would like a copy please send me an e mail to andrewfrankl@me.com .

So until March happy motoring.

All the best for the holidays from

FORZA’s GP editor

Andrew Frankl

Frankly Frankl - Summer and Pebble Beach Week - Frankly Frankl-life, luck, love and automobiles

The Summer was supposed to be leisurely with trips to Tahoe and elsewhere instead of which it turned out to be an absolute mayhem.

Of the good sort I hasten to add. God willing I will be a grandfather for the very first time in a couple of weeks.

On top of that I was busy finishing my new book which is now-finally-at the printer. 208 pages, foreword by my old friend Jackie Stewart

with lots of new pictures and an extended Cannonball section. The word is that Pam Yates, wife of the late, great Brock Yates is talking about a new movie to the studios.

Lady Pam is one special lady and I do hope she will succeed. It was certainly the best week of my life back in 1979.

I am just recovering from Pebble Beach, the 4 day automobile extravaganza. It was great to see the new Pista spider unveiled by world wide sales supremo

Enrico Galliera and Ferrari’s US boss Matteo Torre. They started with a short but heartfelt tribute to the late Sergio Marchionne- architect of the new car. As you can see from the enclosed photo

I gave it the two thumbs up. Buying it will be a different matter as the line stretches from SF to NY..

The Portofino is more readily available and I may change my trusted California to the new model which I had a chance to drive both in Italy and at Big Sur.

Talking of which there was a FNA rally from San Diego to Pebble Beach starting the Monday of Pebble week. It ran to Palm Springs through the mountains out to Malibu, up to Santa Barbara and on to Pebble Beach. It was an incredible four days and fun for all.

Frankly Frankl - The Great Ferrari conspiracy. NOT! - Frankly Frankl-life, luck, love and automobiles

I have never heard as much drivel as the nonsense Toto and Niki were muttering after Lewis came second in the British Grand Prix. They assumed that the hugely popular Hamilton would  win his home race for an unprecedented 6^th time. It certainly looked like as they lined up with Lewis in pole position after a stunning qualifying lap. But as we all know qualifying is one thing, Sunday afternoon is a different matter.

As we all witnessed Hamilton got too much wheel spin and before he got going Vettel was already pulling away from second on the grid. Enters a devious plot cooked up in the kitchens of Ristorante Montana-the Scuderia’s favorite watering hole in Maranello. Kimi-said owner Maurizio- you will hit Lewis and put him into a 360 degree spin without damaging your own car.

Piece of cake really. Pathetic in other words and definitely not worthy of three times World Champion and old mate Lauda. I have seen him crash into Clay Regazzoni-his own team mate many years ago and over the years there have been ding-dongs with other drivers as well, that is the nature of the sport. Think Prost and Senna.

As for Toto his problem is that he thinks the Austrian Empire is still around. He really is full of it.

Next time I see him I will point out that his beloved Empire collapsed exactly 100 years ago. Humility is not a word he is familiar with. Posing for the cameras and banging a table or play acting about what is happening on the track is something he should have left behind in kindergarten. Maybe one day.

In the meantime all sorts of fun things are happening here on the West Coast. I have just returned from a talk I gave at the Peterson Museum to the Southwest Region of the Ferrari Club of America. Led by the energetic and enterprising Jim Bindman the members never seem to stop. One day they are off to Edwards AFB in the Mohave desert, next time it is Vanderberg AFB. We had  a full house for the event which started with pictures of my children-Nicholas and Annabelle. Nicholas was in the pits at Silverstone carried by Maria Helena Fittipaldi-wife of Emerson while Annabelle is on a police horse at Zandvoort just before the Dutch GP. This gave an indication as to how long we have been associated with motor racing bearing in mind that they will be 47 years old in a few days time. The talk included stories about the very first GP back in 1906, Cannonball ’79 and lots of Ferrari stories of course including my recent trip to the factory and my impressions of the new Portofino. It is very nice and as my regular drive is a normally aspirated California the only bit I was truly jealous of was the repositioned horn. Back in the middle of the steering wheel where it belongs. I am somewhat concerned about the ever-increasing production numbers, hopefully quality will not suffer. I certainly did not enjoy seeing

Lewis Hamilton’s brand new LaFerrari Aperta on the back of a tow-truck outside Nobu, that well-known watering hole of Hollywood celebs in Malibu.

The Portofino I had for a day was just fine, especially as it had company. For the first time in years we’ve persuaded daughter -and ace driver-Annabelle to join us for  our annual visit to Modena, Maranello and Sant’Agata. Maserati, Ferrari and Lamborghini-some family trip.

The  owners  of  the restaurant at the top of the legendary Futa Pass came out to greet us just like last year.  Wonderful people and huge car enthusiasts.

Of the three I would definitely pick the Portofino but truth be told the other two were also fun.

The Lambo is too much like a bull, bit too raw for me, you really have watch what you are doing.

Especially at 140mph. The Maserati is the sort of very elegant car well to do ladies would drive up to the Monte Carlo Golf Club. White leather, stunning. Don’t get me wrong-it also goes like smoke but I enjoyed driving it slowly on the very narrow roads up to the Club. It is the sort of car in which you can turn up anywhere and nobody will ask for your membership card..

But back in Marin it is all hands on deck to get my second, updated edition of Frankly Frankl

ready for the US Grand Prix in Austin. I will let you know where it will be available and  I will of course be on hand to dedicate each and every copy. Price remains the same at 44.95. Print run is the same-499 copies . All sold years ago.

If you would like to reserve a copy  without any obligation whatsoever drop me a note at

andrewfrankl@me.com and a dedicated copy will be yours.

Frankly Frankl - From Monaco Qualifying Day - Frankly Frankl-life, luck, love and automobiles

Many of you will have seen Daniel Ricciardo clinch pole position for today’s Monaco Grand Prix. This was expected. What we did not expect was that his team mate Max Verstappen would stuff the Red Bull into the barrier two hours before qualifying. The British lads who work for the team are probably the finest in the World but even they could not repair Max’s car in time. Of course Max’s loss is our gain, starting from last he will have to produce  a miracle to get on the podium.

F1 is full of young, hungry drivers such Leclerc and Ocon and they will be fighting their own race so letting Max pass is the last thing on their minds.

The start will be interesting because as you all know the first corner at St Devote has been tricky at the best of times so with three tigers from three different teams-Ricciardo, Vettel and Hamilton one of them could exit after a few hundred yards and seek solace as St Devote is under normal circumstances a beautiful church.

Monaco is not completely full, probably because it is very expensive to be here unless you are a sponsor or a sponsor’s guest. Or get a special rate at a hotel after 35 years  such as your reporter.

The new owners are trying very hard and I must say that their TV coverage, especially the instant replays are quite brilliant.

Would go as far as to say that unless you have plans before and after the Monaco GP-maybe a trip to the Ferrari factory- staying at home with a cold beer is a lot less hassle. And free.

So far there have been three highlights for me. One, the sight of Keke Rosberg in his championship winning Williams from 1982 alongside his son Nico in his winning Mercedes from 2016. To the best of my knowledge this is a first and it was quite magnificent. 

I know  that both Hills-Graham and Damon were also World Champions but unfortunately Graham was not alive when Damon clinched the title.

My other highlight was of course my annual visit to the Monte Carlo Country Club for a game of tennis. Has to be the most beautiful  location anywhere in the World.

I have been driving a Maserati for the last few days and the trip to the Monte Carlo golf club was very special indeed. Just to walk  a few holes with playing friends. Stunning location with the first 9 overlooking the Med And the second the mountains. It is of course inside France, Monaco are just leasing it. Don’t blame them. In case you do decide to  fly over next year and you are a golfer don’t miss it just make sure you reserve in advance. The course is special, the ambiance is unique and it is just half an hour from Monaco.

So enjoy the race tomorrow, this is THE one everybody wants to win because of the tremendous world-wide interest. Baku? Bahrain? Hands up all those who could name the winners.

Don’t miss the start or if you are in California at least make sure the alarm clock is set.

Andrew Frankl

Monaco

GP Editor-FORZA    

STOP PRESS! Anderson Cooper is here for 60 minutes. Logic dictates that he is here for a reason…Frankly Frankl