When did the F1-bug bite you?
- Thread starter Pupik
- 27 comments
- 1,252 views
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
Well my father was a racing driver, so it's always been in the family, and is thus difficult to trace back. I can always remember watching races at Monaco and seeing the drivers missing gears. I have vague memories of Saudia Willaims cars, so that would be in the early 1980s. I think I really came into the whole sport and really understanding it in 1990, when I started to read Autosport, and really find out what was happening outside of Sunday afternoons. I was hooked immediately, and have read every single issue of Autosport since September 1991.
I went to Friday practice for the 1993 British GP, so I actually saw a Footwork on track! That really blew me away, and gave me a real understanding of F1.
I went to Friday practice for the 1993 British GP, so I actually saw a Footwork on track! That really blew me away, and gave me a real understanding of F1.
Cool.
What did he drive?
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
Originally posted by Snoopy > Doug.
Cool.
FFord, F3, F2, F5000, Tasman, GT40. Lots of sportscars and single seaters - basically everything until (a) he realised he didn't have the talent for F1, and (b) the money ran out.
You can see a picture of one of his cars in the official history of the GT40.
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
Originally posted by rufrgt_sn00pie2001
Is Malcom Guthrie your dad? Because he used to race with Ickx in the day!
Fact: Vanina Ickx (Jacky's daughter) entered the belgian national karting championship this year, in my class!
Yes, indeed he is my father.
That's so cool about his daughter - I'll tell Dad the next time I speak to him.And on the karting, no he never encouraged it. My family fell on hard-ish times, and at the time when he should have been pushing me, there was no spare cash. Also, my parents have been very keen for me to make my own way under my own influences, which is on balance quite a good thing I think. Well, it worked for me, anyway.
- 12,825
Originally posted by GilesGuthrie
Yes, indeed he is my father.
And on the karting, no he never encouraged it. My family fell on hard-ish times, and at the time when he should have been pushing me, there was no spare cash. Also, my parents have been very keen for me to make my own way under my own influences, which is on balance quite a good thing I think. Well, it worked for me, anyway.
Ah, well. Too bad though, I'm pretty sure you must have fuel running through your vains too, just like the ol' man!
I'm surprised you haven't mentioned this earlier, he sounds like a guy I would like to meet some time!
- 1,731
- GTP_pedrodaman
I've been watching F1 on and off since i was little..
My grandfather loved F1 and i watched the race's with him (the days of james hunt driving the Hesketh ford those where the real F1 days
But the real bug got me about 10 years ago thats when F1 racing was a joy to watch and i was at an age i could understand what was going on
And to watch schumacher achieve his goal to bring ferrari to victory has been good to watch (He done everything he said he would when he signed up for ferrari)
But now i feel that schumy should step aside and let someone else have a go..
His contract with Ferrari ends at the end of the 2004 season we will just have to wait and see what happens
I must admitt i would be sad to see him go but in the long run F1 will hopefully be as good as i remember when watching it with my grandfather
My grandfather loved F1 and i watched the race's with him (the days of james hunt driving the Hesketh ford those where the real F1 days
But the real bug got me about 10 years ago thats when F1 racing was a joy to watch and i was at an age i could understand what was going on
And to watch schumacher achieve his goal to bring ferrari to victory has been good to watch (He done everything he said he would when he signed up for ferrari)
But now i feel that schumy should step aside and let someone else have a go..
His contract with Ferrari ends at the end of the 2004 season we will just have to wait and see what happens
I must admitt i would be sad to see him go but in the long run F1 will hopefully be as good as i remember when watching it with my grandfather
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
Originally posted by rufrgt_sn00pie2001
Ah, well. Too bad though, I'm pretty sure you must have fuel running through your vains too, just like the ol' man!
I'm surprised you haven't mentioned this earlier, he sounds like a guy I would like to meet some time!
Yeah, I'm pretty much a petrolhead! Hadn't you guessed?
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
Originally posted by rufrgt_sn00pie2001
Is Malcom Guthrie your dad? Because he used to race with Ickx in the day!
Fact: Vanina Ickx (Jacky's daughter) entered the belgian national karting championship this year, in my class!
I spoke to Dad about this today. He says he was talking to Jackie about Vanina at Le Mans this year. Vanina must be quite a bit older than you, no?
- 2,491
Probably the beginning of the season this year.... I havent been able to watch all of the races because of the Time difference, but I try to. I have, however, followed the entire season of CART from Race 1 this year. All because of Speed Channel.
- 19,706
- Alabamamania
Darn, Giles had to go and ruin the thread...but if your dad drove a GT40, and raced with the likes of Jacky Ickx, that's good enough to change any thread!
Hey Giles, I know there's an audience at http://www.atlasf1.com/bb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=10
that would love to hear his stories!
(Sorry Jordan, not trying to steal anything from your forum...)
Hey Giles, I know there's an audience at http://www.atlasf1.com/bb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=10
that would love to hear his stories!
(Sorry Jordan, not trying to steal anything from your forum...)
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
:blush: Sorry!
They started covering F1 live here in 1980 when Alan Jones won the championship.
It's all a bit blurry, but I think I started watching races on and off first up in the early to mid 80's, I think when Piquet was winning with Brabham, so it must have been about '83 or so. I definitely remember Prost in a Renault.
I started sitting up watching races (in Australia most of the events are television from around 11pm, even though the European races take place at about 7.30pm our time) probably around '86 or so.
I don't usually watch the late races live anymore unless the following Monday is a public holiday, although I do tape them and watch them through the week.
It's all a bit blurry, but I think I started watching races on and off first up in the early to mid 80's, I think when Piquet was winning with Brabham, so it must have been about '83 or so. I definitely remember Prost in a Renault.
I started sitting up watching races (in Australia most of the events are television from around 11pm, even though the European races take place at about 7.30pm our time) probably around '86 or so.
I don't usually watch the late races live anymore unless the following Monday is a public holiday, although I do tape them and watch them through the week.
- 19,706
- Alabamamania
Yeah, the races are live at 7:30-8:30am here on the east coast of the US, some people think I'm nuts for getting up that early. This year, I've taped a good bit of them to sleep in and watched it later.
I used to pull all-nighters when in college, but I'd tape it in case plans fell through around 5am....zzzzzz
The TV stations don't have much competition at 8am on a Sunday, it's either church or a few news reports, so it has to be cable. And braodcasters can forget about tape-delaying F1 racing when football, baseball, golf, and NASCAR are far more popular during mid-day.
This is also a big reason F1 will never be a huge hit in the US. No major network will ever live it down if an F1 race had taken the time slot that was supposed to go to a Sunday church service.
Secondary networks usually have local programming (it's the only time they can fit it in), and thus, it has to go to channels like ESPN or SC/SV. Even then, it wasn't generating the ratings ESPN wanted, SportsCenter (a sports re-cap show) did much better. So it bounced around, and hopefully has a home.
I'm still debating whether I'll care next year...I'm sure by February, I'll have all the typical GP-withdrawl symptoms, and set my VCR a week in advance of the race!
I used to pull all-nighters when in college, but I'd tape it in case plans fell through around 5am....zzzzzz
The TV stations don't have much competition at 8am on a Sunday, it's either church or a few news reports, so it has to be cable. And braodcasters can forget about tape-delaying F1 racing when football, baseball, golf, and NASCAR are far more popular during mid-day.
This is also a big reason F1 will never be a huge hit in the US. No major network will ever live it down if an F1 race had taken the time slot that was supposed to go to a Sunday church service.
Secondary networks usually have local programming (it's the only time they can fit it in), and thus, it has to go to channels like ESPN or SC/SV. Even then, it wasn't generating the ratings ESPN wanted, SportsCenter (a sports re-cap show) did much better. So it bounced around, and hopefully has a home.
I'm still debating whether I'll care next year...I'm sure by February, I'll have all the typical GP-withdrawl symptoms, and set my VCR a week in advance of the race!
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
I'm already having GP withdrawal, but that might have something to do with my little trip! 
Roo
Premium
- 7,446
- Hampshire, UK
- GTP_Roo
My first race was watched on TV when I was 10. It was the 1996 Australian GP. Never missed a race since. Never been to one, but I've been to the Goodwood Festival of Speed twice, which is one of the best places to get close to the cars. Got Button's and Ralf's autographs.
I try to follow CART, NASCAR and occasionally IRL as much as possible. But living in England, its hard to take control of the TV on Sunday night.
Rallying, motorbikes, BTCC, any racing that I can find to watch, I'll watch.
I try to follow CART, NASCAR and occasionally IRL as much as possible. But living in England, its hard to take control of the TV on Sunday night.
Rallying, motorbikes, BTCC, any racing that I can find to watch, I'll watch.
- 2,403
- St. Cloud, Florida
- aracefan
Yeah, hanging on the net all day like me. Steady job???
How's it go KC?... Pimpin' ain't easy
Oh, yeah, on the subject...
Honestly don't remember. I always kinda followed it and knew bit from my step dad watching it. I didn't get "ridiculous" about it until probably '93-'94.
(man, I'm old)
- 1,695
The first full F1 race I watched was the 2001 Australian GP. But I have seen all of them since then.
- 465
I started watching around mid eighties on tv finally visited Silverstone 93 saturday qualifying . Ran into the circuit my first sight andretti in the Mclaren screaming past - result havent missed a race since.
Since been to Monaco 2 times as well last time drove there in my mx5 and drove round the circuit the day after the race, playing gt3- cote d azur brings back loads of memories.
Since been to Monaco 2 times as well last time drove there in my mx5 and drove round the circuit the day after the race, playing gt3- cote d azur brings back loads of memories.
Similar threads
