In race war, only 1 winner when price is right

OBSCURE in its charms, it is improbable that the grand prix ever will please most of the people most of the time.

On Sunday, it pleased some of the people some of the time, those whose fetish it is to watch racing cars crash, break down and overwhelmingly fail to finish, and Mark Webber to walk a lot.

The “some” was put at a typically ropy 108,000. At least the grand prix called it an estimate.

The trouble is that the grand prix seems increasingly to be about pleasing only one person. This year’s running was acclaimed as a resounding success not necessarily because of the way it was received in Melbourne, but because of the way it went down on the farther side of the globe.

“Mr Ecclestone said it created enormous interest around the world, and that our branding ‘Melbourne, Australia’ looked absolutely fine and pristine,” said grand prix chairman Ron Walker (who lives in Australia), quoting F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone (who lives in London).

“So here he is, sitting in London and he’s wished us all the best for the future. What better endorsement could you have?”

Here’s one: the endorsement of the great and good of Melbourne, who say they still want the race, but no longer at any cost, and certainly not at the prohibitive cost, at Ecclestone’s insistence, of floodlights and a night timeslot.

Here’s another: the endorsement of the people of Melbourne. Anecdotally, it is more qualified than ever. The petrol-heads still go, but the grand prix is not necessarily any longer the place to be heard and seen (and in some cases, obscene). It has lost its novelty value, and does not have enough else to endear it to neutrals.

Ecclestone’s endorsement is vital, of course, since it is he who collects an ever increasing tithe from our public purse to allow us the privilege of staging a race in our city, and he who is playing cities off, one against the other, for his favour.

We have endured for months the sycophantic spectacle of Ecclestone saying “jump” and Melbourne replying “how high?” and Ecclestone raising the bar again. Really, we should keep our feet firmly planted on our dignity.

Besides, Ecclestone’s merest nod in our direction should not be mistaken for a ringing endorsement.

For one, Ecclestone’s affection for Melbourne is at best skin-deep. He has been here once for a grand prix, and last week was complaining that our race was on at an impossible hour for him in London. It is why he is fixated on a night race.

An Indian venue could be made to look equally fine and pristine, and pay Ecclestone much more.

It is as well that there were so many “Melbourne, Australia” signs; only they and the ungodly hour would have identified us to Ecclestone. Otherwise, one grand prix track looks pretty much like another: a hazy city skyline, a few fast-moving trees, Webber DNF-ing.

At night, the distinctions would be even fewer, which is one reason Melbourne people are against a night race.

Ecclestone’s appreciation, as disclosed by Walker, highlights the most spurious of the arguments, that the grand prix badges Melbourne to the world. First, it appears on television in England and Europe — still F1’s principal market — at an anti-social hour, as frequently noted by Ecclestone.

Only diehards will be watching then, and they already know about Melbourne, or at least about the stretch of bitumen with “Melbourne” written on it. From all accounts, they are coming to marvellous Melbourne in decreasing numbers every year.

Second, consider for a moment the venues of the other 18 races this year: Kuala Lumpar, Bahrain, Imola, Barcelona, Monaco, Montreal, Indianapolis, Magny-Cours, Silverstone, Nurburgring, Budapest, Istanbul, Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, Shanghai, Suzuka, Interlagos and Hockenheim.

Some are on the map, but not because of motor racing.

Some are on the map only because of motor-racing, boasting no other irresistible charms and unlikely to cause a casual television viewer to draw out his life’s savings and hasten at once. Seen from elsewhere, Melbourne is just another name on that list, only further away.

Is it not time to stop trying to judge the worth of it by its appeal to tourists and fickle potentates, and judge it instead by those who live, work, study, play and pay tax in this city the year round?

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Orlando Motors Sport üzerinde şu anda okumakta olduğunuz 'In race war, only 1 winner when price is right' isimli yazı 18 Mar 2008 tarihinde, saat: 02:25 'de admin tarafından gönderilmiş.

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