First off, we’re gonna be moving a little fast here, because it is a classic Circus weekend; the lads are in Silverstone for the British Grand Prix. I’ll return to that in a minute, but there is also the issue of the continued existence of F1. There is a potential divorce in the making. From CNN:
Eight of the sport’s major teams (Formula One Teams Association or FOTA) have potentially thrown the glamorous world of F1 into chaos by making good on their intention to set up a rival championship for 2010.
It follows months of talks and frustrations after they failed to resolve their dispute with motor sport’s governing body over financial constraints. Quite simply, the Formula One Teams’ Association announced they would not compromise on the quality of the series by signing up unconditionally for the 2010 F1 season following the release of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) radical new plans for cost-cutting.
All of this follows FIA president Max Mosley’s insistence on introducing a voluntary $60 million budget cap for teams to curtail what has been called a “financial arms race” in the sport.
The teams in question are championship leader Brawn GP, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso. With the two remaining outfits, Force India and Williams, staying put as it were.
The sport will go where the manufacturers go, notably Ferrari. The list of breakaways is everybody that matters, even weaker teams like Toro Rosso. To my mind, that means they will sort this out with Ecclestone and Mosely and things will remain where they are. Bernie and Max really have no choice. But that is just my take. Please discuss Circus heads!
As I said earlier, the British GP is this weekend. Here is the track (I miss Brands Hatch). Here is a rundown of practice. Qualifying is at 8:00 am EST Saturday on SpeedTV. The race is at 9:00 am EST on FOX (tape delayed, the suckers). See if Jenson Button can win this one too. Hard to bet against the lad at this point.
But the excitement doesn’t end there. Oh no. No way hoser.
Tonight, we are passing a milestone and a gravemarker. R.I.P. Randiego. Yep, Mr. SurfRider is getting married as I hit send on this post. Vaya Con Dios my friend. To be honest, I have met the once and future Mrs. RanDiego, and she is absolutely super; he is getting the best part of that deal by far.
However, it is not just RanDiego we are mourning. Bob Bogle, a legendary guitarist you probably never heard of, has passed. Bob was the lead guitar player for The Ventures. He, and the band, had a one of kind avant guard sound that is the basis for more rock and roll than you can imagine. One SurfRider passes on; one gains a wife and new life. Just like the waves on the beach, time relentlessly moves on.
Raise a toast and tilt a pint. Rip this joint. (Watch all the videos, but the last one is awesome).