Comments on: Opinion: Campaigning for F1 http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:15:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: crewegwyn http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html#comment-101205 crewegwyn Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:05:39 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16675#comment-101205 Ah regenerative braking - what a cutting edge technology! How does it differ from what was being done on the Manchester-Sheffield railway in ... er ... the 1950s? Ah regenerative braking – what a cutting edge technology!

How does it differ from what was being done on the Manchester-Sheffield railway in … er … the 1950s?

]]> By: felix holt http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html#comment-101201 felix holt Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:10:30 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16675#comment-101201 But guys - you save petrol by not bothering with this inane past-time! As for technological developments- we need to move away from internal combustion engines - I've not heard about Formula 1 working on electric cars!! Get real - this is just rich people's playtimes: leave it to the Tories! But guys – you save petrol by not bothering with this inane past-time!
As for technological developments- we need to move away from internal combustion engines – I’ve not heard about Formula 1 working on electric cars!!
Get real – this is just rich people’s playtimes: leave it to the Tories!

]]> By: Philip Young http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html#comment-101049 Philip Young Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:32:46 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16675#comment-101049 What stand did the Welsh Lib Dems take over the decision of the Assembly last week to rescue Rally GB with a two million pound sponsorship, for the next three years? What stand did the Welsh Lib Dems take over the decision of the Assembly last week to rescue Rally GB with a two million pound sponsorship, for the next three years?

]]> By: Philip Young http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html#comment-101022 Philip Young Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:10:22 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16675#comment-101022 Andy/LJH: Understandable concerns. But the problems of the car and motoring wont be solved without ground breaking technology and science. That said, the governing body of British motorsport doesnt do initiatives lower down the ladder, there could be a national economy run (there used to be a Mobile Economy Run - and the economy of ordinary cars is now a very relevant factor in the showroom sales), there is no alternative-energies rally, in the UK, despite the fact that the FIA have a world championship for alternative-energy cars to promote electric vehicles, and dont forget, £2m, no less, of taxpayers money via the Welsh Assembly every year for the next three years goes into the Rally GB, where 300 bhp cars race between trees, for next to no return in publicity or prestige for the British motor-sport industry or clubscene. - the Liberal Democrats could do with a coherent radical policy on motor-sport. It's not all bad, or, illiberal, for that matter. The old-car scene fosters vehicle recyling, making and restoring parts to keep older cars going - a fantastic cottage industry of skills and specialists that employs thousands of people. Lord Steel is President of a Jaguar owner's club, as well as President of two classic rally clubs. The Classic car scene is a reminder of a very proud British heritage which was mis-managed and lost to the Japanese in the 70s. The scrapping cars is hardly green, and using tax payers money to foster new-car sales even less green. - The Endurance Rally Association. Andy/LJH: Understandable concerns. But the problems of the car and motoring wont be solved without ground breaking technology and science. That said, the governing body of British motorsport doesnt do initiatives lower down the ladder, there could be a national economy run (there used to be a Mobile Economy Run – and the economy of ordinary cars is now a very relevant factor in the showroom sales), there is no alternative-energies rally, in the UK, despite the fact that the FIA have a world championship for alternative-energy cars to promote electric vehicles, and dont forget, £2m, no less, of taxpayers money via the Welsh Assembly every year for the next three years goes into the Rally GB, where 300 bhp cars race between trees, for next to no return in publicity or prestige for the British motor-sport industry or clubscene. – the Liberal Democrats could do with a coherent radical policy on motor-sport.

It’s not all bad, or, illiberal, for that matter. The old-car scene fosters vehicle recyling, making and restoring parts to keep older cars going – a fantastic cottage industry of skills and specialists that employs thousands of people.

Lord Steel is President of a Jaguar owner’s club, as well as President of two classic rally clubs. The Classic car scene is a reminder of a very proud British heritage which was mis-managed and lost to the Japanese in the 70s.

The scrapping cars is hardly green, and using tax payers money to foster new-car sales even less green.

- The Endurance Rally Association.

]]> By: LJH http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html#comment-100989 LJH Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:38:16 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16675#comment-100989 Felix - you may be interested to know that the Formula One regulations have just been reworked so that the emphasis moves to engine and fuel efficiency. Summarised, the team who can make the most efficient use of resources will have the biggest advantage. James Allen writes on the subject here: http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2009/10/fia-releases-2010-calendar-and-details-of-green-racing-future/ Also, don't overlook the role of top-level motorsport as an engineering laboratory that can produce positive effects that ripple throughout society. An excellent example is the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) recently developed by the Williams F1 team based in Grove, Oxfordshire. This uses an innovative flywheel system to re-use the energy generated from braking and has applications in public transport systems worldwide. The technical director of the London Underground has given it rave reviews and said he will seriously consider whether it can be implemented on the network. So, when answering your question, it is necessary to think a bit more widely than just about cars going round a track. Felix – you may be interested to know that the Formula One regulations have just been reworked so that the emphasis moves to engine and fuel efficiency. Summarised, the team who can make the most efficient use of resources will have the biggest advantage. James Allen writes on the subject here: http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2009/10/fia-releases-2010-calendar-and-details-of-green-racing-future/

Also, don’t overlook the role of top-level motorsport as an engineering laboratory that can produce positive effects that ripple throughout society. An excellent example is the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) recently developed by the Williams F1 team based in Grove, Oxfordshire.

This uses an innovative flywheel system to re-use the energy generated from braking and has applications in public transport systems worldwide. The technical director of the London Underground has given it rave reviews and said he will seriously consider whether it can be implemented on the network.

So, when answering your question, it is necessary to think a bit more widely than just about cars going round a track.

]]> By: felix holt http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html#comment-100987 felix holt Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:12:14 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16675#comment-100987 Does no-one else feel that motorsports are not exactly the most carbon-friendly of past times...? Does no-one else feel that motorsports are not exactly the most carbon-friendly of past times…?

]]> By: Andy http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html#comment-100986 Andy Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:50:16 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16675#comment-100986 Nigel - it's not the first such story. We've been keeping a rolling 'liveblog' at http://bit.ly/Eurtc since October 2nd and have lost count of the twists and turns. It's the lack of transparency that has made the situation so worrying. Nigel – it’s not the first such story. We’ve been keeping a rolling ‘liveblog’ at http://bit.ly/Eurtc since October 2nd and have lost count of the twists and turns. It’s the lack of transparency that has made the situation so worrying.

]]> By: Nigel Ashton http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html#comment-100985 Nigel Ashton Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:38:24 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16675#comment-100985 Positive story on the front page of Guardian sport today suggesting that it's looking good for Silverstone. Positive story on the front page of Guardian sport today suggesting that it’s looking good for Silverstone.

]]> By: Andy http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html#comment-100983 Andy Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:16:28 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16675#comment-100983 Credit where it's due on the cats joke: http://xkcd.com/262/ The PledgeBank pledge now sits on 53 signatories - this is the part of the campaign aimed at showing Bernie he'll still fill his wallet by going to Silverstone. Credit where it’s due on the cats joke: http://xkcd.com/262/

The PledgeBank pledge now sits on 53 signatories – this is the part of the campaign aimed at showing Bernie he’ll still fill his wallet by going to Silverstone.

]]> By: Caron http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html#comment-100982 Caron Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:09:04 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16675#comment-100982 My two great passions combined! Brilliant article, and not just because it mentions me! The line about the post it note on the cat made me howl with laughter. It just goes to show how the campaigning skills which have been slowly melded into our DNA over the years can be used outside the traditional world of politics. Well done to LDV for publishing an article that's not really on the face of it political - although there is a political dimension given many thousands of jobs not just at the teams themselves, but the engine companies, tyre companies, suppliers etc depend on F1. We have such a strong, proud record of achievement in F1 in Britain and the chances are that if you have a car it has been made safer because of the r and d work done by F1 teams. I'd like to see more of this kind of article - not necessarily just on sport but the arts, music, that kind of thing. And, no, for those who know me, I'm not talking about Strictly. My two great passions combined! Brilliant article, and not just because it mentions me! The line about the post it note on the cat made me howl with laughter.

It just goes to show how the campaigning skills which have been slowly melded into our DNA over the years can be used outside the traditional world of politics.

Well done to LDV for publishing an article that’s not really on the face of it political – although there is a political dimension given many thousands of jobs not just at the teams themselves, but the engine companies, tyre companies, suppliers etc depend on F1. We have such a strong, proud record of achievement in F1 in Britain and the chances are that if you have a car it has been made safer because of the r and d work done by F1 teams.

I’d like to see more of this kind of article – not necessarily just on sport but the arts, music, that kind of thing. And, no, for those who know me, I’m not talking about Strictly.

]]> By: anon http://www.libdemvoice.org/campaigning-for-f1-16675.html#comment-100979 anon Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:24:25 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=16675#comment-100979 Good for you andy. Its good to see one of my passions being supported by the skills learned through another ofmy passions. Good for you andy. Its good to see one of my passions being supported by the skills learned through another ofmy passions.

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