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Even Tiger used to crawl out of bed for what have become known as the long-haul races. He’d curl up, one eye on the first few laps, then snooze through to the chequered flag. Tiger is a marmalade cat. This weekend he will be out and about, doing whatever it is he does at lunchtime on Sundays. I will have my chair to myself.
Call me contrarian – I know most people think night races are an exciting development – but I have misgivings about the Grand Prix of Singapore. This is partly because I don’t like the principle of television dictating how events are run. It is also because I believe that there is an inherent excitement in watching an event in a faraway land where everything is different, foreign if you like, including the time of the day.
You will not be surprised to learn that I would prefer to receive an airmail letter than an email message. You may be surprised to know that I would prefer to take a dozen or so good photographs on holiday, bring them home, have them nicely printed, and then stick them in an album. Yes, I appreciate the marvels of digital technology, and I do not deny that it has its uses, but the point is that pure convenience should not dictate.
Remember those wonderful street races in Adelaide? Nigel Mansell careering out of the championship with a burst tyre? Remember Fuji in 1976 (above) when we held our breath waiting for Hunt to take the title? And what about Prost and Senna at Suzuka – remember the year we all got up before dawn only to see both men in the gravel on the opening lap? That wasn’t so much fun. For these, and many more, we set our alarm clocks in the small hours, stumbled downstairs to the TV and watched events unfold with a slice of toast and a mug of tea. Well, actually, we had some champagne in the fridge for Fuji 1976 and for Damon at Suzuka in 1996, but that just added to the fun of waking up to witness a Grand Prix in what was then a mysterious faraway place.
At night, we will not see the place itself, and the lighting must surely bring a sense of unreality. There will be neither sunshine nor moonlight. There may be rain but we will not see the clouds approaching. We won’t see the spectators, or the surrounding city, apart I suspect from lots of lighted windows in skyscrapers. And all these things are part of a big event, part of the atmosphere, the occasion. When Moto GP raced at night in Qatar it looked as if they were in the middle of nowhere and, in the desert, I guess they were. I know Bahrain would not look good at night.
There is simply an excitement about keeping to the real schedule, waking up – or staying up – to see what unfolds on the far side of the world. Remember Long Beach? On a chilly March evening we were transported to the sunshine of California, Grand Prix cars in the foreground, Pacific Ocean in the background.
I reserve final judgement until after the race on Sunday. I am at least comforted by the fact that the most atmospheric race of them all, at Interlagos in November, will be shown in real time. That’s good because a) you have to see and hear the crowd and b) I can tell you there are lots of more exciting things to do in Sao Paulo at night than watch a motor race. I’m not sure that’s the case in Singapore.
Aleš Norský, September 24th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Oh, Rob…you seem to remember a lot of things that are long since gone. But so do I, I’m afraid. So maybe we are just showing our age here, but I agree with you on this one. In fact, I actually hate the prospect of night racing in Formula One, but as long as Mr. E thinks that it is a good idea… that’s what we’re gonna get.
Rob Mollart-Highfield, September 25th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I hope I’m not showing my age too much - Fuji 1976 was two years before I was born - but I couldn’t agree more. Apart from the sense of the exotic, watching a race in the middle of the night gives a similar sense of “hardcore fan” superiority to watching a club meeting at Silverstone in the pouring rain when all the grandstands are closed.
Besides, how do floodlit races fit in with F1’s apparent drive to be more green?
rob widdows, September 25th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Hi Ales, Hi Rob
Well, I’m quite surprised, but pleased, to see your comments this morning. I thought everyone would think that night racing was a spiffing new wheeze. But honestly, cars in the night is for Le Mans, for Daytona and for those amazing hot, smoky nights at Sebring.
Let’s see how it goes. If it rains, I guess it will either be electrifying or a total shambles. The combination of floodlights and spray doesn’t sound too good.
And what is wrong with showing your age? It is utterly beyond our control, we are inevitably getting older. Yes, we can try to hang on to our youth, but why? As P.J. O’Rourke says, “age and experience can often beat a new haircut.” In my job, the only problem is the accuracy of the memory, but I have many, many books and diaries to fall back on. There should be no excuses, but………
RW
Aleš Norský, September 25th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Let me tell you…getting up at 2:00 in the morning (on the US East Coast)to watch a Grand Prix from Asia…I would not exchange that for anything.
rob widdows, September 26th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Having now seen the first pictures from today’s practice sessions, you can actually make out the clouds in the sky and there is a feeling of the city in the background. But the circuit looks bland under the lights, a little like Valencia in the sense that there don’t seem to be any places to overtake. Pole position, I think, will be crucial.All a bit of an anti-climax.
Perhaps it’s time to head for the beach. Next week the A1GP cars will be out at Zandvoort. Now there’s a place with some history and plenty of ghosts. It’s a great circuit, Amsterdam is just down the road, and there’s all sorts of drama within the latest Ferrari-powered incarnation of A1GP.
RW
David Hock, September 28th, 2008 at 3:26 am
Thanks for stating such a good ol contrarian opinion. Agreed. Sadly, am ever more getting a sense of ‘disconnect’ from the very soil that birthed F1. Bless the likes of you, Nigel, and David Hobbs for speaking your minds instead of toeing the ‘partyline’.
Jim Vause, September 28th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Singapore proves that Bernie can not only move heaven, earth and the British GP but also has the power (and hydrocarbons) to turn night into day. The next logical step is to control the weather in order to improve F1’s TV entertainment appeal. The Italian GP confirms the value of such a move, but if Mr Ecclestone, who seems answerable to no earthly person or persons, pursues this line, with whom would he partner?
Signed: Antipodean insomniac.
rob widdows, September 29th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Good Morning/Good Afternoon/Good Evening
wherever you are.
Once every second, somewhere in the universe, a star explodes with the brilliance of an entire galaxy. As far as we know, the last supernova in our own galaxy exploded in 1604.
In the autumn of 2008 the bright lights shone on Formula One and I will now admit to mixed feelings. Yes, the consumption of energy cannot have helped to improve the image of a sport that is simultaneously making efforts to be ‘greener’. On the other hand, it was a spectacular show, and for those that were there it was clearly a memorable evening.
For those who are interested, I will expand on this later today.
Sleep well/Have a good day/Well Done Fernando.
RW
Filipe Amoroso, September 29th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Ah, come on…the GP was nice, the night racing made me count up my beans to see if I could go there myself next year; it seemed to ooze an atmosphere not many places in the calendar can muster. Apart from the green issues, why are you faulting it? No overtaking? How many places in the calendar can boast otherwise?
I love waking up or staying up for far away races too, and wouldn’t trade it; but a nice balance could be struck.
I shoot film and print my photos too. Digital doesn’t beat the ritual. But I scan my negatives first.
rob widdows, September 29th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Filipe
OK, OK, I will agree, it was a great spectacle and yes, I’d like to go and see the race for myself next year. I simply contend that you do not need to stage Grand Prix races at night. By far the best street race of them all is Monaco and it would not be be nearly as good if it were held at night. This is purely about vital TV ratings in Europe.
I enjoyed the race - great to see a titanic battle over the full two hours - but I think one is as many as the world should be asked to sustain.
Thank goodness we all have different opinions on the matter. I will enjoy the dawn ritual for Fuji. This is, and has been, a season to savour.
RW
Aleš Norský, September 29th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
The problem I see with night racing and Singapore is that this is just another step into the era where Formula One is all about the glamour of the location, and the size and glitter of the paddock. Not too many ordinary fans get any benefit from that, while the sport and racing itself take a step back. As for the spectacle, I admit that the cars look cool under the lights but overall, it had an element of a concrete tunnel appearance. Plus, we have yet to experience a rain at night. But as I said before, there is more night races in our future. Just hope that Fuji is not held in another monsoon (as opposed to normal rain).
Jim Vause, October 6th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Sucked in by the bright lights and the glamour. What of the racing?
You can make a stage show of anything: just get the set right, the lights positioned, place the scenery, make sure the actors entries and exits are good and you have a show. The sets in F1 are designed with the show in mind, the “pit stops” give your more entries and exits, and now you have lights.
How long before we have a “virtual” sound?