A seesaw in Suzuka
Ever since the automobile was first invented by a big German chap with extravagant facial hair called Karl Benz, Europe has been the undisputed heavyweight champion of motor vehicle manufacturing. The Americans quickly recognised this fact a long time ago and chose not to step into the vehicle production ring with the Europeans but concentrated instead on designing and building cars which suited themselves and their big country comfortably.
The Japanese - perhaps taking their cue from their dainty, coquetish women who insidiously charm their way into the lives of men and cause them to risk being stabbed by their wives at night - did not follow the Americans but quietly chose to take on the Europeans by building small, reliable, efficient and, importantly, inexpensive cars. By the time the Europeans realised what was going on, the Japanese had graduated on to the full range of motor vehicles and were on equal terms with them as a global heavyweight car-producing entity in their own right.
You cannot make good cars without also wanting to have a bit of fun in them. The Japanese observed the European Formula One championship from afar and saw that it was good. To entitle themselves to a piece of the action forever and a day, they then proceeded to construct one of the best circuits in the world at a place called Suzuka.
I came to appreciate the significance of Suzuka to the serious F1 watching world from a friendship I struck up many years ago with a large Boer chap from a family of fishermen. The fisherman Boer knew a thing or two about cars generally and was a walking encyclopedia of Formula One. He could recall obscure facts about races that had happened even before he was born sooner than it took for him to draw breath. I once asked him which circuits he rated most highly and he smiled conspiratorially before whispering "the Ss". I quickly came to understand two things. First was that he was referring to Spa, Silverstone and Suzuka. Secondly, he was absolutely spot-on: these are by far and away the best circuits on the F1 calendar because of their interesting peculiariaties. Suzuka's peculiarity is that it is the only figure of eight circuit on the calendar.
The Japanese Grand Prix moved to a different circuit called Fuji a couple of years ago and was won during a monsoon-like downpour by British rookie, Lewis Hamilton. Fuji is owned by Toyota and Suzuka by Toyota’s arch rival Honda. It was agreed at about the time of Hamilton’s victory that the Japanese Grand Prix would alternate between the two circuits from year to year, but Toyota have since pulled out on account of cost and Suzuka, easily the more impressive of the two circuits, will now be the home of the Japanese Grand Prix for the foreseeable future. I for one am not complaining.
It is with some glee then that I anticipate the motor racing action this weekend at Suzuka. Like many of my betting friends, I have a strong suspicion that the five way battle that has so enthralled us thus far is on a seesaw. After Suzuka, the world championship will either still be a five way battle or two or more contenders will have been eliminated in all but vain hope. And this will be in keeping with the history of the Japanese Grand Prix as a championship decider.
Going by recent F1 history of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, of the five championship contenders I would expect either Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel or Lewis Hamilton to be best placed for victory. Both Alonso and Vettel have achieved a win at Suzuka in the last few years and Hamilton made it to the podium in an uncompetitive car last year, so I am hard put to favour one driver over the other two. Button and Webber are not exactly going to be sitting on the sidelines smoking Cohibas while the other three battle things out on Saturday and Sunday and recent form suggests that they could not possibly be more fired up. I am not, therefore, betting anything on the result.
People have often attempted to engage me in debate as to the wisdom of an African eating raw fish while possessed of a constitution conditioned by years of eating dishes of steaming starch and piping hot flesh from grass-eating animals. I have always refused to be drawn on the subject but I suspect I may find myself musing on it this weekend as I tuck into some delicious sushi and sip some sake. I am looking forward to it and sincerely hope that you too will,
Enjoy Suzuka!
Gitau
6 October 2010
The Japanese - perhaps taking their cue from their dainty, coquetish women who insidiously charm their way into the lives of men and cause them to risk being stabbed by their wives at night - did not follow the Americans but quietly chose to take on the Europeans by building small, reliable, efficient and, importantly, inexpensive cars. By the time the Europeans realised what was going on, the Japanese had graduated on to the full range of motor vehicles and were on equal terms with them as a global heavyweight car-producing entity in their own right.
You cannot make good cars without also wanting to have a bit of fun in them. The Japanese observed the European Formula One championship from afar and saw that it was good. To entitle themselves to a piece of the action forever and a day, they then proceeded to construct one of the best circuits in the world at a place called Suzuka.
I came to appreciate the significance of Suzuka to the serious F1 watching world from a friendship I struck up many years ago with a large Boer chap from a family of fishermen. The fisherman Boer knew a thing or two about cars generally and was a walking encyclopedia of Formula One. He could recall obscure facts about races that had happened even before he was born sooner than it took for him to draw breath. I once asked him which circuits he rated most highly and he smiled conspiratorially before whispering "the Ss". I quickly came to understand two things. First was that he was referring to Spa, Silverstone and Suzuka. Secondly, he was absolutely spot-on: these are by far and away the best circuits on the F1 calendar because of their interesting peculiariaties. Suzuka's peculiarity is that it is the only figure of eight circuit on the calendar.
The Japanese Grand Prix moved to a different circuit called Fuji a couple of years ago and was won during a monsoon-like downpour by British rookie, Lewis Hamilton. Fuji is owned by Toyota and Suzuka by Toyota’s arch rival Honda. It was agreed at about the time of Hamilton’s victory that the Japanese Grand Prix would alternate between the two circuits from year to year, but Toyota have since pulled out on account of cost and Suzuka, easily the more impressive of the two circuits, will now be the home of the Japanese Grand Prix for the foreseeable future. I for one am not complaining.
It is with some glee then that I anticipate the motor racing action this weekend at Suzuka. Like many of my betting friends, I have a strong suspicion that the five way battle that has so enthralled us thus far is on a seesaw. After Suzuka, the world championship will either still be a five way battle or two or more contenders will have been eliminated in all but vain hope. And this will be in keeping with the history of the Japanese Grand Prix as a championship decider.
Going by recent F1 history of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, of the five championship contenders I would expect either Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel or Lewis Hamilton to be best placed for victory. Both Alonso and Vettel have achieved a win at Suzuka in the last few years and Hamilton made it to the podium in an uncompetitive car last year, so I am hard put to favour one driver over the other two. Button and Webber are not exactly going to be sitting on the sidelines smoking Cohibas while the other three battle things out on Saturday and Sunday and recent form suggests that they could not possibly be more fired up. I am not, therefore, betting anything on the result.
People have often attempted to engage me in debate as to the wisdom of an African eating raw fish while possessed of a constitution conditioned by years of eating dishes of steaming starch and piping hot flesh from grass-eating animals. I have always refused to be drawn on the subject but I suspect I may find myself musing on it this weekend as I tuck into some delicious sushi and sip some sake. I am looking forward to it and sincerely hope that you too will,
Enjoy Suzuka!
Gitau
6 October 2010
posted by Gitau at 11:46 am
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