the BMB

Well I know that there are a few die hard F1 fns on the board and with the season coming up I figured that it was time for a thread.

First off the new cars are HIDEOUS! From tip to tail the new regulations along with the introduction of KERS (kinetic energy recovery systems) has made elegant and sleek race cars look like anvils with novelty wings attached fore and aft. I had hoped that the new regulations reguarding the removal of downforce would rid the cars of silly flip ups, chimneys, winglets, mid wings and the like while retaining the beauty of the monocoque. Boy was I wrong. The sexy coke bottle shape is gone (but returning with each upgrade to the cars).

The KERS system is certainly nice when it comes to "green" racing but the defunkt Champ Car series has been using it for years. I've never been a fan. Nothing like the most influential and ground braking form of motor sports stealing a cruddy idea from a dead racing series (I know it's not totally dead since the merger, but whatever). Cars should be driven by the engine alone, not by some Need for Speed turbo boost button.

And the wings.... Oh my. Certainly better than the origional center draft rear wing idea, but come on... The aero engineers need to have some say in the way the car performs. I predict very boring first laps with the majority of teams having to come in to replace the front wing after smashups in turn one.

It is certainly nice to see slicks back on the cars.

Hopefully the racing will be more exciting. We'll find out in 18 days. Here we come Melbourne.

pics?  this is my first season with "real" cable.  looking forward to some races

quite enjoyed some of the races last season. only saw a handful mind. got a good link for the new cars and whatnot?

where`s the old thread..?

F1technical.net is a very good resource when it comes to the cars. Sorry I can't link I'm on a Mac and I'm stupid. I'll start geting the pics up.

http://www.f1technical.net/

i'm on a mac too. just sayin'

I agree on the new designs. There was 3 years of progressively more fluid and beautiful (IMO) cars to unattractive plain designs. Almost as if the new regs caused a step backward.

are the rear spoilers super narrow now or have they always been like that?

Yes. The rear is more narrow and taller. The front is much wider and shorter (in depth). Kinda silly looking.

PeeeGeee:

http://www.f1technical.net/

i'm on a mac too. just sayin'

You are a better man than I.

yeah they are super narrow. http://www.formula1.com/gallery/launches/

I am however enjoying how well Heidfeld is driving!

that double post couldn't happen at a better time...

Dang, caught me. Fixed.

why are you not out snowblading?

Hope to catch the Montreal round this year.  Also going to hit the Rally America stop in Maine... RCR, you into that sort of thing?  Guess it's based out of Bethel.