USF1 -- F1's All-American Challenger

[WhiteBlue]

@ WB; I think that piece in racefax.com mentioned above supports your view, with the addition the lack of technical and managerial talent of Anderson, he simply didn't know what to do with the 20 MUSD he got from Hurley.

As I said, I think Windsor was just a tag-along who was a bit economical with the truth, taking Lopez money in January was stupid. But a deliberate scam? I doubt it.

As I said, they were simply not good enough for the ambitious project they attempted. Nowhere in the whole organization they had a senior guy with F1 project management experience. Anderson certainly did not have that. Even when it was all over he still had illusions that USF1 would be allowed to skip four races. This was wishful thinking in the extreme. Anybody vaguely familiar with F1 knows that no struggling teams has ever been allowed to do so. A successful project manager would have identified the critical path long ago and had removed the bottle necks. From December to March there were several opportunities to re group and avoid disaster but they never knew the criticality of the plan and so they missed all opportunities.

[xpensive]

There were several xamples of wishful thinking to the xtreme, that satellite in Spain perhaps being one of them,
having their own gearbox another and hiring a management team of old friends for this and that perhaps the worst.
But as you said, no xperienced F1 designer.

[Mr Alcatraz]

I am one of the members that has been very critical of USF1. I have claimed there was a conspiracy and collusion. I still think that to some degree it's true. PW got a lot of juice from Speed TV. I’ve played devil’s advocate for a reason
I am an American. I have motives for wanting to see USF1 fail. Not the same ones as some members. There is a very strong anti-American element on this forum. I'm not anti-American. Whatever the reasons are for Anti-Americanism on this forum, it's not important to me. There is an adversarial climate that pervades western society currently. It could be argued that it has always been here. But my point is it does exist now and this forum is simply another grain of evidence to this contention. I won't go into business models crooked politicians in bed with corporate financial interests.
I hold these truths self evident

"The Ugly American" is a real entity. I'm not happy that it is an indisputable truth. I do take exception when non Americans paint me and my countrymen with a too broad a brush. I also understand why this is so prevalent. It is in vogue to magnify the shortcomings of the USA, especially in Europe and Cuba.
The Cuba thing is a metaphor. Something to do with this countries propaganda machine that uses extreme examples to tell me why I can't have health coverage for a reasonable amount of legal tender. It's why I'm self-employed. It's why other Americans my age that are utterly qualified for jobs, see them awarded to younger less qualified applicants that will have a positive effect on their costs to provide health insurance to that companies employees. It's the greed that pervades society today. It's us against them! Socialism is perversion to a great many Americans. Americans that themselves take part in "communalism" every day. It is absolutely hilarious to me (in a sad and frustrating way) that these same people live in roommate situations, and can't see that it is the same thing as social political and institutional socialism. So a lot of my countrymen are ignorant. They are granted that right by The Constitution of the United States of America.
Myself I enjoy a good sniping at Brits and other Euros, but only as the devil’s advocate. I don't delude myself however. Great Britain is the center of the F1 Universe. I applaud this. It's something you do very well. As perverted as F1 is I think as a people you are doing with it the best you can. I don't want an American team based in America. we will find some way to F##k it up! Plus I'm very happy that the only friends interested in F1 that I have are ones I met on F1 forums or meet-up events. We have too many sports based in this country already. I played Hardball until I was 44 years old and only stopped because an injury demanded it.
I like the sanctuary of F1. As weird as that may sound, it's true. I can’t sit through any sporting events unless I'm in attendance, except for golf and F1. I don’t relish the failier of USF1, but I'm damn glad it failed. I'm glad because in not so many words, P.W. said he was going to put an American face on F1. Haven’t we done enough damage in this world to leave F1 to its own devices?

If death be F1's lot, let it at least be a dignified one.

In Christ,
Taz

BTW just kidding about the Christ part!

[xpensive]

In all honesty Taz, I didn't get much of that, what would be wrong with an American F1 team?

[Mr Alcatraz]

Never mind!

[lebesset]

I haven't previously commented in this thread because I don't regard myself as well enough informed to do so
but I do know this ...you have to learn to walk before you can run ,, why USF1 didn't do this I can't say , maybe it was just good old american can-do attitude or maybe it was a scam , I have no idea
but in my mind the only way to get this project going , if it was every a serious project , was to get a serious european manufacturer to make the first chassis , learn some lessons , and develop US facilities in the future so it would become [ well , sort of ] an american car
maybe , as tazio said , great britain is the centre of the F1 world , but they know a thing or two in italy as well ! however notice that companies like mercedes and renault had enough sense to acquire british companies as their F1 ventures and have had great success that way by letting them run as autonomous bodies

toyota , on the other hand set up in germany and never achieved a fair return on their investment ..frankly I never expected different ...german mentality is different , they are educated, trained , disciplined , hard working , things that in general make them the successful nation that they are ;but flexibility is not their watchword , this is the german way is the cry [ from personal experience ] ; then they exacerbated the situation by putting a long term company man in charge , a very talented man I accept , but square peg in a square hole? I think not

honda almost got it right , bought a british company , but then [ if what I am told is correct ], kept hold of the reins ; then they finally got in the right guy and let him get on with it but got cold feet and baled out with results that we all know ...didn't go that last mile and took the opportunity to get out without losing face [ it's the recession ]

unlike tazio I don't think an american team would be a bad thing , I would welcome it , I think such a team , if successful , would have brought something to F1
if it wasn't successful it wouldn't last long , would it ; not the american way !

[WhiteBlue]

toyota , on the other hand set up in germany and never achieved a fair return on their investment ..frankly I never expected different ...german mentality is different , they are educated, trained , disciplined , hard working , things that in general make them the successful nation that they are ;but flexibility is not their watchword

I think this opinion on the influence of nationalities is fantasy. The British dominance in F1 is simply owed to the old saying "success breeds success". It is easier to achieve supremacy if you work with the top guys and those have been in Britain for a long time. This way F1 teams attract other top engineers like Byrne (Australia), Tombazis (Greek), Brunner (Austria), Bigois (France), Dallara (Italy), Illien (Switzerland), Marmorini (Italy), Rosche (Germany), Goto (Japan) or Eghbal Hamidi (Iran).

Leading German engineers like Willi Rampf (Sauber) have shown the capability to develop and manufacture race winning F1 cars. Like any other challenging technical project an F1 projects needs a nucleus of experienced people and this is most of all true of the technical director or leader. If a project has Mike Gascoyne, Ross Brawn or Willi Rampf at it's head it doesn't matter if you run it in Britain, Italy, Germany or the USA. These guys will take the responsibility to set up an executable project plan and get the resources they need because they know what it takes. The car may not get top honors but it would definitely not fail to run in time. Ken Anderson may be right to say that it is very feasible to run an F1 team from Charlotte but he was equally wrong to try it without an experienced top F1 engineer.

[Just_a_fan]

I am an American. I have motives for wanting to see USF1 fail. Not the same ones as some members. There is a very strong anti-American element on this forum. I'm not anti-American. Whatever the reasons are for Anti-Americanism on this forum, it's not important to me. There is an adversarial climate that pervades western society currently. It could be argued that it has always been here.

If t'internet had existed 100 years ago, the same feelings would be being expressed but they'd be about the European 'superpowers' e.g. UK, Germany, France. It's just a sign of the times that the world at large doesn't like imperialism whether it is by a monarchy (UK) or a federal republic (USA). Hell, the Romans would have had to put up with it too if there'd been an internet back then...

Great Britain is the center of the F1 Universe. I applaud this. It's something you do very well. As perverted as F1 is I think as a people you are doing with it the best you can.

Gee, thanks

[Just_a_fan]

I think this opinion on the influence of nationalities is fantasy. The British dominance in F1 is simply owed to the old saying "success breeds success".

I think it's even simpler than that really, WB. We Brits have been doing it (in large numbers) for longer than anyone else. Just think about how many Brit teams have come and gone over the years compared to other countries. Germany, Italy, France etc. have all had motor racing teams, of course, but they tended to be 'national' teams or teams from big manufacturers (thinking of Auto Union, Merc, Alfa, Maser etc.). The Brits had some big names (Jag, Aston) but most of the teams were really small outfits that had a 'make good and mend' sort of attitude. The "garagistas" that Enzo Ferrari so vocally despised I suppose. They kept F1 going when the big guys pulled out over the years.

There have been a huge number of unsuccessful Brit teams over the years; the ones that remain were both successful and, crucially, lucky. Think what Mercedes might have achieved on the world motorsport stage if they hadn't pulled the plug after the '55 Le Mans. It's just one of the whimsies that history is wont to play on us all.

[Mr Alcatraz]

I am an American. I have motives for wanting to see USF1 fail. Not the same ones as some members. There is a very strong anti-American element on this forum. I'm not anti-American. Whatever the reasons are for Anti-Americanism on this forum, it's not important to me. There is an adversarial climate that pervades western society currently. It could be argued that it has always been here.

If t'internet had existed 100 years ago, the same feelings would be being expressed but they'd be about the European 'superpowers' e.g. UK, Germany, France. It's just a sign of the times that the world at large doesn't like imperialism whether it is by a monarchy (UK) or a federal republic (USA). Hell, the Romans would have had to put up with it too if there'd been an internet back then...

Great Britain is the center of the F1 Universe. I applaud this. It's something you do very well. As perverted as F1 is I think as a people you are doing with it the best you can.

Gee, thanks

Your welcome!
http://www.f1technical.net/news/14606?u ... ne+news%29

This has resulted in a High Court Order being issued by a UK based creditor, which states the trailers must be put up for sale on eBay.

The sale for the trailers can be found at: ebay.co.uk/Formula-One-Motorsport-Trailer

I would support and back a U.S. team that wasn't run by "Tin Men" It would be helpful if they were already an established business entity.
They will get more advert money from companies based in Europe. I can't think of any company that would invest the kind of money required to give substantive support, because F1 doesn't sell in the U.S. Hell! Canada has a better chance at success in this arena than the U.S.! Where is their team? It's nice to discuss these ideas on the forum. However until someone from Ford or Starbucks steps up to the plate, it will suck

[Pandamasque]

=D>
http://www.motorsportinprint.com/41/323 ... ns_T-shirt

[xpensive]

Hogwash, truth of the matter is that neither Anderson nor Windsor had the faintest idea of what the task was, no matter what their faked CV's said. Anderson Tech Director at Ligier and Windsor GM at Ferrrari, my arse?!

[tok-tokkie]

WB,well said I concur with nearly everything you said.
Byrne is a South African.

[xpensive]

WB,well said I concur with nearly everything you said.
Byrne is a South African.

Just like Windsor is an Anglo-aussie, who never took residence in Charlotte, preferring to spend Hurley's money on a luxury hotel for the remainder of his stay. Serious approach that, aint it?

[WhiteBlue]

WB,well said I concur with nearly everything you said.
Byrne is a South African.

Right, I messed that one up. Apologies to all South Africans. He is a great engineer and designer.