MGB: toyota bails from F1

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/091104100540.shtml

I doubt any car manufacturer ever made money in race car sponsership...in fact I'd lay odds on it. It was a real war back in the 60s but with so few real car names around and the state of modern economies I think it will be a less so than more so in coming years.

[quote=kirks-auto]
I doubt any car manufacturer ever made money in race car sponsership...in fact I'd lay odds on it. It was a real war back in the 60s but with so few real car names around and the state of modern economies I think it will be a less so than more so in coming years.[/quote]

The benefit of racing is how it advances technology in road cars - and that translates to a company's bottom line.

But I'm sad to see Toyota go. Though possibly an easy decision, they had little success behind that investment.

Actually Fred that's part of the miss conception. A CPA at Firestone gave me the inside track that any company's raceing division pro offers the line while trying to hide the actual costs involved of supporting the track events. Very little if anything being used on the track in fact makes it to a street car. Its a myth but look at anything about a Race car in the past 20 years which eventually found its way into production...little if anything of substance...its simply two different kinds of vehicles.
I'm open to a change of opinion but the "line" is mostly a myth IMHO...

[quote=kirks-auto]
Its a myth but look at anything about a Race car in the past 20 years which eventually found its way into production...little if anything of substance...its simply two different kinds of vehicles.
[/quote]

Paddle shifters? :D Of course, that doesn't qualify as something of substance....

They withdrew because they couldn't get that pesky gas pedal to work with the floor mat. :smoking:

Reminds me of a few years back at the Monterey Historics when Toyota brought their F1 car and did laps during lunch break. Broke the track record, more then once. An incredible sound of ultra high revs and super-fast snick snick shifting. A real treat to experience.

[quote=JoeReed]
Paddle shifters? :D Of course, that doesn't qualify as something of substance....[/quote]

Well I guess those who live in Memphis or Davenport for that matter, would find a Paddle offering to a vehilce an enhancement.....one never knows when the Big Muddy will lurch her banks and paddles will be an important device for transportation. :devil:

Robert, you reflect my feelings about paddle shifters!

LOL
Jack....was it my astute observation to "paddle shifters" or my :devil: that brought you from the dark side.....:beer:

I hope Kamui Kobayashi lands a seat in someone elses F1 car for 2010.

x2 The kid was impressive.

I wonder if some one will buy the team and win the championship next year? :)

Maybe the Chinese will buy it....MG F1! :)

Renault is considering the same thing - good for them. I hope Bernie Ecclestone ends up with 4 cars on the grid at his next race, the greedy SOB. I hold him in the same esteem as those Wall Street types who collected huge bonuses while their businesses collapsed.

Someday someone will write a book about how this one guy managed to hijack the premier racing series in the world and convert it into his privately owned playtoy.

No loss, the whole F1 thing could go away....no biggie

It's gone downhill since Schuie left and with all the stupid rules it is being ruined how can anyone run a team without testing??? I still watch but just like CART when they split off and imposed dumb rules I am losing interest. At one time I went to sat dish just because they had the speed channel and cable didn't if Bernie doesn't clean up his act and get an American GP I will stop watching. That is sad I really enjoyed it.

I've been following F1 since the late '60s and desperately long for the old days with the exception of how unsafe the sport was. Now we have a GP in five countries that deprive women of property rights, education, birth control, a proper place in the work force and capital punishment for taking one drink of alcohol or showing more skin that a burka will cover. This plus another GP in a Communist country that is bent on owning us. Now there is no Watkins Glen or other US GP, no Mosport or other Canadian GP, no Silverstone or other British GP and Nurburgring and Spa will alternate GPs in years to come.

It is a testament to the fine teams and drivers that we have anything of interest to appreciate in F1. It won't be long before I quit watching as well.