Everyone in the blogosphere is now talking about F1 and Staten Island and whether Bernie Ecclestone has gone to meet New York mayor Michael Bloomberg or not. It all seems to have come from Ron Walker in Melbourne who has now twice mentioned Staten Island as a possible F1 venue. No-one else as far as I can see. So the real question is whether Ron – a well known Ecclestone friend and ally – is dropping the idea to create interest in such an idea, on behalf of Ecclestone, or simply using the idea to stir up the folks in Melbourne with the suggestion that the Australian race might end up in America. I do not know the answer, but I did take a look at whether a race on Staten Island would be a good idea or not. If you missed the article in January, you can just click here.
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joeblogsf1 
Oh dear. Another underwhelming Tilkidome track.
It’ll be fun when the teams discover they can’t unload their own trucks, as the Teamsters have got that contract.
I heard yesterday from someone who knows staten island well that while he’d love to see the race, it’s chances are extremely slim.
And great night last night, well done. Very enjoyable.
Also noting that UBS has become a “Global Partner” of F1, a term which could mean any different things, some of which may have relevance to CVC wishing to unload some or all of it’s investment in F1. If Bernie or one of his people, gets a seat on the UBS board, then my suspicions will be confirmed.
Joe
As I suggested in yesterday’s blog, I think that another city within Australia would take up the GP spot before another country.
For instance Adelaide have always regretted loosing their race. They understand how much their V8 endurance race has brought to their state.
In NSW (Sydney) a new government will be elected this weekend. The Premier has indicated that they would like to move existing V8 races to a current track the government owns. I could see a scenario whereby the new government could see the spending on this track worthwhile if it could be spread across a F1 race as well.
Qld had its iconic Indy Car race through the Gold Coast. This is now likely to end, so the government could substitute it with a F1 street circuit race.
WA is our equivalent of the UAE, with just as many Land Cruisers. The state could choose to lift its profile internationally by hosting this race. It used to fund the WRC round, so the state has shown it can spend the money when it wants to.
If I were Bernie, I would be meeting with all of these governments in the lead up to the contract expiry date.
Well, i support new tracks in historical racing culture countries.
I know nout about Staten Island, and can’t comment on the locale or viability. But no reason why not one year Altlanta, next NY.
But F1 tracks are like mining copper. It takes so long a boom to get a new or mothballed one on line and in production that there’s an inevitable overhang of supply at every dip. Same with commercial property, and much else.
The analogy plain fails at the idea there’s no way pricing acts flexibly, for tracks, nor really should it, too many factors which are equally slow to respond.
Bloomberg comes across as a practical guy. Unlike his predcessor, who tanked the S&L criis in one fell swoop on a personal and possibly religious vendetta. “Payback”, ISBN-13: 978-0887307577, is an essential read. (I’m RC, as is the man i accuse, and i sense the overtones acutely, which resonate in NY immigration wave history, bowry was just a example). If you think the current financial crisis is new, imagine that i grew up in work paying right proper attention to all that mess, and genuinely thought people had learned their lessons from Drexel and others’ demise. Err, so i was a bit shocked, okay not a lot, there were many signals, to find that everyone copied and embellished the plans of the guy they gave a 12yr sentence to for previously civil paperwork misdemeanors. Giuliani arrested Milken’s brother by the way, no bail, on heavy heavy stuff, without basis. That got the guy right on his back foot, his bro was in arrogant banking terms hardly a secretary.
I say it’s as simple as this: if the project management can defray track costs by using it for other races for real, they should be given at least a chance at a race. How far do US citizens already have to travel to see a F1 race? So it’s not parochial. Moreover i think i remember there is to be planned a lot of accomodation nearby.
Hey, we could get The Trump Track. We could point to the Italian prototype 🙂
Racing used to be a moveable feast. It does not follow that making professional the teams is the same thing as setting the calendar in stone, and that both are required for reliable spectacle. Nor does it any longer follow that to get broadcast, you must work on a tick tock femtosecond accuracy. We have so many other channels to broadcast now. Joe could do it, to be honest, with maybe two savvy lads. You only have to look a couple years ago at the shambolic “national feed” coverage to see why it’s easier with a tighter, smaller, crew. Heck, it’s just because Bernie wanted so much of the locales the gummint had to be involved, and with the necessary jingoism to filch public subsidy, national broadcasters could claim their slice.
The problem is to my mind, there cannot be an “heir” to Bernie’s thronem as in a chip off the block sucessor. I believe he has it in him to pass on to someone who can undo his genuinely brilliant, over the years, obsessively overwrought planning. I think he may be hanging around because of regret he lost that control. Mavericks do like mavericks, outside of health care that is!
Anyhoo, Staten would be good to give a go. Classic of the future? Don’t know if you don’t try.
cheers all!
– john
Tiredness dictate this comment, because it’s possibly barking mad. Or maybe it’s just a strong voice in my ear shouting about what i care for.
The Max and Bernie era was very close, we all know. Along the way, the FIA kept upping demands on track safety. Of course, JYS meant to attain the highest ideals in his crusade for racing safety. He is honorable, never be said otherwise. But much of the problem was the cars themselves, and terrible tarmac.
So, how many viable tracks were “legislated” out of viability by FIA regs?
How many of these older tracks would be just fine, safe to drive, in the new chassis, which are nothing less than wonders of human protection?
I raise this because, having mentioned the Bernie sucession problem, who, as a mere Chief of the marketing rights, could have a buddy in the FIA close enough to actually learn, understand and address such detailed and intertwined concerns?
Joe’s earlier article, about selling car numbers, smacked of financial desperation. I guess there are only so many Dennis’ to plunder. I have suggested thrice, including this, that Mandelson’s book “The Third Man”, is a valuable read. But i am page after page sickened by the idea a MP traveled so far and wide, made his home from being involved in ad agencies, and so on ad nauseam. He is surprisingly open. That, frankly is nothing compared to what pseudo psephological oligarhic appointees get up to. (for Mandelson, non absolve te, but goodun for actually writing it clear and loud)
The parent to the management company supposedly changing the odd lightbulb in my building, for a mere 3 grand a year, just went into receivership. Just before, they started demanding 5 figure sums (times 59) for refurb, (first installment!) which had been neglected some 25 years. Hmm, NOT coincidence. Usefully, for me, they are not legally appointed by statute. (half the lesses couldn’t care, they bill their tenants!) But a wedge of cash went down the drain, forcing none too young friends to sell at considerable loss. Yes, the ultimate directors got arrested, the other day, but for other reasons.
. . .what i am saying is, that when unusual money making schemes come up, i am deeply suspicious.
How do you resolve the problems in F1 from just one of those chairs? How to replace a symbiotic relationship? You can be sure there were no minutes kept of many decisions, wuite normal in business really, but it may mean much is lost of value to us all.
These questions i cannot answer. The rest of my talk in this comment and above is either conjecture personal, or borne out in record.I do have to personalise the sport and business, because i use the word “love” as to my feelings, how else could i be . .
I just feel there has to be a call to arms, amongst who love this game, and to do so, we have to get smarter, darned sight smarter than me. But the very same putative idea i think is what’s good about Joe’s blog and who else i read in the comments.
all best to all
– john
Joe, as we’ve seen in the past, Bernie throws a high hoop which gets everyone hopping and once he’s set a high goal post, allows it to drop slightly, the result being he gets what he wants, or wanted, in the first place. By not attending the race, he’s simply snubbing the organisers and government.
In short, and as what AN jnr points out, there are other states that have the tin to pay his ludicrous fees.
Staten Island- another street race? Help!!!!
Rather bring back the likes of Dijon, Watkins Glen, etc than lump another bore on our screens come Sunday
According to Reuters, Mr. E isn’t even in New York and he’s quoted as being in the office in London. All a bit silly really, bit like the sprinklers. A change of medication perhaps?
forget new york, how about a street circuit in miami beach? better weather, better views and easy access for the south and central american fans as well.
@rpaco
UBS became a global partner last year, the start of a 5 year deal costing €160 million.
Who do they think they’re kidding?
http://tiny.cc/gwm8v
NASCAR, through ISC, bought land and couldn’t get it through the maze. And we’re to believe they can?
As a resident of Staten Island and a native New Yorker and F1 fan this would be a dream come true. However, as some people noted it is hard to see how this could ever happen. Don’t underestimate the power and desire NASCAR has to be in the NY Metro area, remember they do (or at least have, I don’t follow NASCAR) held their awards banquet in Times Square and from what I know, it no secrete they badly want a price of this market aka a race. Also, remember that their most recent effort mentioned above was not their first an only. I’m a little too young to have noticed it and don’t have the time right now to find the documentation, but in the ’80’s they were trying to get a race on SI too. as a resident I can perhaps let you all know that the protected wetlands are a big deal and not to underestimate the power (importance?) or whatever you want to call it, to undermine any building or development project. Just take a look at the Korean War Vets Hwy, it was planned and built to connect the Outer Bridge / 440 with The Expy. However, half way into building it, somehow the information came to light that it’s planned route took it directly through protected wetlands. Since there was no other place to route it that didn’t require tearig down residential neighborhoods and since they had managed to already start building, it just ends at Richmond Ave. I’m afraid that this kind of planning can be rather typical and similar worries are also what could be the downfall of developing any public transportation. There has been talk or reviving the west shore rail system for years, but as pointed out the money has never materialized. Now that rail system is beyond salvage or repair. Everything would have to be completely rebuilt including bridges/overpasses as well as laying new rail for the entire length. It wouldn’t have to have been this way, but not even the money to keep the railway from rotting was ever found. So yes a little skeptical and that is before you deal with the noise complaints, pollution complaints, traffic complaints, increases requirement of the police force and whatever else the Caroline groups who will undoubtedly strongly oppose this can and will throw at it. Still I maintain hope against hope and a child like beleofe that good will triumph here. As a final note, I wrote this on my iPhone and this much text in the text box isles than a man like me can be brought to edit. Please accept any spelling and grammar not to mention missteps of the well intentioned, but not always helpful auto-correct function.
My wfe who is a far smarter and more insightful person than I am, really hit on a couple of points that were vaguely in my mind but I had not found words for. “There isn’t any need or desire for “urban renewal” because there is very little urban. Staten Island is firmly in the middle to upper-middle class camp. We already have a large “upscale” Simon Group Mall. There are like 2 pockets of “urban” area and they would be entirely unaffected by investment in the area they are showcasing for “development”. We don’t have the transportation infrastructure to accomodate this and there is no way it can be accomplished with a wave of the magic F1 wand.” Again speeking as a resident, one thing we don’t need is mall or for SI to be turned into a shopping destination or worse, outlet center. I that SI is something most New Yorkers don’t understand (I didn’t until I lived there) and therefore don’t know how to handle it. However, it does have an interesting, if mostly overlooked and unknown about, history and should not be considered either as being the same as the rest of the city or as being part of it that needs an “urban renewal” just because it doesn’t fall in line with the rest of the boroughs. In fact the more I think about this the more I wonder not only how this would work, but if it’s really appropriate for the place. Additionally assuming such a facility was built it is fairly inconceivable to me that it would be active (or allowed to be active) most of the year and as mention we don’t need a mall. It would be ashame to have a facility that can handle F1 and not be able to use it regulary as “local folk.” Besides the many legal issues of trak use, as I mentioned, it’s very hard to see how many local residents will allow it and put up with the noise, traffic etc. Having the west shore rail line open and in general having better public transportation and connection to Manhattan would be amazing, but not to bring shoppers or upscale location seekers. SI has lots to offer, but if you turn it into a tourist destination you will take away the character of the place and just create a “Disney Word.” complex and many conflicted feelings for me, but I don’t see that changing or faking the character of SI is what it needs. People often refer to it as the forgotten borough, and I think that brings the misconception to outsiders that it’s bad. This Is not so, what I think SI needs is to be treated specially and delicately. Encouraged, but allowed to pick and create it’s own destiny.
Perhaps I’m dating myself, but there used to be a distance rule regarding Grands Prix held in the same country, with the exception of the European Grand Prix. From my recollection the races had to be something like 3000 miles apart. As Austin is less than 2000 from NYC, I was curious if this rule was still intact and also, if the proposed NYC event were to take place, how it would effect the race in Austin.
Given the lay-offs and cost cutting that is going on across the USA and the cut back’s in the public sector in particular, any politician that put his head on the line to promote a GP would be one brave person! In New York, the chance’s of a GP in NY/Staten Island are slim, and slim has left town.
I cant recall ever reading that Bernie announced he was ever going off to visit anyone to discuss having a GP? So I assume that a) its a cover for ramping up the rhetoric in Australia, and b) an excuse to not be in Australia, and c) a good reason for someone to buy him dinner in new York!
Best chance for a Grand Prix in NYC was the attempt to have race run in Queens at the old World’s Fair site, because it involved a corrupt politician. Google “Donald Manes”.
That is how things work in NYC.
Maybe Ron Walker should spend less time gossiping and more time making sure his Grand Prix is in order. Yesterday was my first day at the Grand Prix, and there several poorly organised features. A real lack of signage saying where things are, and where you are and are not allowed to go. The afternoon public pit walk was managed extremely badly, and even worst it’s a Pepsi only event.
Also while I’m complaining it would have been nice if you could buy merch for the teams that aren’t Red Bull, Ferrari, Williams, McLaren, or Mercedes.
Joe, the rebranding looks great.
Trial balloon and negotiating tactic combined. Efficient, ruthless and canny. Only one name springs to mind, really…
Yes, FOM vs The Teamsters. Sod the tilke-race, I wanna see that….
Well, F1’s had lots of practice in going to places where people couldn’t care less about it. Why not add New York to the list?
It isn’t going to happen. We are now 9 years and 5 months following the destruction of the World Trade Center Towers. The sight is still two holes with a bunch of construction equipment. This isn’t Texas…or Korea. Bernie will have started pushing up the daisies long before a FIA track is through the NYC permit approval process, much less built on Staten Island. I heard somewhere that to open a restaurant in NYC you need 30 different permits and 23 separate inspections from 11 different city agencies. And that doesn’t include a liquor license from the state of New York.
This is a negotiating tactic by Bernie to rattle the people in Melbourne.