Who are we

[francisn]

This will probably get moved - but hell - why not start here.

It's probably endemic in all boards. But - WHO ARE YOU? WHO AM I?

Well - "I" have nothing to hide. My profile tells you who I am. I should probably update it and tell you that I am a long term Ferraristi - not a Tifosi - that's different. But anyone who reads the list knows that already. I'm not suggesting Brutus tells us he's pro JPM and anti MS, or McLarenNumba1 tells us he happens to be on Kimi's side.

But I have to say - I have much more respect in discussion for those who tell a bit more about who they really are and don't just hide behind clever avatars. FYI - my avatar is me - not too pretty I agree. But I've got nothing to hide.

So why don't you all just update your profiles. Or have you something to hide?

[PChaloner]

Me, Im a NZer aged 39 and 17 months.
I dont support any team or driver this year as Im trying to assess it all without bias.
I used to be a Hakkinen fanboy, and am a supporter of the mighty Jos
I hope that Jacque will be back, but accept that he most probably wont, and its no big deal.
I've been watching F1 for over 20 years but it isnt my favourite motorsport, V8 supercars and drag racing are slighty above F1 for me.
Each race I hope a wildcard will win and I love seeing the under dog do well.
Each race I wonder, at midnight Sunday night,.........why the hell am I sitting up for this..
Im looking forward to a closer season next year, but dont expect it.
_________________
Webbo = Frank's biggest mistake in F1.
Webbo/Michael = F1's Laurel & Hardy.
WilliamsF1 team phrase for 2005 in relation to their drivers - 'We accept mediocrity.'
Webbo - 'Pizzonia is a loser.'= Pot/Kettle

[Brutus]

I am 34 years old. Born in Romania and grew up in spain until I was 23. I am professional musician. Upon divorcing my wife in 2002 I went to Greece with my new girlfriend and Watched Austria 2002 in the hotel. Up until then I was still somehow a Schumi fan then the hell broke loose. I became a Schumi hater. Before Austria 2001 I was a Schumi lamb, I would have made any of our local schumi heads look like Schumi haters.

I live between Montreal and Detroit. That is because of work of course. I co-own a high tech company that produces the best software for Portfolio Management. My job is to wine a dine CEO’s of prospective clients.

[chrisledger]

I'm me. Hello.

I program computers and work in technical support type roles. Currently I am looking for work, hence way too much spare time.

Since this clearly means picking a side or some such thing, I wanted like hell to root for JPM but he isn't that good, yet he is my favourite character even though he can be a bleep at times.

I admire Michael, he is brilliant, what he achieves every other weekend is astonishing, but I have to be honest and say that I just can't root for the man like I could for Alesi. I used to be a Ferrari fan, though I gave up being a hardcore type of team fan completely when Gilles died, and I was quite young at the time, after which I became a fan of the racing itself, and was spoilt for choice with great racers and characters, and became an admirer of those who deserved it, even if only for a lap, since they are all heroes.

[hollywoodF1]

hollywoodf1

I'm a male 46, a graphic designer and I don't like Stone Cold Steve Austin (sorry PC)

My nik was choosen as you may have guessed that I am an F1 Fan. The hollywood bit because I agree with Jacques that the current F1 is about glitz and glamour and not racing anymore.

I have being following F1 since Gilles came on the scene. BTW I am a crazy canuck so me for warned.

[MattB]

My name is indeed Matt, I'm 37, British, and have been watching F1 mainly since 84-85 or so.. when moved out from my parents and had a TV of my own so I could choose what to watch on a sunday

I have the usual childhood memories of my generation of James Hunt winning the championship, and Niki Laudas crash, but unfortunately I can't really recall Gilles.

I was a Mansell Fan, a Hill (Damon) fan, and a Villeneuve (Jacques) fan until he dyed his hair (always a sure sign of imminent sporting failure in my mind). Then I would root for DC, but since 2000 I've been a fan of Jenson, Britains next World Champion Driver.

I admire Schumi's skill and driving ambition, but can't say I particularly like him.

I always liked Jordan and Williams as a team (except when the went red for the Winfield sponsorship... what an ugly car that was), and BAR the last couple of years, though as the revelations come out about Jensongate my attitude towards them (or rather Dave Richards) has soured a little.

I like watching wheel-to-wheel racing, and plucky underdog teams holding on to score points, and was sorry to see Zonta's engine blow so close to coming from last on the grid to 4th at the end.

I like drivers that don't whinge and moan about how their team is letting them down with bad reliability, I prefer drivers who shrug it of as one of those things that they need to work on together to improve.

I watch CART and IRL when i can find it in the schedules and Nascar on NASN occasionally, but can't say I'm impressed with CART Champions that have tried to move to F1 in the past. They may have a fresh attitude to where you can overtake, but they seem to thing they are better drivers than they really are... to used to winning in an easier Series I guess.

I think of them in the same vein as I think of Celtic and Rangers being mooted as Premiership Teams. They may be the biggest in their pond but the sharks of the big leagues will eat them up.

Anyway, enough rambling from me, over to the next victi^H^H volunteer...

[Para]

Starting at 1:30? Poor you. Here the American ones start at 3am or later.

I'm Shannon, male, about to turn 25, qualified in Graphic Design. However, I'm working a couple of crappy part time jobs while I look for good design work, so I don't have to put up with another pointless photoshop-monkey job that saps all my enthusiasm for doing what I love.

As hobbies I do kendo (Japanese swordfighting) and play the drums. I guess I like hitting things with sticks.

I started watching F1 in 1993, when a couple of friends got me into it. Straight away I became a Schumacher fan, mainly because each of our group had to choose a driver to support and we weren't allowed to take one that someone else aready had. Prost and Senna were taken, and I chose Schumi over Hill because Hill seemed like such a &$&£%. Hey, I was 12 at the time!

After seeing him win the championship the way he did in 94, my support for Schumi dropped off and I started rooting for Ferrari, and Alesi in particular. I wasn't exactly ecstatic when they went and swapped teams the very next year, but kept supporting the Scuderia like a good little Tifosi. I was really happy when Schumi finally took it out in 2000. But, like so many others, Austria 02 really ruined it for me. They crossed the line of acceptable team orders, and it really annoyed me.

Now I tend not to support anyone in particular, except maybe Webber, but that's only because of some little sport-based patriotism. My mind's not entirely made up about him yet, but I remain optimistic. I always like to see an underdog win, and love it every time I see someone get their maiden victory. It brings a little tear to my eye, but never so much as when watching Canada in 95. Imola 94 made me cry, too, but for an entirely different reason, of course.

I live in Melbourne, and have attended every GP here except for 2000, when finances just prevented it. I never saw it in Adelaide and I'm pretty keen to send the race back there, so I can see it there. Besides, the Adelaide circuit is better.

I still think F1 has a chance to get interesting again, and the proposed changes for the next few years have a lot of potential. I'm not sure I like the V8 idea, though. I don't think slowing down the cars will help, even if this idea really brings that about, which I doubt. The expenses will still be high, too. I wish I had the answers, but I don't. I'll keep watching for a while, anyway, especially while Webber has a shot in a top team. It keeps me interested at least.

[peejaycee]

Here in Dubai the European races start at around 4pm which usually means I get to leave work early - the Muslim weekend in the Gulf is Friday......

I am 55 and have been following both car and bike racing since 1953 when my father started taking me to Brands Hatch which was 25 miles from where I lived. Raced bikes at club level for a year in 1970 but impending marriage put paid to that particular avenue of enjoyment! Living in Kent meant great location for visits to Brands and Lydden - Snetterton, Thruxton and Silverstone not too far either.

I like all forms of motor racing, particularly the lower formulae which lead to F1 such as FF (well, it used to be good...); Formula Renault etc. MotoGP is great too.

In the early 80's I took up timekeeping and became licensed for both cars and bikes (RAC & ACU). Did that for about 8 years - which took up virtually every weekend from March through to the end of October - but then moved to Singapore. Stayed there for 6 years, moved to Dubai and have been here for nearly 8 years.

I have three motorcycles - a Ducati Hailwood Replica (1981); Honda CB1100Rc (1982) and a Yamaha FZR1000ExUp (1993). The Yam is here with me in Dubai, the others are stored in a friend's garage in UK. Car-wise I have a Chevrolet Lumina SS - it is a Holden Commodore SS from Australia but GM re-badge it for the Gulf Market.

Have been contributing to another F1 forum since 1997 and thought I would give this one a try......
_________________
Fan of all motorsports for too many years!

[Ronin]

Hello my nick here is Ronin coz its my name read backwards (Niño R.) and it also is my pitbull's name. I am 25 yrs old and was hooked on F1 when I was 16 because I was fascinated with the technical aspect of racing and I LOVE SPEED (as long as its safe anyway).

I'm a Customer Service Rep / Programmer by day and a dog-trainer by night (more of a hobby); I am an Apprentice Decoy for the Phil. Mondioring Association (any dog sport enthusiasts out there?) and my pitbull Ronin is trained in weightpull and personal protection.

I root for Ferrari, MS, Rubinho, Webbo and Minardi (i just love those underfunded teams). Love Ferrari because they are the PASSION. I know the Law of Averages will catch up with them sooner or later but hey I'm still enjoying the ride.

PAKEN!!!
_________________
Paken!

[TommyRot]

Hi, I'm a 52 year old half English Scotsman born in Africa.

I recently moved to Italy with my second wife and youngest child, so I have not been able to discuss F1 with my colleagues, friends and my 'other' family. Hence I have looked to a discussion forum to fill that void. After looking around, I tried Pitpass as it has the best level of discussion and banter and is controlled with a light but firm hand.

I chose my avatar because it has a reasonable reflection me, albeit better looking, and I do have more white in my beard.

My nickname is an old fashioned word for 'nonsense', 'rubbish' 'cr@p'. Both were chosen tongue-in-cheek.

I enjoy F1 and have watched it for many years whenever possible. In general I support British drivers, irrespective of team, especially Scottish ones, but also have a soft spot for 'underdogs' or those drivers who try to make the most of their machinery.

Being more used to verbal banter, I find the forum quite different and tend to come across quite pedantically. However I enjoy the contributions of others. I don't claim to have the in-depth experience and technical knowledge of many on the forum, so try to avoid making ill informed comments and attempt to look at situations from different angles.

[Carol]

Francis - this has turned into a really interesting topic.

[McLareanNUMBA1]

Hi all, everything bout me (that you need to know):
I'm 18 and I've been watching F1 since i was 4 My real name is Sam .
Yes, I have always been a McLaren fan. My dad was I wanted to support a British team and I like their silver cars
My favourite driver ever is Mika Hakkinen and right now it's kimi Raikkonen.
I don't hate schumacher, I just dislike him
I also watch other motorsports: IRL, BTCC, F3, British F3, F300 and sometimes NASCAR.

anything else you need to know then just ask. but i mite not tell ya [/b]
_________________
Kimi Raikkonen 2004 Spa winner!!
2003 Malaysia Winner
2005 World Champ!!

BAR PLEASE GIVE DAVID COULTHARD A DRIVE NEXT YEAR!
DC WILL BE BACK ON THE PODIUM THIS SEASON!!

[MarkD]

Hi,

I'm Mark and I haven't had a drink for at least 48 hours.

Ok. Seriously. I'm a 43 year old male from East London and I work as a computer network administrator for the Uni of East London.

I've been interested in motorsport since I was about 15. Obviously started by simply watching it on tele and then progressed to several trips to Brands Hatch to watch some friends who raced old saloon cars. I also spent a year as service crew for a mate who had a go (He wasn't much good, but managed a season without hitting or being hit by anyone).

I've done Le Mans a few times back in the 80's (camping out for the week) so I have a soft spot for Jaguar even though the F1 team has no real connection with sports cars.

My first visit to an F1 race was the last one at Brand Hatch and I went to Silverstone the following year. I was lucky to be in Stowe grandstand when Mansell took Piquet on the last lap to win the race, but despite that excitement I haven't been back to Silverstone since (too expensive and a much better view on tele)

I hadn't been to a F1 race since then, until I went to Spa last weekend (where I took a few piccies) I had a great time, but very expensive.


Other interests include steam railways and the enviroment. If you want to know more, see my webpages (link below).

[White Lightning]

White Lightning... aka

Chris, aged 15 and 354 days...almost a legal gambler 6'2", 16 stones, brown hair, brown eyes.

Been watching F1 since 1997 kind of, really got into it around 1999 when I thought Eddie was actually any good (how young and naive I was!)

School student going into year 11 on Monday, almost exam time. Born and bred in Manchester...not a scally

Interested in all motorsport from Karts to F1, MotoGP to WRC.

Would love to go to my first GP soon...(anyone with a spare ticket and some pity out there? ), sometimes go to Donington or Oulton Park for the BSB or BTCC meetings when my uncle's off work.

Liverpool and Man City are my football teams, Lancs are my cricket team. Goalkeeper when I'm bothered.

Been visiting pitpass since early 2002 and signed up for the first forum in March 2003!

[McLaren boy]

Hey guys,

Name is Harry, I'm aged 16, just finished my GCSE's, going to 6th form to start A-levels on monday.

I've also been watchng since 98/99 time, after my uncle (who supports McLaren) got me into it.

I go to Donington regularly as I live 15 minutes away, (The Collection has recently been re-done if anyones interested - Excellent stuff. They have very recently got hold of JV's BAR, which is at the entrance.)

My first GP was Silverstone this year and I had a superb time, need to start saving for next year now!