XPost: rec.autos.sport.f1

On 5/17/2019 12:48 PM, Sir Tim wrote:

Up until 1966 the most even an F1 driver could expect in the way of comfort in the paddock was a deck chair in the back of the transporter. But that
was the year that Frankenheimer was filming “Grand Prix” and new levels of
luxury began to appear. I well remember being deeply impressed when Bob Bondurant (who drove in F1 that year and was an advisor on the film) turned up with a caravan for his personal use which had an open balcony at the
back on which Bob could sit with friends and enjoy a Martini. To us at the time it seemed the height of luxury.
Apparently the new Red Bull “facility” weighs 400 tons,---
Not sure whether
this is a good thing or not?

From 1963 through 1968 I volunteered at auto / sports car
races and specialized in being a 'charter' (making lap charts
in real time) in Timing and Scoring. In 1969 I was racing,
and got in 20 races in my formula car. I stayed overnight
in a tent and sleeping bag. Used race track restrooms or
outhouses. As a volunteer they provided brown bag lunches
for us, and they had a meal on Saturday night.
When I was racing 1975, 1976 & 1977, life was the same.
Only in special situations would I retreat to a motel room
(honeymoon! or night before the national championships).

I clearly recall looking out of my tent, at those
'rich guys' (it seemed, mostly from California) that had
live in campers on their tow vehicle pick-ups, or
early generation motor homes. I was envious.

Gradual improvements in quality of life do filter down
to more and more people, by 2002 the considerable majority
of drivers had RVs / Motorhomes, campers, or stayed in
motels. I splurged on my increasingly aching body
and was happy to get an 11 year old RV that has
served me pretty well. It's usefulness is close
to over, but so are my racing days.

Good thing? Probably, few people want to regularly
sleep in tents, having to put on shoes to go to the
restroom. Or feel frost on their noses.

Perhaps the current F1 digs are a bit 'over the top',
but then, just about everything about modern F1 is.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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