PDA

View Full Version : Backmarkers (like me) don't feel so bad



greg_umbay
03-12-2004, 07:05 PM
I was a backmarker, I am on a racing sebaticle so I guess I could be called a never was. Roaming the Formula One internet world I found this:

http://f1rejects.com/drivers/index.html

A site that rips apart some of the drivers who were able to pay their way into F1 but did not have the talent.

RSTPerformance
03-14-2004, 02:37 AM
and someone once said that money didn't buy your way to the top....

Raymond

tderonne
03-15-2004, 09:19 AM
I've said it many times. There are folks that "don't belong" in any race series because they have either too much or too little of something, be it money, talent, brains, whatever.

From IT, to Saturday night roundy round, to F1, you'll find these folks, and folks complaining about them.



[This message has been edited by tderonne (edited March 15, 2004).]

Tom Donnelly
03-15-2004, 02:21 PM
That list is deceptive. It includes Bobby Rahal and Sam Posey. Neither of whom are "posers".

Knestis
03-15-2004, 03:57 PM
Interesting. In addition to those with too much $$ and not enough talent, there are clearly some on that list who had enough talent to get close but insufficient $$ to get into a competitive team...

That said, it was a trip down memory lane for me. Gregor Foitek!

K

Blix
03-15-2004, 06:35 PM
The key, and inspiration of the site, is Perry McCarthy and his story of the Andrea Moda team. Everyone EVER INVOLVED in racing should have to read that story...

In short...boy races well on little sponsorship...man races well on little sponsorship...man signs with F1 team with little money and NO CLUE..pathos ensues...

Perry's autobiography, Flat out Flat broke should be read by every racer who has gotten frustrated with motorsports. I flip through it everytime I get frustrated and it ALWAYS makes me feel better.

Eric
NER SM #12

Bill Miller
03-15-2004, 08:55 PM
That list is deceptive. There are people that are not on the list, that should be there. Andrea DeCesaris jumps to mind (or should I say "DeCrasheris"?).

The problem w/ F1 for the last 20-25 years, is that it's been 2-3 teams that had a chance, and the rest were field fillers.

BTW, why wasn't Michael Andretti on that list?

------------------
MARRS #25 ITB Rabbit GTI (sold) | MARRS #25 HProd Rabbit
SCCA 279608

03-15-2004, 09:31 PM
the list is what it is, people that for whatever reason didnt make it in F1, Rahal is a talented driver and Posey who I have met several times and I consider to be a very talented driver didnt make over there in F1.

03-15-2004, 09:33 PM
oh and good point on the missing andretti, guess they figured his dad earned enough points for them both.

BMW RACER
03-15-2004, 11:34 PM
I think the point we are missing is: Take the biggest tosser of the lot on that list and they could probably blow all of us completely into the weeds!
I once raced against Ross Cheever in Sports Renault and I wasn't even close. Of course he'd have to run back to the pits and get another car from time to time.

Anubis
03-15-2004, 11:53 PM
The drivers they mentioned drove in F1 and did not do well, although several have done very well in sportscar racing. And the authors of the webpage ummmm, made a webpage? http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/rolleyes.gif

------------------
Lance Snyder
Atlanta Region F&C

No more the small one, the weak one, the frightened one.
Running from beatings, deflating.
I'm becoming more than a man. More than you ever were.
Driven and burning to rise beyond Jesus.

Quickshoe
03-16-2004, 01:56 AM
Originally posted by Anubis:
..And the authors of the webpage ummmm, made a webpage? http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/rolleyes.gif

Exactly!

There were many on that list that I've never heard of. Some of them had very successful careers in other series. Clearly they were not lacking ability.

FCYTravis
03-16-2004, 04:59 AM
The point of the Web site is to point out drivers that didn't hack it in F1 for whatever reason - and it's more than just "oh, he sucked" - it actually goes quite in depth to explore the driver, his career leading up to F1, his time in F1 including why he failed (bad team, lack of talent, bad luck or all three) and any career after F1.

Read the team profiles - some of them are downright hilarious, including "Life" which lived about a month.

As for Michael Andretti, he's scored more than two career points - which is the threshold for being a "reject."

C'mon, admit it - you have to work hard at it to have a career in F1 and not score at least two points through sheer dumb luck. Those who didn't... well, they're the F1Rejects.

Kuwashima
03-16-2004, 06:33 AM
Hi! I am actually the webmaster of the webpage that has been referred to here! (And yes, Anubis the webpage is indeed probably all we have achieved in our lives. Pretty pathetic, eh? But we're young, with time on our side!)

Came across this thread and I just thought I'd post to defend our page a little, although FCYTravis has probably said most of what I might want to say.

I would argue with anyone who says the list is deceptive - it is what we say it is, an (as yet incomplete) list of drivers who failed to score more than 2 points in F1. For whatever reason. At no point do we claim that they're all untalented or were unsuccessful in other areas of motorsport, or are "posers". Quite the contrary, in fact.

By the way, as had been mentioned, Andretti scored a podium in his last F1 race, so we can't include him. Oh, and Andrea de Cesaris scored 59 points in his 14-year F1 career (which places him 75th in the list of all-time point scorers), so it wouldn't be appropriate for us to include him either.

If anyone has any other comments or feedback I'm very happy to hear it...
Cheers,
Jamie McGregor

RSTPerformance
03-16-2004, 12:15 PM
I like the site... well done

lateapex911
03-16-2004, 04:26 PM
Originally posted by RSTPerformance:
I like the site... well done


Oh, suuuuuuuure!~ Suck up, now that the webmaster is here!!! http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif (kidding...kidding!)


------------------
Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]

gsbaker
03-16-2004, 06:49 PM
Always stirring the pot, eh Jake? http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/smile.gif

Gregg

Greg Gauper
03-16-2004, 10:02 PM
I think they were a bit harsh on Danny Sullivan.

He drove the wheels off his Cosworth powered Tyrrell during the height of the turbo era, and usually was the fastest non-turbo car on track.

Rahal in his prime was among the best but never got a decent ride.

RSTPerformance
03-17-2004, 12:18 AM
no sucking up... I respect any website... well all but that one that threatens SCCA http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif


Raymond "Helping Jake stir up the pot" Blethen

lateapex911
03-17-2004, 01:33 AM
Originally posted by RSTPerformance:
no sucking up... I respect any website... well all but that one that threatens SCCA http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif


Raymond "Helping Jake stir up the pot" Blethen


I'm with you on that one, bud!

(Now Gregg, if I really wanted to stir him up, I would have said something about how the RX-7 should be moved to ITB, AND have some weight removed!)

Kidding...kidding! Well, sorta, kinda, about the weight at least! http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif



------------------
Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]