April_Rose
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Formula 1/RallyAny fans of motorsport here?
I used to love Formula 1, watche dit religiously (even the Australian, Japanese etc ones that were on at ridiculous times of the day/night) but in the last couple of years I've lost interest, I liked Michael Schumacher but couldn't believe that Ferrari signed Raikkonnen as his replacement. I don't rate Raikkonnen as a driver at all, I thought they shoudl have signed Alonso, he's a bit more like Schumacher, got a bit of maverick spirit.
There's meant to be a stage of the World Rally championship coming to near where I live later this year, I'd love to do one of those rally driving courses and I used to love playing Colin MCCrae rally game son the playstation but I'd say when it is here it'll be the same as the Donegal Rally is every year - traffic gridlock, loads of boy racers, rubbish everywhere and too many annoying American tourists. I'll probably watch the highlights on TV rather than go to is as I don't like sitting in the car for hours and hours stuck in traffic in crappy little villages 
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Xarcabard
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Lewis Hamilton looks like a star waiting to happen, he's top of the championship at the moment ahead of Alonso. There was a terrible crash in the F1 yesterday, the bloke managed to get away with a broken leg but for a while it looked more serious.
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April_Rose
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Yeah I didn't see it but I heard about it on the news, (will probably get it on youtube I suppose if I bother looking) heard it was serious all right, I haven't seen a bad crash since Ralf Schumacher in the States a few years ago.
Saw a bit of the qualifying on saturday and Hamilton does look really good, I know it's a good car he's driving but that only accounts for so much, in fact with a new driver so often they can't handle a good car. Don't know if he'll have enough experience to win the championship this season over the course of all the races but he sure shows potential!
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Xarcabard
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After seeing the race yesterday I wouldn't write him off. He's a rookie but certainly he comes of age on the track. A lot of people would have buckled in the race yesterday with all the restarts but he showed real guts. Alonso better watch out.
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April_Rose
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Yeah, I did like Alonso but he hasn't really done it so far this year when all the expectation has been on his shoulders as there was supposedly only him being lauded as a real contender to win it after Schumacher retired, Hamilton sure is surprising everyone!
Is there any more overtaking happening these days? I got fed up with all the passing being down to the pit stops....
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Xarcabard
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There was a lot of overtaking yesterday. Surprisingly most of it were by drivers overtaking Alonso who I think finished 7th after starting 2nd.
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April_Rose
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Yeah I heard that. I suppose I might give it a go again the next race that's on if it's improving again, I do kind of miss it but it was dull as hell for a few years there. I'll have to find a new driver to support though as I can't stand Raikkonen at all and Massa just isn't good enough either...
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Xarcabard
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Years and years ago I used to support Damon Hill, then I kind of wanted Jensen Button to do well but I don't know whats happened to him since last year.
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April_Rose
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I was always for Schumacher when he and Hill were competing! 
I never really got what all the fuss was about Button, for years he was about to be the next big thing but he never quite got there and although maybe the cars he was driving weren't the best he never really showed himself to be a particularly wily or clever driver either I didn't think.
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Xarcabard
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I know, I just supported him because he was British. He has proved he's a capable driver at times, but his car has let him down a lot.
I used to hate Schumacher when he was competing with Hill, it was only after Hill retired that I started to like him.
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April_Rose
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That's the patriotism coming out then...I suppose I can't slag you off too much for that as I always hoped Jordan would do well because they were owned by and Irishman! They never really did though...
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Xarcabard
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Actually I always wanted Jordan to do well too, I forget why.
I'm only ever really patriotic in sport.
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April_Rose
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Well what other ways are there? It's the safest - much better (and a hell of a lot safer) than being patriotic by joining the army anyway!
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Xarcabard
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Sure is, much easier being patriotic wearing an England shirt then going to war I think.
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Em_J
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My brother is obsessed with formula 1. I don't mind it, don't watch it though. Used to support Fisichella meself (mainly because he's hot!!)
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April_Rose
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Is he? I never thought that! Only occasionally get to see guys' faces though, especially when they don't win races so they aren't on the podium!
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Em_J
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I don't like Fisi as much as I used to, mind! Don't think he's so hot anymore, he's a bit full of himself too.
Jensen Button's from Frome isn't he?! Somerset lad!
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Jenny*
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I wouldn't call myself a 'devoted fan' of formula 1 but I do watch it sometimes and watched Hamilton win last night . . . was very good  . . . his dad was soo proud!
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April_Rose
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It's rally weekend here where I live...
I enjoy seeing rally drivers doing their thing, it's a great skill and I'd love to do one of those rally driving days one day when i have the money.
At the same time, the Donegal International Rally annoys my bloody head. The town fills up with a pile of boy racers in stupid souped up cars that wouldn't stand a chance in an actual rally, they just come and pitch their tents and sit around drinking and revving their engines thinking they are cool, leaving mountains of rubbish and making the traffic absolutely unbearable.
Anyway. That's my rant for the day. Can you tell i don't like boy racers?
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Xarcabard
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Lewis Hamilton has another pole position for todays race, hope he does well.
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April_Rose
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What time is the race on? If I'm at home I might actually watch it, see what all the fuss is about! The Indy track is a pretty good one anyway, lots of high speed areas but some nice corners for overtaking.
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Xarcabard
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Its on at 5 I think.
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April_Rose
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Might be back by then, I suppose there's always the highlights anyway, though I'm terrible at staying away from results and if I know what's going to happen it's not as much fun watching...
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Xarcabard
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I only watched the highlights last week because a mate told me there was a big crash and I ended up getting into it again.
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April_Rose
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Suppose the same might happen to me, I used to really enjoy it and stayed up to watch the races at unsociable hours and everything, but the last few years I got bored with it. Hopefully it's a good race, I'll need to find someone to cheer for though.
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April_Rose
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Saw the second half of the race yesterday, felt really sorry for poor Hamilton, he did so much to get back up to seventh, but it just wasn't quite enough. been quite a season for formula 1 actually, with the industrial espionage and the falling-out between Alonso and Hamilton. Hopefully it's a sign it's getting good again! 
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Xarcabard
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Had a feeling he'd lose out but its such a shame. Usually in the season the best driver always wins the championship, I think that wasn't the case this year but congrats to Kimi besides that.
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Em_J
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My brother was in such a bad mood!! I've never heard so much swearing!!
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April_Rose
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Sports do seem to bring out the worst in us, language-wise....
Yeah I've never really rated Raikonnen as a driver as highly as some of the others, Alonso in particular (though he's shown himself to be a bit petulant this season) and now Hamilton as well, I was disappointed when he went to Ferrari, I didn't think he was their style of driver at all - yesterday was the first time since I started watchign Formula 1 that I was really hoping a Ferrari driver wouldn't win the championship.
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Xarcabard
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Still the best championship race I can remember for a long time (since the Hill/Schumacher rivalry imo) next year will hopefully be even better.
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April_Rose
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Yeah that was the first year I watched it - '96 wasn't it? That got me into it and it's been going downhill ever since I think. Looking forward to next year now! I used to get up at all hours of the morning to watch the ones in australia and japan and stuff, would be nice to be that into it again.
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Xarcabard
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I watched it for a couple of years before that but yeah that was the championship that got me most interested in it and its not been the same since hill retired for me.
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April_Rose
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I was always a Schumacher fan so I didn't like Hill!
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Xarcabard
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I was opposite
Though I did start liking Schumacher a couple of years before he retired.
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April_Rose
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He was a great driver, I thought the sport would miss him, but there's been plenty of drama this year so it hasn't worked out that way.
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