Morning Reads: 6 August 2007

[Mika]

Today’s Birthdays / Calendar (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2007-8-1&c=1)

http://parenting.leehansen.com/downloads/coloring/Birthday/teddy-bear-birthday-card-clr.gif


BMW in the News

boston.com (http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2007/08/05/in_cathedral_bmw_seeks_bulwark_against_asian_brand s/)
In ‘cathedral,’ BMW seeks bulwark against Asian brands


TED (http://www.ted.com/index.php/pages/view/id/5): Ideas worth spreading
TED Blog (http://blog.ted.com/),/b]Conferences (http://www.ted.com/index.php/pages/view/id/7), Themes (http://www.ted.com/index.php/themes), Talks (http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks) and Speakers (http://www.ted.com/index.php/speakers)

[b]BMW Sauber F1: Website (http://www.bmw-sauber-f1.com/en/index.html)

BMW Motorsport (http://bmw-motorsport.com/ms/en/index.html)

BMW Yachtsport (http://bmw-yachtsport.com/ys/en/index.html)

BMW Golfsport (http://bmw-golfsport.com/gs/en/index.html)

BMW Oracle Racing (http://bmworacleracing.com/en/index.html?track.refer=)

BMW Sport website ( http://bmw-sports.com/en/index.html)


News:

gizmag.com (http://www.gizmag.com/go/7739/)
Buell 1125R : high performance sportsbike showcases all new Buell platform

kxma.com (http://www.kxma.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=149659)
Sturgis Rally good for business

motorcyclenews.com (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2007/August/aug01-05/aug0508ewanmcgregorandcharelyboormanreachcapetown/?&R=EPI-93283)
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman reach Cape Town

F1:
bbc.co.uk (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6932307.stm)
Hungarian GP 2007: Alonso cast doubt on his future with McLaren

f1complete.com (http://www.f1complete.com/content/view/5677/617/)
Dennis admits driver ‘mistrust’ at McLaren

mtoring.co.za (http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?from=rss_F1%20And%20Motorsport&fArticleId=3968454)
Alonso not playing team game – Damon Hill


Iron Butt Rally 2007

Coming to a road near you:
IBA Event Calandar (http://www.ironbutt.com/eventcal/)

The 2007 Iron Butt Rally will take off on Monday, August 20, 2007
from the St. Louis, Missouri area. Once again, it will be a challenge
not only to riding skills but also the riders ability to map a
successful route in order to maximize points and solve the
time/distance equation.
Iron Butt.org:
Website ( http://www.ironbutt.com/about/default.cfm)
Forum ( http://www.ironbutt.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=702&get=last)
SaddleSore Website ( http://www.saddlesore.com/)

Iron Butt Rally in the News:
Morning Reads attempt to give you ways for you to follow the event and fill in some of the background for the unfamiliar.


Blog Update (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?p=225349&posted=1#post225349)

Foriegn Language Blogs (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?p=225351&posted=1#post225351)


Over Heard in New York | Voice of the City (http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/)


Today’s RoadFood.com ( http://www.roadfood.com/)


Woot

Todays Woot ( http://www.woot.com/Default.aspx)

The Blog ( http://www.woot.com/Blog/Default.aspx)


xkcd (http://www.xkcd.com/) A webcomic of Romance, Sarcasm, Math and Language



Bike Candy:

http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/174530604-L.jpg

THE END (http://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/8/A70-4024 )

[Mika]

:dunno

The idea of Alonso coming to BMW is certainly intriguing. But do the need him? Heidfeld and Kubica have run neck and neck with him in terms of driving skills in several races, they just did not have the car to beat him off with.

BMW is the best of the rest right now. They seem to be able to build engines that deliver enough power and have the durability to race. The recurring theme in many of the comments this year has been BMW can build engines but it is going to take time to for them to learn to build the chassis.

Alonso brings raw driving skill, but would he bring the developmental skills to truly bring BMW into the title in ’08?

:dunno

[Mika]

Does BMW want to expand the sponsor base right now? I understand the George Steinbrenner model but is that what BMW wants right now? Or do the want to be clearly seen to build a champion car on their own then fund the project with sponsor money in the future?

Understand all the driver drama queen stuff in F1. That is a given. He has the skills to drive a fairly well sorted out car to P1. For me the question remains can he help develop the car? 2008 means a new car for BMW and everyone else. Can he bring enough skill in this area to get BMW into the inner circle instead of knocking on the door and occasionally getting into the waiting room of P3?

[Mika]

With the normal my normal cup of coffee disclaimer implied…

The short answer is yes.

It is BMW Sauber now. In the past it has been Williams BMW or Sauber BMW. In for a penny in for a pound (cool, finally get to use the phrase in its true context). If McLaren is willing to cut him loose will he go for 33million of the sterling pounds, or does he enter some sort of F-1 contract nether world were the money is good but not as great as if he had played the game differently?

As to the Renault stint, I am still dubious about how much he contributed. Their return to F1 was planned and tested before Alonso. They are having toruble now sorting cars on the fly.

[PAGoldsby]

I don't think that Alonso is the right driver for BMW, and I am positive that BMW is not the right car for Alonso. Fred was fast in the Renault because the Renault was a well-sorted car that was designed around the Michelin tire. There were almost no compromises in the Renault that Alonso won two World Championships with. When I first started seeing rumors of Alonso going to McLaren, I though it was career suicide, as the McLaren hadn't proved to be competitive or even reliable for the last couple of years. However, as early as July last year, it started to sound as if the 2007 McLaren car was starting to take shape around the Bridgestone tire. Indeed, despite Kimi's win at the opener, it was clear that the McLaren had the measure of the field. McLaren is rather blessed right now to have, once again, two drivers with extraordinary talent on the track. Sound familiar? Remember how that ended for McLaren last time? As shameful as Japan 1989 was for all of F1, Ron Dennis came out with the same ****-eating grin he's always got, behind the feigned disquiet. He knows exactly what he's doing, pitting Alonso against Hamilton, and orchestrating the rivalry.

Ultimately, Prost left for Ferrari, which would be similar to Alonso leaving for BMW. The car has promise, but it's not a total package. Senna left a few years later for Williams, and was killed while driving a car that was nowhere as well-sorted as the driver. Williams made a catastrophic design concession in the attempt to lighten the car to improve the front-end stability on slower corners. Imola doesn't have any slow corners, well at least didn't in 1994. Senna was stronger than the steering column. I'd hate to see the same thing happen to Hamilton someday, driving a car that's not as good as he is, that has been wrongly compromised in a vain attempt to match the car to his incredible ability.

I like Fred. I like Lewis. I like Kimi and Felipe and Nick and Alex and Giancarlo and Heikki and Robert. But there are a lot of drivers now who have, in my opinion, worn out their welcome in F1. Ralf, Rooooobeeeeeens, Jense (the phenom that never was), Jarno and Clothead really all need to seek employment elsewhere. I will not miss Scott Speed in F1. Ralf needs to look into either NASCAR Trucks or Demolition Derbies at county fairs. He and his pornstar bride would fit in well, I think. I will not, on the other hand, be overly optimistic about Bourdais' chances in F1, either.

So, back to BMW. What the team needs most is EXACTLY what Honda needs - a strong, single leader. It's a great team, but it needs someone with the strong will of the likes of Ron Dennis, Flav, Ross Braun (please come back soon, Ross!) or Partick Head to organize and execute the plan. Mario Theissen is a brilliant technical mind, clearly, but he doesn't have the guts to be a tough guy with the team, I fear. Peter Sauber builds great cars, but they're almost too strong. Look at how supple the McLaren and Ferrari (to a lesser extent) appear on the super-slow-motion shots, then notice that the BMW is more skittish. Not Spyker-scary, but not even as smooth as the Renault, to my eye.

Ah, well, three weeks to contemplate, ruminate and ponder the fate of the paddock.

[Mika]

...Mario Theissen is a brilliant technical mind, clearly, but he doesn't have the guts to be a tough guy with the team, I fear. ...

He is a brilliant tactical mind asked to play in the strategic position that does not fit him. BMW Sauber needs that strategic mind.

On another F1 topic. While skimming all the articles about Vettel I did not see if BMW retained some future rights to him. Heidfeld is not ancient but getting a bit long in the tooth. Kubica and Vettel could be an interesting future combination.

[PAGoldsby]

He is a brilliant tactical mind asked to play in the strategic position that does not fit him. BMW Sauber needs that strategic mind.

On another F1 topic. While skimming all the articles about Vettel I did not see if BMW retained some future rights to him. Heidfeld is not ancient but getting a bit long in the tooth. Kubica and Vettel could be an interesting future combination.Vettel's contract would be a nightmare to try to sort out. I know that it has been reported that he was "released" by BMW, but those contract negotiations were certainly eased by the (then-present) joint sponsorship between BMW and Red Bull for Vettel. Commercially, it was just a matter of taking the money out of one pocket and putting it in another. Vettel has been contracted by STR for a full-time 2008 seat, but I would expect that it would be in the best interests of Vettel and STR both to make that a one-year contract. If STR has to pony up lots of money for Bourdais (as well they should!) they might not be able to afford Vettel in 2009, opening up the opportunity for Vettel to be a free agent. Presuming Heidfeld has peaked and will fade in 2008, Vettel could be back at BMW in 2009.

But I doubt it.

I think Kubica will improve in 2008, and Heidfeld will continue to bring valuable German sponsorship to the team. Right now, and for the forseeable future, Vettel doesn't have the earning power of Heidfeld. If Vettel shines at STR for the balance of 2007 and into 2008, then it would be a lot more likely for him to move from STR to RBR - and be the first driver to make that jump. Liuzzi is done in F1, and I doubt that Bourdais will like going from #1 in ChampCar to battling for 18th with Roooobeeeeens in F1. He'll go back to North America (either ChampCar or IRL) after a year, leaving Gerhard Berger with a very empty wallet with almost nothing to show for it. That means that Vettel will be caught in a little tug-of-war between STR and RBR, and I know who'll win that one.