Notes from Brands Hatch trackside

• You're gotta admire the ticket touts who stand *right* by the sign saying "Tickets bought from touts will not be valid for entry."
  
• MSV - please put down some bark or *something* along that path up to Druids. After the rain everyone needed crampons and a sherpa to get up there.
  
• Porsches - 11 cars and 34 laps doth not a good race make.
  
• To those who seem to come and spectate just to see "some crash" - you can't then complain every time the safety car is deployed. Idiots.
  
• If the car park is somewhat muddy, best course of action to take is to gently apply the throttle in a higher gear. Don't just floor it - even if you do own a massive 4x4 there are some principles to driving slightly off the beaten track. Fools.
  

David Leslie 1953 - 2008

RIP David. One of the most colourful and yet most gentlemanly racers the BTCC saw. And the only man to get a podium finish for Proton.

Batchelor is back!

The man formerly known as touring car driver/owner John TopGear and John B&Q, and subsequently reviled by York City Soccer Club fans as John Batchelor has resurfaced; and this time he's looking to buy Mansfield Town and rename it after the fictional Sky One team Harchester united. Have a look here to see John field questions from rather loyal Mansfield fans who ain't too happy at the prospect...

The smack talk begins

Giovanardi on whether new team-mate Neal is a threat:

No. I am Italian. We have something called the Mafia.

Neal on Plato:

If I was his milkman I'd be delivering his milk at the wrong time.

Ooohh...

Off topic: F1 back to the Beeb - the important question...

...is what theme tune should they use for the coverage. Obviously. That's assuming the removal and swift execution of James Allen is a formality.

The BBC used the end of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" as the signature tune of their coverage right from 1978 to then end of the BBC era in 1996. Despite rose-tinted fan fawning over the Beeb's coverage, the BBC F1 intro was usually merely a brief compilation of of cars crashing and spinning accompanied to The Chain. However, check out the 1995 version, which was nicely understated yet captured the tension of the imminent Grand Prix:


And for reference, here's ITV's four attempts since 1997...

1997-1999 - pretty simple and a decent alternative to "The Chain" to be honest:


2000-2002 - pretty upbeat, electro-guitar-heavy rock styleee:


2003-2006 - eurch. A happy upbeat cheery teeny-rock number. Eurch.


2007-2008 - Moby's "Lift Me Up".

BTCC Drinking Game updated for 2008

Click here or on the link on the right for the 2008 BTCC drinking game. As ever it will be updated during the season (and most likely before round 1 if CMS and Xero enter!). Enjoy, but just remember the extended coverage hours means you might want to take it a bit easier... ;)