They often use the term "F1 circus" euphemistically, but sometimes there's just no other word to describe some of the ridiculous things that go on at the pinnacle of motor racing. In this week's episode, we have news that former Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan has placed concrete blocks to barricade the access road leading to the headquarters of the
Force India F1 team.
Jordan founded the team under his own name in 1991 and sold it to Midland in 2005, which in turn sold it to Spyker in 2006, who then sold the team to Force at the end of last season. Yet despite having been promoted at times as Russia's team, Holland's team and now as India's team, the actual headquarters has never moved from its location at the Silverstone race track in England. When Eddie Jordan sold off the team, he held on to some of the surrounding land through which the main access road leads. Jordan, who would now like to sell the land to the team but is claiming that Force India's management has refused to even discuss the matter, took things into his own hands recently and closed off the driveway. Just watch, they'll discover that the cinder-blocks he used were probably stolen from McLaren.
[Source: Autosport, Photo by Clive Mason/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
FSM 8:11AM (3/27/2008)
now thats funny...pay the troll his toll
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tbyron 11:06AM (3/27/2008)
I miss Eddie in F1. Stoddard too.
Mehul 8:18AM (3/27/2008)
Next you'll see Jordan with a rifle at the door charging everyone who passes his land...
This is ridiculous.
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Mark Stevenson 8:48AM (3/27/2008)
What's even more ridiculous is that this item was posted on AutoBlog in the first place.
I, along with others, enjoy a good piece of F1 gossip now and then. But, seriously guys, it's a land dispute. How is this on topic with the automotive industry?
Now if Eddie had blocked the road with F1 cars of various vintage and there were pictures of it, then you would have something to talk about.
Must be a slow news day...
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YourNameHere 8:58AM (3/27/2008)
its funny. relax.
Joe K. 9:01AM (3/27/2008)
Amazing you took time to reply to such a waste of time... :rolleyes:
BMWdownshift 9:20AM (3/27/2008)
seriously take chill pill guy.
Mark Stevenson 9:41AM (3/27/2008)
It may be funny, but I would rather read something that is funny AND on topic. It's just filler for the sake of filler.
I think that AutoBlog should be acting like a respectable automotive journal. You would never see something this stupid in Motor Trend or (heaven forbid) Car and Driver. Why? Because it doesn't matter.
Filler for the sake of filler is like watching CNN on a slow news day going on about how Michael Jackson went to the grocery store today. It doesn't matter.
FSM 10:04AM (3/27/2008)
Thats the great thing about the intertubes, it costs virtually nothing to throw a human interest story up on the blog. Whereas it costs thousands to do the same in a magazine. And you are right the car magazines would not put this in their magazines because it is too fleeting of a story to be worthwhile for them. I don't want Autoblog to emulate motor trend or car and driver, we already have clones of those magazines, Autoblog should just be Autoblog. Now get off the internet and go sit by your mailbox and wait for your car magazines so you can read the first 135i reviews (in print) meanwhile I'll read it last month on my car blogs.
RxMadness 11:29AM (3/27/2008)
It's autoBLOG, not The Automotive Herald, it's a funny story related to F1 motorsport. If you want journalistic integrity, wait an hour for John McElroy's state of the industry address.
jamey 11:57AM (3/27/2008)
I too was enraged to see this on Autoblog. If i want humor I can get a newspaper and read the funnies, but that isnt why I come to Autoblog. I was so mad I went out and massacered a litter of puppies. I hope your happy now Autoblog, abunch of puppies are dead now cause of you and your loose cannon posting.
VP 9:19AM (3/27/2008)
What a tool this fool is. Is it that hard for him to understand that maybe Force India doesn't want the land?
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Merc 9:29AM (3/27/2008)
The access road goes through his property. If they won't buy the property, he has a right to some form of compensation.
jgp 1:17PM (3/27/2008)
Two words: Eminent Domain.
If his property blocks access to other people's property, the government has every right to take it away from him and make it public land.
Merc 2:07PM (3/27/2008)
Does that concept exist in England, though?
Way of the Future 9:22AM (3/27/2008)
ummm...I wonder if he takes EZ-Pass
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Vinay 9:41AM (3/27/2008)
I have to disagree with Mr. Stevenson. This is quite interesting. I am happy to see F1 coverage on Autoblog.
(On the other hand, a story about a kid lying on a forum about what car he owns is hardly news! People lying to strangers on the internet -- big deal!)
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Mark Stevenson 9:46AM (3/27/2008)
Vinay, don't get me wrong, I love the fact that AutoBlog is covering F1 now and then. But, the part that grinds me is what parts they choose to cover.
There is so much going on in the sport right now. BMW is making a run for the top. Honda looks like it is making some progress. Toyota being in the top 10!
Why focus on the drivel and gossip when there are so many other stories in the paddock that are more interesting and relevant?
BirdmanSTX 10:13AM (3/27/2008)
"... answer these questions three..."
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dougjp 10:45AM (3/27/2008)
Funny story, thanks for running it. I probably wouldn't have known otherwise, as I go to 'real' F1 sites for hard news.
Guys there are LOTS of sites and forums specifically focusing on F1, don't expect any coverage here at all. However if there happens to be a story and you don't like the way Autoblog occasionally covers sundry F1 happenings, then don't open them.
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