On Friday 26 February, motor sport journalist Joe Saward will be hosting his first "Evening With..." event, in front of almost 100 Formula 1 fans in London. The two of us will be in attendance, recording discussions for a future podcast, but to mark the event, this week Sidepodcast is giving away an exclusive signed copy of Joe's book The Grand Prix Saboteurs.
We've discussed the book at length on the Aside with Joe series, but to give a refresher, it tells the most remarkable but true story of three motor racing stars of the '20s and '30s working together as British secret agents during World War II in Occupied France. It is a fantastic read, and we highly recommend it.
Joe spent 18 years researching the content, and when we caught up with him before Christmas he kindly agreed to sign a copy to give away here. We'll be running the competition for the next fortnight, and to enter you simply answer the question below, and submit your details. The competition is open to entrants of all ages, although we're assuming that the lucky few attending Friday's London meet-up will be happier to see the man in person - there are still a few tickets available, should you be at a loose end and in London on Friday evening.
All you have to do, to be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, is to answer the following very simple question:
Question: How many years of research is The Grand Prix Saboteurs story based upon?
Once you have your answer, submit your name, email address and answer using the form below.
To enter the competition, simply answer the question and complete the entry form published on the web site. By entering into the competition you agree to the terms and conditions stated herein and acknowledge that failure to comply with the rules may result in disqualification.
Only one entry per person is permitted. Multiple or incomplete entries will be deemed to be invalid.
Unless otherwise stated, entries must arrive no later than the published closing date for the competition. Entries received after this time will be allowed only at the discretion of Editors who may extend the closing date without prior notice.
Proof of emailing will not be accepted as proof of delivery and no responsibility can be accepted for entries lost, delayed, mislaid or for any technical failure or for any event which may cause the competition to be disrupted or corrupted.
Employees of Sidepodcast, their agents or members of their families are not allowed to enter any competition. Subject to that rule the Editors' decision as to eligibility will be final.
All entries, photographs, and other material submitted as part of a competition entry shall become the property and the copyright of Sidepodcast. Editors reserve the right to publish them in whole or in part or use them in any way they think fit without the permission of the entrant or payment for such use but subject always to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.
Unless otherwise stated, Sidepodcast accepts no responsibility for the return of entries, photographs or other personal effects or for loss or damage to such items. Under no circumstances does Sidepodcast accept responsibility for the safe return of any material or its return in an undamaged condition or any liability for loss of or damage to such material.
Except where it is expressly stated that the winner will be the first correct entry drawn from the total entries submitted, or that some other mechanism will be applied, all competition entries will be examined and the prize will be awarded to the entry the judges consider to be the best.
The Editors reserve the right to change the rules applicable to any competition or to void any competition at any time and for any reason. In the event that any competition is so voided, all entry fees will be returned. In particular, in the event of unforeseen circumstances the Editors reserve the right to offer alternative prizes of equal or greater value.
If the winner of a competition is unable to take up a prize for any reason Sidepodcast reserves the right to award it to an alternative winner, in which case the first winner chosen will not be eligible for any share of the prize whatsoever.
Failure to comply with any of these rules may result in the disqualification of the entry. Editors reserve the right to disqualify any entry at their absolute discretion.
Editors' decisions are final in all matters concerning a competition. It is a condition of entry to any competition that the entrant agrees to be bound by these rules whether they be published in the relevant online editions of the newspaper or not, and that the decisions of Editors and judges on any matter whatsoever arising out of or connected with the competition are final.
By entering the promotion participants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by the terms and conditions which will be interpreted in accordance with English law and subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
Good luck to everyone. If you have any further questions, please let us know in the comments. You have two weeks in which to enter, and hopefully we'll be seeing a few of you in London.
Our first ever Sidepodcompetition drew to a close on Monday night, and we can now announce the winner! I know, it's taken quite a while, more on that in a moment. For now, many congratulations go to Chris Harland.
Chris correctly answered the question:
Shell have a unique FMT formulation that is one of the added benefits when using V-Power fuel in your vehicle. What does FMT stand for in this instance
Answer:Friction Modification Technology
The tickets are now winging their way to Chris, and on Sunday he'll be at Earl's Court watching the Top Gear Live show unfold. Clarkson and Co. plus plenty of action awaits him. We're looking forward to hearing all about it upon his return.
We had a great response to the competition, 40 entries through the new and rather snazzy form, plus a couple via email. Nobody got it wrong, and there were plenty of submissions from names we haven't seen before... Hello lurkers! Why not join the real-time conversation? We'd love to hear from you.
When it came to selecting a winner, things didn't go exactly according to plan, as Chris was the name we pulled from the hat at the second attempt. Unfortunately, we didn't get a response for the initial winner, which caused all manner of trouble given the tight deadline we were working to. Thanks go to the lovely people at Edelman and Shell, for not only allowing us to run the competition but also for going beyond the call of duty and fast-tracking tickets to the winner at the last minute.
Thanks to everyone who took part, and please do have a go at whatever Sidepodcompetition pops up next.
Welcome our very first official Sidepodcast Competition, coming to you courtesy of Shell V-Power. We've played games, set challenges and held contests in the past, but this is the first time there has been a real prize on offer - and it's a good one.
MPH featuring Top Gear Live, is coming to Earl's Court in London and you can win a pair of tickets.
Before we get to the competition, first, a bit of background to the event. The annual MPH exhibition is dubbed The Prestige and Performance Motor Show, and features a collection of rather expensive sports cars including the Veyron and some others that aren't quite as gorgeous.
The more exciting part of the show is the inclusion of Top Gear Live arena, which attempts to turn the BBC television show into what Jeremy Clarkson describes as the "most spectacular motoring theatre show in the universe". Which is quite some claim. Jeremy will of course be present, along with Richard Hammond, James May and the anonymous guy in the white overalls.
I'll Get a Hammer
There are two of these events happening this year in the UK, so don't get confused and remember this competition is to win tickets to the Earls Court event, specifically for the 8th November, 2009. Doors open at 9.30am and close at 7.30pm, it is recommended that you arrive before 10:30am. There are several live performances throughout the day at 11am, 2pm, and 5pm.
In addition to watching the live show, the lucky winner and his/her guest will enjoy a 'behind the scenes' paddock tour, where they will get to go backstage, and meet with the show’s stunt drivers. The winner will then have the opportunity to experience the power and performance of Shell V-Power whilst riding in the stunt car during the Top Gear Live show.
How awesome does that sound?
All you have to do, to be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, is to answer the following very simple question:
Question: Shell have a unique FMT formulation that is one of the added benefits when using V-Power fuel in your vehicle. What does FMT stand for in this instance?
Once you have your answer, submit your name, email address and answer using the form below.
NOTE: Entry to the Top Gear Live 2009 Competition has now closed. Thank you to all who participated.
Please note: Closing date for entries is midnight on Monday, 2nd November 2009 (GMT). Entries are restricted to one per person and we require a valid email address be submitted. Travel and accommodation is not included, entrants are expected to be in the UK and able to get to London of their own accord. Entrants must be aged 16 years or older.
To enter the competition, simply answer the question and complete the entry form published on the web site. By entering into the competition you agree to the terms and conditions stated herein and acknowledge that failure to comply with the rules may result in disqualification.
VIP tickets to Top Gear Live comprise of two tickets to the event. Not included in the prize are travel costs, accommodation, travel insurance and any other out of pocket costs.
Only one entry per person is permitted. Multiple or incomplete entries will be deemed to be invalid.
Unless otherwise stated, entries must arrive no later than the published closing date for the competition. Entries received after this time will be allowed only at the discretion of Editors who may extend the closing date without prior notice.
Proof of emailing will not be accepted as proof of delivery and no responsibility can be accepted for entries lost, delayed, mislaid or for any technical failure or for any event which may cause the competition to be disrupted or corrupted.
Employees of Sidepodcast, Shell or any associated companies, their agents or members of their families are not allowed to enter any competition. Subject to that rule the Editors' decision as to eligibility will be final.
All entries, photographs, and other material submitted as part of a competition entry shall become the property and the copyright of Sidepodcast. Editors reserve the right to publish them in whole or in part or use them in any way they think fit without the permission of the entrant or payment for such use but subject always to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1988.
Only one individual winner from the double package of tickets will have the opportunity to participate in the stunt vehicle. As such, all entrants must be 16 years or older in age.
Unless otherwise stated, Sidepodcast accepts no responsibility for the return of entries, photographs or other personal effects or for loss or damage to such items. Under no circumstances does Sidepodcast accept responsibility for the safe return of any material or its return in an undamaged condition or any liability for loss of or damage to such material.
Except where it is expressly stated that the winner will be the first correct entry drawn from the total entries submitted, or that some other mechanism will be applied, all competition entries will be examined and the prize or prizes will be awarded to the entry the judges consider to be the best. Other prizes will be awarded in accordance with the order of priority stated in the rules of the competition.
The Editors reserve the right to change the rules applicable to any competition or to void any competition at any time and for any reason. In the event that any competition is so voided, all entry fees will be returned. In particular, in the event of unforeseen circumstances the Editors reserve the right to offer alternative prizes of equal or greater value.
In the event of an error, howsoever caused, whether a printing error or otherwise and whether obvious or otherwise, which affects the competition in any way, the Editors reserve the right to administer the game as though the error had not occurred. Where the Editors deem it appropriate and/or feasible Sidepodcast will notify entrants of the error and correct it through the relevant medium.
If the winner of a competition is unable to take up a prize for any reason Sidepodcast reserves the right to award it to an alternative winner, in which case the first winner chosen will not be eligible for any share of the prize whatsoever.
Failure to comply with any of these rules may result in the disqualification of the entry. Editors reserve the right to disqualify any entry at their absolute discretion.
Editors' decisions are final in all matters concerning a competition. It is a condition of entry to any competition that the entrant agrees to be bound by these rules whether they be published in the relevant online editions of the newspaper or not, and that the decisions of Editors and judges on any matter whatsoever arising out of or connected with the competition are final.
By entering the promotion participants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by the terms and conditions which will be interpreted in accordance with English law and subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
Good luck to everyone. Remember, you are only up against other readers and listeners of Sidepodcast and if you have any further questions, please let us know in the comments. You only have a week in which to enter, so don't delay.
Already it seems like a very long time ago, but in fact just last weekend, prior to the start of the Singapore Grand Prix we were Tremayning.
The goal with this particular challenge was to rant in a needlessly angry way about some mundane subject or other, whilst dressed completely in black. As we did with the Champagne Challenge, for convenience and posterity here are all the entrants, arranged from best to worst as decreed by Christine.
Scott
The winning Tremaynism was Scott, who had the difficult task of going first. His rant involved the rather peculiar decision by Bridgestone to run their option tyres with a pink stripe during a recent test.
A worthy F1 winner.
Alex
The sentiment within Alex's rant is probably something that will remain with us forever, after the man picked the FIA's recent bizarre attitude to penalising certain drivers as his rant of choice.
Best quote of the year.
Shaun
Shaun took Tramayning to a whole new level when he broke free of the Formula 1 shackles and laid waste to the UK's traffic problems. He may have inadvertently found a solution to the problem of the Trulli-train while he was at it.
Don't drive angry.
Me
My own attempt was nothing less than shameful, given ranting about inane subjects is what I've spent the best part of two years doing. I did make an effort with a black t-shirt in the hope that no-one else would and that would save me.
That's the lot. Interestingly no entrants from the female Sidepodcast fraternity in this instance. I can only assume that wearing black and moaning about trivial things is something that men do best?
It was little more than a week ago that Stuart issued the Bob Constanduros Challenge, where we were encouraged to try and exceed the track commentator's infamous 28 second "champaaagne" shout.
We had an unexpectedly high number of entrants, so much so that we didn't get through them all during the hour long Parade Lap and bounced a couple onto F1 Debrief later in the day. Sadly, Bob wasn't around at 23:40 when that one finished (the lightweight), so instead the shouts were judged and plaudits awarded on length alone.
For convenience, neatness and posterity here are all the entrants, arranged from best to worst longest to shortest.
Lou
The winning entrant, with a champagne time of 25 seconds was Lou from F1 Break. It took many of us a considerable part of the day to encourage the girl to make that call, but the result was absolutely worth it. 3 seconds shy of the legend's best ever time is nothing to be sniffed at.
Champagne Time: 25 seconds.
Christine's Mother in Law
Despite causing chaos during the Parade Lap by ringing up at all the wrong times, my mum managed the second best time of the day clocking in at 22 seconds strong. She fared heaps better than I did, and that upsets me a lot.
Champagne Time: 22 seconds.
DoctorVee
The last caller from the morning show, the first male in our list, and the person with the longest live champagne shout we received, was DoctorVee from the F1 blog vee8. The doc came up with a shout that was a whopping 21 seconds in length.
Champagne Time: 21 seconds.
Me
Despite spending a considerable part of my life talking out loud and practising for three whole days, the best I could come up with when it mattered most was a particularly weak 19 second shriek. I shall hang my head in shame.
Champagne Time: 19 seconds.
Shaun
Although he accidentally called in at the wrong time, and found himself unexpectedly live on air, Shaun from The Bicester Blog put in a marvellous spontaneous effort with a 17 second bellow. Technically he may have extended his time by a few tenths by adding some chat to the beginning though.
Champagne Time: 17 seconds.
Scott
The hotly tipped favourite going into this event, Scott found himself struggling after overdoing it the previous night. We kindly pointed out that Bobby C. has probably had more than his fair share of late nights prior to race day and insisted Scott get on with it. 16 seconds is a fine performance all things considered.
Champagne Time: 16 seconds.
Alex
Bringing up the rear with an effort that was more sparkling wine than champagne, was Sofa F1's one and only Alex. Rumours suggested that he'd been testing from as early as the previous Thursday afternoon, and was set to be Scott's closest competitor before a fit of giggles at an inopportune moment brought his moment of glory to an abrupt end, leaving him with a paltry 10 seconds on the clock. That's right ten.
Champagne Time: 10 seconds.
I think that's all of them, many thanks to everyone who joined in the fun, now what are we going to do next week?
It’s been around for a while, but when Jenson revamped his website, a new feature appeared. The Design-a-Helmet section. The idea is you get to play around with a helmet designer, submit your fabulous piece of art, and then a winner will be chosen. The winning design will be on JB’s helmet for Silverstone.
I absolutely adore this idea, and I checked it out when Lou first talked about it in the comments, and promptly forgot. Now, I’ve just discovered it again, and thought it worthy of a mention.
Looks Okay In My Head
I’m not an artist. I always find I can picture things in my head but they never come out. Therefore, when I play with the helmet designer, it appears as horrible splotches of colour. Some of the people, however, are really doing an amazing job.
Wow.
I blame the tools, of course. It’s a primitive paint style program. You can use a pencil or a spray can, you can choose from hundreds of different colours, and you can pick the width of your implement. That’s pretty much it, and I struggle.
Oh, who am I kidding. It’s not the tools. This is the best I can come up with:
Shameless Self Promotion
Naturally, this is the perfect opportunity for some self-promotion. Jense driving with a Sidepodcast helmet is something I’d love to see. Probably not going to happen if it looks like this though:
Brings Out the Child in Me
So, clearly, I’m not going to win this competition, and therefore, it brings out the child in me. I’m in the playground at school again, graffiti on my mind.
Why not take a few minutes, have a go, and share your designs with us. You can leave them on Sidepodcast’s drop.io site so we can all have a good laugh!
A couple of days ago I posted a suggestion that F1 fans should have more say as to who our designated TV commentators should be for the year, and what we really need is a chance to vote someone into that role.
The best I could suggest was a reality television show, but in the comments following that post Lynch came up with an even better suggestion - a Sidepodcast commentary competition! Scott seconded the idea and Jordan's already raring to go.
So that's what we're going to do.
The concept is simple. For every race over the past 12 months we've produced a preview video prior to each event which, in part, features a quick trip around the upcoming circuit. Christine has always done the commentary, but for one race only, we're going to put that opportunity up for grabs.
How many times have you ever laughed out loud at a mistake an F1 commentator's made, and said to yourself "I could do a better job than them"? Plenty of times I bet, and this is your perfect chance to prove yourself.
What we're asking is for you to take a look at the following lap of Istanbul Park in Turkey and imagine how you'd commentate on a lap:
If you think you can come up with enough things to fill a minute and a half of airtime, then grab yourself a microphone (or hairbrush if you must), play the video, and start practicing.
Once you're feeling confident, we need to hear you. If you can record yourself onto your computer and email us an MP3 file then that's brilliant, otherwise you can call us on Skype or phone 0121 28 TRACK from any landline and record yourself that way instead.
We'll place your commentary over the video and play it during the next episode of F1 Rewind (if we get a lot of submissions we may only play a small part of each), after that we'll open a vote on this site and the winner will be used on the Turkey preview of Inside Track.
As an incentive, that show is currently getting between 10,000 and 20,000 views per episode on YouTube alone, so it'll be a sizable audience that'll hear your words. Are you convinced yet?
There's every chance this could fall flat on its face but then Christine can do her usual duties and we'll pretend this never happened! Just a couple of rules for you (because what kind of competition doesn't have rules?):
The competition is open to everybody, you can submit as many entries as you like, but we'll only take the last one. That way if you mess up a Skype call just ring again.
Entries must be received by Monday 28th April.
This is a family show, so please keep it clean.
Winning this competition does not guarantee you a job at the beeb, it's just for fun.
I don't know if any of you have ever tried recording a podcast when the rest of the country is celebrating Bonfire Night? It is not easy or fun.
To amuse myself whilst I wait for a break in the bangs, crackles and fizzes, I thought I would sign up for the JensonButton.com newsletter. What? Wait, what? Come on, don't look at me like that.
Anyway, from one festive activity to another, apparently Jenson has come up with a brilliant idea for a competition:
"Seasons Greetings". Yawn. "Happy Christmas!" Snore. If you're anything like Jenson, chances are those tired old holiday cards you send and receive each year don't get your engines revving.
Think you can do better? Jenson does, and he thought up a competition to give you the chance to be the designer of his official Christmas card this year.
Whether you scribble it freehand, paint it like Picasso or digitally design it, he wants to see it. Make a masterpiece to do Father Christmas proud, and you could have your work selected by JB himself!
You know that Jenson stayed awake all last night coming up with that one, don't you?
Whilst I would usually turn my nose up at such patronising offers for activities - like I don't have enough to do - these fireworks are driving me crazy, and a bit of soothing Photoshopping might work.
Do you think Jenson would mind his Christmas Card having Franck on the cover?
