Sidepodcast

Friday Fun - Selling F1

It's the final Friday Fun for this off-season, and we've had some great ideas over the course of the series. From planning parties to writing job descriptions, we've covered every aspect of F1, but now it's time to turn our attention to the racing about to start.

In the comments, Maverick noticed that there has been very little advertising from the BBC for this season. Last year there were trailers every five minutes, and you couldn't escape the build up. Now, even Chris Moyles isn't talking about it.

So, our last Friday Fun outing for now asks:

How would you promote F1? Who would you use to sell the sport to non-fans? What slogans can you come up with?

As ever, the crazier the idea, the better, but serious suggestions are welcome to. I like the idea of coming up with a slogan for the sport, and for the year ahead.

Thanks to everyone who has helped with Friday Fun so far, all the great ideas we've had, and all who have taken part. Now, get your thinking caps on!

Friday Fun - F1 Limericks

At the beginning of February, we stumbled across the subject of F1 themed limericks. I thought it would be a good idea to have a go at some for Friday Fun, but promptly forgot. Thanks to Alex for reminding me, here's your Friday Fun challenge this week:

Come up with some F1 themed limericks, but remember to keep them clean!

Here are a couple of examples for you - firstly one from me:

There once was a pit reporter called Ted,
Who had all sorts of knowledge in his head
When he shared his views
We got to play Ted News
And talk about what he had said.

And a brilliant one from Alex:

There was a young man from Frome,
who had a scraggly beard on his dome,
when he went to Woking,
they said, "are you joking"?
he said, "well I was going to use a comb".

They're not easy to do, but it's about time we gave you a proper challenge. There's only one more Friday Fun before the season starts, so get your thinking caps on and see what you can come up with.

Friday Fun - 6 Word Memoir

For this week's Friday Fun, Steven Roy has tracked down an internet meme that we can turn into an F1 related game. I can't wait to see what you come up with this week.

There is a meme which has taken over the internet in the last couple of years which I have only just heard about. A quick search for the phrase "6 Word Memoir" proves that everyone on the net except me seems to be aware of it. The idea is simply that people should write a memoir of their life in 6 words. Some of them are funny, some are incredibly moving but for our 6 word memoirs you have to write from the point of view of someone connected to F1 - be they drivers, engineers, politicians, broadcasters or someone who has been associated with the sport in the past.

An example of a 6 word memoir for Michael Schumacher would be “Leaving Ferrari, pain in the neck” or for Nico Rosberg “Button gone yay, you signed who?”

There are literally millions on the net if you are stuck for inspiration but I am sure you can come up with some crackers.

Friday Fun - Your F1 Film

The official F1 website has a new piece discussing the upcoming movie about our favourite motorsport. From the article:

Production is underway of the definitive feature documentary on Formula One racing. Scheduled for cinema release in spring 2011, the new film will tell the story of the golden Grand Prix age and will include interviews with the sport’s leading personalities, drivers, designers and engineers.

There's no word on who will be in the film, though, so the question is:

If you were casting a film about F1 past or present, who would you give the leading roles to?

It could be as easy as casting Justin Timberlake to play a driver, and Bruce Willis to play a Ron Dennis type figure, or you could give it a bit more thought than that. You always come up with great things, so please, let us know!

Friday Fun - Job Descriptions

Following the discovery of the Stefan GP website earlier this week, and their advertisement for F1 personnel, we were a bit surprised at their openness in the job descriptions. The English isn't the best, and they also offer up a fantastic line that is bordering on the unethical:

Slightly advantage if you are ex Toyota F1!

So, this week's Friday Fun pays homage to the F1 team who have no grid slot, Stefan GP. If you were the boss of an F1 team, how would you advertise for new staff? What would you specify in the job description?

I have already touched on this a little bit in my Thursday Thoughts answer this week, where I decided:

My wish list is actually quite a simple one - I only want drivers in my team who are on Twitter, and use it a lot. The added communication, the contact with the fans, the feeling of inclusion in events is something that is extremely valuable to a team. Just ask Mr C how he feels about Claire Williams after watching her Twitter feed all week.

That's the rule. Tweet and you're in. What requirements or requests do you have for your potential employees?

Friday Fun - Making Launches Better

It's the end of the week once more, and we've enjoyed five days of discussing brand new cars. Well, a new car and a livery anyway. With all the teams turning to online streaming to give fans an insight into the launches of their new machinery, we've suddenly realised just how stuffy the events can be. Suits and cameras, interviews and PR speak, aside from looking at the new paint job, the launches do leave a lot to be desired.

So, the big question this week for our Friday Fun game is:

How would you make F1 launches better?

We're talking from the smallest little details, to the very big things such as location. In fact, here's a list of things that you could decide upon, although tell us anything you've got in mind.

• Location and timing
• Who would host the event?
• Would you have any special guests?
• Background music, or invited bands?
• What would you get the drivers to do?

My first thought is that I'd get the media onside by handing out sweets, and I would get the drivers to answer the questions whilst also having a go on a bouncy castle. I think that would spice things up a bit. I'm going to have to give it some more thought though, and while I do, please leave your launch ideas in the comments.

Friday Fun: Dedications

With the news that a bridge in Somerset is going to be named after Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button, we pondered what else you would name after F1 drivers, teams, or top names. There's also the opportunity to highlight why your chosen item is receiving such dedication, as Maverick pointed out for Button Bridge:

It's a great bridge for the first half of the crossing but then you really struggle to get to the other side.

I think I would dedicate a skate park to Sebastian Vettel - has lots of ups and downs, but is generally quite down with the kids. As ever, this is not a great one, and I'm waiting to see what excellent stuff you guys can come up with!

Don't forget, if you've got ideas for Friday Fun, then please feel free to let me know. You can email me christine at sidepodcast dot com, or fill in the contact form about halfway down this page.

Friday Fun - Song Title Squeeze

Following on from last week's press release related game, something came out of that which covers today's Friday Fun as well.

All you have to do is pick a band, and then write your press release quotes, fitting in as many song titles as you can. Craft your press release well and they should fit in without anyone noticing.

Here's an example:

B*Witched

"It was not a good race out there today, a bit damp, but we can only Blame It On The Weatherman. I would have liked to win but C'est La Vie. When I crashed, it was pretty scary and I just thought oh, Jesse, Hold On.

I know you can do better.

Friday Fun - Where Would You Award Points?

With the possibility revealed this week that there could be an extra point awarded for qualifying on pole position, we began to wonder what else you could award points for. Nick had a couple of ideas:

If they are giving a point for fastest lap to the driver, then why not one to the team with the fastest pitstop?

Although i think the whole thing is very mickey mouse.

What next?
Point for the most dramatic gesture on the pit wall?
Point for the biggest tyre lock up?
Point for the most sideways moment?
Point for the biggest crash?
Point for the cleanest car at the end of the race?

These are some good ideas, but I reckon there are more out there. What do you think points should be awarded for?

Friday Fun - Things Not to Do in Press Releases

This week, Lotus introduced their brand new lineup, confirming Trulli and Kovalainen as their drivers and issued various press releases about their plans for the future. Unfortunately, the prose hideously misspelled Jim Clark's name, as well as mangling their own driver - Kovalainen. The comments were not impressed.

Alex had an excellent idea for this week's Friday Fun:

What not to do in F1 press releases

We already have spelling your driver names incorrectly, what else would you advise teams to try and avoid when it comes to issuing notes to the media?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and if you have an idea for a future Friday Fun topic, let me know via email: christine@sidepodcast.com.