So '09 came and went, and during the year we had a couple of things to say on a subject or two. We weren't the only ones though, some 444,749 individual comments were posted on Sidepodcast between 1 January and 31 December 2009.
We may be biased, but we truly believe the Sidepodcast community is the very best F1 community on the internet. I'm banned from thanking anyone else, but just as we did last year, we thought we'd take a look and see which individuals contributed the most to the conversation in the past 12 months.
Top Sidepodcast Commenters of 2009
Pos
Name
Total
1
Steven Roy
32889
2
Bassano Clapper
23638
3
Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)
22927
4
Journeyer
22681
5
Lukeh
20482
6
Nick
20128
7
lou
19686
8
Alex Andronov
18525
9
Jon Waldock
18211
10
Amy
16298
Last year, Lou topped the chart with 10,064 comments. She nearly doubled that figure this year, but still came close to falling out of the top ten. Steven's whopping 32,889 comments sees him way out in front as Sidepodcast's Commenting King of 2009. Mr. Roy we owe you a drink or three.
Over 800 individuals left comments this past year, up considerably from the 200 or so in 2008. We welcome everybody with open arms, but we do have to work on keeping hold of new commenters, as more than 300 people left a single response, never to return again.
As for ourselves, Christine didn't quite make the top ten this year leaving just 14,641 comments, while I somehow managed to hit the return key 44,247 times. I think that might count as an addiction.
We should point out that while we've done our best to validate the figures, all counts were aggregated by email address and if you changed yours during the year, your total may not accurately reflect your true effort. We've also done the obvious things like remove spam and trackbacks to ensure only user generated data is totalled.
Sidepodcast passed the 500,000 published comments mark this year, and with that came numerous scalability challenges that we're still working to overcome. We're hoping that people will continue to contribute to the F1 conversation in 2010, and that those lurkers who read but have yet to join in the fun do so soon.
We look forward to reading your next half a million thoughts.
All Posts in The Series: Most Prolific Contributors
During 2009, Sidepodcast managed to publish 1,319 posts on this website. That's more content in the past 12 months than we managed in the previous two years of blogging combined. A considerable amount of that content came from over 20 guest writers who contributed their thoughts and ideas and to whom we will be eternally grateful.
To celebrate such a fantastic year, and because we're feeling more than a little nostalgic on this eve of '10, we've pulled together some of our favourite topics from 2009.
We've shared some fantastic experiences this past year and we're promised many more in 2010.
Thank You for the Music
As this is the one time of year when Christine allows me to give thanks, and running the risk of missing someone important, Sidepodcast would like to share the love. The two of us would like to extend a huge thank you to all guest writers, to everyone who's helped transcribe a show, especially Amy for leading the effort, and to every person who pledged a donation this year. Much appreciation goes out to anyone who took time to pick up the phone, send an email, or leave a comment, especially if you did so for the first time.
Thank you to the participants of Sidepodradio, to those who tuned in and anyone who gave so much to charity that day. A special note of gratitude to Steven Roy for volunteering anyone and everyone who dared show an interest and to RG for the initial inspiration. A huge Sidepodthanks goes to the bestest host of the parade lap, Alex (Giggles) Andronov, without whom there would have been no pre-race shows this year, and to Katherine and Hyde Park for opening their doors to us.
Major kudos to Lisa McCormick and to Rob Smedley for both being especially lovely. The same goes to the 5Live team for providing such fabulous coverage that saved the season. To Danny from Fantasy Racers, and to anyone who's plugged, promoted or shared the Sidepodcast word, we also say cheers.
I would like to extend a personal thank you to everybody who offered their support back in the summer of discontent and encouraged us to continue, we quite literally would not be here today without you. A hat tip must also go towards Racecar Engineering and F1 Racing for featuring our McLaren photographs and to Stuart C for providing an education in journalism at no charge.
A special mention goes out to Joe Saward, a man who has given so much to Formula 1 for so many years and who this year, extended a generous hand in our direction.
Finally I give a huge hug to Ms Christine Blachford, for producing what are by far the best F1 podcasts on the internet and also for putting up with her co-host for another year.
Lord knows I hope we haven't missed anyone from that list, but just in case, Sidepodcast raises a virtual glass to everyone - may Formula 1 be good to you in 2010.
The first lady of F1 podcasting returns to dispense her annual Alternative Christmas message. In previous years, she has summed up the sport as a pantomime and told the most important story of the festive season. This year it's time for another Christmas tale.
With so many twists and turns in the Formula 1 story, it was hard to narrow down the pivotal moment in 2009, but some of our favourite, and not so favourite, faces appear as we learn a very important moral.
Merry Christmas everybody.
An Alternative Christmas Message
Hello everyone, welcome to Sidepodcast TV. Things have been a bit quiet on the video front in 2009 but we had to return to bring you our annual Alternative Christmas Message. For the past couple of years, we have brought you tales of festive joy from the F1 paddock, and this Christmas is no different. This story has a particular moral though, so if you are sitting comfortably, let us begin.
There once was a man called Ebenezer Schumacher, who had spent a long time working and building up a fortune of money. His talent in a race car was indisputable but his ability to make friends was a completely different matter.
Despite retiring from F1 at the end of 2006, Ebenezer Schumacher remained within thesport, consulting with his favoured team, and almost returning to deputise for an injured driver. Sadly, previous excesses prevented him from doing so, but the opportunity had alighted a great fire within him.
He cast a sly eye across the grid. There were several new teams entering next season, and fellow German Tiny Timo approached Ebenezer to ask for his advice. Tiny Timo was driving for a brand new team, one relying heavily on him to help point them in the right direction. Aware of Schumacher’s legendary abilities in this area, Timo asked for any tips to guide him along the right path. Ebenezer was certain he had no interest in helping others, waved a hand dismissively and went to chat to his old technical director Ross Brawn.
Brawn’s new team were going through some changes, and he and Ebenezer discussed the future. Mr Brawn told him that hemight be able to put the new found fire to good use, but that Formula 1 had changed. Some things that used to take place when Schumi was behind the wheel were no longer acceptable, and there had been plenty of evidence in 2009 that cheating was no longer tolerated. Brawn advised that to get back into F1, Schumi needed to change his wicked ways. The seven times world champion didn’t care though, stating he had won his titles his way, and he was set on winning another.
Brawn shook his head, sadly, but he wanted to help so he hatched a plan. “Tonight you’ll be visited by three ghosts,” he said. “Expect the first ghost when the bell tolls one.”
At the anticipated time, ghost number one appeared, and Ebenezer Schumacher was surprised to see a familiar face. It was his old rival Jacques Villeneuve, who pronounced himself the Ghost of F1 Past. Villeneuve told Schumi how his questionable tactics in the Formula 1 of Old had led to Jacques a career heading in sharp decline culminating in him quitting F1 and taking up a career in music. He spoke of Damon Hill and how Schumacher had destroyed the champion’s self esteem, forcing him to spend his days fighting with Bernie Ecclestone instead. “Worst of all,” Jacques said, “Your wheel banging antics with Montoya set him up for a career in NASCAR!”
Schumacher frowned a little, but dismissed the first ghost with another wave of his hand. Promptly, the second ghost appeared. It was young Nelson Piquet Jr, who announced himself as the Ghost of F1 Present. Piquet described the recent Singapore Grand Prix scandal, explaining to Ebenezer how he had experienced first hand that cheating does not pay, how the FIA had begun to clean up the sport and that he was now facing a future driving trucks around in circles.. Schumi rolled his eyes, patted Piquet on the head and sent him back to his overprotective father.
The final ghost appeared, and Ebenezer saw that it was another fellow German driver, the Red Bull star Sebastian Vettel. “I am the Ghost of F1 Future,” Vettel said, and promptly went on to explain that soon, he will go on to win nine world championships, beating every one of Schumacher’s records in the process, and would do so without cheating, even one little bit. “I beat your records,” Vettel said, “the fans respect and adore me, I become a legend in our country and everyone forgets who you are.”
Ebenzer Schumacher was stunned. As the final ghost disappeared, the idea of winning at all costs didn’t seem such a good one and Schumi could see now, that his dirty driving of old was not the way it should be done.
Determined to prove his new found respectable motivation, and to repair his tarnished reputation Ebenezer returned to Tiny Timo the very next day and explained to him exactly how to guide a new team, how to build a team of people around him and best of all, how to organise a comfortable seat fitting.
As an added bonus, Ebenezer splashed out and gifted thesport a Turkey... so that Turn 8 would forever remain on the calendar.
Ross Brawn returned and told Ebenezer he was welcome back to Formula 1, and his new start would see him at Mercedes. A new era of Formula 1 had begun where drivers respected each other, never tried to ram anyone off the track, accepted equal status to their teammates and were nice to their brothers.
This made the 2010 season the best season ever.
Thank you for listening to my Alternative Christmas Message. I hope you’re enjoying the holidays, arehaving a good day today and will be looking forward to the next season of Formula 1. Merry Christmas.
An Alternative Christmas Message
All Posts in The Series: Alternative Christmas Message
Sidepodcast listener Stuart Taylor has provided us a guest post with a difference, an absolutely fantastic illustrated guide to the 2009 Formula 1 season. Please leave caption suggestions in the comments and let us know your favourite. In the meantime, over to Stuart.
I wanted to contribute to your season review but speaking isn't my forté so I made you a little cartoon season review instead. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Last weekend we attended the first ever real life Sidepodparty, and it was a resounding success. The two of us gathered at Alex and Kat's house in London, along with Lou, Emily, Bassano, Pat, Chris and Fourstar, but we also managed to invite those who couldn't attend via a dedicated comment thread.
Additionally, we live streamed video from several cameras while a Skype conference call was set up to bring the farthest reaches of the globe into London to join the party.
Alex has spent the whole of this month entertaining us with the Giggle's Advent Calendar and he kindly invited us all to take part in one of the episodes. The finished product came out really well, and was a nice surprise to those who hadn't attended.
During the recording we did manage to sneak some behind-the-scenes footage of the recording in action (there really were a lot of cameras). Here's the reverse angle of the same scene:
It wasn't all work, work, work though. We managed to get through a fair amount of pizza, hot sausage rolls and some lovely cookies made by Lou's mum. There may have been a small quantity of alcohol consumed too. The house was a sight to behold at times, with up to six screens running live comments, including a rather large TV communicating via Wii-Wi-Fi.
It was without a doubt the geekiest party we have ever been to and it was brilliant. We must give special shout out to Pat for turning in an official Sidepodcast T-shirt. The message as annoyingly relevant today as the day it was introduced.
Credit: Christine Blachford
Pat W and Mr.C sporting Sidepodcast tees.
If you're interested in seeing more streaming party goodness, take a look at the following videos:
Gavin from Making Up The Numbers presents this week's Thursday Thoughts question, and it's by far the toughest one yet. Tough for us to answer, anyhow.
Neither Christine nor myself give presents for Christmas, not to each other or to anyone else. We don't do cards either and haven't for many years. By rights, the answer to the question should be that we'd give nothing at all. Admittedly that wouldn't make for very interesting reading.
Let's assume then that we can be bothered to make the effort for F1 during this festive time of year, does anyone know if the sport has been naughty or nice?
In the naughty corner:
The testing ban made life difficult for rookies, and removed the only cost effective way for fans to get close to the cars
Failed last minute rules changes made a mockery of those involved
The FIA leaked documents faster than a pressure hose
Schumacher attempted more comebacks than a second rate boyband
The season was one race too long
In the nice corner:
Qualifying was quite good
It might be best all round if I didn't check that list twice.
F1 hasn't covered itself in glory these past 12 months has it? The numerous scandals, a threatened breakaway series, and the loss of two and a half teams have cast the sport in a poor light. To rectify the situation what I think Formula 1 needs more than anything else is to be wrapped up in shiny paper, sealed with a big red bow and posted off to some more deserving owners.
Owners who will appreciate it for what it is, and what it can offer. Owners who will feed it when it's hungry and ensure it stretches it's legs regularly. The kind of owners who will wash it down when it gets a bit grubby and ensure routine vaccinations keep away the vermin. In short Formula 1 needs to wake up under someone else's tree, so my gift to the sport for Christmas would be more deserving guardians.
Prior to this week's three-day test in Jerez, we ran a number of posts building up to the event, covering all the runners and riders. This was as much for our own benefit, given the majority of the people were completely unknown to us. During the week we ran threads for each day of the test, in an effort to keep up with the happenings down in Spain.
Credit: Mark Thompson/Getty Images
For the casual observer, F1 testing is a pain in the backside to follow. Teams make almost no effort to communicate what's going on throughout the day, and even the usually useful Renault blog failed to provide updates until after the fact. It's entirely possible teams do not want fans to know what's going on, but if that were the case, why bother to put out post-test press releases at all?
Those who do wish to keep on top of the action have to run the gauntlet of sporadic twitter updates, dodgy translations from foreign news sources and a never-ending quest for fresh photographs. Force India, did at least manage to offer some mid-day updates, but is that really the best F1 has to offer?
The Teams
Nine teams showed up in Jerez, Toyota being the notable omission. BMW did arrive though, to honour a commitment to two young drivers who earned a test back in 2008. None of the new teams scheduled to race in 2010 had a chassis available.
Although the event was dubbed a 'Young Driver Test', both McLaren and Renault opted to run more experienced hands in order to extract as much information about running next year's car as possible. It appeared that all attendees ran with Bridgestone's slimmer front tyre and carried additional ballast at some point. Additionally, Ferrari could be seen running around the track minus front wheel bins, which are also now banned.
12 drivers saw action on Tuesday, the same number again on Wednesday. The total increased to 16 on Thursday. The track was especially dirty at the beginning of the week, and light showers occasionally disrupted running, but at least one team managed to put in over 100 laps on each day.
The Drivers
Credit: Alastair Staley/LAT Photographic
Superstar rookie on the first day of testing was Andy Soucek who topped the timesheets in the Williams. His testing opportunity was granted thanks to winning the F2 championship this year and finishing the day so well does at least indicate the ultra low-cost series might be able to produce future F1 drivers.
Day two saw Gary Paffett atop the time sheets, but his best time was lowered by over a second on the final day when Daniel Ricciardo dropped the benchmark significantly. Of all the new names and faces present this week, Ricciardo's star appeared to shine the brightest. Some fast times, a lot of laps and three whole days worth of testing all to himself, the man did a fine job. Only an on-track disagreement with Brendon Hartley during the opening laps on Tuesday blotted his copy book. Even his Renault engine gave up before he did.
Hartley and Bortolotti failed to impress in the Toro Rosso, neither did any of Ferrari's other hopefuls, although they didn't get a lot of seat time between them. Zampieri less so after he dropped it at the chicane causing a red flag.
As for the rest, Hildebrand has been bemoaning poor pace on some badly timed runs while Hulkenberg gained some much needed experience which should give him an advantage over the rest of next year's rookies. Paul di Resta again made a case for an F1 drive, finishing just behind Ricciardo on day three, in a Force India no less.
That just about wraps up our Jerez testing coverage. We've learnt some new names, discovered some fantastic nicknames (stand up Luca di Licious, Topsy Turvey, Disco Dan, Soup Chef and Gloria Esteban) and caught a glimpse of what Formula 1 might hold in store in the future. The conditions were almost perfect, and none of the drivers managed to humiliate themselves. I can't wait for grown up testing to resume in the New Year.
All Posts in The Series: Jerez Testing December 2009
With days one and two of F1 testing behind us, attention now turns to the final time we'll see cars running before the end of 2009. It's likely that this is also the last time we'll catch many of the current iterations of these chassis side-by-side on track.
We had a great debate in yesterday's thread about the amount of interest this particular test holds. I still remain excited to see what's going down in Southern Spain, so feel free to dive on in to the comments if you spot anything of note.
Circuit Information
Track length: 4.423km
Longest straight: 0.600km
Corners: 13
Lap record: 1:23.135 (Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Williams, 1997)
The Jerez circuit is located in the South of Spain not far from the cost of Portugal.
It seems this collection of drivers are doing their level best not to embarrass themselves, so neither the runoff areas nor the marshals have seen much action as yet.
Weather Information
Wednesday's predicted rain didn't amount to much, or cause any chaos, and today's outlook sees the return of the big yellow ball. Another great day to be testing a Formula 1 car.
Driver Information
We are expecting to see the following drivers tackle Circuito de Jerez today:
Day one of F1 testing came and went and now the teams repeat and rinse all over again.
Yesterday we had chance to get familiar with new drivers in old cars. To figure who wore what helmet and to see where they fitted into the grand scheme of things. Today should be a little easier in that respect.
Circuit Information
Track length: 4.423km
Longest straight: 0.600km
Corners: 13
Lap record: 1:23.135 (Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Williams, 1997)
The Jerez circuit is located in the South of Spain not far from the cost of Portugal.
Jerez is great place to hold this kind of test, a few red flags appeared during Tuesday but they were cleared without fuss and action soon got underway again. The circuit layout is as follows:
Weather Information
Tuesday started out cold but soon warmed up nicely. Wednesday on the other hand, may be a different story as heavy rain is predicted.
Driver Information
We are expecting to see the following drivers tackle Circuito de Jerez today:
Again, with any luck we'll be able to keep up to date with what is happening on track. If you spot any pictures, information or links, please let us know in the comments.
All Posts in The Series: Jerez Testing December 2009
Here we are at last, the first day of testing has arrived. How long we have waited for this moment!
We've been building up to the test over the past few days with a list of the young drivers who we are expecting to see. I have never heard of half of them, so researching their faces and achievements really helped to build a picture of who is doing it in the hopes of a race seat, who is turning up as a reward for good performance, and who is there to make up the numbers.
Circuit Information
Track length: 4.423km
Longest straight: 0.600km
Corners: 13
Lap record: 1:23.135 (Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Williams, 1997)
The Jerez circuit is located in the South of Spain not far from the cost of Portugal.
The venue is no longer used for F1 races, but is a favourite location for teams to carry out testing. The circuit layout is as follows:
Weather Information
The weather in Spain today is set to be sunny with a few clouds. Winds will be light and variable. Perfect conditions for some F1 testing then.
Driver Information
We are expecting to see the following drivers tackle Circuito de Jerez today:
Hopefully, we'll be able to keep up to date with what is happening, but if you spot any pictures, information or links, please let us know in the comments, and we can keep an eye on who is fastest.
All Posts in The Series: Jerez Testing December 2009
