Posts tagged: Transcripts

The Best of Sidepodcast 2009, and a Big Thank You

Published

By Mr. C.

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.

Thank You for the Memories

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.

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2009 F1 New Years Resolutions Revisited

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By Christine Blachford

Yesterday, we looked back at some of the predictions we made at the end of last year, and how very wrong we were about the season we just experienced. Now it's time to revisit the New Year Resolutions we made, regarding how we would watch and enjoy Formula 1 in 2009.

Mr C and I both made five separate resolutions, and let's start with his.

Promises, Promises

  1. Give the new regulations a chance.
  2. Take stuff out of Beta.
  3. Stop moaning about the website hosting problems we regularly experience and actually do something about it.
  4. Give Heikki a second chance as a McLaren driver.
  5. Try much, much harder in the Fantasy Racers league.

Well, we did try and give the regulations a new chance, but they achieved very few of their stated aims and left us disappointed in the direction the sport has been taking. Next year isn't looking any more promising in that respect so no more second chances on that front.

The website hosting issue is still very much there but we have taken to moaning about it less because Mr C has been working hard on Sidepodcast 3.0 to put less strain on the poor, little, unable to cope, hosting company. Point number two is funny because unless I'm mistaken, all of the Beta code has been sneakily rebranded and put in the playground. Beta is a feature, and with it a resolution failure.

The Fantasy Racers league did see much more effort being put into it, if only because rule changes made a relaxed approach impossible. Mr C gave up entirely before the European leg of the season ended, so another resolute failure there.

Regarding, Heikki, well... I'll let the man himself talk to you about the young Finn.

I gave him a second chance as a McLaren driver and he did worse in 2009 than even he can comprehend.

Now, let's take a look at my resolutions.

Try, Try Again

  1. Watch every single Free Practice session.
  2. Find merit in a driver's abilities and performance instead of simply how good they look.
  3. Keep up to date with podcast transcripts.
  4. Bring back Sidepodcast Diaries.
  5. Make predictions... when asked.

I had a similar Free Practice experience as I did last year, in that I saw most of them but missed a few. There's a pesky thing called real life that sometimes gets in the way. The FP sessions seem to have taken on less significance for us this year, though, so I'm not as worried about it as I was this time last year.

Regarding the podcast transcripts, all I can say is thanks to our volunteers. Sidepodcast Diaries did make a comeback, but fell by the wayside when Formula 1 became less fun in the middle of the year. They may or may not make a third comeback in the New Year.

I did make predictions when I was asked, although I can't say I enjoyed it. I'm not so worried about getting things wrong anymore, because, let's face it, Formula 1 is basically one big surprise.

The resolution I have left until last is about driver's abilities and performances. Hmm. No, I am still fickle.

If you made any resolutions, either in the the original post or elsewhere, please let us know how you got on. Are you better or worse at keeping them than we are?

I hope you'll join us at the end of December, when we set about making yet more unreasonable promises for 2010.

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F1 Debrief - It's Going to be Like The Flintstones

Published

By Christine Blachford

Sidepodcast logo

Audio preview

In this week's show, we discuss the Ari vs Jean battle, plus some of those silly season rumours, catch up on your feedback and introduce Sidepodradio (again).

Intro

A no-news week this week, plus Hungary, a break, and then Valencia? Things are going to be quiet in F1 for weeks!

Good Week / Bad Week

It's been a good week for Webber and for KERS as they are both loved. Webber might be signed up for next year, whilst McLaren will use KERS until the end of the season. However, it's a bad week for Heikki on the child's bike and for both the German and British GP.

News and Views

As it seems to come down to Ari vs Jean, there is no doubt where the popular vote lies. How will things pan out in real life though? Also we run through the silly season rumours and realise how shocking Toro Rosso are at keeping drivers on their books.


Feedback

Lots of lovely emails today, including a Mark Webber anecdote, a couple of statistics websites, an expensive night out and a Rubens song. We've also got a Twitter shoutout to do.

Housekeeping

The transcripts are amazingly popular, so thank you to everyone who is signing up to complete some, and we're going to do Sidepodradio. Really. Find out more on the wiki.

Linkage

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Daily: 16th July 2009

Published

By Christine Blachford

Here we are then, hideous Thursday, although today is quite cool as it's the anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11. I know we have quite a lot of Sidepodspace fans, so that one is for you. Here are some other things we're talking about:

  • Although it is behind the paywall, there's a fantastic (and worth the subscription alone for this month) article by Jonathan Noble with rumours and speculation about who could move where and why. After months of politics, it is a breath of fresh air that silly season is beginning. Who would have thought it?
  • Yesterday we discussed the Trulliometer, and today it has swung a little lower, with Trulli suggesting his team need to make a big step forward, in fact a giant leap (for mankind?) to try and close up the gap to their rivals. At least they can always console themselves by knowing they're doing better than BMW.
  • Finally, I just wanted to bring the transcripts up again, as we had a great takeup of volunteers, with not one, but two transcripts completed already. If you're interested in lending a hand, you can find out more information on the wiki - thanks to everyone who's signed up already.

That's all for now. We're one step closer to the weekend, which is always a good thing, and as per usual, I will see you in the comments.

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Daily: 14th July 2009

Published

By Christine Blachford

On this day, six years ago, the US government confirmed the existence of Area 51. I know this isn't even remotely F1 related, but I do find the relation between potential extraterrestrial life and certain paddock regulars an interesting concept. Anyway, here are some of the things we've been up to:

  • The final F1 Digest for the German GP weekend is finished and ready for listening, and it rounds out the weekend nicely. One thing I have noticed following the race is Horner's comments about Webber. Whilst saying he did a great job, he also mentions how annoyed they were that the Australian didn't mention his injured shoulder over the winter, and that Newey isn't happy about the extra weight in a leg full of metal. Full of sympathy that team, aren't they?
  • There are lots of fun things going on in the wiki following the Parade Lap this weekend. We've got Giggles Made-Up Media, otherwise known as GMM, plus Sidepodbond Film Titles and Sidepodale. All of these are pretty explanatory, I reckon, so head on over to the wiki and add your thoughts.
  • In a slightly less fun, but just as important and interesting wiki addition, we've put up a page for anyone wishing to sign up to help with show transcripts to sign up. All the information you need is on the page, with an example of a completed show as well. We've had two volunteers already - RG and James - so join these excellent peeps and get writing.

That should keep you busy for a while, I guess. Mr C is busy planning a trip to Oviedo in Spain so he can see Mr Alonso in action. I am not so keen. Anyway, I will see you in the comments.

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Daily: 21st November 2008

Published

By Christine Blachford

Things have quietened down again on the news front, with almost everybody going back in to hibernation to evaluate the results of their test. Meanwhile, I've been super busy and finally completed the transcript for Episode 69. Whilst this may sound like I'm crazily behind (which I am), that was the epic long British GP show that was well over an hour long. Check it out, if only to humour me.

Anywhere, there has been plenty going on in the comments, so read on to see what you might be missing:

  • Valentino Rossi has taken to the seat of the Ferrari once again. He's three seconds off the pace so far - because he can't do it or because he just needs a little more time?
  • Gavin gave us all a challenge in yesterday's comments, to list your top ten drivers for 2008. Ten is a lot, so think carefully.
  • We also have more Sidepodspace news, with yet another space walk. I think nothing was dropped this time, although we could do with another update.
  • The possibility of living on Mars.
  • Ecuadorian dwarves that are genetically immune to cancer.

That's not the only things to be talked about though. There's always plenty going on in the comments. Share your thoughts, tell us the news, and discuss anything you like. I'll see you there.

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The FIA Transcripts (Part 3)

Published

By Mr. C.

The FIA finally got around to releasing the transcripts from the Renault hearing yesterday. Presumably the delay was related to printing out and then re-scanning a massive 77 pages of documentation, just to be sure no confidential information can be uncovered.

We predicted recently that "producing hard-copy, before digitising content" is the most likely way the FIA will release sensitive documents in the future. So inept are they in the ways of digital distribution that they probably figure that this sort of thing didn't happen when they used fax machines, so why not stick with a tried and tested method. The net result of course is that everybody elses work is made a lot harder, and all because of an internal cock-up by the motorsport governing body.

This post is listed as The FIA Transcripts (Part 3). Parts one and two relate to the July and September hearings respectively, and as this case appears to be a continuation of that process it makes sense to reference them as three related hearings.

As an aside, Pitpass have noticed certain favoured sections of the media, are getting early access to these documents. Surely such a noble and upstanding organisation as the FIA would never stoop so low as to contemplate manipulating the media in this way, would they?

If you're ever so slightly unhinged, or are suffering from acute insomnia you can download the PDF file and peruse the text at your leisure. Normally we'd use a screen reader to talk us through it, but sadly they struggle with faxed, photocopied and slightly-twisted pages... so read it we shall.

Contents Therein

The first point of interest is this case came about because an ex-Renault employee, now working at McLaren read Flavio's comments following McLaren's non-punishment in July. Briatore had said:

Just read the regulations. For intellectual property theft, the punishment is exclusion.

Priceless stuff Flavio. We doubt the guy regrets much in his life, but if he could change one thing...

Moving on, we learn from Mr. Ian Mill QC that Renault offered McLaren the opportunity to send in Kroll to search Renault's workstations for incriminating evidence, but the team decided not to take up the offer because they were "engaged in other matters". Ian Mill then proceeds to suggest that it should be Renault's job to go and hang themselves, not McLaren's business to prove them guilty. An odd approach for a lawyer, if ever there was one.

By contrast the team from Enstone turned up with their superstar-lawyer, Mr. David Philips. This guy introduces himself as "the new boy on the block", something you don't imagine Nigel Tozzi ever saying, then he proceeds to describe his witnesses as a "reserve football team". If this wasn't such a serious hearing, I think he'd probably prefer to be addressed simply as Dave.

Phil Mackereth

No question about it, you do not want Mr. Mackereth in your pub quiz team. The guy can't remember a bloody thing. If McLaren employees suffer from selective amnesia, then what can you say about this guy?. He apparently has no clue what he did, when he did it or why he would have done so. His memory loss is so severe it's verging on becoming a medical condition. In the end Ian Mill managed to coax out the following admission:

I was aware of [the file's] sensitivity. I must have been trying to disguise it.

No.freaking.kidding.

Annoyingly, just as Ian Mill got into the swing of things and pushed Phil into talking about Renault's 2008 challenger, Max Mosely interrupted the flow. It seems a touch coincidental that at the very point the advantage appears like it might swing in McLaren's favour that the president chooses to pipe up. Grr.

Further into the same discussion, things start getting a bit technical and the concept of renaming a file comes to the fore. At this point Max seems somewhat stressed by such a radical concept, and asked if if he understood. His reply was:

I do not think any of us do!

Bless him, it's a complicated world isn't it?

Getting Technical

From the details that have not been obscured we learn that McLaren are particularly proud of their seamless shift gearbox, but more importantly they're concerned about the information Renault have gleaned relating to their cars weight distribution and steering angle. These are the very things McLaren are accused of learning from Nigel Stepney and Ferrari. By all accounts we should witness some pretty close racing at the head of the field next year then.

When it comes to how Renault staff learnt certain technical details relating to McLaren's internal information, it would appear that many more members of the Enstone team have caught the memory loss virus. No-one appears have any solid recollection of any events at any time.

Selective amnesia is fast becoming a Formula 1 epidemic.

Closing

At times during this hearing it would appear that McLaren were on trial again. In fact Ian Mill's closing comments sum up his team's feelings well when he says:

McLaren considers that the very heavy sanction imposed upon in September 2007 was very harsh and, consistently with that, would not wish to see any other team put in the same position.

Max alludes to the real reason as to why this transcript's release was delayed, when he references what he calls a third investigation into McLaren. Had that conversation come out before McLaren fell on their sword last week, it could have caused endless amounts of speculation and controversy.

In Conclusion

In all, this hearing seems less rushed than either of the previous two. There's a very good argument to say that important cases such as these should be deferred until the off-season, just so that nothing gets inadvertently brushed under the carpet.

Should Renault have been punished? It's a difficult call, because although there are many uncanny similarities between the two cases, and Renault don't come across as being anywhere near as open and honest as they like to think they are being, the two-way flow of text messages and phone calls didn't happen as it had with Ferrari / McLaren. The information that was gleaned, I'm sure, has many uses. Probably not much more than the teams discovered from the hearings earlier this year though.

One final point to make: There's no sidestepping the fact that Formula 1 teams, much like canine lovers, pick representatives with similar characteristics as themselves. Compare if you will Ferrari's Nigel Tozzi, a man who's name even sounds Italian, Ian Mill a man so corporate he probably positions his sleeve so that the sponsors watch is visible at all times, and finally there's Dave.

The spy hearings haven't been much of a laughing matter, but the traits shared between a lawyer and his team is beauty personified.

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Sidepodcast Diaries 9 - The Transcripts

Published

By Christine Blachford

My opinions after finally finishing both of the transcripts.

Transcript

[Written on paper, with pages turning at each line break]

Hello everyone!
I've just finished reading both transcripts!
I usually leave this stuff to the geeky one but...
Even I'm intrigued what goes on behind closed doors.
I even have opinions!
1.
The transcriber is obviously not an F1 fan... Who the hell is Patty Lowe and Ross Born?
They sound like a crime fighting duo - pow - biff.
2.
I don't see how they proved anything. Seems to be that Coughlan was trying to get the info in and no one was biting.
Except Pedro de la Rosa. He's the only one I was suspicious of...
And even he said he had the information but decided it was useless.
3.
Why wasn't the 2007 car inspected? It's all hearsay and statements and no real evidence.
4.
Lewis Hamilton made it all about him again. 3 pages worth. Honestly!
All in all, in my opinion, from what I've read, disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer.
There wasn't enough evidence and I'm with McLaren.
And like we said on the blog: http://www.sidepodcast.com
What was the rush?
I recommend reading the transcripts, all 81 and 115 pages. Then join in the debate - 0121 28 TRACK.

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