Red Bull Racing, and most other F1 teams, do public promotion events all over the globe. The idea is simple, take a Formula One car out of its natural habitat, the racetrack, and bring F1 to the people.
It’s about promotion mostly, but it’s also about breaking away from the shackles of everyday life. Most of all, it’s about having fun. At least it should be. People like watching cars go fast and they like watching these highly skilled drivers burn a bit of rubber. Yes, it’s pretty pointless when you think about it, but it’s great to watch.
Last year, Webber controversially declared Victoria a “nanny state” and yesterday proved why. Is it that hard to put a smile on someone’s face? Webber played his part beautifully yesterday when he interacted with the fans that did turn up. But, the Victorian Government bottled it, and in a big way. Honestly, is there a lot to get excited about when an F1 car is harnessed by red tape to a measly 100km/h?
Just look at what the Germans allowed Sebastian Vettel to do in front of the Brandenburg Gates. In Melbourne, you get to pay your road toll and drive an F1 car as if it were a Toyota Camry.
The Western Australians didn’t object to a few donuts at last year’s Festival of Speed at Barbagallo Raceway. Fair enough, that’s on a purpose built circuit you might argue, but even the NSW Government let Mark crack 200km/h crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
After the break you’ll see some video highlights of what the Victorian Government should have let Mark do. What do you think, did the Vics get it right, or waste a golden opportunity?
11 replies on “If Victoria wasn’t a “nanny state” then Mark could have done this…”
It’s a shame we are no longer allowed to ‘live a little’ in modern society.
My bleedingly obvious prediction came true. I fail to see what anyone really gets out of this ‘stunt’. Those inconvenienced by having the bridge closed down for the morning will rightly complain that anyone can do 100km/h on it anyway. Those who are against the GP will ask why the bridge was shut down at all. And that leaves the fans, who don’t get much by way of spectacle since no-one can see the car on the bridge, and it’s barely ticking over at 100km/h. He’d have been better off staying in Docklands and doing a burnout in the Costco car park, in sight of the world class Southern Star Observation Wheel…. oh.
I did enjoy the “event’, however Derek pretty much hits the nail on the head with his post.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Australian politians want us to hate motorsport just they they do. If it’s not AFL or cricket they don’t care
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You are right there Mark. Our polititians are terrible, but the general public sadly voted in these small minded people – if you get my drift.
Australia has become a fascist society, the merger of state & cooperate powers in order to control the people as a result we slowly lose our liberty. What’s this got to do with Mark’s event in VIC? Think about it…
I think its something we all agree upon. No point what so ever, we didn’t even see the head of Grand Prix corporation, so this is not something that was in anyones control other than politicians. Victoria has officially been handed over to the voting do gooder population. Derek, loved your dig at the Southern Star, currently lying in pieces.
Which year is the race going to stat being subject to the normal road use speed limits?
Worst Red Bull Roadshow event ever. RBR’s fault? No. Local Govt and CAMS? Yes!
Unfortunalty the weather was very misty and the sun was low so the wide shots from the helicopter looking back toward Melbournes skyline were appaling.
WOuld have been much nicer pictures had they ran the event after 3 pm.
Had he gone faster the helicopter would not have been able to keep up, so he would have needed to do six runs for the heli to get good coverage..
But six fast runs would have not taken much longer than 2 slow ones.
He was oly allowed to do two runs which severly limited the shots.
Bit of a shame since the bridge was closed for 30 minutes and an extra run would only have taken 90 seconds.
Photoman