BrianCunningham

Stupid Ecclestone!

http://news.aol.ca/article/montreal-...celled/422018/

gkmccready

Let's hope they can add some more big, televised events to the circuit. I love watching them run it... I can't understand why F1 would walk away from it, it always seemed a favorite.

0RAAMaudio

Berny is getting rather senile, to go along with his other issues, if he lives long enough there may be no F1 in the future or if it survives it may not be something many of us are interested in.

--------------

If they sink low enough they might have to start hiring barefoot inbreeds like most of the Nastycar announcers.

---------------

I thought it was inbreds or in breds but Word spell checks it as above, not well educated but not stupid either so I checked

Who am I to argue with MS!

---------------

gonzalezfj

Inbreeds is a conjugation of the verb "to inbreed". Inbred is the noun you are looking for to describe the Nastycar people. Both words will check out OK in Word.

Frank Gonzalez

Burnsey

Some additional details:

-------------
MONTREAL, Nov 16 (Canadian News Wire) - Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of
Montréal, Raymond Bachand, The Minister of Economic Development, Innovation
and Export Trade, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the
Montréal region, and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public
Works and Government Services Canada and responsible for the greater
Montreal, have given an update on their efforts with the Formula One
Administration Limited and its president, Bernie Ecclestone, to keep the
Canadian Grand Prix in Montréal.
"We were constantly guided in our negotiations by principles of
responsible management. However, despite our endeavours and those of the
business community, the unreasonable demands of Formula One exceeded the
taxpayer's ability to pay. I would like to thank my colleagues from the
federal and provincial governments and members of the business community who
joined forces in an attempt to save the Grand Prix. Their concerted efforts
attest to Montréal's vitality and could prove an opportunity for creating a
development fund for new events of all kinds that would stimulate the
economy, tourism and employment," said the Mayor of Montréal.
"Whenever the Grand Prix of Canada needed help from the Government of
Québec, we were there. We worked very hard over the past few weeks to ensure
there would be a Grand Prix in Montréal, while staying fiscally responsible.
We cannot meet Mr. Ecclestone's unworkable demands. Unless he eases his
requirements and adopts a different approach, there will be no Grand Prix in
Montréal in 2009," said Minister Raymond Bachand.
"This is a loss for Greater Montréal and for all Canadians. The Grand
Prix was a window on the world for Montréal and for the rest of Canada. I
would like to salute my predecessor, the Honourable Michael Fortier, for his
efforts to save this event - efforts that were unfortunately unable to meet
the unrealistic demands of Mr. Ecclestone. As I recently said, 'yes to a
Grand Prix, but not at any price,'" said the Honourable Paradis.
A bit of history
On October 7, we learned that the Grand Prix of Canada was no longer on
the 2009 Formula One schedule. Representatives of all three levels of
government became involved at that point in finding ways of ensuring that the
event would be salvaged.
On October 23, the three representatives went to London to meet with
Bernie Ecclestone and discuss the financial situation of the Grand Prix of
Canada.
On October 28, the three representatives received a final contract offer
from Mr. Ecclestone. This offer also required an eventual promoter of the
event to put up a government or bank guarantee of some $175 million over the
next five years.
Because of Normand Legault's retirement, the government representatives
actively sought a solid promoter who was experienced in organizing major
events and had the financial capacity to sustain Grand Prix operations.
Ultimately, no private promoter expressed interest in taking on such a great
risk, considering the limited revenue generated by the event.
In view of this fact, the government representatives envisioned setting
up a non-profit organization (NPO) that would provide a new organizational
structure.
On November 4, another contract proposal based on the creation of such an
NPO was sent to Mr. Ecclestone. The proposal included participation from the
government and tourist industry valued at some $10 million per year over five
years.
Despite this fresh constructive proposal, Mr. Ecclestone refused to budge
in his demands, particularly with respect to the length of the contract and
its financial guarantees. Faced with this intransigence, he was presented
with an enhanced proposal for the 2009 edition, but Mr. Ecclestone would not
alter his position.
-------------------

AU N EGL

Big difference between $175 million and $50 million. But gezzzz either way you look at it that is a lot of money.

Well if Max Mosley has his way, F1 would go to a 3rd party spec engine. Then Ferrari and BMW said they will "re evaluate their need for F1."

Burnsey

It really is unfortunate that the GP has been cancelled. Those of you who have been in Montreal for that weekend will know of what I speak.

Montreal is a incredible party town to begin with. But, add the GP circus on a warm summer night...loud, fast, shiny, expensive cars....loud, fast, shiny, expensive (french) women...it's perfect!

It's an event that will be SORELY missed in this area. I sincerely hope it returns in 2010, although if the price is that high, I doubt it.

ghoffman

Why does every sanctioning body think Spec cars is such a great idea? They claim that it is to save money, but if interest goes away, and they series dies what is really saved?

xsiveone

If F1 continues down this path, it will be circling the drain in no time. I'm tired of these new venues in the Middle East and Asia. They are either street circuits or road courses designed by Herman Tilke. The only Tilke track that is worth a damn is the track in Turkey because of the quad apex corner and the elevation changes. The rest of them are boring. If they ever stop racing at Spa or Monza, they can put a fork in it as far as I'm concerned.

John Shiels

Sad but we will all continue to breath. Bernie makes his decisions I guess on money if he can get it somewhere else. Manufactures are pissed no NA races as this is their biggest market for them all. They should tell Bernie to get some old NASCARs and run his spec series.

Wayne O

I'm saddened to hear this. Formula 1 is is my favorite racing and not having any north American venue seems a shame. In the current economic climate it would seem that flexibility from all parties would be in the best interest of the sport.

If they go to a 3rd party spec engine I'm going to re-evaluate my need for Formula 1.

xsiveone

It's all about Bernie and Max. I'm surprised that the constructors haven't bailed.

If this world economy continues, I can see more than just the Canadian GP getting cancelled next season. The only races will be in the the Middle East and Asia.

varkwso

I really enjoyed it this year - first time in a long time I watched it.

I do not think Spec is the way to go to advance the state of the art - it is to keep it cheap - supposedly.

cebars

Canadian Press of Nov 17....exerpt:
"France and Australia having dropped and now China reconsidering its agreement with F1, Gerald Tremblay said he's hopeful Ecclestone might realize his demands were unreasonable and that the plan put forward by those trying to save the Montreal event just might work."

Maybe F1 has a new business plan...to discard the old venues.

It's ridiculous that Montreal has been the only F2 venue in North America for several years.