The saying, “There’s no place like home” might be an overused cliche’ but it’s true nonetheless. I’ve been away from the keyboard for several weeks thanks to a fantastic trek across parts of Europe - all in the name of motor sports. Life is good and yes, I do consider myself very fortunate. I’ll write at length about some parts of the journey: Goodwood; Brooklands and the Nurburgring, in the coming weeks. Currently I’m working on some other writing projects and trying to catch up on a lot of errands that have been neglected in my absence.

One thing I would like to make mention of is a new location to check out some of my Formula 1 writing. I’ve begun writing for a website based in Vancouver, Canada called Suite101. Under their sports section you can find me busily churning out articles. Currently I’m putting together a short series on the current group of Formula 1 Constructors - a short of Coles notes to get people up to speed on who the players are in F1 and how they got there. I hope you’ll check it out. You can find my work here.

It looks like a bit has happened since I’ve been gone and warrants a mention. Lewis seems to be building some momentum as we get into the second half of the season. While there was a brief log jam in the drivers championship, I suspect it might become a bit of a one-horse race if Ferrari can’t turn it around.

Also, Max got his day in court and while he might feel vindicated, he should still put the sport ahead of his galactic-sized ego. We all know he won’t. In fact, I’ll go so far as to speculate that he won’t step down in October of 2009 as he promised. He’ll either stay on because ‘people’ have begged him to or he’ll shift into a newly created position where he will continue his political machinations from the shadows. Autocrats never die, they just become more autocratic.

And, finally, there’s the Kimi Raikonnen retirement watch. A lot of ink is being wasted speculating on his impending curtain call. Despite his sub-par performances, I don’t think the Kimster is ready to walk away from all that Ferrari money just yet. But, if he does, you can be sure he’ll leave the decision until the last minute and keep the driver market simmering if not boiling.

That’s all for now, but regular posts will resume shortly.

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Robert Daley wrote a wonderful book on Formula 1 titled, “The Cruel Sport” and a more appropriate description of motor sports has never been written. We love the speed and grace of racing cars, marvel at the skill of the drivers and mythologize their exploits. And sometimes we are shocked by the violence and cruelty that can befall a person for the simplest mistake on a racetrack. Sadly, this past weekend was one of those times.

I spent this Saturday at Mosport Raceway near Toronto, Canada watching the 29th annual VARAC Vintage Festival. I have become very fond of vintage racing the past couple of years because it’s so accessible and it’s so fantastic to see, hear and touch some legendary cars. This year was no exception and a “Can-Am” theme brought out a number of cars from that famous series.

Near the end of a day of snapping photos track side and wandering the pits and admiring the machinery I met up with Toronto Star columnist, Norris MacDonald. While chatting, we got onto the subject of the ‘old days’ and what is missing from modern racing. We spoke briefly about how the safety of the cars has removed much of the sense of danger from the publics perception of motor sport.

The irony of that conversation left me numb today as I learned of the death of driver Dino Crescentini who was killed Sunday at the wheel of a vintage Walter Wolf Racing sportscar. Only a day earlier I had seen Dino chatting with fans who no doubt shared his passion for racing. My thoughts go out to his family, friends and the racing community.

We’ve seen some devastating accidents in Formula 1, NASCAR and Indy Cars in recent years. Drivers have not only survived but often joke on TV only hours later about their crash. Modern safety standards have sheltered us from a very important fact: racing is dangerous and it will never be completely safe.

Like every race driver, Dino absolutely knew the risks and drove with the knowledge that any moment could be his last.

Mario Andretti remarked after the death of his friend and teammate, Ronnie Peterson, “This also is motor racing.”

It’s a lesson we have too casually forgotten from the safety and comfort of our living rooms.

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Santa Claus; The Easter Bunny; musicians who can sing. These are just some of my long held beliefs that have been shattered over the years. Today, another one of those tenets was destroyed (unintentionally) by Dean McNulty of the Toronto Sun.

Dean, who probably mingled with plenty of folks this weekend in Montreal, reported today that a couple of the ‘celeb’s in the paddock were paid for their appearances! My first reaction was shock since I have grown up believing in the glamor and glitz of F1. I bought the story hook line and sinker that Formula 1 was an elite sport for an elite crowd. How wrong I was.

Even more hurtful was the identity of these paid ‘A’ listers - though in my opinion such a term flatters this pair. Montrealers didn’t get Tomkat or Brangelina. Nope, they got Pam Anderson and P Diddy! Apparently they were a steal at $100,000 and $200,000 respectively.

So, is this what F1 has been reduced to - buying tacky celebrity endorsements to perpetuate the illusion of glamor? Is the sport spending good money on cheesy celebs because it can’t draw the A-list? I’m totally disillusioned but a few thousand bucks and a VIP pass to the next race might make me feel just a bit better.

Are you listening Bernie?

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Fear. Uncertainty. Doubt. FUD is a common acronym in the computer world, most often associated with Microsoft, the large monopolistic company hell-bent on controlling the software market. Microsoft often uses FUD to convince potential customers of the dangers of purchasing products from or partnering with a rival. They argue that you are always safer staying with a known product and avoiding the risk and uncertainty of change. This is also the latest tactic initiated by Max Mosley in his increasingly desperate campaign to remain in power as FIA President.

In a letter to all the FIA Club Presidents, Max plays the fear, uncertainty and doubt card by suggesting that great harm could come to the FIA should he be removed from power via a scheduled non-confidence vote on June 3.

First, he suggests that the members should fear losing their control over Formula 1 to Big Business. Mosley paints a dark future in which the FIA loses control of F1 to the Commercial Rights Holders. This shadow cabinet of business interests would then decide the rules governing the sport. Unbeknown to the members, this attack on the FIA is occurring right now and Max is doing all he can to hold the line.

Curiously, the letter does not explain why members should not be suspicious of the timing of the information, this being the first mention of a hostile takeover. Second, it does not explain to what degree members currently have any real control over Formula 1. In truth, the autocratic Mosley has always wielded the real power of the organization.

Next, Mosley mentions several challenges facing the FIA including the aforementioned F1 takeover, the future of the WRC and the potential divorce between the sporting and mobility clubs. He suggests possible solutions to these problems that imply that without the leadership of an experienced hand who understands the issues, there is much uncertainly ahead for the FIA.

Finally, should you be someone who thinks that there is just as capable a candidate out there who could rise to these challenges Max has some bad news for you. Just the process of choosing a new President could very well put the FIA at risk - members might inadvertently elect a ‘Manchurian-like’ candidate controlled by the very forces that seek to undermine the organization. No one can be trusted! Doubt all who might seek power! Trust Max, who you know, from reading the letter, has fought the good fight on behalf of the FIA for years and years.

The underlying message from Max is clear. “Let me do the job until I retire next year because, frankly, no one else can handle all of these challenges better than I can and the chances of you electing someone even worse than me are almost guaranteed.”

The argument has some logic to it, but only if you’re willing to believe that Max himself wasn’t helped into power by individuals with commercial agendas and that many of the problems facing the FIA at the moment are not a direct consequence of his experienced leadership.

I believe that it’s questionable that the future of Formula 1 is so closely tied to Mosley’s own fate. He has done much for the sport but he is not the sport. My hope is that I’m proven right on June 3.

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It’s been almost a week since the Turkish GP - which incidentally was no delight for me this year - virtually no passing and sadly, very little real racing. Aerodynamics are a genie I wish could be put back in the bottle.

I’ve also been pondering what to write about this week. Lots of big important things have been happening in F1 but it actually feels like nothing is happening in F1. Everything is a bit anti-climatic yet I can’t seem to remember there being a climax.

In the past week or so the online F1 media have been pushing these headlines:

• Super Aguri withdraws from Formula 1 -Autosport
  
• No race at Magny Cours for 2009 - Autosport
  
• Time running out for Silverstone - Pitpass.com
  
• FIA proposes 110 M budget cap - Autosport
  
• Mosley plans Monaco appearance - Times Online

Worryingly, none of the headlines refer to any actual racing. Isn’t racing what F1 is about - cars going around tracks, passing one another, thrilling fans and creating legends for us to tell our (future) grandchildren about? Yes, arguably, F1 has always been a bit like soap opera for grown men but let’s have a little racing to help bolster our defense that yes, it really is a sport!

So, rather than wax poetically about the Turkish Grand Prix and Turn 8 (are we really so starved for challenging tracks that we idolize a 4 apex corner likes it’s man’s greatest achievement?) I’m going to throw out a few headlines I want to see in my paper on the Monday morning after the race.

In no particular order of appearance:

• Last lap pass for win leaves fans wondering who won!
• Red Bull fifth team to win a race this season
• Webber steals pole from Pole!
• Teammates bang wheels for second place
• Mosley resigns for good of the sport

For now I guess I’ll just keep the faith but Formula 1 needs to start grabbing headlines because of the racing and not the politics and scandal.

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