The Belgian GP is no more!

The Belgian GP has been scrapped from the 2003 Formula 1 calendar! Modern F1 sims will be even less desirable. Gerry

"Gerry Aitken" wrote... > > The Belgian GP has been scrapped from the 2003 > Formula 1 calendar! Modern F1 sims will be even > less desirable. A blow to the Wallon economy for sure, but other than that I don't think I really mind. Jan (a Belgian). =---

This is otherwise known as Spa, right ? -Larry "Gerry Aitken" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > > The Belgian GP has been scrapped from the 2003 Formula 1 calendar! > Modern F1 sims will be even less desirable. > > Gerry

Larry wrote: > > This is otherwise known as Spa, right ? Yeah, but I may have jumped the gun, as the decision is still to be ratified. Gerry

Gerry Aitken <[email hidden]> wrote on 25 Oct 2002: > The Belgian GP has been scrapped from the 2003 Formula 1 calendar! > Modern F1 sims will be even less desirable. Oh well. I hardly watched any F1 on TV this year anyway, so it won't make much difference. I'm just not interested enough to sit there for two hours any more. -- Above address *is* valid - but snip spamtrap to get me to *read*! 1) The GPL Scrapyard: http://www.btinternet.com/~gplscrapyard 2a) Bits'n'Bob-stones: http://www.geocities.com/daveb75 2b) WD Yahoo! Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/watershipdown

Wow, if that's the case, that's VERY unfortunate. I'm a HUGE fan of the SPA track.. I even did a 100% race there last night in F12002. I also heard rumours of them getting rid of the German Rally.. oh man :( Mike http://mikebeauchamp.com "Gerry Aitken" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > > The Belgian GP has been scrapped from the 2003 Formula 1 calendar! > Modern F1 sims will be even less desirable. > > Gerry

On Fri, 25 Oct 2002 19:54:28 GMT, "Larry" <[email hidden]> wrote: >This is otherwise known as Spa, right ? > Well, the Belgian Grand Prix _has_ been at other venues like Nivelle and Zolder. It's the end of the Belgian GP full stop, whatever the track. At least until 2006.

That sucks! I've heard the drivers actually like that track. Jim Gerry Aitken wrote: >The Belgian GP has been scrapped from the 2003 Formula 1 calendar! >Modern F1 sims will be even less desirable. > >Gerry >

isn't life wonderful ??? and while we are at it, scrap MONACO too MOSCOW here we come !!! Gerry Aitken <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > > The Belgian GP has been scrapped from the 2003 Formula 1 calendar! > Modern F1 sims will be even less desirable. > > Gerry

isn't life wonderful ??? and while we are at it, s***MONACO too MOSCOW here we come !!!

"Gerry Aitken" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > > The Belgian GP has been scrapped from the 2003 Formula 1 calendar! > Modern F1 sims will be even less desirable. > > Gerry Tragic. One of the few F1 tracks left that actually has some character to it. The driver's loved it too. I'm going to miss Eu Rouge... CFster

Nothing to do with the track, it's the Belgian government's anti-tobacco advertising stance that is the problem. Iain "The Carvalho Family" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> That sucks! I've heard the drivers actually like that track. > Jim > > Gerry Aitken wrote: > > >The Belgian GP has been scrapped from the 2003 Formula 1 calendar! > >Modern F1 sims will be even less desirable. > > > >Gerry > > >

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"Iain Mackenzie" wrote... > Nothing to do with the track, it's the Belgian government's > anti-tobacco advertising stance that is the problem. Our no tabacco advertising policy is conform to European policy and is no different from the one in England, Germany or France, to name but a few. The real reason, as admitted by Ecclestone, is is politics between organisors/RACB and the FIA. Jan. =---

That's probably why they got rid of it. Can't have drivers being happy in F1! -lLarry "The Carvalho Family" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > That sucks! I've heard the drivers actually like that track. > Jim

Jan Verschueren wrote:

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> > "Iain Mackenzie" wrote... > > Nothing to do with the track, it's the Belgian government's > > anti-tobacco advertising stance that is the problem. > > Our no tabacco advertising policy is conform to European policy and is no > different from the one in England, Germany or France, to name but a few. > > The real reason, as admitted by Ecclestone, is is politics between > organisors/RACB and the FIA.

The Max and Bernie show goes on, one more reason to spend Sunday afternoons working on my car instead of watching F1, I *will* finish rebuilding my beloved Manta some day Beers and cheers (uncle) Goy http://www.theuspits.com "A man is only as old as the woman he feels........" --Groucho Marx--

"Jan Verschueren" wrote: > Our no tabacco advertising policy is conform to European policy and is no > different from the one in England, Germany or France, to name but a few. The European Directive, which will ban sponsorship by tobacco companies Europe wide, comes into force in 2006 or 2007. I understood Belgium was bringing the same ban in next year, ahead of the EU Directive. This is different to the fact that the F1 cars cannot display cigarette branding on their cars at the said venues. Cheers Tony

"Tony Rickard" wrote... > > > The European Directive, which will ban sponsorship by > tobacco companies Europe wide, comes into force in > 2006 or 2007. I understood Belgium was bringing the > same ban in next year, ahead of the EU Directive. I think we introduced it in '98, but the GP got an exception for a couple of years. Again, our current situation is no different than the one in Germany, France and the UK. There are no ties to Belgium for the major sponsors and manufacturers and that is a reason why Spa is on the most expendable list along with Hungary, but the sigarette thing is a smokescreen, an excuse, I'm sure of it. So is every motoring journalist in the country. Some of whom claim Ecclestone has off the record admitted as much. Trust me, I know from 1st and 2nd hand experience what the RACB and the regional marshalling association are like. It's the little local dictators that piss Bernie off no end. Jan. =---

On Sat, 26 Oct 2002, Jan Verschueren wrote: ... > Trust me, I know from 1st and 2nd hand experience what the RACB and the > regional marshalling association are like. It's the little local dictators > that piss Bernie off no end. > What is RACB? Racing Auto Club of Belgium??

Politics and Money. Who needs racing! Thanks for the local insight. Jim Jan Verschueren wrote:

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>"Tony Rickard" wrote... > >>The European Directive, which will ban sponsorship by >>tobacco companies Europe wide, comes into force in >>2006 or 2007. I understood Belgium was bringing the >>same ban in next year, ahead of the EU Directive. >> > >I think we introduced it in '98, but the GP got an exception for a couple of >years. Again, our current situation is no different than the one in Germany, >France and the UK. > >There are no ties to Belgium for the major sponsors and manufacturers and >that is a reason why Spa is on the most expendable list along with Hungary, >but the sigarette thing is a smokescreen, an excuse, I'm sure of it. So is >every motoring journalist in the country. Some of whom claim Ecclestone has >off the record admitted as much. > >Trust me, I know from 1st and 2nd hand experience what the RACB and the >regional marshalling association are like. It's the little local dictators >that piss Bernie off no end. > >Jan. >=--- > >

> > Trust me, I know from 1st and 2nd hand experience what the RACB and the > > regional marshalling association are like. It's the little localdictators > > that piss Bernie off no end. > > > > What is RACB? Racing Auto Club of Belgium?? >The RACB is stands for : Royal Automobile Club Belgium

"Jan Verschueren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:N1Fu9.179922$[email hidden]...

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> "Tony Rickard" wrote... > > > > > The European Directive, which will ban sponsorship by > > tobacco companies Europe wide, comes into force in > > 2006 or 2007. I understood Belgium was bringing the > > same ban in next year, ahead of the EU Directive. > > I think we introduced it in '98, but the GP got an exception for a couple of > years. Again, our current situation is no different than the one in Germany, > France and the UK.

Yes it seems that the tobacco ad ban contravenes the contract Spa had with the FIA, rather than bringing forward plans for 2006. From what I can see Belgium are trying to do what the UK have already done - remove the tobacco sponsorship car liveries and advertising hoardings, replacing them with more wholesome products like lager.

Jan, I've heard comments here in Brussels that it was the Flemish majority in Parliament trying to deprive the French speaking area around Spa of one of their big events and therefor they pushed this anti-tobacco issue - do you think that could be true? Achim "Jan Verschueren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:N1Fu9.179922$[email hidden]...

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> "Tony Rickard" wrote... > > > > > The European Directive, which will ban sponsorship by > > tobacco companies Europe wide, comes into force in > > 2006 or 2007. I understood Belgium was bringing the > > same ban in next year, ahead of the EU Directive. > > I think we introduced it in '98, but the GP got an exception for a couple

of > years. Again, our current situation is no different than the one inGermany, > France and the UK. > > There are no ties to Belgium for the major sponsors and manufacturers and > that is a reason why Spa is on the most expendable list along withHungary, > but the sigarette thing is a smokescreen, an excuse, I'm sure of it. So is > every motoring journalist in the country. Some of whom claim Ecclestonehas

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> off the record admitted as much. > > Trust me, I know from 1st and 2nd hand experience what the RACB and the > regional marshalling association are like. It's the little local dictators > that piss Bernie off no end. > > Jan. > =--- > >

"Joachim Trensz" wrote...

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> Jan, > > I've heard comments here in Brussels that it was the Flemish > majority in Parliament trying to deprive the French speaking > area around Spa of one of their big events and therefor they > pushed this anti-tobacco issue - do you think that could be > true?

Everything is a "communotair" issue over here Achim. The ban's most fervent champion, Louis Van Velthoven is indeed Flemish (Limburg) and has an axe to grind with Wallon's Louis Michel (party issues and the trouble around the Voeren enclave). This being Belgian politics there's sure to be an unlterior motive to public health, but I think it's a bit simplistic to suppose it's a deliberate attempt by the Flemisch to hurt the Wallon region. Seeing as we (the Flemish) are supposed to stump up the lion's share of the cash for FN if the arms deal with Nepal falls through, I don't think this government is actually hostile to the Wallon economy. It could be a way for the socialist/liberal government to score on a European level without hurting the majority of their electorate... that's possible. Like I said, in local motorsport press the story is the streneous relationship between the organisation/circuit holding, the RACB and Ecclestone/FIA. Over not letting Bernie's digital TV have enough priveliges over the national broadcaster, e.g. Jan. =---

"Doug Milliken" wrote... > > <snip> > > What is RACB? Racing Auto Club of Belgium?? Royal Automobile Club de Belgique, Belgian motorsport sanctioning body. Jan. =---

Thanks! -- Doug On Sun, 27 Oct 2002, Jan Verschueren wrote:

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> "Doug Milliken" wrote... > > > <snip> > > > > What is RACB? Racing Auto Club of Belgium?? > > Royal Automobile Club de Belgique, Belgian motorsport sanctioning body. > > Jan. > =--- > > > > >

thanks for the info Jan! Achim "Jan Verschueren" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:GXQu9.180578$[email hidden]...

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> "Joachim Trensz" wrote... > > Jan, > > > > I've heard comments here in Brussels that it was the Flemish > > majority in Parliament trying to deprive the French speaking > > area around Spa of one of their big events and therefor they > > pushed this anti-tobacco issue - do you think that could be > > true? > > Everything is a "communotair" issue over here Achim. The ban's most

fervent > champion, Louis Van Velthoven is indeed Flemish (Limburg) and has an axeto > grind with Wallon's Louis Michel (party issues and the trouble around the > Voeren enclave). > > This being Belgian politics there's sure to be an unlterior motive topublic > health, but I think it's a bit simplistic to suppose it's a deliberate > attempt by the Flemisch to hurt the Wallon region. Seeing as we (the > Flemish) are supposed to stump up the lion's share of the cash for FN ifthe

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> arms deal with Nepal falls through, I don't think this government is > actually hostile to the Wallon economy. It could be a way for the > socialist/liberal government to score on a European level without hurting > the majority of their electorate... that's possible. > > Like I said, in local motorsport press the story is the streneous > relationship between the organisation/circuit holding, the RACB and > Ecclestone/FIA. Over not letting Bernie's digital TV have enough

priveliges > over the national broadcaster, e.g. > > Jan. > =--- > >