James Martin/Mille Miglia Pt: 2

[Jossers]

Ok it seems that the original thread has been closed so this it my input..

After reading various comment regarding the James Martin – Mille Miglia program this forum. I thought I’d throw in my two pence worth..

A number of you have mentioned that James Martin has a true love of cars. Well in my humble opinion he is more of a collector of cars for monetary gain, rather than collector with true passion. I think this is clear when you consider that he didn’t have a clue which car to choose for the Mille Miglia, and had to rely on a friend to make sure he made the right choice (which I don’t think he did). Now I would use the term friend in the loosest sense considering he recommended a car that required a specialist engine rebuild before he even got a chance to turn the key on his new acquisition.

Perhaps his friend should have advised a minimum run in on the rebuilt engine prior to Mr Martin giving it the beans and passing the Aston Martin. Again an action that clearly displays his lack of understanding not only with regards vintage sports cars, but also racing

I say grow up JM and when you act in a stupid manner its best not to have a camera around to record it.

[pino]

Let's keep this on topic, and keep childish personal attack off here, or this time not only I will close the thread but will use the button-ban as well...

[leopard]

I think he's right.

[leopard]

I think this is clear when you consider that he didn’t have a clue which car to choose for the Mille Miglia, and had to rely on a friend to make sure he made the right choice (which I don’t think he did).

I mean he's right to go to the friends for advice about choice or anything his knowledge cannot cover prior to anybody he doesn't know at all. :)

[BDunnell]

I think this is clear when you consider that he didn’t have a clue which car to choose for the Mille Miglia, and had to rely on a friend to make sure he made the right choice (which I don’t think he did).

As I said before, might this bit have been 'done for TV', as it were?

[Daniel]

I think the guy is great. It's people with lots of money and very little understanding who make motorsport enjoyable and fun for all involved :) Anyone who doesn't have the money or the inclination to get involved sucks somewhat :p

I think the guy is great. It's people with lots of money and very little understanding who make motorsport enjoyable and fun for all involved :) Anyone who doesn't have the money or the inclination to get involved sucks somewhat :p

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Thankfully, people with little money but lots of understanding aren't the back-bone of historic motorsport, otherwise there'd be a lot of classic cars gathering dust.

[Jossers]

Let's keep this on topic, and keep childish personal attack off here, or this time not only I will close the thread but will use the button-ban as well...

Moderator,

This was not a personal attack but my opinion which I thought was the object of a forum. If I am mistaken then feel free to ban me.

Kind Regards

Steve

[Daniel]

Moderator,

This was not a personal attack but my opinion which I thought was the object of a forum. If I am mistaken then feel free to ban me.

Kind Regards

Steve
Pino wasn't referring to yourself :) There were some silly posts in the other thread, nothing to do with your posts :)

[Jossers]

As I said before, might this bit have been 'done for TV', as it were?

Hmmm, I don't think so...

I get the feeling that someone with a passion for historic motor racing would have a very good idea going into the event which car they would like to compete in.

I'm sure that 99% of the subcribers to this site have a fairly good idea what car they would like to drive if they were to take part in a historic rally.

Then again I could be completely wrong and am happy to be proved so

[pino]

Moderator,

This was not a personal attack but my opinion which I thought was the object of a forum. If I am mistaken then feel free to ban me.

Kind Regards

Steve

I wasn't referring at you but at those who posted childish insults in the original (now closed) thread...

I wasn't referring at you but at those who posted childish insults in the original (now closed) thread...

Some people!

OK, so James Martin didn't have encyclopedic knowledge and therefore is branded a clueless flash git.

Vijay Mallya buys an F1 team and self-sponsors it, despite him having no experience of running an F1 team.

Does that make him a clueless flash git?

[BDunnell]

OK, so James Martin didn't have encyclopedic knowledge and therefore is branded a clueless flash git.

Vijay Mallya buys an F1 team and self-sponsors it, despite him having no experience of running an F1 team.

Does that make him a clueless flash git?

It might do. Depends what he's actually like. I don't know.

"As of 2008, Mallya was ranked as the 962nd richest person in the world and the 41st in India with a net worth of US$1.2 billion. [1] He receives substantial press coverage that focuses on his lavish parties and his yacht, the Indian Empress."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijay_Mallya

"For his 50th birthday in December, Vijay Mallya flew in singer Lionel Richie on one of his private jets to perform at his seaside mansion in Goa. Newspaper accounts say the party lasted five days"

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/06/26/207359/vijay-mallya-chairman-ub-group-high-life.html
Sounds quite flash to me....

....although he has also built a hospital, which kind of wipes the slate in terms of his character defects if you ask me.

[MrJan]

Just because you are flash doesn't mean that you are a git ;) James Martin seemed to be a flash git, Mallya might just be flash (although I don't know). I'd also think that there is a difference between owning a team and racing, ROman Abramovich didn't buy Chelsea to play football in the same way that Mallya didn't buy an F1 team to race. Martin however did buy an expensive car to race, and didn't do a great job of it.

[BDunnell]

Just because you are flash doesn't mean that you are a git ;) James Martin seemed to be a flash git, Mallya might just be flash (although I don't know). I'd also think that there is a difference between owning a team and racing, ROman Abramovich didn't buy Chelsea to play football in the same way that Mallya didn't buy an F1 team to race. Martin however did buy an expensive car to race, and didn't do a great job of it.

It's worth remembering that the Mille Miglia of today is hardly a race.

[MrJan]

It's worth remembering that the Mille Miglia of today is hardly a race.

Indeed, but that isn't the way that the programme made it seem. As far as the viewer was aware Mr Martin was desperate to win 'the race'. My parents go every year and are desperate for me to travel to it but unfortunately they take a 2 seater so I'm left at home :D I do love the chance to get to see these old cars, events like the Le Mans Classic, Angouleme etc. aren't exactly races in the true sense but quite often you get to see at least a few drivers giving the cars some abuse :D :D

Like here:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2674971884_035cf38410.jpg

[BDunnell]

Indeed, but that isn't the way that the programme made it seem. As far as the viewer was aware Mr Martin was desperate to win 'the race'.

Which probably proves that quite a lot of 'artistic licence', for want of a better phrase, was involved in making the TV programme more appealing to the average viewer — hence the stress on it being a 'race', and also the choice of a 'celebrity' as the focus.