To read last week's discussion click [here]

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I was interested in Mr. Gomulka's comments ( read Gomulka's letter). Having been at Silverstone and been at the receiving end of how the organization treats the working motoring press, it was going to be difficult to say much positive. But as a taxpayer who has paid for the roads, as I live nearby, I have to say that the show really fails to justify the expense and the hype.

It is doubly difficult because criticizing Silverstone makes it look like you are siding with Bernie, but it is fairly well known that he is thinking about buying some more property and that just happens to include Silverstone.

But this misses the point. Formula One is in virtually all aspects killing the goose that laid the golden egg. The racing is not interesting, it's not really racing, money is everything, and it really deserves to fold. Arrows and Jordan are finding out how much money matters and some others will soon as well. And that is a good thing. The notion that F1 has to be kept alive is nonsense. It's wavered before, and it will come back if it has the inherent worth to do so, but it must change. Modern F1's presence last weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed is ruining that too, being there to drag in the crowds and galloping over the historic fans in the frantic rush to get near Ralf... unbelievable. It really should go.

What people don't seem to realize is that current racing will never be historic. These cars are essentially dead at the end of the season except for those few people who can run them with factory support for very wealthy customers. Current Touring cars are just as sophisticated. The cars now racing in historic events are not likely to last another 50 years so historic racing must be finite and on it's way out. So, enjoy it while you can, but let's keep the modern stuff away from it.

In 30 years, Schumacher will be like the hyped football and music stars of today...they will rise and fall and mainly be forgotten. Unlike the stars of 50 years ago, they have no future... and that accounts for the 'grab it now' philosophy of today's racing.

This is not cynicism... in my view... it's the future.

- Ed McDonough

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I agree with the sentiments of Veloce Press and the defense of Erik Nielsen.

Actually I found RRC Walker"s articles boring, but packed with detail. Good ol' Rob edited out the risqué copy, but not when he was telling his yarns.

My hero racing journalist is Denis S. Jenkinson. If you read his reports he was not shy about slamming the no hopers and the show offs. His later reports were highly critical of the lack of "sport" and "gentlemanly driving." He was also a strong commentator on root causes for the decline of sport in modern F1 and the dumbing down of circuits.

Racing is full of jerks and loud mouths and this has always been so. But, as is said, "When the flag drops the bulls^@* stops."

Erik just points out the obvious.

- David N. Seielstad

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I loved reading your opinion about Erik Nielsen. I fully agree!!

-Henk J. Brouwer