Sidepodcast

• Length: 24:13 
• Size: 22.3 MB 
• File: ancillaryomnibus1.mp3 
• Transcript: ancillaryomnibus1.pdf 
• Torrent: Coming soon 

The omnibus edition of the Ancillary F1 series, looking closer at companies that help Formula 1 operate but never get any of the glory.

Here are the links to the individual show notes:

1. Bridgestone
2. McLaren Electronic Systems
3. Tilke Engineering
4. Mercedes Support Vehicles
5. Météo-France
6. Philips Lighting
7. RTV

This is the first series of Ancillary F1, I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any suggestions for future companies or feedback about the ones covered above, I’d love to hear from you.

• File: world7.mp3
• Length: 03:06
• Size: 2.9 MB
• Transcript: world7.pdf

This is F1 and the World, a mini series brought to you by Sidepodcast. We’ve been looking at how Formula 1 fits into the world around it, from the environmental effects to the economical benefits. Now we have covered all our topics, it’s time to rustle up a quick conclusion to our findings.

There’s no denying that Formula is not the healthiest sport on the planet for the planet. It does use up resources and energy, but what we’ve learned in these six shows so far, will hopefully go some way to defending it.

The FIA are fully aware of the impact F1 has on the world around it and are doing their best to reduce any negative side effects of the sport. They already have projects on the go, both for the environment and for road safety, and where they can see gaps, they are looking to the future with new technologies and extensive research.

Individual team efforts vary across the grid, with Honda appearing to make the most effort. Their Earth Dreams initiative has raised large amounts for green charities and looks set to continue. However, other teams do their bit, reducing waste and looking for any way to tighten up their procedures and make things that little bit better.

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• File: world6.mp3
• Length: 03:55
• Size: 3.7 MB
• Transcript: world6.pdf

This is the sixth episode in the Sidepodcast mini series F1 and the World. We’ve already looked at how F1 is affecting the world around it and what the relevant people are trying to do about it. Now it’s time to gaze ahead to the future and think about what can still be done.

It’s easy to see how Formula 1 has helped in the past. It was fundamental to a lot of safety improvements and innovations that transferred over to road car technologies. It’s harder to see how Formula 1 is helping right now in this decade, but that looks set to change.

The FIA are planning many new rules and regulations that will introduce some energy saving techniques to racing. Things like the Kinetic Energy Recovery System, the idea of reusing the energy that would normally be lost from braking, are pushing the sport forward. The amount of investment in researching and developing these ideas would be nowhere near as high if it was left to the road car industry themselves. Things happen a lot quicker in Formula 1, as well. Whereas a car manufacturer could think about developing a technology over a couple of years, F1 teams need the updates tomorrow, today, or preferably yesterday, so they can remain one step ahead. The competition ensures that development is always moving forward and is always at a rapid pace.

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• File: world5.mp3
• Length: 03:18
• Size: 3.1 MB
• Transcript: world5.pdf

Welcome to F1 and the World, the latest mini series from Sidepodcast looking at F1 and its place in society. We’ve already covered the effect that sport has on the economy and the planet, but what relevance does it hold for technology? Today we will investigate.

A lot of arguments for F1 centre around the fact that the useful technology that is created trackside can then be passed on to the cars we drive today. I think I’ve already alluded to that in this mini series already. But if we’re being perfectly honest, some of today’s road cars are actually more advanced than an F1 car, especially when it comes to technology. F1 is all about speed and aerodynamics, whereas road cars introduce parking sensors and integrated iPods. It’s not really the same thing.

So what technology is F1 helping? Let’s start with Force India. Vijay Mallya is the head honcho of Kingfisher Airlines and the owner of the newest F1 team on the grid. It’s no coincidence that aerospace and F1 are often seen in the same sentence together. Force India have alliances with EADS and Airbus to share resources, data, and technologies. In 2004, Renault F1 and Boeing formed a research partnership to quote: “collaborate on a number of advanced design and manufacturing technologies.” McLaren have partnered with BAE Systems for years.

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• File: world4.mp3
• Length: 03:18
• Size: 3.1 MB
• Transcript: world4.pdf

Welcome to F1 and the World, the latest mini series from Sidepodcast. We’re investigating all the different ways that F1 affects the world around it, for better or for worse. Today we’re looking at the effort the teams are making to reduce their impact on the environment.

The FIA aren’t the only people making an effort to reduce the sport’s impact on the world. Individual teams have invested in some processes to help as well. Naturally, some do more than others, with Honda being the most obvious and prime example.

The Earth Dreams initiative began in 2007, as myearthdream. At the start of the season, fans were encouraged to pledge a simple eco-friendly promise – to turn off lights when they’re not needed, or shut off the water when brushing their teeth. A donation to the site meant you could also get your name on the car, although it was only small and hardly visible at all. The money raised throughout the season was added to by a donation from Honda, and then split amongst environment charities. This year, the idea is evolving, the title has been reduced to simply Earth Dreams. They haven’t announced specific plans as of yet, but they have confirmed that the idea is a long term initiative.

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• File: world3.mp3
• Length: 03:40
• Size: 3.4 MB
• Transcript: world3.pdf

Welcome to F1 and the World, the mini-series from Sidepodcast examining the effect that F1 has on the world around it, from environmental to economical issues. Today we’re looking at what the FIA are doing to make F1 that little bit more friendly.

The FIA, Formula 1’s governing body, have been carbon neutral since 1997. What does this actually mean though? They work closely with universities to calculate the precise amount of carbon produced by the sport. This includes running the cars over test and practice sessions, and covers all race weekends. It also includes the transportation of personnel across the globe to attend races. Once calculated, the FIA work with reforestation projects in Mexico, and are therefore carbon neutral. As of last year, the annual figure to be traded off was 20,000 tonnes of carbon, not a small figure by anyone’s standards.

Being carbon neutral isn’t everything. Motorsport uses up plenty of fuel. Just recently the structure of qualifying sessions saw the cars topped up with fuel, then emptied over 20 minutes to get the best lap out of the lightest car. The fuel would then be reintroduced to the cars. A complete and utter waste of time and resources. The FIA have taken this on board and the qualifying session has been adjusted accordingly, to remove the element of fuel burning.

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• File: world2.mp3
• Length: 03:32
• Size: 3.3 MB
• Transcript: world2.pdf

Welcome to Sidepodcast, this is a mini series dedicated to looking at how F1 fits into the world around it. Today we’re going to take a closer look at F1 and the Economy.

Spending a few millions on a racetrack may seem like a barmy idea if you’re a government minister with a limited budget. But the phrase “speculate to accumulate” has never been more true, and if Formula 1 comes to town it can generate quite a few billion in extra revenue for the tourism industry.

Formula 1 is a truly global event. It’s watched in over 200 countries worldwide, and 50,000 plus fans come to see races firsthand. Some of those are from the host country, while many others are visitors, tourists or holiday makers.

A new circuit, or redevelopment of an existing one, often includes new hotels, leisure facilities and business parks – and this creates all manner of employment opportunities.

In Dubai, the Formula 1 track has also sparked a sideline in theme parks. A Formula 1 shaped theme park. Think of the revenue, the creation of jobs, and the publicity this will bring to the area. I’ve never had a desire to go to Dubai, but an F1 theme park? Now you’re talking.

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• File: world1.mp3
• Length: 03:02
• Size: 2.9 MB
• Transcript: world1.pdf

Welcome to a new Sidepodcast mini-series: F1 and the World. This first show is an introduction to the topic and a preview of some of the things we’re going to cover.

There’s never been a better time to talk about F1 and the effect it has on the world around it. Being eco-friendly is in vogue, and motorsport is an easy target for environmentalists. High performance cars burning up energy to go round in circles doesn’t sound like an excusable way to spend a Sunday afternoon. But Formula 1 has its place, and this series is going to investigate the arguments that surround the pinnacle of motorsport – both for and against.

The most well-versed argument I hear is “What is the point?” You can argue that with any sport, football is simply 22 men running around a field kicking a ball. Golf involves silly jumpers and much too much patience. Boxing is merely two people beating the living hell out of each other, and don’t even get me started on curling. Formula 1 is no different, it can easily be conceived as a complete waste of time.

But we also need to look at what F1 gives back to society. In the world of motoring, Formula 1 technologies have given plenty to the road car industry to make our automobiles safer, more efficient and easier to use. Max Mosley’s current plans aim to improve green technologies for the future both in and outside of the sport. With kinetic energy recovery systems, longer life components and the introduction of bio fuels, there are plenty of things to look at for the long term.

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• Length: 3:26 
• Size: 3.2 MB 
• File: guide1.mp3 
• Transcript: guide1.pdf 
• Torrent: guide1.torrent 

Welcome to the Sidepodcast Guide to Formula 1. This series is aimed at complete newbies to Formula 1, people who have never seen a race, or who had no idea what was happening when they did watch one. Trust me, I went through a year of watching every race without knowing who was who or why they were doing what they were doing. I know what you’re going through. Once I made the decision to figure it all out though, it wasn’t long before things started to click into place. And now I want to help you have the same experience.

So let’s start at the very beginning and take a look at where Formula 1 fits in the world.

In the early 1900s, F1 began with rickety cars and older gentleman drivers, but the actual F1 Championship didn’t begin until the 1950s. As the decades passed and the Championship developed, it soon became clear that Formula 1 was the pinnacle of motorsport. The cars were the fastest, the technology was the most advanced and the drivers were at the peak of their fitness coming from countries all across the world.

With the introduction of sponsorship, F1 took on its more commercial form and can now be considered big business – with figures reaching millions and billions with ease. With big business comes politics and sometimes it’s who you know and how much money you have that gets you what you want. F1 is riddled with conspiracy theorists – I will admit to being one of them – but depending on how immersed you want to get in the Formula 1 world, that side of things is easily ignored.

What really matters is what happens on the track.

Travelling across the globe for about eight months of the year, Formula 1 visits countries large and small, rich and not-quite-so-rich, with colourful backdrops, glamorous visitors and plenty of local culture to be soaked up. Covering Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a Formula 1 weekend is an intense ride, from early testing, to the closing laps of the race.

The basic structure features a race every fortnight. Sometimes the calendar is played with a little bit and there are races on back-to-back weekends, or sometimes you have to go a few weeks before seeing the familiar faces again. Once it is time for another race, you can monitor the news for your favourite team as they arrive at the destination. I’ll get into the details of the weekend another time, but in brief, Friday involves practice sessions, Saturday is for qualifying and Sunday is race day. Then there is just time to digest the events of the weekend and catch up with all the press releases, before the teams are moving off to their next destination.

I won’t lie and tell you there is never a dull moment in Formula 1. Being a fan is a frustrating business. The winter months can pass with no news whatsoever, and unless there is a race on that week, there’s very little to keep you occupied. You have to be dedicated to find news that will keep you interested when nothing is going on. The races themselves are also quite sporadic. You can be leaping with excitement during the frantic action of the pit stops, and then there can be many laps just watching the traffic go by.

But when you catch that fantastic overtaking move, or end up on the edge of your seat to see who comes out on top, it is absolutely, 100% worth it.

I think that’s enough for our introduction – join me next time for a more in depth look at the race weekend.

Theme music: Cedar Falls, Car Crash.