No Place For Suzuka On Formula One Calendar

[Mulboyne]

Kyodo via Crisscross: Fuji gets spot in F-1 calendar; Suzuka dropped
Fuji Speedway will host the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix of the Formula One championship series for the first time in 30 years at the expense of the Suzuka Circuit, which has been dropped from the calendar after a 20-year history. Formula One's governing body FIA officially put the Oct 7 race in Shizuoka Prefecture on the 2007 schedule released Tuesday featuring 17 events, fewer than in this year's series. The Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, home of the Japanese Grand Prix since 1987, will see the expiration of its contract to stage Formula One events after this year's race scheduled for Oct 8.

Suzuka had already been replaced as the venue for the Japan Grand Prix but hopes were high for two events next season with Suzuka hosting a race under the Pacific Grand Prix banner. Not to be. See also: Asia’s motorsport jewel fades which points out that Honda runs Suzuka while Toyota operates Fuji Speedway.

[GuyJean]

Nice thread title.. I thought it had something to do with Suzuka Ohga:

GJ

[GuyJean]

Kyodo via Crisscross: Fuji gets spot in F-1 calendar]

I wonder if this had any bearing on the decision:

On April 6, 2003 during the first race of the 2003 MotoGP season at Suzuka, Kato crashed hard and sustained severe head, neck and chest injuries. He was estimated to have hit the wall near the final chicane of the circuit at around 125mi/h (200 km/h).

Many questions were raised regarding the actions of the corner workers immediately following the crash. Kato was thrown back onto the track after hitting the wall and was lying next to the racing line [1]. Normally, when a motorcycle and/or rider are incapacitated on the race track, a red flag is waved and the race stopped so the track can be safely cleared. This did not happen following Kato's accident. Instead, the corner workers dragged his body off the track and threw him on a stretcher, actions that are not in accordance with tending to someone with suspected neck and spinal cord injuries. The race was not stopped.

Kato spent two weeks in a coma following the accident before dying as a result of the injuries he sustained. The cause of death was listed as brain stem infarction. Many of the MotoGP riders wore black armbands or placed small #74's on their leathers and bikes at the following race in South Africa to pay tribute to the fallen racer. There has not been a Grand Prix motorcycle race held at Suzuka following Kato's crash with safety issues at the facility being cited as the reason. - [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daijiro_Kato

GJ

[Mulboyne]

A reprieve:

IHT: Japanese GP to alternate circuits from 2009

The Japanese Grand prix will alternate between Fuji Speedway and Suzuka International Racing Circuit from 2009, following an agreement with Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone. "We have concluded an agreement ... to ensure the progress and success of keeping Formula One in Japan over the long term," Ecclestone said Sunday in a statement. "I appreciate that Fuji Speedway accepted this and am very happy they and Suzuka Circuit made this possible." The F1 boss had said in March last year that the Fuji circuit would replace Suzuka as the new home of the race from 2007. After this year's Japanese GP on Sept. 30, the Fuji speedway will again host the event in 2008.

[American Oyaji]

I wonder how much Honda donated to the cause to make that happen.

[Mr Doricar]

Where the hell are the F1 fans going to stay? Gotemba is a shit hole of the highest order!!!

[Greji]

Where the hell are the F1 fans going to stay? Gotemba is a shit hole of the highest order!!!

Not really. You should see some of the sit holes of the lowest order. Gotemba is not with out its interestingpoints......

[Oradea]

Gotenba sux ass, along with its one car one man train.
Anyway, where can i get tickets, reasonably priced tickets only for the sunday of the GP?

[Mr Doricar]

Not really. You should see some of the sit holes of the lowest order. Gotemba is not with out its interestingpoints......

Too true! I'll have to visit that place. I know a few of the chicks that do the umbrella girl jobs at Fuji. I don't know if they're classy enough for F1 but if they are, & they're not off shagging old rich dudes we can probably have some fun at that place haha

I'll speak to my friend and see if I can score some tickets Oradea!

[Oradea]

Appreciated mr doricar

[GuyJean]

Japanese GP to alternate circuits from 2009

F1 Fuji Japan Preview
[dm]4w90t4QkN8ZyFlHNe[/dm]

GJ

[Mulboyne]

Mainichi: Fuji Speedway officials forced to repay some Grand Prix fans over poor view

Organizers of the Japanese Grand Prix held at Fuji Speedway over the weekend had to repay some fans because the reserved seat view they were provided of the motor racing spectacle was too poor, racetrack officials said. Many of those who had tickets for a temporary grandstand seat complained to Fuji Speedway that the seating had not been set up high enough for them, rendering them unable to see the cars travelling directly in front of them. Fuji Speedway, which hosted Formula One racing for the first time this year since 1977, acknowledged there was a problem. On Sunday, racetrack officials held a news conference where they spoke about the seating problem and announced that some of those who had bought tickets for the temporary grandstand would receive a partial refund.

There seem to have been a whole host of problems for spectators, some brought on by the torrential rain but most caused by poor organization. In particular, heavy traffic jams meant that a number of people, including those on official buses, missed the start of the race.

[Mulboyne]

Ten thousand yen for a Grand Prix bento? No wonder people were pissed off.

[Mulboyne]

More details in the Yomiuri. Honda people are probably still laughing now.

Yomiuri: F1 organizer to refund fans 350 mil. yen for poor view

The organizer of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway in Oyamacho, Shizuoka Prefecture, has decided to refund a total of 350 million yen paid for reserved seat tickets for the event after receiving complaints from spectators that they could not see the race from their seats. Fuji International Speedway Co. plans to refund 50,000 yen to each of about 7,000 spectators who bought tickets for the seats. The company will also reimburse the full cost of tickets, transportation, hotel and other expenses for 85 visitors who could not make it to the start of Sunday's race due to shuttle bus service delays.

The refunds due to poor visibility apply to visitors who bought tickets for reserved seats temporarily set up at the rear of the permanent stands on the first turn. These tickets were valid for admission to all three days of the event, which started Friday. They cost 61,000 yen, with the reserved seat accounting for 50,000 yen of the price. While these were the second most expensive tickets available, following the 71,000 yen seats on the upper tier of the main stand, they were sold out as the area was said to be a good spot for viewing overtaking action. Compared with the permanent seats in the same area, however, the temporary seats were set on a gently sloping stand that many spectators said did not give a clear view of the track over the permanent stands. The organizer explained that the mistake occurred after they fell behind in erecting the temporary stand, leaving no time to check the view from the seats.

The shuttle bus service was delayed Sunday due to repair work on a road in the venue. For the event, the organizer had introduced a ticket-and-ride system, under which visitors were to be carried to the venue by bus for free from designated parking areas and nearby stations. However, some spectators arrived 30 minutes after Sunday's race began, and the organizer has decided to reimburse them for the full cost of the day, saying, "We should bear the costs as the delay was our fault."

Shuttle bus operations were halted Saturday night after three depressions were found in the road reserved for buses. This left about 20,000 spectators temporarily stranded at the venue. Hiroaki Kato, president of Fuji International Speedway Co., apologized saying: "I'm deeply sorry that our lack of experience has led to so many problems. We plan to investigate the cause of the problems to prevent them from recurring next year." The Formula One race was being held at Fuji Speedway for the first time in 30 years, and even before the event there had been concerns about whether it would run smoothly.

[Behan]

I wonder how much Honda donated to the cause to make that happen.

If I remember (in-)correctly, aren't you a Honda employee? (spoken in a whisper)

[FG Lurker]

I wonder how much Honda donated to the cause to make that happen.

I imagine Honda still pulls some F1 weight, although not as much as when they were sponsoring a team.

I'm going to do my best to get down to Suzuka for the next race there.

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: Irate F1 fans sue Speedway

Motor racing fans filed suit Monday against organizers of last year's Japanese Grand Prix, claiming track officials failed to provide enough toilets, aid stations and snack bars for the three-day affair that began Sept. 28. The plaintiffs' ire was further fueled by a rain-soaked traffic jam that left them snarled in an unscheduled pit stop outside the speedway, according to the suit filed with the Tokyo District Court. The 109 plaintiffs, led by a 40-year-old man from Kanagawa Prefecture, are demanding race organizer, Fuji International Speedway Co., pay 32 million yen in emotional damages and refund ticket costs. If successful, each plaintiff would get 200,00 yen.