Thanks to everyone for a great race from Turkey - we're at it again this Sunday afternoon with the Grand Prix of Britain starting at noon down at Overtime. This will be an F1 farewell to Silvertone for a while, so watch these homecrowd favorites as the current World Champion races against his heir apparent. This is a noon broadcast, and the flag drop will start within 5-10 minutes of the pre-race.

Kubica's been struggling with the F1.09 . . .

Wow - have to say a big thank you to the 50+ Formula 1 fans who came out to join us this past Mother's Day for the races from Spain - we'll be at it again this Sunday with the height of the F1 season: The Monaco Grand Prix. We will show the action from Monte Carlo in conjuction with the 93rd running of the Indy 500 live from the Brickyard, so hope you can join us for a great morning of racing with the Monaco GP 10am pre-race, 10:30am flag drop.

No rain in Spain . . .

http://www.justin.tv/mc_kik

Welcome to the 2009 preseason - we're getting this year kicked off with another tour we know you'll like!

The Canepa Design Museum: As featured in the December 2008 Robb Report

Join us for a tour of Canepa Design Saturday, March 14th, 10:30a - 12:00p

You are invited to join SFF1.com on a guided tour with Llew Kinst of Canepa Design with an opportunity to see their automotive museum and facilities in Scotts Valley, California. Think of it as Top Gear meets Santa Cruz Mountains: Examples from their new museum collection include Porsche 962 #2 run at LeMans, the monster Can-Am Porsche 917 #17 (a car with 1100 bhp+, and 0-100 in 3 seconds), and an Arrows Formula 1 car.

Space is limited, and while we welcome all who wish to attend, we ask that you please RSVP to us for this very special event - we look forward to seeing you on the tour! Guests are welcome.

As we're getting the new season underway, also please note that the F1 2009 starts down under later this month on the 28th, RSVP and details are posted here .

That's right, the first race this season is LIVE from Australia this month, and we're looking forward to an amazing start at Overtime Sports Bar and Grill (now with more screens). We hope you can join us for our season opener LIVE from Australia on Saturday, March 28th at 10:30pm, the flag drops at 11:00pm. (RSVP)

Also - please note that Grand Prix Guides are now available for a limited time from Terry Griffin (email). Direct from his good friend and author, Jacques Deschenaux, this guide is widely considered the bible of F1 facts - and is an industry standard for those in the know.

What: A tour of Canepa Design (Please RSVP or register here for a free account)

When: March 14th, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Where: Canepa Design, 4900 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, CA. (Map) Cameras are permitted

The First U.S. Formula 1 Team in over 40 years . . .

An American Formula 1 team has formed with Bay Area native Ken Anderson and SPEED TV's Peter Windsor confirming their new team's plans to the press in the runup to the official announcement. While visiting San Francsico, Peter took the time to say a special hello to San Francisco Formula 1 Group members:

The official word on USF1 is due on Tuesday, February 24th at 9am (PST) on SPEEDTV and online at USF1.com, and we're all very excited to hear news of a new era for the United States in a sport which hasn't seen an American car and driver win since Dan Gurney's Anglo-American Racers in 1967.

Dan Gurney in his Eagle-Weslake for the win at the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix

With names like Gurney, Andretti, and Mayer, the United States' contribution to F1 has not only included American team members, but also the wealth of technology that has helped create the cars we love to watch each weekend. Carbon-carbon brakes as well as the carbon composite monocoque originated in this country, and we're looking forward to seeing a remarkable American effort compete on an international stage.

What: The USF1 team launch!

When: Tuesday, February 24th, 9:00 am PST

Where: USF1.com, and SPEEDTV

Congratulations to Sebastian Vettel. The thing that went through my mind (and probably his) is that right now the Toro Rosso is doing great, especially with that Ferrari behind him. Is going to Red Bull next year (with a Renault engine) necessarily a step up? Sure, they have Adrian Newey, engineering up the wazoo and tons of cash, but results are results. And right now STR is kicking butt. Good for them!

Also, I wondered, what must Scott Speed be thinking now?

"I had a very exciting life and learned an awful lot about myself and others that I might never have learned. Racing sort of forced a confrontation with reality. Lots of people spend their lives in a state that is never really destined to go anywhere."

Phil Hill's first Grand Prix in a Ferrari: Nurburgring, August 1958

Californian and first American F1 World Champion Phil Hill passed away last week and racing's loss is great. Our thoughts go out to the Hill family as the racing community mourns the loss of an American racing legend.

The GP of Europe is over two weeks away, but this weekend the show's coming to us! The Gumball 3000 rally is celebrating it's 10th year in action around the globe with the official launch this Saturday in San Francsico, and will be a motoring tour de force. 120 cars will be kicking off their 8 day world tour right here, and the cars are arriving in town now - recent sightings in the area have included several exotics you may not see on the road together again in quite some time!

The Gumball 3000 Rally kicks off Saturday on Nob Hill at 1pm!

What: The Gumball 3000 Rally Kickoff Event

When: Saturday August 9th, grid at 10:00am, the flag drops at 1pm!

Where: Nob Hill in San Francisco

www.flickr.com SFF1_'s The Gumball 3000 Rally photoset

"Following the incident involving Kimi Raikkonen and Paul-Henri Cahier on the starting grid of the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, that saw the finnish driver assault the photographer, we decided that it was necessary to clarify a few points.

There never was any contact between the two men, nor did Paul-Henri ever touch Kimi's equipment. Furthermore, the distance at which Paul-Henri Cahier was taking a picture, although close, was completely standard. The photographers who take pictures at Grand Prix races are all professionals who have been accredited by the FIA, and as the dozen other photographers who were standing next to Paul-Henri Cahier prove, there was nothing unusual or unethical about this situation.

Finally, Paul-Henri Cahier has been an F1 photographer for almost fourty years and has been close to the greatest champions, but none of them has ever behaved in such a rude manner. It is understandable that drivers might get irritable because of the pressure they undergo, but Kimi Raikkonen never even attempted to express his discontent in a non violent way. Paul-Henri Cahier luckily did not suffer any injury, and so does not intend to take any action, but he regrets the arrogance with which Kimi Raikkonen treated someone who was merely doing his job."

Dan Gurney, Bernard Cahier, and Phil Hill in France, 1962

Bernard Cahier, father of Paul-Henri, passed away having left a legacy of photo journalism in motorsport behind for all to enjoy. A native of France, Bernard studied at UCLA where he met his wife, Joan Updike, and became involved in the Southern California sports car scene working alongside then unknowns Phil Hill and Ritchie Ginther before building a career in journalism covering racing. Motorsport's loss is great with Bernard's passing, and for more on Bernard's life, please visit Grandprix.com, and F1-Photo.com. Our thoughts and best wishes go to Paul-Henri and his family at this time.

My blog can be found off site on my personal web-page, by clicking on my M coupe:

Ciao,
Byron
A.K.A. "Nivola"