Geoff, I recently read that the 1951 Australian Grand Prix was held in a small country town over here in WA called Narrogin. I'm not sure why it was called a Grand Prix because it didn't involve the top level cars and drivers (only Australians). Note that Narrogin has a population of about 3,000, but most are on farms. The town is tiny. Strange!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1951_Australian_Grand_Prix
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1951_Australian_Grand_Prix
I like Pele as a football player. As he is a perfect example for the greek apotheosis, a man who could become a god due to his deeds. Nothing less than that.
A common topology in greek and roman history.
Christianity - imposed by Theodosius I, 391aD, forbidding all other religion and declaring catholicizm as the only one brought an end to this tradition and destroyed the cultural diversity of the roman empire in an act of religious vandalism.
So here the words on Pele as a football player (source wikipedia), because its so nice and a proof for greek apotheosis:
Named the “greatest" by FIFA in 2012, Pelé is one of the most lauded players in the history of football and has been frequently ranked the best player ever. Following his emergence at the 1958 World Cup he was nicknamed O Rei ("The King"). Among his contemporaries, Dutch star Johan Cruyff stated, "Pelé was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic." Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning captain Carlos Alberto Torres opined: "His great secret was improvisation. Those things he did were in one moment. He had an extraordinary perception of the game." According to Tostão, his strike partner at the 1970 World Cup: "Pelé was the greatest – he was simply flawless. And off the pitch he is always smiling and upbeat. You never see him bad-tempered. He loves being Pelé." His Brazilian teammate Clodoaldo commented on the adulation he witnessed: "In some countries they wanted to touch him, in some they wanted to kiss him. In others they even kissed the ground he walked on. I thought it was beautiful, just beautiful." According to Franz Beckenbauer, West Germany's 1974 World Cup-winning captain: "Pelé is the greatest player of all time. He reigned supreme for 20 years. There's no one to compare with him."
Former Real Madrid and Hungary star Ferenc Puskás stated: "The greatest player in history was Di Stéfano. I refuse to classify Pelé as a player. He was above that." Just Fontaine, French striker and the leading scorer at the 1958 World Cup said "When I saw Pelé play, it made me feel I should hang up my boots."England's 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore commented: "Pelé was the most complete player I've ever seen, he had everything. Two good feet. Magic in the air. Quick. Powerful. Could beat people with skill. Could outrun people. Only five feet and eight inches tall, yet he seemed a giant of an athlete on the pitch. Perfect balance and impossible vision. He was the greatest because he could do anything and everything on a football pitch. I remember João Saldanha the coach being asked by a Brazilian journalist who was the best goalkeeper in his squad. He said Pelé. The man could play in any position". Former Manchester United striker and member of England's 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning team Sir Bobby Charlton stated, "I sometimes feel as though football was invented for this magical player." During the 1970 World Cup, when Manchester United defender Paddy Crerand (who was part of the ITV panel) was asked, "How do you spell Pelé?", he replied, "Easy: G-O-D." Following Pelé's death, former Brazilian international and World Cup Winner Ronaldo stated that his "legacy transcends generations"
A common topology in greek and roman history.
Christianity - imposed by Theodosius I, 391aD, forbidding all other religion and declaring catholicizm as the only one brought an end to this tradition and destroyed the cultural diversity of the roman empire in an act of religious vandalism.
So here the words on Pele as a football player (source wikipedia), because its so nice and a proof for greek apotheosis:
Named the “greatest" by FIFA in 2012, Pelé is one of the most lauded players in the history of football and has been frequently ranked the best player ever. Following his emergence at the 1958 World Cup he was nicknamed O Rei ("The King"). Among his contemporaries, Dutch star Johan Cruyff stated, "Pelé was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic." Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning captain Carlos Alberto Torres opined: "His great secret was improvisation. Those things he did were in one moment. He had an extraordinary perception of the game." According to Tostão, his strike partner at the 1970 World Cup: "Pelé was the greatest – he was simply flawless. And off the pitch he is always smiling and upbeat. You never see him bad-tempered. He loves being Pelé." His Brazilian teammate Clodoaldo commented on the adulation he witnessed: "In some countries they wanted to touch him, in some they wanted to kiss him. In others they even kissed the ground he walked on. I thought it was beautiful, just beautiful." According to Franz Beckenbauer, West Germany's 1974 World Cup-winning captain: "Pelé is the greatest player of all time. He reigned supreme for 20 years. There's no one to compare with him."
Former Real Madrid and Hungary star Ferenc Puskás stated: "The greatest player in history was Di Stéfano. I refuse to classify Pelé as a player. He was above that." Just Fontaine, French striker and the leading scorer at the 1958 World Cup said "When I saw Pelé play, it made me feel I should hang up my boots."England's 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore commented: "Pelé was the most complete player I've ever seen, he had everything. Two good feet. Magic in the air. Quick. Powerful. Could beat people with skill. Could outrun people. Only five feet and eight inches tall, yet he seemed a giant of an athlete on the pitch. Perfect balance and impossible vision. He was the greatest because he could do anything and everything on a football pitch. I remember João Saldanha the coach being asked by a Brazilian journalist who was the best goalkeeper in his squad. He said Pelé. The man could play in any position". Former Manchester United striker and member of England's 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning team Sir Bobby Charlton stated, "I sometimes feel as though football was invented for this magical player." During the 1970 World Cup, when Manchester United defender Paddy Crerand (who was part of the ITV panel) was asked, "How do you spell Pelé?", he replied, "Easy: G-O-D." Following Pelé's death, former Brazilian international and World Cup Winner Ronaldo stated that his "legacy transcends generations"
Strange indeed, never heard of that race.
I find the Albert Park track rather boring and would prefer the Grand Prix to be held at Phillip Island, but that's never going to happen, for all sorts of reasons.
Wanneroo (sp?) hosted F5000 races in the 70s and 80s but not sure if it still exists.
I was lucky enough to attend some great events at Sandown many years ago, such as 1978's Fangio and Brabham tribute, with Fangio racing (not just driving) the 'Silver Arrow'. There's a clip of that race on YouTube. A few years later, there was a historic event with cars like the 1961 F1 Porsche, 1938 Mercedes, 250F and 300s Maseratis, C Type Jaguar and V12 Honda-Lola. Drivers included Moss, Denny Hulme, John Surtees, Larry Perkins, Alf Costanzo and other characters.
Hulme drove the Mercedes, which by German logic had the accelerator as the middle pedal: he left long tyre marks down the back straight as he worked out which was which. Sandown has a great covered stand which reverberated with the amazing sounds.
Value!
Geoff
Excellent! Yes, Wanneroo still exists and was called Barbagallo Raceway for a long time. Now it's called CARCO Raceway (paid for naming rights).
Under the right conditions, I can hear the louder cars going around the track. I'm on the coast directly in line with the track which is inland from me.
Under the right conditions, I can hear the louder cars going around the track. I'm on the coast directly in line with the track which is inland from me.
Wolverhampton and Newcastle are my lucky racetracks. Fancied a flutter on Royal Observatory today, since I like stargazing:
It was a star winning performance at 5/1 so I was happy.
Alas Aberama Gold slunk home in 4th in the 8.20. My horror was compounded that the veteran 11-y-o grey gelding Brian the Snail had pulled off a coup in this Class 4 at a generous handicap weight.
I had dismissed any 11-y-o as being way past his 6f sprint prime. 2 miles in very heavy going is more an old horse's sort of thing, IMO.
I was unaware he should have won at Redcar the previous week, but for being totally blocked in for a 3rd place.
After his usual slow start and the backmarker role, he picked up and flew home like a spring chicken!
The trainer said he wanted to retire him last year, but he still loves racing, whilst noticing he is getting fatter and fatter. 🤣
He is off again at Southwell on May 1st. I think I shall invest in him. Clearly he is on a streak.
It was a star winning performance at 5/1 so I was happy.
Alas Aberama Gold slunk home in 4th in the 8.20. My horror was compounded that the veteran 11-y-o grey gelding Brian the Snail had pulled off a coup in this Class 4 at a generous handicap weight.
I had dismissed any 11-y-o as being way past his 6f sprint prime. 2 miles in very heavy going is more an old horse's sort of thing, IMO.
I was unaware he should have won at Redcar the previous week, but for being totally blocked in for a 3rd place.
After his usual slow start and the backmarker role, he picked up and flew home like a spring chicken!
The trainer said he wanted to retire him last year, but he still loves racing, whilst noticing he is getting fatter and fatter. 🤣
He is off again at Southwell on May 1st. I think I shall invest in him. Clearly he is on a streak.
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