Well that was a built of a shambles wasn’t it?
I work right next to Regent Street where several Formula One cars were effectively parading up and down doing around 80mph last night. Since all the tube stations were closed, I was involved like it or not.
As a matter of interest, despite my overall disdain for Formula One (How many races in a season can Michael Schumacher win?), I like seeing cars driving fast as much as the next man, and since it was happening just a street away, it seemed a shame not to go see. Well obviously I shouldn’t have left it until the last minute, since the crowds were absolutely enormous, with estimates of 500,000 from the police. I went along Kingley Street which runs parallel to Regent Street, and then tried to cut through. When I pushed my way through, the crowds I still found myself at least 10 people away from the edge of the road, from where there was a gap before bollards and the “race track” itself. Needless to say, there’s no tiering on the Regent Street pavement, and F1 cars are very low. So there was absolutely no chance of seeing anything at all – just hearing them. I pushed my way out (no mean feat) and started a meandering walk back to Kings Cross (it was a nice evening, and I thought I’d avoid tubes). On my way, in Great Marlborough Street I was blocked from going further by a massive crowd who’d gathered to watch the event on a large screen TV! Why? Can’t think of anything worse than going to an event only to watch it on TV. Concerts in Hyde Park or the old Wembley anyone?
More seriously, the crowds were far too packed in at the side of Regent Street in my view. If you’re expecting 500,000 people in town, you need to make provisions for them – portable toilets etc. There were plenty of police on show, and I walked past the Middlesex Hospital which had emergency A&E facilities in their courtyard. But it still needed better marshalling. And most spectators will have seen absolutely nothing.
Am I biased? Certainly. I’d never go out of my way to watch an F1 race. I consider it less a sport (despite how I’ve categorised this entry) than an engineering competition. There is simply too little competitiveness between the drivers and too much reliance on the cars. We end up with a situation where the best car by far is driven by the best driver by far with the best reliability by far. And he hardly gets beaten. All the tactics seem to take place in the pit-stops rather than any dualling on the road.
When I got home last night I saw the tactically challenging Tour de France on TV along the pave stage. There’s a sport where the riders’ machines count for very little. There’s no technological advantage to really be gained by choosing one manufacturer over another. It’s all down to ability, tactics and teamwork.
UPDATE: THe local news in London on Wednesday covered the “procession” again and asked the question – was it too dangerous? Yes it was, despite what various Westminster City councillors might say. I saw the Rugby World Cup team procession, and the Stop the War March, and both were absolutely fine. On Tuesday evening, the crowds were dangerously packed in, and frankly they shouldn’t have let so many people into the area. It’s very lucky indeed that no members of the crowd were crushed. I shudder to think what would have happened if one of the cars had spun slightly out of control (however good the drivers are).