A Classic from LeMans
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Holly Springs, NC
The way I understand it , the 2 finger salute is the same as flipping someone off here. The story (not sure if this is correct) is that the English, who were superb archers with their longbows, could wipe out reams of French from a longer distance than the French could attack the English. Supposedly the French would capture English archers and cut off the two fingers (index and middle) with which they pull back the bowstring. The 'insult' came about supposedly that the English would signal the French with the back of their hand and two fingers up (backwards 'peace sign' as McQueen did in the movie) to say "f*** you, I still have my fingers". I have no clue whether there is any truth to that or not, but it is a cool possibility for where the salute came from.
Two F1-related stories:
1) a friend of mine was in the McLaren fan club, and got a tour of the McLaren garage at the Montreal Canadian Grand Prix. He said one of the mechanics gave him the two-finger salute, and Kevin, knowing what it meant, wrote to McLaren after the race outraged. Apparently he got a bunch of free stuff by way of McLaren apologizing to him. (He figured the mechanic didn't know Kevin would know what it meant)
2) Last season I saw that dumbass American F1 driver would end interviews by giving the cameraman the 2-finger salute (not peace-sign style, British back of the hand style like McQueen. I guess Scott doesn't know what it means, I see a lot of other current 'hipsters' doing it, I'm sure they mean 'peace,out' but when I see the back of the hand I interpret it as given (sorry guys, if there are Scott Speed fans here, The above just expresses my opinion of him, based on listening to his interviews and seeing his 'intentionally gnarled up surfer-dude-style Red Bull cap brim)
Two F1-related stories:
1) a friend of mine was in the McLaren fan club, and got a tour of the McLaren garage at the Montreal Canadian Grand Prix. He said one of the mechanics gave him the two-finger salute, and Kevin, knowing what it meant, wrote to McLaren after the race outraged. Apparently he got a bunch of free stuff by way of McLaren apologizing to him. (He figured the mechanic didn't know Kevin would know what it meant)
2) Last season I saw that dumbass American F1 driver would end interviews by giving the cameraman the 2-finger salute (not peace-sign style, British back of the hand style like McQueen. I guess Scott doesn't know what it means, I see a lot of other current 'hipsters' doing it, I'm sure they mean 'peace,out' but when I see the back of the hand I interpret it as given (sorry guys, if there are Scott Speed fans here, The above just expresses my opinion of him, based on listening to his interviews and seeing his 'intentionally gnarled up surfer-dude-style Red Bull cap brim)
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Bend, OR
I agree with you on Scott Speed. He's as sickening to watch in an interview as that idiot Demi Moore married. Not the best choice for our sole driver in the F1 series.
What did your friend do to the McLaren mechanic to get the salute?
What did your friend do to the McLaren mechanic to get the salute?
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 20
From: Holly Springs, NC
He said he didn't DO anything, he was just one of several folks getting a tour and noticed the mechanic doing it. He's 6'6" and about 240. He could have easily pummeled the mechanic to a pulp, so he had no clue why.
I know Gerhard Berger approached Montoya, Hakkinen, and Bourdais about the Toro Rosso ride. Had Bourdais agreed to leave Newman-Haas I bet Scott would not have been retained. Bourdais wanted to honour the last year of his Newman-Haas contract. Running an Adrian Newey-designed RB3 chassis with a Ferrari engine, the Italian baby bulls should go well this year. Maybe they'll get Bourdais next year, Mika's staying in DTM, and Montoya is running around punting Scott Pruett to win Busch races, and otherwise being unimpressive (so far) racing "stock" cars around ovals. (no, I will not get on my anti-NASCAR soapbox today, I'm only a week away from Sebring
I know Gerhard Berger approached Montoya, Hakkinen, and Bourdais about the Toro Rosso ride. Had Bourdais agreed to leave Newman-Haas I bet Scott would not have been retained. Bourdais wanted to honour the last year of his Newman-Haas contract. Running an Adrian Newey-designed RB3 chassis with a Ferrari engine, the Italian baby bulls should go well this year. Maybe they'll get Bourdais next year, Mika's staying in DTM, and Montoya is running around punting Scott Pruett to win Busch races, and otherwise being unimpressive (so far) racing "stock" cars around ovals. (no, I will not get on my anti-NASCAR soapbox today, I'm only a week away from Sebring
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2005
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That is absolutely correct as to what that means and how it came about. I love that movie. Having been to LeSarthe a few times and driving on what was the "original" track before this latest FIA/ACO-mandated safety layout, the guys in the 60's and 70's must have had some major stones to drive those monsters like they did. I could not imagine anything scarier than going over the hump on Mulsanne at 220+ MPH in the rain at night. Its just a "bump" now, plus there's two chicanes to slow you down. The Porsche curves, Indianapolis, Arnage, and that section that use to run down past "Maison Blanche" were just little narrow two-lane French country roads with ditches and hedgerow on both sides. Incredible, to me, absolutely incredible.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,213
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From: Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by DB_NC_83SC
He said he didn't DO anything, he was just one of several folks getting a tour and noticed the mechanic doing it. He's 6'6" and about 240. He could have easily pummeled the mechanic to a pulp, so he had no clue why.
I know Gerhard Berger approached Montoya, Hakkinen, and Bourdais about the Toro Rosso ride. Had Bourdais agreed to leave Newman-Haas I bet Scott would not have been retained. Bourdais wanted to honour the last year of his Newman-Haas contract. Running an Adrian Newey-designed RB3 chassis with a Ferrari engine, the Italian baby bulls should go well this year. Maybe they'll get Bourdais next year, Mika's staying in DTM, and Montoya is running around punting Scott Pruett to win Busch races, and otherwise being unimpressive (so far) racing "stock" cars around ovals. (no, I will not get on my anti-NASCAR soapbox today, I'm only a week away from Sebring
I know Gerhard Berger approached Montoya, Hakkinen, and Bourdais about the Toro Rosso ride. Had Bourdais agreed to leave Newman-Haas I bet Scott would not have been retained. Bourdais wanted to honour the last year of his Newman-Haas contract. Running an Adrian Newey-designed RB3 chassis with a Ferrari engine, the Italian baby bulls should go well this year. Maybe they'll get Bourdais next year, Mika's staying in DTM, and Montoya is running around punting Scott Pruett to win Busch races, and otherwise being unimpressive (so far) racing "stock" cars around ovals. (no, I will not get on my anti-NASCAR soapbox today, I'm only a week away from Sebring
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 20
From: Holly Springs, NC
I love the go-kart-like handling, but I do wish it was a rear-drive gokart :-)
I got the base Cooper but opted for the S suspension. All of my driving on track has been in rear drive cars (Alfa,m3, 996) so taking the Mini to Roebling in Savannah in May should be very interesting.
I'm waiting on a Milltek header to mate up with the Milltek exhause I put on it, once the hardware is all set, I can upload a MTH tuned ECU file, so the car will be somewhere in performance between a base Cooper and an S. It's a lot of fun and makes a great commuter, but you know what they say about a Porsche, there really is no substitute. People are either Porsche-files (by that I mean rear-engine rear drive or they're not). I love the weight in and the push from the tail.
I got the base Cooper but opted for the S suspension. All of my driving on track has been in rear drive cars (Alfa,m3, 996) so taking the Mini to Roebling in Savannah in May should be very interesting.
I'm waiting on a Milltek header to mate up with the Milltek exhause I put on it, once the hardware is all set, I can upload a MTH tuned ECU file, so the car will be somewhere in performance between a base Cooper and an S. It's a lot of fun and makes a great commuter, but you know what they say about a Porsche, there really is no substitute. People are either Porsche-files (by that I mean rear-engine rear drive or they're not). I love the weight in and the push from the tail.
