Tell me why I just like Thursday

I’ve always liked Thursdays. It dates back to an era when my local pub would only ever get in enough alcohol to last until midway through Monday evening leaving the place dry until delivery day. Thursday was delivery day and therefore a day you were guaranteed to be able to board the Happy bus to Heinekenland without let or hindrance.

Thursday has therefore become enshrined in my conscience as a night for drinking with the lads. We have all accepted over time that if you were ever looking to get everyone together in one room then a Thursday is the day to do it.

And on a Thursday there is always something to talk about, as Thursday is also “Autosport day” - The day when my new copy of the motor racing bible reveals to me the latest coming and going-on in the motorsport world. OK admittedly it’s breaking news significance has lessened in these days of 24 hour online news, it’s still a cracking read and well worth the wait!

Now over the last few weeks Autosport magazine has featured photographic contributions from our very own JB. They are small and usually at the back but it’s a major achievement never-the-less. Especially if like me your attempts at photographing moving racing cars often results in 36 pictures of empty tarmac.

Hopefully this week JB can make the leap from the back pages of Club Motorsport to the International Scene. Starting tomorrow he will be at happy snapping at Brands for the British Round of the A1GP Championship.

Unfortunately it’s not been quite as enjoyable a day for many others.

Prince Harry has been told he may not be able to join his regiment in Iraq after all, and rapper Snoop Dogg has been refused entry to Australia. That’s right, refused entry to the country that is home to Erinsborough’s evil super villain Paul Robinson (The evilist hotel owner on Earth!!)

But the best story of the day has to be the arrest of Hugh Grant for allegedly assaulting a journalist with a tub of baked beans. Surly as a news story that is about as English as it is possible to get!!

All fuel for discussion at our usual Thursday night get together. After all it is the stepping-stone to Friday Night and the weekend ahead!

Alan Johnstone

The more eagle-eyed of you may have noticed that our regular "Macca Tracca" has temporarally been removed.

This is because Brysonline has joined the online global vigil calling for the immediate & safe return of the BBC's Gaza reporter Alan Johnstone.

For more information please click on the link in the sidebar

New Earth

There is another planet that is just maybe a little bit like Earth and might just possibly have water/trees/hamsters.

This was the exciting news I had woken up to this morning. Scienticians who know far more about such things were getting very excited by the discovery of the unromantically named Gleise 581 C.

Last weeks Doctor Who storylines are seemingly this weeks reality, as suddenly the World is talking about a “New Earth”

Apparently the planet, larger than the earth and with a year lasting just 13 days, is in that orbital sweet-spot needed to ensure that a planet is habitable. As Goldilocks said – “It’s Just Right!”

Unfortunately for me I’ll probably never get to see this probable package holiday destination of the future. At 20 light years travelling time it is probably well beyond the range of even my new zippier Mini Cooper.

Of course it I were to set off this morning with a full tank of petrol I would probably still get there before the Cricket World Cup finishes. It seemingly has been going on since the Sphynx was a kitten and shows no sign of ever stopping. Yet people are still watching on TV and talking about it endlessly on the radio.

Why?

Surely the biggest mystery’s of our universe are a lot closer to home!

Making Headlines

For one young man it has been quite a memorable weekend.

I am not of cause talking about the break-up of Prince William and his long term girlfriend, because quite frankly I don’t really care. Why newspapers devoted page after page to this non event is beyond me. Especially on a day where two British helicopters had crashed in Iraq.

The only newsworthy part of this story is the great idea that one major high street chain have been left with warehouses filled to the brim with “Commemorative Royal Engagement Memorobillia” Soon surely coming to an internet auction site near you!

I myself once made a similar premature assault on the memorobillia market. If anybody desires a “Hear’Say 10th Anniversary!” Commemorative garments then they are wildly availiable from several landfill sites around the country.

The great news as far as I am concerned is the continues success of the man simply known now to millions as Lewis. He has in the space of a month joined that select band of British sports stars who no longer need a surname: Johnny, Tim, Paula & Freddy! Even the mighty David Beckham never quite got into this club!

Lewis Hamilton’s journey from Child karting prodigy to Britains great Grand Prix hope as been a long one, and only I have followed with interest in the pages of Autosport.

I remember it as if it were yesterday my first glimpse of an even babier faced Lewis Hamilton, then in his first season of Formula Renault.

I've seen over the years now quite a few drivers come up through the junior ranks, and none of them made such an impression on me. I knew on that day that I was there in the first chapter of a World Champions Autobiography!

Of course in the second race he slammed it into the tyre wall right at my feet - something he would again do at Donnington a few weeks later leading JB to the idea that I may be some kind of cursed talisman. (It’s OK Ron – I’m not going to Silverstone this year!)

Now he has re-written the history books by claiming 3 podiums in his first 3 races. The first time in my memory that a Grand Prix record has gone to anyone other than a certain Herr Schumacher.

If he can take a win before the French GP on the 1st July then he will surpass jackie stewart as Britains fastest ever GP Winner (per no of starts).

It’s a rare thing for Britain to have a star we can universally get behind, and an even rarer thing to have one who can exceed even our lofty expectations. Today people who have never even watched a grand prix are talking about yesterday’s result, and anticipating the results to come.

The most telling thing about Lewis Hamilton’s phenominal entrance to Grand Prix motorsport is that after just 3 races, it just seems like he has been there for years.

This kid is special, and I’m sure we have seen nothing yet. I am off to ladbrookes to put £50 on him for Sports Personality of the Year!

Bryson Motorsports: 2000 - 2007

It was Saturday the 13th May 2000. The Venue was Silverstone circuit in the heart or Northamponshire. The “Audi Years” were just beginning as the mighty R8 meets Britain’s premier (if not only) Grand Prix Circuit.

It was there in the baking sun, sitting in the remnants of a half deconstructed hospitality suite that the ficticious Bryson Motorsports came to be. Over the disected remnants of the portable radio I had bought for a fiver.

A private joke between two slightly sun-stroked endurance race fans just kept growing faster than my bar-bill. Soon others were in on the joke

A month later we did our first Le Mans and for the first time there was the moniker “The Bryson Boys”

By 2003 the first “tour shirts’ appeared featuring a team logo, and now established Red/Black Livery.

In July 2006 Brysonline was born, with the intention of becoming a community forum for “Bryson Boys” to share there thoughts and discuss the weither matters of the day.

Now in 2007 we are approaching our 7th birthday. Which is almost 50 in Dog Years. Our “Golden Retriever” anniversary!

It is an event which should be marked, preferably by a commemorative £2 coin or a limited edition stamp of some kind. Although I suppose a curry and a piss-up will do the job equally well!

Shameless Plugs

Well the 2007 motorsport season is well underway. The F1 guys have had 2 races but more improtant the Dunlop Motorsport News Saloon Championship has had it's first roudn at Lydden International Race Circuit in Kent. Lydden was unfortunately turned down from hosting his years British GP as it only has 3 toilets - all of which smell. However it's a superb little circuit and I'm back there in 2 weeks time for the 750 Motor Club meeting.

Have a look at www.snappyracers.com to see all this year's images plus the archive from 2006.

JB