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Ron Dennis...."ashamed to be English"
Topic Started: Aug 28 2008, 10:03 PM (981 Views)
John
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from ICL news

McLaren boss Ron Dennis has stated he is "ashamed to be English" after witnessing Valencia successfully stage the European Grand Prix.

Spain's third largest city made its Formula One debut at the weekend, and in many respects did not let down supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The track weaved through the marina and port which last year was home to yachting's America's Cup, although as with any "street" circuit, overtaking areas were at a premium.

The event was not totally faultless, and it lacked the glitz and glamour of Monaco, while there were few defining landmarks other than the bridge amid the blur of concrete walls and wire fencing which lined the circuit.

It was too much to expect such a new track to be entirely faultless, but the problems were minor, doing Valencia proud 19 months after they staged a lavish £2m launch of McLaren's car for the 2007 season.



Launching an unexpected attack on England's failings in hosting major sporting events, Dennis said: "I have to say something a little controversial which I'll probably regret.

"When I go back into England and I go through Heathrow airport, I'm ashamed to be English.

"Valencia is an area that is not the gateway to their country, and yet the local government showed vision to stage the America's Cup, to commit all the resources they did to turn it into a world-class venue.

"We also know how they embraced the concept of us launching our car there. "They made available to us all the facilities that exist in the arts and science park, contributed to the venue, and we were a catalyst to the grand prix.

"To see what they've done demonstrates what you can do if you are committed as a government, local or national."

Dennis feels London could learn a lesson or two from Valencia when it comes to overwhelming support to push forward projects, and to turn run-down areas of the city into futuristic places to be proud of.

With London now counting down towards its staging of the Olympic Games in 2012, Dennis added: "Valencia is a testament to how you should do it.

"I applaud the efforts of Valencia. They've gone the right way about it, they've committed to putting in the infrastructure, to getting the resources right.

"Next year they just need to put in some more colour, the harbour needs to be full of boats, more signage and a bit more glitz, but they've got it the right way round.

"I'll be absolutely amazed if we don't go to Singapore and have the same experience next month. This is what it takes.

"It requires government support, and to me it is a textbook example of what you can do if you all point in the same direction and have the commitment.

"For me I can't understand the ridiculous squabble we are having in England over the issue of relatively small amount of money with regard to the funding of the Olympic Games.

"We should be proud we've got the Olympic Games, and we should be pushing and reflecting in attitude the efforts of all the people who went there and surpassed everybody's expectation with regard to the medals our country have won.

"Unfortunately, we seem to be the world's best at turning around and being unconstructively critical.

"I know stories will be written with my comments, but I don't care."

"I think people should speak out and say, 'You guys have got it all wrong'."






<think>
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TheCompleteGuitarist
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Shouldn't Ron first be ashamed to be Ron?

As for being ashamed to be British, just because the governement refuses to fund an effectively commercial show for the benefit of the already wealthy enough.

As for being ashamed, I'd say 50 years of living under a dictatorship and despicable attitude to racial equality is a far more worthy candidate.
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Steelstallions
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Quote:
 
McLaren boss Ron Dennis has stated he is "ashamed to be English" after witnessing Valencia successfully stage the European Grand Prix.


Not as much as i was ashamed to support modern day F1 after being bored to tears witnessing the Valencia race.

Though i thought the title of the thread meant he had finally come clean on the spygate scandal but wanted to drag a nations name into his own teams irregularities.

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John
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TheCompleteGuitarist,Aug 29 2008
12:41 AM
As for being ashamed to be British

It was 'English' not 'British'.... although usually the mistake is the other way around.

I agree the phrasing was not the best (but thinking first is not a Ron trait), and there are far more 'real' problems that qualify for being ashamed....

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everythingoes
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TheCompleteGuitarist,Aug 29 2008
05:11 AM
Shouldn't Ron first be ashamed to be Ron?

<roflmao> <roflmao> <roflmao> <roflmao>
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Bear
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I'm English (sort of) and I'm ashamed of Ron.
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Helmet
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John,Aug 28 2008
10:03 PM
... it is a textbook example of what you can do if you all point in the same direction and have the commitment.

Of course, a photocopier always helps...
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Brave_Lee_Flea
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It will be interesting to see if Donington manage to produce a world class venue in a similar time frame to Valencia. If they get it right perhaps Ron can once again be proud of being English.

I have my doubts, but Valencia has shown that it is possible.

I still don't agree that a racing series so awash with cash requires financial support from the government.
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stradlin24
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wake me up from this coma...

actually, don't bother....
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SaveOurSilverstone
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Quote:
 
"When I go back into England and I go through Heathrow airport, I'm ashamed to be English


he said when he goes through heathrow he is ashamed to be english, what is so wrong with that... its a dump. oh and the new terminal 5 might look great, but i too was ashamed at the c*ck up that was the opening of that place.
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John
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Around London there are large billboards advertising T5 with the slogan... Terminal five is working... come and see

I guess the disastrous opening hid them hard.
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PiquetFan
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A tad off-topic, but I was very impressed with T5 when I passed through on my recent trip to the UK and Europe <thumbsup>
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Grieves
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Yeah, I'm ashamed that Ron is English as well.
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GordonB
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SaveOurSilverstone,Aug 29 2008
09:29 AM
Quote:
 
"When I go back into England and I go through Heathrow airport, I'm ashamed to be English


he said when he goes through heathrow he is ashamed to be english, what is so wrong with that... its a dump. oh and the new terminal 5 might look great, but i too was ashamed at the c*ck up that was the opening of that place.

And Terminal 5 was built by BAA who in turn are owned by .... THE SPANISH!!
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John
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GordonB,Aug 29 2008
11:12 AM

And Terminal 5 was built by BAA

<think> BAA are now building contractors.... first I've heard of it


Don't confuse OWNED by and BUILT by... <doh>
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