Valletta Grand Prix to be held again in May

J.Grech

Feb 6th 2010, 00:57

@ Paul Borg
@ Johnny Casillas

Looks like the internet trolls are also invading timesofmalta.com with their usual nagging and complaining and submitting negative comments about everything they see or read.....like they do on youtube!!
Oh yes, we'll soon be afraid to flatulate because of climate change.....
Enjoy Motorsport!

Stefan Vassallo

Feb 5th 2010, 11:21

To all our friends against this event, pls do give us a break, I am one who loves the enviornment 100%, but I am also a classic cars enthusiast and we do lack similar events here in Malta big time. Also pls do note that on certain occasions, a well kept classic car, may not be as harmful to the enviornment as one may think and the cars in question are all well kept, sometimes even better than when new. Yes we need to protect the enviornment in the best way possible and teach our younger ones to love it even more, but on the other hand one simple weekend of classic cars racing will not make or break the situation....so let's try to alltogether enjoy this weekend, young and old, after all it will bring loads of nostalgia to many.

Tonio Cini

Feb 5th 2010, 09:40

You want a new hobby then don't just spectate but participate.

By becoming a Marshal, you will start a new hobby that will get you FREE involved in all the action.

A new hobby which really is different and dynamic, appreciated and absorbing, thrilling and FREE!

For more info send an email to volunteers@maltamotorsport.org

Get involved and be proud of yourself!

Thanks for forwarding this message to all your friends.

Stephen Borg Cardona

Feb 5th 2010, 01:26

What about model car racing ? Why is the Corradino track still unavailable ?

Joe M. Anastasi

Feb 4th 2010, 23:44

Well done to the Valletta Grand Prix Foundation for pulling off a second, bigger and hopefully better Grand prix.

Well done also to the ministers for Sport and Tourism for moving with the times. Malta could be a motorsport haven, with not too much effort. Well done also to Valletta Local Council who unlike their counterparts at Naxxar are more reasonable and forward thinking, and not a load of old fuddy duddies.

Mark Galea

Feb 4th 2010, 19:37

Well done..keep up the good work......come on , why can't Valletta be a mini Monte Carlo ? Its a unique city and we can make it even better. We need these events !

Charles Sammut

Feb 4th 2010, 19:07

@ Paul Borg If you want to reduce CO2 emissions, stop breathing and give us a break.

@ johnny Casillas This is for classic cars and is not just about speed but nostalgia as well. Modern cars do not have the character of their predecessors of a few decades ago. It's a different world. Of course, not everybody appreciates this. It's like comparing classical music to what passes for music nowadays.

A Xuereb

Feb 4th 2010, 19:06

Mr P Borg, These events are of minimal impact when compared to the junk still on our roads on a daily basis. Most of the cars used are classics, most are only driven on a Sunday morning and that is weather permitting! So most of them don't clock more then a couple hundred miles in a whole year. We should be honoured to have enthusiasts coming over from abroad to take part in such an event, it's things like these that puts us on the world map. As to you Mr Casillas, we have plenty to see here in Malta as there is in Europe and the US For starters, watching these classics, still in pristine condition race is one of them! And they also compliment the beutiful fortifications surrounding Valletta. Through events like these we get the exposure our Island needs.

S. Zammit

Feb 4th 2010, 17:38

Nice! Hope I get a chance to see them this year!

@Paul Borg: I won't even dignify your comment with a reply.... doom and gloom

Julien Vassallo

Feb 4th 2010, 17:15

Paul Borg.........well in your own words.......get a life!
Why do we have to involve co2 emissions in everything, seems like no one is allowed to have fun nowadays - moving towards a clinical society - might as well just commit suicide and get over it!

jcmicallef

Feb 4th 2010, 16:37

@Jesmond Micallef

Rightly so! I remember those times very well - been following motorsports since 1976!

Ford BDA and BDG engines, not to mention Cosworths and a few other popular makes, were taken to new hights! I remember Elbros drag-racing escort impressing spectators and competitors alike at the Santa Pod raceway quite some time ago.

But even before that, we had some awesome stories with Ford and Alfas battleing between them - be it at Mtahleb, Miziep, Ta'Qali, Hal Far...sweet nostalgia indeed!

Things have changed now - racing teams are more professional and races have become more spectaculsr in different ways.

jcmicalelf

Feb 4th 2010, 16:26

Now, that's great news, at last.

In fact, it's probably the only good news in about a year....since the last GP of Valletta :-)

I'm getting my cameras ready to roll!!!!

Many thanks to all those involved in organising this event. I trust that the local motorsport clubs would be lending a hand with the marshalling, etc?

Good luck & good job, guys!

johnny Casillas

Feb 4th 2010, 15:27

Grand Prix??? seriously...what is there to see? Cant compare with the real Grand Prix in Europe and US

John Visanich

Feb 4th 2010, 15:27

Well done goes to the organisers. This event MUST stay. It has the potential to develop into a world-class event, a permanent fixture on the international classic car calendar. No doubt some will argue that the event creates great inconvenience to Valletta residents and visitors. But take a look at the Monaco Grand Prix. It's run on a street circuit in the heart of a busy city; it's considered to be the most prestigious race to win, one where great drivers like Ayrton Senna excelled.

While Jesmond Micallef is absolutely correct in reminding us about the restrictions on engine capacity once in force in Malta, cubic centimetres do not necessarily translate to power. Some of the most powerful Formula One engines were of just 1500cc turbocharged.

Paul Borg

Feb 4th 2010, 15:03

Can someone explain to an ignorant like me how these rallies and the Formula One boat races are helping us to reduce our CO2 emissions, combat climate change and all the nice words that we hear every time one of our earnest and serious politicians goes to Brussels?

Who needs a power station, they make enough hot air to run a country!

John Carmel Navarro

Feb 4th 2010, 14:55

Roll on May great news for all concerned; this surely would encourage more visitors to our beautiful Island. The last Grand Prix was a huge success to an extend that numerous friends from abroad have been asking ‘when is the next one’ I shall hot foot this article to them.

Wilfrid Buttigieg

Feb 4th 2010, 14:41

Excellent initiative! But let's do this professionally - Public Safety First.

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 4th 2010, 14:37

Motorsports is very popular, most especially that concerning Classic Cars !! Well done to the organisers.

Just as an afterthought here, but I wish to highlight the time in Malta, when cars with engine capacities over 2000 cc where prohibited on the island. This was a very challenging time for the motorsport community in Malta. Indeed, creativity here was at its very best. Engine Tuning mechanics devised all sorts of ideas in the pursuit of more power output from the "capacity limited" engines available at that time. It was pure Maltese indigenous creativity !! I am just paying homage to that bygone era !!

Again, well done and my very best wishes to the organisers and off course the participants.

Roar Valletta Roar,.............cool !!!

Charles A. Zahra

Feb 4th 2010, 14:28

Thanks for your comments Matthew

Matthew Scerri

Feb 4th 2010, 14:03

Prosit and thanks to all involved. We need motorsport events like these!!