Why Suzuka makes me nostalgic

There are several tracks on the Formula 1 calendar that I like, the majority of them classics, but none evoke in me the same nostalgia that Suzuka does.

I only started watching F1 part way through the 1998 season.  None of my family are motorsport fans – I stumbled into it by accident.  I ended up tuning into a race half way through, which I think may have been the Austrian Grand Prix in July, I guess when I was flicking through the channels – I can’t remember clearly because I was only nine at the time.

I can’t remember how long it was before I started looking in the TV schedule to see when a race was on.  I can remember watching a good chunk of the Belgian Grand Prix, but I’m not sure if I watched the whole thing because I don’t remember watching the huge shunt at the start.  Whether I’d watched anything of the two races between Austria and Belgium, I have no idea.

I’m assuming that I watched at least part of the two races that followed Spa because I’m pretty sure I went into the Suzuka race with at least a vague idea of what was going on with the championship.

I’m not quite sure when I watched the Suzuka race.  I vaguely remember sitting watching it, and I think it was breakfast-time rather than lunchtime, so I guess I didn’t watch the replay.  Early on, with the really early morning races – Melbourne in particular – I did record them and then watch them when I got up, but if I remember correctly, I started doing that after I ended up seeing a race result on the BBC before I could watch the replay on ITV.  So as Suzuka isn’t one of the really early races, even though it requires you to set the alarm, it is possible that maybe I did watch it live.

I can’t remember the entire race, but I do remember snippets, and when I recently read an account of the race in a book, I was going “yes, that’s right,” in my head.

I’d not been watching Formula 1 for long at all, but I’d already decided who I wanted to win the championship.  I wasn’t a Hakkinen fan, but I did like him, and certainly had nothing against him, whereas I already disliked Michael A LOT.  (I’m sure that will probably come across a lot on this blog, given that he’s coming back, but I will say now to any Michael fans reading this – I may not like him, but I absolutely respect your right to have a different view of him.  If we all liked/loved, disliked/hated the same drivers, it’d be very boring).

When I look back on my early days of watching F1, the title decider at Suzuka in 1998 is undoubtedly one of the ones that stands out.  As nice as Brazil is, I would love to see a title be decided at Suzuka again, even if that means the title race being concluded several races before the end of the season, because to me, with all my nostalgia about Suzuka, that is where the title decider belongs.

I have nothing against Fuji, but it was so great to see Suzuka back on the calendar this year.  It’s one of my favourite tracks, right up there with Spa, Monza and Hockenheim, and I’d love to go to a race there one day, although I know that will have to be many years into the future.

I’d love to hear which tracks make you particularly nostalgic – not so much for their general history as for your personal memories.

Intro

Hi and welcome to my new blog

My name is Carole, I’m almost 21 and I’ve been watching F1 since the summer of 1998.  I’m also now starting to branch out into following other forms of motorsports, although F1 is still my main passion.

My current favourite drivers are Sebastian Vettel and Paul di Resta, although I have soft spots for lots of others.  I won’t start waffling about Seb or Paul here as I suspect that the majority of my posts will mention one or both of them

I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts on F1, and whatever other forms of motorsport give me something I want to talk about, as the various seasons begin over the next few weeks