A while back I wrote a post defending bloggers against what I chose to see as criticism of them from Joe Saward. Since then I have quietly followed Joe's blog, noting its gradual transformation into a regurgitation of news items interspersed with accounts of the personal trials and tribulations of a travelling F1 journalist. Just occasionally, he writes opinion posts of great insight and interest, however, and he has excelled himself with today's post reflecting on the achievements of Ron Dennis.
Ron Dennis, Executive Chairman of McLaren Automotive, and Richard Lapthorne, Non-Executive Chairman of McLaren Group, at the McLaren Technology Centre on Thursday 16th April 2009
This is occasioned by Ron's announcement of the restructuring of McLaren, of course, and is a heartfelt and informed look at the man behind the team that has been so influential in F1 over the last thirty years. This is the kind of thing I was hoping for from Joe - opinion more than news that we can get elsewhere on the net. It is what blogging is all about.
I do not want to go too deeply into the art of blogging but it is interesting to compare Joe's blog with one started at about the same time by another professional F1 journalist, James Allen. It seems to me that James is much more aware of the purpose of blogging, his posts being a combination of snippets of inside information and unabashed opinion. And the result is that he has gathered large numbers of readers extremely quickly, surely evidence that he gives them what they want.
Perhaps Joe would respond that he is not interested in mere popularity but he must admit that the purpose of writing is to be read. And I, for one, would enjoy my daily visits to his blog more if he were to tell us what he thinks about everything to do with F1, rather than give us details of what particular hotel room he is shacked up in at the moment. Hence my enthusiasm for his post on Ron Dennis.
Most of us form our opinions on Ron through the media, listening to his televized interviews and reading of his actions and words in publications in print and on the net. My own opinion is formed in exactly this manner, inevitably so since I have never met the man. But Joe has that rare advantage of actually knowing Ron and his view carries much more weight as a result. If my assessment happens to coincide with Joe's, I can merely thank my lucky stars that I was able to glean at least a few facts through paying attention over the years.
So this is really a thank you to Joe for sharing his thoughts with us and a request for more of the same in the future. I had not intended it as such originally, my aim being more to honor Ron Dennis as he steps away from the sport, but I have been betrayed by thoughts that have been simmering for a while now. It is a dangerous thing to set finger to keyboard.
Whether Ron's announcement has anything to do with the pending "lie-gate" hearing or not, I have no idea. Perhaps it may go easier on McLaren if Big Ron is no longer seen as involved with the team, but I suspect that the re-structuring has been planned for some time and it is only the timing of the announcement that was affected by events. Hopefully, the hearing will produce a verdict as sensible as we have seen in the double diffuser issue and the sport can get on with what it does best - motor racing.