A simple question...

[Dino]

Hello,

I don't usually come to this board, but whenever i do, i notice that Michael Schumacher is referred to as TGF.

Could someone kindly tell me what this stands for?

Thank you,
Dino

[R]

That German Fellow.

And come back more often!

[Dino]

Thank you R!

I would post here more often, but being a Schumacher fan, I don't know how welcome I would be. After all, there seems to be a very anti-MS overtone to this BB, but i could be wrong.

Dino

[JeremySmith]

Welcome Dino,

I am also a big fan of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari..I don't care to much for the "TGF" abbreviation, I feel that it shows the man very little respect..But having said that, my learned friends at this BB are among the most knowledgeable on the internet..So please come back and visit with us soon..


WDC 2000= Michael Schumacher
WCC 2000= Ferrari

[Gerard]

Dino, don't be afraid to come back and post more often.
I'm a Michael Schumacher fan also.
We have a rule here that says 'Attack the post, not the poster.'
And almost all of our members follow that rule.
I think you might find this board a very nice place to visit and I for one would be happy if you joined us.
You're very much welcome.

[Dino]

Well thanks for the warm welcome. I think I will check around here more often and throw in some ideas from time to time.

I have been a devout F1 fan since 95, not missing a race, and I am familiar with a lot of the history regarding Formula 1 because I have done a lot of reading on the subject and have also checked out the autocourses and the year in review videos since 1988. I have also seen videos of quite a few Grands Prix from the last ten years or so.

Anyway, thanks again, and I'll be seeing you around.

Dino

[EERO]

Dino, welcome, I second Gerard's comments. Though you will find that I am most assuredly NOT a Schumacher fan, like most non-Schumacher fans here, I acknowledge his obvious skill and dominance in the sport at this time. As I have the pleasure of living with an eight-year old who is a rabid fan of TGF, I have learned to temper my comments. Please feel welcome to participate-though we may disagree here, we can agree to disagree and find plenty of common ground on other subjects. That is what makes this place so great.

[Liz]

TGF is not meant to be a term of disrespect - it is only a shorter way of writing Michael Schumacher (if Ralf wasn't racing too, we wouldn't have to write his entire name every time we wanted to mention him!)

I agree with Bernie - the only time in my life, probably - that TGF is "the best of the drivers post-Senna" which is what you call damning with faint praise.

On the starting grid for the 1979 Long Beach Grand Prix, TGF would have been last if he had qualified at all.

But come back and argue the point if you like - we are friendly folks and pretty well behaved, and we don't bite!

[Bud 1]

I think it is difficult to argue against TGF being one of the very top guys around, his record speaks for itself. As for being disrespectful by calling him TGF I think the guy himself shows little respect for others, think Oz 94, Jerez 97, several run ins with DC, those little swerves of the line, etc.
Personally I think Hakinnen runs him close, and I am a big Montoya fan, but he has the same attitude as Schuey, where he can push people around but hates having it done back to him.
PS I have heard some interesting stories about a certain Italian teams traction control system.

[Nuvolari]

There may be no disrespect intended by TGF, but it's often used in a dismissive, derogatory way.

But . . . my fellow pilotes are even-handed in their japes. You'll find references to Cranky Mika, Boxhead, Button Spice and more.

Welcome to our cozy, sometimes-dysfunctional family!

[Liz]

Unlike some bulletin boards, we don't tend to worship the pilots here - although some of us are kind of fond of the piste upon which they drive as it were ... but it's all in good fun and people generally apologize if they go too far.

And might I inquire if TGF is the best pilot to come along since Nuvolari, why does he have to have a contract that says nobody on his team is allowed to beat him? If he is that good, like, wouldn't that be unnecessary?

Yeah, it's an old argument, but whattheheck.

[Airhead]

Sorry to spoil the vibes but the Schu is flawed (aren't we all) he is excellent at right turns, especially when an opponent is in the way of a championship. This is not something to cellebrate as for a person with such undisputed talent, a lack of using the indicator is not good. This (frailty)is the Schu's achilles heel, roll on 2001.

[Nuvolari]

Let me play inquiring reporter for a moment.

I have seen this reference to Michael's contract language numerous times. How do we know it's fact?

[neutral]

I'm a dedicated Schumi fan, and I admit that he like everyone has his weaknesses. Mika cant drive in the wet, Michael is sometimes too aggressive, Coulthard just cant drive and so on. Nobody is perfect. I would also like to answer the question from Liz. RB for one has had no such clause in his contract. Michael has outperformed him fair and square this season. Eddie on the other hand was a different case, he was with Michael when Ferarri was building up, and yes, any new parts first went to Michael. You have to remember that Ferarri had to fight for every point in those years. They could just not go out and dominate a race like Williams or Mclaren. Therefore it made no sense for one driver to take points off the main contender. By the way, the amount of times Eddie had to pull over for Michael is quite small indeed.

[angst]

You honestly believe that RB has been given a fair crack at the whip alongside TGF? According to Ivan Capelli it is common knowledge that Rubens has been used to try out tyre strategies for the Schu in changing conditions. Mika can drive in the rain, he is just more cautious (perhaps over-cautious) in changing conditions than TGF. Whatever else, you cannot deny that the whole machination of the Ferrari team has revolved utterly around TGF. If the leash is off then I would expect to see a very different year for Rubinho(though I think he is too inconsistent to actually challenge for the title).