Is there anyone left in Britain who hasn’t set up a petition on the Downing Street home page?
Certainly a few motor sport fans have been on there and set up a few petitions that are worth a look. (Don’t worry if you’re not British, just pretend you’re an ex-patriate).
Just don’t expect any of them to top the 1.8 million signatures on the petition against road charging.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Knight Ron Dennis, McLaren F1 team boss
339 signatures at the time of writing
Started by Rob Sinfield formerly of the Grand Prix Diary. The present controversy might diminish the chance of this happening any time soon.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to make Banger Racing an Olympic sport
308 signatures
It’s time motor sport got a slice of the horrendous sums being poured into the Olympics – it might as well be banger racing which, in the light of this year’s Canadian Grand Prix crash-fest, could be expanded to include F1.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Help protect the British Grand Prix
232 signatures
So popular it’s got two similar petitions – here’s the other one.
65 signatures
The signature maker reckons ITV are in violation of Ofcom’s rules.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to award a Knighthood to Murray Walker
38 signatures
If any F1 personality deserves a knighthood it’s Muzza – he’s commentating for the BBC again on Radio Five Live this weekend.
4 signatures
A worthy cause, if not a well-supported one.
1 signature
Quick! Hurry on over and you can single-handedly double the support for this petition. Can you award British medals to Italians though?
Related links
- Silverstone and David Cameron
- Debate: Should Ecclestone buy Silverstone?
- Murray Walker – the full interview
Tags: f1 / formula one / formula 1 / grand prix / motor sport
Evenstar Saima
18th July 2007, 11:49
I signed to Knight Ron and protect the British GP.
Clive
18th July 2007, 12:02
I signed to knight Ron.
Cooperman
18th July 2007, 12:55
I think Bernie should be knighted for his non-involvement with the Cash for Honours controversy and for giving £7m to Labour in 1997! ;)
(Although this is actually the most likely reason why Silverstone doesn’t get government funding)
Ollie White
18th July 2007, 13:56
Signed the Muzza one. That man deserves a knighthood more than any other person in motorsport, aside from Sid Watkins. (Was he ever knighted in the end, I can’t remember?)
Dan M
18th July 2007, 14:04
Is Frank Williams the only knighted team boss? I’m not familiar with the prestige or process of knighting being that I am from the States, but it seems like Ron would be well overdue for such an honor.
Alianora La Canta
18th July 2007, 21:38
I’ve signed the first British GP petition (someone should really combine those two petitions), the Murray and grassroots petitions.
Ollie, Sid Watkins has received a knighthood, and quite rightly too.
Frank Williams is the only knighted team boss, though Ron Dennis has a CBE (as does soon-to-be-team-boss-again David Richards) and Jean Todt has a Medal d’Honneur, which is the nearest French equivalent.
As for Valentino Rossi, the answer to Keith’s question is no and yes. Italy does not have the Queen as head of state and therefore Valentino is not the Queen of England’s subject. As a result, he cannot receive a full knighthood.
However, an [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_honours_system#Honorary_awards]honorary knighthood is entirely possible[/url]. Examples of previous recipients are Bill Gates and Arsene Wenger. If such a knighthood was given to Valentino, he could style himself V. Rossi KBE (Knight of the British Empire) but he could not use the prefix “Sir”. Personally, I would argue he’s done as much for the world as Wenger (though not Gates), but his link to the UK is not perhaps strong enough to justify the knighthood being from the UK. It would be more appropriate if a similar petition was set up in Italy.
chunter
18th July 2007, 21:44
Valentino Rossi is good, but I don’t see the connection to England.
Why Ron Dennis? Because Alex Ferguson is knighted?
Alianora La Canta
18th July 2007, 21:51
Probably because Frank Williams is knighted?