Senna versus Schumacher: what if...?

I’ve given the Senna versus Schumacher concept some more thought

Christiaan W. Lustig — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:31:44 +0000

The past few weeks I’ve given the Senna versus Schumacher concept, as opposed to just the Encounter Down Under story, some more thought. I’ve thought about the current story, too, of course, but tried to take it a level up.

A proper book spanning 5 years of Senna versus Schumacher

I contemplated a proper book revolving around the story arch of Ayrton Senna versus Michael Schumacher over a time period of five years. And I imagined things like working with a publisher, or self-publishing such a book with the (financial) help of my employer or my mother-in-law — neither know anything of this thought process, though…

Working towards the deadline of 1 May 2014 — 20 years later

Additionally, I considered working towards a proper deadline. One deadline could be the 20th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death, on May 1st 2014. This feels quite some time away, in part, but considering the fact that I’ve now been working (an not working) on the Senna versus Schumacher concept since late 2007, i.e. for 4 years, this should give me enought time.

The outlook for the coming weeks and months

Christiaan W. Lustig — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:12:54 +0000

It is now late September 2011 and almost 4 years since I started work on my Senna versus Schumacher story. In the mean time I’ve become a father… twice, changed jobs… twice, and joined my church board as vice-chairman and later chairman… and quit, last month. Primarily the latter should give me more time to get back to writing ‘The Encounter Down Under’.

What’s my plan?

First of all, I’d like to come up with some sort of plan to assign, e.g., one night per week and perhaps every other Sunday afternoon as well, to work on the story.
Second, I’ll re-read all my work up to the 1994 Canadian Grand Prix, which is halfway through part II of Encounter, and make any (small) changes and correct errors where needed.
And third, I’d like to give the concept that I’ve chosen in the summer of 2007 — i.e. writing a free e-book — as well as the talk I had in February of 2009 with a publisher — this was for a Dutch-language version of the story, although the publisher was critical of the way I’d been writing up to that point — a good thought, too.

So, I’m not sure you’ll see any new work appear on the site any time soon. But I’ll re-start keeping you updated on what I’m working on, even though it may not yet be the writing itself.

Any questions or remarks? I’m more than happy to receive them and reply to them. Just leave a comment.

Oh, and follow me on Twitter here: @SennavsSchumi

Getting back into the habit

Christiaan W. Lustig — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:29:24 +0000

I’ve recently quit my chairman duties in my church’s council. This gives me a lot of more time on my hands. And despite my wife being pregnant with our second child — due late July — I expect to get back into the habit of writing my Senna versus Schumacher story. I’ll keep you posted.

Canada chapter now available

Christiaan W. Lustig — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:07:12 +0000

As promised, I uploaded the Canadian Grand Prix chapter — for now the final chapter of my work. I hope you’ll enjoy it; if so, feel free to let me know.

Part II, Chapter 7: Canada

Senna’s 50th birthday

Christiaan W. Lustig — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:39:30 +0000

Today, March 21st 2010, would’ve been Ayrton Senna da Silva’s 50th birthday. Sadly, the Brazilian only lived to see 34.

Autsport.com has a beautiful gallery of Senna’s finest (and worst) moments, check it out.

Work on Senna vs Schumacher book pauzed

Christiaan W. Lustig — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:52:51 +0000

As of today, Monday, March 1st, the year of Our Lord 2010, I am officially no longer working on ‘The Encounter Down Under, an alternative version of the 1994 Formula One season’.

Confirming what’s already a fact of life

That saddens me, in a way, but it confirms what has been a fact of life for several months. Work on the Senna versus Schumacher story is postponed until further notice. Guesstimating for how long: 2 years sounds reasonable, and I’ll see how things are by then.

Website will stay online

This website will remain available online, and should any activity recommence, I’ll post it here. To keep up to date, sign up for email notifications all the way down in the right column.

For now, thanks for your interest and comments. Feel free to drop me a line at christiaan (insert at-symbol) lustig (insert dot) nl any time.

A frightening thought: should I quit?

Christiaan W. Lustig — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:33:13 +0000

Last night, my wife had a frightening, yet understandable, and not entirely senseless remark. Since I haven’t done too much work on my Senna versus Schumacher story for some time — I’ve effectively added only a single chapter to part II in all of 2009 — she said:

“Why don’t you quit writing your book?”

Is that a realistic thought?

Well, that’s not a greatly inspiring question, now, is it? But I have to confess that it had already crossed my mind once or twice, the last few weeks. If I cannot — due to my new day job and other commitments — spend a reasonable amount of time on writing, each month, perhaps I should call it quits… At least for a certain amount of time, until I feel I can focus on The Encounter Down Under some more.

Let me know what you think

I’ll keep you posted on my thoughts on this subject. If you want to share yours, please feel free to leave a reply. I’m looking forward to any comments (except spam, of course).

Terrible, just terrible…

Christiaan W. Lustig — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:44:50 +0000

… that I don’t seem to be able to find the time to write my Senna versus Schumacher story. I haven’t given it too much priority of late — or rather, at all, in 2009 — due to all kinds of commitments in my personal life, work and church-related voluntary work.

So, sadly I haven’t done very much research on the 1994 French Grand Prix, let alone write the chapter. Realistically speaking, I won’t finish it in December, either, so I’ll have to aim for January at the earliest.

2009 season over: more time for writing

Christiaan W. Lustig — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:10:28 +0000

With the 2009 Formula One season now finished, I will have a couple of hours more to spend on writing ‘The Encounter Down Under’ — at least some 2 hours every other Sunday afternoon. First of all, I’ll have to finish my research for the 1994 French Grand Prix, which will be chapter 8 of my Senna versus Schumacher book. My goal is to finish this chapter in November.

Another Canada excerpt

Christiaan W. Lustig — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:49:22 +0000

As promised, here’s another short excerpt from the 1994 Canadian Grand Prix chapter.

Approaching half distance of the Canadian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Alesi pitted from third place on lap 31, leaving his position to Hill. The Briton stopped for fuel and fresh tyres two laps later, but stayed ahead of the Frenchman when returning to the track. On lap 34 Senna also stopped, handing Schumacher a massive lead of almost 40 seconds. His team’s strategy put the German spot on for victory: his one and only pit stop coming in lap 40 of 69.

Tell me what you think. Any comments are welcome.

Planning research on French GP for next week

Christiaan W. Lustig — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:30:11 +0000

With the Canadian Grand Prix chapter of my Senna versus Schumacher story all but out of the way, I can cast my gaze on the 1994 French Grand Prix. I plan to research that race — which of course saw the return of ’92 World Drivers’ Champion Nigel Mansell at Williams-Renault in real life — next week. And, though I’ve not quite managed to finish the Canadian GP in September, I hope to have the French race done by mid November.

Work on Canada done

Christiaan W. Lustig — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:42:35 +0000

Another chapter finished: I wrote the race review of the 1994 Canadian Grand Prix for The Encounter Down Under, today, and added race results and Championship standings. I’ll re-read the whole chapter this week, making ajustments where necessary, and adding some aftermath information. for which I’ll do some additional research.

Oh, and you may expect another excerpt, too.

More writing planned for next Sunday

Christiaan W. Lustig — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:49:55 +0000

Those daddy days are busy days, I have to say. Plus, I did some other things besides being with my son Nathan. And sadly that wasn’t too much writing on my Senna versus Schumacher story. However, I have planned to do some more writing this Sunday, say from 14.00 to 16.00 hours, in stead of watchting a Grand Prix.

Hoping to finish Canada chapter this Tuesday

Christiaan W. Lustig — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:24:07 +0000

I’ll have my first daddy day after starting my new job at the Evangelische Omroep, this Tuesday. I have planned to work on The Encounter Down Under’s 6th chapter, on the 1994 Canadian Grand Prix.

Hopefully my son Nathan will have a long enough morning and afternoon nap for me to finish the chapter — I only have the race still to do. If not, I have some time available in the evening, too.

Canadian GP excerpt… and a teaser, too

Christiaan W. Lustig — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:00:49 +0000

I couldn’t help myself: I just had to post an early excerpt of the Canadian Grand Prix chapter of my Senna versus Schumacher book.

The Canadian GP first appeared on the Formula One World Championship in ’67, alternating between Mosport Park in Bowmanville, in the Ontario province, and Circuit Mont-Tremblant, in Quebec. After 1971 the race permanently moved to Mosport, only to relocate to its current home on the Île Notre-Dame in Montréal in 1978.

At that first occasion, Gilles Villeneuve, a Quebec native born in nearby Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, took the chequered flag, the only time a Canadian won his home Grand Prix to date. Villeneuve later went on to win the 1982 World Championship for Ferrari, after which the Montreal circuit was named after him.

Feel free to reply; I’m very curious for your opinions.