"I had long been an F1 fan until they became so elitest"

You mean until it became boring? (about 4 or 5 years ago?)

I was a fan from around 1970 until that time. I am sure to open up another can of worms but I maintain that despite Schumacher's achievements, Ayrton Senna was the best driver I watched.

I dont think they have has an oval track in F1 for 25 years. Possibly the Nurburgring at the time of Lauda's crash was the last. I guess the Suzuka figure of 8 track is the closest.

Ive been to the disused oval at Rio De Janeiro, but before they opened the Sao Paolo track (must be about 15 years ago) I dont recall ever actually seeing an F1 race in Brazil.