ROLEX 24 BLOGATHON

So I won’t be taking part and hence am really not too sure what IT’S all about, but over at a Blogsite called GrabBagSports.com, they’ll once again be hosting their annual Rolex 24 at Daytona Blogathon...

And I think Wedge and the Speed Geek have dropped by No Fenders in the past... As I know they’re the ‘Juan’s who got me going BIG Game Huntin’ over Justin Bell’s final TV Broadcast at LeMans last year, saying he’d only be writing books from now on; Hya! Which got me to chase him down and get an interview with him, so I have to say Thanxs to Justin and hope he at least finishes ahead of the No. 56 Ferrari...

And I just listened to the GBS 2012 Blogathon Preview Podcast and was immediately struck by how serious these Dudes are, especially Mike, who’s apparently making it his mission to finally watch that EPIC racing film Driven as part of this year’s Blogathon activities... While Alan muses without bursting into laughter how its Cinematography is Monumental and every motorsports film should revolve around the extremely high standards Driven reaches; Hoohah!

As I’ll never forget ‘Aunty Harriet saying repeatedly “I wanna go see Drive!” Of which I had the good pleasure of taking her to at a “Regal Beagle” theatre. And while I recall the theatre not being overly crowded, I can still hear Joe Tonto whistlin’ Dixie whilst picking up Qarters with his Flinstone sticky rubber tyres... See Mike, this is exactly the type of epic cinematography ‘Wedge was alluding too; Hee-hee-hee! So good luck with the 24hrs ‘O Blogging Boyz and enjoy the FREE movie Driven slated for 1AM Saturday night ‘Somme-wares, as I DON’T know if that’s Seattle/Pacific or NY/INDY/East Coast time?

2012 GBS Blogathon Preview Podcast

ROLEX 24: It’s Almost Showtime! Check out SPEED’s TV Coverage this weekend...

So, if you’ve been ‘Jonezin’ for some real Honest-to-goodness racing action - instead of those 30-minute Dakar Vignette’s... Then Y’all most likely will wanna tune-in to this weekend’s 24hrs of Daytona, more calmingly known as thee Rolex 24, which will be aired live on SPEED and speed.com over the duration of the event, with TV coverage beginning at 2:30PM ET with a 1hr pre-race show before the green flag is dropped at 3:30PM ET Saturday, January 28^th.

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!

SPEED Flag-to-Flag coverage

’Rubino to Indy Cars?

Meanwhile the Formula 1 world’s all a flutter, perhaps? Chirp Chirp... Over the news that the sports most experienced driver may be headed stateside for the vaunted IndyCar Series...

As ex-Williams F1 driver Rubens Barrichello, who is the only Formula 1 driver to make over 300 Grand Prix starts and will turn the B-I-G 4-Oh on May 30^th, is slated for a two day test at Sebring this coming Monday-Tuesday; Hmm? NOTHIN’ to do with his good friend & fellow Brazilian ‘TK’s (Tony Kanaan) last minute pull-out of this weekend’s Rolex 24, eh? NOT!

But I’m sure Kanaan will be on hand to help ‘Rubens get to grips with the team’s Dallara DW12-Chevrolet. As after all the test is just down the road at the rival Sebring circuit...

Barrichello to test Indy Car?

ROLEX 24: Three Amigos out of this year’s race...

Just saw the news that ‘TK “Follow-your-Schnoz” Kanaan, EJ “What Me, Worry?” Viso and Bully Boy Ryan Hunter-Reay will not be taking part in this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona aboard the No. 2 Starworks Riley-Ford DP due to their sponsor backing out at the last moment... As Kanaan was looking forward to making his Rolex 24 debut this weekend; so better luck next year ‘TK!

TEAM SEATTLE set once again to race for Children at Rolex 24 with Dempsey Racing

Dempsey Racing Mazda RX8, source: teamseattle.com

Once again, in what’s now a very long standing tradition; Team Seattle will take up its yearly challenge in the Rolex 24 at Daytona - running under the Dempsey Racing banner... Yeah, as in “Dr. McDreamy,” aka Patrick Dempsey of Grays Anatomy; although unlike years past, where Team Seattle ran a two-car operation, nevertheless, they’ll be running the No. 41 Mazda RX8 with drivers Ian James, Don Kitch Jr, Scott Maxwell and Dan Rogers who’ll be raising money for our local Seattle Children’s Hospital for each lap completed...

While Dempsey will co-drive with his business partner Joe Foster plus Charles Espenlaub and Tom Long in the lead Dempsey Racing No. 40 rotary powered Mazda - which by all accounts the two cars tested very well recently.

Team Seattle Daytona Test Report

Dempsey you may recall was part team owner in Vision Racing and also drove the Pace Car at Indianapolis before settling into his guest driver Gig - whenever his acting schedule permits. As he’s raced at Daytona several times and not only will drive his team’s Mazda, but also an Aston Martin Vantage in the support series...

Patrick has also raced at Circuit de la Sarthe in 2009, once again for Team Seattle behind the wheel of a Ferrari 430 in the GT2 category and also has plans to graduate to the LM2/LMC category sometime this year, potentially debuting at Le Mans once again? Although it’s interesting to note that his insurance policy forbids any open cockpit machinery...

Dempsey confirms LM2 program

So good luck numbers 40-41, especially the Team Seattle No. 41 this weekend!

Klaxon Bells abound!

ALL HANDS TO BATTLE STATIONS!

ALL HANDS TO BATTLE STATIONS!

THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

As riddle me this? Why in tarnations would you have a car alarm if you weren’t gonna FREAKIN’ turn it OFF when activated sporadically for 3+ hours; WTF?

As the somewhat fleeting silence of early morning Dawn was shattered at 5:03AM this morning by some bodies FRILLIN’ car alarm going OFF right outside my window. Then somewhere’s around 6AM-ish before beginning a ridiculous 35+ minute cycle at 6:50AM; SHEISA! And then again and again and again - with the last time I looked at the clock being 8:11AM; FUCK!

But hey, at least it wasn’t Molotov cocktails for breakfast which is becoming the Breakfas ‘O Champions; Err de riggour in someplace called Bahrain, which is ramping up towards the one year Anniversary of the Pearl Roundabout massacres - noting that our very own Government has just issued a travel advisory...

The Bahrain dilemma

OOPS! Sorry ‘bout ‘Dat, as first Randy “The CandyMann” Bernard and then the newly minted COO Marc Koretzky has said we here in Bloggerland or in the WeaveUhSphere need to be more Happy Happy Joy Joy; Err positive... BUTT! Why in the HE “Double Hockey sticks” can I NOT find a single link on ze internetz telling me what his name is?

Then again, wasn’t that positive by denoting how it was only a FUCKING DINGBATS Car Alarm vs. Stun-grenades, Tear-gas canisters, Molotov cocktails, Riot Police and Civil unrest?

As here comes the locust sounding drone of the Leaf-blower brigade, the 'Juans who blew dirt 'N debris into my Storage locker... Oh Never Mind!

Peugeot Quits Endurance Racing

In another shocking blow to the motorsports world, Peugeot has unexpectedly quit Sports Car racing immediately, and therefore will not contest either this year’s 24 Heurs du Mans or the new World Endurance Championship (WEC) which kicks off with this year’s 60^th running of the 12-hours of Sebring...

Hmm? I guess it’s a good thing that le Hamburgular and Symone Pagenoe, nee Sebastian Bourdais & Simon Pagenaud respectively - both factory Peugeot drivers have decided to come stateside and go IndyCar racing instead...

Peugeot Pulls the Plug on Factory effort