Friday, September 28, 2018

F1: Will the German Grand Prix return?



As Hopefully Liberty Media will put its Money where its Mouth is, regarding keeping the Historical Grands Prix on the F1 Calendar...

Yeah, here I go again. Spoutin' on 'bout thou Seas 'O Synchronicity surrounding Nofendersville Isle... As it's somewhat Apropos that the final Formula 1 race I'll be watching; Err listening to on Thy Telie' for the foreseeable future, as I madly try poondin' out one more story before stopping Thy No Fender Press!

Was the German Grand Prix Wayback on July 22nd. As it's hard to believe it was ten years ago I attended the race with Kuhnaidiun' No Fenders Contributor Claire. When some Fresh Faced Punk named Lewis Hamilton won the race.


As I felt a really strong urge Wayback then to attend partially due to it being Jimmy Clark's 40th Anniversary of his Death on the "Real" Un-neutered Hockenheimring.


While Sports Car great Derek Bell reminisces over the legendous' Jimmy Clark's tragedy 50 years later over the German Grands Prix weekend...


While now 'lil Sid Viddle, nee Wonderboy Seb' Vettel's apparently worried 'bout the future of his Home race, since the promoters cannot afford to keep paying the traditional escalator clause in the F1 Contract; Ja Volt!


Which is totally familiar to Mwah, since I've just been effectively priced out of my living Domicile due to the unrelenting yearly rent increases here in the Pacific Northwest!

As I'd hoped to scribble Somme-thun' more definitive upon the German Grands Prix plight, and possible replacement venues, if the Nurburgring cannot reclaim its rightful status upon the F1 Calendar.

But Alas, I've simply run outta time, as the clock's run down to 0, my Flying lap won't count, as I'll not manage to Survive Qualies' Q1 session - And the Moving Truck's here; Ariva-Ariva-Ariva!


German Grand Prix reprieve
After I'd initially posted this story to "the Cloud;" Err No Fenders for release into the wilds... Low 'N Behold, thou Mustachioed One, aka "Chevy" Chase Carey was Delighted to announce that the German Grand Prix would be retained for 2019.

As naturally Mr. Carey's happy, since this keeps the Formula 1 calendar bulging with 21 races, which feeds his Billfold, Eh?

But it's nice to know that the German Grand Prix will be held two years in-a-row for the first time since 2013-2014, along with the first time back-to-back at Der Hockenheimring since 2005-06.

Ah, but to think once upon a time when some Chap named Schumacher was Decimating the F1 Arena, Thar were actually two Grands Prix held per season in Germany...

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

RETRO: Long Forgotten Race of Two Worlds



For which I've already missed posting this upon the 60th anniversary of both of its two incarnations...

Although I've missed the Anniversary of the second, and final Race of Two Worlds races contested sixty years ago this summer upon Monza, Italy's long abandoned Oval-track, contested on Sunday June 29, 1958; Momma Mia!

Nonetheless, as I'm raging thou own Race 'O 2 Worlds," aka moving somewheres' New after 21yrs Bliss at my former Domicile; but I digress...

Alas, I just wanted to try posting Something Quick regarding those long forgotten unique 500 miler' races Cheekily coined the Monzappolis',
pitting America's top Open Wheel Racers vs. the European Formula 1 lads' at le Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

For which I had the privilege of once briefly climbing the abandoned Banking, after our Grand Prix Tours Guest Host, a Chap by the name of Phil Hill had challenged our tour's group to try doing Wayback in the fall of 1999.

What's that? Y'all don't know what I'm talking about? As this short-lived two year experiment's format pitted 10 Yanks' vs. 10 Europeans, in hopes of promoting Oval racing Across thou Puddle between 1957-58.

Although the Formula 1 Fraternity skipped competing the first year, with three Ecurie Ecosse '57 Le Mans Jaguar D Types competing instead, having just won that year's 24 Heurs du Mans.

With a lone Privateer Ferrari and a lone Maserati 250F entered for "Works" Driver Jean Behra attending. As the Formula 1 Drivers protested the race on the grounds the Banked Oval was too Dangerous! Seeing a total of 15 competitors for the inaugural outing.

As the USAC Drivers ultimately included six Indy 500 winners. With the likes of Jimmy Bryan, Troy Ruttman, Roger Ward and some Cat known as 'Ol Supertex', aka Anthony Joseph Foyt, Jr leading the way.

Although I subsequently noticed Johnny Parsons name upon the entry list. Along with Jim Rathman's.

While the Formula 1 fraternity showing up in '58 included threeF1 World Champions, led by the legendous' El Maestro', aka Juan Manuel Fangio, driving a "loaner" Dean Van Lines IndyCar. Plus Phil Hill and Mike Hawthorn.






Along with the luminous Sir Stirling Moss and Maurice Trintignant.
With the latter running the second USAC "loaner" brought along for F1 Drivers to use.

And American Formula 1 Pilotes' Harry Schell and Masten Gregory were also in the mix., with Gregory chauffeuring a Jaguar D Type.

As Thar were quite an assortment of machinery, with Ferrari entering two modified chassis, the 412 MI and the 296 MI. While Maserati built the Eldarado Ice Cream Special for Moss.

A lone Lister Storm Sports Car with a Jaguar D Type six cylinder lump' was given a roadster body of unpainted aluminum and fitted with USAC style "Flinstone" (Firestone) rubber out-back.

Tony Bettenhausen and Paul Russo piloted the two Novi's shipped to Europe following the 1957 Indy 500, with the majority of USAC's contingent racing Kurtis Kraft Roadsters. Although Watson Roadster's were included too.

Another chassis of note was the North American Racing Team's (NART) Ferrari 375 Indy roadster that attempted to qualify for the '52 Indy 500 being driven by the aforementioned Schell.

Yet after the second running, the Automobile Club of Milan cancelled the event on the basis it cost too much to Host, after both year's events were won by the visiting Americans...

Monday, September 24, 2018

Moto2 Rider Sacked after Dastardly On-track Behaviour



By now, Y'all have surely heard of scorned Moto2 rider Romano Fenati's inexcusable actions during the most recent San Marino Grand Prix round, when the Italian apparently had Brain Fade when deciding to pull the Brake lever on a fellow Moto2 competitor at some 140mph; SHEISA!

As there's simply NO plausible explanation for such Dastardly actions during a race, especially when it's on motorcycles, which aren't exactly known for their overabundance of safety features!

As I totally applaud and agree with the Moto2 Teams' decision to swiftly terminate his contract and immediately dismiss him from their organization!




While Moto Matters contributor David Emmett has penned the following article detailing the young Italian's fall from grace in;


And the Hits just keep Ah-Comin' for this thoroughly Disgraced Moto2 Rider. As now the FIM's taken his license away.


Ironically, or Cruelly? It just so happened that a most Disparaging Anniversary of another Motorcycle racing incident was quietly being marked over the very same weekend. As Motorsport Magazine Hack' Matt Oxley was commiserating over three times consecutive 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey's career ending accident 25 years ago at the very same racetrack...