But how many know about Him?
Its funny what we as individuals pay Attenzione
to, or choose to ignore.
Case-in-point, naturally the words Le Mans
winner will “Peak” my Attenzione. And no, I won’t elabourate on the Danica
peaking pun intended. Which Arse-sumedly, most have forgotten by now…
The second part of the obituary that intrigued
Mwah was the mention of the gritty city of Tacoma, Washington. Although I have
to say the sir name of Hindery did nothing for me.
Leo Hindery Jr was born in Springfield, Illinois
on Halloween of 1947, and died at age 77 in Zurich, Switzerland on September
18, 2025.
Leo grew up in Tacoma, where His father was a
manager at a Sears Roebuck store. Completing His undergraduate studies at
Seattle University, followed by a MBA from Stanford University.
After a few jobs, Leo founded InterMedia
Partners. A Cable TV company that eventually grew to nearly three million
customers. This was then sold to TCI, (Tele-Communications Inc.) the nation’s largest
Cable TV company. Co-founded by the ominous John c. Malone. With Hindery
ultimately becoming President and CEO of TCI.
Yes, that same John Carl Malone, that Al Gore
called the Darth Vader of Wall Street Me Thinks! Or simply Darth Vader for His
prodigious consumption of media companies. Whose now Chairman of Liberty Media,
Liberty Global and the Qurate Retail Group. Whatever the latter is?
Although Malone, now 84 years old, has just
announced His stepping down as Chairman of Liberty Media and Liberty global at
year’s end. And will take up the new role of Chairman Emeritus on January 1st.
Although I’m guessing He’ll be treated better than former Liberty Media
Chairman Emeritus Uncle Bernaughty!
Hindery became smitten with motor racing after
being given a gift certificate to the Richard Petty Driving Experience in the
early 1990’s.
As Hindery’s third wife was Patty Wheeler,
daughter of the irrepressible PT Barnum of Stock Car racing, Humpy Wheeler.
With the couple marrying in 2005.
Hindery would go onto race at Circuit de la
Sarthe, finishing second in the GT Class in 2003. Before winning the GT2
category two years later. Driving a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR with co-drivers Marc
Lieb and Mike Rocky’ Rockenfeller, for Alex Job Racing. Finishing 10th overall,
38-laps behind the winning Audi R8 of Mr. Le Mans, aka Tom Kristensen, JJ Letho
and Marco Werner.
As I’ve forgotten the exact quote now from His
New York Times Obituary. But it was something to the effect of why He liked
motor racing so much. Noting that the Chequered Flag doesn’t care who you are,
or how many successful Deals you make in the Boardroom…
Whilst interestingly, I was unaware that Leo
had been Chairman of Port Imperial Racing Associates, promoter of the failed
Grand Prix of America in Weehawken, New Jersey.
Having been announced in 2011 as the Port
Imperial Street Circuit with a length of 3.2-miles, and resembling Monaco’s race.
Although its elevation changes thru the Jersey’ Palisades were higher and the
lap time was predicted to be quicker.
The race was first scheduled for June 16, 2013,
before being postponed. With Bernie Ecclestone saying the contract had been
annulled due to breech of contract.
Yet the race was subsequently scheduled for
June 1, 2014, before once again running into financial difficulty. With the
race quietly disappearing, and not being listed on the 2015 F1 Calendar.
As oddly, what I remember most about this failed attempt is ‘lil syd viddle’, aka Sebastian Vettel running demonstration Hot-laps over the proposed circuit in some sort of Nissan Infiniti automobile. When Infiniti was then Red Bull Racing’s title sponsor…
