Showing posts with label Landmarks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Landmarks. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

When Motorsports collides with Nature

As what’s that ‘Ol Kansas song about “We’re Only dust in the Wind!”

 

Recently, when Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary ellen, Alex and Her Furr-rocious’ Hoond Hang 10 Hilo were visiting. We went for some scenic viewing of a few of the Oregon coast’s natural beauty. And although I’d heard of it before, I’d never been there. As we set off for Cape Perpetua’s Devil’s Churn.

 

Naturally, being Blind, we weren’t certain how well I’d fare upon the dilapidated steps (without any Handrails) leading down to the Volcanic rock’s edge of the Devil’s Churn. And with Alex stating that the bottom steps seemed pretty “Sketchy,” I asked Mary ellen if there was someplace akin to a Railroad’s “siding” where I could stand Off of the Stairway and wait for them to return.

 

Standing alone with my White Cane in Hand, and facing the Ocean. I stood Thar listening to the wonderful, frenetic crashing sounds of Mother Nature, and more impressively, the Pacific Ocean. Yet unfortunately, my mind was soon filled with thoughts of how Churlish Max Verstappen had behaved at the Mexican Grand Prix! Which I’d only learned of after the fact.

 

Perhaps Y’all have heard of how ‘lil Maximus Hothead’, nee Max Verstappen, Who was quickly joined by Red Bull’s Christian Horner, Helmut Marco and Sergio Perez, would Not Speak to any of Sky Sports F1 TV Broadcast team. As Max was upset over how Sky Sports Pitlane Reporter Theodore, Not Lenny’ Krabitz had so derisively noted how Lewis Hamilton Had been Robbed of a record setting eighth F1 World Championship at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, during the previous round at Austin.

 

Yet surely Max is well aware that it’s the Media’s job to stoke controversy, Eh? Since Controversy is the Media’s Currency!

 

As I’ve scribbled here upon No Fenders, I’ll forever be a Fan of DER TERMINATOR’, aka Michael Schumacher, and Hence I Don’t wish to see Michael’s last, lone remaining record broken by Sir Lewis. Yet that said, I’m also not a fan of either Golden Child, aka Lewis Hamilton or Verstappen “Junior!” Since I was once a Fan of Jos “The Boss” Verstappen, but those days Have also passed!

 

As the very first words I uttered when listening to the news via my NFB Newsline for The Blind’s telephone service was WWWHAAHHHH!

 

As Max was having another Hissy Fit and acting like a Spoiled rotten Snot throwing another Tantrum!

 

Yet what I Don’t understand, is why doesn’t Max realize by acting this way, He only re-energized the story and gave it legs!

 

Then A Man came up the stairs and said Howdy to me, stopping my internal discussion, before I went back to listening to the Crashing Surf Smashing into the rocks! Which sounded like they were right in front of me on the opposite side of the Hill I was facing.

 

And as I stood Thar with my white Cane, like on Sentry Duty. Just standing there facing the weathered concrete steps perpendicular “At Ease” with both feet spread slightly apart. I tried clearing my Head of All thoughts regarding Motorsports.

 

Then a couple stopped next to me and the Man said I bet it sounds really Spectacular! Which I said yes, it sounds like it’s right in front oof me, as I pointed forwards. Before the woman said it’s in several places, regarding the Churn’s 80 foot Chasm before they continued walking up the stairs.

 

As the sounds were amazing, like an apartment’s Complex’s Garbage Dumpster being Dumped! Or when somebody let’s the heavy metal lid Slam Down when closing it! When the waves Hit the Devil’s Churn directly! With water crashing All around before far to my right, where the water went. I Heard two low rumbling Booms that reminded me of somebody’s car passing by with it’s Bass reverberating from it’s Speakers…

 

And feeling the uneven, aged concrete steps with my feet before Hearing Mary ellen yell Ahoy from below, I began pondering if the trail to the Devil’s Churn had been built by the CCC in the early 1930’s? As that’s the Civilian Conservation Corps for those unaware.

 

As the recorded History of Cape Perpetua spans back to March, 1778 when Captain James Cook bestowed the name upon it in honour of Saint Perpetua. Although the Native American Alseans lived their for century’s before being forcibly removed.

 

It became part of the newly created Siuslaw National Forest in 1908, under the U.S. Forest Service’s jurisdiction. Then a wooden bridge was built over the Yachats River connecting it to Florence.

 

Indeed, the CCC established a Camp at the base of Cape Perpetua in 1933, and were instrumental in creating it’s Campgrounds, several miles of trails, various Rockwork Walls and the west Observation Post. Which sits atop the 800 foot tall Volcanic formation.

 

Walking back up said concrete steps that potentially could be nearly a Century Old? I told Mary ellen what I’d been thinking about, and how it’s annoying that I’d let various Motorsports thoughts encroach this tranquility…

 

Interestingly, when I ask Mary Ellen such dubious questions, it always amazes me how She’ll immediately reply would Michael Schumacher Have acted like that? Which Always leads to me promptly saying No!

 

And No, I haven’t drunk the Saint Michael Kool Aid, totally aware of His being a Ruthless Bastard! Although I’m curious how Herr Schumacher would have behaved in the age of today’s Social Media?

 

And whilst I agree with Max, Lewis and Sergio over how Toxic today’s Social Media is. I have to say I’ve got a bit of a problem with Max’s “Creditability.” Since after all, His Father Jos has been Arrested multiple times for Domestic Violence charges. While His partner Kelly Piquet’s Father is totally Afraid of Homosexuality!

 

But then again, does it really matter? Since being at the Ocean inevitably makes me think of my immortality, and how Insignificant us Humans are vs. Mother Nature! And how Max, Lewis, Michael and others will just be Footnotes in History… 

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

RETRO: A Forgotten War of Two Worlds in Asia

As just think of how many people would gladly “pay Thursday” to see modern F1 v IndyCar Drivers compete for fun on a road course today! Righto Whimpy?

 

Ah, once again here in Nofendersville, Uhm? Perhaps it's time to dip into Ye Eggnog and raise a glass in Toast to Miller! Per typical, this story has been fermentin' awhile now, as it was Juan' of 'Ol 'r's countless stories showing off his amazing dearth of Open Wheel Racing knowledge several years ago.

 

As speakin' of Robin Miller, whom I'm ARSE-Sumin' still wouldn’t want thou Attenzione paid towards him and his current health issues, nevertheless it was none other than thee Oldest IndyCar Blogger Geo. Phillips who initially informed Mwah of Miller's plight Wayback over thoust Turkey-Lurkey Holiday week in November, 2017, Yikes! Before as we All know, unfortunately returned.

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2021/08/salute-robin.html

 

Author’s Note

Although I’ll Arse-sume Robin wouldn’t be impressed with my Dropping the Ball. Hey, what do Yuhs expect from a Blind Word Butcher, Eh? As Robin gave me the name of somebody to contact at USAC after I queried him about those long forgotten Formula Crane 45 racecars, I never did so and long ago lost his email reply, presumably when migrating to my winDOUGHS 10 Confuser…

 

Thus I’m finally posting this in Honour of the late Curmudgeon ‘O IndyCar’s, who never tired of helping me with my infrequent, Zany racing inquiries, which I’ve scribbled about here on No Fenders previously…

Tomaso

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2021/08/farewell-robin-miller.html

 

Across the Pacific, A long time ago…

So how many of Yuhs know about a Star Studded, True Blue Open Wheel Racing Exhibition race occurring at Japan's Mount Fuji Speedway over a half decade  ago?

 

As some, but not all of the Heavy Hitters included the 'Wee scot, nee JYS, or better known simply as Sir Jackie, (Stewart) "Uncle Bobby" and his younger brother B-I-G' AL, aka Bobby & Al Unser. Along with 'Ol Gordie', nee Gordon Johncock, Graham Hill and SuperMario', nee Mario Andretti.

 

But I'll defer to Robin's story I read several  years ago to fill in all the details of this "One-Off" race at the original Mount Fuji International Circuit in 1966 instead.

 

https://racer.com/2016/12/13/rear-view-f1-indycar-stars-race-in-japan/

 

As this led me to reminiscing 'bout some other long, faded memories of Asian racetracks, and 'Ol Formula 1 racecars, which I mused 'bout the long ago Pacific Grand Prix and those sharp looking' Benetton's previously in:

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2017/04/spanning-globe-to-some-far-flung-f1.html

 

Did someone say Reminiscing? As I can hardly wait 'til the end of the year, when I'll attempt taking a break away from here, and leave Y'all alone for several days…

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBETVhHpcPk

 

Although I was already Smitten with the upstart Benetton F1 team, I became even more engrossed by Thar very Sharp lookin' dark blue Autopolis liveried B190 Ford/Cosworth racing cars, for which was part of a strategic ploy by then Japanese Real Estate Tycoon Tomonori Tsurumaki to land a Grand Prix at his newly developed racetrack.

 

Yet I must say I truly never knew much about the man behind the Benetton sponsor, nor the exploits he'd gone thru to achieve his ambitions, which ultimately failed.

 

Mr. Tsurumaki came to the world's Attenzione when he successfully won the bid for a Pablo Picasso painting in December, 1989, when he ultimately shilled out a record $51.3 million, the most ever paid for a Picasso painting, which he immediately proclaimed would become part of his Art museum at his luxury facility Autopolis on the southernmost island of Kyushu.

 

Mr. Tsurumaki's Nippon Autopolis complex also included a nearly three mile internationally approved racetrack, for which he'd hoped to host a round of Formula 1 at soon.

 

As the facility actually encompasses three purpose built racetracks on top of a mountain, with the Full Circuit measuring 2.904 miles, the Main Circuit 1.877mi and a Lakeside Circuit of 1.094mi, all located in the Mount Aso Kuju National Park.

 

Part of Tomonori's plans included the launching of a racing series named Formula Crane 45, which reportedly utilized U.S. built Sabre FC45 single seaters powered by Buick lumps', with an order of as many as thirty chassis.

 

As originally I could only speculate that these sounded mighty similar to what the American Racing Series, (ARS) forbearer of the original Indy Lights series were utilizing then, i.e.; March 86 “Wildcat” F3000 derived chassis with 4.2-litre normally aspirated Buick V-6 lumps…

 

But now I understand why Miller wanted me to talk to somebody at USAC, since I just ran across a “Thread” on the Sabre Single Seaters at Indiana Open Wheel(dot)com titled Remember the USAC Saber Champ Car?

 

As it claims that the car was designed by Roman Slobodynskyj, which my memory tells me was the noted Designer of Dan Gurney’s Eagle USAC IndyCar’s of the early 1970’s. Specifically the 1972 Eagle that “Uncle bobby” (Unser) captured the 1972 Indianapolis 500 Pole with. And presumably the same chassis that won the 1973 and 1975 Indy 500’s.

 

As two prototypes were built utilizing Swift chassis for an intended USAC Spec series indeed with Buick lumps’, the latter I still presume being the same normally aspirated V-6 unit, with 30 cars being produced and sent to Japan  for Tomonori’s Formula Crane 45 series.

 

To inaugurate Autoplis's racetrack, at least a Quintet of 'Ol IndyCar Ringers' were invited to race in these newly acquired Sabre FC45 Spec-series single seaters Debutante outing in November, 1990. When the likes of Lonestar JR, aka Johnny Rutherford, Gary & Tony Bettenhausen, Stan Fox and Dick Simon were the guest Stars.

 

The racing circuit was designed by Yoshitoshi Sakurai and the Formula Crane 45 series lasted two seasons between 1991-92, while the circuit's only international race was a 430km Sports Car race held on October 28, 1991.

 

As this World SportsCar championship sanctioned race was won by the duo of Karl Wendlinger and Michael Schumacher co-driving Sauber's Mercedes Benz C291 3.5-litre Flat-12 powered Prototype. Winning ahead of the pair of silk Cut XJr-14 Jaguar's of Derrick Warwick and Teo Fabi, with the latter becoming that year's series Champion.

 

As Y'all may recall that Teo Fabi and his younger brother Corrado also raced in the CART/PPG IndyCar series, with Teo scoring Porsche's lone victory at Mid Ohio in '89. Not to mention taking the Pole at Mother Speedway in 1983, when Teo also was the Indy 500 Rookie Of the Year…

 

And although Autopolis would be "penciled-in" on the 1993 Formula 1 calendar provisionally, Tsurumaki ran into financial difficulty, ultimately resulting in Bankruptcy, and the Autopolis Grand Prix never occurred!

 

While the circuit, Formula Crane racing cars and more importantly, the exquisite and very expensive Art collection passed thru several hands upon it's closing in 1993, before ultimately being purchased by it's current owner, Kawasaki Motors Corporation in 2005.

 

As the Mountain-top circuit now hosts rounds of various Japanese series including the All Japan Road Race Championship (Motorcycles) and the D1 Grand Prix. (Drifting) But most notably Super GT  and Super Formula, with the likes of Stoffel Vandoorne, Pierre Gasley and Alex Palou having raced there during the past few seasons… 

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

The Tomaso Files: Deliberating A Different, Dark Day

        

No Fenders Scribe Tomaso incredulously meets the legendous' Alex Zanardi briefly at Mother Speedway on Carb Day, 2013. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

As Obviously the World’s a very Complex place, where we All face Unique Challenges…

 

This past weekend, if you Tuned into Any sporting Event or Television in general, as well as Mainstream Media, you were painfully made aware of the commemorations over the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, for which seemed nicely packaged to Tug upon the Heartstrings of Nationalistic Jingoism Honouring the Fallen.

 

Yet I cannot help thinking who are the Real Terrorists if the News I’ve just Heard and read is as Accurate as it sounds. With the Cost of War Project in association with the Watson Institute for Public and International Affairs of Brown University reporting on September 11th that the Price of Continuous Wars in the Middle East since that Fateful Day have Cost the U.S. Taxpayers $8 Trillion (minimum) as in eight Trillion Dollars! With Afghanistan alone projected to have cost $2.3 Trillion.

 

Not to mention the Horrific Casualties of Foreigners estimated between 897,000 to 929,000., i.e.; predominantly Muslims. And those are just the ones Officially reported.

 

Yet where was any mention of the Islamophobic, Racist Violence carried out upon Muslims living in the United States immediately following 9/11, and I’d presume still to this very day? Which I’d hazard to guess was every bit as Bad or Worse then the current day Xenophobic Attacks upon Asians over the COVID 19 Pandemic.

 

And while everybody was Honouring the First Responders for their Patriotic Duty. How come Nobody will talk about the fact that multitudes of those very same people have had to file Lawsuits and continuously toil in litigation in order to get Medical Benefits from the Deadly Cancers and other respiratory Ailments they contracted by working in Ground Zero’s Toxic Dump and persistent Dust Cloud that Blanketed New York City. As our very U.S. government’s EPA Director Blindly proclaimed their was No Health Hazard from prolonged Exposure in order to re-open Wall Street!

 

As the New York Daily News won a Pulitzer Prize for their reporting on the very subject in 2006, but Nobody wants to talk about that…

 

No, instead I’m thinking of how today marks the 20th Anniversary of that Horrible, Horrible Day at the Lausitzring in the former East Germany! Y’all know when Zorro’, aka Alex Zanardi almost lost his life in that Horrific Shunt with just some 13 laps remaining, just four days later…

 

As I can No longer “See” him trundling down the Pitlane on the Speed-limiter going Wog-Wog-Wog before apparently goosing the throttle and ultimately Spinning into the path of unsuspecting Alex Tagliani! As I believe that Alex was leading the race and thought he had a shot at winning…

 

As Y’all can read about my Fading Memories of Zanardi in the following No Fenders rant when commemorating then the 10th Anniversary of said accident.

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2011/09/zanardi-ten-years-later.html

 

But Zanardi has proven time again that he’s a Fighter, not only returning to the Lausitzring two years later to finish his final 13 laps in a specially outfitted Hand Control IndyCar, where his speed was good enough to have qualified 5th for the race! But returned to racing first in the European Touring Car Championship, (ETCC) debuting in late ’03 before contesting the Full 2004 ETCC season in a Hand Control adapted BMW.

 

In 2005 the ETCC became the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) where Alex scored the first of his four WTCC wins between 2005-09, before retiring from WTCC competition. Presumably in order to focus upon Handbiking instead, since he announced his intentions of representing Italy at the 2012 Paralympics.

 

As Alex first took up the sport of Handbiking basically as a “lark,” when he decided to enter the 2007 New York Marathon with only four weeks of training and summarily finished fourth in his category!

 

Since then, he’s won a Slew of Gold Medals for various competitions around the world, most notably winning his first  two Gold Medals and one Silver medal in the London 2012 Paralympics.

 

Fast Forwarding Five years ahead, Alex was mesmerizing us again with his unbelievable exploits at the 2016 Brazilian Paralympics where he captured a further two Gold Medals and another Silver Medal in Handbiking!

 

Zanardi returned to the cockpit in 2013 when he tested a BMW DTM racecar at the Nurburgring, and has subsequently competed in the BlancPain GT series, made a One-off appearance in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) in Italy, and most recently contested the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona in a specially modified Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing BMW M8 GTE Saloon.

 

Unfortunately Alex was involved in another Horrific Accident in June, 2020 when he lost control of his Handbike racing Downhill and slid Head First into the path of an oncoming Semi Truck!

 

Since then, he’s undergone multiple operations, but has first regained his Sight and Hearing, then the last news I can find upon him, claims he began speaking again this January after undergoing another operation to “Wake” his vocal chords…

 

Meanwhile, I’m not sure exactly when I first had the thought, albeit somewhere after the start of this year’s IndyCar season. Either sometime before or after the Indianapolis 500, and certainly no later then Road America.

 

As I’m completely amazed over how whenever I listen to Alex Palou speak, his charm, charisma and timre totally reminds me of Zanardi! As I feel like I’m listening to Alex’s brother, which in some small way I suppose I am…

 

Thus I find it totally Apropos, Karmic or Symbiotic that Palou not only Dominated the entire Portland IndyCar race weekend, but won from Pole after that most bizarre start that saw him and the Top 4 Drivers sent to the back of the field for Blowing the Turn 1 Festival Chicane! But I suppose it should have been expected, since after all it was the closest weekend for an IndyCar race ironically 20 years after Zanardi’s accident…

 

As Alex Zanardi will celebrate his 55th Birthday this October 23rd, for which naturally, we All Hope for it being an enjoyable day for the legendous’ Italian!

    

Friday, May 14, 2021

A late Not to Bobby Unser

As Thar will only ever be one Uncle bobby!

 

Yeah, it’s Old News now, which caught me by surprise when I first heard about it on Racer.com Monday, following the Tex-Arse’ Double Header IndyCar weekend. And I was uncertain ‘bout writing about it since it’s already been National News that’s long since Moved On due to our never ending insatiable 24/7 News Cycle.

 

Yet surely everybody has a “Uncle bobby” story or three, Righto? As I must confess I didn’t originally know about bobby Unser the Driver since he retired before I began following Open Wheel Racing in earnest. Although my introduction to Indy Cars came as a Wee lad’ Wayback in the 1970’s, but all I really remember now is the voices of Jim McKay and Chris Shenkel calling the Indianapolis 500 on a Tape-delayed format on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

 

While I’d have to say my all-time favourite IndyCar TV Broadcast Booth Trio will forever be Paul Page as “MC” or Referee? With Uncle bobby and his veritable Punching Bag Sam Posey! For which I’ll forever remember Unser’s denoting Thar’s some Slippery liquids On-track! And the perfunctory “No, you’re Wrong Sam!” Endless retorts….

 

Later on, Bobby’s notoriety grew After once punching an Albuquerque Policema at the Airport, when I think he was trying to issue him a Parking Citation. Along with Stealing an Army Tank or getting lost Snowmobiling “Out-of-Bounds,” with the National Guard being sent to find Him!.

 

Not to mention my personal favourite, when reputedly throwing a lighter into his demolished Rolls Royce during a Demolition Derby!

 

As I heard about this on a long ago edition of Speed Freaks, when they were interviewing Cary Agajanian, son of the legendous’ Promoter J.c. Agajanian.

 

As it was Carey who claimed bobby threw a lighter into the Rolls, which probably was a Silver Shadow model? Since according to the New York times Archives article dated February 23, 1973. This Demolition Derby was touted as the World’s Richest Demolition Derby featuring some 30 vehicles including Rufus Parnelli Jones in a Cadillac Eldorado and Uncle bobby in the aforementioned Rolls Royce. Noting that Unser stuffed the nose of the Rolls after Jumping a Hay bale before everybody Ganged Up on Unser and continuously rammed him!

 

The event took part sometime in early 1973 in the Los Angeles Coliseum with almost 24,000 Fans paying $156,000 to Attend! And after the Demolition Derby concluded, multiple vehicles were piled up in the center before Daredevil Extraordinaire Evel Knievel Jumped the mass of twisted carnage! Reportedly jumping a further distance than his famous Caser’s Palace Fountain’s Jump.

 

And this whole Spectacle may have also been shown on ABC’s Wide World of Sports sometime that same year?

 

As I had the good fortune of meeting Bobby Unser once in person at the IMS Flagroom, a wonderful “Watering Hole” popular Destination with All of the Drivers and Fans. Which Sadly as far as I know has been Closed for No good reason now for years, Sigh!

 

The year was 2012, when I was attending my third Indy 500 and No Fenders Offical’ Photographer Carpets’ spotted Uncle Bobby naturally Holding Court in the Flagroom, before asking me if I wanted his autograph? So Dave went and inquired with a then 78 year old Unser who said he had to go meet some people but would be back in 5mins, to which Dave said may be he’s Ducking Out on us?

 

But true to his word, Bobby returned and after Dave guided me towards Uncle Bobby, telling me everything I couldn’t Ask HIM! Bobby promptly stuck out his hand to me before pumping it firmly. Then after signing a Miller Lite table-top Advert’, he turned round and put his hand on my shoulder and began directing me which way to stand and look at the camera for the best picture, which naturally I dually complied!

 

Whilst I know one year following one of the Legend’s Day Autograph sessions, as I can no longer recall if it was 2012 or 2013? Where Dave spotted Johnny Unser alone outside, and we saddled up to him to just say “Hi.” As Carpets’ asked him something about Uncle Bobby, to which Johnny said Yeah, He’s still telling me how to coil up the (garden) hoses outside the Motorhome correctly!

 

And then last year, the night before the fairly Surreal running of the Indy 500 in August! As I eagerly awaited the running of the race, I sat transfixed at my Confuzer’ “watching,” Err listening for nearly an hour to ‘Ol R’, aka Robin Miller as MC of a Hilarious Bobby Unser Roast that was held at the famous Stutz building in Indianapolis in 2018.

 

As the then 84 year old Unser was being Roasted in front of approximately 150 “guests” honouring bobby on the 50th anniversary of his first Indianapolis 500 victory.

 

As Miller does a very good Undle Bobby impersonation, where I learned the legend of Bobby’s praying upon innocent women to cook him a Turkey dinner! While El Capitano’, nee Roger Penske was full of “Piss ‘N vinegar’ towards his former driver. With former Penske team-mate “Rocket Rick” Mears getting in on the action. Along with Rufus Parnelli Jones and Lonestar JR’ (Johnny Rutherford) featured on the Racer.com video.

 

As Y’all can find this Hilarious bit ‘O tomfoolery by simply searching for the Racer article titled Retro: The Roast of Bobby Unser. (August 22, 2020)

 

And All of this doesn’t even address his driving ability, after all having won the Indianapolis 500 in three different decades, 35 IndyCar wins, 52 Poles and two National Championships for starters. Not to mention being the King of Pikes Peak with an unbelieveable 13 victories!

 

And while it’s the Character of Uncle bobby we cherish the most. I have to say I always find it somewhat ironic how he likes to wax On ‘N On ‘bout Formula 1 Drivers being Sissies whenever on Speed Freaks!

 

Yet he himself once contested the 1968 United States grand Prix as a third BRM entry and summarily got his Arse waxed! After being Disqualified from that year’s Italian Grand Prix along with SuperMario’, (Andretti) but that’s a whole nother story… 

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

A Prince, Slowhand' and A Pair of Ecclestone's



Ah, where's 'Ol Dirty Harry when Yuhs needs him to sort out this Sordid Tale? Like Did's I Fire Five Shots or Six? And I Didn't shoot No Deputy...

Yeah, you're probably All getting tired of my constant Droning on 'bout the never ending mist of Synchronicity Shrouding thoust Isle 'O Nofendersville...

But it's funny how it's constantly Zapping Mwah, akin to static electricity! Having just scribbled briefly 'bout 'Ol Slowhand, aka EC' or Eric Clapton being chummy with 'Ol Uncle Bernaughty, ergo Bernard Charles Ecclestone, and Shuhzamm!

Clapton's name first came alight for Mwah most recently when transfixed whilst reading; err listening to Pete Townshend's most enjoyable memoir Who I am, where he notes helping EC' battle his Heroin Addiction, including putting together a Benefit Concert  to entice Slowhand' back into making his Gee-Tar "Gently Weep!"

As this show was billed as The Rainbow Concert, appropriately taking place at London's newly anointed Rainbow Theatre in January 1973, in what originally was The Finns bury Park Astoria Cinema in 1930.

And was Billed as Clapton's Comeback concert following his playing Hiatus during this portion of his battling various Addictions...

Also having now just learned that The Who's Long Live Rock song was in Deference to a Concert at this cherished London landmark...





But that's just the Prequel to this No Fenders rant, since what Peaked'; Hmm? Where'd 'Ol Dan-Dan-Danicker' G-O? Whilst ironically thoust Disco Queen 'O IndyCar's was once Unflatteringly compared with kitchen Appliances by none other than that Dastardly Uncle Bernaughty! But I Digress...

Nope, what Peaked my interest in the Vanity Fair article was the inclusion of the name Ecclestone, albeit ultimately both Bernie and Petra play Supporting Roles in thou Sordid Tale of Forgeries!

As Petra Ecclestone, Bernie's youngest Daughter currently, since I've just learned his latest wife Fabiana Flosi is expecting to make the 89yr old former F1 Supremo a Poppa again, Yikes!

Hmm, somehow I cannot picture the 89yr old Billionaire getting his Hands Dirty changing Nappies'; Oh Never Mind!

Uhm, back to Petra who married a British Bloke named James Stunt Wayback in 2011, where none other than Slowhand' was one of the many musical guests at the couple's Fairytale wedding that Bernie shelled out $19 million for; Aye Karumba!

As Petra wanted to have the Biggest, Splashiest Mansion in La-La Land' for the couple - Shilled out $85m in Cash, Sight Unseen for The Manor! Reportedly Los Angeles's largest home at a whopping 57,000 square feet and formerly the home of Aaron and Candy Spelling. Petra subsequently sold the property in 2019 for nearly $120m.

Petra also introduced Hubby Jimbo' into thou rarefied world of Art, whom reportedly took like A Duck to Water in not only learning about the masters, i.e.; Rembrandt, Monet, Dali, Picasso, etc, but also began his passion for collecting and profiting upon Art acquisitions.

Yet how the mighty fall, Eh? Since after Petra Divorced James in 2017, the Billionaire has seen his world come ah-crashin' Down mightly, for which not surprisingly he Blames Uncle bernaughty!

But Y'all are saying where does the Prince come into this? And Prince Who?  Well that's where the story get's juicy for Mwah, as Messer Stunt who claims to be a good Buddy of the Prince of Whales, a bloke named Charles is Arse-sumedly now Persona Non Grata with Thee Prince!

As Stunt, for which some are claiming his last name is most apropos for this Caper! Began by James loaning 17 pieces of cherished Artwork to Prince Charles Prince's Foundation Charity, for which several pieces were promptly put on display at Dumfries House in Scotland in prominent locations.

Yet Scandal Broke out in Fall, 2019 when that British Rag The Daily Mail Broke the Headlines that Prince Charles had been Scammed! With four pieces of this loaned collection being Fakes!

And although James called Bernie and Petra Nasty Names during the Divorce proceedings,
including calling Bernie a nasty four letter C-word in court! Alas, once again Uncle Bernaughty who's No Stranger to Court Trials comes out Smelling like a Rose!

As who did James think he was Dealing with? As Ecclestone Senior's Nom de Plume "the Teflon Man" should have been warning enough! After all didn't he know that Bernie Bought his way out of a Bribery Trial in Germany for a cool $100 million when?


Whilst obviously Nobody pulls A Fast One upon the Royal Family! As long live Rock indeed!