Imagine Accessibility for the Blind, RACER!

Y’all know I couldn’t leave this one Alone…

 

“Imagine there’s no Heaven

It’s easy if you try

No Hell below us

Above us, only sky”

 

VIDEO: Imagine Piano cover

 

The RACER article’s title simply made my blood boil! Since RACER has made it’s website a veritable piece ‘O Horse Puckey for Mwah!

 

“What can Brown do for You?”

 

The title in question was New RACER magazine gets into reimagining mode, No shit Sherlock!

 

For those unaware, RACER launched it’s new & improved, Cough-cough, Bullshit! Website on May 12, 2025. When I discovered just three days before that year’s Month ‘O May festivities began in earnest. That my screen reader could no longer read any of the RACER article titles or Author’s Bio bylines, WTF!

 

Turns out that RACER regrettably decided to go All Tokyo Fly by Night Flash Grenades Dry Ice on it’s website redesign, Sigh!

 

Unfortunately this included turning All of said article Header titles and Authors names into graphics, which screen readers cannot read!

 

And its now over one year since I first contacted RACER about this matter. Having swapped numerous emails supposedly with their Webmaster, Programmer along with the Editor, all to no avail!

 

As RACER refuses to make their website WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliant. The Internet forum’s guidelines for making it accessible to everyone on the planet, including those visually impaired and Blind.

 

Can you Hear me now RACER?

 

Yeah, I know I’m taking the RACER article’s title somewhat out of context, But! Imagine instead of having to play Wack-Ah-Mole by blindly opening every single unreadable story link, which my screen reader reads out loud as: Link Article page, Link Article category, Link Article page, By, Author’s profile page.

 

And that’s before we even get to the issue of how retarded the various individual racing section pages, i.e.; F1, IndyCar, IMSA, etc. are.

 

Each having the exact same myriad of Most Popular articles to page down thru before getting to the individual section I chose.

 

As you guessed it, those redundant Most Popular article titles also simply read out loud as link Article page, Urgh!

 

Yeah RACER, imagine your website being accessible to a longtime, Diehard Blind Motorsports enthusiast, Oh Never Mind! Why would you bother doing that? 

PHOTO: Felix forever

Indianapolis Star newspaper photo of Felix Rosenqvist. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

I’m told that the newspaper’s caption reads Felix forever! As He joyously pours milk over His head in victory lane after winning this year’s Indianapolis 500. Which we all know was the closest finish ever in history, a scant 0.0233 seconds, eclipsing the 1992 record of 0.043 seconds set by Al Unser Jr.

 

Funniest part after Felix-the-Cat’s monumental victory was during His winners interview with IndyCar Radio’s Alex Wolff. Who’s got a tradition of giving His Mom’s homemade cookies out to various co-workers and drivers, which has become common with Rosenqvist.

 

So it was hilarious hearing Alex present Him with one of His mom’s cookie’s in victory lane. And after Felix said thank you very much, I swear I heard the Cat chewing His cookie.

 

VIDEO: Felix Rosenqvist winner’s interview

 

Photo C/O No Fenders Offical’ Photographer CARPETS’ 

Indy Road Course tidbits

Which became a very long, but entertaining day for some of us…

 

Question. Am I expecting too mucho by thinking that IndyCar Radio should have “broken-in” to their canned rerun’s and told us that qualifying was in a hold Friday?

 

Having listened to a very entertaining Indy NXT race, complete with a red flag to allow for the fitting of rain tyres. The broadcast ended at 2:14PM Pacific, which I was happy hearing how “Stoked” Enzo Fittipaldi was during His winner’s interview, but.

 

Got pretty tired of the cliché of stop me if you’ve heard this before. A Fittipaldi wins at Indianapolis…

 

As it was Enzo’s maiden win in Indy NXT, being the grandson of two-times Indianapolis 500 winner Emmo’, aka Emerson Fittipaldi.

 

2:30PM came ‘n went, ironically or karmically/ The driver I’d been trying to come up with a nickname for, i.e.; The Count, aka Rinus VeeKay presumably discussing His lone IndyCar win with Nicky Salt’ yeoman

 

After playing two-plus minutes of the pre-broadcast countdown blather, followed by more commercials. It was 2:47PM and we’re in the midst of an old First to The Flag episode featuring Symone’, aka Pageantry’, nee Simon Pagenaud’s breakthrough victory at Belle Isle. (2013)

 

As it was fun hearing Mike Yippee-Aye-Eh! King tell Driver Analyst and first time team owner Davey Hamilton to leave the booth early to go celebrate in victory lane! As Pagenaud won for Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports running the HP sponsorship Davey brought to the team.

 

Then at 2:58PM more commercials were followed by Yeoman interviewing DJ WillyP’, ergo Will Power on the pitfalls of making it to Indy Cars…

 

This was followed by Paul Page and a very old Indy 500 race, making me wonder if something was wrong with my browser’s connection? So I closed out the program and reconnected to IndyCar Radio, which had now morphed into Mark James calling the 101st Indy 500, Urgh!

 

Obviously Qualie’ must have been Rained out, but I thought they had rain tyres for road courses and street circuits…

 

Decided to ask “Mr. Google”, which was hilarious, since I got three different AI generated answers. First telling me Yes, qualifying has already occurred, when asking at 3:18PM Pacific.

 

Then Yes, qualifying is on FS1 at 2:30PM Pacific. Before finally I got a link to Trackside Online (TSO) saying Qualifying had been postponed until Saturday morning. With the funniest part being the TSO article was written by Bruce Martin, who I thought was writing for IndyCar.

 

Fast-forwarding to Saturday morning’s 7:45Am Pacific IndyCar qualifying being shown on two different Fox Sports channels…

 

During Group-1, Round One’s Qualie’, believe it was Mark Gravelly’ James who casually said that Alexander rossi was one of six drivers to have won both on the road course and oval.

 

Naturally this made me start pondering this trivia question. As I could only come up with five, albeit guessing the sixth had to be Schlick’, Righto?

 

The first to complete the “Double” was Will Power in 2018. Followed by Simon Pagenaud in 2019

 

Third to the party was Scott Dixon in 2020. Before Rossi joined this club in 2022. Followed by Josef Newgarden in 2023, and our newest member “The Surgeon”, aka Alex Palou in 2025.

 

Indianapolis Road Course Winners

(5) Will Power: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020*, 2021*

(3) Simon Pagenaud: 2014, 2016, 2019

(3) Alex Palou: 2023, 2024, 2025

(2) Scott Dixon: 2020*, 2023*

(1) Josef Newgarden: 2020*

(1) Alexander Rossi: 2022*

 

Notes

From 2020 to 2023, IndyCar held a second IMS road course race in conjunction with the NASCAR Brickyard 200 weekend; known as the Gallagher Grand Prix. Also known as the summer race.

 

Scott Dixon claimed both of His road course wins during these summer events. Along with Will Power in 2021, and Alexander Rossi’s latest IndyCar win in August, 2022.

 

The Harvest Grand Prix was held as a Double Header during the weekend of October 2-3, 2020 in order to make up for the raft of COVID-19 race cancellations. Serving as a support event  to the inaugural 8 Hours Intercontinental GT Challenge.

 

Josef Newgarden won Race-1 on October 2nd, and Will Power won Race-2 on October 3rd.

 

Lastly, it was also mentioned during qualifying for pole, that there were four former Indy road course pole sitters in the Fast Six shootout, i.e.; Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Christian Lundgaard. 

Intrepid 91 year old Traveler returns to Eugene

But can you truly, really ever go Home?

 

What’s that ‘Ol Forest Gump saying ‘bout “Life’s A Bowl of Chocolates?”

 

As I “read” the following Register Guard, my nearest local newspaper I can listen to via my Newsline for The Blind’s telephone service, late Thursday evening. As the tears just rolled down my eyes!

 

The story’s about Peggy Starr, who at 91 years “young”, decided She’d had enough of Wisconsin’s miserably cold, snowy winters! And decided to move back “Home”, having lived in Eugene, Oregon some twenty years ago.

 

Ironically, on the very same day I went and “saw” the movie Crime 101. Which is an excellent movie, albeit probably out on Amazon Prime now?

 

There’s a scene in the movie driving thru some of Los Angeles Homeless areas, and how once of the characters used to be one of them…

 

While Peggy noted that the materialism and what we’ve become as a country thoroughly disappointed Her as She rolled across the Nation. Not to mention the landscape had totally changed…

 

But the part that choked me up, was here’s the 91 year old woman with three suitcases and Her walker getting off the train in Eugene with essentially no plan on where to go?

 

And the amazing humanity of complete strangers seeing Her, and offering to help unconditionally. Getting Peggy situated in a Motel 6 at a reduced Senior rate before this amazing family took Peggy in. Until She can hopefully get into Senior Housing.

 

If you’re not aware, there’s a total lack of Affordable Housing today! Not to mention Senior and Disable Housing, with most programs taking a minimum of one year to get in. And in many cases 2-3 years.

 

Knowing one woman who waited multiple years before finally being accepted. A second who waited multiple years before giving up, and a third who’s still waiting…

 

Not to mention how one has to be truly poor, not just barely making “Ends Meat” or living just above the artificially low poverty line.

 

And in Peggy’s case, Seniors need to not be too “Sharp” or with-it. In order to be fast-tracked into Assisted Living or Senior Housing, applicants need to be suffering from Alzheimer’s, Dementia, etc.

 

It’s a wonderful article about true life, which I recommend reading. And the article also includes the Go fund Me page set-up for Peggy, who’ve truly one of the lucky ones!

 

As I love Peggy’s gumption. Saying She hasn’t owned a television for 45 years, but that doesn’t mean She won’t watch it. Requesting to watch Gone With the Wind, before realizing it’s a four hours long movie. Saying Lordee!

 

Peggy Starr, 91, finds caring strangers in Eugene

 

I had one Helluva time finding a hyperlink to the story that would work “correctly”. Hence the USA Today article link instead. Since I couldn’t get The Register Guard to cooperate… 

Fandom Killing, iHeart style

Can you Hear me now iHeart Radio!

 

Every fall, when motor racing’s primarily over and I’m looking for other sporting events for “entertainment’s” value. I get sucked into the never ending, nauseating iHeart Radio vortex, which instantly leaves me fuming!

 

Believe it was a year ago when I painfully tried tuning into a Sounders FC playoffs match. Pulling up the requisite radio channel on Ye Intrawoods’, (internet) only to be told repeatedly. Thanks for tuning in but you’re not allowed to listen to Play by Play radio. Check the iHeart Radio App if you feel you’ve reached this in error, WTF?

 

As I’d run into this same Buzz Joy Killer one year earlier when foolishly trying to listen to a Seahawks playoff game, Sigh! Why are you precluding me from listening, you Bastardoes!

 

Now here’s the rub. Even though I got the first match’s start time wrong. Tuning in at 7PM Pacific, for the start of the second Half. Game

1 of the Sounders FC vs. Minnesota Loons came piping in crystal clear with decent sound via Seattle’s KJR Radio 950AM. Which unfortunately Seattle lost 3-2 in PK’s, ergo Penalty Kick Shootout at Allianz Stadium.

 

Hmm, I still remember visiting the local Allianz insurance office in Traben-Trarbach, when visiting  Germany in 2002. When they sponsored the Williams BMW Formula 1 team. Having noticed a poster in the window. The man in the office was quite confused over why we Americans would want a poster or were so excited about it? Before He ended up giving us three Allianz F1 posters; two of Ralf Schumacher, and one of Juan Pablo Montoya. As the blue and white Team Willy’ Cars were quite Sharp lookin’, but I digress…

 

So I waited a week for the second match of the first round between Seattle and Minnesota at Lumen Field. And naturally was Cornfuzed’ and ultimately Peeved over the Intrawoods’ telling me that I couldn’t listen to the Play by Play in my area on the iHeart mobile App. But I’m trying to listen to the game on my Desktop Confuzer you stupid iHeart Radio!

 

This was after I’d tuned in to KJR 950AM and listened to what seemed like five Freakin’ minutes of commercials before returning to some College football weekly review program or some other El Stupidio Stick ‘n Ball sports show nonsense. Before the Sounders FC pregame banter should have begun.

 

Strangely, the game was being aired on (Fox Sports) FS1, so I turned it on and listened to two very annoying sounding voices for the end of the pregame prattle. Hoping they’d be replaced by somebody else to no avail.

 

After Seattle scored first to go ahead One-Nil in the eighth minute  and I’d gotten tired of the announcers. I stupidly spent some twenty-plus minutes searching the Internets’ for another way to listen to the Sounders FC radio announcers instead. With the annoying you still cannot listen to this loop announcement telling me to visit the iHeart Help webpage which I did.

 

But every way I tried searching for

Info kept coming up with the same answer. About why I couldn’t listen Advertisement Free to the program. But I’m not trying to do that you Bloody Wankers!

 

So I tried going to Tune in Radio instead, but got the same you cannot listen to our program loop announcement. As Gory Hell! I’m in Freaking BumFiddle’ Oregon! So why are you blocking me from listening to a sporting event being played in Warshington’, Buggers!

 

Thus, when I resigned myself to “watching”, Err listening to the match back on FS1. I tuned back in as Minnesota scored a second, sloppy goal to tighten the score to 3-2 at the end of the first half! Before Seattle sealed the Dealio’ with a late, fourth goal to win 4-2 and extend the series Game 3 at Minnesota.

 

Naturally, being at the frozen tundra of Allianz Stadium in Minny HaHa! I was able to once again listen to the majority of the pregame banter on Seattle’s KJR 950AM, via Zed Intrawoods’. Before listening to the entire, Whale’, almost entire match on my Confuzer, Riddle me that!

 

The game started off brilliantly, with Seattle stunning Minnesota Two-Nil inside the first 10 minutes! Before the Sounders let down on a Free-kick for the score to be 2-1 at Halftime. Although one of the Loons players received a Red card for a Head-bunt, meaning Minnesota would be a man down the rest of the match.

 

Yet inexplicably, Seattle let Minnesota score two unanswered goals, after Danny Musovski? Or somebody else had planked another shot off of the Loons “12^th Man”, the Crossbar!

 

Yet after late game substitutions, Seattle scored again to knot the match at 3-3 in the game’s 88th minute. To which I immediately said to my speakers, its gonna go to PK’s…

 

Interestingly, Seattle subbed in back-up Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, as part of those late substitutions. As Thomas is 12 years younger then No. 1 Keeper’ Stefan Frei.

 

And as one of the radio announcers marveled. You cannot make this stuff up! Since after Thomas had lunged the correct direction when the Loons first penalty kick missed wide right. Thomas somehow injured His hand! With speculation suggesting a dislocated finger?

 

As Seattle’s trainers instantly taped up His injured Hand. Yet during this lull, and the Sounders FC Albert Rusnak making Seattle’s first PK. The pregame announcer broke in to alert us, that if PK’s went more than ten minutes, we’d need to “seamlessly” switch over to the Sounders FC Streaming Channel, Say What?

 

Next, Jordan Morris hit the Crossbar, Seattle’s third time  in the two Penalty Kicks Shootout (to that point) that the Rave Green’s shots had errantly hit the crossbar, Shite!

 

And right after the Sounders third shot calmly into the back of the net, much to Minnesota Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair’s chagrin. The speakers said 15 seconds until Kraken. Going directly into the Seattle Kraken’s pregame show Motha Fokkers

 

As I just laughed in outrage, and shook my head as I got up dejectedly from my Confuzer! Before sitting back down again after cancelling the Kraken Blather. And then tried briefly to find said streaming channel before giving up, without knowing the outcome of the match, Unbelievable!

 

So I guess I’m not shocked over the Kraken knocking the sounders off the air. But what I don’t understand, is why would you purposely keep Fans living in another state from listening to games being played in Seattle?

 

Its not like I was asking to listen commercial free you dolts! But I just cannot figure out why you’d want to prevent Fans from listening to a broadcast? Making me somewhat hope that Seattle lost and I wouldn’t have to endure any more of this Bullshit! Not finding out the results for another four hours…

 

Oh yeah, when I tried going directly to iHeart radio’s website. My screen reader “Zoey the Princess Warrior read out  grid with one column and 15 rows. But naturally they were all graphics Jackarses! Meaning once again, my screen reader couldn’t read me anything…

 

Could we please knock this Shit off of being lazy and using graphics which are not screen reader friendly for those of us without vision! Being just one more reason I Hate iHeart Radio!

 

Knock this Shit Off you Website Developers!

 

Can you Hear me RACER! 

IndyCar, Be Afraid! Its Football time again

“Johnny said you play a pretty good Fiddle, now let me show You How its done!” Hut-Hut, Arkansas!

 

Obviously, this No Fenders rant is pointless! But I felt like uncorking it anyways…

 

As two songs crystalized upon my internal Jukebox after that Oh, so clever title sprang to mind! Since none other than the late Larry McMurtry said He couldn’t write the book until He had a title for it…

 

Thus Wasted Days and Wasted nights first flashed upon my radar. But thinking more about the fearful 869lbs Gorr-rillia’ that IndyCar’s so scared to go up against. Instead Charlie Daniels Devil Went Down to Georgia seemed more Apropos. Since after all, think Georgia’s Football country, Y’all?

 

Having said it before, I’ll stand firm on my conviction that IndyCar sold its Soul to FOX for its latest TV Broadcast deal. For which the crammed down our gullet July portion of the calendar saw FOX only average 734,000 viewers for the Toronto IndyCar race. Last seen on Terrestrial TV Wayback’ in gory 2019, when the NBC Sports Broadcast netted a stark 504,000 viewers. Before NBC showed Oh Canada the love yearly, by making Toronto its only Peacock streaming race of the season.

 

As the hoped for silver bullet of inking FOX as the new television partner, was that the network FOX TV Broadcasts would result in a viewer ratings surge to above the magic One million viewer threshold weekly, Which we know didn’t happen.

 

As Toronto was FOX’s fifth  consecutive race during summer without an audience over 800k. Netting FOX eighth races under 800k, albeit four races above One million viewers.

 

Arse-suming Laguna Seca kept FOX’s streak of under 800,000 viewers going…

 

Average FOX Broadcast equals 829,000+ to date, through 12 races, not including this year’s Indianapolis 500. Compared to NBC’s 38 (2019-2024) non-conflicting races vs. NASCAR, the Indy 500, weather delays, NFL or COVID-19 season averaged 998k plus. Which drops to 935,408 for races going up against opening weeks of NFL. football.

 

While NBC’s six non-conflict telecasts last year averaged 932,833 to FOX’s 829,833 = Over 100k less FOX viewers to date! Which I’d say will not improve with the doldrums, Err Dog Dazes ‘O August fast approaching. Uhm, where’d they go Vern?

 

NBC’s 2024 tally dips to an average of 868k plus when factoring in last year’s Nashville finale vs. Week 2 of NFL Football, Urgh! Which was still approx. 40k higher than FOX’s tally through Toronto…

 

Look, I get it, which doesn’t mean I have to like it! That we’ll never go back to IndyCar’s Heyday’s of CART. Which for example the 1990 CART PPG IndyCar World Series also featured 17 races. Beginning on April 8th at Phoenix International Raceway. And ending on October 21st at Laguna Seca Raceway, with effectively a Double Header. Due to the Marlboro Challenge race running on Saturday.

 

With two new races added that year, both being street races at Denver and Vancouver, with Pocono being dropped due to safety concerns.

 

Although 30 years ago, the IndyCar season began another 17 race calendar on March 5th at Miami’s Bicentennial Park. And concluded the season on September 10th at Laguna Seca. With seven street races, six Ovals and four road course races.

 

Hmm, don’t Y’all just love when history gets in the way of your rant? As perhaps this six months on/off thingy’ Aint’ so new, Eh?

 

Yet IndyCar is never going to improve their ratings until they figure out how to improve the schedule away from its yearly Famine-Feast-Famine routine. As everyone knows All about the ridiculous six month Hibernation. Followed by two or three races with three week gaps between them, Blah-blah-Blah. For which I’d say the 1995 calendar was way more “balanced” and flowing nicely, without any momentum killing gaps upon it.

 

Then slamming half of the season between May to June. A weekend off and then another five races over four July weekends, before limping to the finale on August 31st, Crickets! Is never going to grow your desired audience…

 

And let’s not even get started on one of IndyCar’s worst Buzzwords. Can Y’all say Date Equity? With it being time to play Wackamole again…

 

I also  understand we cannot compare IndyCar to NASCAR or Groan, Formula 1, who’s sweeping the nation with it Real Housewives of F1 reality TV Show. Be still my bleeding Heart. What will they do with the demise of Chris Horner, eh?

 

But its funny how IMSA’s still got a few races left on their calendar, i.e.; Battle on The Bricks (Sept 21st) and Petit Le Mans. (Oct 11^th) While the NHRA’s still racing until November 16th at Pomona, the conclusion of its 20 race season. Even with the litany of Pigskins being tossed round, Illegal Formation – tweet!

 

As believe it or not? Thars’ some of us who only follow Motorsports. Meaning its good to have other racing series to follow in IndyCar’s absence. Especially since IndyCar has gone into its winter’s slumber, and won’t see its shadow for another Freakin’ six months, Sigh!

 

As what’s that ‘Ol saying about Out of sight, Out of mind! Which ironically, Davey Hamilton said the very same thing during the Laguna Seca race, regarding the shortness of the IndyCar season…

 

(TV Ratings Source: Indianapolis Star, Nathan Browne)

Foust ‘n Quiet!

Where’s Richard Rawlings and those Gas Monkey garage Monkeys when Yuhs need them, eh?

 

The “big” news is that Tanner Foust joins H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes Livestream Broadcast team this year, as co-host alongside Brad Luce. As Foust, a four times Rallycross Champion. Along with two Formula Drift titles, multiple X Games medals and being part of BBC America’s U.S. Top Gear trio. Has been brought in to help Amp up the Livestream Hydroplanes broadcast…

 

Unfortunately I could never hear Tanner or Brad (Luce) the entire Freakin’ weekend at Lake Guntersville. Can You Hear Me Now H1 Unlimited?

 

But first off, let’s review H1 Unlimited’s pathetic reporting upon it’s website. As they may be the fastest boats on water, but you’d be hard pressed to know who All of the Playah’s are?

 

No surprise that Andrew Tate in the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate served notice during Tri-Cities testing in May with a top speed of 163mph plus, with six teams testing. Yet not surprisingly, only four of the day’s six runners are mentioned. With Gunnar O’Farrell’s spectacular Blow-over aboard the U-21 Go Fast Turn Left Hydro’. Along with mentioning Cory Peabody behind the tiller of the U-9 Beacon Plumbing and Jamie Nielsen skippering the U-11 Flav-R-Pac. But no mention on the other two mystery Hulls or any of the actual testing speeds…

 

Thus, with this usual lack of information, I purposely skipped Friday’s Hydrofest action. Which it behooves Mwah that H1 Unlimited cannot post a daily report at the end of each day, Say What? As this is a common practice for IndyCar, NASCAR, Formula 1, IMSA, etc.

 

Then on Saturday, I tried a few times to listen to the Livestream both via H1 Unlimited’s website and Youtube directly with zilch, nada, nothing during the morning, Groan!

 

That afternoon I vainly  attempted the same ridiculous rinse, lather, repeat process of trying to get a functioning Livestream, complete with sound. Check-Check, One-Two-testing…

 

Then when the Big Boyz’ should have been racing, after jacking up my sound level a ridiculous 40 levels, What the Flock! I suddenly could hear two announcers calling some sort of “Junior” stock race-boat race, before the announcer began repeatedly calling for a red flag!

 

As one of the boats had blown over! Noting how the driver and throttle-man sat side-by-side, Err shoulder-to-shoulder with helmets, life vests and separate oxygen supply. And with the boat upside down in the drink’, they shouldn’t even get wet when exiting thru the cutout escape hatch on the bottom of the boat; unless the roof, presumably canopy was impacted and damaged…

 

With said red flag deployed and not knowing what support series this was? Or how long until the Big Boyz’, nee Unlimited Hydroplanes would appear, I logged off for the day.

 

Having subsequently learned this was the Offshore Super Stock class, with Team Bermuda S-25 having experienced that Blow-over, with both of the boat’s occupants safely recovered and escaping unharmed before the safety boats arrived…

 

Sunday morning I tried again in vain, since I couldn’t get any sound, i.e.; anybody talking on the “live”Youtube stream, after having jacked up the volume a ridiculous 30 levels, Urgh! During what should have been Heat 3.

 

Didn’t even bother trying again at 11:00AM (Pacific) before trying one final time that afternoon to tune-in to the finals, chirp-Chirp, Bueller?

 

Logged on at 2:20PM and first got a garbled soundtrack before a litany of instrumental rock songs, for which I’d Arse-sumed at least the finals would be on time, beginning at 2:30PM? But the music just kept playing. So I closed the browser and tried logging into the H1 Unlimited Lake Guntersville Sunday “live” feed again. As somewhere between 2:35-39PM the page claimed a whopping 766 people were currently watching. Which then jumped up to 785 after I refreshed and searched again on Youtube for a current live stream feed. But nothing! As I did this again a few more times before noticing at 2:52PM Thar were a staggering 813 people watching, Woo-Hoo! Since by this point I was pretty fed up, and finally gave up in disgust around3:05PM, Sigh!

 

Some three plus hours later, and not sure what I was looking for? I checked the H1 Unlimited website one more time before logging off and Shazam! Sunday evening I finally learned thanks to their pathetic lack of information, Urgh!

 

That basically the weekend had been a Bust, with the majority of the Unlimited action being scrubbed due to inclement weather. But why should we have to wait until Sunday evening to learn that both Saturday and Sunday’s action has been cancelled?

 

Saturday morning’s Heat-1A saw four boat take the green flag, i.e.; Tate, (U-91) Peabody, (U-9) Villwock (U-27) and Nielsen. (U-11) And although Nielsen got the jump upon the field, Villwock lost control and had a major Blow-over, which also damaged Peabody’s Hydroplane from being watered down! Plus being damaged by debris from Villwock’s Hydro, Aye Karumba!

 

Then high winds and an afternoon thunderstorm curtailed any further activity, before high winds all day Sunday cancelled any further competition. Which if H1 Unlimited had their act together, at the very least would have put up a quick note informing us of this, so I wouldn’t have spent two days wasting my time trying to listen to their pathetic Livestream!

 

BWR Racing said that the U-27 Miss Apollo will compete at this weekend’s Madison Regatta, presumably in the backup Hull known as “Sharkey”, the Hull Tate drove in 2023.

 

Whilst the U-6 Miss Madison struggled mightily at Guntersville with engine problems all weekend and never got its rookie skipper Brian Kennedy qualified. But presumably will have better luck this weekend at its home event, the 75th anniversary of the Madison Regatta.

 

For which I’d like to think that H1 Unlimited’s Livestream service will be better this weekend? And it would really be nice if they could also tell me what radio station is broadcasting the event? Meaning I could probably actually Hear what’ going on race-wise, without having to Jack U-P my volume an El Stupidio 40 levels, Oh Never Mind! 

HYDROS: The 2025 Season Spools up in Earnest

Although a fifth’s of Thar season’s already over. And I feel like I need a fifth after a most disjointed weekend of trying to follow along…

 

This coming fourth ‘O July weekend sees the H1 Unlimited series contesting Thar’ second race of the 2025 season at Madison, Indiana

 

The season began nearly one month ago at the Guntersville Hydrofest, June 8th on Lake Guntersville, Alabama. With the remainder of the five events as follows: July 6th Madison Regatta at Madison, Indiana.

 

Then a three race west coast swing, including the traditional Warshington’ back-to-back “Double”, i.e.; July 27th Tri-Cities Water Follies at Kennewick on the Mighty Columbia, nee Columbia River.

 

Followed a week later on Lake Washington  August 3rd at Seattle’s Seafair, presumably replete with the legendous’ Blue Angels, unless somebody’s spent too much upon His 79th birthday’s military parade and had to cut their funding?

 

The season concludes on September 14th at Bayfair’s Mission Bay, with the Bill Muncey Cup in San Diego, CA.

 

This year’s Tri-Cities Water Follies commemorates the 60th anniversary of this event and will host this year’s prestigious APBA Gold Cup race. With the Gold Cup being the oldest American trophy, beginning with it’s 1904 inaugural event

 

Like every offseason, much movement has occurred in the top Dawgs’ Unlimited Hydroplanes fleet. As Dustin Echols has decided to retire from competition, leaving the U-40 devoid of a driver.

 

And with Sharon and Kelly Stockton, longtime owners of Bucket List Racing and the U-40’s main sponsor Flav-R-Pac moving onto the U-11’s flanks as its new primary sponsor, Y’all have to wonder the status of the U-40 Bucket List Racing Unlimited Hydroplane this season.

 

Once again, the H1 Unlimited website has suffered another compressor stall, since I couldn’t find anything on its apathetic website about the seismic shift of the competing teams landscape…

 

According to the Madison Courier, Miss Madison Racing which had gotten itself into hefty financial debt due to it’s 2018 sponsorship agreement with Home Street Bank. With the former Miss Budweiser Tukwila race shop becoming an albatross around its neck due to the hefty mortgage, has led to Miss Madison president Charlie Grooms selling the entire assets of the championship winning team! Having just won their twelfth championship last year…

Seattle’s Bruce Ratchford, the founder and proprietor of Apollo Mechanical, who not only became Seafair’s title sponsor last year. When the Apollo Mechanical Cup joined Seafair for its 75th anniversary.  Also sponsored the U-27 Miss Apollo last season. With the newly created race team stepping up with the acquisition of Miss Madison Racing’s two Unlimited Hydroplane Hulls. Along with adding the U-27 to its fleet.

 

Thus, defending APBA National High Points Drivers Champion Andrew Tate has become teammate this season with Dave Villwock. With Tate in the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate and Dave Villwock in the U-27 Miss Apollo for the new BWR Racing team, forming a new powerhouse race team to challenge Strong Racing…

 

Initially, I Arse-sumed BWR Racing would be run out of the former Miss Madison Tukwila race shop. Although re-reading the Madison Courier story, it notes that the entire Tukwila inventory was sold, making me wonder if the building wasn’t included?

 

As Grooms and four other Board members of Miss Madison Racing Inc have been fired over this travesty, with the immediate future of the team unknown.

 

Yet H1 Unlimited blissfully reported in February, that Miss Madison racing Inc had sold one of it’s Hulls to eric Christensen over the winter. Who’ll compete aboard the U-2 this season, driving for His newly founded Christensen Racing team. Making me wonder just how many Hulls did Miss Madison Racing own?

 

Christensen clamed they’d have the U-2 Fraternal Order of Eagles and Albert lee Appliance Hydroplane ready for May’s Spring training event on the Columbia River, but the race boat, based out of Buckley, WA didn’t appear at Guntersville. Making me wonder if this will just be another west coast partial season Hydroplane?

 

A la the U-21 Go Fast Turn Left Racing Hydroplane, that Gunnar O’Farrell dramatically flipped during testing in Pasco this May! Although the team’s confident they’ll be ready in time for the Water Follies event.

 

Meanwhile, following the sale of Miss Madison Racing’s assets to BWR Racing, the series notes that in conjunction with representatives of Marshall County Tourism and Sport, the Madison Regatta and Miss Madison Racing, the team will attempt competing in the season’s first two East coast races, i.e.; Guntersville and Madison.

 

Subsequently, Miss Madison Racing announced that rookie skipper Brandon Kennedy will be at the tiller of it’s U-6 Hydroplane, as the organization regroups and hopefully secures it’s long term future. AS I’d like to think the team can rebound and return to a full season campaign in the near future…

 

Cannot say I’m overly impressed by only six Unlimited Big Boyz’ Boats showing up at Guntersville, but think we’ve had worse. As I tend to recall some of the races having a paltry four Hulls. But with the cloud hanging over the storied Miss Madison operation right now, guess I should see this as a good thing overall.

 

Another interesting side note is that Bruce Ratchford has joined forces with Darrel Strong, owner of Strong Racing, the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane’s other two boat team owner in Hydrotown Racing Inc.

 

As Hydrotown Racing Inc was created in 2023 to promote and market the Unlimited Hydroplanes, while apparently APBA is the sport’s governing body thru its ABRA association.

 

Yet Hydrotown Racing’s got a long way to go towards marketing and promoting the sport properly! Especially if Guntersville is their media template for success…

 

Whilst opining for nine Unlimited Hydroplanes competing in the Gold Cup and Seafair this summer. I think the best will be eight Hulls, since the U-6 Miss Madison is slated to run just the first two races. Meaning it will be Strong Racing vs. BWR Racing this season jousting for the National High Points Championship titles. 

Another lost weekend of Shouting

As Are, You, Excited Now? Speak up you frothing Announcers…

 

Hmm, why did that title make me immediately think of an ‘Ol Rush song titled Between the Wheels, and the words Another Wasteland, Eh? Although it’s actually “another War, Another Wasteland and Another Lost Generation”, Righto Geddy…

 

“To live between the Wars in our time

Living in real time

Living in Good times

Holding on to Yesterdays,

 

You know how that Rabbit feels

Going under your speeding wheels

Wheels can cut you down

But the Wheels of time

Just pass you by”

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj1eUnNOvpY

 

Spent the entire weekend of April 11-13 consuming four separate motor racing series, i.e.; IndyCar, IMSA, formula 1 and MotoGP, Gulp! With my primary focus upon Indy Cars at The Beach’, ergo Long Beach. Along with the IMSA Sprint race which featured the return of Robert Wickens; beginning with Friday’s first IndyCar practice session.

 

Catching half of Saturday morning’s second IndyCar practice on (Fox Sports) FS1, as FS2 pulled Ye ‘Ol Switcheroo. Bumping the MotoGP Sprint race to that afternoon in favour of showing us more Bassmasters, Fish On!

 

Then IndyCar’s Qualie’ session capped off by the 140mins IMSA Sports Car “Sprint” race.

 

Next I “watched”, Err listened to the Bahrain Grand Prix Sunday morning, followed by the Long Beach Grand Prix and the nightcap being MotoGP’s delayed airing of the Qatar Grand Prix.

 

Now perhaps it’s just Mwah, but All of these races seemingly blurred into one long set of Boring motor races! Especially both F1 and MotoGP, the latter definitely not worth waiting until 9PM Pacific to watch, Urgh! As what did Raymond Hando say about late race start times ruining your day?

 

So, I didn’t catch the Australian Grand Prix, other than listening to the Highlights package. Being the most exciting of the season’s first four races, largely due to inclement weather, i.e.; passing rain shower…

 

Yet Formula 1 has largely been processional, even though I’m happy that Oscar Piastri has won twice from pole. Other than I hope He won’t get too swell-headed over thinking He can win the championship. As He’d be smart to ask His manager Mark Handlebarz’ Webber how that worked out Yas Isle 15 years ago!

 

Cannot say that IndyCar has been Uber exciting either, albeit at least there’s been passes for the win, even if Alex Palou won the first two races, followed by second place at Long Beach, where effectively Kyle Kirkwood led wire-to-wire from pole.

 

As it’s funny how at least the DW12 seems more capable of following other racecars and allowing for passing, but is this a biproduct of Firestone’s different rubber coumpounds?

 

Whilst Pirelli makes a range of different compound tyres for Formula 1, the choice of five various compounds in this range seems to be too small for meaningful tyre performance drop-off. As just consider how many drivers ran a one stop race at Shanghai…

 

As it’s even more funny how the current F1 chassis regulations introduced in 2022 were specifically designed to allow for the trailing car to run closer behind and encourage passing! Yet the ten F1 Constructors designs has seemingly converged to the point that this is no longer applicable.

 

Making a Farce of Formula 1 further, is the FIA instituting a mandatory second tyre stop at Monaco this year, to artificially induce some passing upon the narrow streets of Ye Principality, where overtaking is nye impossible…

 

Meanwhile, Team Penske and it’s factory Porsche 963’s have been untouchable. With the team’s No. 7 entry having won the first three races, Yawn! As don’t know if Long Beach was their second 1-2 finish?

 

Whilst Ye Pinball Wizard’, aka Marc Marquez returned to His domineering, winning ways in Qatar. Claiming His fourth, consecutive pole, along with four consecutive Sprint races on the trot. Plus His third Grand Prix win in Doha, Yawn!

 

Oops, what about the Shouting you might be saying? As I just don’t understand why the various TV Announcers think they need to Shout at us to get excited?

 

Although I did tune-in to my very first dosage of the new FOX TV announce lineup. For which I must say, Will Buxton seemed completely, totally out of place!

 

While Jack Harvey didn’t seem “Stiff” to Mwah, just think it’s His dry, British accent coming across…

 

As my favourite Announce Duo of the weekend was IMSA Radio’s John Heindhaugh and Ryan Marin during the Long Beach Sprint race. As Marin manages to interject enthusiasm without shouting or screaming. And Heindhaugh’s always entertaining.

 

Whilst the King of Screamers Kroftie’, aka Sky sports f1 lead Pundit David Kroft was doing His usual bit to keep me awake thru another boring F1 race!

 

And I don’t wanna say that the Long Beach IndyCar race was boring, But! Even Mark Gravelly’ James didn’t bother shouting euphorically over Kirk Kirwood winning, which speaks volumes to Mwah.

 

Yeah, it’s gonna be a Gory long, Hard season of motor racing, if this it what will typically transpire the rest of the year, outside that ‘lil ‘Ol Oval track at 16th and Georgetown. Provided we Don’t have more multiple faux Red Flag stoppages, or some Golf game on Thy Telie!

 

Then again, I suppose a boring race weekend is better than NO racing at all, Eh?

 

Partial song lyrics from: Between the Wheels by Rush. From their 1984 Album Grace Under Pressure.