Local Bicyclist pedals from Canada to Mexico in Seven Days!

Don’t even want to try figuring out how many miles per day that is! Or how many Saddle sores on gets…

 

Have been sitting Youch! On this story awhile, trying to figure out when to put into thoust rotation of No Fenders Mobius strip. As I’ve never been real good at back-timing Blob’ stories…

 

Nice to know that not everyone was wrapped-up in World Cup Fever. Is it over yet? And did Y’all get your signature, collectible Messi Duracell batteries, eh?

 

Having ran across the following story in my sorta’ local newspaper, Whale’ the closest local city upon my Newsline for The Blind’s telephone service. Since Eugene’s only 50 miles east of Mwah as the Seagulls fly. Although not sure they fly that far inland, Oh Never Mind!

 

Although He didn’t break the current riding time record overall. Its amazing hearing Him discuss how it probably wasn’t the wisest decision Sleep-pedaling down mountain hills before finally stopping to catch some much needed sleep, aye Karumba!

 

Cyclist bikes Pacific Coast from Canada to Mexico border in Seven days 

The Tomaso Files: Prodigious Drummer Pounds His Drum Kit No More

Neil Peart playing before a large audience in Red Deer, Alberta. (Image source: cycleworld.com)

And Thee Power Trio has played Thar last gig forever...

"Time is A Gypsy Caravan,

Steals Away the Night to leave You Stranded in Dreamland

Distance is A Longrange filter

Memory A Flickering light

When We Are Young

Wandering the Face of The Earth

Wondering What Our Dreams are Worth

Learning that We're Only Immortal for  A limited time"

VIDEO: Rush -Dreamline

I got the call around 3:15PM (Pacific) Friday afternoon, (Jan 10th) the Day that Band Members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson released the News via Rush's Twitter Account, asking me if I'd Heard the News?

And although it means absolutely Nothing, nor do I take any significance from it. Nevertheless, in my constantly churning froth of Synchronicity here on thou Isle 'O Nofendersville, excluding thoust King Tides; Tuh-duh!

I find it very ironic that on the Day of Messer Peart's Death, Tuesday, January 7th, I just so happened to be finishing listening to Edward M. "Teddy" Kennedy's 2009 book True Compass via CD Audiobook format.

Since Teddy Died from the exact same Brain Cancer as Neil had. As reportedly, Ted Kennedy, John McCain and Bo Biden, along with Neil have All Succumbed from Glioblastoma.

While naturally, any Death at All is Tragic, but how Cruel must it be for someone who spent their life making a living as a writer, writing countless songs and multiple books Dying due to Brain Cancer be?

And it pains me somewhat to realize that it was exactly 40 Freakin' Years ago when I was first introduced to Rush, when hearing this unknown, fantastic  Rock Band on the radio with Thar Hit Song The Spirit of Radio!

For which I've been Hooked forever since, realizing that I was a Bona Fied Fan of Rush's for nearly 35 years; Aye Karumba!

Making me really wonder if I saw them for the first time when I claim to now all these years later. Although I can still vaguely see the black Moving Pictures Concert T-Shirt I know I bought & wore fondly, Arse-sumedly at Key Arena...

And how do I scribble anything about the man who's affectionately become Thee Rhythm Professor', aka Neil Peart, or Rush, which I enjoy delineating here on countless No Fenders pages as RUSh that hasn't already been said? Other then why did it take so Bloody long for them to be inducted into the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame, eh?

As I won't boast over how many times I saw them in concert or how many shows I've attended in four States over the Decades, or does "Seeing" 'em on Thee Big Screen in Austin for Thar Clockwork Angels tour count as a fifth Sate?

But suffice it to say, they were my Numero Uno Band for Decades; HELL, for over a Quarter of A Century! Not to mention how many countless hours did I spend listening to All of Thar Albums, eh? Having accumulated every Gory Album from the Self-titled Debut Rush - All the Bloody way thru Live in Rio.

As strangely, another famous Band's epic song came screaming into my internal Speakers upon deliberating over Peart's Death and what it means to me.

"When the Music's Over

Turn Out the lights

For the Music is your Special Friend

Dance on Fire as It Intends

Music is Your Only Friend

Until the End"

R40: RUSh - 40 years in the Making...

When I was a Wee lad' spending Summers at my Grandma's on Bainbridge Island watching the Goodyear Blimp fly overhead at night, who was then presumably in her late 60's, the age of 67 seemed really Old to Mwah!

But now having gone thru the cycles 'O life a la listening to Rush via Cassette Tape & vinyl records to Compact Disc to now only occasionally listening to them via Youtube on thou Confuzer', and on the Downhill Slope towards "Senior Citizenry," albeit I've still hopefully got Miles to Go. Obviously 67, for which Messer Peart was when he died, seems relatively young to Mwah now!

And I'll Arse-sume' Y'all can guess what my All-time Favourite Rush Song is? Having had the pleasure of once seeing the very rosso Ferrari that inspired the song's title at the very least once at America's Car Museum in Tacoma, WA. Hint, it's Track No. 2 on that epic 1981 Moving Pictures album...

As I think a big part of what kept me so enamoured with Rush was Peart's lyrics weren't the typical Baby Come Back, Don't leave me "Cookie Cutter" song lyrics, but instead were Deeper and made you think while tackling many issues regarding life, human interaction Genders, and whatever else he felt like tackling. Be it Philosophy, Poetry, Science Fiction or the thornier topics of History, i.e.; the Dropping of the Atom Bomb, Jewish Persecution in concentration Camps, Humanity or Gasp, Homosexuality!

Yet what sets Neil above most people for Mwah is that out of his own tragedy of first losing his first Daughter Salina and first wife Jaclyn Taylor in the span of 18-months and his subsequent Motorcycle endeavour upon not just any Scooter' but a BMW! And learning of how he dealt with this grieving process. Was learning something about my Home State I'd never known of via his wonderful Ghost Rider book.

As I cherish his descriptions of normal every-day life of fighting a losing battle with Squirrels stealing Bird Feeder food. And him singing Horribly out loud when hiking in Glacier National Park in hopes of keeping unwanted Bears away!

As I busily poond away, I can only think of two persons who've made me want to go 'N visit somewhere, for the first should be obvious. As I've called him DER TERMINATOR' here on No Fenders forever, aka Michael Schumacher - for which I've traveled the Globe to see him race.

And the second was Neil Peart who inspired me to wish to visit MaryHill, for which Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen enabled me to accomplish a Decade ago...

alas, Thee Rhythm Professor has touched my life in more than one way, since not only have I "Grooved" to his songs over thou Decades, merrily Zoom-Zooming' away to one of my countless Rush "Mix Tapes," but I've also been swayed by his lone book I've read.

While I feel truly sorry for his current family's loss, wife Carey and  daughter Olivia, for which I can only appreciate their sorrow from Afar and Not emotionally...

How Neil Peart's Perfectionism set Him Free

"You Can Do a lot in A Lifetime

If You Don't Burn Out too Fast

You can Make the Most of the Distance

First You need Endurance

First You've Got to Last"

100 Miles before Breakfast: The Beautiful Life of Rush Drummer and Motorcyclist Neil Peart

Then again, Sadly, When the Music's Over, Somebody will Have to Turn Out the Lights for All of Us...

VIDEO: The Doors - When The Music's Over

Song Lyrics

(Partial Song Lyrics in Parentheses)

Band/Song/Album/Year

1. Rush: Dreamline; Roll The bones, 1991

2. The Doors: When The Music's Over; Strange Days, 1967

3. Rush: Marathon; Power Windows, 1985

Indy Cars Current Crop of Cool Californian Drivers

No Fenders Tomaso chats briefly with then Marussia F1 Reserve Driver Alexander Rossi at Will Buxton's Bigtime Bash at Austin during the 2014 USGP weekend. (The Tomaso Collection)

After all, The Raisin State has produced some of the Sport's Best Drivers over the years...

Otay, I'm almost done with my current fascination over The Raisin State, which naturally was sparked by my very enjoyable Roadtrip Thar this past January.

Which set my mind Ah-wonderin' just how many of today's IndyCar drivers Hail from  California? Especially since the first of their two Home races is just round the corner on the lumpy Streets of Long Beach. Which hopefully I'll be able to catch this coming Sunday...

Charlie Kimball

DOB: February 20, 1985; Age 33

Chertsey, Surrey; UK

Team: Carlin

Car No. 23

First Race: St Pete, 2011

Seasons: 8

Wins: 1

Poles: 1

As I'd previously surmised, Charlie was born Across thou Puddle when his father Gordon was "On Assignment" working for McLaren International in Bloody Woking, England, alongside some Bloke named John Barnard.

As surely Charlie got his motor racing "Bug" from his father's career as a multi-winning racecar Designer, whose cars have won the Indy 500. Not to mention race Engineering  somebody with the first name Ayrton to the 1990 F1 World Championship!

With Grizzled Journo' Joe Saward doing his usual Yeoman like job expounding upon this last winter in his yearly Fascinating F1 Facts series...

Fascinating F1 Fact 61

Yet the young Charlie grew up in Camarillo, California, where his family has farmed Avocados for decades now in Ventura County. which recently No Fenders 'Offical Photographer CARPETS' told me how Charlie was on local Indianapolis Radio mentioning how the Farm was burned badly during last year's Uber' destructible Thomas Fire!

Kimball remains Focused On Fire relief Assistance in California

And instead of repeating Thyself over Charlie's racing career, what I'm more interested in now, is how he'll progress after spending his first seven seasons in IndyCar driving for The Cheepster', aka Chip Ganassi.

As Kimball's move to another team makes me ponder a Questione I've had before, about how drivers careers change, or falter after leaving one of the "Big Three" IndyCar teams, i.e.; Penske, Ganassi and Andretti.

Although I've long been more intrigued over whether or not a race driver can progress after leaving the lofty confines of el capitano', nee Roger Penske or Ganassi, or if it's ultimately the Zenith of their Open Wheel Racing career? Having pondered this ever since Ryan Briscoe got a second chance in Indy Cars when Cheep' threw him a Lifeline to drive his third Indy 500 entry in 2013 - the year I met him briefly at Mother Speedway.

Next he took over J.R. Hildebrand's seat at Panther Racing before landing a Fulltime Gig with Ganassi for 2014 after Dario Franchitti's sudden retirement after his horrendous wreck at Houston! Before being replaced by Sage Dangerboy' Karam for the 2015 season.

And I'll admit for the majority of his IndyCar career, I've not been a Fan of Charlie's, even if he seems like a very pleasant Chap. But somehow that changed all of a sudden last year with One Lap Down's Jeffrey Iannucci's typical Wordsmithing Brilliance, when naming him "Narly Pinball." Causing me to see him in a totally different light!

IndyCar Driver goes Pinballin' thru National Parks...

While Charlie and his wife's affinity for Canines and the Outdoors only further changes my tune towards the Californian...

Naturally, with Carlin being a brand new IndyCar team this year, it'll take a little time for results to come, albeit Carlin's a multi series Championship winner Across thou Puddle in the Bloody UK,

Not to mention reportedly having had some 200-plus Drivers pass thru it's doors upon it's Stairway to the Pinnacle 'O Motorsports, nee Formula 1. With just a few being Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Takuma Sato, Daniel Ricciardo and Kevin Magnussen amongst others.

Alexander Rossi

DOB:  September 25, 1981; Age 26

Nevada City, California

Team: Andretti Autosport

Car No. 27

First Race: St Pete, 2016

Seasons: 3

Wins: 2

Poles: 1

Everybody knows that Alexander Rossi unexpectedly won the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 upon his maiden outing at the Brickyard in 2016.

Alexander Rossi: You've just won the Indy 500!

And I've regaled Y'all 'bout having actually met him Wayback in 2014 in Austin, when he was still an aspiring Formula 1 Driver, who's now currently the latest Yank' to race in F1, albeit very briefly, before being Out-funded for his seat in 2016! Ergo the switch to Indy Cars, which I'd say the moves worked out pretty well, Eh?

And Rossi's definitely been on a Charm Offensive ever since winning the Indy 500, having most recently competed in this past season's Amazing Race on CBS with his roommate Conor Daly.

But try as I might, since I do like Rossi, and definitely feel he's the "Biggest Threat" of these four Californian's to fight for the IndyCar Crown vs. Penske's trio, Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal. Along with being on the path to Super Stardom, Thars' just Somme-thun' that makes me hesitate towards choosing who I'm calling the new "Joe Cool" as one of my Top-3 Favourite Drivers this year.

Especially since the Driver he gave a LUV' Tap to at St Pete, nee the past Young Wicky', now just plain Robby, or formally known as Robert Wickens beat Rossi for the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series title.

Having prattled on before 'bout how I'd predicted Rossi, Wickens and Esteban Gutierrez to be the next Rising Starz' trio in Formula 1 as far back as 2011, albeit didn't get round to mentioning it 'til the following year's Young Drivers test at yas Isle.

F1: Young Drivers Test - 2012 Edition

Spencer Pigot

DOB:  September 29, 1983; Age 24

Los Angeles, California

Team: Ed Carpenter Racing

Car No. 21

First Race: St Pete, 2016

Seasons: 3

Wins: 0

Poles: 0

For Mwah, Spencer's still a bit of an unknown IndyCar talent, albeit knowing he won the Pro Mazda & Indy Lights titles in 2014-15 respectively. Then taking his Lights Championship's cheque to Boobie Ruble's enterprise, making his first three IndyCar starts for Bobby Rahal & Company, including the Indy GP and the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500, which he finished 25th.

Afterwards, "FAST EDDIE," aka Ed Carpenter signed him as his "Twisties" (Road Course & Street Circuits) specialist for the remaining seven races of 2016. Which Spencer retained this role for his Sophomore campaign, plus a "One-off" drive at the Brickyard for his past team Juncos Racing.

Pigot has steadily improved, and will run his first Full season for Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) this year aboard the No. 21 entry, although I have to say I found Rookie Jordan King's Debutante outing at St Pete as ECR's new Twisty' Pilote far more impressive then Spencer's outing.

But I know, One race doesn't define Yuhs, the weather was Wacky; Yada-Yada-Yada. But King certainly shined in ST Pete, only outperformed by Wickens...

Kyle Kiser

DOB:  March 5, 1996; Age 22

Santa Clara, California

Team: Juncos Racing

Car No. 32

First Race: Phoenix, 2018

Seasons: Rookie

Wins: 0

Poles: 0

Kyle Kiser, the reigning Indy Lights Champion made his IndyCar debut on the Oval at Phoenix International; Err ISM Raceway, qualifying a respectable 14th and finishing P21 after contacting the wall on Lap-174. And will make just his second ever start on totally different terrain at Long Beach this weekend.

Although Kiser's never Wowed Mwah, as he seems to be more cut from the "Steady Eddie" (Lawson) mold. Thars' another past Californian driver who was known for his smooth consistency, known as Rocket Rick' Mears.

So who knows how Kiser's IndyCar career will ultimately pan out? As I'd Arse-sume' his and current Team Owner Ricardo Juncos first goal will be to secure funding to run an entire season next year.

(Photo C/o Nelie Austin' Photography)