Red Flag?

Apparently Stop ‘N Go was the WRONG title to use for my story today… As for reasons UNKNOWN! The service I use has decided that I should NOT pass Go today… Nor should I be allowed to work on any further stories while we’re apparently under Red Flag conditions. As Blogger has been most UNCOOPERATIVE the past two days, being very persnickety. Hopefully the posts will show up once again after the green flag has been unfurled…

OH SHIT!!! Quick post a story... I think its working? Err, may be I'd better recycle the ignition...

Stop ‘N Go

In what appears to be the A1 GP’s version of the Red Green Show, the World Cup of Motorsports has announced the following revelations…

A1 GP turning Red
Interestingly the A1 GP racing series has just concluded a deal with Maranello to provide customer chassis to replace the current Lola-Zytec powered race cars. The deal is for six years and begins this January. (2008-2014(

Ferrari will be responsible for the design and supply of the new car and powerplant, although chassis manufacturing will be outsourced, most likely to Dallara. (Current Indy Car sole supplier(

The deal will also include an exclusive Ferrari merchandising license for all A1 GP merchandise to use the Ferrari name as well as the phrase “Powered by Ferrari.”

A1 GP turning Green?
Prior to the beginning of this season, A1 GP touted the launching of its “Green” initiative, planning to run on E30 Biofuel. And although this 30% blend of sugar beets has run successfully during 4,600 kilometers of testing, the A1 GP has postponed plans to race this exotic fuel blend for the foreseeable future. The delay comes on the heels of “Technical Issues” as the parties involved simply didn’t think the performance level was acceptable. Wonder if the new Ferrari “Lumps” will run on such a concoction?

Swiss Miss

Lost during all of the blather over the official announcement of Alonso and McLaren parting company was Ferdi’s arch nemesis decision to switch postal codes.

After making comments about if the British tabloids continued to hound him… And just having a street named after him. Young (22yr old) “Louise Jaguar” Hamilton has announced his plans to move to Switzerland. And with his new rumoured 5 year contract the Swiss tax laws should be to his favour, although you’d think he’d have picked the typical F1 hide out, better known as Monaco.

And not letting the moment pass by, Hamilton is also poised to pen his autobiography… Which I liked Captain Kirk’s comment; “What the HELL does he have to write about at the tender age of 22?”

No More Alonso

Well I suppose it should be NO Surprise that McLaren and Fernando Alonso have “amicably” parted company. This long rumoured split was confirmed last Friday, which is traditionally a “Slow News Day.”

Both “Ferdi the Putz” and “The Ronster” (Ron Dennis) blathered the required “NO HARD Feelings” eulogies, saying it was in the best interest of the team and we’ve “Kissed ‘N Made Up” before goin our separate ways. “Can we just be Friends?”

Thus Ferdi will now seek to take his helmet bag to one of the few remaining options available for 2008, with whispers that negotiations at Renault aren’t all “Warm ‘N Fuzzy.” Could this just be part of the traditional negotiating ploy?

Although there are rumours of Alonso talking to Red Bull Racing or even joining Williams, I still expect the Spaniard to land at Renault next year…

And I like Adam Cooper’s idea that he’ll be teaming with rookie driver Nelson Piquet Jr., seeing Heikki Kovalanen join McLaren. As Ron Dennis seems to enjoy having a Finn on his squad…

If you wish to read the whole “Mooshy” announcement; see Alonso/McLaren split Company

Miller time

Nope, that crafty title doesn’t correspond to this being the start of the weekend, although a few cold “Juan’s” may be in order after reading this latest scribbling?

And is it just me… Cue the Alana Moresett. “ISN’T IT IRONIC” Theme music as Gene “I AM INDY” Simmons didn’t even need a costume during Wednesday’s “Really-Really-Really BIG Blockbuster” announcements…

Yeah, that’s right, the IRL was busy touting their “New & Improved” multi-million dollar sponsorship agreements at the SEMA Show in “Los Wage$” on none other than Halloween!

And I’d expected Indiana Bureau Chief to carpool with his good buddy Robin to “scoop” the Brickyard announcements for Y’all… As Danny B. proclaimed these major endorsements would easily net Tony George $60-70 Trillion… *Peso’s)

So without further ado… Here’s the Big News. Indy Car will now be powered by Frank’s Energy Drink… Y’all heard ‘O Frank’s high test bottled water? Neither had I prior to this week, as I’m told it’s a “Pretender” to the current “Kingpin” of this delectable beverage market. You know? That stuff that “AWNOLD” gaugle’s with. None other than the good Baron Deeter Majestic’s Red Bull, which reportedly “Gives you Wings.”

Yet apparently Mr. Simmons was busy with other “Fright Nite” engagements and couldn’t be bothered to show up on Halloween for any Indy Car announcements. Perhaps he didn’t wish to be shown up by the Princess?

Nor did this much anticipated, drum roll please………. Announcement has been made (to date) as reportedly it’s a Gene Simmons marketing masterpiece. Although it seems a bit comical to me to have an “Official” energy drink while Coca Cola is the official soft drink of the Speedway! (Which was to be announcement number two according to Danny)

And not to be left out of the party, Danica Patrick (“The Princess”) was on hand to announce that Peak Oil will now become the official lubricant *Insert Joke/Retort Here!) of the Brickyard… Guess we’ll all know what those “Slippery Liquids” are next time “Milk “N Doughnuts” clouts the Speedway’s Safer barrier, eh?

And speakin’ of ‘ol Robin Miller, it had been awhile since I’d seen the soothsayer on the SPEED Channel… But I did manage to catch a slice ‘O Miller-mantra on The Speed Report via the Memorex “Old School” taping’ machine upon returning from my trek to the Orient.

In typical Miller fashion, he was first to suggest that Honda would seek the golden opportunity to insert Rookie Japanese driver Hideki Mutoh into the vacated Dario Franchitti seat at AGR. Especially since NO Japanese driver to date has brought Honda ANY success in CART or the IRL>

Thus it was confirmed Wednesday by Andretti Green Racing that 25 year old Mutoh would take over Franchitti’s #27 entry for 2008. Mutoh will be joined by mentor Aguri Suzuki along with Super Aguri backing. Hmm? Wonder what will happen to Super Aguri’s other ace Kosuke Matsuura? As Matsuura and Super Aguri were partnered with Panther Racing this season, running a third entry for Mutoh’s Indy Car debut at Chicagoland’s season finale.

And Miller is now also noting that perhaps CDW will be inclined to land at Newman Hass Lanigan Racing with Justin Wilson in 2008 after all? As they’re both Chicago based companies and CDW is keen to work with Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang camps… As well as getting some better Sponsor treatment by N/H/L.

Also, with the IRL having announced its 2008 calendar, which if they’d been savvy they’d have possibly gone after Portland? It now appears that Champ Car is the only alternative for the much lamented Portland Int’l Raceway, yet Miller speculates over a possible street race? Please DON’T do that Portland! Just look at what happened to Vancouver, BC and San Jose…

For more Robin Miller, see Montezuma's Revenge

Bernie’s used car blow-out

While most of us were dressing up in Halloween costumes, passing out a sugar laced assortment of miniature candy bars or simply ignoring the frolics of “Fright Nite.”

Messer Ecclestone was pulling another Trick upon an unsuspecting audience in London, as RM Auctions and Sotheby's Set about selling between 40 to 50 of Emperor Bernardo’s prized automobile collection.

Clearly Bernie’s Treat was having his prized 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 Special Roadster sold for $3.9 million as the shows highest bid of the evening.

At the opposite end of the spectrum was Mr. E’s 1964 Ford Anglia which sold for a mere pittance, netting just over $5,500. The combined lots of the F1 Czar’s collection were estimated at $15 million with the auction being claimed as Britain’s largest ever for classic cars…

Haus Ten Bosch

Since Danny B. wanted to know if I was done “whining” about the time difference between Japan and Seattle, I was inspired to post the following story I wrote upon my immediate return from the land of the Rising Sun.

Returning to Seattle on October 23rd, I noted to family ‘N friends that I was seeing if I could make my way thru the day and break the long dreaded Jet Lag “jinx,” with that days two flights possibly helping? Leaving Fukuoka at noon and departing Tokyo around 5 PM before arriving in Seattle at 9:20AM the Very SAME DAY!

And many of you may be wondering what my Halloween costume will be this year? But I’ve already got it all picked out as this is a photo of my costume…

Actually it’s a souvenir picture from just “Juan ‘O” my many adventures while staying at Haus Ten Bosch, in Horseland with my MOST EXCELLENT Hosts Tanja & Albin. (Who are from Holland) They have been living & working at Haus Ten Bosch For the past 3 ½ years taking care of the horses on the premises as part of a six person Dutch squad…

And perhaps you’re wondering just what is Haus Ten Bosch, eh? Well it’s a one of a kind Dutch theme park situated in the city of Sasebo.

Sasebo is located in the northwest corner of Kyushu Island, Japan’s southernmost land mass, part of the four main Islands housing Japan’s 128+ million population.

As I’m not really sure how it came about, other than a Japanese resident was so taken by Holland that he thought it’s treasures should be imported to Japan, which ultimately spanned this unique theme park, complete with windmills, dykes, nightly fireworks and even Dutch styled cobblestone streets. And although this link is a bit dated, it gives you a pretty good idea of what the park is like; see Haus Ten Bosch Theme Park.

Yet Haus Ten Bosch is an eternal money loosing operation, having filed for Bankruptcy at least once. Thus the always financially undermined theme park has opened a few new multi-media exhibits this year, with one being the most surreal. As you first stick your head inside a box with a bright shining light and hold very still until a sequence of four multi-coloured lights commences. This is in order to scan your face into the computer…

Of course I messed up the first time, so I had to do it again, as they wish to get the perfect scan of my face for future “mug shots.” (Taking 4 separate pictures of your face, (Which corresponded to the 4 colour sequenced lights) as a female Japanese employee told me I was ok on the second try. Then we waited in the dark for 4 minutes before being ushered upstairs.

Albin & I were allowed to use the elevator instead of having to take the stairs like everybody else to our seats. And a nice Japanese man asked Albin “English?” Thus our headrests with inset speakers translated the soon to begin adventure into English for us.

So just what was this adventure you ask? Well it’s a mythical Space odyssey, (NO, NOT 2010) where everybody in the current theater session is a “bit player” with our faces being “morphed” into the animated space movie…

And as the show began Albin said “There’s me. And there’s you!” As we both appeared momentarily on the screen together… Unfortunately we were located in the very last row at the very top of the theater, which means I couldn’t make out anybody’s faces… Although I could see the body shapes and follow the story. And Albin kept a running total of my on-screen cameo’s. Which numbered five as well as me speaking Japanese fluently without any accent Albin announced!

Later he claimed I was a central figure in the movie and suggested my role was a “Guardian” helping against the “Bad Guys.”

Then at the very end the walls turned into towering “flat screens” as the whole theater became a humongous movie screen with the entire theater’s cast standing in line in our space suits looking directly at us, before the show ended while we awaited our return journey.

Although I told Tanja & Albin I wasn’t impressed with the overall movie theme, as we’d gone off into space to allow the Earth Restoration Robots to repair Mother Earth that we’d previously DESTROYED before finally returning home. As I commented to Albin; “But will there be anything left to return too?”

Then we were allowed exclusive use of the elevator once more before walking next door to retrieve the “Guardian’s” Star Gazer mug shot. And why yes that’s me in my “Make My Day” pose… As I was waiting for the frilling second scan to be taken…

“To Infinity and Beyond!”