So this past weekend I watched a large portion of the 2hr taped delayed Australian V8 Supercars event which was taking place upon the Bahrain International Circuit, as the Commodores ‘N Falcon’s were using the newly elongated Formula 1 layout, which made for lots of very entertaining “Criss-Cross” overtaking maneuvers thru the circuit’s new portion of “Ash-fault,” so we could have a good race on our hands upcoming this weekend…
2010 F1 Rule Changes
The F1 Class of 2010
You can catch all of the action beginning very early Friday morning on the SPEED Channel, but as ALWAYS! Check your local listings...
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
F1: 2010 launch - HRT
(HRT F1; Source: F1 Fanatic.co.uk)
Come On Down! You’re the very next F1 Constructor… As the former Campos Meta 1 Team broke cover last Thursday, just a scant 10 days prior to Bahrain, as the newly rebranded HRT F1 Team held a press conference in Murcia, Spain where it showed off its new Racecar along with confirming Karun Chandhok as their second driver, which has been widely expected… While I don’t know if Jose Maria Lopez was named as the Spanish squad’s Test/Reserve Driver or not, although this too was expected...
Yet I wouldn’t expect too much from either Bruno Senna or Chandhok as the chassis hasn’t turned a wheel in anger, nor run a single test session this year, so HRT will definitely be starting at a disadvantage… But then again, at least they made it to the party!
2010 Car launch: HRT F1
HRT F1 in pictures
Yet I wouldn’t expect too much from either Bruno Senna or Chandhok as the chassis hasn’t turned a wheel in anger, nor run a single test session this year, so HRT will definitely be starting at a disadvantage… But then again, at least they made it to the party!
2010 Car launch: HRT F1
HRT F1 in pictures
Roush has Penske’s number
Nah, nuthin’ to do with some Roundy-round action from somewhat Hotlanta…As I was scourin’ le internets for something to scribble ‘bout… I found it interesting to learn that Jack Roush (Senior) has just scored his most amazing 400th victory… While I thought it was simply astonishing when The Captain cracked the massive 300 mark in 2008.
So I guess its somewhat ironic that Roush’s monstrous “W” tally comes no less than from the hands of his son Jack Roush Jr. and co-driver Billy Johnson in this weekend’s Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at Homestead, where after Roush Jr. had secured Pole Position, the Ford Mustang GT was deemed to have illegal brake ducting and forced to start from the rear of the grid.
Yet I suppose its worth noting that The King of the Outlaw’s, a.k.a. Steve Kinser has amassed more victories then either the Cat-in-the-Hat or Roger Penske with an insane 520-plus! Not to mention 20 World ‘O Outlaw titles, as interestingly it was the same Messer Kinser who made his one and only Indy 500 start as a 42yr old “Rookie” in 1997…
So I guess its somewhat ironic that Roush’s monstrous “W” tally comes no less than from the hands of his son Jack Roush Jr. and co-driver Billy Johnson in this weekend’s Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at Homestead, where after Roush Jr. had secured Pole Position, the Ford Mustang GT was deemed to have illegal brake ducting and forced to start from the rear of the grid.
Yet I suppose its worth noting that The King of the Outlaw’s, a.k.a. Steve Kinser has amassed more victories then either the Cat-in-the-Hat or Roger Penske with an insane 520-plus! Not to mention 20 World ‘O Outlaw titles, as interestingly it was the same Messer Kinser who made his one and only Indy 500 start as a 42yr old “Rookie” in 1997…
F1 Back in the USSR
As we already know, Vitaly Petrov is set to become the very first ever “Rooskie” to compete in Formula 1 when the Russian debutant takes his place upon the starting grid in Bahrain…
Thus it should come as little surprise that ‘Mother Russia has also struck a deal with Petrov’s Team Renault to provide signage of Russia’s Automotive brand Lada, as after all Renault previously purchased a 25% stake in Lada’s parent company Avtovaz for $1 billion in 2008, with Russia seeking to improve its automobile production capabilities, as Renault is set to introduce several models in Russia, hoping to take advantage of the countries own Cash for Clunkers program which has just begun… As Renault’s cooperative effort will boost Lada plant production to 160,000 vehicles annually, as Renault competes against Ford for the valuable market share.
Lada will be featured on the Renault R30 chassis along with Vitaly Petrov’s ‘Kit, i.e.; overalls & crash bucket, yet the Reggie’s sidepods still seem to have an abundance of sponsorship space available, although I’d expect this to be somewhat remedied this weekend, eh?
Meanwhile, also hoping to cash in on the veritable Ruble bonanza between Renault and Russia is none other then Uncle Bernaughty, (Ecclestone) who hopes for further backing of his sport by Vladimir Putin will enable him to finally crack the Iron Curtain and get his long sought after Moscow Grand Prix installed…
Thus it should come as little surprise that ‘Mother Russia has also struck a deal with Petrov’s Team Renault to provide signage of Russia’s Automotive brand Lada, as after all Renault previously purchased a 25% stake in Lada’s parent company Avtovaz for $1 billion in 2008, with Russia seeking to improve its automobile production capabilities, as Renault is set to introduce several models in Russia, hoping to take advantage of the countries own Cash for Clunkers program which has just begun… As Renault’s cooperative effort will boost Lada plant production to 160,000 vehicles annually, as Renault competes against Ford for the valuable market share.
Lada will be featured on the Renault R30 chassis along with Vitaly Petrov’s ‘Kit, i.e.; overalls & crash bucket, yet the Reggie’s sidepods still seem to have an abundance of sponsorship space available, although I’d expect this to be somewhat remedied this weekend, eh?
Meanwhile, also hoping to cash in on the veritable Ruble bonanza between Renault and Russia is none other then Uncle Bernaughty, (Ecclestone) who hopes for further backing of his sport by Vladimir Putin will enable him to finally crack the Iron Curtain and get his long sought after Moscow Grand Prix installed…
Saturday, March 6, 2010
BLAME KANA-DUH!
Canadian COOL Dude Brian McKeever
Otay, so I’ve waited until Canada’s euphoria over winning the big ice match has hopefully somewhat subsided, as I’ve tried to keep from getting overly emotional about this, BUTT! As a visually impaired ‘Vurd Botcherer, nee Hack, Scribe or Blogger… Take your pick; I’M PISSED OFF at Canada!
While the country above me reveled in the ecstasy of winning the big Hockey game… I’d been counting down to the day’s other race on the final day of the Winter Games, the Men’s 50k Cross Country event that was to potentially see history being made when the very first Blind Athlete, nonetheless from Canada competed in the Alpine event, after Calgary’s Brian McKeever had been selected as a member of Canada’s Olympics’ squad by winning an able body qualifying event…
Thus, upon going from the highest high’s of staying up late to see The Peacock, nee NBC milk the SHIT outta Steve Holcomb ‘N Team USA winning Gold aboard the Night Train, I’d learned that Brian McKeever had been told on the eve of his historic outing, that he’d been given the ‘Boot and wouldn’t be competing in the following day’s Men’s Cross Country relay…
So all I can say which is PG-Rated is SHAME ON YOU CANADA! As they claimed it wasn’t a Publicity Stunt by selecting the Blind Athlete as a member of their Team… But then when it came down to brass tacts, sorry Brian, but we really wanna win the event and you’re our weakest link!
This coming from a nation who created the Terry Fox award for these very Olympics, which was co-awarded to Joannie Rochette & Petra Majdic for demonstrating the enduring spirit of Mr. Fox, (not to mention Canada’s other national hero Rick Hansen…) along with the host city itself having elected a wheelchair bound Quadriplegic named Sam Sullivan to be its Mayor when the Winter Games were initially awarded…
Majdic, Rochette recipients of Terry Fox award
So, in case you cannot tell, I have a really big problem with Canada’s attitude towards denying Brian McKeever his place in the History Books, along with getting to play in the snow enroute to becoming the very first Blind Athlete to compete in the normal Olympics, which I’ve naively thought was the whole spirit of the games, yet I’ve obviously come to understand their true meanings by dubbing them the COMMERCIALYMPICS!
But I’m still extremely disappointed by Canada, who I’ve come to believe is a very progressive nation, while I’m touched by McKeever’s continuous uplifting spirit, while although he only has 10% of his normal vision remaining, nevertheless, he had his sideburns fashioned into Hockey Sticks! (Talk ‘bout national spirit, eh!) While his older brother marvels at his tenacity to pursue his dream of making the Olympic Team by persevering through the chilliness outdoors whilst riding the bus to and from weekly practice sessions.
For a Legally Blind Cross-Country Skier, a Triumphant Perspective
Oh Whale, hopefully Brian will kick ARSE in the upcoming Kuh-Naidiun Paralympics which run from March 11th thru March 21st.
And ironically, or was that karmically? I’m told that on the day in question, the weather was so bad (foggy) that they were probably ALL skiing blind!
And whilst surfing le internets for another photo of my new “Role Model,” I was very disturbed to have the very first story to pop-up, regarding Hate Mail being sent to McKeever’s Olympic teammates… As after all it was NOT their faults, it was the Canadian Olympic Team Organization’s… As I’m NOT even sure I can blame their coach for making the decision to exclude McKeever, eh?
So Good Luck Brian!
Otay, so I’ve waited until Canada’s euphoria over winning the big ice match has hopefully somewhat subsided, as I’ve tried to keep from getting overly emotional about this, BUTT! As a visually impaired ‘Vurd Botcherer, nee Hack, Scribe or Blogger… Take your pick; I’M PISSED OFF at Canada!
While the country above me reveled in the ecstasy of winning the big Hockey game… I’d been counting down to the day’s other race on the final day of the Winter Games, the Men’s 50k Cross Country event that was to potentially see history being made when the very first Blind Athlete, nonetheless from Canada competed in the Alpine event, after Calgary’s Brian McKeever had been selected as a member of Canada’s Olympics’ squad by winning an able body qualifying event…
Thus, upon going from the highest high’s of staying up late to see The Peacock, nee NBC milk the SHIT outta Steve Holcomb ‘N Team USA winning Gold aboard the Night Train, I’d learned that Brian McKeever had been told on the eve of his historic outing, that he’d been given the ‘Boot and wouldn’t be competing in the following day’s Men’s Cross Country relay…
So all I can say which is PG-Rated is SHAME ON YOU CANADA! As they claimed it wasn’t a Publicity Stunt by selecting the Blind Athlete as a member of their Team… But then when it came down to brass tacts, sorry Brian, but we really wanna win the event and you’re our weakest link!
This coming from a nation who created the Terry Fox award for these very Olympics, which was co-awarded to Joannie Rochette & Petra Majdic for demonstrating the enduring spirit of Mr. Fox, (not to mention Canada’s other national hero Rick Hansen…) along with the host city itself having elected a wheelchair bound Quadriplegic named Sam Sullivan to be its Mayor when the Winter Games were initially awarded…
Majdic, Rochette recipients of Terry Fox award
So, in case you cannot tell, I have a really big problem with Canada’s attitude towards denying Brian McKeever his place in the History Books, along with getting to play in the snow enroute to becoming the very first Blind Athlete to compete in the normal Olympics, which I’ve naively thought was the whole spirit of the games, yet I’ve obviously come to understand their true meanings by dubbing them the COMMERCIALYMPICS!
But I’m still extremely disappointed by Canada, who I’ve come to believe is a very progressive nation, while I’m touched by McKeever’s continuous uplifting spirit, while although he only has 10% of his normal vision remaining, nevertheless, he had his sideburns fashioned into Hockey Sticks! (Talk ‘bout national spirit, eh!) While his older brother marvels at his tenacity to pursue his dream of making the Olympic Team by persevering through the chilliness outdoors whilst riding the bus to and from weekly practice sessions.
For a Legally Blind Cross-Country Skier, a Triumphant Perspective
Oh Whale, hopefully Brian will kick ARSE in the upcoming Kuh-Naidiun Paralympics which run from March 11th thru March 21st.
And ironically, or was that karmically? I’m told that on the day in question, the weather was so bad (foggy) that they were probably ALL skiing blind!
And whilst surfing le internets for another photo of my new “Role Model,” I was very disturbed to have the very first story to pop-up, regarding Hate Mail being sent to McKeever’s Olympic teammates… As after all it was NOT their faults, it was the Canadian Olympic Team Organization’s… As I’m NOT even sure I can blame their coach for making the decision to exclude McKeever, eh?
So Good Luck Brian!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Pickett Out, Bodine’s “Hulkie Shuffle” tribute in for Hot-lanta
According to Marc of Full Throttle, NielsenHo, who I’ve taken to calling Nelson Pickett Junior, a.k.a. Nelson Piquet Jr. has apparently, ran into that gigantic impenetrable wall known as sponsorship Dinero… Or in his case lack of Greenbacks to continue his budding TinTop career in the rarefied world ‘O RASSCAR… As it appears that Pickett Jnr. Will not contest this weekend’s Pickem-Up race in Atlanta.
Don’t cry for me, Nielsen ho
Meanwhile, apparently 60yr old Geoff Bodine, the man behind the Bodine bobsleds that just won Gold Up North Eh! Will take part in the Atlanta Camping World Truck race in a specially prepared Dodge replicating the famous Night Train motif that Steve Holcomb ‘N Co. rode to fame in Kana-Duh, so check out the No. 95 Danny Gill Racing truck this Saturday evening, along with younger brother Todd bodine’s No. 30 which will also pay homage to the Night Train’s success, along with everyone who helped make it happen…
Don’t cry for me, Nielsen ho
Meanwhile, apparently 60yr old Geoff Bodine, the man behind the Bodine bobsleds that just won Gold Up North Eh! Will take part in the Atlanta Camping World Truck race in a specially prepared Dodge replicating the famous Night Train motif that Steve Holcomb ‘N Co. rode to fame in Kana-Duh, so check out the No. 95 Danny Gill Racing truck this Saturday evening, along with younger brother Todd bodine’s No. 30 which will also pay homage to the Night Train’s success, along with everyone who helped make it happen…
The Highs and Lows of Whistler’s Sliding Centre
By now Y’all know that USA-1’s 4-man Night Train Bobsled driven by Steve Holcomb has ended America’s 62yr drought of winning the Gold medal in this prestigious winter event, as Holcomb not only made history by accomplishing this, he also set two brand new track records in the process during Day 1’s first half of the event, enroute to capturing America’s first Gold medal in the 4-Man Bobsleigh in 62 years…
Yet, unfortunately the just concluded XXI Winter Olympics at Vancouver, BC will most likely be remembered as the venue where 21yr old Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was fatally killed in a training accident just hours prior to the Opening ceremonies of the Winter Games.
And the track was obviously deluged with many critics, including Team USA female Bobsledder Shauna Rohbock exclaiming that the Whistler Sliding Centre’s track was simply “Stupidly Fast!”
And there was much carnage during the Bobsledding events, which I don’t know if any of the women’s teams suffered crashes? Although the 2-Man Bobsled saw at least three sleds crash during practice, not to mention Australia and Switzerland withdrawing from competition and a further four sleds barrel rolling during the first day’s competition.
The 4-man Bobsled competition wasn’t any less daunting, as a total of six sleds crashed on Day 1, nearly 25% of the sleds entered… While Liechtenstein, Netherlands and USA all withdrew from competition, as both Liechtenstein’s pilot Michael Klingler and the USA-2’s John Napier Suffered injuries during competition.
But it was the Netherland’s pilot Edwin van Calker who I think had the most courage of the entire event, as he sensibly told his coach that he simply was too “RATTLED” to compete in the 4-man event, claiming he simply lacked the necessary confidence to continue on.
van Calker had previously crashed during 2-man practice and then struggled mightily every time down the course thru the infamous Turn 13 which was nicknamed 50-50 by no less then Steve Holcomb after crashing during a training run when Teams first tested the circuit back in 2009, as Holcomb noted that only half of the sled’s were making it thru the overly fast corner…
Yet apparently van Calker is already receiving ridicule for withdrawing from the Games and bearing the brunt of bad jokes like: “Why did the chicken cross the bobsled track?” Yet no less than the reigning Swiss World Champion was forced to withdraw due to a concussion obtained during the 2-man event, while nobody seems to be belaboring Switzerland’s other pilot withdrawing for safety reasons after suffering two crashes, as a total of eight men’s sleds crashed…
Yet imagine the fury of partaking in this sport, not to mention Luge or Skeleton… As for me, the signature voice of Olympic Bobsledding will always be John Morgan, who is a former US Bobsledder, who’ve I’ve just learned watched his older brother die in a Bobsledding accident in Italy in 1981 on his very first broadcast assignment, as Morgan rushed to his brother’s side only to find he had no pulse…
As Morgan called the on track action, he noted how the 4-man sleds that weigh in at 500lbs were dropping four stories in the first 150 meters of the undulating 16-turn course, which totaled a length of some 16 football fields whilst dropping a total of 50 stories! Not to mention the 71 miles of pipe needing 800 bends to pump the nitrogen underneath the concrete slabs foundation to keep the ice cool… As Day 1 saw a track temperature of 26 deg f, while Morgan called Day 2’s warmer surface “Soft Ice,” with a temperature of 31.5-32 degrees. But most interesting to me was the comment that they use sandpaper on the sleds runners, while reaching record terminal velocities of nearly 96mph!
Yet, unfortunately the just concluded XXI Winter Olympics at Vancouver, BC will most likely be remembered as the venue where 21yr old Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was fatally killed in a training accident just hours prior to the Opening ceremonies of the Winter Games.
And the track was obviously deluged with many critics, including Team USA female Bobsledder Shauna Rohbock exclaiming that the Whistler Sliding Centre’s track was simply “Stupidly Fast!”
And there was much carnage during the Bobsledding events, which I don’t know if any of the women’s teams suffered crashes? Although the 2-Man Bobsled saw at least three sleds crash during practice, not to mention Australia and Switzerland withdrawing from competition and a further four sleds barrel rolling during the first day’s competition.
The 4-man Bobsled competition wasn’t any less daunting, as a total of six sleds crashed on Day 1, nearly 25% of the sleds entered… While Liechtenstein, Netherlands and USA all withdrew from competition, as both Liechtenstein’s pilot Michael Klingler and the USA-2’s John Napier Suffered injuries during competition.
But it was the Netherland’s pilot Edwin van Calker who I think had the most courage of the entire event, as he sensibly told his coach that he simply was too “RATTLED” to compete in the 4-man event, claiming he simply lacked the necessary confidence to continue on.
van Calker had previously crashed during 2-man practice and then struggled mightily every time down the course thru the infamous Turn 13 which was nicknamed 50-50 by no less then Steve Holcomb after crashing during a training run when Teams first tested the circuit back in 2009, as Holcomb noted that only half of the sled’s were making it thru the overly fast corner…
Yet apparently van Calker is already receiving ridicule for withdrawing from the Games and bearing the brunt of bad jokes like: “Why did the chicken cross the bobsled track?” Yet no less than the reigning Swiss World Champion was forced to withdraw due to a concussion obtained during the 2-man event, while nobody seems to be belaboring Switzerland’s other pilot withdrawing for safety reasons after suffering two crashes, as a total of eight men’s sleds crashed…
Yet imagine the fury of partaking in this sport, not to mention Luge or Skeleton… As for me, the signature voice of Olympic Bobsledding will always be John Morgan, who is a former US Bobsledder, who’ve I’ve just learned watched his older brother die in a Bobsledding accident in Italy in 1981 on his very first broadcast assignment, as Morgan rushed to his brother’s side only to find he had no pulse…
As Morgan called the on track action, he noted how the 4-man sleds that weigh in at 500lbs were dropping four stories in the first 150 meters of the undulating 16-turn course, which totaled a length of some 16 football fields whilst dropping a total of 50 stories! Not to mention the 71 miles of pipe needing 800 bends to pump the nitrogen underneath the concrete slabs foundation to keep the ice cool… As Day 1 saw a track temperature of 26 deg f, while Morgan called Day 2’s warmer surface “Soft Ice,” with a temperature of 31.5-32 degrees. But most interesting to me was the comment that they use sandpaper on the sleds runners, while reaching record terminal velocities of nearly 96mph!
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