Drawing a Blanc over Blancpain Endurance series...

Netherland’s Race Art BMW Z4 Blancpain GT3 Challenger. (Image courtesy of Robert Nearn)

Unless I’d been alerted to a certain driver’s latest gig by London ‘Lass Tricia, I’d never have known about the fairly new Blancpain Endurance series which is in its sophomore season...

Have Y’all heard of it? As apparently Blancpain is an exquisitely high end (luxury) Swiss watch maker that was originally founded in 1735; Aye Karumba! Yet apparently the company went into bankruptcy followed by a long production break before being saved and is now owned by the Swatch Group...

Reputedly the company produces fewer than 10,000 wrist watches per year, although their chronographs have been selected by the US Navy and Jacques Cousteau... Whilst the company also sponsors the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo - which serves as a support series to the top flight endurance series, along with sponsoring GT1 and GT3 racecars. While apparently there’s also a Blancpain Revival series as well...

Yet apparently the Blancpain Endurance Series is fashioned to become Europe’s leading Grand Tourmiso racing series utilizing production based chassis for its various GT3 & GT4 classes, having kicked-off in 2011, albeit a bit like the ALMS and ACO with its multi-class structure of Professional and Amateur drivers

As the Pro ranks include the likes of Karl Wendlinger, David Brabham, Duncan Taffy, Marc Goosens’ and a cast of others...

While such awesome cars as the McLaren MP4-12C, Audi R8, Mercedes SLS AMG, Ferrari 458 Italia, BMW Z4 and Porsche 997 are the types of cool cars that can be seen pounding around selected European venues; with the season’s six races having begun at Monza, followed by Silverstone, Paul Ricard, Spa-Francorchamps, (24-hours) the Murburgring and finishing at Spain’s Circuito de Navarra.

Thus I wasn’t too sure of what to make over the fact when hearing that Robert Nearn had won his respective class in the Abu Dhabi 24hrs race earlier this year, since I had NO idea of what type of race it was, albeit I think it’s the same race that Mikey “Aw Shucks” Waltrip contested previously and obviously I was happy for Robert’s success...

Yet thanxs to Tricia, I was informed Robert would once again be competing at the Silverstone round of the Blancpain series with the same team and thus inquiring with said competitor I discovered that he was co-driving the No. 70 Race Art BMW Z4 which ran as high as tenth before sliding backwards to finish 18^th in class. As Robert next plans to contest the Spa 24hrs round with the same team, as this is the only 24-hour event in the series with the rest all being three hours in duration.

For some more pictures of the fabulous looking BMW Z4 “Art Car” you may wish to check out; click here.

Two Italian Marques Perish, NASCAR Driver on Hot Seat and Female F1 driver improving...

It’s amazing what happens when you’re away from thy Confuzer - as the Vurld der Motorsporten never sleeps, Ja-Ja! As I had NO clue to any of the following “B-I-G” Ticket items that occurred during my 10-day Safari, with obviously the most shocking being Maria de Villota’s frighteningly horrific accident!

Marussia Test Driver improving...

By now I’m sure Y’all have heard of the freakish testing accident female F1 hopeful Maria de Villota suffered when performing a straight-line aerodynamic test for the Marussia F1 team.

De Villota’s Marussia MR-01 chassis apparently had a case of unintended acceleration causing the 32-year old Spaniard to crash into the back of a parked support vehicle...

As I first learned the chilling news whilst watching my taped British GP Qualifying show this Monday afternoon; where SPEED’s Bob Varsha announced that De Villota had undergone 12-hours of surgery after striking the lift gate of a team support truck - which she struck with her helmet! And although Maria lost her right eye, was now in serious-but-stable condition...

De Villota update

GOOD LUCK MARIA!

What Happened to Allmendinger?

Returning home from Vancouver and sitting down to hopefully watch my taped coverage of the Silverstone F1 Qualifying - whilst rewinding duh tape I was greeted to the ‘RASSCAR HUB Talking Head exclaiming how’d they’d delve into Sam “I AM” Hornish getting the call that changed his life forever; HUH? So I actually waited to see what that was all about? As I was still cornfuzed over why Hornish was pressed into service to drive The Captain’s No. 22 Sprint Cup Challenger... Oh Whale, I’d rather watch the RAINED OUT Formula 1 ‘Qualie coverage instead...

Thus imagine my surprise when Indiana Bureau Chief Danny B clued me into A.J. Allmendinger’s failed drug test; Aye Karumba! As after all he reminded me of Allmendinger’s past DUI; OOPSADAISY!

As for AJ’s career - as I did enjoy him in Champ Car, I sincerely hope the matter is quickly resolved and that Allmendinger is cleared! As it’d be a tad too bit ironic for Roger Penske to first haveda fire Kurt “GFYS!” Busch and then have Allmendinger further blemish his copybook, eh? As hopefully this is just a really BAD mistake by NASCAR?

Allmendinger's camp explains failed drug test

Renowned Automobili Marques Suffer Blows

Perhaps Y’all have heard that Sergio Pininfarina has died at the age of 85. As Sergio was the Italian design company’s chief and styling maestro for some five decades as overseer of la Scuderia’s supple bodywork... Including the magnificent Ferrari 250 GTO...

Meanwhile, according to Joe Saward, another revered Italian coachwork builder is set to bite the dust - with the sad news of De Tomaso’s impending failure which you can read more about in;

Another brand bites the dust

Delta Wing to race on...

The Nissan DeltaWing. (Source: tech.mikeshouts.com)

Originally I was an adamant detractor towards the original Delta Wing IndyCar concept and took to calling it the Delta Wang! As I just found it too outlandishly radical to suit my dyed in the wool Open Wheel Racing cars signature look... As I cannot say I’m totally enamoured by this year’s Dallara DW12, albeit it certainly seemed more palatable when finally getting to view ‘Hulio’s showcar up close ‘N personal inside  the Indianapolis airport’s concourse; although I still think the word Open Wheel means NO rear wheel spats, Batmobile Spats or rearward facing bumpers!

So what really is the story behind Project Delta Wing?

Nevertheless, I haveda say my curiosity was PEAK’ed - Oh where Art Thou Princess? Hya! As to what this new fangled version of the DeltaWing Sports Car looked like? But alas, due to my CRAPY vision I wasn’t able to discern any prevalent views of the radical DeltaWing racecar upon SPEED’s nonstop coverage of this year’s 24 Heurs du Mans, where apparently the car was quite the hit...

Thus I once again took to the all knowing gOOgleMunster to hopefully find a somewhat decent image of said racing car to which all I can say is it still looks  like the bulbous Flying ‘V wang-mobile to Mwah, as it appears to be better suited towards Bonneville instead of the Circuit de la Sarthe...

Yet that being said, kudos to all involved in making this a reality, along with Nissan having the gumption to provide its motive power as apparently this “Flyweight” racecar was indeed capable of competing comfortably in the LMP2 category... As now according to Gordon Kirby’s latest article, Don Panoz claims the car will go into customer production and race at this year’s Petit Lemans.

Don Panoz on the Future of the DeltaWing

Yet it seems that its biggest setback now is that it appears to be an open top cockpit design? Which the ACO has outlawed beginning in 2014 for the LMP1 category whilst I’m unaware of the LMP2 regulations, albeit it seems that the Lola’s are coupes? Thus what do Y’all think about the DeltaWing Sports Car and should the ACO let it compete as a fully fledged LMP2 contender next year? You Make the Call...  

Red, white ‘N bleu - why can’t Indy host an Eco-500?

As us ‘Yanks bask in the afterglow ‘O another fourth ‘O July... Isn’t it funny how we’re constantly being bamboozled ‘bout having to GO GREEN - but have you noticed how much garbage is littering your streets, neighborhood, community, etc after the fourth? I mean talk ‘bout pollution, as how much garbage was created in the detonating ‘O zillions of fireworks big ‘N small? Not to mention what does the discharging of cubic tons of gunpowder do to the environment?

Now, don’t fret, I’m not trying to go all tree huggin, granola chewin, Birkenstocks Oregonian on Yuhs - just seemed like the opportune time to get this festerin’ story off ‘O my chest and release it into the Internetz wylds, eh?

As the following F3 racecar project was  initially brought to my attention by Austin Bureau Chief Clyde back in late March - as I find it despicable of how much our Mainstream media shields us from... After finding said F3 racecar I was shocked to discover that the vehicle had actually been built in 2009 - as in like three FREAKIN’ years ago... Yet I’d never heard of I-T!

Uhm, so just what is the vehicle in question I’m talking about? ‘Whale I’ve dubbed it thee Chocolate-mobile...  As this F3 racecar is the type of GREEN vehicle dynamics we need to see more of, as I personally have mixed emotions over the mainstream push for hybrid power... As don’t get me wrong, I like the technology; BUTT! Why doesn’t ANYBODY talk about the humongous destruction caused to nature over the mining of lithium?

But back to our Choc-oe Mobile which I’m struggling to find any current info upon - as this ‘Uber innovative racing car utilizes such novel items  as a steering wheel formed out of carrot pulp waste, potato wings, recycled plastic bottle sidepods and le piece de la resistance... A two-liter BMW diesel motor capable of running on either chocolate or vegetable oil waste - as the “shocko-latte waste comes from the esteemed firm Cadbury. Uhm-uhm GOOD!

An Eco-Racecar That Runs on Chocolate

And although the unique F3 racer did indeed finally take to the track, unfortunately it wasn’t able to compete in its Brands Hatch event due to some sorta paperwork miscue, whilst the vehicle isn’t eligible for regular Formula 3 competition since they don’t allow the usage of alternative fuels; SHEISA! As reportedly the car was just 0.2-seconds off of pole time and perhaps said racing series are afraid of being dusted off by a 160mph chocolate-mobile?

Veggie Racecar Hits 130 M.P.H

And I’m not the first to come up with the idea, nor will I be the last, as ‘Ol TK; NOT ‘TK Follow-your-Schnoz” Kanaan, but Tommy Kendall broached the subject recently whilst on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain - about requiring everybody to run the Indy 500 on five gallons of fuel whilst discussing the merits of the radical Delta Wing at Le Mans...

To which I say why not make Mother Speedway the bastion of innovation once again by letting anybody run-watchya-brung, albeit being based upon future technology in the form of hyper-mileage vehicles, including bio-fuels, deep-fryer waste, Butanol, (which is currently run in the ALMS) hydrogen fuel cells, etc - as all vehicles entered must use alternative energy sources not including ethanol, gasoline or diesel as the primary fuel source. (Although they could be blended with the various cellulosic fuels...)

As after all Indianapolis was originally envisioned as an automobile proving ground and what better way to return the race to its former glory of true innovation... And if this is too detrimental to thee Brickyard’s prestige then how ‘bout running the Eco-500 at Fontana instead, as after all California is noted for having the toughest vehicle emission standards on the planet...

Why does Bernie-the-Magician want us to Watch duh Birdie after his pal Gribkowsky is sentenced?

By now I’m guessing Y’all have heard that disgraced banker Gerhard Gribkowsky has been sentenced to eight and one-half years of prison in Germany for breach of trust, tax evasion and bribery albeit having already served 18-months behind bars and most likely will serve a lesser sentence for good behaviour...

Yet within 24-hours of Gribkowsky’s verdict being announced, wallah! Shuhzamm, bingo, flash-bang... Uncle Bernaughty has majikally managed to convince the London ‘Rags to run stories of an impending London Grand Prix... HEY YOU! Don’t look over ‘Dar, watch duh Birdie; Err, listen to Bernie...

A London Grand Prix? How about one on Mars...

As interestingly, Bernie Ecclestone who admitted in court to paying Herr Gribkowsky a $44m Euro BRIBE because he was being “Shaken-down” over his family’s Bambino Trust and the inherent British Tax implications... Has been deemed an accomplice by the German prosecutors, and NOT a victim...

Thus it seems like the obvious question is why did Mr. E really pay Herr Gribkowsky 44-million Euros in order to get CVC Capital to pay some $840-million for the Bayern LB F1 shares... Which now CVC and Formula 1 are reportedly worth umpteen-times more.

As perhaps Gerhard was really paid off to have CVC Capital buy the German bank’s shares at an inflated price along with ensuring that Ecclestone stayed in charge? As some how Uncle Bernaughty doesn’t seem like the type to be shaken down, as after all just check out those Hublot wrist watch ads he made just days after being mugged...

'See what people will do for a Hublot'

F1: One Streak is Over, One Continues and one has just Begun?

2012 European Grand Prix podium. (Source: grandprix.com)

What an absolutely BONKERS European Grand Prix nearly a Fortnight ago that was, as I was somewhat mystified over what happened to Master ‘Zebb’s utterly dominant RB8 chassis... As Vettel simply streaked away from everybody en route to building up a 19-second lead before the safety car quashed that. Then the car simply switched off; CRIKEYS!

As a second ‘Reggie (Renault) ‘lump faltered - as  the hard charging Romain Grosjean - as I don’t like the nickname they’ve (SPEED) given him of “RoGro,” since it immediately makes me think of a men’s hair regeneration product... Lost the spark to his drive as the in-car radio transmission told him that the alternator had failed; Hmm? As the SPEED booth ‘Boyz were quick to speculate on the day’s heat being the cause of the two Renault failures, as in not enough cooling getting to the alternator...

And I haveda say I was rootin’ the remainder of the race against “Fredrico Suave,” after Fernando Alonso had passed Grosjean... As Alonso will forever be firmly remembered as “Ferdi-duh-Putz” which Blogmeister Miguel christened him several years ago - during the McLaren dazes I believe, as Alonso’s just a wee bit too SMARMY to Mwah!

But you cannot deny he’s a great driver - having come from a lowly 11^th place to not be denied a magnificent victory on home soil in front of 90,000 adoring fans, as Spain defeated France twice in 24-hours; not to mention some sorta redemption over its German Eurozone lords, eh?

Yet I was actually hoping Grosjean would make it eight-for-eight in this season’s string of different winners, but alas the record for most consecutive different winners at the beginning of a season is over. With reportedly the all time tally for different consecutive winners being nine in 1982.

Meanwhile Grosjean’s teammate thee Iceman, nee Kimi Räikkönen and his Oomphlats; Hya! Who’d been lurking in the background and applying massive pressure towards Louise ‘JAGUAR Hamilton finally passed the Brit for second place in the closing laps before Hamilton whose rear tyres were shot basically tried closing the door upon the hard charging Pastor Maldonado, who’d surely claim the podium’s final step before ‘JAGUAR made a mess of I-T! With the two drivers colliding which unexpectedly opened the door for ‘DER TERMINATOR, nee Michael Schumacher to grab an unexpected third place finish... The German’s first podium in six years, since China of 2006; Aye Karumba!

Yet apparently the Race Stewards, including Mika Salo saw the Team Willy Venezuelan’s incident differently as they gave Maldonado a 20-second time penalty afterwards - which dropped Pastor from tenth and ironically gifted the final points paying position to his forlorned teammate Bruno Senna...  

Thus what a surreal podium it was with la Scuderia sweeping the podium... As the drivers finished in the exact order of their Ferrari employment, as Schumacher was squeezed out by Raikkonen who in-turn didn’t wish to compete against Alonso and went Rallying instead! As talk ‘bout a ‘Mega podium with ten driver’s crowns amongst the trio...

And making for even more synchronicity was the man collecting the Constructor’s trophy for Maranello; as Andrea Stella, Alonso’s race engineer who enjoyed a champagne soak courtesy of Fernando on the podium has a unique tie to the triumberant - which SPEED’s Professor (Steve) Matchett pointed out how he’d worked with all three drivers at la Scuderia...

As Andrea was Schumacher’s performance & vehicle engineer - responsible for analyzing all data collection for the multi-winning world champion before switching to the same role for Raikkonen, before becoming Kimi’s race engineer when Chris Dyer was promoted to Chief Track Engineer. And now Stella has continued the latter role with Alonso, as he’s the voice we hear over the in-car radio transmissions speaking to Fernando... Who was heard saying Fantastica! Which indeed this race was - especially with all of its uncertainty surrounding it - as none of the media pundits had picked Alonso to become the season’s first repeat winner, especially with his starting position... As your money most likely would have been placed upon Vettel from pole, eh? Or Hamilton from P2 or perhaps even Maldonado starting third instead...

Meanwhile I had to scratch my head over Willie Buxom’s (Will Buxton) retarded question to Uncle Bernaughty upon the New Jersey Grand Prix now in uncertainty for 2013? Of which rightly so ‘Ol ‘Hobbo, aka David Hobbs said wryly “I believe Bernie enjoys winding us up...” To which Matchett chimed in whilst chuckling; “There’s only one Bernie!” As the part that left me scratchin’ meeze noggin was the fact why doesn’t anybody ever ask Mr. E the hard questions - like are you really gonna sue Gribkowsky? As I still say ‘Somme-thun doesn’t add up over Ecclestone admitting he paid Gerhard Gribkowsky $44-million in bribe money, but what for really? Which makes Bernie’s boasts all the more laughable...

Ecclestone says he may sue Gribkowsky

And then there’s the delayed irony of next going to ‘BLOODY Silverstone - which was the sight of Constructor-roe, where the F1 Teams told sir maXXum, a.k.a. MAD Max Mosley to go pound sand over his showdown regarding his proposed Budget Cap formulae which the teams completely refused - which ultimately led to Mosley’s ouster as FIA president, not to mention his Fraulein spanking antics, Ja Volt!

Thus the irony? ‘Whale perhaps you’ve seen the headline of la Scuderia major domo Luca di Montezemolo pleading for immediate budget reforms to the sport of Formula 1 which ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt, Mosley’s successor as head of the FIA has pledged to look into pronto... While Caterham’s chief technology officer Mike Gascoyne has also made the case for the FIA to introduce a budget cap - which wasn’t en vogue just some three summers ago. Then again is this just a shrewd way of trying to level the proverbial playing field?

Gascoyne calls for Budget Cap as FIA promises action on costs

Ode to Portland: Can it already be 5-Years GONE? (Part V)

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that on Saturday - before the deluge as I was walking towards my seat down at the Festival Curve, four “Tough talkin’ Hood Boyz in Pro Team logo knock-offs;” Err, four young lads in black t-shirts passing me by said: “Hey-hey-hey; LOOK! Check it out; 3-3-3!” As apparently the ‘Fly yellow Scandia 333 jacket is definitely the coat to have, eh? As I’ve been sporting IT everywhere... To the track, the restaurante, hotel, etc.

Sunday, June 10^th, 2007

(Warm-up/Race)

So far, so good - as I know I shouldn’t be talking ‘bout I-T but the weather’s looking mucho better so far... Having had an early breakfast I decided to stroll thru my hotel’s lobby in my ex-Scandia team gear! As I heard a group of men at the front counter talking about various racing drivers to which I couldn’t help myself and interjected  Justin Wilson’s name twice, as ‘Juan replied; there  you go, while the other gentleman said COOL! In regards to my jacket as I made my way back upstairs to my room; as the weather was indeed much more cooperative, as it was dry all the way over to the track; as I’d originally intended to arrive at my seat for the second Atlantics race. Yet I ended up arriving so early that I caught the entire Champ Car warm-up session proceeding the Atlantic’s. And they put on an excellent second race, which was followed by the Champ Car driver introductions.

After putting the rain gear back on once again for a passing shower during the Atlantics race, the rain basically stayed away for the remainder of the day, although a fellow fan above us told the couple sitting in front of me. DON’T take that off until about 5:30PM!

As I did finally take off my raincoat prior to the green flag being dropped; which was preceded by an overly annoying fireworks blast. This was followed by a wonderful fly over by a lone vintage P-51 Mustang! And I find that the sound of a Rolls Royce Merlin piston engine has to be one of the sweetest sounds of Aviation!

As I lamented into the talking machine:

FUCKING EH! FUCK-FUCK! SHEISA-SHEISA-SHEISA!!! THAT GAWD DAMN P.O.S. ‘HAMBURGULAR WON THE RACE...

And it was also Newman Haas Racing’s 100^th WIN... (Which to that point in time had only been accomplished by Thee Captain, aka Roger Penske - as I’m not sure if Thy ‘Cheepster has accomplished this yet?)

But I’m way ahead of myself here... Having left for the track at 9:35AM there was hardly any crowd as I made my way into the venue lickidy-split and bought a very overpriced $9.00 program - which I mused didn’t even have the accompanying paper entrants flyer pages for the first time ever... Also slightly bemused that this (lost?) program still featured Matt Haliday in the “Tootie Fruity Rum Bum?” Bachelart car instead of my newly anointed Jan “Van Hagar” Heyland inside the program... Along with purchasing a bottle of water, etc I still managed to sit down at thee top ‘O the hour (10AM) and marvel at getting to view the majority of the Champ Cars warm-up session...

Another entertaining Atlantics race ensued - with ‘Linksheaven’s Boy John Edwards having another rough go at the office. As although he was indeed the youngest competitor at age 16 - apparently he has just gotten his public driver’s license; as I don’t know exactly what happened to him, except for hearing the PA System announce that he’d pulled off to the side of Turn-6 as his rear wheel had “Left-the-Vehicle!” Noting it had been a torrid weekend for Edwards; having started 18^th on Saturday and P17 today...

And I was rootin’ for “Jimmy Heath cliff” (James Hinchcliffe) to win today - as I believe these were the days prior to him winning his Mayorship, eh? As ‘Hinch started once again from Pole, securing P1 both days - and began both races by leading; yet once again Hinchcliffe got snookered on a restart and Kevin “Somebody?” starting only his second ever Atlantics race took the win instead.

As it was quite hilarious to Mwah that the weekend’s Atlantics races were swept by a pair of 18-year old ‘KuhNucks scoring their debutant Atlantics victories with thy ‘Young Wicky (Robert Wickens) taking Race-1 and Kevin Lacroix winning Race-2. As apparently this was to be the zenith of Lacroix’s climb up the ladder system - as after finishing ninth overall in a full Atlantics season for Derrick Walker for ‘08 he mysteriously disappeared from the racing scene after that.

And I swear... but who know’s with my CRAPY vision - I swear I saw two puffs of black smoke rising into the air from the drivers clamping so damn hard on their brakes going into the Festival Curves that I saw the black brake dust floating skywards during one of the races restarts...

And as I noted previously - they did ‘Somme-then absolutely STUPID in my mind - lighting off some exceedingly LOUD Boom Boom fireworks prior to the starting of the Champ Car race I believe?

Announcing each CCWS driver individually with some really corny, vain, funky ARSE song clips between each driver - of which naturally I DON’T know who they were, although I did catch them playing “Girls just wanna have Fun!” When announcing Thy Leggy ‘Juan, nee Katherine Legge - in what would be her final Open Wheel Racing season before returning to an overly maligned rookie IndyCar campaign in 2012...

As they got to the top five-plus drivers; while I don’t know which ‘Juan - for one driver they played Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line,” followed by AC DC’s “Back in Black.” And for Mr. Wilson they played Cold Play before all of the driver’s road around the track in possibly Mazduh’s? For the Driver’s parade lap - whilst I remained seated and didn’t remove my cap for the playing of Taps while chanting silently “FUCK THE WAR!” As I mused to myself how in year’s past the flyover was performed by Oregon’s Air National Guard; but guess what? They’re over ‘Dar in a MEAT GRINDER called Iraq...

Justin Wilson ’06 Hero card

And I still have NO FUCKING CLUE! Of what happened to Justin? Oh yeah, Champ Car did its very first ever standing start today...

(Hmm? Somehow I’m guessing “Mister CandyMann” & the fine folks at IndyCar will completely gloss over that whenever they unveil standing starts, eh? As what’s that ‘bout tradition & history Mr. Bernard?)

As I’m still totally baffled over what happened to Justin ‘BIG UNIT Wilson who finished second after taking off from pole like a scalded cat with Bad Bobby ‘D (Robert Doornbos) in tow. As nobody stalled on the grid as Justin & Doornbos went wheel-to-wheel into the Festival Curves before Wilson simply ran away ‘N hid... Leading by the proverbial “Country Mile” and hence, I-T just DOESN’T add up for Justin to suffer a 32+ second swing; from leading by plus 17 seconds to finishing runner-up by 15 seconds…

As SHEISA! I actually witnessed le ‘Hamburgular making the winning pass when he out braked Wilson into the Festival Curve before pulling away from the somewhat shocked Englishman, right? As I can only surmise that Wilson’s healthy lead wasn’t big enough to negate his time lost entering and exiting Pitlane.

Whilst the “W” was ‘‘SeaBasses (Sebastain Bourdais) 26^th Champ Car victory, which means Bourdais has tallied one-quarter of Norman; OOPS! Freudian slip here as I yawned tiredly when speaking the words Norman Bates when trying to say Newman Haas into the talkin’ machine. (As why is this making me tired...) Although I did feel that ‘Ol Sebastain was the Norman Bates ‘O Champ Cars at the time; Hya! Noting how SAD Bourdais’s victory made me since I wanted my man Justin to win...

And they did wax on ‘N on ever so eloquently ‘bout it being Newman Haas’s 100^th victory - even getting Paul Newman to speak a few words over the PA System before his driver pulled into victory lane, as I don’t think Newman really wanted any part of this pomp ‘N circumstance; Err dog ‘N pony show...

While Doornbos finished on the podium’s final step - saying he’d had trouble on his “Reds” (alternate rubber) today, but is third in the point’s standings and definitely wants to win some races this year.

And I mused to myself if this would be a Young Guns Trifecta today - after the two 18yr old ‘KuhNucks had won in Atlantics would it be the 18-year old Graham Rahal’s turn today? NOPE! As I noted that Rahal Jr. had a pretty rough day - going off track several times I believe and finishing somewhere at the tail end of the grid.

‘PT (Paul Tracy) also had a torrid day, his team having elected to put him onto an alternate pit strategy which went bust since I believe it was the very first time ever in 24-years that the race went completely green, flag-to-flag. And although the race was only one hour 45-minutes in duration, Bourdais completed 103-laps in this amount of time which musta been a “New Track Record?”

And I noted how it was kOOL! Hearing what sounded like a Freightrain passing by as Doornbos held up a pack of five cars behind him as they went “Whump-Whump-Whump-Whump-Whump!”

Also laughed over listening to the Atlantics - as one driver totally peeled-out trying to heat-up his tyres during a restart, while I could hear another competitor’s brakes squealing in protest before engaging in his burnout... Obviously you need to be stomping the brake pedal pretty hard to do that, eh? As the tape suddenly came to the end of its loop; and now five-years later, I have NO clue if I recorded any more of this riveting story on another missing cassette tape?

Now I really should get that ‘FRILLIN Molson Indy Vancouver poster with the twenty-five Portland Champ Car driver’s “John Hancock’s” upon I-T framed; SHEISA! (While it does seem somewhat funny that I’ve managed to begin & finish this ‘Mega yarn on the same darn blasted ‘Confuzer...)

 Monday, June 11^th, 2007

So all I kinda remember now - some five-years later is the surprise I played upon myself when arriving at the train station to return home after a leisurely last breakfast at Elmer’s and another enjoyable shuttle van ride with my Numero Uno shuttle driver Donnyell.

And I really don’t know if I should admit this - but imagine my shock when the Amtrak attendant at Portland told me that my ticket was for Vancouver, Washington to Seattle; Huh? WTF? As that’ll be another $14.00 sir if you wish to take the train from Portland? As apparently I’d had Vancouver, British Columbia on my mind when I’d made my reservations with “Julie” the female talking robot; CRIKEYS!

YES! Of course I wanna go ALL the way home from Portland please... As the rest of the day’s trek back to the “Jet City” was fairly uneventful and overly anti-climatic - as little did I know it would be the last ever Indy Car Series race in Portland, Oregon...

SHAME ON YOU INDY CARS!