Off to See the Infamous Spruce Goose

No Fenders Head Scribe Tomaso vainly Searchin' for a Ride to McMinnville, Oregon to view the Spruce Goose. (The Tomaso Collection)

Up-Up-Up 'N Away! Into Ye Wild Blue Yonder'; Err Hopefully Blue Skies, or at least Dry Weather, albeit think She's housed inside her own Hangar? And She Ain't made from Spruce...

Funny, seeing how I'm Blind, Righto Mary Ellen? Hmm, Thars' actually Blind IndyCar Fans? I've still wanted to go and See the Spruce Goose for an eternity regardless, due to its History, along with a nebulous racing connection. Which most probably cannot guess?

As I'll give Y'all a Clue. It's got Somme-thun' to do with Indy Lights...

Meanwhile, it's Old News now, but for reasons unknown, ARSE-Sumedly not enough Energy Drinks Cans were being Sold; Hmm? Thought that was 'Ol William Story's of Rich Energy Fame's Problema instead...

As Red Bull cancelled its long running Air Race Championship series that began Wayback in 2003 following the end of the just concluded 2019 European Season, along with Axing the 2019 Indianapolis round that would have occurred this past weekend.

Red Bull Cancels Air Race series after 2019 Season

Having last scribbled 'bout Aeroplanes Zoom-Zooming round Mother Speedway last year in the following No Fenders tome, Where some "Ol Codger known fondly as SuperTex' was its Air Marshall...

AVIATION: Red Bull Spreads It's Wings over Indianapolis...

Whilst reportedly, also the Reno Air Races are struggling to keep rare vintage World War II era Airplanes racing round Thar Pylons. Although I enjoyed the recent Air & Space Magazine article about a Beast of a Piston-powered Aeroplane. A heavily modified Hawker Sea Fury known as Dreadnought!

One of the World's most famous Air Racers retakes the Trophy

As veteran Air Racer Dennis Sanders won this year's Reno Air Races Unlimited Gold title behind the tiller of that very same Monstrous Sea Fury Dreadnought...

Sanders, Finley win Reno Air Races

(Photo c/o J & J Images)

INDYCAR: Didn't See this Ericsson Move coming!

As Inquiring Minds wanna Know just how many Kroner's does the Swede' have to give to Cheep for his ride?

Whale', although I correctly predicted that Swedish IndyCar Rookie Marcus Ericsson wouldn't return to SPAM', aka Arrow McLaren SP next year. I certainly didn't expect Ericsson becoming Thee Cheepsters', nee Chip Ganassi's third IndyCar entry for 2020.

While Scuttlebutt in the Racer article also briefly mentions that the team's still trying to potentially Add 2019 Indy Lights Champion Oliver Askew to a fourth Dallara-Honda IndyCar entry next year, as CGR attempts finding new work for its Disbanding Ford GT Sports Car programme's personnel...

Ericsson Confirmed for third Ganassi IndyCar in 2020

RETRO: Penske Surprise's 50yrs Ago at Daytona

The winning No. 6 Sunoco Penske Racing Lola T70. (Image source: sportscardigest.com)

Ironically Outlasting both Porsche and Ford, both Marques He'd Campaign in later years...

Any Hardcore IndyCar aficionado will know that El Capitano', nee Roger Penske, at the youthful age of 32, entered his then Penske Racing in its Debutante Indianapolis 500 a Half Century ago.

With Penske's lead Driver Mark Donohue behind the wheel of Penske's customer Four Wheel-drive Lola T-152 Offy', (Offenhauser) which I've previously chronicled in another long ago No Fenders tome.

Penske’s ‘willPower

Yet this No Fenders story is cleverly tied to Penske's meandering sports Cars forays the past half century, with Roger having just eclipsed his 200th Start. For which "The Captain's" brace 'O Acura Daytona Prototypes are a long ways from his earlier machinery.

Since I typically forget that Penske Racing won its lone 24 Hours of Daytona event 50 years ago this past January. In what is claimed to have been a surprise victory, back when the Drivers were "He-Men!" With just two Drivers going the distance.

1969 Daytona 24 Hours Profile

As Donohue with Co-Driver Chuck Parsons, presumably a fairly unknown racer, albeit Diehard Sports Cars Fanatics will know that Parsons won the 1966 U.S. Road Racing Championship. (USRRC)

As Parsons was substituting for the injured Ronnie Buckhum, originally slated to partner with Donohue at Daytona...

As the duo won aboard a Lola T70 Mk IIIB Coupe propelled by the ubiquitous Chevrolet 5-litre Small Block V-8, followed home by another Lola T70-Chevrolet, giving Lola a 1-2 victory.

Ironically the runner-up Lola racing under the American International Racing (AIR) Banner, was the short-lived Race Team owned by some 'Ol Hollywood Actor named James Garner!

Whilst 'Ol Jimmy Rockford would go onto pilot the Celebratory Indy 500 Pace Car at Mother Speedway three times, if I remember correctly...

James Garner: Movie Star and Man of Auto Racing passion Dies at 86...

Alas, when I think of Roger Penske Racing; Err Team Penske's various sports Cars ventures, I immediately think of a few of my favourite racing cars.

With those iconic Porsche RS Spyders which Decimated the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) springing to mind. Although Sadly, when American Sports Car racing was Split between two rival Sanctioning Bodies, nee ALMS vs. Grand Am. Keeping them from contesting the Rolex 24.

Along with my Numero Uno Prancing Horse, the Uber Nasty Sunoco Ferrari 512M which Mark Donohue co-drove with some Bloke fondly known here in Nofendersville as 'Ol Hobbo', nee HobbsCap', aka David Hobbs in the early 1970's.

As Gory Hell! Can it already be a Decade since Mark's son David Donohue & Company, including Buddy Hot Rod' Rice won the Rolex 24 in a Brumos Racing Riley/Porsche Daytona Prototype on the 40th Anniversary of Penske's lone 24hrs win at Daytona International Speedway, Eh?

Remembering Penske's first racer Mark Donohue - 40 Years after...

Not to mention that Penske & Donohue were Kickin' Arse in Thar Narly Chevy Camaro Zed-28's during the 1969 SCCA Trans Am Series season!