Friday, November 8, 2019

Motorcycle Racer Dies in Crash at Sepang

Although this is slightly dated News, nonetheless, once again another Kneedragger', nee Motorcycle Racer has perished at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit, ironically the same month another Motorcycle racing Fatality occurred.

Eight years ago on October 23rd, MotoGP Rider Marco Simoncelli lost his life in the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix on Lap-2 when he lost control of his Satellite Honda Scooter;, when unexpectedly veering into the path of oncoming riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi, who both struck the falling Italian racer.

As I'll confess, I've never heard of this Asian Talent Cup Support series or the stricken 20yr old Indonesian rider Afridza Munandar who succumbed to his On-track injuries suffered on the event's first lap...


Tuesday, November 5, 2019

IMSA: 2019 Petit Le Mans Postscript

The Turner Motorsport #96 BMW GT3 with Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley and Dillon Machavern at Road Atlanta. (Image source: bmwblog.com)


As typical, we Didn't know who the Winners would be until the Chequered Flag flew 10 Hours later, literally for the lower tier GT Daytona Class runners...

This year I decided to watch, well Otay since I'm Blind, basically listen to the opening Television portion on what Ye OLD-est IndyCar Blogger Geo. Phillips; Hya! Refers to as Big NBC. Which the more I watch, the more I find myself saying Out-loud: Nothing but Commercials!

As I really enjoy Leigh Diffey as lead announcer, along with 'Ol Walldinger', nee A.J. Allmendinger and Calvin Fish, who seems to be the TV Booth Trio's Scholarly Professor, somewhat shrinking into the background...

As it seemed like some sort of Omen? Upon warming Thy Telie' up prior to the 9AM Pacific Broadcast Start, I tuned into Earth Odyssey with some unknown female Host named Dillon Drayer doing her best Wild Kingdom Animal Planet impersonation from the Amazon.

Although I missed the segment about Howler Monkeys, I did hear 'bout Tadpoles that Camouflage themselves right before a commercial break. Then the episode wrapped-up with a Cute 'N Cuddly segment about Sloths, I Kidz' Yuhs Not!

Then growing restless from the onslaught 'O TV Commercials, near the Two-hours mark, having stuck with the TV Broadcast since my Numero Uno Pitlane Reporter Professor B', aka Jon Beekhuis was "In the House!"

I finally Switched Off and departed for thou "Office' and the soothing tomes of Der Heindenmeier', nee John Hindhaugh & Company on IMSA Radio via Zed Internetz' instead.

And not sure of what was exactly said, since I was too busy laughing out loud. But racing driver Robin Liddell was in the Announce Booth and giving Jeremy Shaw some good natured ribbing 'bout keeping records on stone tablets; Err Slates.

As try finding out any definitive information upon Messer Shaw, who's Motorsports Journalism career apparently began in 1974. As I learned he was Editor at Ontrack Magazine, which I subscribed to for years.

Whilst I seem to remember Shaw most for his Colour Commentator work with the long defunct Chump Cars', nee Champ Car World Series circa 2003-07. Along with being the President of Team USA's Scholarship programme for aspiring Yanks to race Formula Fords abroad; But I Digress...

Thus Shaw and Liddell were having a brief Chinwag' about Scottish Racing Drivers Me Thinks, but I burst out laughing over Liddell's Quip 'bout was that when EJ' (Eddie Jordan) had Hair? Which was the Best Quip of the entire IMSA Radio Broadcast, which I listened to approximately 65-75% of during Saturday's 10hrs race.

Yeah, not gonna try recapping the entire ten hours. As Congrats to Dane Cameron, now a Three-times IMSA Prototypes Champion, and his Sidekick. As 'Ol SuperTex likens as that Montoyer' feller; Hya! Formally known as Juan Pablo Montoya.

As the Acura Team Penske No. 6 Duo claimed the 2019 IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship title by Trundlin' Home fourth, ending Cadillac's Stranglehold upon the Top rung's Daytona Prototypes (DPi) class they've held since the category's inception in 2014!


Although it was absolute Heartbreak City for the No. 5 Mustang Sally', better Slow that Mustang Down; Whoa Nelie! Really Bad Pun Thar!

As the Action Express Racing's (AXR) Mustang Sampling Cadd 'O-lacc', in its final race suffered an unheard of front Brake Caliber failure with some 20mins remaining whilst leading; CRIKEYS!

As I'd really like to see JB', nee João Barbosa take the Mustang Sampling sponsorship to Juncos Racing's #50 Cadillac DPi VR programme next year... 


And having not taken any Notes during the race, I believe it was with some 15mins left approx, during the race's final Caution period when I said DAMN! As the GT Daytona Class's Manufacturer's Championship slipped from the grasp of Acura to Lamborghini.

As Thy Leggy Juan', aka Katherine Legge, who was Acura's lone hope in her #57 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo was passed by two competitors, most notably the #48 Paul Miller Racing LamborGenie' "Hurricane," swinging this championship the Italian's way.

Although Thar were two Birthday Boyz' celebrating in Victory lane, with Brazil's Pipo Derani Capping his 26th Birthday by winning the race!  

It was good 'Ol Bimmer Billy I was more interested in, who at nearly twice Pipo's age, was celebrating his 51st birthday in Electrifying Style!

As Bill Auberlen's team-mate Robby Foley suffered a most frightening Double Front Brake Calibers failure during GTD Qualifying! Sending the #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 to the back of the grid Saturday morning. Before Foley carved his way to the Sharp end of the GT Day-Toner' Classes leader-board.

Yet it was vintage Bill Power! As Auberlen relentlessly Hounded the GT Daytona leading #33 Riley Mercedes AMG GT3 during his final stint, which ran out of fuel on the race's final lap!

As Auberlen, with the help of his season long Co-driver Foley, and Enduro' Specialist Dillon Machavern, went on to record his 60th IMSA Victory, tying him with Scotty Scooter' Pruett for most IMSA Career victories Overall!

With the Californian emphatically claiming he'd be back next year, and the year after, and the year after - to Hopefully Break Pruett's record...

Meanwhile, Messer Hindhaugh Quipped how Thar was a Ford v Ferrari movie being played in "Reel Time," and Not on Celluloid! Right in Bloody Front of us in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) Class, as Ryan Briscoe gave chase to the leading Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE, in the Chip Ganassi Racing's Ford GT's final Factory-backed event.

For which I'll let the Professional's do thoust Heavy lifting, and leave Yuhs wonderin' who came out on top in that final, for now hopefully. Ford vs. Ferrari Scrum.


Although I think the Ford v Ferrari movie should be arriving in theaters soon, El Correctomundo? As think I just read somewhere it Debuts November 15th...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Hulman & Co. Sell Indianapolis Motor Speedway to Roger Penske



And we All thought that James Hinchcliffe's Dismissal was Big News...

I must have been fairly Shocked when first hearing the News via my NFB Newsline for The Blind telephone service when perusing The Detroit News first thing this morning. Since my initial reaction was that somebody was pulling April Fool's upon Mwah...

As I find this transaction to be fairly Surreal, and talk about El Capitano's legendous notoriety for having "The Unfair Advantage!" And what did "The Split" really accomplish?

Ironically the unbelievable selling of the Hallowed Mother Speedway comes just One year after the passing of the Speedway's Matriarch Mary Hulman George, and ultimately looks like a convenient way for the remaining George's to Cash-in upon their Family's legacy.

Naturally, Financial terms of the Deal, transferring control to the Penske Entertainment Corporation, a subsidiary of The Penske Corporation were not Divulged. While the Deal also includes the IndyCar Series and IMS Productions.


And while Penske won't be the first IndyCar Team Owner to Own the Speedway and a competing IndyCar Team, since that honour falls to Tony George who briefly dabbled as an IndyCar Team Owner with the formation of his Vision Racing Team. Nonetheless, why are the words Conflict of Interest Screaming in my Head? Even if Roger's known for having The Midas Touch upon everything he owns.

As my initial Fear is that Roger Penske will Stomp upon one of Mother Speedway's most important traditions, since he's the loudest voice Bellowing for Guaranteed Starts for All Full Season IndyCar Teams, instead of the Fastest 33 Cars taking the Green Flag each Memorial Day weekend...

Friday, November 1, 2019

AUTOS: What Not to Do at a Car Show!



As Thars' a Good Reason for those signs sayin' Do Not Touch!

Don't know if Y'all heard 'bout the IDIOT TV Reporter who was Rightly Fired from his Job after his employer, Good Day Sacramento's KMAX-TV Television Station learned of his STUPIDITY! When Angel Cardenas thought it would be fun to Stand Atop a Vintage Ford Thunderbird!

Not to mention Dinging another T-Bird parked alongside! And for the Coup de Grace, he jumped upon the hood of a new Ford Hybrid with a sign in front of it saying Do Not Touch!

As what's that 'Ol Waylon song 'bout Momma don't let your Baby grow up to be Stupid? Even if he's a Pretendah' posing as a Good 'Ol Boy', never meanin' No Harm. He's Definitely in Trouble with the Law; Err his Employer now...


And although 'Ol Bo Duke, nee Johnny Schneider Done Stood Atop one of those classic Dukes 'O Hazard Cars, apparently now over a decade ago. I'm pretty G-Damn certain he had permission to do so, especially since it was his own car! When the Boss General Lee sold for a ridiculous $450k at Barrett Jackson's '08 Scottsdale, AZ auction. For which I can No longer find the video of Johnny singing the TV Show's Theme Song...