SHIFTIN' GEARS

My Motorcycle Transformation - part 1, Inspiration

2018-12-12T19:12:00.000+00:00

Harley Davidson Sportster " Mule" street tracker, stunning

A late Harley Davidson XR750 AMA flat track race bike

The Harley Davidson XG750R AMA bike, the new H-D racer. Production based, and no match for the Indian FTR750 yet but gorgeous. Modern but classic flat track style.

Triumph Street Twin with the brat kit. I love the brat style flat saddle

Mutt Motorcycles, one of the companies in the UK who sell bikes like mine.

Last year I was lucky enough to purchase my first motorbike since I was about 18, a Sinnis Café 125, a retro café racer. A very pretty bike, just not entirely "me". I saw a starting point, a bike I could make my own. As a fan of Street Trackers, I knew the look and style I wanted. I very quickly learnt there were other bikes out there basically the same as mine, same basic frame and engine, but in lots of different styles meaning there were parts out there to change the style of my bike at a low cost... TBC...

2 Wheeled Thoughts... Street Trackers, Electric...

2018-11-17T19:33:00.000+00:00

Indian FTR 1200 with the Tracker accessories pack

Husqvana Svartpillen 701

Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle

Fantic Caballero Flat Track

MASH Motorcycles Dirt Track 125

Indian Scout - Krazy Horse Hooligan edition

Harley Davidson Livewire (electric)

Herald Motor Company Brute 500

Veitis eV-twin (electric)

The Future of Motorsport?

2017-01-26T14:24:00.000+00:00

Motorsport, internationally, seems to be going through a change, a bit of a crisis if you will allow me.

Formula 1 without Bernie Ecclestone. Another new era in NASCAR. Changes in Indycar. New cars in American sportscar racing. V8 Supercars without Australian built road cars. Formula E in its entirety challenging the accepted norms...

So the question must be... How to stay relevant in 2017?

Whether it is the relevance to manufacturers or to the fans, the fight to "matter" is the hardest of all.

F1 has not appeared as relevant to manufacturers as it once was for a while now. NASCAR have just introduced a completely bold, new race format and points structure in an attempt to stay relevant to the fans. V8 Supercars must change to stay relevant to both in the Australian marketplace, while Indycar dreams of being relevant again, outside of "the month of May".

There are so many distractions in the modern world vying for peoples spare time. Various sports, TV anytime all the time, cinema, coffee, alcohol, computer gaming, Facebook, gyms, shopping blah blah land...

In America, NFL has been the King of sports for a while now, although even they are finding life hard, with NASCAR the top motorsport. Then there is Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, Soccer, College Football, Golf, Wrestling, MMA among others, quite a list, and that's before you consider the other forms of motorsport all fighting for sponsors and fans interest and Dollars. Over here Football rules over everything.

So how does motor racing stay relevant enough that existing fans keep watching, new young fans start watching and manufactuers care.

Attention spans are shorter than ever, so if you are NASCAR you try to stay relevant by bringing in a totally new, bold raft of changes. New race format, new points structure, new tech package. Only time will tell if the changes will work by bringing a younger audience to the sport. While I hope it works for the long term good of the sport, I can't say I am totally sold on the format changes...

In Australia, V8 Supercars are having to re-imagine themselves. Their sport has always been based around the concept of Ford vs Holden, or in more recent times specifically, Falcon vs Commodore. With a market place which simply was not buying these cars anymore the end of the classic/home Australian car industry was an inevitable shame. So what next for Australia's top motorsport catagory when they have no Australian rear wheel drive cars to race?

Maybe to start to figure this all out we need to consider what made motor racing relevant in the first place.

To manufacturers it had to be the age old adage "Race on Sunday, sell on Monday". To Richard Petty, "There is no doubt about precisely when folks began racing each other in automobiles. It was the day they built the second automobile.” So stock car racing and touring cars were originally about racing the cars manufacturers wanted to sell. Single seater racing was more about developing the breed, specifically designed cars built for the purpose of going racing and putting the lessons learnt into road cars.

But where do those principles take us in 2017?

Modern road cars in Europe are mainly front wheel drive hatchbacks or "crossovers" with 4 cylinder petrol or diesel engines and 6 speed manual gearboxes. Company cars might be prestige brand rear wheel drive, automatic, diesel saloons. In America if it's not a 4x4 SUV it will be a 6 cylinder, front wheel drive saloon, auto obviously. In Australia it's about the same as America. Also the modern road car is a very aerodynamically efficient piece of equipment, designed to deliver the best fuel economy possible. Not naturally conducive to exciting "old school" racing.

Modern single seater racing still attempts to develop the breed to a certain extent while fighting the effects modern aerodynamic and tyre eficiency have on the quality of the racing. Spiralling costs have limited manufacturer support however.

There is however a more worrying trend in modern road cars, automation. It is becoming normal to have a car which parks itself. It is becoming normal to have automatic cruise control, automatic lane assistance or warnings, automatic brake assistance, 360 degree cameras, road sign recognition. Fully automated cars are coming and fast. Automatic gearboxes, albeit with paddle gearshifts are bit by bit killing the H-pattern manual. Younger drivers are learning on Playstations and expect the real thing to be the same. Automatic and automated are the watch words.

So, in true Carrie Bradshaw fashion, I couldn't help but wonder... What is the future of motor racing in an automated world?

If future cars are electric, drive themselves, park themselves, automatic everything, will anybody actually drive, let alone race?

Back in 2017, racing series still need to appeal to manufacturers and fans, still need to be relevant. I wish I had the answer, and I wait with interest to see how the next few years pan out for the 4 wheeled motor racing world.

In the mean time I have found my racing fix in, what for me was a very unexpected place, motorbikes. Not MotoGP, but as an oval racing fan, AMA Flat Track racing in America, and for the first time ever, Speedway in Europe.

Watching a field full of the AMA twins drafting and sliding their way round the big dirt ovals across America, via the wonders of YouTube, has been a joy. I really look forward to seeing the renewed competition between Harley-Davidson with the new XG750R and Indian with the new FTR750. The changes being made to the AMAs top tier make perfect sense to me, answering most of the questions I had as a complete newcomer to the sport over the last few months. So a form of motorsport, seemingly in touch with the home market manufacturers, delivering exciting racing across America, maybe it can be done. I wish them well for 2017! Oh and the two new race bikes look great, proper "poster bikes" for the sport, which can only help. I just hope America takes notice!

Equally I have really enjoyed watching and learning about SpeedwayGP. An event has 23 heats, 4 riders in each, dirt ovals, no brakes, sideways! It's quick fire action all the way. Great entertainment. I haven't got my head round British Speedway with its teams yet but...

Hang on, short races, riders earn Championship points with each heat result, bit by bit the number of riders in the hunt gets cut down leading to an overall winner at the end of the day...

Maybe NASCAR is on to something after all...

Several Unexpected Treats, and Something Else

2015-03-30T19:40:00.001+01:00

It is fair to say that in recent years I have grown a little tired, a little bored of motorsport.

I will always be a NASCAR fan, will always follow F1, from a reasonable distance, and will always look forward to the Indy 500 each and every year, regardless of whether I have paid attention to another Indycar race over the rest of the season, or not.

However I have recently watched several races which ignited something of the race fan in me again.

Readers may already know of my liking of the FIA Formula E series, and the latest race from Miami was no exception. I loved the shots of the race cars driving under the freeway, with the road cars going about there everyday business above them. In the first half Virgin Racings Sam Bird put on a great show, before fading with power issues later on, while in the second half of the race Scott Speed showed what he was made of. If only Virgin Racing could keep it together for a full race, come on Sam! A lot of race cars have got too big, too aerodynamic, probably too powerful to produce good racing. Maybe Formula E, for all of its quirks it the opposite of this. Smaller cars, more room to race on tight city street circuits. No aero what so ever. Ok they may not be that quick compared to say a modern F1 car but that does not remotely bother me. The racing is good and that is what matters.

Readers will also know of my fondness for the Red Bull Air Race. The first round of the year came down to a gap of next to nothing between the top two. Really close, dramatic stuff. It's just a shame there's such a long wait for the next round... oh well... I'll live.

The other day I watched some of the 73rd Goodwood Members Meeting, namely the Gerry

Marshall Trophy. The Camaro's, Rover SD1's, Minis, Capri's, Dolimite Sprints, among others were an absolute joy to watch. If you want a lesson in what is wrong with modern touring car racing, then this is it! I still can't get the sight of the Minis bouncing all over the back of the big Camaros in the twisty bits but then literally waving goodbye on the straights and the SD1's drifting, out of my head. Just wonderful!

I have also recently discovered Roby Gordons "Stadium Super Truck" series. 600bhp, V8

engined, big off road pickup trucks. Designed to look like a Traxxas remote control car, who also sponsor the series, they roll, they oversteer, they jump, oh boy do they jump, they hit each other, they are great! If you fancy something different, try them out for size.

When was the last time you saw an ugly Penske Indycar. I may be in the minority in considering the DW12, as was, a good looking modern single seater but what it has morphed into is... not... I wait with equal amounts of excitement and absolute dread for the Indy 500 spec cars.

Lastly, someone has to mourn the loss of Chrysler to the UK motoring industry. So here I

go. I have owned a couple of PT Cruisers, and a Voyager and consider myself a bit of a Mopar guy, on a budget. OK so some of the cars were not great like the Sebring, but in the UK we had the PT Cruiser, the Crossfire, Dodge Nitro, the 300C. I may be in the minority but I will miss the only America company to sell "American" cars over here.

Till next time...

2015 - Quick Thoughts

2015-03-09T18:16:00.001+00:00

I am really enjoying Formula E. I like the good looking modern race cars, the city street circuits, and am enjoying the racing! I am hoping to go to London for the final round in June. The Virgin cars have rapidly become my favourite modern single seaters, with their flash chrome, red and purple colour schemes, but more of that in a bit...

Once again the Red Bull Air Race has got me hooked. Great spectacle, great entertainment and really close racing!

Oh dear, only three races in and we are already discussing this years NASCAR Sprint Cup Series aero rule changes, and not necessarily in a favorable light.

On the same topic, after the build up to, and, hopefully, drama of the Daytona 500, I find it hard to get excited by NASCAR over the following few weeks. To be fair, a general disliking of Atlanta and Las Vegas doesn't help... Yawn!

Also, I can not shake a feeling of disappointment towards this years Daytona 500. All that anticipation, those 15 or so laps of fantastic 3 wide racing and it ends under yellow, and yes I know NASCAR were right to put the yellow out, safety first blah blah blah, just don't ask me to like it. I wanted a last lap, last corner one on one slingshot for the win. The only comfort I took from the yellow was I am not sure it changed anything. As great as the racing was, I do not believe the drivers were able to overtake, one on one for the win, without a push from another driver, and on the last lap that was not going to happen.

I have been patiently waiting to see what the new Indycar aero kits look like.. and now the Chevrolet aero kit has been unveiled... One word... UGLY. The DW12 used to be my favourite modern single seater but not anymore... They had better race well 'cause that looks hideous!

On paper I like the "idea" of the new Nissan Le Mans car. A front engined sports car, a modern Panoz if you like. Something different to the normal mid-engined prototypes. But sorry what did you say? Front wheel drive? Oh dear, moving on...

As someone who has owned and loved two mark 1 Mazda MX5's I am loving the the look of the new version. If all I read about it is correct, it sounds like it will be a great car too, just like the original!

Another thing I like about Formula E is the School Series. I just like the idea of getting the host city's schools involved!

Marco Ambrose back in a V8 Supercar, and a Penske, of sorts! Sounds good to me. His car is pretty too!

I am looking forward to this year's BTCC. Lots of new driver, team, car combinations! I hope the relative stability in the rules package helps more teams get to the front.

And finally... the Honda Indycar aero kit has been unveiled, and guess what? Just when you thought things couldn't get any uglier...

While NASCAR Decides, I Can't!

2014-02-02T20:14:00.001+00:00

So you all know about the changes NASCAR have made to the format for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

By now you will all be deciding if you like NASCARs vision of the future or if you long for the days of the "Winston Cup".

I can't make up my mind.

NASCAR is and has always been about putting on a show for the fans. End of, as they say. You can forget thoughts of an in depth, highly involved discussion about the finer points of motorsport. Put aside your aguments about the "fake" or "artificial" elements of the new format. If it is good for the show, it stays... end ... of!

Racing is about winning. NASCAR are trying to emphasise this with the new format.

NASCAR have introduced an "Elimination" aspect to the Chase. This happened anyway as "the cream always rises to the top".

As I write this I find myself making up my mind, for now at least.

I like it. If it adds excitement, what's not to like.

I do find myself considering one thing though. What is the real point of these changes?

In my eyes everything NASCAR is doing is in an attempt to improve the racing, the show, the sport. Why?

One opinion is because the show is not as good as it should be. The other, because NASCAR want to make it even better.

I tend to agree with the former.

Some racing series have weight penalties for the winners, F1 have DRS zones and KERS boost, Indycar has push to pass. All serve the same underlying purpose, improve the product, improve the racing.

To me the more important question prior to the start of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is how successful will the technical changes made to the Gen 6 car prove to be, for it is these changes which hold the key to the future of the sport. Better, closer racing, especially at the cookie cutter, mile-and-a-half tracks will do as much to create excitement in the sport as a new Chase format. Nothing beats good nose to tail, side by side racing.

Get back to the basics of NASCAR "racing" and the rest will take care of itself.

I have decided!

I think the new format will be good for the show for all the obvious reasons, more emphasis on winning, less on just getting the points, more excitement, more headlines, more action.

For this reason it has to be a good thing, just leave your deep, fanatical arguments at the door.

I am looking forward to this season, new point system and all, but to me the success of the 2014 season does not rest on the shoulders of a fancy new Chase format. I am sure it will help, but getting the Generation 6 race car to deliver on its promise of better racing is just as important in my honest opinion!

F1... Just Amazing!

2013-10-27T23:28:00.001+00:00

So Vettel wins the race and with it another Championship.

Upon doing so he does not to come straight into the pits but instead decides to celebrate. He does this by putting on a show for the fans, namely doing donuts at the start/finish line.

And the F1 officials fine him for the pleasure.

Take a moment and read the last sentence again...

And again...

They fined him.

Now I am not a Vettel fan, nor am I a Formula 1 fan, and this is why...

The F1 officials decided to fine Vettel 25,000 Euro for not coming directly into the parc ferme, after he has just won the Championship.

Amazing.

Just amazing.

If F1 want someone with a brain to help run the races let me know, in fact let anyone know, because if you look up the dictionary definition of "stupid"... this is it!

They fined him... for putting on a show for the crowd... after he has just won the Championship... For doing donuts...

25,000 Euro...

Just amazing...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110943

If I Ruled The World... of NASCAR...

2013-10-24T22:39:00.001+01:00

I recently had a conversation with a friend regarding the current state of NASCAR, and he shared with me the top 5 things he would do if he was in charge of stock car racings governing body. This got me thinking, what would I do?

1 - Too Much Can Be Too Much
I have said it before, and I shall say it again... Cup cars are too quick! The quicker the cars, the more "aerodynamic" they become, and the more they rely on the "perfect line" round the track, neither of which is helpful if you want good racing. If I ruled the NASCAR world I would slow the Gen 6 cars down.

2 - Exception not the Rule
THE race at Daytona is a 500 mile race, obviously. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway holds the Brickyard 400. Darlington, Bristol, Martinsville, Charlotte with the 600 all hold races which are of a length worth keeping, how shall I put this, long. The others do not need to be so drawn out. In fact I am all for a few 300 or 350's in the Cup Series. 500 mile or lap races should be the execption not the rule, so if I ruled the NASCAR world I would shorten the "average" Cup Series race length.

3 - Shorter in More Ways Than One
Shorter race lengths and shorter race tracks. The current Cup schedule includes far too many mile-and-a-half copy cat tracks. Charlotte, Texas, Atlanta, all look the same. Now you can try to convince me of there fundamental differences but I would cut Charlotte down to one points race, the 600 and probably drop one of the others totally. Likewise the other cookie cutter tracks. America has hundreds of tracks, there must be a few high class short tracks out there somewhere to rejuvenate the Cup schedule. If I ruled the NASCAR world I would swap dull cookie cutter tracks for more individual, interesting short tracks.

4 - Get Out and Stay Out
The Nationwide Series is the primary feeder class for young drivers wanting to prove themselves and hopefully move up into the sports big time, the Cup Series. I say let these guys be the stars of the Nationwide Series, not the Cup Series interlopers. I want to watch these drivers battling for the win, not some Cup guy ruining there moment in the headlines. If I ruled the world of NASCAR I would say NO to Cup drivers in the Nationwide Series.

5 - More Roots, Less Blues
If I would make the Nationwide Series about the young drivers, then I would take the Truck Series away from the Cup Series schedule and back to the short tracks. The Trucks should be the link between the sports late model racers and short tracks and the top two Series. Keep some Cup dates, keep Daytona if you must (even then they could race on the back straights short track), keep Canada, for gods sake keep Eldora, but If I ruled the world of NASCAR I would take the Truck Series back to its roots, short tracks.

There you have, it the first 5 things I would do if I ruled the world of NASCAR.

If you were in charge, what would you do?

2013 NASCAR Rants

2013-09-22T16:01:00.001+01:00

So how am I feeling about this years NASCAR season?

What are my views on the recent controversies?

Strap in, hold on, and here we go...

First lets get the big one out of the way... The idea of anyone manipulating the results of a NASCAR race, other than the odd caution for debris, is appalling. It's probably a good thing my surname is not France as I would have banned all parties involved in the nasty MWR incident, crew chiefs, drivers the lot, for life! NASCAR is about racing plain and simple. F1 may dabble in the team orders debate from time to time but in NASCAR... never... not even debatable... To paraphrase an old Blackadder line, if there's anything bigger than NASCARs ego around here I want it caught and shot now! Spinning on purpose to bring out a yellow and help a team mate... get out and don't come back! Am I surprised their sponsor left them, no not remotely.

Moving on...

JPM out... not surprising but a shame nevertheless. JPM back to Indycar sounds like a good move. JPM to Penske, wow, that will be fun!

Should Dillon run the 3 in the Cup Series? I can see both sides, but yes I think he should. If NASCAR were going to retire the number for good then why have we had drivers not only running "that" number but also "that" font ever since that tragic day, albeit not in the Cup Series. 3 is Dillons number now, let the kid run it and move NASCAR forward.

Have the new cars really worked? They have cetainly brought the sport back to the manufacturers as the cars now look like the same as those in the showroom., but is the racing better? Erm not sure. They can race closer together now but until the rule makers slow the cars down the racing will never be as good as it could be.

SHR moves to 4 cars!? Pardon... lets face it the move to 3 cars hasn't been a huge success. I fear the politics behind signing Kurt could overshadow the more important stuff. Don't get me wrong, I hope SHR bounce back next year. Stewart, Harvick, and Kurt is one hell of a lineup, oh and Danica. To be fair she is still a rookie so lets give her time.. not a lot... but a bit...

Trucks on dirt... two words... huge success! Should they do it again... two more words... you bet! The slippin', the slidin', the beatin', the bangin'. Easily my highlight of the year so far!

Speaking of the Trucks, I like the look of next years Toyota Tundra. Looks more like the early Craftsman Trucks, squarer, more "stock". Looking forward to the 2014 Ford and Chevy trucks!

Nationwide Series? Too many races won by Cup regulars. I am glad NASCARs rules now mean the Championship will won by a Nationwide driver, not a Cup regular, but I still believe more should be done to stop the Cup drivers dominating the feeder Series races. Hornish vs. Dillon sounds good, I hope Hornish gets it!

The 2013 Cup Series looks like it will come down to Johnson vs. Kenseth. Personally I would love Harvick to get it.

2014? I hope NASCAR, sooner or later, makes some changes to the schedule. As always less mile-and-a-half tracks, more short tracks. The Chase should include a, third, road course, finish at a short track, and I still say a lot of races should be shorter.

The sport of NASCAR is in a good place, a few tweaks and it could be in a great place.

Gorgeous Indy Roadsters

2013-05-29T17:45:00.000+01:00

Any excuse to look at the gorgeous Indy Roadsters!!

Tradition or Show

2013-05-29T11:22:00.001+01:00

Regular readers will know how much I love the Indy 500. From the pre-race ceremonies to the winners photo shoot, the Month of May is a highlight of the racing year for me.

I find it hard to describe my feelings on the morning of the race. Only the Daytona 500 creates the same level of tension, apprehension and excitement.

A huge part of what makes the Indy 500 so special is the tradition. The tradition of the venue, the Month of May, the show, the race.

The track may change, new road course, updated facilities but as a venue Indy holds on to its traditions, the Pagoda, the bricks.

The event may not take the whole of May any more but again the traditions are there, Carb Day, Bump Day and so on...

On race day, "Drivers to your cars", the baloons, Jim Nabors, great to see him back by the way, GSYE, all of the pre-race build up, the 3 by 3 rolling start, through to the winners milk...

The Indy 500 is steeped in tradition while also looking forward to who will become the next driver to win the great race.

It is with this appreciation for and love of the traditions that I internally debate the merits of finishing the race under yellow.

On one side you have the argument that 250, 000 fans at the track and millions more on TV have watched the most important and prestigious open wheel motor race in America only to see it end behind the pace car. The DW12 is so good at drafting and overtaking that a last lap move for the win is inevitable, and what a finish it would be. Who wouldn't like to see the 500 end with a photo finish to match this years Indy Lights race? If the race was run by NASCAR we would have three attempts at ending the race under green, three G-W-C's, so why doesn't the Indy 500 do something similar? More chance of a dramatic finish for the headlines and news bulletins.

The answer is simple... tradition!

This is not Daytona, this is Indianapolis and that's not how its done here.

The same traditions that dictate the winner drinks milk of all things also prevents such gimmicks from infecting the 500. What is so right for NASCAR is so wrong for the Indy 500. Note I said the Indy 500 not the Indycar Series, as you could argue G-W-C are a good idea at other Indycar oval races, but not at the 500, tradition says so!

I am genuinely split. Doing everything you can to end the race at racing speed would be good for TV and attract fans who watch NASCAR week in, week out. For a sport trying to reassert its place in the American imagination a dramatic finish to the most important race of the year would be just what the doctor ordered. Fans would love it, TV would love it, therefore sponsors would love it. However Indy is a place of tradition, and tradition says the race is 500 miles long regardless of what happens. Is it time for tradition to take a back seat to the show or do the traditions continue?

Having watched the last two Indy 500's end under yellow and having seen the excitement the Indy Lights race created maybe it is time for a new tradition.

However it is with the traditions of the Month of May in mind I congratulate the winner of the 2013 Indianapolis 500, Tony Kanaan!

"Simply Stunning" Indy Lights Finish

2013-05-24T22:22:00.000+01:00

Izod Indycar Series 2013, Round 4 Sao Paulo

2013-05-10T21:46:00.000+01:00

If you can't watch it all, watch the last 10 laps, it will be worth it!

2013... A Good Year for Racing!

2013-05-08T17:55:00.005+01:00

It occurs to me that 2013 is building up to be a vintage year for fans of motor racing.

I watched the last couple of Grand Prix and they were good... very good. I don't usually care for F1, too technical, boring drivers, ugly cars, too, well, dull. However this year we have seen not only some of the best racing I can remember seeing in F1 but some of the best racing anywhere, period. Some may say its only due to the artificial mix of tyre compounds, KERS and DRS, and the racing is not "real". Personally I say humbug! Good racing is good racing, and this year F1 has produced a show worth watching.

Long may it continue!

By the way, while we on the topic of F1, I can not help but laugh at the reaction some have when certain drivers "go racing".

Oh didums your team mate overtook you, or pushed you a bit hard or disobeyed orders or blah blah blah. This is what racing is about, if you do not like it then retire and let another young hotshot have a go.

However in 2013 F1 is not the only championship which seems to have got its "stuff" together as this years NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is producing great racing every weekend.

We had a great race at Talladega, Bristol has its magic back, and for the first time in years the cookie cutter mile and a half tracks are great to watch.

Whats the one common denominator? The Gen 6 race cars. It is fair to say that so far this year NASCARs extensive R&D has paid off... big time. The cars look great, they look relevant, and boy are they racy!! So racy in fact that I might actually look forward to Pocono this year... anyway... this year we are seeing the drivers racing closer together and with more side by side racing than we have for years.

Again, long may it continue!

But F1 and NASCAR are not alone in producing great shows for the fans as the Indycar Series is delivering the goods as well.

I grew up more of a NASCAR and CART fan than F1 fan. The racing was better, the drivers more fan friendly, the cars better looking, you get the idea. While I have never stopped following and being a fan of NASCAR, my alegence to Indycar has waned in recent years. Aside from the Indy 500 (always a favourite occasion) I lost track of the sport once the IRL ceased to be. I used to love the close oval racing the IRL produced, and the great road races that CART at its best produced before that and I have missed this style of racing. With this in mind I have rediscovered American open wheel racing this year.

I have watched this years races in reverse order and have enjoyed them. Again cars capable of running close together and drivers making the most of it. While I was disappointed that the series did not opt for a bolder design of car when the current spec car was introduced the car has grown on me. Another race car that looks great and races well. Am I looking forward to the Indy 500? You bet!

Again, long may it continue!

I have also been watching this season of Australias V8 Supercars, and again, what great racing. The new rules have kept the gap between Ford and Holden close and its only a matter of time before the Mercedes and Nissans get to the front. On the topic of touring cars, in the UK the BTCC has produced some good races as well. Once the BMWs, Toyotas and Fords are consistantly up front

with the Hondas and MGs the championship will be back where it belongs.

Good racing in 2013...

Long may it continue!

NASCAR Auto Club 400!

2013-03-26T06:38:00.000+00:00

The Generation 6 NASCAR Sprint Cup race car delivered on Sunday. The race was brilliant!

Get well soon Denny. It may have been a great battle but we don't want our gladiators hurt in the fight.

You have got to love the passion these guys have for their racing.

A great NASCAR race then...

Long may the action continue!

Why I "Get" NASCAR!

2013-03-25T20:53:00.001+00:00

V8, rear wheel drive, H-pattern gear changes...

I get that.

Two wide racing...

I get that.

Three wide racing...

I get that.

Drafting at nearly 200 mph...

I get that.

Bump drafting at nearly 200 mph...

I get that.

Do or die moves at every restart..

I get that.

Green, white, chequers...

I get that.

Drivers getting all emotional about their sport...

I get that.

"Have at it?"

I get that.

This years Gen 6 race car...

I get that.

2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup...

I GET THAT!!

Why I Don't "Get" F1

2013-03-24T15:54:00.001+00:00

If I was an F1 team or sponsor I might understand why team mates racing each other at the end of a race, for the win, is a bad idea, especially when the team mates in question are Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber and the team is Red Bull. If I was in charge I wouldn't want to risk them taking each other out... again.

But, I am not an F1 team or sponsor...

I am a motor racing fan...

The last sentence contains two important words, motor and racing.

Normally I subscribe to the, Vettel is quick out front but useless in traffic, make him work for it and he goes nowhere, put him in the lead and he will bring it home theory.

Today a racing driver arrived at a racing track, his team gave him a racing car and he entered a motor race. What on earth do you expect that man to do, but RACE!!

However it appears the last of those words is not allowed between team mates at Red Bull.., or Mercedes for that matter.

Even the sports organisers and rule makers want the motors... to race. They give the drivers KERS and funny DRS wing thingies to help the drivers... race.

It says something when a podium ceremony is somber because the drivers raced each other, oh and raced well by the way. We saw Webber and Vettel pick different pitstop/tyre strategies and in the end race side by side, hard but fair and clean for the win.

What is wrong with that?

According to David Coulthard Vettel vs Webber was just "jockeying for position". Firstly that man needs a personality transplant. The first two drivers in the race go at it hard for the win with about 10 laps to go and all he can say, in his usual monotone manor is they were "jockying for position." For god sakes get animated man! I am not an F1 fan, and I knew the result of the race before I watched it, that's how much of a fan I am, but even I thought the end was good to watch! When something exciting happens, get excited!

Secondly, yes Vettel ignored a team order... give that man a medal, thank the lord, pat him on the back, halle bleedin' lujah! I hate team orders and love racing and for a change Vettel, a racing driver, at a racing track, in a racing car... went racing!

If F1 or Red Bull don't like racing, that's their problem.

As for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, team mates once again, on different strategies, nose to tail, side by side at the end of the race, hard at it for the last step on the podium... er no.

Rosberg was told to be a good little boy and follow your fuel saving, much slower team mate home, and be grateful for it. Hamilton knows that was not his podium place. Shame, Hamilton is a racer, as is Rosberg.

F1 would be a better sport if these racers were allowed to... race!

Soooo Close...

2013-03-17T00:04:00.000+00:00

Nearly...

BTCC Pre Season Testing

2013-03-16T10:14:00.001+00:00

Getting Excited Yet??

Hopefully the new NGTC cars will increase the level of competition, and build on the momentum the Championship started to gather last season.

Dennys Fine, No Really He Is...

2013-03-08T22:12:00.001+00:00

So Denny Hamlin comes off of the track at Phoenix, after a back to front drive which saw him miss out on second by a whisker to the 48 car and makes a "disparaging remark" about the quality of the racing with the new Gen 6 race car.

NASCAR did not like these remarks and decided in their infinite wisdom to do something about it.

Except NASCARs infinite wisdom department was obviously busy when this decision was made and someone with no "clue" handed out a $25000 fine.

Fined $25000...

For having an opinion...

Ouch...

NASCAR desperately needs to get away from having dull, emotionless, corporate machines driving race cars and get back to humans with attitude, aggression, an edge, thats why I love having Keselowski and Stewart as recent Champions.

Here's the same situation with me behind the big desk in the NASCAR hauler...

"Hello Denny, come in... slap...

Look... slap...

We know the Gen6 is a work in progress... slap...

But for gods sake shut up... slap...

The last thing we need to do is start talking negatively about the car... slap...

Come and talk to us about what's going on, how it is racing... slap...

But don't bad mouth the new car after two races or you surely will get a... slap..."

And the door opens, no one is any the wiser.

I have said before that it will take half the year before the sport learns the new car. Tyre compouds will change, set ups will develop, NASCAR will adjust the rules, all in the hope of improving the "show".

NASCAR, you just made yourselves look stupid, do not silence the drivers, encourage them... until they cross the line, then give them a good slapping behind closed doors and let them carry on.

The fans want personalities in the race cars not corporate entities. I think fans want drivers to have an opinion without the sponsors dictating what they can or can not say. Give me a Brad or a Tony any day, and in this case give me a Denny.

Hamlin might have a point, maybe the car has not raced as well as hoped, so far, but lets give everyone involved the chance to get it right before we ring the death bell.

Bemused, Bewildered, Confused, Or To Put It Another Way... I Don't Get It...

2013-02-26T23:45:00.000+00:00

The 2013 Daytona 500 was... odd...

Old school drafting a la Earnhardt was back, and this is not a good thing in my opinion.

As I have documented in the past I am of the opinion that the two things the much unloved COT did well were keep drivers safe, and draft at Daytona and Talladega. In fact the cars drafted too well, and the bumpers lined up so perfectly that tandem drafting was born. We all know that NASCAR spent many hours trying to eliminate the tandem draft and to much success.

The first proper race of 2013 would show us what type of restrictor plate racing we would get with the Gen 6. The answer was the one I hoped I would not get... 90's pack racing. Drivers apparently unable to overtake without help, a lot of help. Drivers running round playing follow the leader until the very end. To be fair the early wreck didn't help, but that's not the answer to the fairly processional 500. That's not the answer, but what is the question?

Here is what is bothering me...

During and after the race Danica said she was only using part throttle while running in the draft. This alone is not surprising, in fact this is how it should be. What is surprising is the lack of overtaking by drivers with the loud pedal buried on the floor. The end of the race showed that the drivers and the Gen 6 could overtake, they just didn't. Why didn't more drivers "play" early in the race, find out what happened when they did pull out of the draft. Why didn't a few drivers get together to see what would happen? This was the Daytona 500 after all and no one looked like they wanted to win it, but they all looked scared stiff of losing it. If the drivers had that much accelerator to play with, why didn't they?

The questions are obviously... How does NASCAR make the racing better? Does NASCAR need to change anything?

The Gen 6 car is supposed to do two things, bring back manufacturer identity, and improve the racing. The first it does very well, a Ford now looks like a Ford, a Chevy looks like a Chevy, a Toyota...

The jury is still out on the second and to be fair will be for the first half of this year. Every time the cars race NASCAR, the teams and drivers, and Goodyear will learn a little bit more and by the time the Cup Series starts going back to tracks again we will see what this car can really do.

I do wonder if NASCAR will do something to the 'plate package to increase the closing rates and make it easier to overtake, but lets give NASCAR the chance to get this car right before we talk the sport we love out of business. I am not convinced much needs to change, just a few tweeks and am sure the powers that be will get the show right in the end.

While I think about it I get the feeling there are going to be two attitudes towards Danica Patrick, love or hate. Some will love her and see her as the new Earnhardt Jr, the fan favourite and darling of the sport. Others who hate her will see her as the new Earnhardt Jr, all talk and no action, a driver living off of a "gimmick", Dales is his name, Danicas her gender. I am not sure where I sit yet, I just know this, I would take pole, running up front all day, leading a lap and a top 10 finish in the first race of my rookie year thank you very much, especially when that race was the Daytona 500! The media circus around her might get a bit much at times, but as Keselowski said, she's just another racing driver so lets rate her on her performances in her rookie year, and so far shes done all right.

On a slightly different topic I do wish a speedy recovery to the fans injured at the end of the Nationwide race. Racing is dangerous, but no one want to see fans hurt supporting the sport they love!

Why You Should Watch...

2013-02-24T07:45:00.001+00:00

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/02/23/watch-nascar/

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/10/03/watch-bathurst-1000/

I found these and felt the need to share.

NASCAR and V8Supercars Vs. Formula 1...

I know which wins in my book!!!!!

2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series From Daytona NextEra Energy Resources 250 [FULL RACE]

2013-02-23T10:11:00.003+00:00

More Action From Daytona... Short Track Style!

2013-02-21T14:28:00.003+00:00

2013 K&N Pro Series UNOH Battle at the Beach

2013 Whelen All-American from Daytona or Thats Short Track Racing Folks

2013-02-19T08:29:00.000+00:00

It's Daytona...

It's the last lap...

You're second...

You don't want to be...

First is just in front of you...

Do you?

Kyle Larson did!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BPVmoxRuW0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Do you?