No Fenders - Formula 1 and IndyCar Racing Blog

Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials (Part 4)

2012-05-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

Although Mauri Rose had given team sponsor Blue Crown a taste of leading at the Speedway in 1946 - victory had eluded him upon his frightening crash the year before...

Deem Jackson:

The secret to the success of the Blue Crown Spark Plug vehicles was that the front wheel drive pulled the car around the corners vs. pushing the rear wheels.

Some of the cars fiercest competition came from the Novi Governor race cars, which were also front wheel drive, but the supercharged V-8’s were simply too powerful.

The Offy’s performance secret was the size of its pistons; which were the size of Grapefruits...

1947 INDY 500 Winner - Mauri Rose: “Best wishes to “P.D.” Jackson; a real performer.” (DJP)

1947-49: Victorious - trice!

In 1947, the very first two Meyer & Drake 270cid “Offy’s” produced went to Lou Moore for his brand new Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials race team, which were designed by the famous Draftsman Leo Goossen during the war.

Reputably “secretive,” Moore’s Offenhauser powerplants were presumed to be of two valves per cylinder design, with 13:1 compression and running 115 octane “Av-gas” Aviation grade petrol. As Moore’s winning philosophy centered on fuel economy; utilizing the time honoured philosophy simply known as making the least amount of pit stops possible, with Moore’s strategy consisting of running the race on a single pit stop!

Meanwhile Joe Lencki was back again with his Lencki Specials, as this year saw Lencki’s mounts be entered under the Preston Tucker Partners banner, with the addition of a new Myron Stevens chassis joining the mix. Emil Andres and newcomer Charlie Van Aker were his drivers behind the keyboards, with Rookie Van Aker and Andres qualifying 24^th and 30^threspectively. Andres was classified 13^th after his No. 3 Lencki/Lencki chassis retired on lap 149 with an uncooperative oil line, while Van Aker crashed the No. 44 Stevens/Lencki chassis out on lap 24 and was classified 29^th for the non-typical 30 car field.

Moore’s two Blue Crown drivers that May were the 1941 Indy 500 co-winner Mauri Rose, with Indy 500 Rookie Bill Holland as his teammate. Rose qualified his No. 27 racecar third, while Holland rolled off from eighth place aboard the No. 16.

After pole sitter Bergere had led the first 23 laps, the rest of the race would be dominated by the two Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials leading the rest of the way, as Holland would lead a total of 143 laps.

Pit Board signs (DJP)

Yet, this was the year of the infamous “EZY” (EASY) sign board debacle, as then race leader Holland, mistakenly interpreted his pit board’s EZY letters that Moore had been showing him to imply that he was a lap ahead of teammate Rose, having backed off his pace to cruise to the win. Thus, on lap 193, Holland simply waved Rose by, believing that his elder teammate was simply unlapping himself, unaware the move would ultimately be for the race win... As Holland would have to take solace in being the race’s runner-up...

1948

Lou Moore once again entered his two front drive Offy’s for Mauri Rose and Bill Holland, yet the spotlight was firmly affixed upon the shrieking wail of the Novi, which had seem much controversy leading up to the races start. As previous year’s pilot Cliff Bergere had declared the car unsafe and retired, with his last moment replacement being Ralph Hepburn, who at 52 years old would sadly lose his life in a practice session after having run a lap at 128mph. Chet Miller then resigned from driving the second Novi and thus stepping into the breach was Dennis “Duke” Nalon, who qualified the car in 11^th place after his last minute substitution, albeit his speed having been faster then pole winner Rex Mays, with his first flying lap being just a tick over 134 miles per hour.

Joe Lencki returned once again in what would ultimately be his last race at the Speedway during the front engine era, before a long hiatus, when he’d attempt a comeback in 1960, having Meyer & Drake produce another 265cid six cylinder engine for him, which Lencki hoped to contest the 1962 Indy 500 with a modern Roadster. Yet, his sponsorship fell thru and his final attempt at the Speedway in 1963 saw the racecar fail to qualify.

Lencki entered the now long in the tooth front engine six cylinder chassis, with Ronnie Householder and "Cowboy" O'Rourke as his drivers, but both failed to qualify.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Rex Mays pole winning Bowes Seal Fast Kurtis/Winfield set the pace at 130.570mph, vs. Nalon’s electrifying four lap average of 131.600mph, while the Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials of Bill Holland and Mauri Rose qualified second and third respectively.

Meanwhile starting in fourth place was a third Deidt/Offenhauser front wheel drive chassis, having been purchased by Superior Oil magnate Howard Peck and driven by Jimmy Jackson.

And although Mays took off like a rocket at the start of the race, he was forced out of the race on lap 129 with a fuel leak, While the stiffest competition for victory came from Duke Nalon and the Novi, while Rose and Holland once again steadily held station at the front of the pack by running Moore’s traditional one stop strategy.

Nalon was also on a similar strategy, as the Novi featured a cavernous 112 gallon fuel tank, but ironically his tank was not filled full at the race’s midpoint due to a pressure differential and suffered an excruciating second pit stop when the Novi failed to re-fire for two minutes after refueling... And thus, Rose who’d been leading at the time was followed home by his wingman Holland for a repeat 1-2 sweep by the Blue Crown racecars, while Nalon forlornly finished third...

1949

For the 1949 Indy 500, Lou Moore increase his team’s entry to three cars, with the two front drive Offy’s once again being reserved for Mauri Rose and Bill Holland, while new Blue Crown recruit George Conner was given the wheel of a rear drive Offy that Moore had ordered the previous year for Holland to contest Dirt Track events in.

1947 INDY 500, Bill Holland; 2^nd place (DJP)

This year’s race would once again see the Novi’s as favourites... With Duke Nalon on pole and new teammate Rex Mays alongside him, as the Novi’s started one – two.

And while Nalon took off like a scalded cat and led with ease for the firs 20 laps, a rear axle failure would cause a violent crash in which Nalon would be seriously burned and Mays would retire with engine failure.

Next into the lead was Lee Wallard, in the ex-Wilbur Shaw Maserati, but he too fell out and as history has shown time after time, the Speedway always beats its own drum, as it would be second row starter Bill Holland aboard his No. 7 racecar winning his first and only Indy 500 for Lou Moore.

Ironically, towards the end of the event, another “EZY” sign board was displayed around lap 143 while Holland was leading his arch rival (teammate) Mauri Rose by 45 seconds. Yet, this time he was more cautious about backing off, having fallen fowl to this instruction in ’47, slowing down only slightly while Rose continued charging.

Thus instead of Rose finishing second, the hard charging exertion caused the magneto strap to wilt under the demands of the impatient Mauri and the No. 3 Blue Crown Special ground to a stop just eight laps short of the finish, (being classified 13^th) while rookie Johnny Parsons (Senior) inherited second and Blue Crown debutante Connor’s No. 22 finished in third place.

After the race, Moore and Rose reportedly got into a shouting match over Rose’s disrespect for his equipment, and their longstanding partnership came to an end, while Holland said nothing!

To continue reading, see; Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials-Part 5

(DJP: Dean Jackson Photographs)

Out ‘N Aboot at Indy!

2012-05-26T15:33:00.003-07:00

Banner of Dan Wheldon entitled "Remembering a Champion" hanging on the south chute grandstands. (DOP)

In case you’re looking for great instantaneous insights into this year’s Indy 500 - then I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong Blogsite... As your humble No Fenders scribe has winged his way east upon a big ‘Ol jetliner Thursday; “Justin-time” for this year’s always enjoyable Carb Day festivities... As my favourite of thee day is the Indy Lights event, whilst I can personally do without the BORRIFIC Pitstop competition!

As I know I’ve said it before; BUTT! It just really blows meeze mind to ‘tink that tomorrow will mark one-year since I sported my “I AM ‘KUHNAIDIUN” T-shirt in hopes of bringing last year’s Pole sitter ‘TAG (Alex Tagliani) some No Fenders Feel-good Mojo on Raceday...

And since I DON’T do TWIT-er or Facembook, there WON’T be any live blow-by-blow trackside reports from Mwah, as I’m just looking forward to enjoying another Funtastic race day... As I’d personally like to see Will Power drinking milk in victory lane this year; although it’s always funner to have somebody totally unexpected WIN! Can you say Michele Jourdain Jr.?

But I’m definitely looking forward to honouring the late Dan Wheldon on Lap’s 26 & 98 by donning those ultra cool white cardboard replica white Wheldon shades!

Indy 500 Starting Grid

(Photo Courtesy of No Fenders ‘Offical Photographer ‘CARPETS)

Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials (Part 3)

2012-05-26T13:00:00.001-07:00

After having sat dormant and neglected for four hard war years - The old lady at 16^th & Georgetown was set for a renaissance thanks solely to Tomy Hulman’s decision to purchase the venerable racetrack...

1946: Racing resumes

With World War II over, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the hands of the Hulman family, racing not only resumed around the globe, but at the Speedway during Memorial Day weekend.

Dean Jackson:

My father Purvis “P.D.” Jackson was a World War One fighter pilot whom met Eddie Rickenbacker during the war. So, it was Rickenbacker who spurred his interest in motor racing.

My father originally owned the Continental Radio Tube business, but during the depression he lost everything; i.e.; business, buildings & factories, etc. so he started over from scratch and began the Blue Crown Spark Plug Co. which was his first and only endeavor into sponsoring racing cars.

I used to go to time trials and the race every year with my father and I recall riding from Chicago and leaving once around 8-9PM, riding in the back seat with my father and (Blue Crown) company executive Curt Kellogg while we listened to the Joe Louis fight on the radio the year he won, while I was probably the last kid allowed to have a pit/garage pass during the late ‘40’s...

1946 Indy 500: Mauri Rose; No. 8; Leading at 40 laps (DJP)

Thus, with the resumption of racing at the Speedway that May, a lone Blue Crown Spark Plug Special (#8) was entered for Mauri Rose. It was once again one of the Lencki Specials, as Mauri would be behind the controls of The original “Little Six” (Lencki 2V) that would ultimately see service at the Brickyard between the years of 1939 to 1948; with drivers Tony Willman, George Conner, Emil Andres, Mauri Rose, Ronnie Householder and Cletus Joseph "COWBOY" O'Rourke all taking turns behind the keyboard of this racecar which now resides in Nevada.

Ironically, the 1938 ex-Floyd Roberts winning chassis qualified on pole at the hands of Cliff Bergere, with a speed of 120.220mph. Since Lou Moore currently had no racing cars in his stable, he instead participated as Bergere’s chief mechanic, who had once again partnered with Moore.

1946 Indy 500: Mauri Rose; crashing into No. 10 Twin Coach. (“Rear axle flying above car!” DJP)

Yet, the sensation of qualifying was Ralph Hepburn, now 50 year’s old and piloting the newly constructed Frank Kurtis roadster with the ’41 Bud Winfield developed V-8, now renamed the Novi, with the race car carrying the moniker of Novi Governor Cup, while two most unorthodox racecar’s accompanied the pole sitter.

Dean Jackson:

The No. 8 Blue Crown Spark Plug car started ninth, on the inside of row three, driven by Mauri Rose and by the first lap led by a quarter of a lap, leading for 40 laps before it was involved in an accident, when Mauri spun out on an oil slick in the North chute and there was major carnage, with an axle being thrown 30-40 feet into the air!

1946 Indy 500: Aftermath of Rose’s crash (Car No. 10 + Car No. 8; DJP)

On lap 41, Rose rammed the stricken chassis of Paul Russo’s #10 Fageol Twin Coaches, which had crashed against the wall some 24 laps prior, but had been left unattended on the circuit! Thus, when Rose had been forced to take evasive action upon attempting to lap another competitor, whom seems to be unknown, a massive collision occurred and Rose would be classified 23^rd.

1946 Indy 500: Tow Truck cleaning up Rose’s stricken chassis (DJP)

Interestingly, the Fageol Twin Coach was a rather unique vehicle entered by NOTED Indy Car owner Lou Fageol, whose fortunes seemingly came from his father who built twin engine busses for a living. Hence,, the motivating factor of the Fageol Twin Coach was based on the motor coaches principles and thus, not one but two 90cid four cylinder Offenhauser midget engines were shoehorned into the radical chassis with one each in front of and behind the driver.

Meanwhile, rolling off from third place was a youthful Sam Hanks aboard another interesting creation, as the Myron Stevens 1939 chassis originally built for George Schroeder was motivated by the ex-Frank Lockhart V-16 Blackhawk Stutz supercharged engine. This sixteen cylinder Lump was the same motor propelling Lockhart’s fateful land speed record attempt on the sands of Daytona Beach in 1928, having originally been produced by the famed Miller Engine Works. As the racecar was entered by popular bandleader Spike Jones and his Spike Jones special wound up finishing 31^st, falling out with a broken oil line on lap 18.

Being the first post war race, the field was comprised of an eclectic mix of pre-war vehicles and alas, the Indy 500 was not won that year by an Offy, with victory instead being obtained by George Robson aboard a Thorne Engineering, Adams/Sparks race car, as Offenhauser, Lou Moore and the Blue Crown Spark Plug Co. would have to wait a further year before their indelible grip upon the Borg Warner trophy would begin...

To continue reading, see; Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials-Part 4

(DJP: Dean Jackson Photographs)

INDY 500: Don’t forget the Rookies...

2012-05-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Was gonna go into great lengths of showcasing each driver; BUTT! Since perennial IndyCar ‘Hack Kurty Cavin has already done this sorta... I’ll just save my thoughts on this impressive I500 rookie class for after I return from the Speedway...

Indy 500 Rookies

Here’s my very first-ever attempt at handicapping duh Rookies... Please be WARNED; this is just my very NON-scientific choices and Odds may NOT actually represent real chances of winning this year’s R.O.Y. crown at the Brickyard. As I’d haveda say that Wade Cunningham is my Dark horse, whilst I’d enjoy seeing either Thy Leggy ‘Juan or Brian Closson pull a rabbit outta ‘Dar Hats...

(Car No./Driver/Team/Engine/Unofficial Odds)

77) Simon Pagenaud

Team: Schmidt Hamilton Racing

Engine: Honda

Odds: 7:1

41) Wade Cunningham

Team: A.J. Foyt Enterprises

Engine: Honda

Odds: 10:1

67) Joseph Newgarden

Team: Sarah Fisher Hartman racing

Engine: Honda

Odds: 10:1

39) Bryan Clauson

Team: Sarah Fisher Hartman racing

Engine: Honda

Odds: 15:1

8) Rubens Barrichello

Team: KV Racing Technology

Engine: Chevrolet

Odds: 20:1

19) James Jakes

Team: Dale Coyne Racing

Engine: Honda

Odds: 25:1

6) Katherine Legge

Team: Dragon Racing

Engine: Chevrolet

Odds: 40:1

64) Jean Alesi

Team: Fan Force United

Engine: Lotus

Odds: 100:1

Indy 500 Odds are in...

Blue Crown spark Plug Specials (Part 2)

2012-05-23T12:12:00.002-07:00

Although war had broken out in Europe, America still wasn’t involved - yet, and thus a final Indy 500 would be held in May, 1941...

1941

After the 1940 Indy 500 race, Lucy O'Reilly Schell sold both of her Ecurie Bleu Racing Team Maserati cars to Lou Moore, as Lucy O'Reilly was the mother of American Grand Prix race car driver Harry Schell, whom had both traveled to Indianapolis via luxury liner to have their race team contest the 1940 Indy 500 representing France, in hopes of boosting morale for a country mired in War...

Lee Wallard, 1950 (DJP)

Moore subsequently had the Maserati’s prepared and readied for the 1941 race as the 'Elgin Piston Pin Special’s” made up half of his unprecedented four car armada.

Moore’s three primary entries featured lead driver Mauri Rose; qualifying the No. 3 Maserati on pole, with teammate Dennis “Duke” Nalan starting the No. 17 Maserati on the outside of Row 10, in “P30.” While the unheralded Floyd Davis would roll off 17^th aboard the trusty No. 16 Noc-Out Hose Clamp Special Wetteroth/Offy race car, while Moore also had an interest in a fourth race car, as Cliff Bergere was contesting the race aboard the No. 34 Noc-Out Hose Clamp Special, the ex-Moore/Floyd Roberts Wetteroth/Offy chassis.

Meanwhile, Joe Lencki once again entered his two car stable of six cylinder designed Lencki’s with Emil Andres at the controls of the No. 19 Kennedy Tank racecar (Lencki 4V) qualifying 15^th, while George “Joie” Chitwood was aboard the No. 25 Blue Crown SpL. (Lencki 2V) Also referred to as the “Little Six,” Starting from 27^th. (Lencki now claimed his 4V engine was of 265cid displacement). Andres would retire on lap 4 after being involved in an accident, while Chitwood solidered home to a 14^th place finish, 33 laps behind.

The Blue Crown Spark Plug Company was making its foray into the Indy 500, by sponsoring one of Joe Lencki’s racecar’s this May, with the aforementioned Chitwood as the pilot.

Dean Jackson:

Blue Crown Spark Plug was a product of the Motor Master Products Company in the 1930’s and at the height of business, Motor Master Products was selling a range of 90+ spark plugs. This was during the era of when Chrysler owned the Autolite spark plug concern and General Motors owned AC spark plugs with Champion also doing business.

During World War II; Blue Crown was producing 40,000 spark plugs per day under Government contracts for the war effort; Purvis, (his father and Owner of the Blue Crown Spark Plug Co.) owned factories in Chicago and Mexico, with the Mexican plant being for international business, prior to selling Blue Crown to the Defiance Automotive Screw Machine Co. in Defiance, Ohio in the early 1950’s...

And for this 29^th running of the Memorial Day classic, the front row’s three starter’s are the same in two consecutive Indy’s For the very first time, along with being the top three finishers from the previous year. As Rose started from the Pole, with Rex Mays and Wilbur Shaw alongside respectively; having led the race for six laps, Rose retired with engine trouble on lap 60. However, he finally won driving the Floyd Davis car; from the same stable of Lou Moore’s, while “Duke” Nalon finished in fifteenth place, twenty seven laps behind the winner.

Champ Car Drivers: Duke Nalon, Mauri Rose, Bill Holland and Ted Horn, 1948 (DJP)

Speculation suggests that team owner Lou Moore and driver Floyd Davis were both of strong bull-headed opinion; supposedly with Moore fast growing displeased with Davis’s race performance, who was at the time running in 11^thplace.

Thus on lap 72, Moore ordered Davis to relinquish his mount to the now sidelined Rose, who resumed the race in 13^th place. Yet, by lap 152, when leader Shaw crashed out, Rose moved into third place, with only Mays and Bergere ahead of him. Yet Mays needed to pit for fuel and thus Berger in the ex-Lou Moore entry was the only opposition left ahead of Rose,

Bergere, racing on Moore’s savvy strategy, was trying to complete the race without making any pit stops and eventually would be forced to slow down in order to finish the race. Thus smelling blood, Mauri swept by on lap 162 as the two combatants’s sped down the front straightaway in lockstep, before Bergere would fade to 5^th place.

Upon his triumph, Rose tried doing everything in his power to share the victory laurels with Davis, even having come to a crawl on the pit lane whilst trying to hand over the winning race car to Davis to drive into victory lane... Yet, a dejected Davis was nowhere to be found and a widening rift between him and Moore would lead to their eventual falling out, as Davis was not to be featured in the winner’s photographs the following day.

Bill Holland (DJP)

On an interesting side note, starting the race from 10^th and finishing fourth was the little known No. 54 Bud Winfield prepared Bowes Seal Fast Special, with Ralph Hepburn behind the wheel of what was the forbearer to one of Indy’s most popular post war race cars, affectionately known as the Novi.

This particular race car was actually one of the previous ten front engine 1935 Miller Ford’s, with it’s alluring body panels having been hammered by Emil Deidt, as Henry Ford had sold off the cars piecemeal to private collectors after the fiasco of the ’35 Indy 500, in which all of his race cars failed to finish. And like the majority of top line racing Lumps of the period, once again the Novi engine’s designer was the renowned Leo Goossen, while Bud Winfield was responsible for developing the supercharged V-8, after Team Boss Lew Welch told him to go ahead and build it!

But after escaping the scourge of warfare in the European theatre, as we all know, “A Day of Infamy” occurred on December 7^th and the United States was finally involved in World War II...

To continue reading, see; Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials-Part 3

(DJP: Dean Jackson Photographs)

New Car Blues turn the wick Down upon Indy Pole-day festivities - as I watch a micro500 instead...

2012-05-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

I must admit that I just haven’t really gotten into my usual giddy spirit regarding the Indy 500 this year - especially this past weekend’s Pole Day festivities... As somehow it DON’T really feel like The Greatest Spectacle in Racing this year...

As may be it just has ‘Somme-thun to do with the new Dallara DW12, which I’m certain in time will become a very good racecar and probably make us forget all ‘bout the previous ‘CRAPWAGON’s, right?

Yet, the whole build-up has been so HOKEY! With Turbo Gate, Appeals, Counter-appeals, Yuhs can change your engine today for a penalty on Thursday... (10-grid spot penalty for Indy not valid ‘til Texas...) will there - Won’t there be 33-cars? Can the ‘Luddi’s; (Lotuses) make the field; Blah-blah-blah...

Thus I actually took off for Tacoma instead of hangin’ out ‘N listening - perhaps, if I could find the blinkin’ Live-stream to the artificially sweetened; Err Boosted Fast Friday action via ze Internetz...

And although the witching hours of Friday afternoon would see me once again answering mize ‘Aunty Harriet’s repeated question of when is the B-I-G race tomorrow? What time is it on... We’ll haveda watch it. Where’s it at? What time is the race on... Even recanting Bob Varsha’s quintessential quip ‘bout “Before you can race; first you must Qualify...” Oh? What time is the race on? Que Benny Hill theme music here; Hya!

Alas, I decided to forgo sitting inside on a bright ‘N gloriously sunny day on Saturday and instead revel in the frivolities of a race of a different type occurring outside instead, which I quickly christened thee micro500! As we not only had different engine makes but multiple different chassis. With counte ‘em; all three of Detroit’s finest - with my unofficial count at nine; number-9, number nine, number Nein?

As duh ‘Feurds led the parade with an Exploder, Taurus station wagon, ‘Ol Blue, our trusty ’78 Econoline camper van and NOT ‘Juan but count ‘em two 24-foot long 460cid V-8 Blue Oval motivated circa ’84 RV’s; Aye Karumba!

Then there were the two Dodge’s: a Grand Caravan and an early ‘90’s A-Team van with duh ‘Chebbie brigade being represented by a much maligned Buick and a way too overtaxed ’87 Pickem-up truck... And lastly our flotilla included two inclement weather vehicles - with two trailered motorboats ironically powered by ‘Luddi; Err Lotus - which I hear some are even calling IT SLOTUS!

As there was the Lotus-by-Judd 90 that we were able to move much more easily after emptying the water out of it before I tried rolling it over my foot; CRIKEYS! Whilst the other Loti was buried ‘Sommewearz out in the back forty by the brambleberry bushes!

Like I said before - we had our very own version of duh FAST nine ‘Qualie shootout as for reasons unknown, Clyde was determined that all of these vehicles; OH CRAP! Just realized I forgot the ‘RattleLacc... Our luxury 1992 Caddy which is on its last legs and hence it being renamed the RattleLacc... Hey! Guess it was our Pace-car since after all Chevrolet has an exclusivity clause with IMS, right? Needed to be moved outta the front yard and therefore were moved at breakneck speed 500-yards around the barn and into the briar patch - with several Left turns being made; Yuck-yuck-yuck!

Although the two Loti marine craft didn’t manage to get up to speed and hence missed the cut for the first and only dazes running of our micro500, yet safely made the field Sunday morning when it once again began raining here in the Pacific Northwest.

Then Clyde decided we needed to make a bonsai qualifying attempt in the ‘Chebbie workhorse Pickem-up truck by racing off to the somewhat nearby budget battery store noting how the three unsecured batteries could be heard shifting locations in the truckbed; as our weight-jackers weren’t securely tied down...

And lastly, having run this ‘Qualie blitz on a minimum fuel-load, with approximately 4-gallons ‘O GoGo-juice remaining in the left saddle tank; Clyde was most insistent upon using up my grocery Gas-points award which DON’T aid me a whole bunch... As this enabled us to save a whopping ten-cents per gallon upon our purchase... As do NOT even get me remotely started on the ATROCITIES of petroleum!

As our Triple-A agency reports the average price of a gallon of petrol costing $4.24 per-gallon, as BP - remember those BASTARDOES! Managed to neglect maintenance of their Cherry Point refining facility - as fire took it off line and then decided to do summer maintenance early... As this refinery is responsible for 20% of ALL west coast production along with the majority of ALL jet fuel including Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, BC’s airports; SHEISA!

Thus, it seemed almost anti-climatic watching duh tape Monday afternoon, as really Chevy? That appeal of the appeal was really warranted, eh? As eight of the top-nine contenders for Pole weren’t Honda’s... As even ‘BIA (Ana Beatriz) OUT-qualified some four-time IndyCar champion named Dashley LePew. (Dario Franchitti)

But I was very happy for Ryan Briscoe, albeit somewhat pullin’ for duh Mayor ‘O Hinchtown which woulda been quite shocking meeze thinks... whilst two of the Bowtie Boyz didn’t even attempt real qualifying runs, only making two-lap mock passes before returning to Pitlane.

Yet I far more enjoyed listening to a most excellante Fresh Air interview with The Dictator’s lead star Sacha Baron Cohen, who instead of blathering on the noxious ‘RASSCAR tainted mandatory insert 43 $ponsorz names here... Hey, I know we could sell advertising space upon the Pagoda, right? As I think Otis has just become the Official Elevator supplier of the Brickyard?

As instead, Cohen had me in veritable stitches ‘O laughter over his mock video speech he made demanding the release of his two Oscar tickets by Midnight or else...

Now I’ve gotta go pack for Indy...

Lola Cars filing for Bankruptcy

2012-05-18T10:10:00.001-07:00

Just spotted this newsblurb yesterday morning - stating that that the iconic Lola Cars concern is filing for Administration in Britain due to a downturn in the economy along with Tax credits not being forked out...

Statement from Lola Group Holdings Ltd

Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials saga

2012-05-17T09:28:00.001-07:00

Author’s Note

This ‘Mega story was originally published on No fenders during the spring of 2009 - just prior to my inaugural Indianapolis 500 - yet was “ruined” by Blogger.com upon the forced migration to their new & improved blog platform - which rendered OVER 1,500-posts (including these) with broken images; SHEISA! As these were the most labour intensive to re-publish, and hence the lengthy delay...

Introduction

It’s always interesting to me what sparks your curiosity, eh? As during the summer of 2008 - while dining with “Snobyrd” M.J. and her longtime friend Joy, who was visiting “The Emerald City” from Phoenix, AZ, I was busy extolling the virtues of my No Fenders “BLOB.” (What ‘Aunty Harriet affectionately calls it!) Which in turn sparked the following conversation of Joy telling me about an ex-Chicago classmate’s father who was the sponsor of the Indy 500 winning Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials sixty-plus years ago.

Thus, my curiosity was definitely peaked, (Hey! You didn’t think peaking was Danicker’s sole property; did yuh’s?) And Joy introduced me to Dean, whose father Purvis was the owner of the Blue Crown Spark Plug Company and hence the following conversations with Dean morphed into this story about a long forgotten racing team and racecar I’d never heard about before...

Joie Chitwood, 1941 (DJP)

Early Days

Having retired from the cockpit after the 1936 Indy 500, Lou Moore was busy beginning his career as a team owner, circa 1937 and would ultimately go on to win the Indy 500 five times, a record that stood for nearly four decades, until some dude adorned by the moniker “The Captain,” a.k.a. Roger Penske scored the sixth of his untouchable fourteen victories to date, in 1987. (As this was prior to my having to witness ‘HULIO win his third Indy 500 & Roger’s 15^th in May, 2009)

And while “The Cheepster,” a.k.a. Chip Ganassi basks in the limelight of being the current Indy 500 winning Team Owner, Ganassi still trails Moore on the all time victory list; 5-3, as Chip was co-owner of Emerson fittipaldi’s 1989 Patrick Racing winner, along with Juan Pablo Montoya’s 2000 victory and Scott Dixon’s 2008 triumph for Target Chip Ganassi Racing respectively. (And still remains one race BEHIND Moore after Dario Franchitti’s victory in 2010)

So, eat your heart out “Cheep!”

1938

The very first Lencki chassis was being laid down by Joe Lencki of Chicago, as Lencki had commissioned Leo Goossen to design what Lencki considered to be the ultimate solution to capturing victory at the Brickyard.

Interestingly, Lencki was also the inventor of some secret “Slippery Liquids” concoction known today as Z Max, for which you may have seen an ‘Ol Snake Oil salesman by the name of Carroll Shelby pitching to you via television.

Lencki, a mechanic by trade, had begun racing Dirt Tracks in the mid-1920’s and after owning multiple Miller chassis, went to California to have Offenhauser produce an engine of his own specification. There, Goossen, chief draftsman and engine designer extraordinaire for Harry Miller, Offenhauser, Meyer & Drake and Drake Engineering, penned a 270cid, two valves per cylinder “Lump,” for what would become the first Lencki/Lencki to race at the Speedway in 1939.

Speculation suggests that if you were so inclined to call the six, which looked extremely similar to an Offenhauser 270cid four cylinder, with the additional two cylinders in front of Lencki, you were likely to get slugged!

Bill Holland - 1947 runner-up (DJP)

Meanwhile, Louis “Curly” Wetteroth was another of the many fabricators making a living by building race cars, with a shop in California and kept busy by producing Midgets and Indianapolis/Champion Cars. As Curly had previously built the 1935 Indy 500 winner for Harvey Ward and Kelly Petillo...

Thus, reportedly it was Lou Moore serving as chief mechanic for driver Floyd Roberts at the controls of Moore’s Burd Piston Ring Special, who captured the pole position for that year’s race. Roberts would go onto lead 92 laps enroute to his lone 500 victory whilst taking the chequered flag aboard a Wetteroth/Miller race car. The win would become the first of Moore’s five Indy 500 wins as a team owner and the first time the pole sitter had won the race since 1930.

Tony Bettenhausen, 1939; First “Big Car” he drove (DJP)

1939

Floyd Roberts returned with Lou Moore aboard the previous year’s winning Burd Piston Ring Special, while for the 27^th Indy 500, there were a total of four entries sponsored by Burd Piston Ring, with Frank Wearne in a second Wetteroth/Offy, along with Tony Gulotta in a Stevens/Offy, while Lencki entered his lone chassis for Tony Willman, the #51, which started 26^th and finished 14^th after retiring on lap 188 with a broken fuel pump.

As in 1937, when rules revisions no longer made it mandatory for competitors to have a riding mechanic, another popular change was made, when qualifying was cut from ten laps to four, with Jimmy Snyder capturing the pole at 130.130mph, Louis Meyer in the middle of row one and Wilbur Shaw on the outside. This triumbrant would go on to lead the majority of the race, as Shaw in a Boyle-Maserati would win his second race in three years, while Meyer had spun out of contention for his record forth victory while chasing Shaw on lap 198.

The win by a Maserati was the first by a foreign make since the Fisher/Allison owned Peugeot had won the 1919 May classic, while Floyd Roberts, the previous year’s Indy 500 victor, began the race from the 23^rd position, but tragedy was to strike Roberts, who was involved in an accident on lap 106, when a spinning Bob Swanson was collected by Roberts, causing Swanson’s car to flip, catch fire and eject its driver, while Roberts race car hurtled out of the Speedway, thru the wooden retaining fence at over 100mph and came to rest against a tree. Chet Miller was also involved in the incident, along with two spectators being injured from flying debris, while all three drivers were transported to the hospital, it took 30 minutes to remove the burnt hulk of Swanson’s car and Roberts was pronounced dead prior to the races conclusion as a result of a skull fracture. Sadly, Roberts was reportedly set to announce his retirement after the race. Also, that August, Carl Fisher passed away in a Miami hospital...

Mauri Rose; Indy 500 Winner (DJP)

1940

While the public pondered the possibility of the Indy 500 occurring that May, as ominous war clouds festering over Europe had led to the invasion of Poland on September 7, 1939 and war declared by Adolf Hitler... IMS track owner Eddie Rickenbacher decided to press on.

Meanwhile, Joe Lencki had commissioned Offenhauser to produce a second six cylinder engine. While the original engine was of two valve design, (hemispherical combustion chamber) the new Lump sported four valve per cylinder construction, (pent-roof combustion chamber) measuring 260cid vs. the 2V’s 270 displacement.

Lencki’s two entries lined-up for the 500 with drivers George Connor in 17^th, while Floyd Davis nabbed the very last spot upon the grid; while Connor’s No. 10 Lencki (Lencki 4V) would finish 26^th, having thrown a rod on lap 52. While Davis’s No. 61 Lencki (Lencki 2V) wound up 20^{th. (Iron}ically Davis would race for Lou Moore the following May).

Pole sitter Rex Mays finished a disappointing second to race winner Wilbur Shaw, while the final “Podium” position of third place was captured by Mauri Rose aboard an Elgin Piston Pin racecar owned by Lou Moore, which past Indy 500 winner Floyd Roberts had helped Moore and Wetteroth construct over the winter of 1938.

Shaw’s third victory was of historic proportion, as not only did it make him the race’s second three time winner, but he became the very first driver to win two consecutive races in a row, along with piloting the very first chassis to win two events in a row... Thus Shaw’s remarkable tally of finishes between 1937-40 comprised of three wins and one runner-up finish, not to mention his two second places in 1933 and 1935...

To continue reading, see; Blue Crown Spark Plug Specials-Part 2

(DJP: Dean Jackson Photographs)

Playing Find duh IndyCar “Live” stream

2012-05-15T09:11:00.001-07:00

This confusing malady seemingly sums up the current state ‘O Indy Carz... As I spent almost the entire afternoon of Saturday being mystified over how come thee magnificent; NOT! Indycar.com website was coming up as two completely DIFFERENT web-pages when I tried the two competing browsers - after having begun the first half-hour plus (10:15-10:51AM) by repeatedly displaying the universal YOU’RE SCREWED! Page 404 Website NOT found ERROR message, upon my “internet EXPLODER” (Internet Explorer) Bookmarks page...

Having received the following reply from my ‘Blogmeister Miguel later in the afternoon;

Dude, the m. site is their mobile site for smartphones...

Having sent the following email:

Internet EXPLODER:

http://m.indycar.com/

Mozilla:

http://www.indycar.com/

Hey! I just figured I-T out, although I DON'T know why the internetz EXPLODER URL is being re-directed on my IE8 browser via XP. (Operating system)

When I type www(dot)indycar(dot)com on internetz EXPLODER on my Confuzer for reasons unknown(?) it’s defaulting me to what I suspect is the mobile page? Since it’s got an M(dot) in the URL address... So if U try the two websites above you'll see what I'm talking 'bout despite U thinking that this poor 'Ol Cornfused blogger is on DRUGS; Hya!

Perhaps this was Indy Cars way of remedying their BROKEN website this morning which started as a Page 404 Website NOT found ERROR message, eh?

As silly me... Thinking I’d check ‘N see if I could listen to some of Saturday’s riveting Opening Day IndyCar practice via the maligned indycar.com website; URGH! As this technical difficulty upon Indy Cars behalf really behooves me... As I won’t go into all of the reasons I continue using microSOFT’s internetz EXPLODER vs. Mozilla; Yet! I should NOT have to go thru the headaches described above just to try following the faltering Indy Car series...

I mean what’s next? May be they’ll require the two Lotus cars to add turn signals to those exquisite rear bumpers; Err wheel guards in order to let the leaders know when they’re entering the Pits... Or may be they’ll need to adorn SLOW vehicle triangles upon their spiffy new Batmobile spats, eh? Oh Never Mind!

Now somebody pass me a Heineken; Ja-Ja!

SPEED PISSES ALL OVER MALDONADO’S VICTORY

2012-05-14T14:50:00.002-07:00

Pastor Maldonado puts Williams back in F1 victory lane. (Source: autoweek.com)

Perhaps it’s just Mwah; BUTT! After watching a gripping Spanish Grand Prix “live” Sunday morning, albeit having taped the early morning race... With four sets ‘O fingers crossed ‘N chanting GO PASTOR! For the final half of the race; whilst getting more ‘N more nervous as the laps wound down as I just didn’t want Fredrico Suave (Alonso) to win again - especially in his home race, I gave out the requisite WOO HOO ATTA BOY SHOUT! As Pastor Maldonado not only became the first ever Venezuelan to claim Pole Position; BUTT! The country’s first ever Formula 1 winner...

And thus I looked forward with glee towards hearing the Venezuelan national anthem... But wait a My-nute, it’s here somewhere... Nope that’s not it, that’s the Austrian anthem we forgot to play in China... OH SHIT! I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised, yet the JACKALOPES at SPEED Went to commercial break instead... Waah-waah-waah; weeze AIN’T playin’ NO STINKIN’ Venezuelan anthem on our Rhubarb Murdoc television networks Yuhs Hear!

WOW! Talk about your Tin Hat conspiracy theories, eh? As I left the broadcast feeling a bit like some sorta Leftist Guerrilla upon noticing this TRAVESTY! As all I could think of saying was: GET OVER IT!!!

Oooh, that pesky ‘lil Hugo Chaves and his national Oil consortium PSDVA - who’ve footed Pastor’s inclusion into Team Willy with a cool $29+ million pounds cheque, actually WON an F1 race. And then sorry folks, we’ve gotta run ‘cause we’re airing our debutant English Premiere League Football game; WTF??? For some reason, I thought I was watchin’ SPEED TV; NOT FOX, ESPN or the “Douche” or any of those other “Stick ‘N Ball” networks; SHEISA!

As all of us loyal American Formula 1 Fans will haveda wait a further 24hrs in order to hear ‘N see a jubilant Pastor Maldonado winner’s interview; scoring Williams F1 first Grand Prix victory since some cat named Juan Pablo Montoya took the chequered flag for Williams back in ‘Twenty-oh-four. (2004) as I’m sure Sir Frank couldn’t have asked for a better birthday wish indeed! Having just celebrated his 70^th birthday recently...

First Bahrain and now this Spanish GP BULLSHIT! Makes me wonder how long I’ll continue watching Formula One...

Congratulations Pastor! As I’m sure somebody knows the answer to how long it’s been since we’ve had two first-time Grand Prix winners in a season, eh? As I’m currently loathe to believe SPEED’s statistics since they were all Constricted over Maldonado’s Pole position a further 24hrs later when ‘Hobbo read the Teleprompter saying it was Williams F1 first Pole since ‘Quick Nick Heidfeld’s in 2005... Before somebody finally righted the ship during the bastardized half grid reading and finally recognized Nico Hulkenberg’s debutant 2010 Pole position at Brazil for Williams...

Thus, I intentionally held off posting this story until watching the SPEED replay which did actually show both the Venezuelan and British anthems being played - as is traditionally shown, along with actually giving us the Top-3 finisher’s interview with James Allen... Which apparently were CHOPPED Sunday in order to make way for the Chelsea Football match, which reminded me of years past butchery routinely performed upon IndyCar broadcasts - which hopefully is NOT a sign of things to come at SPEED; especially since now I cannot get this new fangled SPEED2 channel; SHEISA! Hope I’m not gonna be forced to endure the whole obtaining of the Speed Channel FARCE once again...

Congrats Pastor!

Garage Fire subdues Team Willy’s victory party...

2012-05-14T12:45:00.001-07:00

NO! I won’t make any jokes about birthday candles for Sir Frank here... As reportedly a scary fire broke out in the Williams F1 Pit Garage whilst the team was having a celebratory photo taken - including Sir Frank, as his daughter Claire wheeled him away to safety...

One crew member was seriously injured, with several others incurring respitory troubles due to smoke inhalation - including the two neighboring Pitlane teams members from Caterham and Force India, with 31-people injured before the fire was put out...

Williams Box on Fire - 31 people treated

Yet the good news is that it sounds like everyone with the exception of the one person with the most serious injuries is now listed in stable condition, with the rest of Sir Frank’s squad returning home...

Williams F1 Team members return home

Carroll Shelby sells his last bottle of Snake Oil...

2012-05-14T09:08:00.001-07:00

By now I’m assuming Y’all have heard the news that the world’s fastest talkin’ smoothest soundin’Texan Snake Oil Salesman has died. As Carroll Shelby passed away on Thursday, May 10th at the age of 89 in a Dallas hospital...

And as many enthusiasts know, ‘Ol Shel was not only the man who led Ford to victory at the Circuit de la Sarthe - he was also the man who broke Enzo Ferrari’s stranglehold upon the French classic - leaving la Scuderia winless since the mighty GT-40’s quashed “Il Commendatore” with that controversial 1-2-3 sweep in 1966.

Thus for the meantime I’ll leave my more complete homage to ‘Ol Shel ‘til later this summer, as ironically it’ll be the Twentieth Anniversary of SAAC-17, the ‘Juan ‘N Only National Shelby Owners meet at Portland International Raceway...

Idea man Carroll Shelby was auto legend

Hamilton excluded from Spanish GP after claiming Pole position...

2012-05-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

So it was a fairly enjoyable ‘Qualie session this morning - which I watched from the Easy Chair at Tomaso Manor... Although I must say I was rootin’ against “Louise ‘JAGUAR” Hamilton sweeping to Pole whilst in the dying moments thee ‘Kimster (Kimi Raikkonen) had knocked ‘Homeboy Fredrico Suave (Alonso) from the Catbyrd seat...

And where did this Pastor Maldonado chap come from, eh? Holy Toto Wolves Batman! As I was more impressed by Maldonado’s debutant front row finish than Hamilton’s Pole position, which was to be McLaren’s 150^thPole...

But it was all for naught, as I was wondering what’s up with the Brit having stopped on track on his cool down lap, as it’d later turn out that somebody at McLaren had not topped off the fuel tanks properly; Aye Karumba! Hmm? Hope it wasn’t the same Bloody chap who’d done a similar thingy to both Dashley LePew (Dario Franchitti) and Scott Dixon at last year’s Indy 500; YIKES!

And perhaps it’s just Mwah; BUTT! Did I miss something? As SPEED’s Bob Varsha quoted that it was Team Willy’s first Front-row start in some six-years - since Mark ‘Handlebarz Webber had sat on the Front-row at Monaco... WTF? Doesn’t thee Incredible Hulk’s (Nico Hulkenberg) shock Pole at Sao Paolo, Brazil at the Interlagos circuit in 2010 count?

And I don’t know if it’s got something to do with the lack of tyres or not? But isn’t it interesting that Sergio Perez, both Lotuses or Loti and Mercedes Nico Rosberg ALL qualified ahead of Master ‘Zebb (Vettel) who wound-up provisionally P8! As now everybody on the grid will move forward one place thanks to Hamilton’s subsequent Post-qualifying penalty, as Lewis will roll off P24!

OH SHIT! Does this mean that Alonso could potentially win the race by jumping ahead of the newcomer Maldonado and then keeping him at bay the rest of the way? Tune-in tomorrow...

Hamilton penalty hands Maldonado his first Pole-position

Art Pollared: A forgotten driver...

2012-05-12T10:10:00.001-07:00

1970 Art Pollard portrait. (Source: artpollard.tripod.com)

Otay, so I won’t try reinventing the wheel here - as it seemed somewhat ironic, or karmic? That thee “OLDEST” IndyCar blogger Geo. Phillips has recently posted a great story about this relatively unknown IndyCar driver who unfortunately met his maker this very day 39-years ago...

Art Pollared: Always Overshadowed

As I’ll confess that I’ve only ever known the name Art Pollard from my studies regarding what has to be one of my absolute most favourite Indy Cars - those ultra alluring Lotus 56 turbines - having been overly pleased to view Graham Hill’s chassis at the Hall of Fame museum a few years ago; but I digress...

Thus upon hunting around le Internetz I came upon the Art Lee Pollard remembered website, which was a project of his family’s - primarily Mike Pollard, who unfortunately died from complications of Chemotherapy in 2009...

As I’m sure there are countless other racing drivers out there whom also languish in obscurity - or not being known at all, as it seems the more I do this racing thingy the less I know about IT!

Thus I felt even more chagrined to discover that Messer Pollard hailed from Roseberg, Oregon - which is right in my proverbial ‘Backyard, as after all Portland International Raceway was my Indy Car Hometrack for two decades... As it’s even funnier yet to learn that Art dominated the Pacific Racing Association series plus West Coast Super Modifieds before finally graduating to the ‘Big Carz...

As I was also unaware of the fact that Lone Star J.R. (Johnny Rutherford( was one of Art’s close personal friends - as Rutherford ironically captured his debutant Indy 500 pole the very same day as Pollard’s death and dedicated this achievement in honor of Art...

And I also know that numerous drivers are diligent souls in giving back to their respective community and us the fans, but the part that really hits home with me is Pollard’s immense contributions towards the La Rue Carter Hospital mentally-ill children... Making yearly visits without camera crew or media to the Hospital’s Psychiatric ward - talking with them, telling stories, playing basketball, etc. As the single sentence ‘bout Art personally paying for them to attend Day Camp left your stoic No Fenders scribe teary-eyed... As it seems a fitting tribute that La rue Carter named their playground in honor of him.

Art Pollard Playground

And once again - even in death, it seemed very strange that as I spent the weekend rummaging thru the Art Lee Pollard family website - as I watched the Sunday evenings Wind Tunnel, think it was ‘Dar? ‘Ol OWR Curmudgeon ‘R (Robin Miller) wished Joe Leonard a speedy recovery “Get Well” wish, saying the ex-Lotus teammate of Art’s had recently suffered a stroke.

And say what you might about Robin Miller - but you have to admit that Robin’s obituary below, which I ‘Shamelessly borrowed from the Art Lee Pollard remembered website’s More Eulogies section is indeed very touching and definitely gives me a feel for Art Pollard the person, not the racecar driver... Who wasn’t too ‘Damn bad at that either.

As Art left the racing arena way too early with 83 USAC Champ Car starts and two IndyCar victories - which George notes that occurred in 1969 at Milwaukee and Dover, along with a second place finish at Langhorne that year.

Pollard also finished a tantalizing runner-up to Jim McElreath at Ontario in 1970 after leading the race by 1-lap before victory slipped away due to a slow tire leak - and for reference, Art’s win tally is double somebody named Danica’s output... Not to mention all of the other various ‘One-hit wonders! As Art’s unyielding patience for making time for anybody tends to make me think of another fallen driver named Dan Wheldon...

Art Pollard in the Lotus 56 - Martin Hill. (Source: tamsoldracecarsite.net)

Robin Miller:

Riley Hospital for Children had a special wing for kids with emotional issues and that was LaRue Carter where Art would go at night and sit with the kids for a few hours. After his death we had a picnic for those kids every May, drivers played softball, hung with the kids and that went on for 20-plus years before it was stopped.

Art got a late start in racing but was a bad ass in super modifieds and adapted quickly to Indy cars. He was always aggressive and real brave. But there was never a better person, great with the fans and well liked by the other drivers.

He got me started in racing when we bought a Formula Ford from Andy Granatelli (Art was driving for him then) and he was my chief mechanic (on crutches from his broken leg suffered at Indy in 1972 when the hub broke) for my first couple runs. Alley Oop (his nickname) was one of those special people who come along every now and then...

Indianapolis Star - Sunday, May 13, 1973.
by Robin Miller

When a race driver is killed on the track the first thing everybody says is,"That's too bad, he was a hell of a guy."

In the obituary the next day, his past performances are listed and any other worthy achievements are mentioned.

Yesterday Art Pollard left us.

Not Art Pollard the race driver, but Art Pollard the human being.

This is a personal eulogy.

I'm 23 years old. Art was 46 just last Saturday. But we had as much in common as any two people I know. We had a lot of good times together and in the three years I knew him, he showed me why he was different from most. At 46, he was just hitting fourth gear.

For one, he was a grandfather but as youthful as any when it came to standing on a gas pedal.

His other uncommon feature was that Art Pollard actually cared, gave a damn if you please, about a bunch of people in this world.

Whether you raced against him, dined with him,laughed with him or barely knew him, Art Pollard came across as more than an autograph, handshake or wave.

In the pressurized world of professional auto racing, most drivers, understandably have too much on their minds to stop and chat with everyone who calls their names.

But Pollard made time for nearly anybody.

Whether you were a Boy Scout, a crippled child, a pushy mother demanding an autograph or a drunk wanting to talk to "that old guy," Art Pollard tried to tried to become a part of your world at least for a couple of minutes.

He spent hours and his own money on the retarded children at La Rue Carter hospital here in Indianapolis. He saw to it they spent one day in May with him at the Speedway each year.

And if you don't think that means a lot to people, you are mistaken.

Art enjoyed talking as much as he did driving and he was a master of the after-dinner speech.

He was also a master at organization.

Race drivers are as a group, almost impossible to organize-at or away from the track. But Pollard possessed a knack for getting on the phone and making things happen.

Last winter he was at his best.

He began a weekly Thursday night poker game at his apartment that saw Johnny Parsons, John Mahler, Cy Fairchild, Billy Vukovich, Art's friends and neighbors, lose money and enjoy themselves.

Then on each Tuesday and Thursday morning, Pollard would get up and begin rousing Parsons, Mahler, Merle Bettenhausen and me to go down to the Athletic Club and work out.

It was a pleasure to watch Pollard muscle his way around the basketball court for two straight hours, knock a volley ball back and forth for another 90 minutes and finish it up with a weight-lifting exibition that usually sent the steady customers away shaking their heads.

Just this past month, the competition had turned to golf and Art, though not the golfer Vuky or Mahler is, played every hole like it was Agusta.

But as competetive as he was, he was always vibrant, even-tempered and hardly ever moody.

After he helped me get started racing last summer he told me never to burn any bridges in dealing with people. "You've got to keep the right attitude all the time. When somebody spins and causes you to wreck, don't fly off the handle and try to get back at them, 'cause sooner or later you're going to make a mistake too," he used to say.

Most of all, though, Art Pollard never seemed to age.

Last summer we went to a concert to hear the Carpenters and he knew almost every song they sang. He always dressed with style too.

But his mental frame of mind was truly a wonder.

A year ago, he suffered a broken leg in a crash after qualifying for the race. That crash probably would have made a lot of guys 35 quit.

But Pollard was a tough cuss. Two hours after they put the cast on, he was scheming on how to get it off in time for the Pocono 500. He finally succeeded and ran strong at Ontario.

This May had all the signs of being his best since he drove Andy Granatelli's turbine in 1968. He had a '73 Eagle, two good mechanics and a new sponsor.

All during practice he'd been one of the fastest. He kept telling me," Man, when things start out smooth and organized like this operation, you know you're going to do well."

He was running 191-plus when he crashed. The burns and broken bones he could have survived but it was a spinal cord injury that took his life.

So now he's just another name in the Speedway record book, with an asterisk for being dead.

They say, "well that's too bad but you got to keep on living."

But I can't help feel a part of me and a lot of other people went away yesterday.

(Source: artpollard.tripod.com)

For more insight upon Art Pollard - please visit the Family’s website at: Art Lee Pollard rememberd

Thanxs to Robin Miller for sharing his insights...

Rossi running Friday practice for Caterham

2012-05-10T11:33:00.003-07:00

American Alexander Rossi will make his Formula 1 Free Practise (FP-1) debut Friday in Spain for the Caterham F1 Team, as ‘KOVY’s (Heikki Kovalainen) substitute for the morning session. As this will be the first ‘Yank to pilot a Grand Prix racecar in official F1 parlance since Scotty “Duh goose” Speed’s departure from Scuderia Toro Rosso some 5-years ago...

But don’t expect Rossi, the 20-year old Californian to replace either Kovalainen or Vitaly ‘VO5 Petrov anytime soon... As I’m guessing this is just part of the marketing build-up for us here stateside to get Jazzed ‘bout Austin, eh?

Although Rossi was ‘Juan of my three picks for future Formula 1 drivers, along with thee Young ‘Wicky, aka ‘KanaDuh’s Robert Wickens, now in DTM and part of the Mercedes young lions; and last but not least on my trio was Mexico’s Esteban Gutierrez - who’s currently Sauber F1’s reserve driver. (All three being chosen back in May, 2010...)

Good Luck Alexander!

Chrysler Snakes back into GT Racing

2012-05-10T09:44:00.001-07:00

Otay, so this is definitely old news; BUTT! It’s great to hear that the Viper GTS/R is returning to competition with the unveiling of the 2013 rendition, albeit I have NO idea exactly what it looks like...

But I’m very biased towards this automotive ‘Snake, as it’s probably my all-time favourite Indy 500 Pace car, which sadly the Speedway seems to have done some sort of exclusivity pact with GM; URGH! Although I haveda say that the 2009 Camaro looked pretty ‘Sweet at the Penske Racing Museum.

Thus look for the new ’13 STR-Viper racecar to slither its way past the competition in the GT ranks later this year, as two of the V-10 pythons produced by Riley Technologies will contest the American Le Mans Series GT class... As interestingly, this will be the first V-10in the GT class which currently sees a bevy of V-8 powered BMW’s, Corvettes, Ferrari’s and Lotus bangin’ fenders... Thus I’d assume that some sort of equivalency formula will be utilized to keep the Vipers in line with the others horsepower-wise... But this is definitely ‘Juan car that would get me interested in the ALMS again - now if it was only on TV regularly...

Snake Bit: SRT Viper returning to ALMS GT class

Remembering Gilles

2012-05-08T15:12:00.004-07:00

First of all I must confess that I wasn’t aware of the forthcoming 30^th Anniversary of Gilles Villeneuve’s death being this May 8^th, albeit I knew it had occurred in the early 1980’s - the news having been first spotted on flagworld.com’s announcement of son Jacques tribute honouring the occasion by piloting his late father’s Ferrari 312T4 at Fiorano, Ferrari’s private test track on exactly 30-years after his tragedy at Zolder, Belgium...

Jacques to drive ’79 Ferrari on 30^th Anniversary of father’s death

Niki Lauda:

“He was the craziest Devil I ever came across in Formula 1”

Tragically, Gilles death occurred before my baptism into Der ‘Vurld de Formel Ein - not having watched my debutant Grand Prix via the Telescreen some four-plus years later - as I know I’d have taken a shine onto the affable ‘KuhNuck, eh?

Thus Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve’s meteoric rise to fortune “N fame seems like a veritable Rags-to-Riches fairy tail, depending upon which internetz source I trust to believe... Claiming that the ‘Quebecker was so cash-strapped for ‘loonies that he’d sold his house in order to fund his racing dream and thus took the entire family with him from race-to-race in first a camping van and later a motorhome.

And it clearly was a different world way back when - nearly forty years ago, as Gilles reportedly funded his initial foray into single seater racing by becoming a force to be reckoned with in his native winter sport of Snowmobiling! Having won the 1974 World Championship snowmobile Derby amongst other races, which afforded him the opportunity to demand appearance fees along with his race winnings...

And reading of his amazingly short career path to Formula 1, I’m reminded of another quick study commonly known as The ‘Kimster or thee Iceman, aka Kimi Raikkonen, albeit I can only assume that Gilles was much more outgoing, right? As I sincerely doubt that ‘GV droned on in Monosyllabic robot tone; Hya!

Having won both the U.S. and Canadian Formula Atlantic titles in 1976 in only his sophomore season, before repeating as ‘Kuhnadiun champion again in ’77 - along with having beaten 1976 F1 World Champion James Hunt in a “Celebrity” outing in Toronto; Villeneuve was signed to a third car drive at McLaren with a maximum of five races potentially plus an option on his services for 1978.

Thus, Gilles star at la Scuderia is so bright that I often forget that he actually made his Formula 1 debut at the British Grand Prix for Team McLaren instead - where he qualified ninth, splitting the team’s primary drivers Hunt and Jochen Mass before finishing P11.

Gilles Villeneuve at the USGP West - Long Beach, CA. (Source: Gordon Kirby; motorsportmagazine.com)

Yet it wasn’t to be, with Teddy Mayer, the team’s manager opting for Patrick Tambay the following season instead - before Gilles flew to Italy to meet Il Commendatore, Nee Enzo Ferrari - who reputedly considered the diminutive Canadian to immediately remind him of a previous F1 legend named Tazio Nuvolari... And hence, Villeneuve was inked to race for Scuderia Ferrari for the season’s final two outings and the entire forthcoming 1978 season, which intriguingly caused the current F1 champion Lauda to quit Ferrari! Whilst the rest as they say is history...

Villeneuve at Long Beach

And I don’t know where I read it all those years ago? But somewheres on ze Interwoodz I recall reading a great yarn ‘bout Gilles and his arch rival & teammate Didier Pironi racing home from Monaco to Italy in identical Ferrari 512BB road cars and beating the shit out of their gearboxes; CRIKEYS!

Not to mention tending to think I recall vivid yarns ‘O lore being noted about Villeneuve’s crazy antics in Helicopters?

Yet of course, the most fabled tragedy of sorts is the much documented controversy surrounding Monsieur Pironi’s disobeying of orders during the ’82 San Marino Grand Prix and instead of following Gilles across the line - passed the KuhNuck on the final lap leaving Villeneuve livid with the Frenchman and vowing to never speak to him again!

Thus obviously this strong burning vitriol carried over to F1’s next round, the Belgian GP at Zolder a fortnight after and clearly Villeneuve was consumed with putting a good ‘Ol fashioned ARSE-whooping upon Pironi by going for Pole along with qualifying ahead of Didier that fateful day in May... Since what little I’ve read of Villeneuve’s career, he seems to have been a loyal team player and expected the same honour from his teammates...

Yet ironically, my most funniest memory of Gilles is related to his bitter rival Pironi’s girlfriend instead, who according to WICKEDpedia named the couples twin sons Didier and Gilles - who she gave birth to just weeks after Pironi’s death while competing in an Offshore Power Boating race.

7Whilst another of my fleeting memories is tied to something that never panned out - having written a letter to “Road ‘N AD!” (Road & Track) inquiring how to obtain a print, hopefully a lithograph of the famous rosso No. 27 created by artist Anne Peyton - who seems to have disappeared from the motorsports art landscape...

And I understand why the switch was made by the FIA and Uncle Bernaughty, i.e.; the current car number ordering scheme; BUTT! I much preferred the good ‘Ol dazes instead when the No. 27 was legendary as Gilles with la Scuderia traditionally sporting the numbers 27 & 28, with ‘Uncle Chopper’s Tyrrell’s in classic Elf bleu and the No’s 3 & 4. Team ‘Willy, aka Sir Frank Williams with the legendary red No. 5 and No. 6, McLaren International yearly sporting the numbers one & two plates; Brabham numbers 7 & 8; Lotus No’s 11-12 and so-on and so-on, as you get the jist...

Thus hopefully this special tribute to Gilles 312T4 Prancing Horse in Maranello will indeed be open to the public along with being televised, since I haven’t seen or heard the boxer flat twelve run since the Monterey Historics circa 1998-2000...

Salute Gilles!

Gilles Villeneuve’s victories remembered

F1: Sergio Perez - Mexico’s newest Star...

2012-05-05T14:22:00.002-07:00

So, as always – your humble scribe is way behind in his scribbling and hence, with Felice Navidad - having come ‘N gone; NOT capable of escaping that diabolical NoFenderz Wormhole Vortex... As its now Cinco de Mayo, what better time to celebrate ‘Juan of Formula 1’s rising stars along with beginning my long overdue chronicling of the past year’s class de F1 Rookie Gran Primo Piloto’s; Ci?

Sergio Perez at Singapore in 2011. (Source: f1fanatic.co.uk)

Sergio Perez (Mexico)

Birthplace: Guadalajara, Jalisco; Mexico.

DOB: January 26, 1990

Age: 22

Car No. 15

Team: Sauber F1 Team

Chassis: C31; Engine: Ferrari

Debut GP: 2011 Australian GP

Sergio Perez Mendoza became Mexico’s first Grand Prix driver in 30-years upon taking the green flag at Albert Park in Australia on March 27, 2011 - after Hector Rebaque contested his final F1 season behind the wheel of the Brabham BT50-Cosworth as triple world champion Nelson Piquet’s teammate during the 1981 season. With Hector’s final outing being the season finale Viva Las Vegas Grand Prix held in the Caesars Palace parking lot.

As Sergio, whom apparently also goes by ‘Chico, is the younger brother of Antonio, a former NASCAR Corona champion - both having grown up in Guadalajara. And with many bio’s – whilst its noted that he began single seater racing in the 2004 Skip Barber Dodge series, I had to hunt around further in order to discover his Motorsports roots...

Like almost all typical Formula 1 drivers, Sergio began his racing career by competing in Go Karts, having begun at the tender age of six - and going on to set many firsts South of the Border, as Perez mimicked another F1 prodigy known as Master ‘Zebb, a.k.a. Sebastian Vettel... As Sergio not only won races as the youngest in class - finishing as runner-up in his debutant year of karting. But also took a number of Go Kart titles whilst being the youngest; champion in class, having won the Shifter 80cc crown in 2000; also contesting a few 125cc Shifter races.

Driving for the Telmex Team, in 2002 Chico finished runner-up in the National 125cc Shifter Kart category on the back of six wins - before moving to America to contend the Skip Barber Midwest and National series, where at the tender age of 14, Sergio surpassed the late Ricardo Rodriguez as the youngest ever Mexican to win an Open Wheel race internationally - along with being nominated Skip Barber National series Rookie of the Year...

For 2005-06 Perez toiled with mid-pack German Formula BMW teams, gaining two podiums and finishing Top-10 series-wise in his sophomore season.

For 2007 Perez crushed the British National F3 category with 14-poles and 14-wins before graduating to the top flight British International F3 series the following year - where he took four victories. Then for ’09 Perez not only was the first Mexican to contest the GP2 series, but also became his countries first winner, before continuing on in the main European GP2 series - finishing runner-up to Pastor Maldonado, the 2010 GP2 champion. As the rest is history, as Sergio landed the second Sauber F1 seat alongside Japanese teammate “K-squared.” (Kamui Kobayashi)

And I must say that I don’t recollect all that much ‘bout Sergio’s rookie F1 campaign, albeit his monstrous crash at Monaco and his stellar debutant Grand Prix drive Down Under where he finished an impressive seventh place before both Sauber’s were disqualified for rear wing infractions...

Perez escapes injury in Monaco shunt

As Perez finished 16^th in the drivers title fight with a relatively modest 14-points... Yet I recall being more ‘Jazzed by the young Mexicali’s performances over Paul di Resta, who I suppose I should give more credit to - especially as a DTM champion making it to Formula 1, eh? Yet, perhaps its just Perez’s Latin blood that gets my attention over the drollish? Scot...

Q+A with Sergio Perez

And now Sergio is on everybody’s radar after his outstanding runner-up finish to Fredrico Suave (Fred Alonso( in Malaysia - where the young Mexicali was actually running faster then Alonso’s Ferrari and very well could have won the race except for a minor error of kerb hopping whilst just a scant half-second adrift of the two-time world champion Spaniard!

Thus, will Sergio replace la Scuderia’s forlorn Felipe Massa? As

Mexico

’s GP2 Prince and Sauber F1 reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez waits in the wings for his turn in Formula One. Only time will tell, as perhaps Perez will become the youngest Mexican to win a Grand Prix in the near future, while he’ll be celebrating his birthday age in Barcelona - where he’ll make his 22^nd Grand Prix start..

For other Mexicali Gran Primo Piloto’s, see; Cinco de Mayo: Mexicali Gran Primo Piloto’s - Redux

Why doesn’t Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing have a Full time Sponsor?

2012-05-03T14:50:00.003-07:00

Otay, so I’m highly biased towards this little team that CAN; BUTT! For the life ‘O Riley, why in Tarnations doesn’t’ Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) have a full time sponsor adorning its blank blue & white sidepods? WTF! I mean C’mon, really - how can anybody not get behind their Studly rookie driver Joseph Newgarden...

As I enjoyed listening to Patrick Stefan of Trackside Online (TSO) describe the qualifying action live via ze Internetz from Sao Paolo - three thoughts popped into my head. One: Why do I have to go to TSO to get the weekly racing schedule in an easy-to-read format? Two: I think Patrick needs to work on getting a little more ‘Geeked a la lead IMS Radio Broadcast announcer Mike “Yippee Aye Eh!” King; Hya! And Three: This Newgarden kid is going places!

Yeah, I know three Big Carz races doesn’t define a drivers body of work; BUTT! I just truly get the feeling that the young Nashvillian is an Up & Comer. As he had the audacity to attempt passing Dashley LePew (Dario Franchitti) on the outside on lap-1 for the lead before getting a Dario ‘LUV-tap to put ‘em into the tyres at Long Beach.

Then Joseph simply goes out in qualifying in Brazil and outshines ‘Ol Twinkle-toes, nee ‘Hulio Castro-nervous and some elder statesman named ‘Rubino, (Rubens Barrichello) along with TK “follow-your-Schnoz” Kanaan - all in their home race... Along with out qualifying Ryan Briscoe, Marco Andretti, Simon Pagenaud, etc; yet alas, Newgarden didn’t proceed further then P9 - as there was only ‘Juan Minnowesqe team mixin’ it up with the Big Boyz in the Fast Six final Qualie session. His name is fondly known here at No Fenders as Justin ‘BIG UNIT Wilson and he was driving the Sonny’s BBQ-mobile for Dale Coyne Racing.

Newgarden then rolled off P8 after Justin Wilson’s car failed post-qualifying tech and ran as high as fourth place for awhile before it all fell apart - getting a ‘LUV-tap from “Symona-Symona” (de Silvestro) and kissing the wall during an 8-car melee! Then reportedly standing around in the Pits to potentially return if lotso cars got taken out in the races latter stages... I assume for scoring points for the rookie title fight, although I don’t believe he ever returned and eventually wound up finishing 23^rd...

The Great Nico!

2012-05-03T11:33:00.001-07:00

Nico Rosberg 2006 Williams F1 Hero card

Yeah, most likely Y’all will say I’m makin’ too big a fuss outta that thing called Karma... Yet once again the Karmic-whip has smacked your humble No Fenders scribe firmly upside the head...

Having stayed up into the ‘Wee hours of the night in order to watch the Chinese GP qualifying “Live,” I was quite ecstatic over “Brittany” (Nico Rosberg) finally having scored his debutant Formula 1 Pole position... Of which I waxed on eloquently the next day’s afternoon as ‘Aunty Harriet and I sat outside in the sunshine watching Mary Ellen plant her garden... As I gleefully recanted the story I’d been told all those years ago - nearly six told - after Clyde had driven us Backhome Again Coast-to-Coast in a frightingly quick two and one-half dazes; CRIKEYS!

Thus, here’s the following excerpt that I retold my audience chronicling thee great ‘Aunty Harriet’s chance meeting with a precocious 21yr old German Formula 1 rookie named Nico Rosberg - to which Mary Ellen said; you’d better remind your (remaining) audience...

Indy day trippin’ - Part 3

(Originally posted on July 16, 2007)

Upon returning from another 2.5 day mad dash across the country and having only stopped at Old Faithful and Devil’s Tower; it was nice to be back home where I watched the (2006 USGP) race tape, where I found Nick Heidfeld’s barrel rolling down the main straight quite scary. I also learned via Bob Varsha that it was 97 degrees (+ Humidity) race day. As well as being the start of the second century of Grand Prix racing…

Calling Elvis; Err ‘Aunty Harriet after finishing the race, I was most shocked to hear her story about who’d sat next to her on her flight home. At the very last moment a young whipper snapper sat down next to her, as it was the last seat on the plane.

Noticing that the young German kid with long blond hair had a slightly funny sounding accent... Harriet inquired, so where are you from? What are you doing in America? After a long pause the kid said. “Ja! I am Nico Rosberg! I have just been at Indy to race in the USGP.

SHEISA!!!

Harriet had to sit next to Williams F1rookie driver Nico Rosberg on her flight from Indy to Chicago as this was the only flight poor Messer Rosberg could find in order to make his connections back home to Germany.

Harriet told him how she’d just attended her very first Formula 1 race and how I was a huge Formula 1 fan… Just before landing the young German who’d turned 21 during the break between the Canadian and USGP reached for his briefcase and pulled a card out. Then of course neither of them had a pen, so they frantically searched for a writing utensil and finding a pencil. Nico scribbled an autograph onto his race card for Mwah...

SHEISA!!! How come I never get to have anybody famous sit next to me, eh?

To read the whole BLOODY story, (Parts one-two-three) see: Indy day trippin’

Now Y’all know why I wish I could have witnessed Nico’s maiden Grand Prix victory via le Telescreen. As I believe it makes the German the first new Grand Prix winner in four years - since some other ‘Wunderkin named Sebastian Vettel. And it matches a precocious ‘Brit’s seven seasons ‘til first victory; Y’all may know him, his name is ‘Jense...

Engines Smengynns - What about the Drivers?

2012-05-03T09:28:00.002-07:00

Now while everybody’s awash over the continuing Lotus-by-Judd Follies... Of which I sincerely hope the ‘Luddi Boyz get their heads cocked on straight - pronto! I’ve been thinking of a different issue instead regarding the revolving door of drivers seeking rides...

As naturally I don’t like seeing any potential Open Wheel Racing drivers planned foray into the sport fall apart - ‘Whale almost nobody’s, as I suppose I’ve had some silly axes to grind over the years; BUTT!

All I can say is thank you Mr. Willie Buxom, nee Will Buxton of SPEED TV fame for pointing out the obvious to which I was beginning to think I was the only ‘Juan who’d noticed this?

As the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing press release about Michele Jourdain Jr’s return to Indy Cars was all warm, glowy ‘N fuzzy feeling - as I wundered out loud to myself, what about Luca Filippi? As Y’all recall that the Italian GP2 racer had already been announced as the team’s second driver beginning at Indianapolis after ‘Meeshes friend Booby Ray-X (Bobby Rahal) had relinquished his second Honda ‘lump in order for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) to go racing with the Studly Joseph Newgarden beginning at Saint Pete.

Now I have absolutely nothin’ against Jourdain - having cheered for him back in the Good ‘Ol CART Dazes when he was Top Jimmy’s (Jimmy Vasser) understudy at Team Rahal. HELL! He was even Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen’s favourite driver back then - after her main squeeze ‘Monty, nee Juan Pablo Montoya - when he was DER TERMINATOR’s arch rival in Formula 1.

And I’m sure drivers such as ‘PT, Pippa Mann, “Plowie, (Martin Plowman) Vitor Meira and a cast of others aren’t shedding any tears for Filippi’s apparent lack of IndyCar ride, eh? Yet first Giorgio Pantano and now Filippi? What’s the dealio with NO Italians in Indy Car; or for that matter, Formula 1...

The Italian Dilemma

A somewhat Long ‘N Strange trip indeed...

2012-05-01T09:43:00.002-07:00

So the past two weeks seem like a blur to your humble No Fenders scribe, as I’ve definitely seen a little more of the unusual then planned for... As it all started by South Sound Bureau Chief Mary Ellen inviting Mwah down to Tacoma for the weekend of the Long Beach & Chinese GP’s, to which I thought, what the H-E Double Hockey sticks, eh? Might as whale get outta Dodge ‘N try breathin’ some fresh air after having stared at le Confuzer way too many hours previously.

Not to mention the soothing company of the revered 92 years young ‘Aunty Harriet - who’s got nothin’ wrong with her hearing; WHAT? Asking me if there are any races on this weekend? Yes, the Chinese Grand Prix is on at midnight. Who? The Chinese Grand Prix... Portuguese Stampede??? Yep! That’s right there was a stampede in Portugal; Porch You Gall, I was corrected upon my pronunciation... Oh? How many were trampled in the Stampede? Oh, I don’t know - as I just heard the headline before I came down; Hya!

And besides, NO sweat, I’ll tape the IndyCar race since I won’t get home in time for the Monday replay - and then can just watch the Formula 1 race rebroadcast Tuesday morning... Since comca$t GOOBERED my ‘Ol School technology by forcing me onto a ‘DIG I-T! TULL box that won’t allow my VCR to record more then one channel at a time; Oh Never Mind!

Catching the bus home Monday morning after a two-plus hours ride and stepping off around 12:15PM, my stomach was grumblin’ so I made a beeline for the same said Sandwich Pub I’d met the crazy old lady in previously. And as I turned the corner to walk down my hill I saw several vehicles parked along the kerb - which usually only sees vehicles parked there during snow storms when the hill is iced over; WTF?

Then it was extremely quiet outside my building and all of the residents automobiles were missing; Huh? As I approached my walkway I noticed an orange safety traffic cone at the top of it - and as I attempted to take my first step a voice boomed out: you CANNOT come up here there has been a FIRE and you’ll need to go to the office for further instructions; Aye Karumba! (And now as I poond away - there’s that NOT so soothing tome of fire truck sirens blaring in the distance...)

Walking into the office I was met by the assistant manager - but before he could go any further then saying there’s been a fire in your building, I replied: I need to go to the bathroom first! (And then eat some lunch - as it was now around 1:25PM)

Mitch took me into the general office and introduces me to a female Red Cross volunteer who told me: the GOOD news is your unit was undamaged by the fire! It may smell like smoke a little while, but it’ll dissipate... Unfortunately you CANNOT enter your unit for approx 2-3hrs until the fire alarms are hooked up and power is restored. Then she passed me off to her male counterpart - who was the head Red Cross volunteer who asked me: you do have insurance, RIGHT? Saying they’d pay for me to stay somewhere for the night if I needed to do so... Ok, but I really need to eat something first.

After a piece ‘O my Bitamyte sandwich; NOT! Hmm? I’d better call Mary Ellen and see if I can return for another night instead of sitting round here for three hours and then surprise!

Thus riding the bus home once again Tuesday morning - I obviously missed the replay of the Chinese Grand Prix - which I’d really liked to have seen, especially since it would have been most symbiotic after having previously spent the weekend reminiscing ‘bout Aunty Harriet’s encounter with the then 21yr old rookie “Brittany,” aka Nico Rosberg which I originally scribbled ‘bout in; Indy day trippin’. (Part 3)

Yet as I’d later tell Mary Ellen, I felt extremely FORTUNATE that my frumpy ‘lil abode had escaped any fire damage - as I’d have been totally devastated, since all of my documentation would have been lost... And even though my entire F1 Diecast collection has sat in the closet for numerous years, nevertheless I’d not wish for their untimely demise this way, as hopefully some younger generation will enjoy them in the future - whilst I pontificate ‘bout there being put in a display case some day...

Yet I had several thoughts upon my near miss with the devastation of the fire to my Apartment building; a two-alarm fire for which the local newspaper said a man was rescued from his third floor balcony after being trapped by flames and a large dog was also rescued - the blaze having been set by carelessness with incense that ignited combustibles... As half of the building’s occupants - twelve units have been displaced due to fire, smoke and water damage!

But my thoughts upon this incident immediately drifted to the subject of Bahrain, as I pondered how many of the oppressed there would have been receiving immediate Red Cross care? Food, shelter, electricity and even clean & working bathrooms to use. (Not to mention friendly & kind people trying to help...)

As one protester was killed leading up to the Bahrain Grand Prix. Two Force

India

team members departed the Kingdom after their unmarked vehicle became embroiled in a protest skirmish - involving Molotov cocktails; not to mention the entire team forsaking Friday’s Free Practice-2 session in order to leave the circuit under the safety of daylight... Which doesn’t even address the further death toll occurring after the “United-for-All” Grand Prix - yeah, right you BASTARDOS!

Hmm? Did Uncle Bernaughty drop by the Bahrain International Circuit during race weekend?

Hosting of Bahrain GP Backfires on Formula One

Thus feeling very discombulated I watched the Long Beach IndyCar race Tuesday night halfheartedly, albeit I more or less just listened to it since I really couldn’t see much TV coverage in the darkness of my eerily quiet abode...

Thursday morning I caught the Shuttle Express to the airport - as the driver said I know you, you’re the guy I gave a ride home to once before who spotted Air Force One, right? Well actually that was another blind gentlemen as I always chuckle to myself over how blind people are immediately classified as being completely blind... As the driver and van riders had been quite surprised when this man who was only blind in one eye called out from the front passenger seat whilst upon the I-5 Freeway; there’s Air Force One.

And I felt like I was getting my Bobby Allison indoctrination “Justin-time” for my big Arizona adventure. As the third passenger we picked up - who was off to Chicago said her hair was still wet and did anyone mind turning up the heat? So there I sat in my gortex raincoat, windows up and the heat suddenly blasting us to tarnations... Kinda like when ‘Ol Bobby drove around home in the Alabama summers the exact same way to train for driving in his “RASSCAR Bomber; CRIKEYS!

Then just before touching down at Phoenix Int’l the two Catty-chatties behind me suddenly perked up my ear as the one lady said: have you ever been to Florence, Oregon; Hmm? I’ve been ‘Dar... As she continued; you really need to take the Dune-buggy ride on the Sand dunes there. SHEISA! I’ve done that too - which I did last August and it was an absolute hoot...

And of course The Valley of the Sun was having an unexpected HEAT wave - which made me just marvel that much more as my brother Miguel pointed out the black Ferrari convertible cruising alongside us with its top down as it was only 97deg-f ambient outside; Aye Karumba!

And I guessed it was a F430 - which had the most soothing tome of the weekend, as Miguel informed me there was zero identifying badge-work upon it, albeit it had a clear glass rear bonnet cover which showed off the Scuderia’s upper engine brightwork, i.e.; valve covers, intake manifolds, etc. Welcome to Arizona baby!

The reason for this trip into a blasting hot oven - as it would be 102-103 degrees the rest of my duration was to go to Phoenix International Raceway for the first time in 14-years to go for a three lap excursion in a real honest-to-goodness, bonafied NASCAR Stock Car; CRIKEYS!

Yep, Y’all read that right - your humble scribe has finally conceded to the DARK side - being a willing participant in a Richard Petty Driving Experience two-seater ride-along program...

Which I’ll poond out ‘Dat rivetin’ story forze Yuhs all ‘Somme-time in dar future - when I’ll hopefully(?) have the incriminating photos of meeze climbin’ aboard the No. 48 Lowes ‘Chebbie of Jimmy ‘Vanilla Johnson fame... Of which I have only Artiste Dave to thonk for makin’ I-T happen...

Thus, obviously (SNAP! Where are you Mr. Innucci, eh?) It felt very strange actually getting to listen to the entire Indy Car qualifying session from Sao Paolo, Brazil on my Confuzer’s tiny ‘lil speakers - as Trackside Online’s (TSO) Patrick Stefan did a very commendable job calling the action solo. (Making me flash back to meeting him in the IMS Media Centre nearly three years ago...)

And now it’s just back to my usual(?) routine before flying off to Speedwayland and the very first Oval race of the season in approximately ‘Juan month...

UPDATE

And whilst I’m NOT holding my breath towards any sort of great changes occurring anytime soon in the Kingdom of Bahrain.... Nevertheless, one can only hope that perhaps some sort of good will occur from the just announced re-trials for several activists - including Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who’s been on hunger strike for nearly three months now...

Bahraini court order retrials for Activists

Power dominates while Sato drives the wheels off en route to his first IndyCar podium...

2012-04-30T13:46:00.002-07:00

So after everyone played nice for the races opening green flag in Sao Paolo - Will Power once again crushed the competition... As the NBCSN ‘’Boothjockeyz pointed out how infuriating it must be for the ‘Aussie to simply motor away from the competition on primary black sticker tyres vs. ‘Bully-Ray (R. Hunter-Reay) falling behind him on the faster, stickier, gooier alternate ‘Reds; CRIKEYS!

And as much as I enjoyed seein’ Power simply cruise off into the sunset; Whale, at least it didn’t rain down South, eh? I was more intrigued by SFHR’s Joseph Newgarden’s early race pace... Not to mention ‘Taku-san (Takuma Sato) definitely having the drive of the race! As the Japanese pilot drove from P25 to his first-ever Indy Car Series podium with a fine third place finish for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. HELL! ‘Taku even out braked; Err pulled off a fine Kamikaze pass on Dashley LePew (Dario Franchitti) and ‘HULIO (Castroneves) to go from fifth to third in the latter stages of the event.

And how ‘bout that Oriel Servia, eh? Pretty good result for his last time out with the recalcitrant ‘Luddi lump,) Lotus) which reputedly the team had to scramble to repair the motor which had an issue with its oil pan before the race... As Servia finished a fine 11^th place, one spot ahead of le ‘Hamburgular, nee Sebastain Bourdais; Yeah, I know that 11^th & 12^th place finishes usually aren’t anything to crow about; BUTT! I’d like to believe that the Lotus-by-Judd ‘Boyz ‘N Girls are getting stronger each race. Now if we can just have 33-cars for Indy...

Penske Racing Museum - Inaugural visit

2012-04-26T09:17:00.002-07:00

Whale lookie here folks; Tuh-duh! Another Meisterbrau; Err Masterpiece has managed to escape the tenuous grasp of that all conquering nebulous black hole diabolically known here as the NoFenderz WormHole vortex; Hya! As in honouring El Capitano, aka Roger Penske, Thee Captain an his 40^th Anniversary of his debutant Indy 500 victory this May, (Mark Donohue - 1972) thought I’d post this long lost classic (story) in the No Fenders archives - especially whilst I’m playing ‘Ketsup in Der ‘Vurld de Motorsporten Ja-Ja! Having just returned from goin’ round ‘N round in the Dessert...

Preface

I vaguely remember copying the following paragraph from the Penske Racing Museum’s website page - which I recall, being semi-difficult to navigate, (and is even WORSE now, as its NOT Screen-reader compatible...) as the following paragraph seems quite quaint now, albeit obviously out-of-date. And although not as magnificent as the IMS Hall of Fame museum, nevertheless - thanxs to my Blogmeister’s willingness to take me their on a yearly basis, not to mention the price is right: “FREE!” It’s Juan ‘O my favourite Arizona hauntz...

Museum website

“Come celebrate 40 years of winning racing tradition at the Penske Racing Museum. Located at the new 41 acre North Scottsdale Auto Mall, owned and operated by United Auto Group, Inc.

The Penske Racing Museum celebrates nearly 40 years of the winning tradition of Penske racing, showcasing an amazing collection of vintage race cars, racing trophies, and various racing memorabilia. The world-class collection at the Penske Racing Museum includes 11 of the 13 Indy 500 winning cars, several NASCAR vehicles, and Indy 500 pace cars. Drivers featured include Helio Castroneves and Gil de Ferran of the Indy Racing League, as well as Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman of NASCAR.”

Introduction

Faithfully watching Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain, during the weekend of the (2005) Phoenix ‘RASSCAR” race, I watched with bemusement as “The Captain” (Roger Penske) stoically defended his newest “Gun.” While being interviewed from his new museum in Scottsdale, AZ, Penske categorically dismissed any rumours that defending “NUTCAR” champion Kurt Busch wouldn’t be taking over Rusty Wallace’s ride next year as planned...

Roger Penske:

“Kurt had a run-in with the Sheriff and we intend to do everything possible to make something positive occur from this unfortunate situation.”

That’s the infamous “Sherriff Joe,” (Arpaio) self-proclaimed “toughest Sherriff in America” - as Roger went on to mention that they had a few of his Indy 500 winners on display and that approx. 50,000 people had been through the museum. Hey! I’m going to be in Scottsdale shortly - for the Turkey Lurkey (Thanksgiving) holiday and I wanna go see I-T and check it out! (As it seems overly ironic to read how Kurt “GFYS!” Busch was thee ‘Captain’s man some 7yrs ago, eh? As I’m much happier with Busch’s replacement, i.e.; A.J. Allmendinger...)

First Museum Tour

(Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005)

Staying at my brother’s ‘Housianda in Scottsdale, Miguel asked: “How do you know about that?” Even more humourous was the fact that it was just 10 minutes (approx.) north of his house.

Entering the parking lot, Miguel spotted a brand new red Ferrari F430 parked outside; this must be the place, eh? After snapping what would become the first of many zillion pictures, (80) we sauntered over to view a “Fly-Yellow” 2002 Maserati Spyder parked next to a 2005 Corvette. The “Maser” was listed at a “kOOL $66.5,” marked down to ONLY $59,900.00.

Before entering the museum I had to get my picture ‘Turr-aken in front of the Ferrari F430. As my brother attempted to take my “mug-shot” the building’s automatic glass doors opened and a woman dressed in a smartly looking blue blazer told us: “If you’re going to take a picture of that car... Then you definitely need to come inside and take a picture of the half million Porsche!” As parked in the showroom’s display window sat NOT “Juan but two of Porsche’s latest Supercar, the Carrera Porsche. (Red, silver; with a $OLD sticker on it)

Walking inside I told the woman that we were just going to the museum. She replied: “This is just like the museum except you can BUY these cars...”

Turns out she was the receptionist for the flagship portion of the UAG Arizona (Penske) “Superstore” Auto Mall, the “Used Cars Dept.” We ended up having a pleasant 5-10 minute conversation with her as she sat behind her desk. Standing there while surveying the “Used” cars... She corrected herself by referring to them as “Pre-Owned Cars.” While she was raving about the Bentley they’d just acquired from New York with 17k miles on it, suddenly a sight totally unexpected jumped out at me, as I noticed a brilliant yellow car with twin black stripes on it! Is that a Ford GT, I asked? It sure is she replied... It’s even the preferred colour option; SHEISA!!!

My brother asked her about if she enjoyed her job and what type of clientele frequent the showroom? The majority of our customers aren’t here to buy a car. They already have several. They’re coming here mostly to buy a “TOY.” Usually the Ferrari buyer’s look likes they “Just fell out of bed.” (Was she referring to mwah? Yeah that’s me, Mr. Ferrari buyer, right? In a frumpy sweatshirt and having let my face grown long...)

I wandered over to a lone black Ferrari 360 Modena, and then took a serious look at the Ford GT. What a FREAKIN’ AWESOME car! (Ford definitely hit a HOME RUN with this magnificent re-incarnation of the original GT 40!) As the aura of the Ford GT made me simply pay ZERO attention to the Aston Martin DB9 behind it... As it’d sound even better when we had to drive in behind a black Ford GT at Indy for the ’06 USGP; Aye Karumba!

Then we meandered around two more “garden-variety” Aston Martin’s, a red Ferrari F355 GTS, and a black Lamborghini Gallardo along with a gaggle of four different Ferrari 360 Modena’s.

Can you say: Oh What a Feeling!

As Miguel took a photo of “Juan ‘O” the 360 Modena’s, a salesman entered the showroom. Turning around I noticed he was flaying his arms & legs, saying, “I wanna be in the picture.” When viewing the photo’s on Miguel’s Confuzer the following day, the salesman was caught fully in air doing a perfect Toyota “Oh what a feeling” jump!

Finally we forced ourselves outside to gawk at the purple Bentley Continental GT. What a wild machine... (6.0 liter Twin Turbocharged V-12) Forlornly looking abandoned sat a “Nasty” red 2003 Porsche 911... The Porsche looked menacingly “slammed and ALL business!” And that was before we ever made it to the Racing museum - double SHEISA!!!

Penske Racing Museum

Tearing ourselves away from the “Fanta$y Garage,” we walked next door to the museum. Entering from the rear of the 8,000 square foot building, the very first car to greet us was the magnificent Sunoco Special! Marveling at the AWESOME gleaming Sunoco Blue paint, I couldn’t believe that I was staring at the actual 1972 McLaren M16B that Mark Donohue drove to victory at the Indy 500... This was the first of Roger Penske’s (Record) 13 Indianapolis 500 victories. (This was prior to Sam Hornish’s 2006 & Helio Castroneves ’09 victories. Not to mention some chap named Donald Davidson informing me years later that this Sunoco special was a replica...)

”D Squared”

As Miguel began to take a few pictures of the car, another woman in a blue blazer approached us. You may take photos of all of the cars EXCEPT for the Red & White Marlboro cars. Also NO photos of any Marlboro memorabilia on the walls behind the cars or anywhere in the museum... How come, I asked? Because of the possibility of lawsuits; there are countless amounts of litigation occurring over Tobacco sponsorship; as I exclaimed that I was highly disappointed, since part of the whole reason I had come was to take pictures of the “BAD HABBIT$ carZs.”

She replied that most museums wouldn’t even let you take any pictures... My brother countered by saying “Don’t shoot the Messenger.”

Opposite the Sunoco McLaren sat Rusty Wallace’s 2005 “Last Call” Miller Lite Dodge Charger and ‘Pardenerin’ the Dodge was the 1963 Pontiac Catalina that Roger Penske drove to victory in the Riverside 250. What??? Roger Penske won a ‘RASSCAR race? Unbelievable!

The center of the museum featured two rows of four racecars divided by the main aisle. Across from the Rusty “BARK at the MOON” Wallace (Stock Car) ‘Bomber sat the Norton Gould liveried 1981 Penske PC-9B, driven by Bobby Unser. (B. Unser’s 3^rd Indy 500 victory) alongside is the bright yellow “Pennzoil Special.” The 1984 March 84C was piloted by Rick Mears. (Mears 2^nd Indy 500 victory) Next is the first of five BAD HABBITZ (Marlboro) chassis. The 1993 Penske PC-22 which garnered “emmaLOe or ‘EMMO” (Emerson Fittipaldi) his second Indy 500 victory... And at the end of “Winner’s Row-1:” was the second banana yellow charger. The 1988 Penske PC-17 piloted by Rick Mears to his third Indy 500 victory.

The “kOOLest” part about this row of Indy winner’s was that these four race car chassis bodywork were removed and hanging above each racecar respectively. As it’s always amazing to look at how these missiles are packaged so compactly!

Directly across from these four cars is the museum’s main entrance, with receptionist desk and three more chassis facing inwards. The woman who’d earlier “scolded us” asked if we’d like to sign the guest register while offering us brochures. A man decorating a large Christmas tree “chimed-in,” asking: Where are you from and how did you hear about the museum? I replied that I’d seen Mr. Penske being interviewed on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain from this museum. Yes, the receptionist said: He sat right there at the end of the museum in front of the Miller Lite car.

I mentioned how he was talking about his newest driver (Kurt Busch) who’d had a little trouble with Sheriff Joe of Maricopa County... To which the woman replied: “Lots of people have trouble with Sheriff Joe!”

Moving along towards the three racecars beckoning our attention, quite amazing was the stark contrast between the 1974 Penske PC-1 Formula 1 chassis and the 1977 Penske PC-5 Indycar, parked side by side. The F1 chassis utilized much smaller diameter, wider width tyres compared with the Indycar. Mark Donohue & John Watson drove this F1 chassis, as sadly Donohue died from accident injuries incurred while piloting a Penske F1 car in 1974.

Tom Sneva, ex-school teacher from Spokane, WA, piloted the Norton Spirit PC-5; as Sneva, known as “The Gasman” was a recent co-host of Wind Tunnel, (Robin Miller spins a great yarn about Sneva stealing a school bus when CART traveled to Mexico City in the early 1980’s…) became the first person to qualify above 200mph at Indianapolis aboard this car... And rounding out the row sat the 1979 Penske PC-6 piloted by Rick Mears. (Mears maiden Indy 500 victory)

Tom Sneva: The Gasman

Perched on an engine stand sat the all-conquering Mercedes Benz 500i “Push-Rod” motor. Taking a page from Donohue’s book: The Unfair Advantage, Penske and Mercedes exploited a loophole for Indy “Stock-Block” engines; with the ‘Merc ‘lump producing 1,024bhp, it was the first engine to claim both pole position and victory in its debut race with Al Unser Jr. decimating the field. (1994) The Speedway promptly banned this engine the following year...

Tucked into a cubbyhole against the wall sat a very impressive three racecar grouping. First was the famous “Spin & Win” chassis. Danny Sullivan spun the 1985 March 85C 360 degrees while attempting to pass race leader Mario Andretti. “Sully” recovered undamaged to win the ’85 Indy 500 upon making his second pass on Mario stick…. This fame led to his cameo appearance on Miami Vice...

Pennzoil racecar with Rick Mears helmet

In the middle was the “Hertz-Doughnut” yellow Cummins Diesel 1987 March 86C piloted by “Big Al” (Al Unser Sr.) to his record tying 4^th Indy 500 victory. Interestingly the car had been a show car prior to the “Month of May,” hence being a year old chassis, with the second Bad Habits car filling out the row.

The 1991 Penske PC-20 piloted by Rick Mears also made history when Mears became only the third driver in history to win four Indy 500’s. An Ilmor-Chevrolet 265A engine accompanied this row of winners, with another left-over Chevy ‘lump (motor) floating about the museum...

The final row of four vehicles was a mixed euphoria, which seems to mirror the current state of open wheel racing. I found myself mesmerized by the beautiful red & white non-Marlboro liveried #68 Dallara IRL chassis. Perhaps it was the side view profile? Or the fact that this car seemed to closely mimic the style of today’s current F1 designs?

Alongside the #68 was the now full Marlboro liveried Dallara also piloted by ‘Hulio Castro-nervous, who drove both Penske Bad Habits cars to consecutive victories in 2001-02.The final race car was the 2003 G-Force driven to victory by Gil de Ferran, garnering Toyota’s first Borg-Warner trophy. What a really “kOOL” sight to see three BAD HABITZ chassis parked together! As I was highly tempted to have Miguel snap an “ILLEGAL” picture of three IRL cars… (Am I LOSING my mind, eh?) Looking absolutely LOST and out of place was the 2003 ‘Chebbie SSR Pace truck at the end of the row. What an absolute WASTE of display space!

Alongside the Sunoco McLaren was the corresponding 1972 Hurst/Olds Cutlass Pace car and a 40% wind tunnel Marlboro Penske Indycar.

Finally walking upstairs, the second floor seemed to lack the luster of downstairs. Situated around a circular hole in the floor sat six wonderful 40% scale wind tunnel replicas of various Indy cars in individual display cases... Along the wall was a small display of trophies, including 2001 F1 Gran Premio Brazilia and 1999 Belgian GP Spa Francorchamps Constructors trophies... (As my sensory-overloaded “64k confuzer” has just figured out that these were the winning Constructors trophies that Ron Dennis accepts on the podium. Ilmor Engineering built the Mercedes Benz F1 engines prior to being “bought-out” by Mercedes)

The far corner featured a triangle shaped room serving as the gift store with various Penske “knick-knacks” for sale, i.e.; T-shirts, Coffee mugs, etc. (Which weirdly NEVER has any attendants in it whenever I visit! As I guess they want you to do your shopping online?)

These trinkets were interspersed between other various memorabilia, with the most interesting item for sale being a single side front speedway wing section autographed by Sam Hornish Jr. & Castroneves for $1,000.00...

Securely tucked against the wall was a mammoth Vanderbilt Cup trophy engraved with 2000-01 Champion Gil de Ferran. (CART Driver’s Champion) Further along the wall was a Honda “ChumpCarzs” valve cover in recognition of Penske’s 100^th Champ Car victory. Also for sale were two Carousel 1/18 diecasts... The newly released 1972 Sunoco Donohue: $140.00; 1-of-3,600 pieces, (My latest acquisition) and a 1976 Cam2 red McLaren hand-signed Mario Andretti for $120.00.

Outside the gift shop resided a lone racecar, the 2004 NASCAR Dodge Intrepid of Ryan Newman, and you could actually touch this car, as it sat without ropes or gates around it. To which I must admit they’re pretty “bad-ass” looking cars, whilst I could only imagine planting my foot on the gas pedal of this 775bhp gorilla, snapping into several doughnuts before smacking the wall! (Sounds like a seen straight out of Days ‘O Blunder with Cole Trickle behind the wheel, right?)

A full-length wall display case is filled with various trophies, including a pair of “Texas-sized” gold plated boots - while for some reason several Monterey Grand Prix (Laguna Seca) winners’ trophies dominated the display case...

Prior to walking back downstairs I spotted the BESTEST! Photograph of Roger Penske I’ve ever seen... (At the head of the stairway) The 6-foot by 4-feet photo captures Penske jubilantly spraying champagne at the camera while celebrating his record 100^th Champ Cars victory. The entire team is on one side of Penske all adorning 100 WIN hats, with joyous fans on the other side behind the winning Gil de Ferran chassis. Penske looks so “stoked!” (I want that picture!)

Returning downstairs to quickly count the number of Indy winners... We counted twelve: With the only chassis MISSING being the 1994 Penske PC-23 Al Unser Jr. car which I assume must be in the brand-new Unser museum in Albuquerque, NM, eh? (As this visit was prior to the ’06 Indy 500...)

Then a quick jaunt outside to the adjoining Land Rover test track, Yep, that’s correct... A “wicked” test track of every off road obstacle imaginable including a waterfall... “Juan” last dash back through the “Used Cars Dept;” Err Pre-owned cars led us back outside for “Juan” last mug-shot beside a black Hummer H2 before forcing ourselves to leave...

Epilogue

I guess I’ve been a “Pe$ke-Basher” for several years… Since Penske always seems ‘Juan ‘O” the team’s to BEAT… And thus I’d detested Roger Penske’s DEFECTION to ‘lil napoleons (Tony “Ronnie” George) irL (Indy Retirement League) in 2002 and regularly lambasted Rodger’s exploits by spelling his name “Pe$ke” as he happily took Marlboro’s millions on his way back to the Brickyard...

The Captain wrangled Emerson Fittipaldi along with the Marlboro ssponsorship away from Pat Patrick in 1990 as Penske Racing scored three more Bad Habitz speedway victories including Marlboro’s final CART Indy 500 victory in 1994. Al Unser Jr. triumphed from pole.

Going “From Hero to Zero,” Penske’s team was unable to qualify his cars the following year. Yet having sat out five runnings of Indy as a loyal CART owner, Penske returned in 2001 with Non-Marlboro liveried chassis before becoming the first major CART ‘Domo (owner) to jump ship full time to the rival Indy Racing League.

In late 2004 A Penske “penned” Editorial appeared in a prominent East coast newspaper pleading for the reunification of the two rival leagues. Vainly trying to bring “The Split” full-circle, Penske’s effort failed as the two sides seem determined to stay at loggerheads, as ironically Roger was instrumental in forming CART in 1979.

Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) was formed in order to break away from Indy’s United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctioning body - as the team owners had felt that they weren’t being treated right... And now Roger was trying to re-incarnate open-wheel racing - as fortunately the two whimpering, warring factions finally reunited in 2008...

Watching Penske’s interview on Wind Tunnel, (some six-plus years ago) I chuckled to myself over how impressed I was by “The Captain,” noting how much of a class act he was and how business ALWAYS comes first.

And on my final day of vacation, after mondo burritos for lunch at Chupatas with Miguel, I found myself back at the museum once again, picking up a few extra brochures. (Which I thought I’d do something clever with - like may be framing ‘Juan?) Of course another “walk-about” was mandatory. This time I noticed that every Indycar had the respective driver’s helmet sitting on the left-hand sidepod.

While checking sponsors of the three yellow “Hertz-Doughnut” chassis, we discussed how the “Spin & Win” Miller Beer March 85C racecar had the most obliquely bulbous square nose! Being totally unique, the nose cone was blunt, unlike the expected pencil sharp pointed noses on the rest of its contemporary speedway brethren - of which I was certain this, was a road course ‘Snauzage. (As I seem to recall that I did learn that the Indy configuration was indeed different...)

Also noted was the severe “lowness” of the Penske PC-20. This chassis had the lowest ground clearance of all the Indy cars present. It appeared to have approx. one-inch ground clearance from the nose to the start of the cockpit before transitioning to two-inches approx.

Once again talking to the museum’s staff, my “eagle-eyed” brother inquired; where is the Donohue Porsche RSR IROC car shown in the brochure? To which we were informed that the car had just left last week when the Sneva car arrived after its restoration... It’s currently being displayed in the new ALMS shop.

(Penske’s main facility: Penske South in Mooresville, NC, alongside the 225,000 sq. ft. NASCAR operation) Oh, you mean the LMP2 Prototype? Yes, the DHL car. (As this was prior to Penske Racing relocating the Indy Car operation from Reading, PA and consolidating Operations in Mooresville...)

Penske will campaign the entire 2006 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season with a pair of Porsche RS Spyders after winning the LMP2 category during its debut at the Laguna Seca season finale. (“Juan” can only speculate that this will eventually lead to Porsche’s return to Lemans for overall victory in the LMP1 category, eh?) Porsche plans to have Penske build and sell RS Spyder’s to wealthy “privateer” teams beginning in 2007 with a projected base price of $1.25 million… (Approx. four times the cost of a Porsche 911 GT3!)

Once again, Miguel commented how it just didn’t feel right to be climbing back into his “daily driver.” Look, they moved the Ferrari. (F430) Asking is that the same black Lamborghini we saw yesterday? Yeah, it must be... Look at that car, it’s freaking AWESOME!

Pulling up to the “Lot-Jockey” Miguel asked him if that was the same car that was inside yesterday? Yes, he replied while casually polishing a fender. Then he climbed inside and started the Lambo.BBBURRAPPP- BBBURRAPPP- BBBURRAPPP-VROOMMMMMMMMMM....... As the Gallardo sat idling, we watched with shear humility as he drove back inside the dealership. SHEISA!!! I want that job... “I’ll just be gone for about one-our while I go down the street to get some petrol!”

I was TOTALLY blown away by this AWESOME museum nestled inside the LARGEST MEGA Auto dealership I’ve ever been too - with the museum exuding typical Penske perfection.

The funniest part of my first two visits before flying home was that after my sentimental favourite (the 1972 Sunoco Donohue McLaren) I could NOT quit marveling, gawking and commenting how AWESOME the 2001 Dallara IRL chassis looked... SHEISA!!!

Although I still despised the ‘irL - which I promptly nicknamed the inDEE retirement League, and ALL of the “Heavy-Hitter’s” (Ganassi, Rahal, Fernandes, etc) who DEFECTED from the sinking ship (CART ) to follow Penske’s example of switching leagues, I still applauded Champ Cars resurgence circa ’05 - refusing to admit that NOBODY beats Indianapolis... Although it seemed pathetic that the two rival leagues would both be running chassis built by the same raceing car manufacture in 2007, (Panoz) while this year (2005) both series will be powered by single-source engine suppliers (Cosworth: Champ Car World Series, Honda: Indy Racing League) Thus, It sure would be nice if ‘lil napoleon & The Three Musketeers’ could return to the “Glory Days of the mid-1980’s & early ‘90’s. “Can you say “Consolidation?”

“Desert!”

Shortly the UGLY DUCKLING’S of Sports Car racing (Grand Am: endorsed by ‘RASSCAR, hey! NOT only were they members; BUTT! They liked the series so much that they bought I-T! (France family) will launch the 2006 Motorsports season with another running of the Rolex 24. (Daytona 24hrs)

With the DREADED start of another SPN-CAR season waiting to rear it’s Godzilla-like girth upon “mainstream America” beginning at Daytona in February, SPEED will soon revert back to it’s 800+ hour weekly allegiance ‘O Roundly-Round…

The Open-Wheel Feud looks set to continue once again with a new wrinkle. PKV & Rocketsports Racing have both tested Katherine Legge in winter tests at Sebring recently. Legge, whom unlike Danica Patrick, WON a race last year in Toyota Atlantic’s…Look for the “Battle of the Sexes” to heat up when the “Cheeky Brit” Katherine takes on Danica.

Can you say “Cat-Fight - Meow...?

Old School Chevrolet Ilmor 2.65-liter V-8 turbocharged CART engine

Fall, 2005: PRM-Cars on Display

This is the list of vehicles I noted whilst making my debutant visit to The Captain’s Cathedral ‘O Speed - which the vehicles on display has changed over the years since, albeit the Indy Cars, Formula 1 & engines remain the same - their locations do tend to change..

“Bombers”

1963 Pontiac Catalina: 421 cid Pontiac Super Duty V-8

2004 Dodge Intrepid: 358 cid Dodge V-8; 775bhp

2005 Dodge Charger: 358 cid Dodge V-8; 800bhp

Pace Vehicles

1972 Hurst Oldsmobile Cutlass: 455cid V-8; 300bhp

2003 ‘Chebbie SSR Pacetruck: 5.3 liter V-8; 300bhp

Engines

Mercedes Benz 500I V-8

Ilmor Chevy 265A V-8

Ilmor-Chevy 265(?) V-8

Indy cars

1972 McLaren M16B

Turbocharged Drake-Offenhauser Inline 4; 850bhp @ 9,000RPM

1977 Penske PC-5

2.65 liter Turbocharged Cosworth DFX V-8; 800bhp @ 9,000RPM

1979 Penske PC-6

2.65 liter Turbocharged Cosworth DFX V-8; 800bhp @ 9,000RPM

1981 Penske PC-9B

2.65 liter Turbocharged Cosworth DFX V-8; 600bhp @ 9,800RPM

1984 March 84C

2.65 liter Turbocharged Cosworth DFX V-8; 700bhp @ 10,000RPM

1985 Penske March 85C

2.65 liter Turbocharged Cosworth DFX V-8; 700bhp @ 10,000RPM

1987 Penske March 86C

2.65 liter Turbocharged Cosworth DFX V-8; 700bhp @ 10,000RPM

1988 Penske PC-17

2.65 liter Turbocharged Ilmor-Chevy V-8; 720bhp @ 11,000RPM

1991 Penske PC-20

2.65 liter Turbocharged Ilmor-Chevy V-8; 720bhp @ 11,000RPM

1993 Penske PC-22

2.65 liter Turbocharged Ilmor-Chevy V-8; 720bhp @ 11,000RPM

2001 Dallara IR1

3.5 liter Ilmor Oldsmobile Aurora Indy V-8; 675bhp @ 10,700RPM

2002 Dallara IR2

3.5 liter Ilmor Chevy Indy V-8; 675bhp @ 10,700RPM

2003 G-Force GF3

3.5 liter Toyota Indy V-8; 675bhp @ 10,300RPM

Formula 1

1974 Penske PC-1: 3.0 liter Cosworth- Ford V-8; 450bhp @ 10,000RPM

Vintage racing Films now showing in the Flagroom...

2012-04-25T08:26:00.000-07:00

This racing story comes from Indianapolis courtesy of ‘Offical No Fenders Photographer ‘CARPETS...

Last Thursday evening I went by the Flag Room, a well known watering hole & eatery nearby the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - where Barb Hellyer has started showing old racing movies in there on Thursday nights.

Barb grew up with racing in Pennsylvania. She worked for A.J. Foyt, USAC, NHRA, Indianapolis Raceway Park, and who knows how many other places. Last Thursday night the movies featured Sprint cars and tracks around the country. Some went back as far as 1929 but most were 1960's-70's.

One of the tracks was Jungle Park here in Indiana; where two of the turns were dirt with the other two being asphalt. Drivers such as “Super Tex,” (Foyt) Mario, (Andretti) ‘Gordie, ( Gordon Johncock) “Lone Star JR,” (Johnny Rutherford) Lee Kunzman, Pancho Carter and Eddie Sach's were some of the starting field there... Can you imagine today's IndyCar drivers doing that?

Seated at the table with us was Johnny Parsons, Jr. and it was pretty cool listening to him and Barb tell about the different tracks. I’ll be going back this Thursday evening.

So if you’re looking for something to do in Speedway, Indiana this coming Thursday night, then you may want to check out this event - as I’m assuming it starts sometime around 7PM Eastern? *Although I don’t know the specifics...)