Sunday, July 31, 2011
RIP Elliot Handler, Mattel Founder and Hot Wheels Inventor
Elliot Handler, the father of Hot Wheels, passed away on July 21st, 2011. He was 95. Elliot and business partner Harold “Matt” Matson founded Mattel (a combination of both of their names), where Elliot’s wife created the Barbie Doll in 1959. Seeking to create a popular toy for boys, Elliot decided to compete with Matchbox [...]
V8 Supercars Series Championship at COTA
Wow, 2 days in a row of blockbuster announcements for the Circuit of The Americas (COTA).� This is gaining some great momentum! V8 Supercars Agrees to Five-Year Deal With Austin’s Circuit of The Americas(TM) to Host Championship; SPEED? to Broadcast Races Australia?s Most Popular Motorsports Series Makes Its First U.S. Home in Austin, Texas AUSTIN, [...]
Video: Important race awaits drivers�in Indy
Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon discuss the critical role the Brickyard race plays in the season and talk about how special it is to win there.�(NBC Sports) View full post on NBCSports.com: NASCAR / Motors addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-racing%2Fvideo-important-race-awaits-drivers%25c2%25a0in-indy'; addthis_title = 'Video%3A+Important+race+awaits+drivers%C2%A0in+Indy'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: Awaits, drivers�in, Important, indy, race, [...]
NASCAR Takes Wins Away?!
Last weekend at New Hampshire was a big weekend for Ryan Newman. Not only did he pick up his first Cup Series win of the season, but he also took down his third straight Whelen Modified win at the track. Newman won in a car owned and prepared by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing crew chief Kevin [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
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Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Daniel Oliveira bounced back to complete Rally Finland
The BWRT got through the last day of the Nordic round without difficulties. After yesterday?s incident, Daniel Oliveira and Carlos Magalhaes enjoyed a trouble-free run during the last day of action to finally complete Rally Finland, eighth round of the FIA World Rally Championship. It was the first time for the BWRT crew members competing [...]
Saturday, July 30, 2011
You can make THAT handle like a sports car?
After his quick visit to the Hot Rod Magazine Live radio show last week I found I knew very little about Jeff Schwartz and how vast his road racing background really was. Now after a quick trip through the Schwartz performance library I figured I’d share what I thought was the most interesting part of [...]
NASCAR Remains a Conundrum for Fans Who Love Racing Technology
By John Oreovicz
For many racing fans who appreciate technology and innovation, NASCAR remains an infuriating conundrum.
On the one hand, American stock car racing persists with old-school solutions like steel tube frames instead of carbon composite safety cells; solid rear axles instead of independent suspension; and of course, carburetors as opposed to fuel injection.
In the last 15 years, many NASCAR teams have embraced a level of engineering and development that arguably rivals Formula 1. Yet the rules dictate that all the computer number crunching in the world must still be applied to what other forms of racing consider ancient technology.
Now, some sixty years after fuel injection was put into widespread use in Indy car and F1 racing, NASCAR is finally embracing fuel injection for 2012 and beyond. Sprint Cup Series cars will utilize standardized Electronic Control Units (ECUs) produced by England?s McLaren Electronic Systems, in conjunction with Texas-based Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. Fuel injectors and other hardware will be supplied by Bosch.
?For decades, most of the parts and equipment on NASCAR race cars have been highly customized for racing, but at the same time relevant in standard automobiles,? stated a NASCAR press release. ?This move to fuel injection brings back an important synergy between these two vehicle types.?
NASCAR fans are unlikely to notice anything different about the way stock cars look or perform. Drivers are likely to observe improved drivability, or throttle response, and the cars will probably achieve slightly better fuel mileage.
?NASCAR race cars go through many different operating conditions at every race, and fuel injectors give the engine builders greater flexibility in setting up their engines for each track,? remarked Wolfgang Hustedt, Motorsports Manager for Bosch in North America.
?This change will give NASCAR drivers greater control over their vehicle performance, as well as control of fuel consumption.?
Five fuel injected cars, including representation from all four manufacturers competing in the Sprint Cup Series (Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota), recently participated in a NASCAR open test at Kentucky Speedway. Although the injected cars lapped 1-2 mph slower than their carbureted counterparts, no major problems were reported.
?Most of the issues that I think we we?re going to have we?ve sorted through either on the dyno, or in private testing, and we were able to make way so far,? observed Toyota Racing Development President Lee White. ?It?s been a matter of logging laps and some minor changes to adjust the drivability issues around the garage area more than anything. There?s nothing that we?ve seen in terms of performance on the racetrack that worries us at all
?We?re really just logging laps,? White added. ?We?re in an environment here we can?t duplicate on the dyno - which is heat and vibration associated with coming into the garage area, idling around, parking, shutting it down, letting it heat soak, firing it back up, and all the things that are really impossible to do on a dyno. Frankly, I think we?re still trying to catch up for the carburetors. The carburetors are so highly evolved and do certain things so well, so at this point I think we?re still a few horsepower behind where the carburetors are.?
Andrew Randolph, Engine Technical Director for ECR Engines, which supplies powerplants for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Richard Childress Racing, addressed concerns about additional costs the switch to fuel injection might bring.
?We are actually quite happy with the system because it has considerable room for invention or for science,? Randolph stated. ?Certainly there is room for people to do it better than other people. You can look at costs in two ways. You can look at the dollars that it costs to implement the technology. But then you also have to look at the benefits that you derive from it and make a value judgment on whether it is a good thing or a bad thing to do.
?We are certainly in full support of it being a good thing,? he noted. ?It adds technical relevance to these engines compared to what is in production on the street now. Every small block engine that is on the street is fuel injected and these are going to be fuel injected small blocks as well.?
?We knew there would be some added cost to this,? added NASCAR Vice-President of Competition Robin Pemberton. ?Anytime you have a rule change, there are added upfront costs. But it?s something we need to do for our sport, for our competition, and to be relevant out there. We knew this moving forward when we decided to take this on. Everybody knew the challenges. That?s why the timeline (more than two years) was as long as it has been.?
A Roush-Fenway Racing Ford driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Greg Biffle turned the fastest lap of the Kentucky test.
?We had a test plan coming in, and we were able to move through the test plan without any issues,? said Ford Racing engineer Dave Simon. ?We did a lot of testing on the dyno so we pretty much knew what to expect. It?s been a positive day and there haven't been any unexpected issues due to fuel injection.
?I think from a racing standpoint the competition is going to be the same,? he continued. ?There will be big changes for us on how we tune at the track and how you prepare for each race. There are more knobs you have to turn and more work you have to do as far as calibration is concerned. Behind the scenes, it?s big. But on the track, you really won't notice a difference.?
The big question for NASCAR is: After not embracing fuel injection technology for more than half a century, why now?
?This is our first year in competition that we?ve had all four manufacturers competing with the engine architecture that was prescribed five years ago,? responded NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition director John Darby. ?You build the foundation of the house first, right?
?Now we?ve finally gotten to the point where the engine architecture is where we want it. It?s much easier to advance to the next level of engine now.?
- John Oreovicz is a veteran writer and historian who writes for a variety of motorsport publications.
For many racing fans who appreciate technology and innovation, NASCAR remains an infuriating conundrum.
On the one hand, American stock car racing persists with old-school solutions like steel tube frames instead of carbon composite safety cells; solid rear axles instead of independent suspension; and of course, carburetors as opposed to fuel injection.
In the last 15 years, many NASCAR teams have embraced a level of engineering and development that arguably rivals Formula 1. Yet the rules dictate that all the computer number crunching in the world must still be applied to what other forms of racing consider ancient technology.
Now, some sixty years after fuel injection was put into widespread use in Indy car and F1 racing, NASCAR is finally embracing fuel injection for 2012 and beyond. Sprint Cup Series cars will utilize standardized Electronic Control Units (ECUs) produced by England?s McLaren Electronic Systems, in conjunction with Texas-based Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. Fuel injectors and other hardware will be supplied by Bosch.
?For decades, most of the parts and equipment on NASCAR race cars have been highly customized for racing, but at the same time relevant in standard automobiles,? stated a NASCAR press release. ?This move to fuel injection brings back an important synergy between these two vehicle types.?
NASCAR fans are unlikely to notice anything different about the way stock cars look or perform. Drivers are likely to observe improved drivability, or throttle response, and the cars will probably achieve slightly better fuel mileage.
?NASCAR race cars go through many different operating conditions at every race, and fuel injectors give the engine builders greater flexibility in setting up their engines for each track,? remarked Wolfgang Hustedt, Motorsports Manager for Bosch in North America.
?This change will give NASCAR drivers greater control over their vehicle performance, as well as control of fuel consumption.?
Five fuel injected cars, including representation from all four manufacturers competing in the Sprint Cup Series (Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota), recently participated in a NASCAR open test at Kentucky Speedway. Although the injected cars lapped 1-2 mph slower than their carbureted counterparts, no major problems were reported.
?Most of the issues that I think we we?re going to have we?ve sorted through either on the dyno, or in private testing, and we were able to make way so far,? observed Toyota Racing Development President Lee White. ?It?s been a matter of logging laps and some minor changes to adjust the drivability issues around the garage area more than anything. There?s nothing that we?ve seen in terms of performance on the racetrack that worries us at all
?We?re really just logging laps,? White added. ?We?re in an environment here we can?t duplicate on the dyno - which is heat and vibration associated with coming into the garage area, idling around, parking, shutting it down, letting it heat soak, firing it back up, and all the things that are really impossible to do on a dyno. Frankly, I think we?re still trying to catch up for the carburetors. The carburetors are so highly evolved and do certain things so well, so at this point I think we?re still a few horsepower behind where the carburetors are.?
Andrew Randolph, Engine Technical Director for ECR Engines, which supplies powerplants for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Richard Childress Racing, addressed concerns about additional costs the switch to fuel injection might bring.
?We are actually quite happy with the system because it has considerable room for invention or for science,? Randolph stated. ?Certainly there is room for people to do it better than other people. You can look at costs in two ways. You can look at the dollars that it costs to implement the technology. But then you also have to look at the benefits that you derive from it and make a value judgment on whether it is a good thing or a bad thing to do.
?We are certainly in full support of it being a good thing,? he noted. ?It adds technical relevance to these engines compared to what is in production on the street now. Every small block engine that is on the street is fuel injected and these are going to be fuel injected small blocks as well.?
?We knew there would be some added cost to this,? added NASCAR Vice-President of Competition Robin Pemberton. ?Anytime you have a rule change, there are added upfront costs. But it?s something we need to do for our sport, for our competition, and to be relevant out there. We knew this moving forward when we decided to take this on. Everybody knew the challenges. That?s why the timeline (more than two years) was as long as it has been.?
A Roush-Fenway Racing Ford driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Greg Biffle turned the fastest lap of the Kentucky test.
?We had a test plan coming in, and we were able to move through the test plan without any issues,? said Ford Racing engineer Dave Simon. ?We did a lot of testing on the dyno so we pretty much knew what to expect. It?s been a positive day and there haven't been any unexpected issues due to fuel injection.
?I think from a racing standpoint the competition is going to be the same,? he continued. ?There will be big changes for us on how we tune at the track and how you prepare for each race. There are more knobs you have to turn and more work you have to do as far as calibration is concerned. Behind the scenes, it?s big. But on the track, you really won't notice a difference.?
The big question for NASCAR is: After not embracing fuel injection technology for more than half a century, why now?
?This is our first year in competition that we?ve had all four manufacturers competing with the engine architecture that was prescribed five years ago,? responded NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition director John Darby. ?You build the foundation of the house first, right?
?Now we?ve finally gotten to the point where the engine architecture is where we want it. It?s much easier to advance to the next level of engine now.?
- John Oreovicz is a veteran writer and historian who writes for a variety of motorsport publications.
Friday, July 29, 2011
No. 00 Aaron?s Dream Machine ? Indy Preview
Nathan Kennedy, interior specialist for the 00, talks about the changes NASCAR made to the cooling system for the car’s interior. Travis Stock, mechanic for the 00, talks about growing up in the Indianapolis area and what he does when he goes back to Indy. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-racing%2Fno-00-aarons-dream-machine-indy-preview'; addthis_title = 'No.+00+Aaron%26%238217%3Bs+Dream+Machine+%26%238211%3B+Indy+Preview'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati [...]
Hobart Brothers Welding Tips Poster
Hobart Brothers offers the cure to common stick welding troubles. The poster illustrates common weld defects, their causes and solutions and is available free of charge in Spanish and English.
Goings on at Amy?s Bad Groove
Here are a couple of excerpts from Amy’s Bad Groove this week: In I Have Stupid (NASCAR) Questions, I laments over the fact that she has questions about NASCAR she is afraid to ask…for fear of looking stupid: Anyway I have been a NASCAR fan for years (as in since childhood)?and I have a couple [...]
You Too Can Be Fast And Fabulous!
Hey race fans- just wanted to let you know that you can win a $25.00 BP gas card from TheFastandTheFabulous.com. Just fill out the form located here. And while you are there poke around- it’s a great racing blog!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Vote Early and Vote Often, eBay Motors? People?s Pick is Up and Running
eBay is giving its users the chance to vote on their favorite muscle cars, engines, speed parts and movie/TV car as a part of their People’s Pics 2011 survey. Every ballot you submit will enter you in a drawing to win a VIP trip to SEMA and $10,000. Categories include: American Muscle Car, Cars in [...]
Welcome Back Allen Bestwick
*For whatever reason the comment section accidentally got closed on this post. �It’s back open now and ready for your comments. �We apologize for the error! We don’t do a lot of posts about the TV coverage around here, because we don’t see much of it live and there are some great sites out there [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
More on the Barry Grant Bankruptcy Saga
We reported that BG Fuel Systems and Demon Carburetors were poised for a comeback in a blog earlier this week. The fact that the company was bought by High Performance Industries, the same company that owns Holley, Demon’s biggest competitor, has created a bit of a stir in the automotive aftermarket. A lot of rumors [...]
McLaren?s Hamilton wins German GP
Lewis Hamilton of McLaren won a hard-fought German Grand Prix on Sunday, fending off challenges from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber of Red Bull for his second victory of the season. View full post on NBCSports.com: NASCAR / Motors addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-racing%2Fmclarens-hamilton-wins-german-gp'; addthis_title = 'McLaren%26%238217%3Bs+Hamilton+wins+German+GP'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: German, Hamilton, McLaren's, wins
Ask The Insiders Wednesday #136
It’s Indy week! �The Cup cars are headed to the big track for the Brickyard 400 and the Nationwide and Truck Series take to LORP for their final races. �And since it’s Wednesday, we’ve got the 136th version of ATIW. �If you don?t know what this post is,�we�answer any and all reader questions every Wednesday, [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
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Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Enjuku Pro-AM driver finishes 3rd @ FD Palm Beach, 1st in points!
Our driver Pat Goodin finished 3rd place this past weekend at FD Palm Beach.
He is now 1st in points for the Street Wise Drift Series.
Ryan Kaufman took 2nd, and Doug Van Den Brink took 1st.
Our photographer Kayla Montgomery was there to catch all the action.
Congrats to all the pro-am drivers, and keep up the
He is now 1st in points for the Street Wise Drift Series.
Ryan Kaufman took 2nd, and Doug Van Den Brink took 1st.
Our photographer Kayla Montgomery was there to catch all the action.
Congrats to all the pro-am drivers, and keep up the
Coracle Stages 2011 lands Mawdsley in A&E
The Activ8 Motorsport team decided to compete on last weekends Coracle Stages rally just ten days before the event, as an addition to the season's calendar. It was only arranged after a disappointing non-finish on The Nicky Grist Quinton Stages two weeks prior. Since the Quinton was spoilt by a power steering hose failure it [...]
Learn These Benefits of Leasing Car
The auto consumers are now days going for more and more towards leasing. It actually is becoming very popular and common among the buyers. It is a very feasible financing option and it also allows you to choose your life style and preference. The leading auto makers are giving now days every low interest rate [...]
Video: Racing to help others
Video: Jeff Gordon teams with the Clinton Global Initiative to help break the cycle of displacement and dysfunction in the Congo by helping to create sustainable communities.�(TODAY) View full post on NBCSports.com: NASCAR / Motors addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-racing%2Fvideo-racing-to-help-others'; addthis_title = 'Video%3A+Racing+to+help+others'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: help, others, racing, video
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
New Hampshire Weekend Review
There is never any way, in the US at least, Formula One is going to steal NASCAR’s thunder. The racing world was amazed as 21 year old Sebastion Vettel became the youngest driver ever to win a points Grand Prix race in the history of that series. He did it at Monza in Italy, driving [...]
Dick Mack?s Satisfaction Chevelle versus Bob DuBrock?s Mustang
Dick Mack ran a full bodied Chevelle funny car with a shortened wheelbase approaching that of a fuel altered. The Satisfaction, running out of Ohio, garnered runner-up honors in the fuel category.
Does It Matter Who The Insiders Are?
Earlier this week we reported that International Trucks (Navistar) had signed on with Germain Racing for this weekend. The company has been with Randy Moss Motorsports since last year. Later in the day, Dave Moody and his “sources” “confirmed” what we had already reported – something he has done five times since last August. He [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
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Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Bernella Dodge Polara Funny Car: Della and Bernie Woods
Della Woods needs no introduction, as she established herself as a first-class funny car driver over the decades she competed. She got her start with the Bernella Polara funny car.
Monday, July 25, 2011
What?s so Special About 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500 has been replaced entirely with more enhanced features and functions in an effort to acquire the numero uno position among the several competitive heavy-duty trucks that are launched recently. There are about eleven unique types of designs each of which comes with a brand new, perfectly-boxed framework that?s more [...]
All systems still go for 2012 US GP at Austin
Last month, the Austin City Council officially endorsed the already-on-the-calendar United States Grand Prix and approved a commitment for up to $25m per year for 10 years.
This was a big, and hopefully last, major hurdle for the event, its promoters, the new Circuit of the America's track and their collective future. And I'm looking forward to it because Uncle Sam needs something good to happen regarding our deserved place on the international motorsports stage. An all new, state-of-the-art track facility successfully introduced to the world with an F1 race on June 17, 2012 could be it.
From 1961 through 1980, the US GP was held at Watkins Glen in upstate New York before moving to Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix and finally Indianapolis, where its last hurrah was in 2007 after eight unremarkable races at the Brickyard.
Formula 1 has never been all that popular here, always overshadowed by Champ Car/IndyCar and later NASCAR. But 'here' is very popular with both the automobile manufacturers and myriad global sponsors who are heavily invested in the world's biggest racing series.
Three years ago, when it was announced F1 was leaving Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Tevo Hellmund, the man behind the now-under-construction track along the SH130 corridor in southeast Austin, saw an opportunity, called Bernie Ecclestone and started a dialogue.
Ecclestone took the call because he was friends with Hellmund's father, who was also a race promoter, and has known Tevo since he was a very young boy.
And surprise, surprise. In March of 2010 the shocking news broke about a new US F1 race in Austin, Texas of all places, not in or around one of our populous coastal metropoli, starting in 2012.
Considering the time frame, economy and impossible dream logistics at the time of that announcement, it?s no wonder many pundits pooh-poohed the race's chances for ever being run. And after the USF1 team fiasco, who could blame them.
An F1 race? In Texas? In June?
But now, only 11 months before the inaugural United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, it appears those pundits and nattering nabobs of negativism were wrong as all systems appear go -- despite the last minute government funding hiccup.
That challenge was not a surprise. The subsidy agreement negotiated between Hellmund, partner Red McCombs, and the taxpayers created a firestorm of controversy in a state where education, health care and other services were being eliminated due to budget cuts.
So an opposition was organized, paperwork was filed, social media streams caught fire, hearings were held and a final vote passed five to two; which means as always, Bernie is going to get paid.
But nothing slowed down or stopped during the challenge process; there was no time. Construction of the 3.4 mile Tilke track (with a 130 ft. elevation change), plus the permanent buildings and landscaping and everything else continues on schedule.
As does the enhancement of the track's menu. Full Throttle Productions, Hellmund's promotions company, has also announced a 10-year contract to host MotoGP (including the standard support Moto2 and Moto3 races) plus the Australian V8 Supercar series, both beginning in 2013.
Per the standard entertainment model, the track will feature visitor attractions like driving or riding experiences, a kart track, welcome center and group facilities and a private motorsports club.
What Circuit of the Americas really needs though, and will eventually get, is more big races.
IndyCar is out as long as F1 is on the schedule and yes, SMI wants no competition for its NASCAR Cup, Nationwide or truck dates at Texas Motor Speedway. But the Rolex, ALMS and /or the new FIA World Endurance Championship series will undoubtedly race there eventually.
A fun suggestion seen on a discussion board: A NASCAR 'home track' invitational that would include NASCAR Canada, NASCAR Mexico and the K&N Pro Series entrants. I'm not sure about equipment equivalency but sure, I'd but a ticket to see that kind of race.
For now though, I'm just patiently waiting. From now until next summer I'm optimistic I'll be seeing occasional Circuit of the Americas progress updates and sponsorship announcements but I expect no warning or disaster notices.
I plan on reading about the track passing the various inspections and tests, seeing video features on the SPEED Report and Dave Despain's Wind Tunnel and then witnessing a great F1 race in Austin, Texas next June. In sweltering heat. With completely expected parking and traffic problems which will eventually be fixed.
And American's next F1 era will have begun.
In Austin, Texas of all places.
Read More of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
This was a big, and hopefully last, major hurdle for the event, its promoters, the new Circuit of the America's track and their collective future. And I'm looking forward to it because Uncle Sam needs something good to happen regarding our deserved place on the international motorsports stage. An all new, state-of-the-art track facility successfully introduced to the world with an F1 race on June 17, 2012 could be it.
From 1961 through 1980, the US GP was held at Watkins Glen in upstate New York before moving to Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix and finally Indianapolis, where its last hurrah was in 2007 after eight unremarkable races at the Brickyard.
Formula 1 has never been all that popular here, always overshadowed by Champ Car/IndyCar and later NASCAR. But 'here' is very popular with both the automobile manufacturers and myriad global sponsors who are heavily invested in the world's biggest racing series.
Three years ago, when it was announced F1 was leaving Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Tevo Hellmund, the man behind the now-under-construction track along the SH130 corridor in southeast Austin, saw an opportunity, called Bernie Ecclestone and started a dialogue.
Ecclestone took the call because he was friends with Hellmund's father, who was also a race promoter, and has known Tevo since he was a very young boy.
And surprise, surprise. In March of 2010 the shocking news broke about a new US F1 race in Austin, Texas of all places, not in or around one of our populous coastal metropoli, starting in 2012.
Considering the time frame, economy and impossible dream logistics at the time of that announcement, it?s no wonder many pundits pooh-poohed the race's chances for ever being run. And after the USF1 team fiasco, who could blame them.
An F1 race? In Texas? In June?
But now, only 11 months before the inaugural United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, it appears those pundits and nattering nabobs of negativism were wrong as all systems appear go -- despite the last minute government funding hiccup.
That challenge was not a surprise. The subsidy agreement negotiated between Hellmund, partner Red McCombs, and the taxpayers created a firestorm of controversy in a state where education, health care and other services were being eliminated due to budget cuts.
So an opposition was organized, paperwork was filed, social media streams caught fire, hearings were held and a final vote passed five to two; which means as always, Bernie is going to get paid.
But nothing slowed down or stopped during the challenge process; there was no time. Construction of the 3.4 mile Tilke track (with a 130 ft. elevation change), plus the permanent buildings and landscaping and everything else continues on schedule.
As does the enhancement of the track's menu. Full Throttle Productions, Hellmund's promotions company, has also announced a 10-year contract to host MotoGP (including the standard support Moto2 and Moto3 races) plus the Australian V8 Supercar series, both beginning in 2013.
Per the standard entertainment model, the track will feature visitor attractions like driving or riding experiences, a kart track, welcome center and group facilities and a private motorsports club.
What Circuit of the Americas really needs though, and will eventually get, is more big races.
IndyCar is out as long as F1 is on the schedule and yes, SMI wants no competition for its NASCAR Cup, Nationwide or truck dates at Texas Motor Speedway. But the Rolex, ALMS and /or the new FIA World Endurance Championship series will undoubtedly race there eventually.
A fun suggestion seen on a discussion board: A NASCAR 'home track' invitational that would include NASCAR Canada, NASCAR Mexico and the K&N Pro Series entrants. I'm not sure about equipment equivalency but sure, I'd but a ticket to see that kind of race.
For now though, I'm just patiently waiting. From now until next summer I'm optimistic I'll be seeing occasional Circuit of the Americas progress updates and sponsorship announcements but I expect no warning or disaster notices.
I plan on reading about the track passing the various inspections and tests, seeing video features on the SPEED Report and Dave Despain's Wind Tunnel and then witnessing a great F1 race in Austin, Texas next June. In sweltering heat. With completely expected parking and traffic problems which will eventually be fixed.
And American's next F1 era will have begun.
In Austin, Texas of all places.
Read More of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
Can't Compare Johnson's Three to Cale Yarborough's Three
So Jimmy Johnson won his third championship in a row yesterday. Good for him. But it can't be considered the same as when Yarborough did it in the '70s. Keep with me after the jump for more...
The Performance Analysis Of 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500
The Silverado 1500 provides an array of engines, starting from the basic model-V6 to the top notch version, the 6.2-liter V8. A large percentage of the critics and testers target the V8 engine group as they are very happy with it. The fundamental and basic engine of Silverado 1500 is the V6 with a 4.3-liter [...]
Sunday, July 24, 2011
A General Review Of The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado
The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is rated as the 2nd most popular among 7 regular-sized passenger trucks and this is inferred from research and by evaluating 66 article sources submitted by critics, by conducting test drives of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and analyzing thoroughly some information and facts that are from credible and secure resources. [...]
The Race To The Chase Is On
Sunday’s race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, dominated by fuel mileage, mistakes, and both Stewart Haas cars continued what has been a season of parity and added another contender to the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Ryan Newman’s victory made him the 13th different winner after 19 races this season and gave him a [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
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Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
David?s Blog: Headed West for Road Course Racing
David Ragan and the UPS team head out to Infineon Raceway for this weekend's road course race
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Learn The Positives And The Downsides Of ElmScan 5
ELM 327, model of ElmScan 5 scanning tool is the ‘best selling’ tool. It is perfect according to individual?s budget and requirements. It allows a person to do diagnostics regarding their vehicle at home. It turns your computer into a stylish diagnostic system. This tool is extremely easy to install and run and will provide [...]
This Day in History, 1972: Corvair Vindication Seven Years Too Late
On June 20th, 1975, the National Highway Traffic Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation published a study that rebuffed that the claims leveled against the ’60-’63 Chevrolet Corvair by Ralph Nader in his 1965 book Unsafe at Any Speed. The study concluded that the first-generation Corvair was at no more risk of rollover than [...]
Friday, July 22, 2011
Austin Formula 1 COTA Track Drive-Thru Tour
This is a pretty decent (for non-insiders) Formula 1 news review from�Austin, Texas.� Here is a local television’s take (“KXAN Exclusive First Look!”) of what is going on with Circuit of The Americas.� This was released earlier this evening.� Click the video screenshot below to click through to the news story! This video helps the [...]
MAUGER BACK TO THE FRONT!?
Simon Mauger returns to the scene of his inaugural REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship event win on 31st July when he starts the Tyneside Stages with No.1 on the doors of his Ford Escort MkII. The sixth round of the series takes contenders to the Otterburn Military Ranges for the first of two visits and [...]
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Ron Pellegrini?s Superbird Buick Funny Car
There were only a handful of Buick funny cars in the 1960s, and Ron Pellegrini raced two of them. The first was a fiberglass 1967 Gran Sport known as SuperBird.
Fastlane Project: LS9 Stingray
Fastlane, in Houston, Texas, is known for building wicked-fast late model Camaros, Challengers, Mustangs, Vipers, and trucks as well as for their turbos, like the one we used on this 600hp 5.3L. They also know their way around a C3 Corvette, as evidenced by their latest build, a ’71 ZR1 dubbed Golden Rod. The ‘Vette [...]
F1 Euro GP Race Viewing Party at Cool River
Sunday, June 26th, 2011 was the European Grand Prix at Valencia, Spain.� My wife & I attended an F1WatchParty.com watching party to experience that race.� This event took place in northwest Austin, Texas at the exclusive Cool River Cafe restaurant/bar. These events are hosted By Zinger Hardware in association with John Eagle European and Ferrari [...]
Busch can't do no wrong
Busch again was in the right place at the right time to claim victory in the pepsi 400
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Disaster for van Klink at Whangarei
Kaiapoi?s Marcus van Klink has fallen out of contention for the New Zealand Rally Championship Classic challenge when a driveline failure saw him forced out of the lead at round four, Rally Whangarei, over the weekend. A broken axle at the previous round meant van Klink and co-driver Dave Neill were looking for victories on [...]
David Talks about Honoring Ned Jarrett in Indy
David Ragan talks about honoring Ned Jarrett at the Brickyard
Ask The Insiders Wednesday #135
It’s an off week for the Cup Series, but never fear, there is still plenty of NASCAR action on tap for the weekend. �The Trucks and Nationwide cars are off to tackle the concrete of Nashville Superspeedway on Friday and Saturday night. �While you work through another week, here’s another round of reader questions and [...]TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
20 Years Ago in Hot Rod, LT1 Sneak Peek
Remember when the LT1 seemed like a marvel of modern technology? Twenty years ago the automotive media was excited at the prospect of 300hp in a mainstream Corvette while today the LT1 is like a middle child stuck between the Gen I small-block that’s cheap to build and the Gen III/IV LS-series that is capable [...]
Learn These Benefits of Leasing Car
The auto consumers are now days going for more and more towards leasing. It actually is becoming very popular and common among the buyers. It is a very feasible financing option and it also allows you to choose your life style and preference. The leading auto makers are giving now days every low interest rate [...]
Video: Comp Cams Nashville Power Tour Coverage
Comp Cams was one of the biggest participants at this year’s Power Tour, and the Nashville stop held one of the most entertaining events of the tour, the Engine Builder Duel. Comp Cams created their own video of the Nashville stop, including fierce competition in the bigwheel races and squealing tires at the Royal Purple [...]
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sports Car Racing in America is at a Crossroads. The Directions are in French.
A few months ago the F�d�ration Internationale de l?Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Club de l?Ouest (ACO) announced a partnership that would turn the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup sports car racing series into the FIA World Endurance Championship, beginning in 2012.
This is a definite upgrade.
The FIA runs Formula 1, the World Rally Championship, the World Touring Car Championship and many other series. It has decades upon decades of history and milestones, experience, partnerships and power.
Having the FIA take over the series that shares specs, sexy prototypes and two races a year with the nine-race American Le Mans Series (ALMS) provides huge opportunity. It's the best (and only) way "Le Mans" -style sports car racing can grow to become an F1-modeled, international multi-million dollar motorsports entertainment division.
But wait. On this continent NASCAR is the king in the motorsports entertainment industry. Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series racing sells more tickets, attracts more media coverage and launders more manufacturer and sponsorship dollars than every other series in America combined.
And wouldn't you know it. NASCAR's even got a road racing division, the Grand-Am series, featuring Daytona Prototypes (a certain, famous Florida family's take on what a sports car racing prototype should be) and full race GTs plus classes for modified production cars.
Grand Am was started in 2000, either as a really cool, nepotistic 35th birthday present for fledgling racer J.C. France, son of NASCAR's Jim France, or as a serious business venture to use the equity and lessons learned from NASCAR to creating a low-tech "rubbin's racing" road racing series.
Or perhaps it was a return volley after the ALMS was formed in 1999 by Georgia businessman Don Panoz to bring the ACO -sanctioned, hi-tech European Le Mans cars and stars here to America, after IMSA and then the Professional Sports Car Racing Series went away.
That part of history doesn't matter now. It's been over 10 years and yes, we have two different sports car series that are completely incompatible. Both are trying to appeal to the same audience but with different cars, engines, rules and especially philosophies about the racing itself.
Sound familiar? It should. "The Split" just about killed open wheel racing in America.
Sports car racing as an asset, i.e. two different series offering marketable motorsports entertainment, is a distant third behind NASCAR and IndyCar here in the good old U.S. of A. NASCAR has a monopoly and a proven, self sustaining ladder system including local series and ARCA. IndyCar is poised to thrive again after the key competition for its necessary resources -- a competitive series -- finally went the way of all things.
Sports car racing though, as long as its split into two different series, has those same problems open wheel did after it went through that expensive, bad-for-the-kids nasty divorce.
Fact: While two competitive series can somewhat share an audience or a fan base, because the racing discipline is the similar, its much harder to share manufacturer support, sponsorship and available media exposure.
As a matter of fact, in this still lousy economy, it's almost impossible.
With the FIA's takeover of Le Mans sports car endurance racing the ALMS can definitely benefit -- if it can survive long enough. It will be able to market its racing as a laboratory for innovation and the development of new technologies on a world stage; with advances in propulsion, safety, energy storage and more the byproduct of competition at the highest level. And don't forget the allure, the luxury, the hospitality excesses attached to a real, FIA world championship series featuring brands like Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari and Porsche.
Grand Am is ready though. For 2012 the featured Daytona Prototypes are being redesigned to allow for more styling cues; to allow manufacturers to make them look more closely related to their street production vehicles --like Fords, Chevys, BMWs and Porches.
Hot damn.
Grand Am wants their road racing series to remain exactly as it was conceived; with bang- and almost bulletproof cars powered by reliable, proven engines and drivetrains and rules that pretty much take creativity and innovation completely out of the equation.
They believe the drivers are the stars and the cars are just necessary equipment to generate support and revenue from manufacturers. And to keep the manufacturers happy and interested, Grand Am is attempting to make the race cars look more like production vehicles.
Best of luck with that one. No one, absolutely no one, thinks trying to make a Ford powered Daytona Prototype feature 'the look and feel' of a Mustang is going to put one more butt in the grandstands.
So, for your sports car racing in America entertainment, and interest, I see three different scenarios for what lies ahead:
The first is the most likely, the Status Quo. Grand Am will continue on with a 12 or so race schedule, same with the ALMS, and the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans events will be the only ones that anyone really pays attention to. Both series will try to soldier on with a handful of prototypes at other events and American sports car racing will fall further and further behind NASCAR, IndyCar and even NHRA drag racing.
The second scenario is bye-bye to the ALMS completely and everyone surrenders to the power of NASCAR. The two FIA WEC events in North America become as valued and rare as the F1 races in Canada and Austin, while the Grand Am Rolex series slugs along, either racing alone or with NASCAR or IndyCar at select venues.
Finally, and filed under the When Pigs Fly category, there's the shiny object merger scenario, where the new Grand American Le Mans Series abandons the Daytona Prototypes and runs a 16-or-so North American series featuring FIA WEC-spec rules and classes. The Rolex 24, Sebring and Petit Le Mans would also be part of the new, expanded FIA WEC schedule which could also include events in Canada and Mexico.
Of course, it?s all wishful thinking. But why not?
A merger eliminates the inefficiencies of a shared fan base and compromised TV, manufacturer and sponsorship participation. One American series using FIA rules and regs makes all sports car racing 'apples to apples' and it also makes it a lot easier for carmakers to commit due to economy of scale.
But that's just my take. What's yours?
Read more of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
This is a definite upgrade.
The FIA runs Formula 1, the World Rally Championship, the World Touring Car Championship and many other series. It has decades upon decades of history and milestones, experience, partnerships and power.
Having the FIA take over the series that shares specs, sexy prototypes and two races a year with the nine-race American Le Mans Series (ALMS) provides huge opportunity. It's the best (and only) way "Le Mans" -style sports car racing can grow to become an F1-modeled, international multi-million dollar motorsports entertainment division.
But wait. On this continent NASCAR is the king in the motorsports entertainment industry. Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series racing sells more tickets, attracts more media coverage and launders more manufacturer and sponsorship dollars than every other series in America combined.
And wouldn't you know it. NASCAR's even got a road racing division, the Grand-Am series, featuring Daytona Prototypes (a certain, famous Florida family's take on what a sports car racing prototype should be) and full race GTs plus classes for modified production cars.
Grand Am was started in 2000, either as a really cool, nepotistic 35th birthday present for fledgling racer J.C. France, son of NASCAR's Jim France, or as a serious business venture to use the equity and lessons learned from NASCAR to creating a low-tech "rubbin's racing" road racing series.
Or perhaps it was a return volley after the ALMS was formed in 1999 by Georgia businessman Don Panoz to bring the ACO -sanctioned, hi-tech European Le Mans cars and stars here to America, after IMSA and then the Professional Sports Car Racing Series went away.
That part of history doesn't matter now. It's been over 10 years and yes, we have two different sports car series that are completely incompatible. Both are trying to appeal to the same audience but with different cars, engines, rules and especially philosophies about the racing itself.
Sound familiar? It should. "The Split" just about killed open wheel racing in America.
Sports car racing as an asset, i.e. two different series offering marketable motorsports entertainment, is a distant third behind NASCAR and IndyCar here in the good old U.S. of A. NASCAR has a monopoly and a proven, self sustaining ladder system including local series and ARCA. IndyCar is poised to thrive again after the key competition for its necessary resources -- a competitive series -- finally went the way of all things.
Sports car racing though, as long as its split into two different series, has those same problems open wheel did after it went through that expensive, bad-for-the-kids nasty divorce.
Fact: While two competitive series can somewhat share an audience or a fan base, because the racing discipline is the similar, its much harder to share manufacturer support, sponsorship and available media exposure.
As a matter of fact, in this still lousy economy, it's almost impossible.
With the FIA's takeover of Le Mans sports car endurance racing the ALMS can definitely benefit -- if it can survive long enough. It will be able to market its racing as a laboratory for innovation and the development of new technologies on a world stage; with advances in propulsion, safety, energy storage and more the byproduct of competition at the highest level. And don't forget the allure, the luxury, the hospitality excesses attached to a real, FIA world championship series featuring brands like Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari and Porsche.
Grand Am is ready though. For 2012 the featured Daytona Prototypes are being redesigned to allow for more styling cues; to allow manufacturers to make them look more closely related to their street production vehicles --like Fords, Chevys, BMWs and Porches.
Hot damn.
Grand Am wants their road racing series to remain exactly as it was conceived; with bang- and almost bulletproof cars powered by reliable, proven engines and drivetrains and rules that pretty much take creativity and innovation completely out of the equation.
They believe the drivers are the stars and the cars are just necessary equipment to generate support and revenue from manufacturers. And to keep the manufacturers happy and interested, Grand Am is attempting to make the race cars look more like production vehicles.
Best of luck with that one. No one, absolutely no one, thinks trying to make a Ford powered Daytona Prototype feature 'the look and feel' of a Mustang is going to put one more butt in the grandstands.
So, for your sports car racing in America entertainment, and interest, I see three different scenarios for what lies ahead:
The first is the most likely, the Status Quo. Grand Am will continue on with a 12 or so race schedule, same with the ALMS, and the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans events will be the only ones that anyone really pays attention to. Both series will try to soldier on with a handful of prototypes at other events and American sports car racing will fall further and further behind NASCAR, IndyCar and even NHRA drag racing.
The second scenario is bye-bye to the ALMS completely and everyone surrenders to the power of NASCAR. The two FIA WEC events in North America become as valued and rare as the F1 races in Canada and Austin, while the Grand Am Rolex series slugs along, either racing alone or with NASCAR or IndyCar at select venues.
Finally, and filed under the When Pigs Fly category, there's the shiny object merger scenario, where the new Grand American Le Mans Series abandons the Daytona Prototypes and runs a 16-or-so North American series featuring FIA WEC-spec rules and classes. The Rolex 24, Sebring and Petit Le Mans would also be part of the new, expanded FIA WEC schedule which could also include events in Canada and Mexico.
Of course, it?s all wishful thinking. But why not?
A merger eliminates the inefficiencies of a shared fan base and compromised TV, manufacturer and sponsorship participation. One American series using FIA rules and regs makes all sports car racing 'apples to apples' and it also makes it a lot easier for carmakers to commit due to economy of scale.
But that's just my take. What's yours?
Read more of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
Tuthill Porsche legends finish third and fourth on Midnight Sun Rally
The two former World Rally Champions entered by Tuthill Porsche on the Midnight Sun Rally in Sweden have finished third and fourth, with 1979 champion Bjorn Waldegard leading home 1984 champion Stig Blomqvist. Both drivers were at the wheel of identical 3.0-litre Porsche 911s on home territory, similar to the cars used on the Tuthill [...]
Monday, July 18, 2011
Learn The Positives And The Downsides Of ElmScan 5
ELM 327, model of ElmScan 5 scanning tool is the ‘best selling’ tool. It is perfect according to individual?s budget and requirements. It allows a person to do diagnostics regarding their vehicle at home. It turns your computer into a stylish diagnostic system. This tool is extremely easy to install and run and will provide [...]
Newman edges Stewart to win
Ryan Newman has held off his boss and teammate Tony Stewart to win his first race of the season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. View full post on NBCSports.com: NASCAR / Motors addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-racing%2Fnewman-edges-stewart-to-win'; addthis_title = 'Newman+edges+Stewart+to+win'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: edges, newman, stewart
Larry Arnold and the Penetration Dodge Funny Car
Before Larry Arnold established himself as a top funny car driver, he chased the UDRA circuit with his radical Penetration Dodge Charger.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
DELTA WING IS COMING TO LIFE
By John Oreovicz
Ben Bowlby?s DeltaWing concept car created a lot of controversy and conversation when it was pitched as a potential ?Indy car of tomorrow? in early 2010.
Now, with the help of Dan Gurney?s All American Racers and defending American Le Mans Series champions Highcroft Racing, a revised version of the DeltaWing is becoming a reality. Bowlby?s design has already been accepted as a special category ?56th entry? for the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.
The DeltaWing concept is polarizing, to say the least. In many respects, the car resembles a land speed record machine, with its narrow front wheels tightly tucked in to a slender, rocket-like fuselage that spreads to accommodate a wide rear track with semi-enclosed rear wheels. Viewed from above, the car resembles a triangle - hence the name DeltaWing.
To comply with Automobile Club L?Ouest rules, the cockpit of the DeltaWing that will compete at Le Mans next year has been expanded to include dual openings. But for the most part, the illustration released Thursday is faithful to the original single-seat concept intended for Indy car racing that debuted at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show.
That car sparked a huge debate among open-wheel fans. Once famous for innovative designs like the Cummins diesel powered car that qualified on pole for the 1952 Indianapolis 500 or the STP Turbine that nearly captured the 1967 race in the hands of Parnelli Jones, Indy car racing devolved into a spec-car formula since 2003. While many observers praised the radical thinking that went into the DeltaWing, an even larger group thought that the boundary-pushing design was a step too far and questioned the unusual machine?s ability to negotiate corners.
A year from now, we?ll find out just what the DeltaWing is capable of. Although specifics about the car?s powertrain have not been released, it will be fascinating to see if what Bowlby and his computer simulations insist will work in theory actually translate to a real racetrack. The car is expected to utilize a turbocharged 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine producing about 300 horsepower.
The 56th place on the Le Mans grid is reserved for a technologically innovative car outside of the standard prototype and GT categories to showcase future-minded thinking.
?The interest of this project is based on the optimization of all factors that have an impact of global energy consumption and efficiency of the car: Weight, power and drag,? said Vincent Beaumesnil, sporting director of the ACO. ?We want to give the opportunity to evaluate each technology, and this project shows that ahead of hybrid, bio-fuel or electric technology, we can explore other ways to improve efficiency.?
Englishman Bowlby is the former chief designer for Lola Cars and the architect of the Lola Indy car that dominated the CART-sanctioned series from 2000-06. He claimed that the Indy car version of the DeltaWing could meet or exceed current performance levels despite having less than half the power of the 3.5-liter Honda V-8 engine currently utilized in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
?The secret to the DeltaWing car is simplicity and efficiency,? Bowlby stated. ?To achieve a dramatically reduced carbon footprint, we have looked at ways to reduce weight and drag, as well as the total number of components required to build the car. The 56th entry is really a golden opportunity for us because it gives us the chance to make a step change and race a car that doesn?t comply with the existing rulebook.
?We really have to applaud the ACO for having the foresight to create this opportunity for an entry like ours,? he added. ?We believe this is a true automotive innovation which could be the catalyst for changing the way people look at not only racing car design, but automotive design as a whole.?
The Le Mans project is also a tremendous opportunity for Gurney and his Santa Ana, California-based AAR, who have not been regular participants in a racing series since they withdrew from the CART-sanctioned Indy car series in 2000.
Gurney is famous for winning the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix in one of his own Eagle racing cars. Eagles also won the Indianapolis 500 in 1968 and 1975, as well as 17 consecutive IMSA GTP race wins and two series championships in 1992-93.
?I have a lot of curiosity and when I first discussed this car with Ben Bowlby, I listened closely and tried to shoot holes in what he was saying,? said Gurney, who co-drove a Ford GT to victory with AJ Foyt in the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours. ?But I quickly found I wasn?t able to.
?The combination of proven items that make up the character and capabilities of the DeltaWing car make it an extremely exciting project,? he noted. ?It weighs half as much current cars, it burns half as much fuel, it uses much less tire, yet goes the same speed because of the exceptional aerodynamics and low drag. After looking at the project and the technical aspects of the car, I was asked if we would like to build it. I didn?t hesitate for a moment ? my response was absolutely yes.?
The final piece of the puzzle is Highcroft, which found itself sidelined from ALMS competition earlier this year after losing support from Acura and Honda Performance Development.
?This is an amazing opportunity,? said Highcroft owner Duncan Dayton. ?To take a totally innovative design like this to Le Mans and run before a worldwide television audience of more than 600 million people is an incredible story.
?In my opinion, it has the potential to be one of the most significant developments in motor racing in 50 years,? he added. ?It is so new and exciting, and such an interesting departure from the traditional race car development path?it is highly relevant to the future. Given that the world is concentrating on efficiency and green technologies in an attempt to achieve sustainability, this project will help promote the direction that is being adopted throughout the entire automotive industry.?
John Oreovicz is a long-time auto racing journalist who writes for ESPN.com and other publications.
Photo courtesy of Project 56
Ben Bowlby?s DeltaWing concept car created a lot of controversy and conversation when it was pitched as a potential ?Indy car of tomorrow? in early 2010.
Now, with the help of Dan Gurney?s All American Racers and defending American Le Mans Series champions Highcroft Racing, a revised version of the DeltaWing is becoming a reality. Bowlby?s design has already been accepted as a special category ?56th entry? for the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.
The DeltaWing concept is polarizing, to say the least. In many respects, the car resembles a land speed record machine, with its narrow front wheels tightly tucked in to a slender, rocket-like fuselage that spreads to accommodate a wide rear track with semi-enclosed rear wheels. Viewed from above, the car resembles a triangle - hence the name DeltaWing.
To comply with Automobile Club L?Ouest rules, the cockpit of the DeltaWing that will compete at Le Mans next year has been expanded to include dual openings. But for the most part, the illustration released Thursday is faithful to the original single-seat concept intended for Indy car racing that debuted at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show.
That car sparked a huge debate among open-wheel fans. Once famous for innovative designs like the Cummins diesel powered car that qualified on pole for the 1952 Indianapolis 500 or the STP Turbine that nearly captured the 1967 race in the hands of Parnelli Jones, Indy car racing devolved into a spec-car formula since 2003. While many observers praised the radical thinking that went into the DeltaWing, an even larger group thought that the boundary-pushing design was a step too far and questioned the unusual machine?s ability to negotiate corners.
A year from now, we?ll find out just what the DeltaWing is capable of. Although specifics about the car?s powertrain have not been released, it will be fascinating to see if what Bowlby and his computer simulations insist will work in theory actually translate to a real racetrack. The car is expected to utilize a turbocharged 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine producing about 300 horsepower.
The 56th place on the Le Mans grid is reserved for a technologically innovative car outside of the standard prototype and GT categories to showcase future-minded thinking.
?The interest of this project is based on the optimization of all factors that have an impact of global energy consumption and efficiency of the car: Weight, power and drag,? said Vincent Beaumesnil, sporting director of the ACO. ?We want to give the opportunity to evaluate each technology, and this project shows that ahead of hybrid, bio-fuel or electric technology, we can explore other ways to improve efficiency.?
Englishman Bowlby is the former chief designer for Lola Cars and the architect of the Lola Indy car that dominated the CART-sanctioned series from 2000-06. He claimed that the Indy car version of the DeltaWing could meet or exceed current performance levels despite having less than half the power of the 3.5-liter Honda V-8 engine currently utilized in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
?The secret to the DeltaWing car is simplicity and efficiency,? Bowlby stated. ?To achieve a dramatically reduced carbon footprint, we have looked at ways to reduce weight and drag, as well as the total number of components required to build the car. The 56th entry is really a golden opportunity for us because it gives us the chance to make a step change and race a car that doesn?t comply with the existing rulebook.
?We really have to applaud the ACO for having the foresight to create this opportunity for an entry like ours,? he added. ?We believe this is a true automotive innovation which could be the catalyst for changing the way people look at not only racing car design, but automotive design as a whole.?
The Le Mans project is also a tremendous opportunity for Gurney and his Santa Ana, California-based AAR, who have not been regular participants in a racing series since they withdrew from the CART-sanctioned Indy car series in 2000.
Gurney is famous for winning the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix in one of his own Eagle racing cars. Eagles also won the Indianapolis 500 in 1968 and 1975, as well as 17 consecutive IMSA GTP race wins and two series championships in 1992-93.
?I have a lot of curiosity and when I first discussed this car with Ben Bowlby, I listened closely and tried to shoot holes in what he was saying,? said Gurney, who co-drove a Ford GT to victory with AJ Foyt in the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours. ?But I quickly found I wasn?t able to.
?The combination of proven items that make up the character and capabilities of the DeltaWing car make it an extremely exciting project,? he noted. ?It weighs half as much current cars, it burns half as much fuel, it uses much less tire, yet goes the same speed because of the exceptional aerodynamics and low drag. After looking at the project and the technical aspects of the car, I was asked if we would like to build it. I didn?t hesitate for a moment ? my response was absolutely yes.?
The final piece of the puzzle is Highcroft, which found itself sidelined from ALMS competition earlier this year after losing support from Acura and Honda Performance Development.
?This is an amazing opportunity,? said Highcroft owner Duncan Dayton. ?To take a totally innovative design like this to Le Mans and run before a worldwide television audience of more than 600 million people is an incredible story.
?In my opinion, it has the potential to be one of the most significant developments in motor racing in 50 years,? he added. ?It is so new and exciting, and such an interesting departure from the traditional race car development path?it is highly relevant to the future. Given that the world is concentrating on efficiency and green technologies in an attempt to achieve sustainability, this project will help promote the direction that is being adopted throughout the entire automotive industry.?
John Oreovicz is a long-time auto racing journalist who writes for ESPN.com and other publications.
Photo courtesy of Project 56
Some Great Facts Of ElmScan 5
This deal is more than perfect for the money. Mostly scan devices are cheaper, and their software?s are extremely expensive but ElmScan 5 is extremely cheaper. ElmScan 5 is cheap and cheaper. There more than many websites, which are offering, the software for ELM 327 IC, it shows that this device is adaptable. Mixture of [...]
1978 Daytona 500
Bobby Allison is the winner of the 20th running of the great American race. The competition is thinned on lap 60 when Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, and David Pearson (running 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the time) all tangle and crash into the inside wall just before pit road entrance. Buddy Baker’s blown engine late [...]
CFRC 02/19/2012
Florida checking in with some good media from some of our local photographers Kayla and Brice. This event was a lot of fun, too many crashes, but a lot of good driving. Just keep an eye out for the next event on the 6th, Matt Petty and John Wagner are coming down for
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Racing for a record
Rotoworld: In the top 10 four times in the past nine Loudon races, Kyle Busch has a strong shot at capturing his 100th career NASCAR series victory this weekend. Check out this preview of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301. View full post on NBCSports.com: NASCAR / Motors addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-racing%2Fracing-for-a-record'; addthis_title = 'Racing+for+a+record'; addthis_pub = [...]
Todd Gartshore Remembered at NMRA/NMCA West Coast Shootout
A moment of silence for Todd Gartshore was held at the NMRA/NMCA West Coast Shootout event on July 9th at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, CA, while the Centerforce Camaro made a lap around the autocross displaying a checkered flag. Gartshore, co-owner of Baer Brake Systems and a major supporter of SEMA and the performance [...]
David Wins Daytona!!
David Ragan and the UPS team earned their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on Saturday night in Daytona!
New Hampshire Weekend Review
There is never any way, in the US at least, Formula One is going to steal NASCAR’s thunder. The racing world was amazed as 21 year old Sebastion Vettel became the youngest driver ever to win a points Grand Prix race in the history of that series. He did it at Monza in Italy, driving [...]
Martinsville Qualifying Rained Out
Sorry if I havn’t been on here in a while, I’ve been a bust little kitten! Martinsville qualifying got rained out last Friday, so everyone at this point knows the drill after all that mess goes down. The starting grid goes in order by points. Surprise, surprise! Why don? we just serve Jimmie Johnson his [...]
Friday, July 15, 2011
BRC competitors? Open Day
Friday 9th September 2011 Venue: Curborough Sprint Circuit, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, UK The Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship will hold its third annual Open Day at Curborough Sprint Circuit near Lichfield on Friday 9th September. The event will feature exhibitions, demonstrations and provide the opportunity for passenger rides for potential competitors interested in the [...]
Learn These Benefits of Leasing Car
The auto consumers are now days going for more and more towards leasing. It actually is becoming very popular and common among the buyers. It is a very feasible financing option and it also allows you to choose your life style and preference. The leading auto makers are giving now days every low interest rate [...]
David?s Blog: Headed West for Road Course Racing
David Ragan and the UPS team head out to Infineon Raceway for this weekend's road course race
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The Hobby Mourns the Loss of Car Builder Ryan Butler
With great sadness we report the passing of hot rod builder and fabricator Ryan Butler, 32, who was tragically killed in a hydroplane boat racing accident in Olympia, Washington, on Saturday, July 9, 2011. Ryan was known through the Northwest hot rod scene and on a national level for his soft-spoken, kind demeanor as well [...]
Own Kyle Petty's '06 Victory Bike and Ride Across the US
A special online auction give you the chance to own Kyle Petty's 2006 Victory motorcycle and join Kyle on the 2009 Ride Across America. But hurry, the auction runs July 15-25, 2008. All proceeds benefit two extremely...
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Richard Petty 50th Anniversary
This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of Richard Petty's first race, which occurred on July 12, 1958. In celebration of his half-century of involvement in NASCAR, here is a reproduction of a Petty Enterprises race report...
Busch can't do no wrong
Busch again was in the right place at the right time to claim victory in the pepsi 400
BUILD >>> Travis Clark ? DMCC ISIS Sponsored Drive
Hey everyone, wanted to share my 93′ 240sx vert I have been building for the last seven months.
Here the car is in its earlier stages. Caged and gutted:
Braced up the rear subframe suspension arm tabs to add some stiffness and strength:
Also went with the parts shop max spindle kit. Ran it the last
Here the car is in its earlier stages. Caged and gutted:
Braced up the rear subframe suspension arm tabs to add some stiffness and strength:
Also went with the parts shop max spindle kit. Ran it the last
Tough Day in Michigan; Ragan Finishes 20th
David and the UPS team battled at Michigan; Finished 20th
Dick Mack?s Satisfaction Chevelle versus Bob DuBrock?s Mustang
Dick Mack ran a full bodied Chevelle funny car with a shortened wheelbase approaching that of a fuel altered. The Satisfaction, running out of Ohio, garnered runner-up honors in the fuel category.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Funny car showdown: Jerry Harvey against Wayne Gapp
In a battle of SOHC powered Fords, Wayne Gapp defeated Jerry Harvey at Detroit Dragway's 1967 Midwest Championshps.
Rubbin', Racin' and Fisticuffs. What's New?
This past weekend of racing was a full one, featuring the Rolex Sports Car series at The Glen, NHRA drag racing at Englishtown and all three NASCAR series; Sprint Cup and Camping World Trucks at Kansas Speedway and the Nationwide Series at Chicagoland.
For race fans who also like fighting, the truck race was especially entertaining. Because after the checkered flag, after Kyle Busch nudged Joey Coulter's Chevy with his Toyota to show his displeasure in losing fifth place to the rookie on the very last lap, Coulter's team owner found Busch in the garage and shared notice of his own disapproval.
According to published reports -- which is amazingly all we have even in this age of everyone-has-a-cell-phone-that-takes-pics-or-video -- Richard Childress, the 65-year old owner of Coulter's Chevy Silverado found Busch in the garage area and assaulted him. The story goes that Childress removed his watch (to avoid damaging it or Kyle's face?), put Kyle in a headlock with one arm, and smacked him three times in the face with the other before shoving him to the ground.
NASCAR was not amused. They fined Childress $150,000 and put him on probation for the rest of the season.
But for all too many race fans, and even some non-race fans who just like to hear about people who "get what's coming to them" via a good, old fashioned butt-whipping, this event was the highlight of the season.
Just because one human being, Mr. Childress, perceived that he was insulted, disrespected, offended, abused, or whatever, and decided to take action the only way his homo sapien genes would allow at that point in time.
He consciously decided to try and cause bodily harm to the culprit. Call it retribution, call it "teaching the kid a lesson," or call it a loss of control.
Just don't call it civilized behavior or unusual because at this point in our species' evolution we're still a basically uncivilized type of animal that cannot escape our fight or flight tendencies.
This altercation has been brewing awhile. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, Childress' No.1 Sprint Cup Series driver, almost got into it a few weeks ago at Darlington, which resulted in fines and probation for both drivers.
The "almost" part of the incident means that when confronted with an unhappy Harvick getting out of his car to put his fist through Busch's window while on pit road, Kyle chose flight instead of fight. Unfortunately he fled by pushing Harvick's driverless Chevy out of the way with his own No. 18 Toyota and into a wall, risking serious injury to those nearby.
For NASCAR, this skirmish is golden. They have to issue fines and penalties, but there's nothing better for ratings and ticket sales than rivalries and fisticuffs among superstars.
Especially when the bout matches an older, established team owner who came up the hard way? long before racing was a slick, polished, multi-billion dollar industry, against a young, rich, has-it-all superstar who many think has never worked a day in his life
As everyone knows, NASCAR found its first toehold of success thanks to a fight between Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison during its first live Daytona 500 broadcast. But fights among race car drivers and crewmen and even owners and sponsors are nothing new.
Fighting is in our DNA. And everybody fights.
Tyra Banks is as famous for assaulting and abusing her domestic help and subordinates as much as she is for being a supermodel. You can find wonderfully entertaining videos of foreign leaders, nay, entire bodies of a foreign country's congress or parliament trying to beat each other up over differences in how to govern. Evel Knievel was as renowned and loved/hated for assaulting those he had a beef with as much as was for being a motorcycle jumping daredevil.
And think how many people in America would love to take a poke at one of the big Wall Street CEOs, a dirty Senator, a health care executive, an oil company exec or some vitriolic talk show host.
Better yet, think of how many people would be satisifed just with the knowledge that one of those bastages had been punched in nose, kicked in the groin or even had a pie thrown in his face?
Let's face it folks, this is who we are. Deal with it.
And to Kyle Busch: It might be time to take some boxing lessons. Round Two will be coming up sooner than you think.
Read more of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
For race fans who also like fighting, the truck race was especially entertaining. Because after the checkered flag, after Kyle Busch nudged Joey Coulter's Chevy with his Toyota to show his displeasure in losing fifth place to the rookie on the very last lap, Coulter's team owner found Busch in the garage and shared notice of his own disapproval.
According to published reports -- which is amazingly all we have even in this age of everyone-has-a-cell-phone-that-takes-pics-or-video -- Richard Childress, the 65-year old owner of Coulter's Chevy Silverado found Busch in the garage area and assaulted him. The story goes that Childress removed his watch (to avoid damaging it or Kyle's face?), put Kyle in a headlock with one arm, and smacked him three times in the face with the other before shoving him to the ground.
NASCAR was not amused. They fined Childress $150,000 and put him on probation for the rest of the season.
But for all too many race fans, and even some non-race fans who just like to hear about people who "get what's coming to them" via a good, old fashioned butt-whipping, this event was the highlight of the season.
Just because one human being, Mr. Childress, perceived that he was insulted, disrespected, offended, abused, or whatever, and decided to take action the only way his homo sapien genes would allow at that point in time.
He consciously decided to try and cause bodily harm to the culprit. Call it retribution, call it "teaching the kid a lesson," or call it a loss of control.
Just don't call it civilized behavior or unusual because at this point in our species' evolution we're still a basically uncivilized type of animal that cannot escape our fight or flight tendencies.
This altercation has been brewing awhile. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, Childress' No.1 Sprint Cup Series driver, almost got into it a few weeks ago at Darlington, which resulted in fines and probation for both drivers.
The "almost" part of the incident means that when confronted with an unhappy Harvick getting out of his car to put his fist through Busch's window while on pit road, Kyle chose flight instead of fight. Unfortunately he fled by pushing Harvick's driverless Chevy out of the way with his own No. 18 Toyota and into a wall, risking serious injury to those nearby.
For NASCAR, this skirmish is golden. They have to issue fines and penalties, but there's nothing better for ratings and ticket sales than rivalries and fisticuffs among superstars.
Especially when the bout matches an older, established team owner who came up the hard way? long before racing was a slick, polished, multi-billion dollar industry, against a young, rich, has-it-all superstar who many think has never worked a day in his life
As everyone knows, NASCAR found its first toehold of success thanks to a fight between Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison during its first live Daytona 500 broadcast. But fights among race car drivers and crewmen and even owners and sponsors are nothing new.
Fighting is in our DNA. And everybody fights.
Tyra Banks is as famous for assaulting and abusing her domestic help and subordinates as much as she is for being a supermodel. You can find wonderfully entertaining videos of foreign leaders, nay, entire bodies of a foreign country's congress or parliament trying to beat each other up over differences in how to govern. Evel Knievel was as renowned and loved/hated for assaulting those he had a beef with as much as was for being a motorcycle jumping daredevil.
And think how many people in America would love to take a poke at one of the big Wall Street CEOs, a dirty Senator, a health care executive, an oil company exec or some vitriolic talk show host.
Better yet, think of how many people would be satisifed just with the knowledge that one of those bastages had been punched in nose, kicked in the groin or even had a pie thrown in his face?
Let's face it folks, this is who we are. Deal with it.
And to Kyle Busch: It might be time to take some boxing lessons. Round Two will be coming up sooner than you think.
Read more of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sports Car Racing in America is at a Crossroads. The Directions are in French.
A few months ago the F�d�ration Internationale de l?Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Club de l?Ouest (ACO) announced a partnership that would turn the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup sports car racing series into the FIA World Endurance Championship, beginning in 2012.
This is a definite upgrade.
The FIA runs Formula 1, the World Rally Championship, the World Touring Car Championship and many other series. It has decades upon decades of history and milestones, experience, partnerships and power.
Having the FIA take over the series that shares specs, sexy prototypes and two races a year with the nine-race American Le Mans Series (ALMS) provides huge opportunity. It's the best (and only) way "Le Mans" -style sports car racing can grow to become an F1-modeled, international multi-million dollar motorsports entertainment division.
But wait. On this continent NASCAR is the king in the motorsports entertainment industry. Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series racing sells more tickets, attracts more media coverage and launders more manufacturer and sponsorship dollars than every other series in America combined.
And wouldn't you know it. NASCAR's even got a road racing division, the Grand-Am series, featuring Daytona Prototypes (a certain, famous Florida family's take on what a sports car racing prototype should be) and full race GTs plus classes for modified production cars.
Grand Am was started in 2000, either as a really cool, nepotistic 35th birthday present for fledgling racer J.C. France, son of NASCAR's Jim France, or as a serious business venture to use the equity and lessons learned from NASCAR to creating a low-tech "rubbin's racing" road racing series.
Or perhaps it was a return volley after the ALMS was formed in 1999 by Georgia businessman Don Panoz to bring the ACO -sanctioned, hi-tech European Le Mans cars and stars here to America, after IMSA and then the Professional Sports Car Racing Series went away.
That part of history doesn't matter now. It's been over 10 years and yes, we have two different sports car series that are completely incompatible. Both are trying to appeal to the same audience but with different cars, engines, rules and especially philosophies about the racing itself.
Sound familiar? It should. "The Split" just about killed open wheel racing in America.
Sports car racing as an asset, i.e. two different series offering marketable motorsports entertainment, is a distant third behind NASCAR and IndyCar here in the good old U.S. of A. NASCAR has a monopoly and a proven, self sustaining ladder system including local series and ARCA. IndyCar is poised to thrive again after the key competition for its necessary resources -- a competitive series -- finally went the way of all things.
Sports car racing though, as long as its split into two different series, has those same problems open wheel did after it went through that expensive, bad-for-the-kids nasty divorce.
Fact: While two competitive series can somewhat share an audience or a fan base, because the racing discipline is the similar, its much harder to share manufacturer support, sponsorship and available media exposure.
As a matter of fact, in this still lousy economy, it's almost impossible.
With the FIA's takeover of Le Mans sports car endurance racing the ALMS can definitely benefit -- if it can survive long enough. It will be able to market its racing as a laboratory for innovation and the development of new technologies on a world stage; with advances in propulsion, safety, energy storage and more the byproduct of competition at the highest level. And don't forget the allure, the luxury, the hospitality excesses attached to a real, FIA world championship series featuring brands like Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari and Porsche.
Grand Am is ready though. For 2012 the featured Daytona Prototypes are being redesigned to allow for more styling cues; to allow manufacturers to make them look more closely related to their street production vehicles --like Fords, Chevys, BMWs and Porches.
Hot damn.
Grand Am wants their road racing series to remain exactly as it was conceived; with bang- and almost bulletproof cars powered by reliable, proven engines and drivetrains and rules that pretty much take creativity and innovation completely out of the equation.
They believe the drivers are the stars and the cars are just necessary equipment to generate support and revenue from manufacturers. And to keep the manufacturers happy and interested, Grand Am is attempting to make the race cars look more like production vehicles.
Best of luck with that one. No one, absolutely no one, thinks trying to make a Ford powered Daytona Prototype feature 'the look and feel' of a Mustang is going to put one more butt in the grandstands.
So, for your sports car racing in America entertainment, and interest, I see three different scenarios for what lies ahead:
The first is the most likely, the Status Quo. Grand Am will continue on with a 12 or so race schedule, same with the ALMS, and the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans events will be the only ones that anyone really pays attention to. Both series will try to soldier on with a handful of prototypes at other events and American sports car racing will fall further and further behind NASCAR, IndyCar and even NHRA drag racing.
The second scenario is bye-bye to the ALMS completely and everyone surrenders to the power of NASCAR. The two FIA WEC events in North America become as valued and rare as the F1 races in Canada and Austin, while the Grand Am Rolex series slugs along, either racing alone or with NASCAR or IndyCar at select venues.
Finally, and filed under the When Pigs Fly category, there's the shiny object merger scenario, where the new Grand American Le Mans Series abandons the Daytona Prototypes and runs a 16-or-so North American series featuring FIA WEC-spec rules and classes. The Rolex 24, Sebring and Petit Le Mans would also be part of the new, expanded FIA WEC schedule which could also include events in Canada and Mexico.
Of course, it?s all wishful thinking. But why not?
A merger eliminates the inefficiencies of a shared fan base and compromised TV, manufacturer and sponsorship participation. One American series using FIA rules and regs makes all sports car racing 'apples to apples' and it also makes it a lot easier for carmakers to commit due to economy of scale.
But that's just my take. What's yours?
Read more of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
This is a definite upgrade.
The FIA runs Formula 1, the World Rally Championship, the World Touring Car Championship and many other series. It has decades upon decades of history and milestones, experience, partnerships and power.
Having the FIA take over the series that shares specs, sexy prototypes and two races a year with the nine-race American Le Mans Series (ALMS) provides huge opportunity. It's the best (and only) way "Le Mans" -style sports car racing can grow to become an F1-modeled, international multi-million dollar motorsports entertainment division.
But wait. On this continent NASCAR is the king in the motorsports entertainment industry. Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series racing sells more tickets, attracts more media coverage and launders more manufacturer and sponsorship dollars than every other series in America combined.
And wouldn't you know it. NASCAR's even got a road racing division, the Grand-Am series, featuring Daytona Prototypes (a certain, famous Florida family's take on what a sports car racing prototype should be) and full race GTs plus classes for modified production cars.
Grand Am was started in 2000, either as a really cool, nepotistic 35th birthday present for fledgling racer J.C. France, son of NASCAR's Jim France, or as a serious business venture to use the equity and lessons learned from NASCAR to creating a low-tech "rubbin's racing" road racing series.
Or perhaps it was a return volley after the ALMS was formed in 1999 by Georgia businessman Don Panoz to bring the ACO -sanctioned, hi-tech European Le Mans cars and stars here to America, after IMSA and then the Professional Sports Car Racing Series went away.
That part of history doesn't matter now. It's been over 10 years and yes, we have two different sports car series that are completely incompatible. Both are trying to appeal to the same audience but with different cars, engines, rules and especially philosophies about the racing itself.
Sound familiar? It should. "The Split" just about killed open wheel racing in America.
Sports car racing as an asset, i.e. two different series offering marketable motorsports entertainment, is a distant third behind NASCAR and IndyCar here in the good old U.S. of A. NASCAR has a monopoly and a proven, self sustaining ladder system including local series and ARCA. IndyCar is poised to thrive again after the key competition for its necessary resources -- a competitive series -- finally went the way of all things.
Sports car racing though, as long as its split into two different series, has those same problems open wheel did after it went through that expensive, bad-for-the-kids nasty divorce.
Fact: While two competitive series can somewhat share an audience or a fan base, because the racing discipline is the similar, its much harder to share manufacturer support, sponsorship and available media exposure.
As a matter of fact, in this still lousy economy, it's almost impossible.
With the FIA's takeover of Le Mans sports car endurance racing the ALMS can definitely benefit -- if it can survive long enough. It will be able to market its racing as a laboratory for innovation and the development of new technologies on a world stage; with advances in propulsion, safety, energy storage and more the byproduct of competition at the highest level. And don't forget the allure, the luxury, the hospitality excesses attached to a real, FIA world championship series featuring brands like Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari and Porsche.
Grand Am is ready though. For 2012 the featured Daytona Prototypes are being redesigned to allow for more styling cues; to allow manufacturers to make them look more closely related to their street production vehicles --like Fords, Chevys, BMWs and Porches.
Hot damn.
Grand Am wants their road racing series to remain exactly as it was conceived; with bang- and almost bulletproof cars powered by reliable, proven engines and drivetrains and rules that pretty much take creativity and innovation completely out of the equation.
They believe the drivers are the stars and the cars are just necessary equipment to generate support and revenue from manufacturers. And to keep the manufacturers happy and interested, Grand Am is attempting to make the race cars look more like production vehicles.
Best of luck with that one. No one, absolutely no one, thinks trying to make a Ford powered Daytona Prototype feature 'the look and feel' of a Mustang is going to put one more butt in the grandstands.
So, for your sports car racing in America entertainment, and interest, I see three different scenarios for what lies ahead:
The first is the most likely, the Status Quo. Grand Am will continue on with a 12 or so race schedule, same with the ALMS, and the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans events will be the only ones that anyone really pays attention to. Both series will try to soldier on with a handful of prototypes at other events and American sports car racing will fall further and further behind NASCAR, IndyCar and even NHRA drag racing.
The second scenario is bye-bye to the ALMS completely and everyone surrenders to the power of NASCAR. The two FIA WEC events in North America become as valued and rare as the F1 races in Canada and Austin, while the Grand Am Rolex series slugs along, either racing alone or with NASCAR or IndyCar at select venues.
Finally, and filed under the When Pigs Fly category, there's the shiny object merger scenario, where the new Grand American Le Mans Series abandons the Daytona Prototypes and runs a 16-or-so North American series featuring FIA WEC-spec rules and classes. The Rolex 24, Sebring and Petit Le Mans would also be part of the new, expanded FIA WEC schedule which could also include events in Canada and Mexico.
Of course, it?s all wishful thinking. But why not?
A merger eliminates the inefficiencies of a shared fan base and compromised TV, manufacturer and sponsorship participation. One American series using FIA rules and regs makes all sports car racing 'apples to apples' and it also makes it a lot easier for carmakers to commit due to economy of scale.
But that's just my take. What's yours?
Read more of Bill Tybur at his website: https://fmfl.net
NASCAR rant #3 If NASCAR dies, who gets the blame *IMHO*
Since most NASCAR fans love to blame Brian France for everything that is wrong with NASCAR. I figured i’d take on the task of handing out blame myself. I think i did a pretty good job of doing so. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-fans%2Fnascar-rant-3-if-nascar-dies-who-gets-the-blame-imho'; addthis_title = 'NASCAR+rant+%233+If+NASCAR+dies%2C+who+gets+the+blame+%2AIMHO%2A'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: *IMHO*, blame, dies, gets, nascar, [...]
Drivers complain about Speedway
Now that NASCAR’s elite racers have tried out Kentucky Speedway, they’re being very vocal about the condition of the track�? and not everyone is happy. View full post on NBCSports.com: NASCAR / Motors addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nascarpitstopblog.com%2Fnascar-racing%2Fdrivers-complain-about-speedway'; addthis_title = 'Drivers+complain+about+Speedway'; addthis_pub = ''; Technorati Tags: about, complain, drivers, speedway
Sunday, July 10, 2011
David Earns Career-Best Finish in Charlotte
David and the UPS team were a fixture at the front of the field for the entire Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night. The team finished second in the longest race of the season
Richard Petty's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Hard to believe it's been 50 years since Richard Petty made his first start racing in NASCAR, in what was then the Grand National division (later to become Winston Cup)...
This Week in the NASCAR Blogosphere
By the end of the race at Lowe’s Motorspeedway the Chase will be half over. When the heck did that happen? I don’t know. Last weekend’s race at Talladega provided Tony Stewart with his first win of the season, his first win there in a sprint cup car and ended his 43 race winless streak. [...]
V8 Supercars Series Championship at COTA
Wow, 2 days in a row of blockbuster announcements for the Circuit of The Americas (COTA).� This is gaining some great momentum! V8 Supercars Agrees to Five-Year Deal With Austin’s Circuit of The Americas(TM) to Host Championship; SPEED? to Broadcast Races Australia?s Most Popular Motorsports Series Makes Its First U.S. Home in Austin, Texas AUSTIN, [...]
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Panera?s June ?11 Cars & Java (Coffee?) Event
Today, the last Saturday of the month in San Antonio, TX, is a monthly gathering of car people & their rides , unofficially called Cars & Coffee, or Cars & Caffeine, or whatever.� It’s a laid back, park what you brung, whether it be your daily driver or otherwise.� There were all sorts of car [...]
34 down, 2 more to go
That’s right the 2008 season is winding down. �With only two races left, it’s Jimmie’s championship to lose. �Carl did cut down some of Jimmie’s lead in Texas, but Jimmie and Chad have been here before. �I have to admit since Talladega I haven’t been all that excited about the racing. �I guess it’s because [...]
Facebook Fan?s Rides: No Slow GTO
Jason Wogan Springhill, FL 1966 Pontiac GTO I remember as a kid when I would hear one of my father?s friends call someone?s car a goat I thought it was an insult. Goats are seemingly slow, relaxed, grass eating animals, not helacious beasts. But Jason Wogan?s (Spring Hill, Florida) green goat?with a 400 and a [...]
Richard Petty 50th Anniversary
This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of Richard Petty's first race, which occurred on July 12, 1958. In celebration of his half-century of involvement in NASCAR, here is a reproduction of a Petty Enterprises race report...
eBay. . . Thing of the Day: Barn Find Nash Camper.
Open offer: the staff of Hot Rod will buy a beer for the first person to show up on Power Tour driving one of these. Can’t you see it now? Ditch the teardrop and cruise to the KOA campground in style with this unique RV; it will only take a year’s worth or restoration to [...]
Friday, July 8, 2011
This Week in the NASCAR Blogosphere
By the end of the race at Lowe’s Motorspeedway the Chase will be half over. When the heck did that happen? I don’t know. Last weekend’s race at Talladega provided Tony Stewart with his first win of the season, his first win there in a sprint cup car and ended his 43 race winless streak. [...]
Learn The Positives And The Downsides Of ElmScan 5
ELM 327, model of ElmScan 5 scanning tool is the ‘best selling’ tool. It is perfect according to individual?s budget and requirements. It allows a person to do diagnostics regarding their vehicle at home. It turns your computer into a stylish diagnostic system. This tool is extremely easy to install and run and will provide [...]
New Backpack Cooler Keeps Cold-Ones Close By
An innovative backpack cooler from TrackPack chills and dispenses 20 beverage cans with the flick of a wrist, complies with most public venues and tracks and is easy for one person to carry. Drink up!
Engine Compression Check Made Easy
Keep tabs on your engine's compression ratio and performance with this cool new compression tester from Katech Performance...
100 Years of Chevy Swiss Style
Years ago a racecar driver co-founded a car company that is still one of the most important automobile manufacturers in the world – a Swiss-born but American-raised driver named Louis-Joseph Chevrolet. He and co-fonder William C. Durant sold to General Motors (GM) in 1918. In honor of Chevrolet and Louis Chevrolet, the small Swiss [...]
Thursday, July 7, 2011
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