Full Throttle

I had a thought while commenting over at John’s place. John noted Mike Mulhern’s story about Kirk Shelmerdine, and commented himself, what a Cinderella story Shelmerdine’s 20^th place finish in the Daytona 500 is.

So I had a thought, (a dangerous proposition I know) what if the Daytona Suits put on display for the next year Shelmerdine’s #27 Apex Electric Chevy vice the traditional winning #48? What if to make a statement, they also paid out of HWSBO deep pockets all associated costs to the Apex Chevy Team of the last two weeks to include the cost of a replacement car and free trip to Fontana next week.

What if HWSBO actually thought for a split second that the grass roots of the sport should be celebrated? That dreams can and do come true even in NASCAR’s “dream event.”

And maybe just one of the tens of thousands of kids that file past a display of the rubber and oil encrusted #27, and read the story of how it got there, would be inspired to pursue a racing career? Why that kid might, just might, be a member of that elusive group NASCAR courts with it’s “diversity program.”

I guess I’m dreaming aren’t I?

For those that view Full Throttle via IE 6 (and why to hell are you?) may have noticed the sidebar is displayed at the bottom of the page.

If any of you have a clue how long this has been the case drop me a line. Between using FF or Flock as my Browser of choice I didn’t notice the problem until Sunday.

And damned if I know what’s causing it. I checked all the usual suspects but haven’t solved it as yet. Did anyone ever tell you code SUCKS… well it does!

Anyway hang in there it may be repaired in the next couple of days… maybe!

This years Daytona 500 should have a post race name change to the Irony 500.

Ironic because Jimmie Johnson’s #48 bags his first 500 in the events 48^th running. Ironic that a team heavly criticised in the past for creating “big ones” not only didn’t create one but also survived and won with a subsitiue crew chief. (Hell even those that dislike him handed out praise)

The Ironic 500 saw the most vocal driver during pre-race festivities on “aggresive drivng,” make an obvious and blatant attempt at crashing someone. Yet after 3 back to front charges still managed a fifth place start to his title defense. The other antagonist of the duo, Matt Kenseth, finished 15^th.

Kyle Petty met irony, in addition to Carl Edwards, when his former driver Jeff Green’s wreck also took out Kyle.

And the most ironic twist of fate was Kurt Busch, who ran up front all day, saw it all end when run over by his replacement at Roush Racing, Jamie McMurrray. (Will these two ever be “separated” again?)

Hat tips have to go to Stewart, for the drive of the day, despite all the controversy. Clint Bowyer the highest finishing rookie, and I have to say it, Kirk Shelmerdine.

Kirk Shelmerdine pulled into Daytona on a hope and a prayer and less than a full complement of shoestrings for a budget. It took old friends of the late Dale Sr. and Shelmerdine to even have enough tires to start on race day. With the $272,008 collected for his 20th place finish maybe he can make it to Fontana. It might be a bit of a stretch to say Kirk may be just as happy as Johnson, but not by much.

Oh… and my pick to win the championship this year? Lets just say he starts in a 151 point hole and leave it at that shall we?

One other pre-season pick to finish the year in the top twenty, Hall of Fame Racing (hold your laughter please!), ran strong til late then got caught up in someone else’s mess. But it’s not a total loss, Troy Aikman gets the quote of the week when asked about the rules violation that sent Labonte to the back of the field: “There’s a part of me that feels like we’ve caught up to this sport pretty quickly.” Ah, well… OK.

A couple notes on the media. When, if ever, has the last race been when the green flag was delayed because of a camera problem for the TV crew. In this case it was Kevin Harvick’s roof top camera covered by a plastic bag that caused the delay. I can’t ever recall it happening, but it shows the importance of one of the most interesting shots that are provided. And again, irony rears its head, not many in car shots were shown because of the prevailing weather in the area.

The other media note concerns this headline from the Seattle Post Intellengencer: Earnhardt Jr. among leaders at Daytona 500. On it’s face nothing unusual, Jr. was up front all day. But the AP report was filed three-quarters through the race! Has the adoration for Dale Jr. inflitrated the media to the extent they feel compeled to file an in race report. I don’t remember ever seeing that occur before either, at least not from a MSM source.

So, now that that’s over we can look forward to the “real” start of the season at Fontana next week. Daytona is so unlike anything that follows, at least until Talladega, to use it as a guage for the season is an exercise in digging for fool’s gold.

I expect the field will be back in familar form next week. The Hendricks team and all the Fords back up front and the Dodges, Intrepids or not, trailing behind.

Saturdays Busch action promised alot. With a healthy dose of NEXTEL Cup regulars, a bumper crop - no pun intended - of Busch rookies and NASCAR’s “color of the week being ORANGE,” it could have turned out much worse for the 75,000 in attendence.

As it turned ou the fans saw a competitive race with 17 lead changes among 10 drivers, a phenomenal 3 lap stretch of three wide racing near the end and a “crash’em, smash’em ending involving 10 cars that had officials needing more than an hour figure out who finished where.

For a change the Cup regulars didn’t dominate with only winner Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick placing in the top ten. Of the Rookie of the Year candidates Burney Lamar trailed Stewart in 2^nd and Todd Kluever in his 3M Ford was also in the top ten (7^th). In a bit of irony John Andretti had the lowest finish of any, (Hmmm… cough), “rookie” finishing the day in 34^th.

From NASCAR’s perspective they had an excellent day. The newly deputized “Orange Police” only caught one violator of the new “rough driving” rule, Denny Hamlin, who was sent to the end of the longest line after jacking up the back end of Kyle Busch entering turn three.

The true test will come Sunday. The “Orange Police” may have their hands full with about 30 laps to go in the Great American Race. NASCAR “whistled past a graveyard” Saturday, they got away with one, I doubt it will happen late Sunday.

I suspect we may see even more silly rules be insitituted, for example this one: “Any infants in the Stock Car must be placed in a booster seat to afford them a clearer view of all the action.”

But I may be wrong, the drivers could actually police themselves and keep the Daytona Suits, and their over priced “Barney Fife’s” out of it.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Busch Grand National Series, NEXTEL Cup, Daytona Internationl Speedway, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

The Daytona “Duels.” Who cares. I never bothered to watch and had no intention to. Not even the presence of NASCAR’s new color of the moment (Orange) could entice me into it. In the context of a 36 race season, two non-points paying events that settle nothing other whether a virtual handfull of drivers will make the field or not is pretty meaningless.

Speaking of those on the outside looking in. Scott Riggs has to be the surprise of the week after a botched pit stop that resulted in the Valvoline Dodge being the only entry of the multi-car teams not in the field. My guess is Valvoline with be waving plenty of cash around the tail end of the field just to get their logo, if not Riggs, in the starting linup. (It may have already happened, as I write this I haven’t checked.)

Prediction: Sometime in the near future whoever ratted out the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy will be known. That infraction wasn’t found by accident or any outstanding job performance by the NASCAR inspectors. Somebody pointed a finger. I betting Hendrick’s greatest rival and threat on restrictor plates tracks. Can you spell DEI?

Question: Did NASCAR point out the use of, and reason for, the “color of the moment” to the IROC drivers. Not that it matters, IROC is not a sanctioned event. But considering the field is mostly NASCAR related drivers one would think a word of caution would have been appropriate. With all the bump drafting and Steve Kinser sent flipping in the air as a result caution wasn’t the word of the day.

And just what the hell is this! Nothing like putting a “new face” on a new season.

And finally on my list of rumnations is this silly bet. that has Miller Brewing throwing down the Beer Gaultlet to rival Budwieser. It’s great theater and advertising, but if either Junior or K. Busch wins the 500 I’ll go running down International Speedway Boulevard, naked, with a can of each product in my hand, a vintage Dick Trickle stoogie between my lips and replica Smokey Yunick hat on my head.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Daytona 500, Great American Race, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Fight on!

And in this corner wearing British Racing Green trucks is the British Racing Drivers Club Rebels.

Fighting out of the “neutral” corner and wearing the multi-colors of the British Pound Sterling is Silverstone developer St Modwen Properties.

Your referee for the bout is Britains own, and BDRC President, Sir Jackie Stewart. Ringside reporter is the Daily Telegraph..

Curtains twitching at Club, neighbours arguing over the fence at Abbey. Unhinged politicos running into the traffic down the Hangar Straight circa 2003 might be the least of it if plans to revamp Silverstone are given the green light next week.

One of the many radical ideas under consideration in redevelopment proposals submitted to Silverstone’s owners, the British Racing Drivers’ Club, include the building of residential homes on the 800-acre site in Northamptonshire.

Though details of specific housing plots have yet to emerge, amendments to the current track layout would be required to facilitate any new builds. This would mean the removal of corners at Club, Abbey and Bridge. Not surprisingly, the more conservative members of the BRDC were left dumbstruck by the radical nature of the facelift proposed by developer St Modwen Properties. Members are to convene at Silverstone next Wednesday to sanction the St Modwen initiative. The BRDC board are seeking approval of heads of agreement negotiated with the developer ahead of a formal vote in April.

It should be noted Sir Jackie is far from a neutral referee, he recommended St Modwen as the developer of choice in late January.

Stewart believes the future of Silverstone, and the British Grand Prix, is dependent on the transformation into a “modern, multi-faceted facility.”

Some BRDC board members, led by former British F3 champion Harry Stiller, are vehemently opposed to the change. And as a traditionalist I have to side with the dissenters that stand in opposition. Although any housing added would be nothing more than rich boys toys - and priced in the stratosphere - I have little problem with that part of the proposal. But if it requires the loss of Club, Abby and Bridge corners it will strip much of the “personality” of the circuit away. It would require a sharp right hander before Club and a straight shot all the way to Priory.

To put it British slang terms, Harry Stiller and company needs to “beat seven shades of shit out of someone”. And as much as I hate to say it, the first victim should be the outgoing BRDC President Sir Jackie Stewart. He recommended the developer and is backing the reconstruction as a ‘going away present” to the BRDC as one of his last acts before giving up his position as President.

I’m betting the idea gets a firm thumbs down which will put the British Grand Prix back in the “jeopardy” column for the ‘07 F1 season.

Technorati Tags: British Racing Drivers Club, BRDC, Silverstone, Sir Jackie Stewart, Formula One, F1, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

Max Mosely isn’t waiting for his monthly Autosport magazine articles to appear, he’s started ruminating of F1’s long range future without the benefit of his debut in a slick paper magazine.

Although the brand new 2.4 litre V8 formula is yet to even debut at a grand prix, FIA president Max Mosley revealed that the Federation was - for 2011 - thinking about no longer mandating the number of cylinders or engine capacity.

Instead, one of the only limits on engine design would be the amount of fuel allowed per race.

”All kinds of motors will be allowed,” Max was quoted as saying by the Italian ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’ newspaper, ”but every car will get an equal amount of fuel.

”So it will be based on (fuel) consumption. Who wins will be the one who uses (the fuel) best.”

Mosley admitted that his idea also tips its hat to the world’s ‘oil crisis’ and to critics of the excesses and waste of futile motor racing.

He said: ”It is something that we will talk about at greater length on a later date.”

As much as I dislike Mad Max this idea isn’t as hair-brained as it first appears. With no limits on engine design except making it travel X amount in distance in X amount of fuel opens the field for anything. From the number of cylinders, to potential turbine power, and various types of fuel to be used all becomes possible to the designers.

With the current rush to market of hybrid vehicles for road usage by all the major manufacturers it potentially could offer them an enticement to enter F1 as a proving ground for new technology. We’ll see if Max’s idea ever comes to fruition.

As my title suggests I’m way ahead of the curve, and plan on beating Mad Max’s little plan. A perpetual motion machine doesn’t need “fuel.” All it needs is a “push start” so to speak, and off it goes, enroute to a World’s Championship.

Of course you naysayers out there may think I’m mad as Max. Thoughts of a perpetual motion machine have been around since Leonardo’s time, (da Vinci not that “King of the…” something or other) and all have failed. Jacques Ozanam (1640-1717) was quoted as saying:“…those who search for, or imagine they have found, the perpetual motion, are always men to whom the most certain and invariable truths in mechanics are unknown.”

Ozanam’s quote gives a man pause for thought, if only for a moment. But I can’t help thinking of Mad Max’s “Centreline Downwash Generating Wingy” thingy when I read it.

Cross Posted @ Fast Machines.

Technorati Tags: F1, Formula One, FIA, Max Mosley, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

The NEXTEL guy said the phone line went directly to Brian France’s (A/K/A HWSBO) nightstand phone, but honestly, I thought it was just a way to get the extra 100 bucks out my pocket.

Who’da thunk my ideas of a few days ago would take root and blossom into a workable solution to NASCAR’s “bump-a-holics.”

But, as the saying goes, wonders never cease:

NASCAR is working toward a new bumper configuration that, by the next restrictor-plate race at Talladega in April, would prevent teams from beefing up their bumpers with to allow cars to slam into the ones ahead of them and receive blows from the ones behind them without damaging the cars’ aerodynamics.

“We’re on it back at the research and development center now,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president for competition. “Hopefully we can get through Daytona, make some corrections to the cars and get on with it at Talladega.

“Right now, we’re going to take it a day at a time through Sunday. We understand there is going to be some incidental contact out there and we’ll do everything we can to not make the wrong the call.”

Jesus H. Christ in a handbasket! Who the hell hit’em over the head with the nearest cluebat?

It wasn’t me (my NEXTEL check bounced), but someone around the research and development center actually hit on the genesis of the problem - tank-like bumpers and support structure.

I shocked I tell ya! But not enough to still believe NASCAR acted a year too late and as a result had to gin up their “Zone Defense” against critics and station live action bobble-head dolls in Daytona’s four corners this Sunday.

Now if I can get that rubber check covered I have an idea how NASCAR can gracefully back away from the Car of Today.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Daytona, Great American Race, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle

AutoSport, how could you! The online version of the popular magazine has decided to give Mad Max Mosley another, and monthly, venue to air his dirty laundry.

Jimmie Johnson met with the press prior to Daytona practice to address the issue of crew chief Chad Knaus suspension:

WERE YOU AWARE THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN ALTERED OR THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM? IS THAT ANYTHING YOU HAD ANY KNOWLEDGE OF?

“No. The drivers,we just get in and drive the cars. I do know that the team and crew chief are responsible for everything that takes place. They’re going to work as hard as they can to work over all the gray areas. And with that in mind, gray areas were looked at and worked over. When the car came back, the template didn’t fit. Chad (Knaus) and the team and I accept what has happened. We’re trying to move forward and move on and get into the Duel and do our best job in that race and then into the (Daytona) 500 and try to win the 500. But there is no doubt that NASCAR was put into a position to make a ruling and (they) made the ruling and we’re going to live with it and go on and try to do the best we can down here.”

That’s a pretty definitive. “we did it, they caught it, move along now nothing to see here.”

But I doubt it will shut up the whiners and complainers who act as though they own a piece of the #48.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Hendrick Racing, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle