Full Throttle

You are browsing the archives of 2007 December.

Has Formula One suffered it’s final indignity?
After Schumi retired some opined that F1 had lost more than a seven-time champ, that it had started down a road to oblivion. That idea lost some steam with the emergence of Fernando Alonzo as he ruled supreme for two seasons.
His leading light dimmed to a flicker as he [...]

… about Roush-Fenway Racing?
And I bet you thought John Henry’s move to NASCAR was his first foray into auto racing?
Everyone knows the Boston Red Sox owner infused a butt load of cash into the Jack Roush outfit, as if Jack needed it. But mergers are the IN THING in NASCAR these days, and what the [...]

Fernando Alonzo may not physically resemble any of the pigs made famous in the classic This Little Piggy nursery rhyme, but one has to admit his actions of the last few months recall certain members of the centuries old poem.
Take for example the little piggy that went to market, Alonzo has entered the market twice [...]

Champ Car fans may be familiar with Brazilian Rafael Sperafico who contested occasional Champ Car events from 2003 to 2005. Brother Ricardo drove for Dale Coyne Racing in 2005 with his best finish of 8th coming at Denver that year. Brother Rodrigo, and a cousin, Alexandre, also competed in Champ Car on occasion.
Rafael was killed [...]

Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been the site of many historic races during it’s long history. Certainly the majority of them have occurred at the annual spring ritual the Indianapolis 500, but the Formula One World Championship has also played a role in offering memorable events.
After a nine year absence Tony George begged, borrowed, stole and [...]

Burton Smith is a powerful force within NASCAR Nation but somehow I doubt if the bush referred to is THE Burning Bush.
On the other hand the witness only saw flames, there are no reports of ashes from said bush.
You be the judge.
Firefighters put out a small fire about 9 p.m. [Friday night] at the home [...]

Joe and Rose Mattioli are one of the Last of the Mohicans, so to speak. In a time when NASCAR track ownership is dominated by the giants, ISC and Speedway Motorsports, they are the sole owners/operators of Pocono Raceway.
Pocono is their singular possession into “The Club” of NASCAR track ownership. And it hasn’t been easy. [...]

I think Mad Max orbit around earth has gone to wobble, here’s his take on the past F1 season:
“I think it was an excellent season…”
Geesh Marie, talk about dressing up a swine with a large swath of lip gloss.
He does make one point I partially agree with. In a way.
“I don’t think it has done [...]

NASCAR Southern Style - Confederate Flags, The Alabama Gang, Darlington, Barbecued Beef and Corn Muffins and possibly, The Cornhole Song.
The NEW NASCAR Southern Style - Telenovelas, Empanadas, Football, Turismo Carretera, and the winners of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Put another way, NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow has been outsourced - to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
HAZ Racing, [...]

Pahrump Valley, Nevada loses one of its local race tracks this week.
Pahrump Valley Speedway (PVS), the track where Kurt Busch began racing as a teenager in dwarf cars in the early ’90s, has announced its final race will be held on December 8th after 22 years of operation.
The tracks web page gives no reason for [...]

However, due to circumstances beyond Renault’s control - the Kangaroos on the WMSC court were on holiday - no penalty was imposed.
“The World Council found Renault F1 to be in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code (bringing the sport into disrepute) but imposed no penalty,” according to a statement released Thursday.
“Detailed reasons [...]

Courtesy of Jessy Scholl of Mandan, N.D. via Jerry Bronkowski’s Trading Paint:
Jerry, great opening on 2008 coverage. I just would like to say that Dave Blaney will have a shot at winning before any JGR driver, including Tony Stewart. In fact, I think Tony will likely skip on a new contract extension and join a [...]

One of my early teen years hero’s has passed, Art Arfons exploits as one of the fastest men on the planet inspired myself and many thousands more in a career of speed that lasted many decades and took many forms.
That adoration was shared by my older brother who purchased one of slightly over 7000 Sunbeam [...]

Code Blue!
Code Blue… someone stop the bleeding, the “patient” is running dry! STAT!!!
With the loss of NEXTEL via merger and Anhieser-Busch vacating after 25 years one would think the bleeding would have slowed to a few capillaries here and there but nothing major.
One would be wrong.
The Kansas City Star is reporting another outbreak of Sponsorship [...]

V8 Supercars chairman Tony Cochrane has taken note of Formula One’s foray into Singapore and F1’s first ever night-time championship race. As a result he has made it known to the Lion City’s powers-that-be he desires a place alongside Bernie Ecclestone’s plaything.
Reportedly, discussions are underway to add a V8 Supercar event to the undercard of [...]

Well, not exactly, but I’ll explain in a hot second.
As noted earlier Dale Earnhardt Jr. spent the weekend making a surprise visit to the final round of the V8 Supercar championship at Phillip Island as part of a two-week holiday to the land of the Giant Leaping Rodents. (And an excellent final he did see!)

Must be pretty lonesome at what used to be called The Garage Mahal. The two Juniors are gone, Earnhardt and Eury, along with various and sundry less important personages have all escaped left DEI.
That leaves Teresa, Martin Truex Jr., the universally hated Baby Busch, Max Siegal and a newly acquired seven post shaker for them [...]