In 1999 while leading in the season points championships in the PS2 class during a weekend of sprint and endurance racing at Laguna Seca a professional photographer took this photo. It was taken while I was coming thru the world famous Corkscrew which is the most photographed corner of any race track in the world. Later he sent the photo to me and I was truly amazed by the quality of photo but it had one major flaw that had to be touched up. See if you can spot what was repaired. (Will and Charmagne are not allowed to help.)
For years I have had a fascination and love affair with the rich history of the Vanderbilt Cup Series. I must admit, one of my biggest reasons for this interest is because of that same history as it relates to the area which I call home… San Francisco. This story has it all, intrigue, fortunes, men with power, race cars, airplanes, world travel.
To get things started it helps to understand how much more the San Francisco Vanderbilt Series Race stood out than any other race and that’s saying something considering how amazing any of the Vanderbilt Series Cup events were. The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was a world’s fair held in San Francisco Continue reading →
When it comes to racing everyone seems to have their own agenda and understandably so. However one of the biggest misconceptions regarding agendas that some drivers have is that not all of them are hell bent on leather to just win races. On the contrary many drivers are more than happy just being part of the adventure and sharing all that they love with others and taking part of all that it entails… The excitement, the smell of fuel and burning rubber, the sights and sounds of cars sliding as gracefully into the apex of a turn much like the elegant hand of Sophia Loren slipping into a perfectly fit evening glove.
I really admire any racer that feels the need to give back something but there are a few that love it so much in fact that not only do they want to enjoy it and share that experience with others but in fact they go out of their way to find a way to use it to help others. One such person is none other than Michael Emery of Lucha Libre Racing and I feel it worth mentioning. Recently BRINGATRAILER.COM wrote a nice article about Michael and his efforts to not only race again in this years La Carrera Panamericana but also about his efforts to raise money to help a very worthwhile cause. CLICK HERE (http://lacarrera2007.blogspot.com/2008/07/featured-la-carrera-car-article.html) to take you to the article which is also posted on my blog at http://lacarrera2007.blogspot.com/
There will be more posted with regards to this cause as California’s Best Racing Team also takes part helping out the same efforts when we attend the get together in San Miguel de Allende in October with many other La Carrera Panamericana teams and celebrities. Trust me when I tell you, the efforts made by racing gentlemen like Michael Emery really DO make a difference and if that doesn’t put a smile on your face nothing ever will. Take the plunge and send something his way. Even the smallest amount makes a HUGE difference in Mexico.
Starting some years ago one of my passions for speed led me to becoming an active member of the North American Eagle which is a challenger built to take back the Supersonic land speed record from the Brits and return it to the United States. Our goal is to break the existing record of 763 mph by reaching 800 mph! The main power plant for this awesome machine is a J-79 turbojet jet engine that was originally was used in the Phantom F-4’s. There is also the possibility of utilizing a small 6,000 lb. thrust liquid propellant motor for added boost. The car weighs about 13,500 lb., but instead of the approximately 180 hp V-8 engine under the hood, the North American Eagle has 39,000 hp! It would take about $10,000,000 dollars to build the car today, which includes developmental, engineering and non-recurring costs. Someone once asked, “Can you drive this car on the street?”… The answer is no. For some reason the state highway patrol have problems with cars that shoot 70 foot flames from the tailpipe! You think you gave fuel economy problems? In full afterburner this car consumes about 10 gallons of jet fuel every second! In one mile it burns 50 gallons. Do the math… that works out to .02 miles per gallon, or about 105 feet per gallon. All of a sudden $5.00 a gallon to fill my 22 gallon pickup doesn’t seems so bad. Continue reading →
Having been involved professionally in the automotive repair and service industry since the 60’s I can comfortably say I have seen it all. Over the years a lot has changed… cars are much more advanced and technical than they once were which obviously has made a huge difference in the training and quality of professionalism. Back in the 60’s just about anyone with a few basic tools could perform almost any service or repair needed. Guys from the local gas station with names like Leroy, Bill or Jim could troubleshoot just anything the motorist needed and usually without a charge. As a result of today’s complex automobiles today’s diagnostic skills require far more experience and training than the Leroy’s Bill’s and Jim’s could ever offer.
Other than good service (a term used far too much these days) about the only thing that has remained a constant with regard to the auto industry is the consumers need to be very aware of who is advising them. Of course this topic is one we could write volumes about and the truth is in my opinion besides the fact that there is a legit reason for consumers to be cautious, what really needs to happen is that BOTH auto service/repair facilities AND consumers need to get educated. There is LOTS to learn and teach. It’s very common for a shop to have a good understanding as to what may or may not be required to keep an automobile performing at an optimum and reliable efficiency status but the consumer may not. For this reason the key word is “communication” and educating a consumer as to what might happen after words is also a key factor. Continue reading →
Simply put fire is every drivers worst fear. God forbid people will write, “Well at least he died doing what he loved.” I will admit I have made that same comment when drivers have lost their lives but I can honestly say I have never said it about anyone who has been overcome by fire.
I never met Scott that I know of but I had been around his father quite a bit back in my straight-line days. I suppose it’s possible he was there as a little boy but I don’t remember him back then. Even though I never raced at his level back in the 60’s and 70’s it was common place to pit right next to all the big names like Garlits, Muldowney, Prudhomme, Wild Willy Borsch and the rest of them on any given race weekend. Nobody had those big rigs back then and everything fit on one flatbed trailer typically towed with the family station wagon. All of them always treated everyone like you were best friends. One of the reason I liked Connie Kalitta so much is I read so much about him when I was a boy growing up in Oregon and he always drove the coolest cars and he seemed younger than many of the others. I honestly still have pages of his cars that I tore out of magazines and tacked to my bed room wall when I was a teenager. He helped me set up the carbs on one of my cars one time in between rounds. I used to sit in The Bounty Hunter and somewhere I have photos of it.
Having known Connie Kalitta so well I have no doubt Scott was a chip off the old block. Gods Speed Scott and my thoughts an prayers go out to his family and friends during these tough times.
Speak up now or forever hold your piece not only applies to weddings but in car races as well. Have you ever wished you could take part in a world famous race? Well here is your big chance and like the old saying, there is no time like the present. My very good friend Francisco Ortiz has years of experience running La Carrera Panamericana in several cars. Last year he ran a beautifully prepared Datsun 510 replica of PETE BROCK’s BRE 510. Francisco is already signed up to run again this year’s world famous La Carrera Panamericana and is looking for a navigator. This is the opportunity of a lifetime in more ways than one. Since Francisco is from Mexico obviously he speaks Spanish (and English), has a very good understanding of all the customs of Mexico and knows the roads very well. This is a great opportunity for someone to arrive and take part without all of the concerns of the long drive to get there. All you need to do is arrive a couple days in advance with your racing suit and helmet and Francisco will be able to get you familier with your duties as navigator. Continue reading →
One of my good friends and fellow NASA driver instructor Dave Brown and I have raced together with NASA for years. Check out the following link where Dave has a little fun helping Mitsubishi with a program called “EPIPHANY PROJECT”. Customers who have recently purchased Mitsubishi Eclipse get to take the car for a test drive around a “test track” while Dave rides along in the passenger’s seat. The drivers think Dave is simply a Mitsubishi Rep and after their “Putt-Putt” ride around a closed course Dave asks them if they would like to swap seats and let him show them a few of the features they probably aren’t aware of. What they are not aware of is Dave has been racing since the beginning of time not to mention that he is a 2 time U.S. Touring Champ as well as owner of DB Motorsports. Thanks to the in-car camera we are blessed with the unforgettable reactions on their faces while Dave calmly gives the car what for. As you watch each of the 8 driver’s video you get to hear them talk about how well they think the car can work but needless to say after they take the ride with Dave they are left speechless. Great job Dave!
About 50 of us fellow La Carrera Panamericana nuts got together in Pasadena California for a fiesta at Ron Lee’s home where we lied about how fast we go, how cool our cars are and how big our… Engines are. Our host Ron Lee and his wife were extremely gracious and the grog and ale were as good as it gets. Besides drivers, navigators, fans and some directors, we were honored by the presence of Eduardo Leon the President of La Carrera Panamericana.
Ron has an incredible car collection many of which he built himself to his impeccable standards. As the evening continued not only did we get to enjoy each other’s stories and company and but we also got to enjoy the sounds and smell as Ron revved up a few of his awesome sounding toys. The Philharmonic Orchestra doesn’t hold a candle up to the sounds we enjoyed!
There is already talk of another La Carrera Fiesta at Laguna Seca on the same weekend of the Monterey Historics. Do I hear Lucky asking to be uncaged?
I have no doubt my opinion of the following matter will upset some but in the same breath I am willing to wager none of those who will be upset will be drivers who are qualified and have years of seat time behind them and that have gone through the proper means of obtaining a racing license.
This weekend there was a fatality during the 24 Hours of Lemons at Altamont Raceway. As all of us know racing is in fact a dangerous sport and not to be taken lightly. Any racing fatality is sad and I want to personally extend my prayers and concern to the family and friends of all concerned. Continue reading →
