Todays "Duh..."

I long ago gave up throwing snack food at the TV when racing drivers made apparently bone-headed moves.  It's a lot harder than it looks, as I learned doing high-speed autocross, without anybody to race into a corner, or get out of the way for.

But color commentators still grind my molars.  Today's pearl of wisdom from IndyCar at Detroit:

     "It's raining and, don't forget, folks, this is a street circuit with normal, crowned, public
     roads.  The crown works with you on corner-entry but the car goes loose on exit."

Who doesn't know this?  Come on down to the Dragon's crowns, commentator.  Try it at 9/10's.  Or 8/10's in the rain.

Happy Birthday, Jack Baldwin

Jack Baldwin will be 67 years young on May 31.  I watched him win a race at Mosport on TV yesterday in his Porsche Cayman S.  He launched it into the lead from 3rd on the grid, led for most of the race, got passed by the 2nd place Mustang near the end when he made a minor mistake, set him up beautifully, and re-passed for the win.  Mosport is not a club circuit.  It is right up there with the rest of the great North American circuits, and might be the best: not for the faint-of-heart.

I remember reading about Baldwin's wins and championships in Road & Track when I was young and busy with raising kids and/or living in The Great Sports Car Desert.  Too poor and busy to spend the money and time to see him run "live."  Maybe I'll catch him yet if we're both at Road America on the same weekend.

Baldwin is one of those journeyman American sports car drivers who never made it to the top rank with a big-name team, but who is better than most instructors we might encounter at a school like Barber or Bondurant.  His consistency and racecraft are a delight to watch.  He's not just "good for an old guy," he's flat good at an age when most drivers have been retired for 20 years or more.  Happy Birthday, Jack.  Here's a link to his Wikipedia page for those who want to check his record:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Baldwin_(racing_driver)

Above: Baldwin counter-steering through Rainey Curve at Laguna Seca.  Below: entering Turn 5 at Road America in the
rain.  He was IMSA GTU Champion in this Mazda RX-7 in 1984 and 1985.  But the winning tradition began in 1972 when
he won the SCCA Formula Ford (amateur) Championship in 1972.

2012-2015: Not fast for an Old Guy, just plain fast in a Porsche Cayman S.  A championship contender.

Leno Uncovers Another Slayer

If I lived in Robbinsville or Maryville, I would be on Matt Brown's doorstep with a check for $10,000. Would he let it go for that?  Some serious thought and shade-tree engineering went into this build.  He's clearly a proud papa.  And he learns from his mistakes: Viper to New Mini to home-built.  ;-)

One commenter on the Leno post asked if it has a reverse gear.  That's not the right question.  Do you need a top or windows?  No.  Just leave it in the garage for sunny weekdays on the Dragon.  Push it out.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsbfzmPCYX4

Tifosi In 1954? Yup.

This picture looks like it was taken at tech inspection in the Plaza, not approaching the start line (angle, available light).
Either way, it's amazing that the organizers got through the event schedules on time.

They may be Lancia D 24's, not Ferraris, and it may be the Mille Miglia, not Monza.  But the principle and the sentiment is the same.  540 is Eugenio Castellotti (DNF, "mechanical"), 602 is Alberto Ascari (won), 541 is Gino Valenzano (DNF, accident).

Fine Old Ford Film

The "photo finish" staged by Ford at LeMans in 1966.

Thanks to Mac's Motor City Garage via the Midwest Council of Sports Car Clubs FaceBook page for the link to this film:

http://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/2015/05/12/video-visa-to-lemans-a-1967-ford-racing-film/

I recall the hype around Ford's "computer controlled" dyno testing of the 7-liter Mark II engine at the time: supposedly the engine ran trouble-free for 48 hours on a program that replicated a lap at LeMans. And, unlike 1964 and 1965, the GT 40's had reliable engines.

Hail And Farewell, Crown Vic

OK, it's a Mercury Grand Marquis, not a Ford Crown Vic.  Killboy's caption: "You're not in Kansas any more."
Another thing that's wrong with this picture: no light bar, antennas, or dog dish hubcaps.

A neighbor is a Deputy for my County Sheriff's Department.  He will not be sorry to see his Crown Vic go, but not because he doesn't love the car.  Because it is old and worn out.  His replacement vehicle will be a Ford Taurus or Explorer.  Of the two, he prefers the Explorer--it's roomier inside.  Thirty percent of the new vehicles will be unmarked.  Illinois State Troopers (and other States) use the same.  An adjoining County and many local authorities hereabouts use Chevy Impalas.

I already miss the Crown Vic, and it's not even completely gone yet.  This has nothing to do with its atrocious handling and the driving skills of its civilian owners, demonstrated over the decades.  It has to do with the Crown Vic's visibility in a sea of smaller sedans, SUV's, and pickup trucks.  When you spot one, chances are 50/50 that it's an l.e.o. in his cruiser.  Even unmarked, they are easier to spot at a distance: a useful supplement to a radar detector.

Taurus, Explorer, Impala = Advantage Speed Enforcement.  Especially with the pencil-thin light bars most authorities now run.  Sigh...

"You're Doing It Wrong"

Not this way...

But this way:

If you do your 911 in "Porsche Psychedelic," do it right--and don't drag The Pink Pig into it.  ;-)