A hard run for the new drivers at historic Watkin's Glen, but the sun was out and that helped keep the bumping and crashing to a minimum. Engine damage wasn't uncommon and suspension damage ensued from some debris dropped by cars.
The final resuts saw Team Sidious illustrate who was the Master and who the Apprentice - Lord Torque took first place and Darth Moto took a handy 5th, giving the team 14 Constructors points, tying Team Campbell Towing. Verdigris Eco Racing also put on a good show, with Ethan Awl taking second and Sol Charger taking 8th, catching the last point scoring slot. Team Sherwood captured 3rd with veteran Roland Crash and 4th with Robin van de Hood, giving the team 9 points. Finishing out the scoring, Tombstone Racing scored 6th with Weil Spihn and Team Pi Racing taking 7th with Bartholemew Einstein.
Sadly, Comstock Racing completed the race with both of its drivers, but didn't score any points. Former World Champion Victor Eelap and Edward Rutherford both eliminated by spinouts.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Tombstone Racing Changes Colours!
Tombstone Racing has been searching for some time for a financially well-heeled sponsor to replace the tobbaco industry sponsor which saw the team clad in the mid-blue and white colours and lent the tame the theme for its name (dark humour, one might say).
The search is over! Tombstone Racing has proudly announced their rebranding. They'll keep the name for consistency, but the Dutch superbank ING has come forward to sponsor the Dutch racers. This means an abandonment of the mid-blue and white colours in favour of orange and white (popular with the Dutch drivers and eye-catching on the track).
The newly skinned team is planning to debut its colours at Watkins Glen in the US Grand Prix. Victor Eelap and Weil Spihn will both be racing in memoriam of the innocent people lost to the madman behind the wheel aiming for Queen Beatrix this week in Appledorn.
The team looks forward to a string of victories under the ING banner - after all, as the commercials say: "It's their money!"
The search is over! Tombstone Racing has proudly announced their rebranding. They'll keep the name for consistency, but the Dutch superbank ING has come forward to sponsor the Dutch racers. This means an abandonment of the mid-blue and white colours in favour of orange and white (popular with the Dutch drivers and eye-catching on the track).
The newly skinned team is planning to debut its colours at Watkins Glen in the US Grand Prix. Victor Eelap and Weil Spihn will both be racing in memoriam of the innocent people lost to the madman behind the wheel aiming for Queen Beatrix this week in Appledorn.
The team looks forward to a string of victories under the ING banner - after all, as the commercials say: "It's their money!"
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
One Lap On Montreal
Circuit Giles Villeneuve (bio of the man himself)
Montreal is a very technically complex track. It is very difficult to hit all of the corners perfectly and one often finds one wishes for the half-gear that isn't available. The best you can do is pick the gear that puts you with the best chance of ending where you want to be most of the time. This is normal doctrine in some ways, but the complexity of Montreal insures that some of the time you will miss it and pay in one fashion or another. Montreal is known for being hard on tires and requiring frequent downshifts. It can also be hard on the cars as everyone jockeys for a small range of optimal positions to try to setup the next move. This track is far less forgiving than some and overly fragile cars or overly bad luck can end with a DNF. Pacing is critical - rushes for the front at the beginning may carry the day, but they are more likely to result in cars damaging taking one another out in tight dueling in corners.
You start along the front straight (lower left side of the track image right - travel is clockwise) racing for the sharp left-right 100 degree bend known as Senna and Virages Senna (after Ayrton Senna) which you will hit in 3rd or 4th gear from the start, possibly 5th or 6th in subsequent laps if your aim is true.
You'll likely come out of Virages Senna no faster than 3rd, hitting 4th along the straight into the combined Turn 3 and 4. Similarly 4th, or maybe 5th, will lead you to the combined Turn 5 and 6. But all of these are nasty technical corners, and if you come up short, you'll be down gears and if you come up long, your tires will be screaming and you'll probably end up down gears.
Then it is a hard push up into 5th gear, maybe 6th, then hard into combined Turn 7 and 8. Once through, accelerate up into 5th leading into the hairpin L'Epingle (rightmost side of the board). This will have you gearing down because you hit it and it is so sharp or because you missed it and are scrambling to control the damage!
Out of L'Epingle, it will be a steady run up to 5th gear along Droit Du Casino. If you hit the final Chicane before the front straight and the Pits just right, it'll be back on your way to Senna in 6th gear, breezing across the finish line and completing your lap of Circuit Giles Villenueve.
A Lap of Montreal With Nick Heidfeld (YouTube)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Watkins Glen and Montreal: Two-Fer!
Sunday promises to be an exciting race day with The US Grand Prix (Kingston chapter) run at Watkins Glen and the Canadian Grand Prix (Kingston chapter) run at Circuit Jiles Villeneuve in lovely Montreal in that strange land we call 'the other side of the River'!
Teams are lining up and the race grid promises to be a full one. Team Sidious has plansto take over the world to make a good showing and increase their influence with race fans! Verdigris Eco Racing has plans to get green-lit and to roll to an environmentally sound finish in the winners circle! Team ∏ Racing has done the math and they have proven their victory is a mathematical certainty! Rumours suggest Team Bugbear may try to crush through to a podium while Sherwood Racing may, or may not, appear (typical of forest dwelling bandits).
The double bill will make for a long day of racing, undoubtedly leading to the traditional consumption of beer. It's a good thing several of the teams are sponsored (unofficially) by breweries!
So warm up your engines, heat up your tires, and get ready to race to the checkered flag!
Teams are lining up and the race grid promises to be a full one. Team Sidious has plans
The double bill will make for a long day of racing, undoubtedly leading to the traditional consumption of beer. It's a good thing several of the teams are sponsored (unofficially) by breweries!
So warm up your engines, heat up your tires, and get ready to race to the checkered flag!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Green Thumbs, Lead Feet: Verdigris Eco Racing!
With the growing emphasis on so-called Green Technologies, it was inevitable that a team would appear using various hybrid technologies and with enough financial backing to buy the boatload of carbon offsets that a Formula One team would need to be 'carbon neutral' (especially with composite carbon fibre construction!).
Verdigris Eco Racing
From the rough and tumble world of Baja Rally Racing comes American Ethan Awl (who reminds people it is "ETH-AN" not "EETH-AN"). Ethan has a lot of experience off road and may find that useful from time to time in his F1 career. Canadian Lawrence Eric Trick (goes by Eric or "El Eric Trick") is a former CASCAR driver with a penchant for touch-and-go racing. Their backup is an Israeli - Soloman Raavi Charger (Sol R. Charger) - known for his brilliant performances in several solar challenge races. The cars themselves are special hybrids that the engineering committee has only permitted due to prodigious amounts of purchasing of 'alcohol offsets'. They are expected to race (in their inevitably green clad cars) to a neutral result, preserving the planet in the process!
Verdigris Eco Racing
From the rough and tumble world of Baja Rally Racing comes American Ethan Awl (who reminds people it is "ETH-AN" not "EETH-AN"). Ethan has a lot of experience off road and may find that useful from time to time in his F1 career. Canadian Lawrence Eric Trick (goes by Eric or "El Eric Trick") is a former CASCAR driver with a penchant for touch-and-go racing. Their backup is an Israeli - Soloman Raavi Charger (Sol R. Charger) - known for his brilliant performances in several solar challenge races. The cars themselves are special hybrids that the engineering committee has only permitted due to prodigious amounts of purchasing of 'alcohol offsets'. They are expected to race (in their inevitably green clad cars) to a neutral result, preserving the planet in the process!
Team π Racing joins the Chase!
Team π Racing
Everyone loves Pie! Dressed out in the finest piratical colours - black and white with a dash of red - Team π Racing is anxious to join the pursuit for the Championship trophies! These renegade science majors combine a hold full of engineering and science knowledge with a goodly swig of piratical spirit! Skippered by the German-American Bartholemew "Black Bart" Einstein, kept in line by First Mate Edward "Blackbeard" Rutherford of England, and backed up when the cannons roar by "Calico" Jack Tesla, Team π Racing is ready to set sail for Victory and Plunder! (and I hear they like Wenches too!)
Everyone loves Pie! Dressed out in the finest piratical colours - black and white with a dash of red - Team π Racing is anxious to join the pursuit for the Championship trophies! These renegade science majors combine a hold full of engineering and science knowledge with a goodly swig of piratical spirit! Skippered by the German-American Bartholemew "Black Bart" Einstein, kept in line by First Mate Edward "Blackbeard" Rutherford of England, and backed up when the cannons roar by "Calico" Jack Tesla, Team π Racing is ready to set sail for Victory and Plunder! (and I hear they like Wenches too!)
KERS Improvements Mean Enhanced Capabilities!
Improvements in the KERS system mean enhanced capabilities. Previously, KERS was useful on the straights, but not in or coming out of corners. Further work by the Engineering Task Group has revealed that KERS can be useful coming out of corners (although this is risky - it might cause a spinout!) - the only place KERS is really not going to be useful is in the middle of long, complex corners (2-3 stop versions).
Further, as the car has a safety system to prevent KERS from accidentally firing (including when a car is spun out or in an accident) and this system may be engaged from the exterior of the car while the car is in the pits, some of the limitations for the use of KERS are now being lifted. KERS will prove useful at lower speeds as well.
Formula De Championship Handbook Amendments
Further, as the car has a safety system to prevent KERS from accidentally firing (including when a car is spun out or in an accident) and this system may be engaged from the exterior of the car while the car is in the pits, some of the limitations for the use of KERS are now being lifted. KERS will prove useful at lower speeds as well.
Formula De Championship Handbook Amendments
- KERS may be used when a move starts in a corner only if that move is the last required stop in the corner. If KERS is triggered on move starting in a corner, a Spinout Check is made using the Black D20. On a 1-2 (1-3 in the Rain), the car will Spinout and also suffers one point of tire damage, otherwise the Driver maintains control successfully.
- KERS is not discharged in the pits nor in a spinout. The KERS Charge Marker is retained in these circumstances.
- KERS is no longer limited to only be used in 4th gear or higher. Cars that have spunout or otherwise have had to gear down to very low gears may also leverage the boost.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
US Grand Prix: Watkins Glen (Summary)
Triumph and Tragedy in the Pouring Rain
Amid terrible driving conditions, a grid full of racers vied for the US Grand Prix at the venerable Watkins Glen. Due to the extremely wet conditions, it was decided to run the simpler Nascar track, including the Charlie Chicane but omitting the Boot. Five teams filled out the starting grid: Scotia Motorworks (SMW), Initorque Motorworks (IMW), Princess' Pink Ponies (PPP), Team Poderoso Sporin (TPS), and Team Campbell Towing (TCT). Team Sidious was unable to show up due to a family crisis for the team owner and Serbian Speedworks were still having problems with the Travel Visas for their Serbian drivers, so they ended up not making the race either. The rain came down in sheets, but the race must go on...
From the very start, the race promised to be a seesaw battle, featuring many passes, the frequent use of brakes and of the KERS system as well as slipstreaming. The race also proved that wet roads lead to accidents, with body and suspension damage shedding parts all over the track and 4 cars (Hernando MacGregor of TPS, Princess Fire of PPP, Alice Gibbons of IMW, and Robert Bruce of SMW) succumbing to debris or collisions caused by the wet conditions and poor visibility. In the end, cleanup crews had to clean up more than a score of significant debris deposits around the track from collisions and car damage - the rain made it almost as much demolition derby as F1 race.
Injury and Death on the Race Track
The most tragic of the accidents was the terrible collision between "Steady Eddie" from TCT and Robert Bruce of SMW - the two cars slammed together, and a wheel-on-wheel hookup launched Bruce's car into the air, with the air catching it and flipping it over, to smash down tho the ground. Emergency crews raced to the scene and did their best to get Robert out and to the helipad to be airlifted to New York City's medical facilities, but Robert later succumbed to his injuries, the first F1 casualty (and hopefully the last) of the 2009 season. All of the members of the close-knit Formula One Racing community send their condolences to his widow, Nicole Bruce (nee Kiddman).
The horrible accident claiming Robert Bruce wasn't the only injurious outcome - TPS driver Hernando MacGregor suffered a broken arm and a concussion from a retirement caused by a particularly large chunk of debris from another car. MacGregor is expected to make a full recovery, perhaps as soon as the next race or the one after. MacGregor's team-mate MacDougall held on to score 3 points for TPS for placing 6th.
Despite the shakeup of the horrible accident, Scotia Motorworks' William Wallace showed his metal by placing 4th to claim a decent point score for SMW.
Top Finishers
The podiums went to the newcomer Princess' Pink Ponies' driver Princess Sun (1st), and the equally new Team Campbell Towing's very fast cars driven by Edward Steady (2nd) and Steve Buscemi (3rd). Initorque Motoworks Walter Bolton salvaged 4 points for a 5th place finish.
The race had at least three spinouts in the rain and the mechanics were busy in the pits - only one fast pit, but a regular stream of cars in for repairs. The Back Straight and the Short Straight proved fairly fast, as did the Front Straight when cars were not bound for the pits.
Overall Standings
At the end of the race, Team Campbell Towing is the team to beat, recording a sizable lead int he Constructor's Championship (14 pts) and taking two good positions for its drivers (8 and 6 points). Princess' Pink Ponies logged an impressive victory to start their career (10 pts Constructors, 10 points Driver's for Princess Sun). Behind these two teams, SMW (despite losing Bruce) have 5 Constructor points (and 5 Driver points for Wallace). IMW's Walter Boulton has 4 points in the Driver's and IMW has the same 4 in the Constructors. Team Poderoso Sporin finishes out the points, with Guadalupe MacDougall getting their 3 points (both Driver's and Constructors).
To Montreal and Circuit Jacques Villeneuve
The next race up on the schedule is the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal, after the funeral ceremony for Robert Bruce. Scotia Motoworks backup driver Robert Roy MacGregor is ready to step in, albeit sadly, to the big shoes of Robert Bruce. Montreal should be another tight race, with lots of short straights and tight corners.
KERS and the enhanced downforce aerodynamics package featured prominently at Watkins Glen and are expected to play a significant role in the brake-burning Montreal Circuit Jacques Villeneuve.
See you in Montreal, race fans!
Amid terrible driving conditions, a grid full of racers vied for the US Grand Prix at the venerable Watkins Glen. Due to the extremely wet conditions, it was decided to run the simpler Nascar track, including the Charlie Chicane but omitting the Boot. Five teams filled out the starting grid: Scotia Motorworks (SMW), Initorque Motorworks (IMW), Princess' Pink Ponies (PPP), Team Poderoso Sporin (TPS), and Team Campbell Towing (TCT). Team Sidious was unable to show up due to a family crisis for the team owner and Serbian Speedworks were still having problems with the Travel Visas for their Serbian drivers, so they ended up not making the race either. The rain came down in sheets, but the race must go on...
From the very start, the race promised to be a seesaw battle, featuring many passes, the frequent use of brakes and of the KERS system as well as slipstreaming. The race also proved that wet roads lead to accidents, with body and suspension damage shedding parts all over the track and 4 cars (Hernando MacGregor of TPS, Princess Fire of PPP, Alice Gibbons of IMW, and Robert Bruce of SMW) succumbing to debris or collisions caused by the wet conditions and poor visibility. In the end, cleanup crews had to clean up more than a score of significant debris deposits around the track from collisions and car damage - the rain made it almost as much demolition derby as F1 race.
Injury and Death on the Race Track
The most tragic of the accidents was the terrible collision between "Steady Eddie" from TCT and Robert Bruce of SMW - the two cars slammed together, and a wheel-on-wheel hookup launched Bruce's car into the air, with the air catching it and flipping it over, to smash down tho the ground. Emergency crews raced to the scene and did their best to get Robert out and to the helipad to be airlifted to New York City's medical facilities, but Robert later succumbed to his injuries, the first F1 casualty (and hopefully the last) of the 2009 season. All of the members of the close-knit Formula One Racing community send their condolences to his widow, Nicole Bruce (nee Kiddman).
The horrible accident claiming Robert Bruce wasn't the only injurious outcome - TPS driver Hernando MacGregor suffered a broken arm and a concussion from a retirement caused by a particularly large chunk of debris from another car. MacGregor is expected to make a full recovery, perhaps as soon as the next race or the one after. MacGregor's team-mate MacDougall held on to score 3 points for TPS for placing 6th.
Despite the shakeup of the horrible accident, Scotia Motorworks' William Wallace showed his metal by placing 4th to claim a decent point score for SMW.
Top Finishers
The podiums went to the newcomer Princess' Pink Ponies' driver Princess Sun (1st), and the equally new Team Campbell Towing's very fast cars driven by Edward Steady (2nd) and Steve Buscemi (3rd). Initorque Motoworks Walter Bolton salvaged 4 points for a 5th place finish.
The race had at least three spinouts in the rain and the mechanics were busy in the pits - only one fast pit, but a regular stream of cars in for repairs. The Back Straight and the Short Straight proved fairly fast, as did the Front Straight when cars were not bound for the pits.
Overall Standings
At the end of the race, Team Campbell Towing is the team to beat, recording a sizable lead int he Constructor's Championship (14 pts) and taking two good positions for its drivers (8 and 6 points). Princess' Pink Ponies logged an impressive victory to start their career (10 pts Constructors, 10 points Driver's for Princess Sun). Behind these two teams, SMW (despite losing Bruce) have 5 Constructor points (and 5 Driver points for Wallace). IMW's Walter Boulton has 4 points in the Driver's and IMW has the same 4 in the Constructors. Team Poderoso Sporin finishes out the points, with Guadalupe MacDougall getting their 3 points (both Driver's and Constructors).
To Montreal and Circuit Jacques Villeneuve
The next race up on the schedule is the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal, after the funeral ceremony for Robert Bruce. Scotia Motoworks backup driver Robert Roy MacGregor is ready to step in, albeit sadly, to the big shoes of Robert Bruce. Montreal should be another tight race, with lots of short straights and tight corners.
KERS and the enhanced downforce aerodynamics package featured prominently at Watkins Glen and are expected to play a significant role in the brake-burning Montreal Circuit Jacques Villeneuve.
See you in Montreal, race fans!
Late additions to the US Grand Prix Grid
Pretty Pink Ponies (PPP)
A whimsical name, but a serious team of contenders! Backed by European old-money, allegedly from royalty, with cars driven by two members of minor European nobility - gorgeous young ladies from the Grand Principality of Faerie, an even smaller country than Monaco or Lichtenshtein and as hard to find as Andorra or Shangri-La. The two ladies, styling themselves "Princess Sun" and "Princess Fire", haven't much of a pedigree in Formula One Racing, but both have obviously had some good training from someone at a private track somewhere. Backed up by unorthodox designs and a backup driver "Princess Light", the team is ready to try to make its mark in the Shocking Flamingo Pink rides!
Team Campbell Towing (TCT)
This team hopes for column inches in the sports pages by recruiting high-profile celebrity! The infamous Mr. Pink, American Steve Buscemi, will be driving for Team Campbell Towing, backed up by the Englishman Edward "Steady Eddie" Steady. Their backup driver is Richard Hammar, known more for his stand-up comedy than for amazing driving abilities - again, an appeal to popular media and an attempt to get the best publicity for the Team's sponsor, reclusive billionaire Richard Campbell who made his billions in board game design and tow truck operations.
Buscemi has already been heard to threaten several race officials in conjunction with the limitations of the KERS modules in the cars. Richard Hammar has been seen courting many of the F1 groupies and complaining about the lack of heavy weapons in Formula One. So far, no charges have been laid.
A whimsical name, but a serious team of contenders! Backed by European old-money, allegedly from royalty, with cars driven by two members of minor European nobility - gorgeous young ladies from the Grand Principality of Faerie, an even smaller country than Monaco or Lichtenshtein and as hard to find as Andorra or Shangri-La. The two ladies, styling themselves "Princess Sun" and "Princess Fire", haven't much of a pedigree in Formula One Racing, but both have obviously had some good training from someone at a private track somewhere. Backed up by unorthodox designs and a backup driver "Princess Light", the team is ready to try to make its mark in the Shocking Flamingo Pink rides!
Team Campbell Towing (TCT)
This team hopes for column inches in the sports pages by recruiting high-profile celebrity! The infamous Mr. Pink, American Steve Buscemi, will be driving for Team Campbell Towing, backed up by the Englishman Edward "Steady Eddie" Steady. Their backup driver is Richard Hammar, known more for his stand-up comedy than for amazing driving abilities - again, an appeal to popular media and an attempt to get the best publicity for the Team's sponsor, reclusive billionaire Richard Campbell who made his billions in board game design and tow truck operations.
Buscemi has already been heard to threaten several race officials in conjunction with the limitations of the KERS modules in the cars. Richard Hammar has been seen courting many of the F1 groupies and complaining about the lack of heavy weapons in Formula One. So far, no charges have been laid.
Friday, April 24, 2009
ComStock Racing joins the Series!
Decked out in British Racing Green with Yellow accents (because Red is reserved for soldier's jackets and Brown for soldier's pants in England), ComStock Racing joins the 2009 Formula De Championship chase! With English driver Graham Hill, they have an experienced British racer with a historic namesake - perhaps the legacy will continue with the new generation? Scottish driver James Clarke also has a family history of racing and winning, leaving ComStock in a good position to vie for the title! Their third, Nigel "von" Bear of England, is a relatively unknown racer who has done most of his pre-F1 racing in Canada in relative obscurity. Rumour has it he's a 'bear' on the track though!
Good luck to ComStock in their pursuit for the Championship!
Good luck to ComStock in their pursuit for the Championship!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
First Race (Ottawa): Historic Watkins Glen
F1 Ottawa will be running the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen this coming Friday. Competition is expected to be fierce! Team Poderoso Sporin is warming up their Tamales for the after-race victory party, Initorque Motors seems to have chilled the beer, and Tombstone Racing already has plans for a trip to Amsterdam to celebrate victory! Team Sidious is lurking in the shadows, apparently reluctant to be seen in the light of day, but they are expected to pull a 'come from behind' manoeuvre to attempt to victory and to have their REVENGE! Other teams are expected to be present as well, so the grid should be full and the racing should be exciting!
The track is known to be rainy about 1 day in 3 overall with a fair number of those including a mix of sun and rain. Sun in the most likely outcome, but Mother nature is unpredictable!
To get the feeling of what it will be like, see this Porsche 914 run a very fast lap through traffic at the Glen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6K78YKA9UE
Watkin's Glen Track Walk-Through
Starting on the front straight in the bottom left corner of the track map....
From pit straight into a fast 90 right-hander, up into 4th along a short straight (left side) to another fast 55 degree right-hander. This is followed by a short straight, likely in 3rd or 4th gear, into a mild 45 degree left hander that let's you keep the speed up. Another short straight in 4th leads into another right-hand turn, a fast 40 degree bend that opens into the back straight (top).
Along the back straight in 5th gear into a double downshift through the chicane and into a fast sweeping right-hander corner into 4th gear (top right) then down onto a short straight still in 4th. A fast acute left (about 120 degrees) still in 4th, then along another short straight to the wide hairpin (bottom right) in 4th or (if you are lucky) 5th gear. Down the straight (bottom left) in 5th gear.
At the end of that straight, a 105 degree right-hander leads into a short straight in 4th gear into another 105 degree turn, this time a left hander. From there, onto a short straight, through a 70 degree left-hand turn and down towards the final corner, a 90 degree bend in 5th gear if you are truly daring! Then, up to 6th gear down the front straight and past the finish line and the pits!
And thus, you have completed a lap of the Watkin's Glen road course, the longer version which will be used in the US Grand Prix of 2009.
The track is known to be rainy about 1 day in 3 overall with a fair number of those including a mix of sun and rain. Sun in the most likely outcome, but Mother nature is unpredictable!
To get the feeling of what it will be like, see this Porsche 914 run a very fast lap through traffic at the Glen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6K78YKA9UE
Watkin's Glen Track Walk-Through
Starting on the front straight in the bottom left corner of the track map....From pit straight into a fast 90 right-hander, up into 4th along a short straight (left side) to another fast 55 degree right-hander. This is followed by a short straight, likely in 3rd or 4th gear, into a mild 45 degree left hander that let's you keep the speed up. Another short straight in 4th leads into another right-hand turn, a fast 40 degree bend that opens into the back straight (top).
Along the back straight in 5th gear into a double downshift through the chicane and into a fast sweeping right-hander corner into 4th gear (top right) then down onto a short straight still in 4th. A fast acute left (about 120 degrees) still in 4th, then along another short straight to the wide hairpin (bottom right) in 4th or (if you are lucky) 5th gear. Down the straight (bottom left) in 5th gear.
At the end of that straight, a 105 degree right-hander leads into a short straight in 4th gear into another 105 degree turn, this time a left hander. From there, onto a short straight, through a 70 degree left-hand turn and down towards the final corner, a 90 degree bend in 5th gear if you are truly daring! Then, up to 6th gear down the front straight and past the finish line and the pits!
And thus, you have completed a lap of the Watkin's Glen road course, the longer version which will be used in the US Grand Prix of 2009.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Team Bugbear - a Family Affair!
Most F1 Teams have huge multi-national sponsorship deals, but Team Bugbear is trying to presuade people that a season can be run by a well-motivated family.
Team Bugbear
Team Bugbear's drivers are Nathan McBugbear, of County Cork, Ireland - a moderately well-known GT racer with experience in European WRC racing as well. His cousin, Darak McBugbear of Moscow, Ontario, Canada, known to have raced a few times as a fill in driver in Indy Lite series, is also the team's electromechanical engineer. Assisting him is his half-brother Lavarn McBugbear of Yarker, Ontario, Canada, whose expertise is Aerodynamics. They've got something to prove and they aren't afraid to drive hard to prove it!
Team Bugbear
Team Bugbear's drivers are Nathan McBugbear, of County Cork, Ireland - a moderately well-known GT racer with experience in European WRC racing as well. His cousin, Darak McBugbear of Moscow, Ontario, Canada, known to have raced a few times as a fill in driver in Indy Lite series, is also the team's electromechanical engineer. Assisting him is his half-brother Lavarn McBugbear of Yarker, Ontario, Canada, whose expertise is Aerodynamics. They've got something to prove and they aren't afraid to drive hard to prove it!
Further Recruiting Promises Diversity and Excitement!
Other new teams' spokesmodels have provided your favourite correspondent Wurray Malker with the low-down on from their higher-ups!
Team Poderoso Sporin
Spark up the mariachi bagpipes, compadres! Guadalupe McDougall and Hernando McGregor appearing in your rear-view (you so far behind you think you're ahead, girlfren').
In the interest of cultural diversity, these proud Scottish Mexicans have taken on a plucky young Mexican Scot as an alternate, Seamus Ramirez, so hijinx are bound to ensue. Together, they proudly wear the red and white as Team Poderoso Sporin.
Team Sidious
And in Black and Red comes Team Sidious with the familiar faces of Darth Moto and Lord Torque. While Team Sidious normally operates only in pairs, one master and one apprentice, they have surprisingly brought forth a third by the name of Dyno Slicks. Team management feel he looks a little shifty and bloodthirsty to me... almost hoping that one of his tutors will meet an untimely end!
Initorque Motors
Initorque Motorworks in the classic blue and white have fielded a new captain, Alice Gibbons. The disgraced former star of the Canadian Rallysport League has shown significant promise in the F1 circuit dispite complaints of "all these other cars on my track". With her is pudgy, indifferent but lovable fan favourite, Walter "Wally" Bolton. Chief mechanic Asok Nagheenanajar is a ten-year veteran of IMW. He's a tinkerer who would rather be under the hood than behind the wheel, but can be called upon to race if need arises.
(Rumour has it Asok occasionally suffers flashbacks to a future life, suddenly calling out "It's a Twwaaaaappppp!")
It looks to be a promising season!
Team Poderoso Sporin
Spark up the mariachi bagpipes, compadres! Guadalupe McDougall and Hernando McGregor appearing in your rear-view (you so far behind you think you're ahead, girlfren').
In the interest of cultural diversity, these proud Scottish Mexicans have taken on a plucky young Mexican Scot as an alternate, Seamus Ramirez, so hijinx are bound to ensue. Together, they proudly wear the red and white as Team Poderoso Sporin.
Team Sidious
And in Black and Red comes Team Sidious with the familiar faces of Darth Moto and Lord Torque. While Team Sidious normally operates only in pairs, one master and one apprentice, they have surprisingly brought forth a third by the name of Dyno Slicks. Team management feel he looks a little shifty and bloodthirsty to me... almost hoping that one of his tutors will meet an untimely end!
Initorque Motors
Initorque Motorworks in the classic blue and white have fielded a new captain, Alice Gibbons. The disgraced former star of the Canadian Rallysport League has shown significant promise in the F1 circuit dispite complaints of "all these other cars on my track". With her is pudgy, indifferent but lovable fan favourite, Walter "Wally" Bolton. Chief mechanic Asok Nagheenanajar is a ten-year veteran of IMW. He's a tinkerer who would rather be under the hood than behind the wheel, but can be called upon to race if need arises.
(Rumour has it Asok occasionally suffers flashbacks to a future life, suddenly calling out "It's a Twwaaaaappppp!")
It looks to be a promising season!
Monday, April 20, 2009
2009 Championship Teams Recruiting
Early reports indicate that Tombstone Racing (Blue and White) has once again signed veteran driver and former Championship winner Victor Eelap. The Dutchman has a reputation for daring rushes from the mid-field in mid-race and for strong finishes. Commentators think he will make a strong lead driver fot Tombstone as he has in the past. Tombstone is also reputed to be closing a deal with Weil Spihn, the other Dutch driver with a past with the team. The team has also recruited a new rookie, Max Axcel of Norway, as a backup in case any untoward events render either of the primary drivers unable to compete.
A new entry into the series, Sherwood Racing (Green and Red) hopes to prove their potential. They have recruited Robin van de Hood, a former GT car notable, into their ranks. Team owner Hilchie obviously feels that Robin can make the transition to open-wheel racing with ease - time will tell. To reinforce his rookie talent, Hilchie and Sherwood have recruited the veteran Roland Crash of France. Roland is a seasoned driver with prior open-wheel experience and will provide the seasoning and solid drive that a team needs from a secondary driver. To fill out their roster, Sherwood has recuited the Englishman Jonathan Small, a former Touring Car racer who shows potential. Sherwood seems well placed to make a bold showing this season.
Another new Team appearing on the radar is Scotia Motorwerks (White and Blue). Scotia recruited Formula 3000 driver Robert Bruce for their lead driver, Touring Car racer "Wee" Willie Wallace for their secondary driver, and a wet-behind-the-ears rookie Robert R. Macgregor as their backup. The team is new, their car designs untested, and all of the drivers are from Scotland which is also an unusual thing in the multi-national world of Formula One racing. They'll be worth watching, if only to see if they fall on their faces the first time out.
A new entry into the series, Sherwood Racing (Green and Red) hopes to prove their potential. They have recruited Robin van de Hood, a former GT car notable, into their ranks. Team owner Hilchie obviously feels that Robin can make the transition to open-wheel racing with ease - time will tell. To reinforce his rookie talent, Hilchie and Sherwood have recruited the veteran Roland Crash of France. Roland is a seasoned driver with prior open-wheel experience and will provide the seasoning and solid drive that a team needs from a secondary driver. To fill out their roster, Sherwood has recuited the Englishman Jonathan Small, a former Touring Car racer who shows potential. Sherwood seems well placed to make a bold showing this season.
Another new Team appearing on the radar is Scotia Motorwerks (White and Blue). Scotia recruited Formula 3000 driver Robert Bruce for their lead driver, Touring Car racer "Wee" Willie Wallace for their secondary driver, and a wet-behind-the-ears rookie Robert R. Macgregor as their backup. The team is new, their car designs untested, and all of the drivers are from Scotland which is also an unusual thing in the multi-national world of Formula One racing. They'll be worth watching, if only to see if they fall on their faces the first time out.
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