Chevrotlet Out of the 24 Hours of LeMans?

Autosport magazine reports that Chevrolet is pulling out of LeMans for 2009. Chevrolet was to compete with it's GT-1 Corvettes for Sebring and Long Beach in the ALMS series to prepare for the 24 Hours of LeMans as the final race for the GT-1s then begin racing the new GT-2 Corvettes in the second half of the ALMS season. Chevrolet is denying that report at this time.

If this report turns out to be true, it will be the first major project to fall due to the American automobile manufacturer crisis. Unfortunately, I think programs like Corvette will be the first to fall rather than NASCAR programs. This is unfortunate, as the Corvette program is more germane to road cars than NASCAR is. Technology from the programs like the Corvettes can be applied to road cars because the race cars are road car based.

Let's hope that Autosport's report is false.

Mac McCormick
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Uproar Over Rick Warren

Splashed across the news yesterday was the story that the gay and lesbian community is upset that Obama has given a prime speaking slot in the Inauguration ceremony to Rick Warren. They believe that he should be removed from the slot because he is opposed to gay and lesbian marriage. Surely they could find someone else to be upset at than Warren. He is one of the more moderate evangelists I can think of; it is not like Obama chose someone like Dobson.

One of the problems we have now are things just like this: an unwillingness to compromise on anything. If we disagree with someone's stance on an issue we try to exclude them from anything we are involved in. I congratulate Obama for so far being inclusive in who he has chosen to speak in his inauguration ceremony and who he has selected for his cabinet.

Mac McCormick
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Speed Performance Awards Pt. 1

I was looking at the Speed Performance Awards website today and was contemplating their choices for the Oops Award, Best Move, and Biggest Hit. So far I've not made up my mind on the Best Move award.

Oops Award
This is a no-brainer for me. Lewis Hamilton crashing into the back of Kimi Raikonnen at the Canadian GP this year has to be the biggest Oops of the year. Hamilton crashed into the back of a stopped car on the pit lane; how do you beat that?

Biggest Hit
This one in my mind is a tie between Stephane Ortelli in the LMS at Monza and Michael McDowell in NASCAR at Texas. Both are spectacular in nature and the fact that both drivers survived (although Ortelli definitely got the short end of the stick) is amazing. If forced to pick between the two, I would have to pick Ortelli at Monza simply because of the way his car flew just over McNish's Audi.

Mac McCormick
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Over the next few weeks, month, or however long it takes me to do it, I'll try to do a stream of conciousness review of the 2008 racing season from my perspective. I'll more or less blog it as it comes to me, so don't expect regular postings on it...

Performance of the Year
Without a doubt, the Performance of the Year was Alan McNish in the Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta. It was the best drive I've seen this year and perhaps the best drive I've ever seen. McNish spotted the field 2 laps at the start and willed his car not only to the lead lap but to the lead of the race in the last 2 hours of the race. Looking on, you could tell he was not to be denied. Christian Klien, in a faster car, simply had nothing for McNish at the end.

Most Improved Driver
This season's Most Improved Driver would have to be Felipe Massa. Sure he had a slow start to the season and his drive at the British GP at Silverstone had to be embarassing but on the whole, his season showed massive improvement over previous ones. He clearly outperformed his teammate, World Champion Kimi Raikonnen and came within a single point of the World Championship this season. If you were to have told me this time last year that Massa would have been a title contender right to the end, much less the way it actually turned out I would have called you mad. Massa exhibited not only improved skills this year but a higher confidence level. That higher confidence is what I think bumped him up a notch.

Mac McCormick
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Veterans Day 2008

On Veterans' Day I usually find myself working. This year, I had the holiday off and spent it observing Veterans' Day with my family; my father is a 20 year Navy veteran. With my parents, I travelled to the Veterans' Day Ceremony at the Veterans Park of Effingham in Springfield, GA. After the ceremony, I took them to lunch. After lunch, we came home and my father I spent time together searching for Veteran's Day special event stations on amateur radio. All in all, it was a day well spent in remembrance of those who have served our country.


Below, my Uncle Laverne and my father, Mac Jr. both of whom are retired US Navy Chief Petty Officers. Uncle Laverne was interviewed by WTOC after the ceremony.


Below, A Vietnam Veteran and an Iraqi War veteran talk about coming home from their tours.

Family and friends look at the names of the Veterans from Effingham County listed on the monument's wall. Effingham County Veterans from the Revolutionary War to present day are listed.



Mac McCormick
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Lewis Hamilton - F1 World Champion

Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton, the new Formula 1 World Champion. He is both the youngest every F1 World Champion, he is the first black F1 World Champion. Congratulations must also go to Felipe Massa on how he handled his championship shortcoming. Crestfallen as he obviously was to come so close, he was gracious in defeat. How he conducted himself during the podium ceremony and post race interview was an object lesson in sportsmanship.

I was glad to see Hamilton win the championship given that it seemed late in the season that the FIA was doing almost everything in it's power to see that he didn't. Some of the penalties issued to Hamilton and not issued to Ferrari drivers were close to being blatantly biased.

That said, it was also sad to see Massa not win the championship. In my opinion, he is the most improved of any driver in any major series this year. If anyone had suggested that Massa would have been one point from World Champion at this time last year, he would likely have been laughed at. Despite his horrible performance at Silverstone, Massa has improved drastically in both pure performance and racecraft since last season. Against the predictions of most, he outperformed Kimi Raikonnen in most races and was heads and tails above Raikonnen in the overall championship.

Mac McCormick
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Voting

I woke up early to go vote this morning, with the plan to be there just before the doors opened. When I got there around 6:45 AM, the line was already forming. In the almost 20 years now that I've been voting at the Southside Baptist Church, I've never seen a line and never had to wait! It was wonderful to see such a turnout for an election. I hope this indicates an extremely high turnout overall for the 2008 election.

It only took about an hour to vote, from the time I stepped into line until I walked out the door afterward. Once inside, the process went very smooth. There were plenty of poll workers to handle things and the only wait once you got inside was for an open machine.

Mac McCormick III
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Biden Hits out at Palin's "Pro-America" Comment

I read on CNN that Democrat VP candidate Joe Biden is now hitting out at Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin for the following comment:

"We believe that the best of America is in the small towns that we get to visit, and in the wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard-working, very patriotic, very pro-America areas of this great nation,"

The Democrats apparently believe that what she was saying is that the small town (and generally Republican) areas are more patriotic and more "Pro-America" than the larger urban areas. Oh, Please. Her statement was typical political rhetoric; she was simply playing to the audience by complimenting them. This time the Democrats are really over-blowing her statement.

I haven't been a fan of Sarah Palin and I do believe that McCain could have found a more qualified VP candidate, but this time I have to defend her.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Petit LeMans

This past weekend I finally got around to watching the last 6 hours of the ALMS' Petit LeMans from Road Atlanta.

I missed the first part of the race, but I caught up on what happened through replays and through Radio LeMans. What a terrific race! Three P1 cars within 4 seconds of each other after 1000 miles of racing; what more can you ask of an endurance race?

What can you say about Alan McNish's drive at the Petit LeMans? Words don't do it justice. After making an unforced error, crashing and damaging the car on the warm up lap, he started the race two laps down after repairs. Capello and Pirro did their part, but McNish grabbed the R10 by the scruff of the neck and willed the car to victory. His drive in the closing hours of the race is perhaps the best drive I have seen in an ALMS race. I have defintely added Alan McNish to my list of racing heroes!

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

The Passing of a Legend: Paul Newman, 1925-2008

I am not a great movie fan, so unlike many others I knew of Paul Newman more for his motor sport accomplishments than his acting accomplishments. Many knew of Newman as an actor who raced, but I preferred to think of him as a racer who also acted. His accomplishments are detailed much better than I ever could in other forums, but I first remember Paul Newman racing the red, white, and blue Datsuns. I remember him winning his class at the 24 Hours of Daytona at 70 years old! I remember his great success as team co-owner with Carl Haas at Newman-Haas Racing. Paul Newman will truly be missed by motor sport fans.

Paul Newman will be missed even more by terminally ill children. Through his Newman's Own brand and through his "Hole in the Wall Camps," Newman was beyond generous to terminally ill children. Beyond his actions, he also inspired others such as Kyle Petty and Tony Stewart to do the same. Undoubtedly, this is what Paul Newman should be remembered for, not his accomplishments as an actor and not his accomplishments as a racer.

Paul Newman was one of my heroes. A private man, he was successful, determined, philanthropic, and principled.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

A.J. Allmendinger Gets a Raw Deal

Yesterday, I saw on the Autosport and SpeedTV websites that A.J. Allmendinger and the Red Bull NASCAR team had mutually agreed to part ways.

In my opinion, this was a raw deal for Allmendinger given the improvement he has shown over this racing season. Granted, he started poorly but he gracefully stood by while Mike Skinner got in the car for several races and helped Red Bull sort out the car. Allmendinger learned from Skinner while out of the car and stood by the team in what was no doubt an embarrassing situation for him. When he got back in the car, he began to show improvement and his results have improved over the course of the season. How unfortunate it is that Red Bull is not giving him the chance to continue his improvement and show what he can really do.

I read that one of his options is going to Ganassi racing. This, in my opinion, would be a terrible move on Allmendinger's part. He would essentially be going to the same situation he has been in last season and this season. Ganassi isn't providing cars that are any better than the Red Bull cars. I really don't see where hiring Allmendinger would benefit Ganassi either; what Ganassi needs is a good veteran driver to sort out their car problems. Allmendinger doesn't yet have the experience to do that for them. Allmendinger needs a good, established team to provide him good equipment and Ganassi needs a good, veteran driver to improve his equipment.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

NASCAR at Dover

I haven't had much good to say about NASCAR lately, but I have to admit that today's race at Dover saw some good racing. The last 50 or so laps, with Biffle, Edwards, and Kenseth racing hard at the front, was some of the best racing I've seen all year long.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

FactCheck.org

I have found a good website for filtering the political ads from and the speeches of the Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin campaigns:

FactCheck.org

I have started checking FactCheck.org daily to see what they have to say about the claims from each campaign. Invariably they show that the Obama and the McCain campaigns have twisted and stretched facts to suit their purposes.

Unfortunately, what I read is making it harder for me to select a candidate to vote for.

Mac

kf4lmt@comcast.net

Sarah Palin and the Bush Doctrine

I was watching CNN this morning and saw a clip from the ABC News interview with Governor Sarah Palin. She seems to have already had a a Bill Clinton "definition of is" moment.

Charlie Gibson asked her if she agreed with the Bush Doctrine, to which she replied "In what respect, Charlie?" In what respect? The Bush Doctrine is rather simple; in two words it is preemptive war. Agreement with the doctrine can be expressed in one of two words, yes or no. Palin's answer was evasive. What is more troubling, however, the rest of her answer showed that she may not fully understand what the Bush Doctrine is.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Faulty Transponder?

I just got finished reading an article on USA Today's website about the finish of Sunday's Chicagoland IRL race that attributed the confusion over who won the race to a "faulty transponder." The article goes on the state that the transponder was improperly fitted to the car, causing the signal to be transmitted in the wrong direction (I didn't realize the transponders were directional, I always thought they were omnidirectional). If that is the case, the transponder wasn't faulty! It performed as it was supposed to. Hopefully the improper installation was simply an error on the team's part and not an attempt to gain an edge.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

IRL Season Ends, Dixon Champ

Yesterday's IRL season-ender at Chicagoland Speedway was a good race. It was a contest of strategy and a contest of racing ability at various points during the contest.

I won't comment on Castroneves' penalty that resulted in his start from the tail end of the field, because I didn't see what caused it (the side effect of not having coverage of practice and qualifying that NASCAR is given) but it was a blast to watch him streak the through field to put himself back in the hunt at the beginning of the race.

At this point, strategy took over as Dixon played a fuel game, balancing mileage with staying in the position he needed to clinch the championship and Castroneves' teammate Briscoe played wingman, covering Castroneves on the outside while he ticked off laps in the lead to take points for most laps led.

Caution flags turned the end of the race into a sprint without the need for fuel conservation, ending in a Castroneves v. Dixon contest that led to victory by a nose and .001 of a second! Victory was initially given to Dixon because the timing and scoring system showed him first. The photo finish imagery, however, clearly showed Castroneves' car ahead by a nose at the stripe.

Victory aside, Dixon's second place was plenty enough to give him the championship; a championship that was well deserved even if you think that Castroneves' Detroit penalty was wrong (which I do not).

On a final note, I would like to comment on something that seems to have become a staple of NASCAR and IRL coverage in recent years: video of driver's wives during tense times: While cars were wheel to wheel, nose to tail at the front of the race, they kept on showing Scott Dixon's wife Emma in the pits. Emma Dixon is clearly easy on the eyes, and I understand the human interest in seeing how she is reacting to the situation on the track, but I tuned in to watch the action on the track. Show us the human interest when there is no track action or after the race. When there is close racing on the track, that should be shown full screen.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Lewis Hamilton Penalized, FIA Ferrari Bias Obvious

I was looking forward to writing this morning about how great the last 4 laps of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa on Sunday were. Before taking to the keyboard for that task, however, I checked the motor sport headlines at the Speed TV and Autosport websites. Reading the F1 news was like having a bucket of cold water poured on my head. The FIA has penalized Lewis Hamilton 25 seconds for, in their belief, not fully giving Kimi Raikonnen a position back after being forced off track by Raikonnen. The penalty gave Felipe Massa the win and pushed Hamilton back to third behind Nick Heidfeld.

I fail to see what Hamilton did wrong. He fully allowed Raikonnen back into first place after going off track. Do the rules specify that he must allow Raikonnen to keep the lead into the next turn as well!? Hamilton placed himself fully behind Raikonnen, he was not partially alongside, so it seems to me that he was within the rules. Quite frankly, it was exciting racing and thrilling to watch. It was precisely the kind of racing the F1 needs! Yes, Hamilton placed himself behind Raikonnen so to draft him down a straight and pass, but he could have done this if he hadn't gone off of the track in the previous corner.

The FIA's argument, to me, is transparent. It is a blatant attempt to give Ferrari what they could not take on the track. Hamilton could have drafted and passed Raikonnen as he did even if the did not go off of the track. Raikonnen later spun and crashed taking himself out of the race and eliminating the possibility of passing Hamilton again in a straight fight. One has to wonder whether the FIA would have given the penalty had Massa been more the 25 seconds behind Hamilton.

After not penalizing Ferrari for a dangerous move in the pits at Valencia, the FIA's actions at Spa reinforce a popular belief that the FIA is biased toward Ferrari. The FIA penalized McLaren for good hard racing and let Ferrari go after almost causing a serious accident in the pit lane (there was almost a collision with not only another race car but with a safety or medical car at the end of the pit lane as well!).

This has every appearance of being an attempt (and not even a thinly veiled one at that) to give the drivers championship to Ferrari. At the very least, it exposes an FIA grudge against McLaren.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Governor Palin's Speech

I'm not well versed in Alaskan politics, so I was very interested in watching Governor Palin's Republican National Convention speech last night. I was hoping to learn something more about who she is and what she believes in; information that I need to know to help me form a decision about who I'm going to vote for in November.

Last night's speech did not make a favorable impression on this Independent. Instead of hearing a speech that told me what she believes in, what makes her tick, and what positions she holds, Governor Palin gave an attack speech. Granted, that is what the parties expect out of their candidates at conventions. With someone like me, however, it had the effect of making Governor Palin come across as a sarcastic attack dog.

I'm tired of hearing from the Democrats and Republicans why I shouldn't vote for the other party. I want to hear what they are going to do and how they are going to do it.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Dario Franchitti Returns to the IRL

While reading the newspaper this morning, I came across a blurb in the sports section reporting that Dario Franchitti was returning to the IRL to take Dan Wheldon's seat in the #10 Target Chip Ganassi car. According to Autosport, Wheldon is moving over to take Vitor Meira's seat at Panther (no word on where Meira is going, I guess).

This is good news. I would much rather see Franchitti in an Indy Car than a stock car. NASCAR's current crop of tin tops is really not the place for his talents. Franchitti belongs in a mixed road/street/oval series.

Mac
kf4lmt@comcast.net