Yes, thank god we no longer have to tolerate great Mazdas. 

1st Gear

I am saddened by this loss. Jessi had endured years of pain from injuries associated with her dedication to learning, teaching, daring and doing in the automotive world. Every gear head’s universe has been diminished with her departure.

It’s not F1, and the FIA didn’t block it (the embarrassed Porsche factory team pressured the ADAC to after May’s private ebtry had out-qualified the factory cars.) but Michael May’s pre-Chaparral Porsche, the most influentially innovative racing car of the 20th Century, got banned from the 1956 Nurburgring 1000km.  

Two thoughts:

Because Japan is inscrutable. 

Paul Newman was an excellent driver. He was serious about it and he drove (successfully) over a sustained period. Newman unarguably was a more successful driver than McQueen. I meant to cast no shade on P.Newman. He, Garner, Dickie Smothers and others were part of a Hollywood crew that got interested and serious about…

You people are morons. Steve McQueen. Steve fucking McQueen: 2d OA at Sebring 1970 1964 ISDT

I think it unfair to simply call the Lotus 43/BRM H-16 a bad car. The chassis was what was needed to carry that preposterously insane Bourne boat anchor of an engine. But what a magnificently misbegotten idea that H-16 was. It was a triumphantly unsuccessful exercise in more “more is more” from the boffins who brought…

“Actually, Nigel, I say:’You’re good enough. You’re smart enough. And doggone it, I’m not gonna let some empty-headed, pygmy-handed narcissist screw up the opportunity I’ve been handed.’”

1st Gear Trade War

I like airplanes too. That would be OK, I guess.

Will there be motorcycles? His past shows had motorcycles. I like motorcycles.

Back when I did honest work (mid 70s to early 80s) the idea of a short-bed pickup was inconceivable. What prevented the 3/4 CDX sheets from falling out?

I just dug out an Oct (?) 1970 Road & Track to find an article by Karl Ludvigsen: “Racing by the BTU.” Mr. Ludvigsen and you are of like minds.

Decades ago, my wife and I shared a vacation cottage with another couple and their toddler. They awoke early; we slept in. Many mornings I was greeted by the toddler, bursting with pride, pointing to an obviously-used potty chair: “Thim, Thim (he had a lisp) yook what I made!!!” Dutifully, I praised each…

My take: The “Golden Age” of F1 was when I was in my late teens (Yeah, I know, everybody’s Golden Age was when they were in their teens. Shut up.)

It was all in the stretch

“biological life.  .  .”

I miss Graham and Jimmy.