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The Monaco Grand Prix and The Indy 500  

redrockrascal 65M
8395 posts
5/27/2018 6:50 am
The Monaco Grand Prix and The Indy 500


As I wrote the Danica Patrick Exposed post I had written some about my introduction to auto racing. But the Danica post got a bit long so here is the part about me.

My first exposure to auto racing was watching the Indy 500 on ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” when I was like 10 or so (mid to late 60s). You remember “Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport... the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat... the human drama of athletic competition.” and that poor schmuck who, every . . . friggin . . . weekend, bounced down the same ski run and past your TV screen as Jim McKay said “and the agony of defeat”.

I recall sitting up close to the TV (probably a black and white at that time), so I could see as much as possible of the cars and the drivers. I still get up close, even to a 60-inch TV, to see a replay of a pass or other action. I’ll try to analyze what happened to cause a shunt (accident).

I recall a lot of talk about A J Foyt and how independent and “his way” he was – see my Sinatra post. The cars fascinated me because they were nothing like the ones I watched speed around the curves of Sunset Blvd which was close behind our house. I knew most of the street car makes and models because they had distinct shapes, lights and “faces”. But not the Indy cars, they all looked quite similar – no fenders or lights, no trunks or tail lights and no roof. The cars had names like; Lola, Lotus, Eagle, Coyote and McLaren. The engines had different names too, the one I recall most was “Offy” (Offenhauser). I wanted and eventually sorta got an Offy engine. I had a street/drag engine built for my first car (a 1964 Chevy Impala SS). It was a 327 with “3 deuces” (3 2-barrel carbs) on an Offenhauser manifold. It was friggin fast.

Eventually, probably a few years later, I saw my first Formula 1 race – The Grand Prix of Monaco – always on the same weekend as the Indy 500. I had zero idea where or what Monaco was – but there were RACE CARS racing on the streets there. They looked and sounded similar to the Indy cars of that period – at least to my untrained eyes and ears back then. These guys were turning left . . . AND RIGHT, they were going up and down hills, and they drove through a friggin tunnel and came out right next to the ocean, then they drove around a pool. The turns weren’t numbered they had names; San Devote, Casino and Rascasse among others. I sooo wanted to do that stuff. The driver names were mostly different; Stewart, Rindt, Hill and Lauda. Some of the race car names were the same; Lola, Lotus, and McLaren – others not; Matra, Brabham and Tyrell – others I knew from street cars; Ferrari and Ford. I became practically obsessed with racing – it is a sport and an addiction.

Again, as in many, many years past these 2 races are on TV again, on the same weekend again. Far as this weekend and Danica Patrick go, she has qualified very well (7th) so getting caught up in a potential early laps mess is lessened . . . some. She also seems to have a very good car and team – very valuable assets. She could sure make some history.

I’ve watched a lot of Indy 500s and know enough to know picking a winner is pretty much impossible. The track is wicked fast and unforgiving; the weather can change quickly, and something as inconsequential (like a hot wrapper) can change the race. That plus the speeds and the length of the race and number of pit stops, make for way too many variables for almost any pick to be a reasonable one.

And then there is always one lady who is in every race and who often has a hand in determining the outcome. Her name is . . . Luck.

2018 Indy Car


1968 Formula 1 car - a Lotus driven by the great Jim Clark




When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
6/25/2018 8:34 am

    Quoting  :

You're welcome

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
6/4/2018 7:50 pm

    Quoting mc_justmc:
    I can see the interest in the Monaco Grand Prix. I've always loved motorcycle road racing, but drag and dirt track racing had no appeal to me.
Strangely Monaco has become a somewhat dull race. Partly because of the cars but also because the streets are so tight they really cannot pass.

I'm a road racer at heart, cars first, but I have a bike I want to build for Vintage motorcycle road racing - just takes time and money. Do you get to COTA at all?

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


mc_justmc 63M

6/3/2018 3:48 pm

I can see the interest in the Monaco Grand Prix. I've always loved motorcycle road racing, but drag and dirt track racing had no appeal to me.


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
5/28/2018 9:06 pm

That sounds like fun . . . nice pic too.

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


SeaGirlFL 60F
9220 posts
5/28/2018 7:39 pm

Or that.

"Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax." – Mark Black


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
5/28/2018 3:04 pm

    Quoting Tmptrzz:
    So true racing is such a wonderful sport, I used to be involved in it very much so, as my parents worked at our local track. I did enjoy being a trophy girl once, I hope you enjoy your Memorial Day..
What track was that T?

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
5/28/2018 3:04 pm

    Quoting sexysixties2:
    I watched the Monte Carlo race yesterday with my grandson....exciting stuff but looks mighty dangerous to me.
That was tame compared to other tracks. The drivers were saying it was borderline boring for them since the track is so tight. Other tracks in Europe are much faster, have more side by side action and more dangerous. In June is Le Mans a good example of what I said.

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
5/28/2018 3:00 pm

    Quoting lindoboy100:
    I find Formula 1 over commercial these days, too far removed from real life. The Indy500 seems to be a bit more approachable though?
Both a quite commercial, along with NASCAR, but F1 is incredibly high end high dollar given it's rules (sporting and technical). Indy does seem to be more approachable but still crazy expensive.

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
5/28/2018 2:56 pm

    Quoting SeaGirlFL:


    I'll talk quilting and you can talk racing...
OR . . . no talking quilting or racing

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


Tmptrzz 61F  
107039 posts
5/28/2018 10:26 am

So true racing is such a wonderful sport, I used to be involved in it very much so, as my parents worked at our local track. I did enjoy being a trophy girl once, I hope you enjoy your Memorial Day..

Seduce the mind and see what a wonderful adventure the body will take you on..


sexysixties2 106F
39750 posts
5/28/2018 10:24 am

I watched the Monte Carlo race yesterday with my grandson....exciting stuff but looks mighty dangerous to me.

"Age does not protect you from love, but love, to some extent, protects you from age."

~~Anais Nin~~


lindoboy100 61M
23969 posts
5/28/2018 4:51 am

I find Formula 1 over commercial these days, too far removed from real life. The Indy500 seems to be a bit more approachable though?


SeaGirlFL 60F
9220 posts
5/27/2018 8:19 pm



I'll talk quilting and you can talk racing...

"Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax." – Mark Black


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
5/27/2018 4:54 pm

    Quoting  :

I love just about all kinds of cars except most of the cookie cutter cars that are made now. Like you said; the shapes (real designs), the speed and power speak for themselves.

I'm a big Steve McQueen fan so I know about the car you mentioned. It was the primary car from the filming (I believe there were 3) that had been "lost" afterwards. It was found stashed in Mexico.

He raced cars and motorcycles. 2 of my motorcycle projects are copies of what he raced in the desert.

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
5/27/2018 4:47 pm

    Quoting SeaGirlFL:
    I love the image of a 10 year old so enamored with a sport that he learns everything he can, and that becomes his passion for the rest of his life.

    People sharing their passions...that is what makes life interesting.

    Very very cool.
Thank you . . . wanna get passionate?

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


citizen4722 66M  
74582 posts
5/27/2018 12:21 pm

Yes, the Monaco Grand Prix is certainly unique. It's probably the most eagerly awaited race in the calendar for Grand Prix enthusiasts.


Classynails 66F
1675 posts
5/27/2018 9:12 am

    Quoting Classynails:
    I know where you will be today! Glued to the big screen. I was in Monaco in 2011 a few weeks after the Grand Prix. We drove down some of the streets of the race course. It was really kind of cool. I'm not a super race fanatic but enough to know that is kind of a big deal! There are some pretty tight curves on those streets!
I'll try adding the pic again....didn't go through the 1st time. Surprise, surprise!!

Classy, Sassy, and a little Smart-Assy
Sine Metu
CN


Classynails 66F
1675 posts
5/27/2018 9:10 am

I know where you will be today! Glued to the big screen. I was in Monaco in 2011 a few weeks after the Grand Prix. We drove down some of the streets of the race course. It was really kind of cool. I'm not a super race fanatic but enough to know that is kind of a big deal! There are some pretty tight curves on those streets!

Classy, Sassy, and a little Smart-Assy
Sine Metu
CN


SeaGirlFL 60F
9220 posts
5/27/2018 8:36 am

I love the image of a 10 year old so enamored with a sport that he learns everything he can, and that becomes his passion for the rest of his life.

People sharing their passions...that is what makes life interesting.

Very very cool.

"Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax." – Mark Black


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
5/27/2018 8:22 am

    Quoting mufdiver69er2:
    wouldnt it be great if danica could go out a winner? of course she already is one in my book...
It would be epic. But then - does she, or anyone, really retire after that?

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


mufdiver69er2 63M  
1953 posts
5/27/2018 7:20 am

wouldnt it be great if danica could go out a winner? of course she already is one in my book...

woop woop


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
5/27/2018 6:51 am

Luck be a Lady today

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


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