Thank you Jim Nabors - Singing one last time at the 2014 Indy 500

The race is on at the Indy 500!  Today I'm celebrating the Indy 500 and the amazing voice of Jim Nabors.  Watching the race is an annual tradition in my household -- a family tradition.  Before the race begins Jim Nabors sings "Back Home Again in Indiana" for the 36th year.  However, the 2014 Indy 500 will be the last time we hear that familiar voice kick off this amazing race. Jim is retiring.  He'll be 84 next month.  Wow, what a voice.   He'll be missed.

  Photo:  Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports

The race is on

Race season is here! Everyone will race to the table to see this cute Racetrack Cake. A very simple cut-up cake pattern can be downloaded to create this cute cake. Bake it for the tailgate party at the racetrack. Or, bake it for a fun kid's birthday party.

She crossed the line

Today I'm celebrating the first victory by a woman in open-wheel racing

She finally crossed the line and crossed it first. I've been an open wheel racing fan most of my life. I'm sure you've all heard by now that Danica Patrick finally got her first win at Twin Ring Motegi in the Indy Japan 300 on Sunday, April 20. It was a historical event: the first victory by a woman in open-wheel racing. It occurred during her fourth full season and in her 50th career start in the IRL IndyCar Series. Many are attributing the win to fuel conservation over smart driving, but that's an important challenge. I've seen many slow to a crawl in the final lap due to lack of fuel. The Andretti Green Racing team strategy paid off for Patrick. She is now third in the standings and some say she has thoughts of a championship swirling in her head. It's a nice thought, but its her first win in 50 races and I'm not betting the farm on this one.

Even before her win this weekend, there has been a lot of press about Danica Patrick. Danica Patrick raced for Rahal Lettermanin 2005-2006, but left to Andretti Green Racing in 2007. I've often wondered about that move and why she chose to leave the team that had the confidence in her to launch her career. Within the racing community there's been a lot of talk about why she had not won before Japan 2008 and when she might win. Of course, then there's the controversy that her low body weight of 100 pounds at 5 ft. 2 in. gave her an advantage where engine size and car weight are stictly regulated. That's no longer an issue with the rule change in 2008 where the minimun weight of the car now includes the driver. There's also been some reported sexist remarks from fellow drivers across the motor sports. When tempers flair among drivers, hers is likely to get some attention, along with some sexist remarks. However, I've often thought myself that she was kind of whiney, has shown a temper trantrum or two, and generally cites the other guy's fault when there's a problem. She's not really demonstrated the emotional control that I would expect from someone who can control an automobile among traffic at that high rate of speed. However, I've seen some of the guys shove each other and nearly come to blows during many races. I'm sure they may be in a quandry of what to do when confronted by her. I was particularly amused by her confrontation with Dan Wheldon and you can see a video of it below.


As posted on YouTube by mikezwet

I personally think that those sexist remarks might be somewhat a result of her unique marketing strategy. I'm not the first to notice her "apparent willingness to be marketed on her looks rather than her achievements" especially with her posing for FHM and recently in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Danica's not the first to compete with the boys in open-wheel racing. Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher paved the way before Danica. Although I know there was some criticism of these ladies, I recall it being quite different than it has been with Danica: I don't think it's so much her skill in driving as her poses for FHM and the overall marketing glitz. Judging from those FHM photos, I wonder why she would expect to be treated as a professional equal by the other racers. Don't worry, I don't think we'll see Danica on the next season of Dancing with the Stars (as Helio Castroneves did). However, as most drivers love that pole position, judging from her photos we're more likely to hear of her dancing --- but instead at club, one with a pole. I know that seems kind of harsh -- especially for my blog.


Like the title of the song used in the fan video posted below, my thoughts mostly of Danica have been "just shut up and drive"

As posted on YouTube by nikkithunder

Today, I am really glad to celebrate this historical event in open-wheel racing. I just wish that the historic event had been accomplished by Janet, Lyn or Sarah. I still think Danica Patrick has crossed the line one too many times -- and I'm not talking about that finish line. I also wish that it had been done with a little more class. Tonight I'm wondering if Dave Letterman will invite Danica to his show to talk about her win --- we'll see.

Image credits: autoracingdaily.com and FHM

Going round and round in circles

Today I'm celebrating the anniversary of NASCAR being founded

On this date in 1947, it's been told that the National Association for Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) was formed when mechanic William France, Sr began talks with other influential racers and promoters at the Ebony Bar at the Streamline Hotel at Daytona Beach, Florida. The original plans and points system was written on a bar room napkin. NASCAR, now the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the US, was incorporated in February 1948.

I've been a racing fan most of my life, having enjoyed watching it with my Dad, who was known for some of his informal racing around the county in his younger days. He also owned a 1961 Ford Galaxy 500, a Daytona special, that is still sitting on the old place back home and needs to be restored. Except for this year (Go Carl Edwards!), I've not particularly cheered for a single driver. I typically have several favorites. Although I really prefer open-wheel racing, I especially feel connected to Nascar. As a chaperone on one of the youth choir tours to Daytona, I led a group to the racetrack for a tour. They actually gave our group a private tour and let the bus driver drive that huge bus around the track. Of course, we stopped for photos along the way. I especially feel connected to the Texas Motor Speedway and the Earnhardt racing team these days. My little brother was the lead detective responsible for the recovery of the stolen Earnhardt racing uniform. It was his first case too! I'm so proud of him. I'm especially glad that he invited me to go with him to Fandango earlier this year (complete with police escort to park directly at the stadium gate entrance) for the recognition of the police department and his efforts for that achievement.

Non-fans are generally curious about what interests me in racing, since to them it just looks like a bunch of cars going in circles, round and round for hundreds of miles. First, there's the pure speed. We think driving 70 mph is tough at times. Consider what it would be like to get where you want to go, at ~200 miles mph while trying to get there before everyone else going to the same place! In addition, there's a lot of money for you if you beat all the others across the line. Overall relationships, cooperation and collaboration are key both within and among teams. Wouldn't it be nice to drive into the local gas station and get a full load of fuel, a quick drink, a clean windshield, and change all 4 tires in <20 seconds? Watch pit crew teams prepare and compete on YouTube. Also, just try getting >20 drivers to parallel park while going up to 50 mph down alongside a single lane street at pit row! There's a lot of strategy within the race. Sometimes the racing strategies collide and racing teams end up crashing on the track. Imagine depending on the voice in your ear of your spotter giving you instructions on how to avoid crashing into other cars as you race through the clouds of smoke while trying to avoid the spinning and flying cars during a Big One on the track! Occasionally you will see those drivers get into some heated discussions or pushing matches (Allison vs. Yarbrough, Edwards and Kenseth, Edwards and Dale Jr, Harvick and Biffle, and Montoya vs. Harvick ) afterwards in the intensity of the moment. There's a lot of science also to consider (e.g., drafting, slingshot passes, timing fuel refills, impact to tires, g-force), for those of us who have scientific or technical interests. If you haven't been introduced to racing, here's a Nascar Trivia site and Nascar.com's site for basics, history, and videos.

Some think that racing fans are just interested and obsessed with the crashes. I'm always a bit nervous about some tire flying into the grandstands when I'm at the race and do not look forward to those at all. However, it is always amazing to me that drivers can walk away from horrific crashes where their cars go flying upside down into the air, rolling across the track, or sometimes in a ball of fire! It's also amazing after a huge crash, sometimes involving dozens of drivers, how those pit crew teams can get those cars running and quickly back on the track again. In earlier years it was quite interesting to see the unique uses for duct tape at the racetrack! There are lots of videos of crashes posted on YouTube by racing fans. For those who are interested in the crashes or want to witness the wonder of Nascar safety despite those crashes, here are two videos you might want to watch: Largest crash in NASCAR history and NASCAR biggest crash in Modern Era.

Many think that racing fans are just a bunch of drunken rednecks. I'm sure that if you hang around the track during race week that you will meet a lot of friendly, fun-loving, people from the South (many of which might be considered rednecks). I'm sure that you're likely to meet many who enjoy the spirits as well. However, Nascar racing is one of the biggest sports in the USA and its fan-base is very diverse. Some of us are not rednecks and also don't drink. :) As I was told this week by a neat Tony Stewart fan, when you're at the track, all the fans are equal, one big family of people who have a single, common interest -- racing. It really doesn't matter whether you dig ditches, you're a research scientist, or you're a CEO for a large company, everyone is generally passionate about the sport.

One of the most memorable days of my life was spent with some of my guy friends on my first visit to the Texas Motor Speedway for the Nascar race. I had a lot of fun cheering my friend Tim on as he won many prizes and beat the records for the competitions. It was great watching the eyes light up as those engines cranked and the cars roared around the track for those who were just introduced to the sport. Those guys now regularly attend the races.

However, because it's the holidays and because so many people automatically think of rednecks with racing, I've posted below the funny music video of Jeff Foxworthy's redneck version of 12 Days of Christmas.

As posted on YouTube

At times, I have been known to beg my friends to give racing a chance. I bet after one day at the track with me, you'd be a fan for life! Today, my wish is personal: I wish that I'll get to go to the Nascar and IRL races at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2008! But, I'd gladly share it with my friends!