nycdilettante

What I Saw

I didn't realize these were available in the States already...but someone in Ashburn has a Mercedes Benz smartcar.

Ashburn...home of expensive things....and the people with the money to have them...

Is it the Era of Kimi?

So Kimi dominated the F1 opener in Melbourne driving for Ferrari.  Finally the man has a car that won't self destruct during the race.  Aside from his radio not working the entire race his Ferrari performed perfectly and Kimi won for the first time since 2005. 

But...will he dominate in Ferrari?

I wish I could say yes.  But watching Alonso and Hamilton duel for 2nd and 3rd...I have to say...I believed the hype about Lewis Hamiton.  He is talented and if he learns quickly from his mistakes...I think he's going to win lots more races.  And if McLaren can make their car quicker...he'll give Kimi a run.  He'll give Alonso a run.  It's going to be an interesting season.

Just keep your foot in it Kimi.

On a separate note, why in the HELL would you get two NASCAR drivers to judge the driving of a man in an open-wheel "Indy style" go-kart?  What the hell do THEY know about driving open wheel carts?  I respect Mario Andretti.  The man is the only driver ever to win the Indy 500, the Daytona 500 and the F1 World Championship.

But Kurt Busch?  Michael Waltrip?  Those guys are stock car drivers.  They drove in the Craftsman Truck series but they have no open wheel experience and those cars drive differently. 

Anderson Cooper took Simon Cowell around the track at Mario Andretti's racing school in Las Vegas after finding out Cowell likes to race high speed go karts.  These carts are built to mimic Indy style open wheel cars.  And they are VERY DIFFERENT than a stock car.  So...if you were going to ask someone to judge driving in an Indy style car...get Indy drivers.  If Cooper had pulled out Danica and Mario and...I don't know...Jackie Stewart...it MIGHT have been relevant.

Come on Cooper.  Just because your average American recognizes those names...don't insult true racing fans by dumping them all together.  Andretti has chops...he's driven in stock cars and open wheel cars and for F1. 

I never thought I'd say Anderson Cooper insulted my intelligence...

Hot Rod

So this weekend I went up to Summit Point and a friend took me out on the track.  It was really fun.  I didn't freak out and really wasn't scared.  We were only able to take a few laps as his power steering blew out...but it was fun.

Heel/Toe

I have always loved cars.  This started when I was a child.  Dad said I used to stand up in the back seat of our Corvair, one hand on the back of each seat, and laugh as he would drive down the road.  When we went around a fast curve, family legend has it that I would giggle and say…“Do it again Daddy.”  When Dad got a road bike, a Honda 400 Four, sometimes he would let me ride on the back.  And I loved it.

My uncle Dean is restores Triumphs (everything but the body work) and races a Warwick in vintage races.  My uncle Darrell actually found the Mustang he had in his youth and bought it back to restore.  My cousins Jim and Syd enjoy cars and motorcycles.  Syd had his own TR that he worked on as well as a TRV before he and his wife had a child.  Every once in awhile those 2 go out riding…and I may go to a motorcycle race with them down at VIR in August.  Dave likes Mercedes…which are a little rich for my blood…but the point I’m trying to get across is…cars are in my blood.  I can’t tell you how many Car & Driver and Road & Tracks I read as a kid.  I had an illustrated drawing of the Mercedes Gullwing up on my wall in elementary school.  Let’s not get crazy and think that I understand anything more about cars and how they work than the average person.  I really don’t.  I just…know what I like as they say.  And I like cars.

I’ve always loved a Jaguar.  I loved our Corvair…which Dad sold when he realized he didn’t have the passion or time to fiddle with it and keep it on the road.  I was convinced it was because I was getting close to driving age.  As if I would have been CAPABLE of driving Nu Nu.  (That was my name for the Corvair because when they got it I was little and I called it the new new car.)  I saw a Maserati the other day that made my heart stop for a second.  Gorgeous.  There’s a certain 330ci in a lovely blue hue that I’m rather fond of.  My birthday wish was a long drive in the 330ci…and I’ll have to say…it was one of the best birthday gifts I’ve gotten in a good while.

I was a late driver.  Driving made me nervous.  I used to HATE to drive.  I didn’t get my license until I was 18.  It just wasn’t a thing for me.  Not to mention I tried to learn how to drive in a huge silver Dodge van.  The first time down our driveway in Hillsborough, NC, I almost hit a tree next to the driveway.  I got out…and did NOT drive with my father for many years.  Driving with him in the passenger seat was too nerve wracking for me.  In fact, people LOVE this story…my parents hired the driving instructor at my high school to TUTOR me in driving my senior year.  He was always smacking the floor on the passenger side of the car and yelling…brake…brake.  Poor man.

After living in Brooklynfor five years…my driving skills became better.  My greatest driving achievement to date is driving down Flatbush Avenueon a Saturday before the 4^th of July and not killing myself or anyone around us.  Those dollar taxis…they are a killer.  They pull over quickly, they pull out quickly…they are a phenomenon.  And I did it.  I survived.  I learned in NY…signaling is NOT a good idea.  You go.  No one will EVER let you merge otherwise.  I learned the art of finding a spot to move my car to during alternate side of the street days.  I got good at having a car in Brooklyn.  And now that I’m back in DC…those skills still come in handy.  I used to hate to drive in a traffic circle in DC.  Now I wonder what that was about.  I do miss my Subaru Justy though.  Especially when I have to park in Adams Morgan.  That car could fit in the TINEST of places.  It had 3 cylinders.  My cousins used to call it a glorified lawn mower and they dreamt of the day that I would trick it out with flames down the side.  (If I had tricked that car out I would have beat PIMP MY RIDE by many, many years.  I’m not sure it would have been appreciated.  But it would have been awesomely funny.  Usually…that’s all I need to do something.  But this also would have involved cash.  Thus, it never came to pass.)

Now, thanks to the efforts and passion of my best friend, I have discovered there are more types of racing than NASCAR (which used to be called stock car racing…maybe still is in some parts).  There is F1, CHAMP, INDY, the Grand Am series, 24 hours of Le Mans, 24 hours of Sebring…there is a host of racing out there for people who love cars.  These races are more refined than NASCAR, in my humble opinion.  The level of technology invested in these cars, especially F1 cars is staggering.  In Europe, F1 drivers are treated like rock stars.  F1 is really my favorite.  I like tracks with variety.  I like to rant about NASCAR and how F1 can drive circles around those guys…but my best friend assures me that an F1 driver wouldn’t find driving a stock car a piece of cake.  The cars are different…and each driver…whether of stock cars or open wheel cars…they have their own special set of skills.  I was bummed to hear that…but I accept it.  Even though…in my heart of hearts…I may think differently.

I find myself, in great parts, a person that always needs work.  I like who I am, but I always feel I can do better.  I do like how I can take on new interests and passions as well as grow old passions into new ones.  I think it helps me remain someone that is interesting and fun to be around.  I am looking forward to attending my first race one day in the future.  I’m looking forward to the day that I can buy a vintage vehicle to drive when the sun is shining.  (Much like that 330ci I’m so fond of.  I don’t believe rain has touched it’s finish since my best friend procured it.)  Here’s to cars and the people that love them.  Long may we love our vehicles.  Hopefully, we can design new cars that have that certain thing we love as well as great mileage.  I think the future is bright…and I can’t wait for my first hybrid.  Or even…my first motorcycle?  I know…the world shudders at that proclamation.  (I know Dad…first get the bicycle down pat…then we’ll talk about moving up to a motorcycle…)