(BAT IndyCar rendering; Source: nextindycar-wordpress.com)

Coming live from its Bat lair situated somewheres in Indiana… The “5th Wheel” of New 2012 Indy Car’s has finally tipped its hands by releasing the rendering above, along with the launching of it’s new website/blog page, as the story was originally broken by Racecar Engineering.

Fifth firm to reveal Indycar 2012 concept next week

And I’ll defer to “Mr. CHiPs, nee Chris Estrada’s post for more background on the project, since he’s gone to the effort of divulging the image and website info for this story.

The BAT soars

And although I’m adamantly against the notion of covered wheels, wheel fairings or in the BAT’s case the boxed in sidepods, nevertheless I have to say I like their sketch way better then the Delta Wing’s.

Yet I’m not sure why this just finally hit me, or that I haven’t heard one single discussion over it, BUTT! How in the HELL are they gonna do those “lightning-fast” Pit stops with covered rear wheels? I mean how do you change tyres? As in has anybody looked into the problems Formula 1 had recently with its now fortunately BANNED wheel spats… Which were intended to provide front brake cooling, yet caused several tyre issues, as in those black majik rings disembarking the chassis… So, this seems like another potential recipe for problems… And what happens if/when a tyre bursts during racing, as in isn’t this just another way of potentially introducing more shrapnel to be discarded from the chassis, although I’d have to assume this has already been studied?

Nodar Kumaritashvili

By now Y’all know that USA-1’s 4-man Night Train Bobsled driven by Steve Holcomb has ended America’s 62yr drought of winning the Gold medal in this prestigious winter event, as Holcomb not only made history by accomplishing this, he also set two brand new track records in the process during Day 1’s first half of the event, enroute to capturing America’s first Gold medal in the 4-Man Bobsleigh in 62 years…

Yet, unfortunately the just concluded XXI Winter Olympics at Vancouver, BC will most likely be remembered as the venue where 21yr old Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was fatally killed in a training accident just hours prior to the Opening ceremonies of the Winter Games.

And the track was obviously deluged with many critics, including Team USA female Bobsledder Shauna Rohbock exclaiming that the Whistler Sliding Centre’s track was simply “Stupidly Fast!”

And there was much carnage during the Bobsledding events, which I don’t know if any of the women’s teams suffered crashes? Although the 2-Man Bobsled saw at least three sleds crash during practice, not to mention Australia and Switzerland withdrawing from competition and a further four sleds barrel rolling during the first day’s competition.

The 4-man Bobsled competition wasn’t any less daunting, as a total of six sleds crashed on Day 1, nearly 25% of the sleds entered… While Liechtenstein, Netherlands and USA all withdrew from competition, as both Liechtenstein’s pilot Michael Klingler and the USA-2’s John Napier Suffered injuries during competition.

But it was the Netherland’s pilot Edwin van Calker who I think had the most courage of the entire event, as he sensibly told his coach that he simply was too “RATTLED” to compete in the 4-man event, claiming he simply lacked the necessary confidence to continue on.

van Calker had previously crashed during 2-man practice and then struggled mightily every time down the course thru the infamous Turn 13 which was nicknamed 50-50 by no less then Steve Holcomb after crashing during a training run when Teams first tested the circuit back in 2009, as Holcomb noted that only half of the sled’s were making it thru the overly fast corner…

Yet apparently van Calker is already receiving ridicule for withdrawing from the Games and bearing the brunt of bad jokes like: “Why did the chicken cross the bobsled track?” Yet no less than the reigning Swiss World Champion was forced to withdraw due to a concussion obtained during the 2-man event, while nobody seems to be belaboring Switzerland’s other pilot withdrawing for safety reasons after suffering two crashes, as a total of eight men’s sleds crashed…

Yet imagine the fury of partaking in this sport, not to mention Luge or Skeleton… As for me, the signature voice of Olympic Bobsledding will always be John Morgan, who is a former US Bobsledder, who’ve I’ve just learned watched his older brother die in a Bobsledding accident in Italy in 1981 on his very first broadcast assignment, as Morgan rushed to his brother’s side only to find he had no pulse…

As Morgan called the on track action, he noted how the 4-man sleds that weigh in at 500lbs were dropping four stories in the first 150 meters of the undulating 16-turn course, which totaled a length of some 16 football fields whilst dropping a total of 50 stories! Not to mention the 71 miles of pipe needing 800 bends to pump the nitrogen underneath the concrete slabs foundation to keep the ice cool… As Day 1 saw a track temperature of 26 deg f, while Morgan called Day 2’s warmer surface “Soft Ice,” with a temperature of 31.5-32 degrees. But most interesting to me was the comment that they use sandpaper on the sleds runners, while reaching record terminal velocities of nearly 96mph!

(Brian McKeever; Source: Calgary Herald.com)

Whale I’m certain there’s more then just these two fine Athletes who’ll be contesting this years Winter Olympics Up North Eh! (Vancouver, BC) Even if Mother Nature continues to wreak havouc upon the ski slopes, yet these two men have an added burden towards their pursuits of winning Gold as one is Blind and the other has a major vision disorder, of which I’ve scribbled ‘bout previously in,

Bobsledder makes Good!

As Steven Holcomb and Brian McKeever will be of particular interest to me, since after all I share a common bond with these athletes by being visually impaired. (Instead of the athletic part, eh?)

Thus I’m not sure which of these two athletes I’m more impressed by, as American Holcomb drives a Bodine Bobsled notoriously nicknamed Night Train which is currently shredding the World Cup Bobsledding Championships at up to speeds of 100mph while enduring forces of 4G’s.

Meanwhile “Kuh-Nuck” McKeever is busy combating the glare of snow while attempting to navigate the cross country course solely by memory, as McKeever has only 10% of his vision remaining, enroute to becoming the very first ever athlete to compete in the Winter Olympics and Paralympics at the same time.

Blind Canadian skier Brian McKeever makes Olympic, Paralympic teams

And although Holcomb suffers from Keratoconus and had experimental surgery performed to correct his impending vision loss, it’s McKeever who suffers from Stargardt’s Disease that I’m way more impressed by, as he qualified for his Canadian Olympic Team berth by winning a 50k Qualifying race unaided!

So keep an eye out for these two athletes performances, as Holcomb definitely has a shot for Gold, as I find it quite amusing how Holcomb now needs to keep his helmet’s face shield scuffed ‘N dirty since he was actually seeing too much!

UPDATE:
Shortly after posting this story I learned of the tragic death of 21yr old Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili in a training accident prior to the Winter Games Opening ceremonies, which I didn’t bother watching, as I still find it very hard to comprehend why there was NO padding on the exposed steel poles surrounding the ultra high speed sliding track’s finish, where competitors were reaching speeds nearing 100mph! As his unnecessary death made me think of Jeff Krosnoff’s unfortunate accident many moons ago…

Father says Georgian luger called Olympic track unsafe before fatal crash in Whistler

The Winter Olympics begin today in Vancouver, BC, when the Opening ceremonies will take part in BC Place tonight, in one of the only DRY venues of the Winter Games, before the actual competition commences on Saturday, Feb 13 and runs thru Sunday, Feb 28, with the Closing ceremonies occurring later that same Sunday evening.

You can check out countless hours of Olympics television coverage upon the Peacock Network, a.k.a. NBC, now a proud? Member of the cable TV behemoth known as Comcast.

Yet I’m not terribly excited by these games which are just Up North Eh! From my hometown, as after all it was these very games which sealed the fate of a most enjoyable Temporary Street Circuit event once known as Molson Indy Vancouver… As was it really 20yrs ago that I attended the inaugural event; SHEISA!

And quick, without utilizing duh Google-monster, who was the races inaugural winner? EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-ENT! Times Up! As I know the answer… It was none other then then rising Star ‘lil Al, a.k.a. Al Unser Jr. As I still DON’T get it, as residents routinely BITCHED about the noise, although leaf blowers weren’t’ a nuisance… As this event was truly a Fan favourite, NOT to mention extremely popular with the CART Drivers, as those ‘Kuh-Nucks simply enjoy their Motor Racing, eh?

Ironically, although NO official reason was ever given, if you check out the locale of the Olympic Village, you’ll notice that its located adjacent to False Creek, which is where the Champ Cars used to pound ‘round at high speeds over the bumpy streets, and I believe that the monstrous complex will then be turned back over to the city of Vancouver to become luxury Condos after the games.

And I recall on ‘Juan ‘O my last treks to the race, after its traditional Labour Day date had been changed to early August instead… I recall there being a massive 3D Diorama model encased in Plexiglas depicting the cities plans for the new race venue/city complex, a la “Monn-nocquoe” (Monaco) replete with a Pit lane ‘Walkabout boulevard As the city seeked to make its version of Long Beach a reality, yet now its simply gonna be wall to wall sky rises instead.

So although I coulda gone, and will probably tune-in to duh Peacock to watch selected events, I’ll always be just a bit jaded… Since after all we’ve LOST two great Open Wheel Racing events here in the Pacific Northwest which the Blunderheads at IRL DON’T seem too inclined to do anything about replacing… As in seriously? You’re gonna continue to SNUB the major metropolitan markets of Vancouver, BC-Seattle-Portland? As even Californians were gladly attending Portland’s race after the cancellation of Laguna Seca. Oh Never Mind!

Now where’s Eddie the Eagle when Yuhs needs him, eh? Tuh-Duh! Like I couldn’t have planned this better as none ‘utter then duh USA Today has answered my questione..

Eagle’s spirits still soaring 22yrs later

Grand Marshall’s of this year’s ARCA Racin’ Derby!

Apparently four members of Everett’s “Finest,” a.k.a. ‘Duh Fuzz just couldn’t contain themselves in anticipation of DannaCars RALLY- RALLY- RALLY-BIG Racin’ debut thingy…

As NOPE! They weren’t on ‘Dare way to a Dunkin Doughnuts Shop… Nor racin’ off to be first in line at the Krispy Cream Outlet Store… NOPE! They were in Hot Pursuit of ‘Juan ‘O ‘Dem Bad Boyz, Bad Boyz, watch-ya gonna dooze? Who apparently was tryin’ to do his best Dukes ‘O Hazzard impersonation. Getter Done!

Having allegedly stolen a parked Pick’em Up Truck, the Sno-Homer Suspect led Police on a wild car chase, which resulted in NOT 1, BAM! Err 2-CRASH… Oops-a-dasy SMASH 3! WHAM-4! Count-em 4 ‘Copper Carz crashin into One-another… By golly Ociffer… I think you’ve sunk my Battleship?

In a scene that woulda made the Keystone Cops proud, the suspect abandoned the Pick-em Up Truck and tried fleeing the scene on foot… As the 4 ‘Coppers converged upon the scene simultaneously, with the first two crashin’ into each othere…
While the third struck the pursuing Ociffer on foot and thus breaking both of his wrists and ‘Juan knee, while a second ‘Copper broke two fingers when his air bag deployed upon striking a concrete flower box upon swerving to miss the carnage of three other wrecked Cop Carz! As all four Ociffer’s were then taken to nearby Hospitals.

No word on whether or not the episode will air upon SPEED’s Hit series ‘CRACKED! Err, I believe its titled ‘Jacked? Oh that’s rite, ‘Dare busy with some Roundy-round shows this weekend…

Police Blotter: Everett, WA

So ‘Monty “MAC” Montoya once again is puttin’ on a driving Clinique in this year’s Rolex 24, having just dusted off Lucas Luir in another typical display of his cold tyre mastery…. Puttin’ on a power move to take over P1 by going deeper, faster, further into the first turn… Even better yet, although I’m not sure if its just to spice up the TV coverage, but reportedly Luir was smokin’ hot after he got out from his driver change over Monty’s tactics, saying he gave him a WHAP! While runnin’ behind the Pace Car, to which Lucas said C’mon, I mean this isn’t CUP! WRONG Bubbah! MAC wants his third Rolex. As Dorsey Schroder had the best ‘Juan-liner so far sayin’ Montoya’s LUV-Tap was just like having Robby Gordon running behind you every lap!

Meanwhile I’m quite pleased with all of the Facetime Team Seattle’s getting due to some dude named Dempsey spearheading their efforts, as his No. 40 was up to 9th in class as SPEED went off the air… And as of Hour 6 the two cars were running in lockstep 22nd-23rd overall.

Team Seattle website

Meanwhile, there’s supposedly some sorta Bloggerthon going on over at the Furious Wedge… And although I’m not participating, I’m running my own sorta Madcap Marathon… As I’ve decided what better way to spend a Grey ‘N Rainy weekend by watchin’ ALL 16hrs of SPEEDS coverage via le Telescreen. As SPEED’s coverage picks up again tomorrow at 4AM PACIFIC; SHEISA!

GO Team Seattle!