Bernie Ecclestone Promotes Night Racing

When the Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone first mentioned that he would like to host a night race at the Asian Grand Prix, he was met with a variety of different opinions and concerns. Ecclestone commented that a night race in Asia should increase the number of television viewers, especially in Europe. It would then become a day race for the European enthusiasts, instead of being aired in the early hours of the morning. He also anticipates that the effect of the night race will be spectacular and hopefully draw a larger crowd of spectators.

Some drivers have been concerned regarding the safety of a night race. If the lighting on the course is not sufficient and drivers cannot see the road, accidents could occur. Visibility on the track if it were to rain is another point that has been raised. Everyone involved, drivers, organizers and team bosses, know that there is a vast difference between racing at night and during the day. If an accident were to happen, would ground crews be able to cope with the situation as effectively at night as they do during the day? Many questions have been raised in regard to the suggestion.

Organizers of the Malaysian Grand Prix have expressed their enthusiasm in regard to hosting a night race. They believe that a night race would draw more spectators to the Sepang Racing Circuit, as the cooler night temperature is more bearable. If spectators will be prepared to stand and watch the race throughout the night can also not be confirmed. Amidst the concerns and questions, it has been reported that Bernie Ecclestone will consider a late afternoon race if his ideas are met with too much opposition. During these discussions Ecclestone again mentioned his desire to see twenty races during the racing season, opposed to the current seventeen. This will enable more countries to host the Grand Prix races. His suggestion has always been met with great reluctance, as more races, means more work and a larger budget.

If Ecclestone wins the night race debate, we might see night races taking place as early as 2008. Most drivers aren’t really concerned about when and where they race, as long as they can see the track clearly and their safety has been taken into consideration. Of course, it is the fans and spectators that will also be able to either support the initiative with their presence or oppose it by their absence.

Offenhauser’s Golden Decade at the Indy 500

Perhaps no racing name is more closely linked with the Indianapolis 500 than Offenhauser. This venerable engine manufacturer was a dominant force at The Brickyard from the early 1930s up until the 1960s. Offenhauser remained a force to be reckoned with until 1983, rounding out a spectacular half-century run as America’s most advanced racing engines.

It all began in the heady days of the Roaring Twenties when investors were more than happy to fund the newest technological breakthroughs. In the field of racing engine design, one name stood out: Fred Offenhauser. Working closely with Harry Miller, Offenhauser introduced an engine that was revolutionary for its time yet quite familiar to us today – a dual overhead cam (DOHC) motor sporting 4 valves per cylinder. Although small in displacement, even for the era, the advanced 4-cylinder engine Offenhauser & Miller introduced in 1930 was deceptively powerful. The first variant of the new engine displaced 151 cubic inches and promptly set a new land speed record of 144.895 mph. Further development of the engine saw displacement increase to 251.92 cubic inches. Using a 15:1 compression ratio, this engine was rated at up to 420 horsepower and was eagerly sought by racing teams of the day.

Offenhauser-powered cars won the Indy 500 a staggering 24 times from 1934 through 1960, including an unparalleled run of 11 consecutive victories from 1950 to 1960 inclusive. Paving the Speedway’s trademark brick track in 1956 was expected to increase average speeds, yet 32 of the top 33 qualifiers featured Offenhauser engines. So dominant was the Offenhauser engine that in 4 races; the 1954, 1955, 1959 & 1960 Indy 500s, EVERY car in the starting lineup had an “Offy” engine! It was this rare feat that sealed Offenhauser’s reputation as America’s premier engine maker, and the name Offenhauser still resonates in the halls of Indy 500 history long after their days of glory have faded.

The Strangest Indy 500 Tradition

A racing event with a history as long as the Indy 500 is sure to have spawned more than a few traditions, but the “Milk Drinking” post-race ritual is surely the strangest. It was way back in 1936 that the curious practice of the race winner drinking a bottle of milk first began, and it has continued virtually without interruption ever since.

Picture the Winner’s Circle following the 1936 Indianapolis 500… veteran race driver Louis Meyer has just won his third Indy 500, the first driver to do so. Starting 28th in a thin field of just 33 cars, Meyer won the race after leading for 96 of 200 laps and was one of just 10 drivers still in the race as the checkered flag waved. The 32-year old Meyer had to be exhausted, yet what did he ask for when race organizers offered him something to drink? Milk. Buttermilk, actually, an unlikely thirst-quencher but one Meyer’s mother had always offered him on especially hot days. Meyer lived until the ripe old age of 95, so maybe buttermilk’s restorative properties are more than just an old wives (make that mothers) tale.

In any case, the dairy companies who began sponsoring the Indy 500 and contributed to the race purse had a vested interest in seeing their product share the spotlight in victory lane. Of course, a little financial incentive was needed to encourage reluctant drivers who may have preferred chugging something, anything else after enduring 200 dusty laps at The Brickyard – the current sponsorship by the American Dairy Association has risen to $10,000.

Only one driver disdained the dollars since Meyer established the tradition: Emerson Fittipaldi in 1993. Fittipaldi, Brazilian by birth, owned orange plantations in his home country and made a point of downing a cool glass of OJ to highlight his product.

The First Indy 500

As millions of auto racing fans shift into high gear for the 91st Indianapolis 500 race on May 27 of 2007, let’s take a moment to reflect back on the humble beginnings of this historic race.

The very first Indy 500 took place a mere 2 years after the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909 and was the first major race hosted by race promoters led by track owner Carl G. Fisher. The idea of a 500-mile race had crossed Fisher’s mind earlier, but frequent accidents, injuries and several deaths blamed on the race track’s original tar & gravel surface prompted a major overhaul. Approximately 3.2 million bricks were set into the oval track, from which the nickname “The Brickyard” is derived. The inaugural “International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race” took place on Memorial Day, May 30 of 1911 in front of over 80,000 race fans who paid a mere $1 each to attend.

The race itself was tremendously exciting, regardless of the fact that speeds were low by modern day standards and most cars carried both a driver AND a riding mechanic who also assisted with navigation. The one car without an on-board mechanic was #32, the Marmon “Wasp” driven by 1910 AAA season champion Ray Harroun who came out of retirement to race in the very first Indy 500. Harroun mounted an innovative new device on his bright yellow racer: a “rear view mirror” that allowed him to dispense with the riding mechanic – and a lot of extra weight. Although the official rules mandated the use of a riding mechanic, Harroun appealed and in a decision that provoked heated controversy was allowed to race solo with his dash-mounted mirror.

Flying over the bricks on Firestone tires, Harroun averaged an astounding (for the era) 74.602 miles per hour over the 500 miles. When the checkered flag was waved, Harroun was declared the first winner of a race that was shortly to become an American tradition. Notably, Harroun never raced again, nor did his yellow “Wasp” which may be viewed today in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

Supermoto – A Thrilling Motorcycle Racing Sport

In the 1970’s ABC’s ‘Wide World of Sports‘ became rated as one of the best sports shows in the United States at the time. In the series called ‘Superbikers‘ ABC was commissioned to find the ultimate motorcycle racer of all times and this would take place at California’s Carlsbad Raceway as a yearly event.

The Carlsbad race track was cleverly designed with the purpose of enticing a variety of talented riders from flat-track to off-road and road-racing worlds, including names such as Jeff Ward and Kenny Roberts. The ‘Superbikers’ show lasted till 1985, but was forced to stop production through cuts and new management that took over. This shortened the life of such a young sport in the USA, however, the Europeans adopted the sport, which gained much popularity in European countries such as France. By 2003 the forgotten sport was revived in the United States with the timely birth of AMA Supermoto Championships.

Supermoto is the combination of road racing and motocross on race tracks made up of about 30% dirt and 70% tarmac and is commonly referred to as Supermotard due to its major popularity in France, as mentioned.

In 1991 the first ‘Nordwest’ supermoto was released by ‘Gilera’, an Italian manufacturer, from then on others have followed within Europe bringing out manufacturers such as KTM, CCM Motorcycles, Husqvarna and Husaberg AB. Although these are widely available, motorcycles for Supermoto are still predominantly custom made with a combination of road-racing rims and tires and off-road motorcycles. This also applies to riding apparel, made up of both off-road and road race equipment. A distinct difference that is brought out in this particular sport is the great importance of skill rather than the general performance of the bike, thus slower speeds of between 100 mph and 161 mph are reached through short and winding Supermoto tracks.

Supermoto is a very dangerous sport and should not be taken lightly. Injuries occur quite frequently and may even lead to something more serious, such as paralysis or death. This reality is not far from mind of any of the professional riders, thus when considering Supermoto racing, proper investigation is strongly recommended along with lessons from a competent Supermoto instructor. Several manufacturers have created training lessons specifically for this, such as the CCM Supermoto trackday program.

Midget Car Racing – Gateway to Auto Racing

If you are a racing fan you likely already know all about midget car racing. Many racing car drivers start out their professional careers with midget cars or at least quarter midget cars and this form of race car driving can be exciting. Of course, it does not quite have the sponsorship or coverage of NASCAR or F1 events, but it certainly does have a large following of fans and racers of all ages.

Midget cars can basically be described as small racecars with four-cylinder engines that weigh only about 1000 pounds and which are capable of reaching high speeds despite their size and the weight they carry. They are not specifically used by midgets but rather are used by average-sized drivers despite the vehicle’s size and weight. Midget cars are fully equipped with roll cages and other safety features since their size and speed can result in dangerous accidents. They are raced over relatively short distances and are often used in indoor arenas and there are a number of spectacular annual midget car racing events which are held all over America. Often racers from other forms of racing participate in midget car racing events for entertainment and recreational purposes.

In a similar vein, Quarter Midget racing is also very popular. Roughly ¼ of the size of a full size midget racecar, this form of racing is restricted to youths since it would be difficult if not impossible for a full-grown adult to fit inside such a vehicle – unless, perhaps, they were a midget. Drivers are aged between five and sixteen and these aspiring race car drivers usually race on small banked ovals. They may race on dirt, asphalt or concrete and there are relatively few quarter midget racing tracks in America. Between eleven and eighteen years of age, a driver may choose to drive a half midget which is about half the size of a midget car. Half midgets have a single cylinder engine which can be as big as 250cc in size and may also compete in a variety of events.

For youngsters, racing midget cars is a great way to get into the sport of auto racing. For skilled drivers, midget cars are the best way to unwind and have fun on the weekends. For fans, midget car racing is plenty of fun. No matter which way you look at it, midget car racing is a great way to spend a weekend.

The F1 Spyker F8-VII vs the F16 Fighter Plane

The Volkel Air Force Base in Holland was the scene of excitement and anticipation, while thousands of spectators waited anxiously to see Christijan Albers face off against an F16 Fighter jet airplane. Speculation and thrill soared through the excited crowd because experts and lay spectators alike were unsure who would be victorious. In the air, there is no match to the F16’s top speed of 2,020 kilometers per hour but how it was going to perform on the ground was anyone’s guess.

The Spyker Racing Team put their F8-VII on the line for the “Full Throttle” event and looked forward to the opportunity, especially as they have been associated with the Royal Netherlands Air Force for many years. The Formula 1 racecar, driven by Christijan Albers, can reached speeds of approximately 350 kilometers an hour, which is the average speed the F16 needs to lift-off. So, from a ground performance point of view, the F16 and the F1 Spyker F8-VII should be evenly matched.

The F16 was piloted by Captain Ralph Aarts, who has a long and distinguished flight record that includes 1,100 hours of flying and many operational missions. The accomplished pilot was as excited as Albers at the chance to race two powerful machines against each other.

At the start of the 1 kilometer race it seemed as if the Formula 1 Racing Car was going to get the upper hand. Albers had the starting advantage for the first 300 meters, but the F16 dug deep and managed to pass Albers and remain in the lead for the remaining 700 meters. The F16 aircraft completed the 1 kilometer stretch in 15.5 seconds, with its top speed at the finish line being 450 kilometers per hour. Captain Aarts then gently lifted his machine off the ground to perform a few maneuvers and tricks that left the spectators speechless and Albers with a new respect for the warriors of the sky.

Both pilot and driver enjoyed each second of the race, as Albers was overjoyed to have come so close to an F16 Fighter, and Aarts to a Formula 1 Racing Car. Even though the event was over in a few seconds and the F16 had won by a mere two car lengths, it was a day that was enjoyed by all.

It is not everyday that two of the world’s fastest moving machines get the opportunity to challenge each other. The race also served a very important function and that was to raise awareness for the Air Force’s Recruitment Program, to entice young future pilots to consider a career with the Royal Netherlands Air Force.