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The affable 'Aussie Ryan Briscoe. (Image source:
news.com.au)
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And in a nice change of pace, albeit I'm
feeling a bit Information overloaded, as I've just finished my Umpteenth' CD
" Audiobook" of the year; CRIKEYS! While awaiting the Black Wind book which I'd started in Kona - but
only got halfway finished before leaving, it'd take another two months for it
to arrive at my local library.
And thus, preparing for my jaunt to Arizona,
I picked up a further four Audiobook's including The Thief by Clive Cussler, as I'm enjoying
these fictional Isaac Bell stories - which I decided to listen to before going
to "Snottsdale;" (Scottsdale) Hooah!
The book centers around a thwarted kidnapping
upon the RMS Mauritania, the lesser known companion of the il-fated Lusitania -
of which I believe were in competition with two other ill-fated ships; the Titanic
and Britannic, two-thirds of rival cruise ship company White Star lines seeking
to capture the Atlantic ocean passenger trade. As this talk about ships makes
me think of a one certain John Jacob Astor who perished at sea in 1914, but
that's another story awaiting launch.
And as usual, there's brief mention of
classic automobiles in the book of which I've noted below.
The Thief
- Thomas Flyer K670
- Packard Grey Wolf Racer
- J198 Torpedo Duesenberg
And speaking 'O cars; while Arizona's Holiday seems
to be vanishing from my rear view mirror, nevertheless I had a very good time
there which was capped by two most Excellante' Car outings, the first being my
memorable visit to The Valley of the Sun's McLaren dealership!
A few Dazes later I enticed Artiste Dave -
the creator of the No Fenders Bitchin' logo into taking Mwah to the Penske
Racing Museum, which I hadn't been to in a few years.
All of the "Usual Suspects," nee
the majority of "The Captain's" (Roger Penske) Indy 500 winners were
on hand along with a few other noted vehicles which I hadn't seen before.
Penske Racing Museum
- Gil de Ferran's 100th CART victory winning chassis - replete in iconic Marlboro livery
- 'Bradley K's Dodge Charger Sprint Cup Championship winner
- Daytona 500 trophy - with Rocket on top? (For Ryan "the Rocketman" Newman)
- Texas Boot trophies
- Motegi trophy
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| Porsche RS Spyder. (Image source: ultimatecarpage.com) |
While the usual sprinkling of Ilmor/Chevy
'lumps were on display stands, along with the Mercedes Benz "Stock Block" motor, various
Pacecar's, Mark Donohue's Porsche IROC car, Roger Penske's winning Catalina "Bomber,"
Penske F1 car, multiple scale wind
tunnel models, etc. As even the outside Land Rover test track was in brief action, which I've never seen in use
before...
As here's another
long ago story I scribbled 'bout my debutant visit to that 'Uber fine Penske
Racing Museo;
Which although I'm a total sucker for all of
the iconic Indy Cars on display, like Artiste Dave, I tend to gravitate towards
the beautiful Porsche RS Spyder instead - which I find utterly mesmerizing!
Whilst I suppose my favourite will always be the iconic Sunoco Donohue McLaren IndyCar,
even if it is a replica - according to Donald Davidson... Which leads me towards
getting mildly excited over it almost being Talk of Gasoline Alley time!
Having finally gotten the Black Wind Audiobook
from my local library, I immediately dove-in, as the story centers around two
fictional WWII attacks upon U.S. mainland by a pair of Japanese I-400 series
Submarines, although the I-403 & I-411 were never built, nonetheless it's
ironic that the latter two of three I-400 series Subs built were constructed at
Sasebo - which I've visited three times, traveling to Suzuka from this farthest
southern island twice: 2003-04. Having also taken my lone Heli' (helicopter)
flight over the Sasebo naval base...
But the even funnier part was upon getting
past Disc-6, where I'd left off before, I suddenly sat bold upright as the Bad
Guys were nefariously reconfiguring a supposed fibre optic cable laying ship
that had been leased by NTT, formally known as Nippon Telegraph & Telephone;
Hmm? Isn't Ryan Briscoe being sponsored by some outfit called NTT Data? Which
I've just discovered is a subsidiary of the very same NTT mentioned in the
book; aye Karumba! As what a funny way to learn a sponsor's identity, eh?
Although it seems a bit odd that a Japanese
consortium would be sponsoring a team running its Hometown Honda's rival
engine? Although perhaps this was a way
to ensure its ability to not being locked out of appearing at the Indy 500 with
future blocking of IT companies trying to make deals in the Verizon IndyCar
Series? As Briscoe is one of the Dudes
I'm hoping wins the IndyCar title this year...
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| The venerable Marmon Wasp on center stage at the IMS Hall of Fame museum in 2011. (DOB images) |
And Karmically, once again, having continued
on with my "Audiobooks," prior to going to Austin, I listened to
Clive Cussler's The Wrecker, which just so happens to begin and end
with the "Hero" Isaac Bell and his wife in the couple's 1912 Marmon model
32 Speedster! Which naturally Y'all will recall was the winning manufacturer of
the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 - with Ray Haroon at the wheel of his
revolutionary Marmon Wasp.
Since after all, while the hit Johnny Cash
"I've been Everywhere Man!" song dances in my head, (having just
returned from Austin) it's just about time for the most important month of the
year, as in the Month of May, albeit its not really a month's celebration
anymore, more like the 12 Days 'O May instead, as presumably, we'll have
finally accumulated 33-cars to take the green flag in this coming month's 98th
running at Mother Speedway...
(Marmon Wasp photo Courtesy of No Fenders ‘Offical
Photographer ‘CARPETS)