Motor Sport

The news today lead with the story of the sad loss to the world of Hollywood Legend Paul Newman. Famous for roles in more than 60 films, including “The Long Hot Summer,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Hustler,” “Cool Hand Luke,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Sting,” “Slap Shot,” “Nobody’s Fool” and “Cars” he was also passionate about motorsport and was co team owner of the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Team.



His racing career started in 1972 in a Lotus Elan and he honed his skills as a sports car driver as well as competing in a modified stock car at Daytona. He finished fifth in the 1977 24 Hours of Daytona, and in 1979 was part of the Porsche team that came second place in the Le Mans 24 Hours.



Success has continued through to the present day and he will be sorely missed from the celluloid and asphalt surfaces where he was so committed to being a winner.

After adding the “Win Sunday, Sell Monday” post I realised there was more to this than meets the eye.



So what have NASCAR drivers Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray and Carl Edwards have in common with yours truly?



Well, when we go stockcar racing at the weekend we all sit in Ford Fusions. alt=” style=”display: inline; vertical-align: bottom;” class=”emoticon” />



As you might expect there are a couple of major differences. I only use our Fusion to go to the tracks, the others use theirs on the tracks. I don’t have the nerves, skill or determination to battle with others round the ovals, not to mention too slow and the wrong age.



The other difference is even more disappointing. Our purple – sorry amethyst – Fusion is the European version as viewed above. Rather more racy is the USA version which first hit the tracks last year as one of the Cars of Tomorrow (2008 season Cars of Today). Life would be far more exciting if the USA version was universally available. Not that I should complain as despite Top Gear presenters looking down their noses at our Fusion, it gets me from A to B quite rapidily given our speed restrictions with minimal outlay on upkeep.



But it still doesn’t stop you wondering what if…



And are the Ford top brass having a wee snigger at our expense? Give the USA something that resembles a saloon car but send Europe a box on wheels.

“Win Sunday Sell Monday” is phrase that cropped up in a book about NASCAR history I read a while ago. Another blog discussed whether this is still the case which set me thinking to what extent I’m influenced by the sponsors in what I buy.



I enjoy my motorsport and the last 12 vehicles I’ve bought have all been Ford. Why? Because I’ve hardly had a problem with any of them. They’ve been far more reliable than any of the others I’ve had ~ in my time, I’ve blown a couple of engines, numerous head gaskets, bought radweld by the ton, etc….



I’ve never once had an inkling to buy a Ferrari, BMW or a Mercedes because of what happens on 16 or 18 Sundays a year. F1 Car Fords performance under the Jaguar badge didn’t made me think my next car should be a Skoda. So its difficult for me to see why manufacturers wanted to run an GP series independent to Mr Ecclestone. Over the years the car companies have come and gone. F1 GP is about the players, by that I think of the team owners.