I recently had a chance to read "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein on a flight to Boston from Florida. As both a racing fan and dog lover I found the book very enjoyable. It is an engaging, easy read that can be appreciated by everyone regardless of whether they like racing or not.
The book is currently listed #7 on the New York Times bestseller list and has gotten many excellent reviews. Here's the synopsis:
"Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.
On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoe, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoe at his side.
A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it."
Early Monday morning normally calls for a few cups of joe to get that day started and the blood pumping. Lucky for me I got this link in my email and didn't need to brew a pot. Why bother when you can have Maranello's finest?
I can't afford it and I'm not skilled enough to really drive it the way you see here but I still want one. That's Schumacher behind the wheel as a "guest" stig by the way. What a lucky bastard!
I can't tell you how exactly many times my son and I watched that movie but it has got to be at least in the hundreds He went through a whole Cars phase when the movie was first released and still plays with the toys to this day. It is the one movie that I actually don't mind watching over and over.
Logically, a sequel is in the works. Disney is teasing our appetite for more Cars hilarities in the interval by offering a series of shorts entitled Mater's Tall Tales. They are every bit as creative and entertaining as the original film. The latest one named Tokyo Mater has got to be my all time favorite spoof on the Fast & the Furious.
These guys at Pixar undoubtedly have the greatest jobs on earth. I truly envy them.
I believe there are very few objects in this world that are pure poetry in motion. A Ferrari V12 is surely among them. The soulful wail of all twelve cylinders near redline substantiates the existence of man made perfection. This video elegantly portrays the inherit art of the process that defines the very soul of Ferrari. It stirred my soul as I'm sure it will yours.
May 1st will forever be etched in my memory. That is the tragic day back in 1994 that the racing world lost its' legend Ayrton Senna at the San Marino Grand Prix.
I still can vividly remember the course of events now 15 years later. At that time I was feverishly preparing to graduate from the Cleveland Institute of Art with hopes of landing a design position at one of the Big 3. I was so entrenched in completing my work for the I.D. Spring show that I missed the race. I was a hard core F1 fan even back then so you know I was buried in work to miss a race! In fact, I didn't watch any TV at all that weekend because I was barricaded in my basement sketching so I had no idea of the tragic event that had transpired.
It wasn't until I arrived at school the following Monday morning that my friend Rich Scheer asked if I heard what happened. Needless to say I was shocked. I knew even then that would be a milestone in my life that I would always remember.
I had the honor of experiencing the magnitude of Senna's reach a few weeks later when I went to his hometown of Sao Paulo Brasil to visit my future wife. Even though the funeral had already occurred the palpable sadness and grief that still hung over the entire country was staggering. I had never in my life witnessed an event that had touched so many.
I never always agreed with Senna or approved of some of his more infamous on track antics but there is no denying that he will go down in history as one of the few true legends of racing. Even today, fifteen years later, he is still the standard of excellence by which others are compared.
Here we go race fans! It's mid March and the new 2009 season is finally upon us. God, I love this time of year!
The 12 Hours of Sebring and Homestead Ferrari Challenge are just a few days away and I'm amped up and waiting to enjoy the smell of race fuel and burnt rubber. What better way to kick off the events this weekend than watching this new feature called "Truth in 24"?
The show will air on ESPN March 20th at 8:00 PM EST and has already generated a strong buzz within the racing community. Be sure to check it out because it looks like it's going to be a winner.
I can't help but laugh my ass off when I see these commercials. Instant classics! I especially love the whole Grand Prix vibe they put in it with the split screens and camera angles.
How can you not love this new Shell ad? I can't think of anything that sounds as beautiful as an F1 car.
Imagine how complicated and costly something like this was to film. When you take into consideration the logistics and red tape of shooting in so many different international locations you can't help but appreciate the ad even more.
For an even higher quality version click the image below and turn up your speakers.
What an incredible weekend! Sebring holds a special place in my heart and this year was no different. The heart thumping finish of the GT2 class above says it all.
I was also on hand to proudly witness my brother-in-law Pierre Kleinubing battle his way to a third place finish in the World Challenge Touring Car season opener in his RTR Acura TSX. Congratulations Pierre! Here's to a repeat championship performance of last year.
The victory champagne also flowed for my friend Charlie Scardina who not only nailed the pole position for the IMSA GT3 Cup race but kept the field at bay to finish first. Best of luck to Charlie for the rest of the series. He may be as rookie but I know he'll do well.
This time of year is nirvana for racing fans here in Florida. We have world class concours seemingly every weekend and the racing season gets underway.
I was fortunate enough this past Saturday to catch the Ferrari Challenge down at our local track in Homestead. In addition to the Challenge race there was an incredible sea of Ferraris basking under the 80 degree sunshine with nary a cloud to be seen.
The highlight of the day was watching the F1 cars with my son. If you've never experienced F1 in person you need to add it to the short list of things to do before you die. It's guaranteed to send chills down your spine.
