F1 Is Coming to My Back Yard!

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson 

You can save your comments about the smell and the jokes about the mafia and Snooki. I was born, raised, and still live in New Jersey, and I've heard them all. And it doesn't matter. New Jersey is going to have a Formula 1 race. For 10 years.

If you don't live in the New York metropolitan area, you don't understand how huge today's announcement is. I can't even say that racing takes a back seat to other sports around here.  It's not even in the same car. Racing doesn't make the news unless something terrible happens. You can't find a race on the radio.

There have been attempts to bring racing to the area. CART held the Meadowlands Grand Prix in the parking lots and access roads of the Meadowlands Sports Complex for eight years. The only view was the swamps surrounding it.

A few years ago, there was talk about building a NASCAR track on Staten Island, but that idea didn't get much support. The attitude was NIMBY (not in my back yard).

Some New Jerseyans are not happy about the race because the focus will be on New York, not New Jersey.  But I've lived in northern New Jersey my entire life, and that's the way it's always been. The New York Giants and New York Jets play in NEW JERSEY. I have no doubt that the 2014 Super Bowl at the Meadowlands will be touted as the Super Bowl in New York. Although I must admit that was pleased to see all New Jersey officials at the press conference today and no one from New York (but New York definitely will reap economic benefit too).

I have mixed emotions about this. I'm really excited that a Formula 1 race is going to be 25 MILES from my house (I can use Google Maps too). But I'm scared because I don't want it to fail. And people will be sitting by waiting for that possibility. People see it as an all or nothing proposition, and they want instant success. The race will require road closures and inconveniences. If it's not a complete success, then it's a complete failure.

Baltimore had its first street course race this past September. Even before the race, everyone was poised to call it a failure. They had amazing attendance numbers for the weekend. But what many people remember are some traffic problems early in the weekend and the numbers indicating that the economic impact wasn't quite what the organizers were expecting. I hope the people in Baltimore give the race a second chance. It was a great race weekend, and there is always room for improvement.

So for now, I sit back and watch the development for the race. And I'll mark my calendar for that Sunday in June 2013. Because if you think I'm going to miss that race, fugetaboutit!

Monday Musings, 10/10/11

I've won the championship this many times!
(Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson)

This weekend had one championship clinched and two championships heating up. And I found a new racing series.

F1 - Was there really any doubt that Sebastian Vettel would win the driver's championship this weekend? There was absolutely no doubt in my mind after he won the pole 0.009 second over Jenson Button and then avoided a penalty for his aggressive move against Button at the start of the race. McLaren did manage to spoil the moment a bit with Button winning the race. And on a side note, I expect debris cautions in NASCAR, not in F1. And how awesome was it that Button used his $15,000 steering wheel to stop his car from rolling?

V8 Supercars - It was awesome. But I've already gushed about it.

Nationwide Series - There was a time when the Nationwide Series races were more exciting than the Sprint Cup races. But that's not the case anymore. Cup regular Brad K. (as the commentators insist on calling him) dominated the race, but the points battle between the Nationwide regulars is getting a little tighter. Of course, part of the reason for that is the off-track drama this week when Turner Motorsports released Reed Sorenson, who was third in points. Elliot Sadler is now within 20 points of Ricky Stenhouse. Let's hope for a close points race down to the finish.

Sprint Cup - The points race is still close, with Carl Edwards ahead of Kevin Harvick by one point, Jimmie Johnson lurking four points off the lead, and the top eight drivers within 20 points. But while the overall points race may be exciting, the race today wasn't. And why don't I ever remember any races from Kansas? More on that this week. Also, I know the media has officially changed Jimmie Johnson's name to Five Time, but I don't think Six Time rolls off the tongue quite as well.

Monday Musings, 9/26/2011

So here's the plan. Every Monday, I'm going to let you know my thoughts (or musings) on the weekend of racing. Again, no hard-hitting analysis.  Just my observations from my point of view.
Hopefully I'll be posting my blog Monday mornings. But this week's blog was little delayed because my husband and I went to the local casino to try and win a Subaru WRX STI.  Unfortunately, no luck on the car, but my husband did win a couple hundred bucks.
My musings for the week:

• F1: Congrats to Paul DiResta on his sixth place finish at Singapore. Nice finish, especially since he's never run there before. To be honest, I've never really given DiResta much thought. That is, until my husband and I met a father and son from Scotland while we were at the Baltimore Grand Prix. They were guests of Dario Franchitti. They spoke with such pride of the drivers who have come out of their country, including DiResta. And now that I've been paying attention? I would love to see what he could do in a better car. Oh, and if you're wondering whether winning gets old, just ask Sebastian Vettel.
• Sprint Cup: How about that Tony Stewart?!? Seems as though just a couple of weeks ago that would have been him running out of fuel again with a lap to go. The luck seems to be swinging in Smoke's direction. Is it too early in the Chase to get excited? Although Carl Edwards is my driver, I really like Tony too. Anyone who can stop the Jimmie Johnson Express is fine with me.
• Camping World Trucks: Yeah, Kyle Busch dominated the Truck race at New Hampshire, but my MVP for the day? Nine-year-old Christopher Duffley. Duffley, who is both blind and autistic, sang the National Anthem. I've watched a lot of anthems in my day, but this was one of the few times it actually brought tears to my eyes (and my big old husband too). It was inspirational to say the very least.
• NHRA: Kudos to Bob Vandergriff for his first Top Fuel win! And you'll get 'em next time, Alexis DeJoria. We need a little more Tequila Patron in Nitro Funny Car!

So what did you think of this weekend's racing?

Who's Gonna Pay for This Electric Bill?!?

Photo credit: Getty Images

I know they've been racing at night in Singapore for a few years now, but this never ceases to amaze me. I suppose if any racing series was going to pull it off,  it was going to be F1.

And ho hum. Another pole for Vettel. I'm still looking forward to my Open Wheel Breakfast tomorrow morning.