Fun With Cars

I love this weekend. I had a good time following a few races so far this year, but I sit now in front of the computer, iPad, and TV after three in the morning during a delay in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. Once Qualifying is over, I’ll get some rest, then follow the 12 Hours of Sebring all day Saturday, maybe a bit more rest, then up late again for the race in Oz. Then during the day Sunday, I could catch some of the MotoGP action happening in Austin at Circuit of the Americas, or even watch some NASCAR from Bristol.

I’m still recovering from my back surgery, so I can’t really drive much and I have to move around slowly, but once I’m parked comfortably surrounded by technology and all this racing, what could be better? I send out a massive thanks to all our fans and followers who join in on the blog, Facebook, and Twitter. That’s a huge part of the fun for me. From the comfort of home I can enjoy several types of world-class racing with friends from around the world.

I feel like this year will be special for a variety of reasons. I watched the Daytona 500 to see the new cars, which look great, and of course to see how Danica could hold her own. It makes me want to keep closer tabs on NASCAR than I have in previous years. It’s the last of the V8′s in F1, but with new tires for everyone to figure out, amped-up KERS, and all the driver-switchery that happened since the end of last season. It’s also the last year of the Grand AM Series and American Le Mans Series, as they just announced details of the new unified series, United SportsCar Racing. I am hopeful that the new series will bring out the best of sports car racing to the US in terms of drivers, teams, and sponsors, and should eliminate some of the confusion of Grand AM and ALMS class structures from the past. One sports car season that includes the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, Circuit of the Americas, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Petit Le Mans? Factory Audis, Toyota Hybrids, Corvettes, and the DeltaWing? Yes please!

So all looks hopeful and good for racing in the US and around the world, if only this Australian qualifying will get underway so we can see how the grid will shape up!

-jim

Predictions link on our facebook page

As we’re just days away from the first race of the 2013 season, and even closer to the first Friday practice, I want to make everyone aware of the Fun with Cars F1 Predictions Game. I’m sure you’ve heard us talking about it on the show and on the site, but for anyone who hasn’t actually used it, now is the time! It’s an app that’s on our Facebook page, but doesn’t really work within the Facebook mobile apps, so please click on the image above or visit https://www.facebook.com/fwcars/app_181736575204786 to officially enter your prediction for who you think will be on pole for this Grand Prix, and who you think will win. Predictions have to be in before Friday practice, so they’re not informed by last-minute testing pace. On that page, click “Make Your Prediction” on the right-hand side, and choose the buttons for the drivers you want to pick.

After the race, the results will be tabulated, and you can see how close your prediction was to being on pole and winning the race. You get one point for every spot off P1 your driver ends up. As you keep predicting through the season you can see how well your predictions stack up against other fans, the hosts of the show, and our simple “control” who just guesses that whoever was on pole last time will be again, and whoever won last time will win again. It’s great fun, especially if you start right from the beginning of the season, so head there now and enter some predictions! And thanks as always to Neil Popham, the predictions stud who wrote the predictions app for us!

-jim

Hey followers and friends, I’m afraid Fun with Cars might be on hiatus for a while. In mid-February Robin sustained serious injuries from a fall during a photo shoot in California. He has been in a medically-induced coma for over a week and is making steps forward with his recovery, but certainly our website isn’t the most important thing he needs to focus on for the time being. Also as part of his facial surgery his jaw will be wired shut for six weeks, so our podcast might not quite sound right. Any thoughts, prayers, and good vibes you can send toward Robin and his family while they help him through this are welcome.

In much less scary but related news, I will be having surgery to remove a tumor from my spine next week, so I also won’t be at full speed for some time. We’ll still do what we can to follow race events and engage with all of you on our website, facebook, and twitter, but it will likely be a while before we can put a podcast together.

Speaking of engaging with our fans, now more than ever is a good time to join the crowd on our facebook page as we discuss new cars, drivers, rules, and more. And it’s time to start putting in your predictions for the Australian Grand Prix, in the Predictions app on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fwcars/app_181736575204786

Here’s to a complete and speedy recovery for us, and to an enjoyable racing season for everyone!

-jim

Update: 4 March 2013

I got a call from Robin today! He has continued to amaze all of us with his recovery, and he was able to call me today for the first time since this whole ordeal. It was incredible to hear his voice, and hear how far he’s come along. He is recovering from several major surgeries, but everything keeps looking positive and he’s exceeded everyone’s expectations. All the doctors and nurses in his area know and like him, and he’s been able to get outside and enjoy the Southern California weather for a bit. When we talked today he made fun of me for being in the hospital for only four days, and was more concerned about me getting better than telling me about himself. So he was smart, witty, nice, and caring. Which tells me it’s really him in there! Not just his body, but our good friend Robin is really getting better and I’m so happy he’s still himself!

I am back home now, and it’s been most of a week since my surgery. I’m getting stronger every day but still relying on lots of help from my lovely wife Elena. My spine tumor was bigger than they originally saw on the MRI, but they were able to get it all out and tell me it’s benign. It’s amazing I was able to move at all with the way it was pushing on my spinal column. So I now have a titanium-reinforced spine with five screws. Not yet sure if I’ll set off airport metal detectors or not. I’m slow and creaky got now but looking forward to getting back to full strength in the coming weeks and months.

-jim