Its been a while since I've hit this page. After saying I probably wasn't going to post anymore pictures. However the crash at the Daytona 500 was big enough I wanted to make a journal about it. Ryan Newman after one of the most violent accidents in recent history of the 500 has been showing improvement since being pulled from the car and sent to the hospital. He's been talking to doctors and family while recovering.

It was so weird on a personal level because I had actually picked him to win the race before the race had even started. He almost did if not for the crash. I don't place blame and am only thankful he didn't share the same fate as Dale Earnhardt 19 years earlier. Which while we waited to hear some news about it, had a lot of people with a queasy feeling that he might have. The racing world was able to let out a collective relieved sigh as the news finally broke he survived.

We can only pray now for a speedy recovery and a return to racing. Though at my age the ripe age of 42 he may just go the retirement route as many other drivers have done in the past few years.

Coming up soon on July 28th I and a friend created this page 10 years ago. Over the last few years there has been little activity here adding one or two pics every several months or more. Due to the job I had in those years and the new one I started a month ago at the local zoo. Both jobs were overnight security and its gotten really hard to hit the regular car shows as both jobs I did a lot of weekends and a lot of overtime on top of that. Plus having to take care of not only the 20 acres my grandfather owned before his death in 2015. And taking care of my grandmother and mom at the same time.

Ice hasn't been on for a time, between that and my major lack of time it is time to shut down the page. I have come to this over the fact I missed the Gold Rush Rally that came through KC just a few days ago. Something I never would have thought of missing when I first started this page with Ice. And only barely making it to the Monster Jam show at Arrowhead stadium a couple weeks ago which I promised to take my nephew to.

Its not going to be an easy choice because I always enjoyed showing some of the cars that graced the Kansas City and surrounding areas to all of you. But the struggles of real life just have to take top priority. But thanks to all of those who have enjoyed this page for all these nearly ten years. And hopefully someone will be able to pick up the keys I'll leave under the floor mat and take a page like it another ten years.

*salutes and drives off in a big smoky burnout*

And yeah I understand that was a bit of a pun, but had a huge scare over here on Tuesday. An F4 hit just a few miles from my home. Destroying homes and totally flattening a big nursery down the road. I couldn't see the thing because it was completely rain wrapped. If it wasn't I could have seen it from my house on the hill.

I had actually just got done joking with my brother in law that in thirty years I'd never seen a tornado do just what this one did on Tuesday from that home.

This link shows the size of the monster a few miles behind Kansas Speedway. I wish it was a video because the live shot from the local news camera was incredible watching how it spun. Thankfully the speedway and everything around it was spared and no one was killed given the fact it was an F4.

http://kickinthetires.net/index.php.....large-tornado/

Just heard the news a few moments before writing this journal. 3 time champion 1975, 1977 (the year I was born) and in 1985. Winning championships for both Ferrari and McLaren. THe only driver to do that for currently the two most successful brands in F1 history.

Wonder if this clears the question if F1 or indy cars can suck a manhole cover off the road. ANd to add insult to injury the tow truck hits the bridge and starts leaking hydraulic fluid onto the car.

Before I go too far on this I haven't played a console game of any type since 2014. But I want to get back into a racing game. After watching some videos on GT Sport, looking at the car list, track list and being rather disappointed I started watching what Forza 7 had to offer. And in the car list I am very impressed except for a few missed gems. The track list I have yet to see a full list as of this early 2019. But it seems to have the basics when it comes to them. And being an American game it has its share of American tracks and cars.

When it comes to the car list what impressed me the most is the amount of cars and not 40 of the same model like in GT. Can Am cars, IMSA cars, Indy and Formula E which GT badly lacks on. The few gems I can see missing are for example the GMC manufacturer that only includes a 1984 Vandura, the same van used in The A-Team. But no Syclone or Typhoon. In Ram trucks no SRT-10. And in Ford no F-150 Lightning. There are many more I could list that should be obvious but I'll digress for now.

I'll not do much on the tracks other than the videos I watched of gameplay. They seem to have caught up with GT when it comes to the look of the tracks and actually surpassed when it comes to things such as rain. It still falls behind slightly especially what I've seen as the cars are racing. It looks like the illusion of speed rivals that of something from the mid 2000's. Where as GT had that locked down back in GT5.

That con against the tracks and the play isn't enough for me to not like the game. And as the title says I am far more impressed with how Forza has improved where GT seems so stagnant in places and falling back in others.

I do have a question for those who have the game. Do you need to play online or can gameplay be offline? Understanding that new updates need to be downloaded online.

I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with grief over the sight of that building after surviving major wars being decimated by a fire. The centuries old building which has witnessed passively so many generations of humanity come and go. Almost standing watch over us like the God and son it was built for. A building iconic to the world.

Thankfully it seems they were able to save the stonework of the structure. And its been said they will attempt to rebuild it.

Stay strong Paris and know the world is behind you. Vive le France!

Its been without submissions on a regular basis for a while. Things haven't been well on my end. Loss of a great job thanks to the state of Kansas forcing the company on hard times. And just a year of problems. I will be posting the few pics I did get of cars at last years shows. And hope to make it at least to the KC auto show this year. And will definitely be hitting the Monster Truck show at Arrowhead stadium (where the Chiefs play) this June. That show will be the first time in 25 years since Monster Trucks have graced that stadium. I used to hit that show back in the 80's with my dad which was run by USA Motorsports that was based out of Kansas City Missouri.

A little video to show a bit of what I saw back then. ^^

Its fairly old news at this point with him passing on September 11th from Pancreatic cancer. He with his son Dan Panoz made impacts on the automotive world. As a small company running cars in the 24 hours of Lemans, first with the Esperante GT, then creating the American Lemans series to bring European style racing to the states. Later creating the Deltawing running it in the 24 hours of Lemans, then making it a regular car in the ALMS/IMSA series, nearly winning the 24 hours of Daytona. The newest car called Avezzano both a street car and a race car running in the Pirelli World Challenge, was named after the town in Italy his family immigrated from.

But at the same time I think this might be just what NASCAR needed to get back into the hearts of racing fans. Its the first race I have actually watched in maybe 5 years. And could be the start of a new era that many of us have been waiting for. A change from a majority of oval tracks to maybe at least for the coming years a split in the oval to roadcourse "ratio". Maybe beyond that a change over to a majority roadcourse. With certain tracks such as Indy, Daytona, Talladega, and Pocono being the only tracks left as ovals. With of course Indy and Daytona with roadcourses inside the oval.

My local track, Kansas Speedway is partly there already with two straights and a hairpin. So it wouldn't take much for it to have a half oval half roadcourse season as we do have two races a year for the now so called Monster Energy series.


But I can see them going farther than that and racing at COTA, Road America, Road Altanta, Virginia International Raceway, Mid Ohio just to name a few. And going international racing at the two main Canadian tracks and in Mexico City.

I don't think you would have to change the cars much either since they do have roadcourse specific cars they race at Sonoma and Watkins glen anyway. Either way by doing what I had laid out here, they could become the most diverse series in the world. Indy holding that title for now, racing on both the oval and roadcourse at Indy, and racing at some of the same ovals that NASCAR does minus Daytona and Talladega, while hitting the majority of roadcourses in the country.

Today 17 years ago on a Tuesday terrorists attacked the United States in the largest act of terrorism in history. Those of us old enough to remember the day have it burned into our memories, I was four days away from becoming a 24 year old Kansan, thisamy years later I am four days away from 41 and realize that many 23 and 24 year olds now have little to no recollection of that day. Too young to see what was going on, or too young to understand the significance of what they might have seen.

I will always pass on my memory of that day to the younger generations so it may be understood why we felt the way we did after the attack. The fear the anger the despair. But also the spirit to overcome the evil done that day and go on with our lives and the spirit to hit back. And that's why I day celebrate the day as well because we picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, threw the middle finger in the air at those who had a part in it and said fuck you.

Today 17 years ago on a Tuesday terrorists attacked the United States in the largest act of terrorism in history. Those of us old enough to remember the day have it burned into our memories, I was four days away from becoming a 24 year old Kansan, thisamy years later I am four days away from 41 and realize that many 23 and 24 year olds now have little to no recollection of that day. Too young to see what was going on, or too young to understand the significance of what they might have seen.

I will always pass on my memory of that day to the younger generations so it may be understood why we felt the way we did after the attack. The fear the anger the despair. But also the spirit to overcome the evil done that day and go on with our lives and the spirit to hit back. And that's why I day celebrate the day as well because we picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, threw the middle finger in the air at those who had a part in it and said fuck you.

Okay so to be as fair as possible to my brand of choice there are some very good looking and very badass cars coming out of the four manufacturers. Namely of course the current Vette and future mid engine design. The ZL1 1LE Camaro and the newest Malibu too. And naturally I love the look of the upcoming Silverado. In the Buick side I love the look of the new Regal.

GM has always had their moments of brilliance over the last 40 years. I chose that since I am nearing 41 years old myself. For instance the Buick GN, GMC Syclone and Typhoon, the K5 Blazer, SSR, and the Cobalt SS among a few others. However there has been those what are you thinking moments. Such as the Pontiac Aztek which was some version of a Toyota SUV, the 80's Chevy Nova and the 2004-2006 GTO. But now there is one more car to add to that. The latest Chevy Blazer.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/wp-cont.....e-quarters.jpg

I don't know if this was a poor attempt and beating Ford at bringing back the Bronco, and while there has been no official release what the new Bronco will look like. But either way I think Chevy blew it with the resurrection of the Blazer. It remains to be seen if the same will be with Ford. But if it looks anything like the concept from 2004 Chevy should hang their head in shame over this. In my opinion (and nothing humble about it) they should have paid tribute to the Blazer of old and the serious off road SUV it was.

For the last three months I have been caring for my dog. A yellow lab that was my life for the past 12 years, She was having problems with arthritis and she took a lot of care. Sadly two weeks ago I learned she had more than arthritis and was diagnosed with bone cancer. It had gone misdiagnosed by my primary vet for the past three months and after only taking her to the ER vet with pain did I learn this. So with upping her medication to the limit I spent last week giving her as much love as I could Until I finally had to say goodbye to her last Friday. This picture was from about six years ago riding around in my truck with me. She loved riding in it. I would only but say go for a ride and she would be out there ready to go. She always had to be cute about it though. Putting her front paws on the seat, look back at me wagging her tail wanting me to pick her the rest of the way up. Naturally I would fall for it every time. How could I not, she had my heart from the moment I met her as a drop off at the top of the hill at home.

I miss her dearly, more than words can express. But one comfort is the cancer is no longer causing her pain.

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7703382/

The best thing about these trucks and cars was anything went powerplant wise. That's what made it so fun back then.












And just for the fun of it a little old school USA motorsports that was based in my home of Kansas City. The guy who made this video was perfect adding the band Missouri as the music as the first two songs. Also if you watch at 3:15 that I remember watching live at Arrowhead Stadium where my Chiefs play.

Yep the old bobcat skidsteer company is 60 years old this year. And I'll just leave these here.

A bit behind in posting this but last heard he's okay. At his age getting bounced around like that definitely hurt.



This only a week after his daughter Brittany went to the hospital after her scary crash.

Probably by the end of 2019 making mine more than likely a 2020. But it will be in Deep Ocean Blue, and personalized starting with the absolute base truck and going from there with how I want it. My current Silvy is 15 years old and starting to go downhill but should get at least another ten years out of it. And really playing with its look at the moment.

The World of Wheels is making its way back to KC starting Friday. Will be getting plenty of shots of cars to share with you.

Missed out on some old news that I had failed to put down about this year's racing season. Indycar has done a redesign on their cars for 2018, obviously that has been months in the news. But thought I would share it just in case some were unaware.

Also the racing world lost a legend recently. Dan Gurney one of the top American drivers known to the world died January 14th. He raced multiple series throughout his career much like the great Mario Andretti did.

I'll have more journals about old news and new news and the pictures from the car show as I get the time starting next week.

Lot of good memories packed in these cartoons. They don't even show these anymore on TV. Which is a damn shame.





One of the great things my grandpa taught me when I was little. How to remove a tire from a rim without use of automatics.








And last but not least. How can you not say the pixar Cars movies didn't take inspiration from this gem.

First the truck. Elon Musk not quite the best presenter but I think these speak for themselves. Doing the company's namesake, Nikola Tesla proud.



And then there was this....

Only the second woman to win that title, the other was Shirley Muldowny winning in 1977 (the year I was born) 1980 and again in 1982.

Though Vettel didn't make it easy on him. I can't help but think how intentional that looked. And I can't believe the American announcers were saying Hamilton shouldn't have been where he was. Um excuse me when everyone in front of you is tangling it up and you see an opening you take it.

Anyway in other news the Houston Astros won in amazing fashion in game 5 of the world series last night. Been saying it all year that it would come down to these two battling it out. And now we can say without a doubt the last four World Series have been really fun to watch and among haven't been's. First the Royals in 2014 and 2015 who until then hadn't been back since 1985. Then the Cubs and Indians last year, the Cubs hadn't been back since 1945 and hadn't won since 1908, and the Indians who were there in the 90s but hadn't won since 1948. Now we have the Astros and Dodgers. The Dodgers who hadn't been back since 88, as long as the Royals, and the Astros who were there for the first time in 2005 but has never won a series.

So the next time you see someone hating on a redneck show them this. Those haters would probably still be sitting around wondering how they can get themselves out.

And the song that comes to mind with this video. They see me rollin, they hatin! XD