This isn't the first time its happened, and anyone who has watched F1 long enough should remember the most famous incident a few years ago.

Here is what happened today.



And here is the most famous moment from 12 years ago.



One more.



And one more that happened this year in China.

It happened a week ago but I just finished watching the race on CBS sports.

Johnny O'Connell, the winningest driver for GM has sealed his 4th Pirelli world challenge title in as many years. The first three years were driving a Cadillac CTS-VR this year was driving the ATS-VR. The new car had its issues at the start of the season even burning to the ground. But it was a mechanical problem by the chasing Ferrari 458 driven by Olivier Beretta that locked it in for O'Connell. Maybe it was a bit of Karma for Olivier's car to break with 5 minutes to go but after an overly aggressive move on the corkscrew at Laguna Seca taking both his car and the Caddy out, he was set to win the championship when O'Connell couldn't get restarted as fast as Beretta.

So Caddy keeps its dominance in the American equivalent of the European FIA GT series of course now the Blancpain GT series, for another year.

If a Challenger races a Corvette and a Pinto is along side. The Challenger crashes, who wins the race?

So I started hearing a noise from my Camaro. I took it in and noticed that in the three bays my car was in the center bay. On the left was a Fox body Mustang with over 500 horsepower, and on the right was a 2009 Shelby Mustang with 1200 horsepower. I could almost see my 200 horsepower V6 Camaro tucking its tailpipes.

Anyhoo it turns out that my transmission, a five speed manual is starting to see the end of its life. Which is a big thing because its hard to destroy a manual tranny, it can be done but it takes a ton of abuse to do that. Yet another reason why I hate the previous owner. The fix is going to cost me $1,200 but that includes the trans, new clutch and removal of old and install of new. I can still drive the car but I have to baby it a little more than I have been currently. Either way it looks like it will be another year before I can rip it around the roadcourse's safely and without tearing the car up any further.
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He won it after winning yesterday's race and Montoya coming up one place short finishing 6th when his teammate Will Power moved down on him, damaging his car. He needed to finish 5th to break the tie in his favor. Both he and Dixon both having two wins each and having the same amount of points. With Dixon winning yesterday's race he mathematically wins the championship for his third win to Montoya's two wins. Now the drivers and teams and their families can rest from a very eventful season.

Montoya can lick his wounds from leading the points all season and in the final race giving it up. Many new winners, Dixon savoring his fourth championship and all of them taking time to let the death of one of their fellow drivers in Justin Wilson sink in.

The week after Justin Wilson's crash resulting in his death we find ourselves at the end of the season for Indycar racing. They are going on with the race which I believe Wilson would have wanted. He died doing what he loved and wouldn't want the season to end a week early. Four years ago when Wheldon died the mood was different, the race was already proven to be dangerous and more than half the cars were destroyed in that crash. Personally I think it is a tribute to any racer that after his or her passing that the series they raced in continues.

In terms of the series itself and the championship to be decided today, Juan Pablo Montoya is leading with 500 points. Graham Rahal is second and 34 points behind Montoya. So barring a bad race by Montoya it looks like he will come out as the 2015 champion which will be his first championship since 1999 in the CART series.

If you read my journal yesterday you knew of the wreck in the Pocono race with the Indy cars. Justin Wilson was struck in the head by the nose cone of Sage Karam's car after his spin and crash against the wall. Wilson fell into a coma after the impact to his helmet and just a few hours ago as of this journal's writing passed away from the injuries sustained. Many of his fellow drivers including NASCAR's Tony Stewart offered his family use of their private jets to fly his family from England to Pennsylvania to be by his side. He only had his 37th birthday less than a month ago and had his best finish of the year at the last race at Mid Ohio. Wilson's death is the first in Indycar since Dan Wheldon in 2011 and was only one weekend away from the final race of the season at Sonoma. His career spanned over a decade where he raced F1, Champcar, of course Indy and the 24 hours of Daytona.

Truly a sad month in racing as first Jules Bianchi from injuries sustained a year ago and now Justin Wilson.

Just when I thought all I would report on is the fox that ran across the track to bring out the ninth caution of that race, it turns out that Justin Wilson was struck in the helmet by the nose piece of Sage Karam's car. As per my rules in posting videos of accidents I will only post it once the news comes out that he made it. For now there is no news currently but unlike with Philippe Massa a few years ago getting hit in the head by a small piece of debris, the nose cone of an Indy car is much larger and heavier. So Justin may not be so lucky, but I pray that I do not have to report on another racing death only a month after reporting on Jules Bianchi passing after his crash last year at Suzuka.

Please send your thoughts and prayers Justin's way.

Thankfully things have slowed down enough to where I can finish submitting the remaining pictures from the concourse show that took place back in June. And sadly since that time I have missed a few automotive events. One truck and tractor pull and three car shows. Hopefully I won't miss the last race of the season for Kansas Speedway coming in September because that is two days of everything under the sun including some vintage race cars.

I still have lots of pictures from the concourse show over a month ago. But have had little time to continue. Life has gotten really busy with my extended hours at work since June and planning early for preparations for this fall and the work around the this little piece of country land I live on.

Good news?

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive.....streaming-show

This news is several days old and I just remembered this morning to bring it up. If you recall back in October of last year he crashed at Suzuka into a recovery vehicle just one day before a Typhoon was to hit Japan. Last week on the 18th he lost his battle to recover from his injuries. Making him the first F1 driver to lose his life as a result of a crash since Ayrton Senna in 1994, 21 long years ago.

At least its a suspected drunk driving crash. I have driven past that railroad bridge many times. It was recently rebuilt with taller guardrails but somehow did no stop this truck from wedging itself right where it seemed impossible for a truck to be.

http://m.ljworld.com/news/2015/jul/.....mplates=mobile

The reaction of the beach goers was great.

After all that a few months ago they decide to release the last episode of this season. Of course you notice it says season finale and not series finale. Under no circumstance does that mean Clarkson is returning. But one can only hope a final resolution to all this is the hatchet being buried and all three returning for a new season soon.

Yesterday I went on Craigslist and typed in the search box Montecarlo. I love Montecarlo's and my username on my original page shows that. What popped up gave me such heartburn. Two, count them two 1987 Montecarlo SS Areocoupe's were for sale right here in Kansas City. One totally original with less miles than either of my newer cars. And one that had been built up with 425 horsepower, the cars only coming out of the factory with 180. I've always wanted an Areocoupe to go with my regular SS but those are so rare. And to have a pair of them within reach mileage wise kills me that they are so out of reach price wise in my current situation. One day I will own one even if I have to buy a less than stellar condition one and restore it. But two... two... two. ARG! *beats head against wall*

As the news goes Bubba Watson who bought the restored General Lee #1 and after the current news about the Confederate flag, the golfer wants to paint the American flag on the roof. Covering the image that we all know from that car. It's funny how Mr. Watson was okay with the Confederate flag on the roof before the made up controversy. In any case it doesn't seem like his news has set well even with his fans.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201.....d-general-lee/

Anyway be expecting me to put the picture of the General Lee replica I took a picture of a few years ago back up here. Because the minute you attempt to wipe clear a part of American history, you do a dishonor to those Americans who fought under that image. As it goes the history of South Vs North goes far beyond slavery anyway and as far back as the Revolutionary war.

Also thank you to all who commented on the journal bringing up this issue a couple days ago. You restored my faith in the rational human mind.

About a year ago I removed the picture of the replica General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard to make room for more cars and take some of the older pictures down. Of course the Confederate flag is in full view and considering the recent events with that flag I have to pose this question.

Of course this is a hypothetical question as I may put it up anyway to snub those who have jumped all over the I don't want to offend bandwagon *cough* TV LAND *cough*. Including the golfer who bought the original General Lee and is now going to remove that image for an American flag. However saying nothing about changing the name to General Grant. *shrugs*

I have my opinion on the subject which would be the current unpopular stance on it in the media and the bandwagon hoppers at least. But what it yours? Would it offend you if I put the General Lee replica back on this page? Would you report it as offensive? Would the current roster of admins force me to take it down?

It scared me a bit since although I should have been expecting the pyro I wasn't. This is the first of the videos from the Wings over Whiteman airshow at Whiteman AFB a couple weeks ago.

Porsche has extended its record to 17 overall wins.

The Nissan powered Oreca #47 won over all in P2.

The Corvette 60 years after its first appearance at Lemans won the GT class after the 458 that was leading went out with rear end troubles.

And the Aston Martin that had led nearly all the laps crashed out in the Ford corners with less than an hour to go giving the victory to the second place 458 for the GTAm class.

My take from it, this was a fun race to watch. All the P1 cars even though it ended up being the Porsche/Audi show there were more than the last few years combined. So I am certainly looking forward to next years race and seeing how that one goes and what cars enter.

I don't know how many people are awake at the moment or online but I thought I would throw the update out there.

Still an epic battle between Porsche and Audi. I wonder how the suits at VAG feel about this. At this point Fox sports has totally forgotten the Toyota's and Nissan's are racing.

LMP2 Nissan powered chassis take your pick.

GT class was traded between a 458 Italia but taken back by the lone Corvette and stretched it out.

GTAm has been led from the get go by the same Aston Martin.

Oh and its been advertised, almost teased about ford coming back with two factory Ford GT's for next year to battle the Factory Corvettes along with surely the 458's and Aston Martins.

The Porsche's have dominated thus far, with Audi threatening. Toyota are left wondering how they dominated last year but just don't have the speed. And Nissan apparently way overhyped saying "Hey guys wait up!"

In the LMP2 class Nissan flooding the 19 car field with a majority of their engines so blah. No competition.

In GTpro class the lone Corvette started 16th and at one point took the lead over the Aston Martins who have led most of the way.

And in GTAm Aston Martins have led the way throughout.

Any predictions? This year we are treated to a very deep LMP1 class. The LMP2 class seems to be very large as well. The GT class looks like it may be without one of the two usual Corvette's as Jan Magnussen crashed in the Porsche corners during a qualifying run. The car is pretty torn up and Jan was put on a stretcher.

I have a big weekend myself coming up so I don't know how much of it I will be able to watch of the big race. A town celebration called Tonganoxie days I plan on taking my nephew to with parade, mini train ride, petting zoo, and finally a small car show. Then Sunday Whiteman Air Force base near Warrensburg, Missouri (home of the B2 bomber) I will be hitting the air show there. So lots of pictures of cars and plane coming by Sunday night.

So keep the racers at Lemans and the pilots at the air show in your thoughts and prayers this weekend for their safety and those of the spectators as well.

So this week I had my Camaro's fuel pump go bad last Tuesday night. Then just tonight on my way to work in my Silverado the brake line springs a huge leak. Now I am down to no cars until Monday when the Camaro gets fixed and just when I was to be at the Outlaw sprint car races tonight at lakeside speedway in KCK. What are the odds both my cars could leave me on foot in the same week?

After watching some old TV shows and movies paying close attention to the cars I had a thought. When watching a movie from the 80's I kept thinking I remember when those cars were new. Bright and shiny, now its so hard to find them in even decent condition unless they are show cars. Of course a child of the 80's born in the late 70's I always think too bad I never saw the cars beyond my years new.

To get to the point though I couldn't help but think, from about the mid 90's to today these cars seem to lack something. Its not all cars of course but I can recall when even the dullest cars of the older years had soul and something that made them unique. Anything from hideaway headlights to a certain design that seperated one car from the nearest competitor. So what technology or style from days gone by would you want to bring back?