Monthly Archives: November 2013

Porsche Owners Club – Streets of Willow

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The Streets of Willow was the scene of the Porsche Owners Club (POC) Performance Driving Series (PDS) final event of the season.  The PDS is the entry-level series of the POC, a race-focused club, and this series has historically run events on smaller tracks like Streets of Willow and the Auto Club Speedway infield track.  Beginning next year, the entry-level series will run on the big tracks like Willow Springs, Auto Club Speedway, Laguna Seca, and Chuckwalla, but in a controlled, Drivers Education environment.

The Streets of Willow finale started with a wet track and occasional drizzle on Saturday, but by Saturday afternoon, the drivers had crisp, clear, cool weather – ideal for quick lap times.  Numerous track records fell throughout Saturday’s clockwise and Sunday’s counter-clockwise run sessions.  Saturday night, the series sponsor, Hergesheimer Racing Gruppe, aka HRG, held a cookout and party at the track that kept almost everyone at the track well into the hours of darkness.  Great fun!

Porsche Owners Club - Streets of Willow

Porsche Owners Club - Streets of Willow

Porsche Owners Club - Streets of Willow

Porsche Owners Club - Streets of Willow

Many more pics at POC Streets of Willow gallery.

See everyone next year!

We’ll Miss You, Dario

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Dario Franchitti, Long Beach 2009

Just over a month ago, Dario Franchitti suffered a frightening crash on the last lap of the second race of the Houston Grand Prix double-header.  His car was thrown into the catch fencing which caused his car to violently spin through the air while disintegrating.  This was by far the worst IndyCar crash since the 2011 season ending crash that took the life of Dan Wheldon – another case of a car being ripped apart by catch fencing.  Along with countless fans, I breathed a sigh of relieve when we learned that although he was pretty banged up, Dario would be okay.

A week ago, on advice from his doctors, Dario announced that he was retiring from motor racing, effective immediately.  Sadly, the injuries he sustained in Houston were serious enough to put his well-being at grave risk should he consider racing again.

Dario Franchitti, Long Beach 2009

Dario Franchitti – A Humble Hero

Dario closes out his career with four IndyCar titles, three Indy 500 wins, and 31 open wheel wins – one of the most successful all-time US open wheel racers – while being a cheerful, approachable, fan favorite along the way.  One of the special things about Dario is his knowledge, respect, and reverence for the history of the sport and its heroes – especially fellow Scot, Jim Clark.  Strangely though, he consistently and humbly underestimated his place in that history.  He’ll be remembered along with his heroes.

I was fortunate to see him race six times at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, including his 2010 IndyCar victory, once at Auto Club speedway, and meet him at the Monterey Historics races.

Dario Franchitti, Long Beach 2009

Even without the Houston crash, Dario had fewer days in IndyCar ahead of him than behind him.  I did think he had the chance to be a four-time Indy 500 winner, though, having just won his third in 2012.  As a versatile driver and true lover of the sport, I expected Dario to race sports cars for a long time even after an IndyCar career came to a close.  In 2008, he joined fellow Ganassi racers Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett, and Memo Rojas in winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona.  I could have even imagined him joining Mark Weber on the Porsche LMP1 team sometime in the future.

Dario Franchitti, Auto Club Speedway 2012

I really hope Dario stays involved in IndyCar in some meaningful way – the sport and the series needs him.  Losing him as a driver is a serious blow to Target Chip Ganassi Racing, his teammate Scott Dixon, the entire paddock, and the series.

We’ll miss you, Dario.