Prototype Pumpkins
The end of October and what passes for a fall season in Southern California is
in full vogue. And of course good old Halloween makes its yearly appearance
on the 31st although there are plenty of costume stores that are open year
round. How many of all tomorrow parties are there out there that require
dressing up as say, a politician (gasp) or even worse, a race car driver?
Halloween still requires a lot of imagination and in this brief paragraph ( and
mostly as a grid filler because my words on Laguna Seca aren’t finished
mostly because I have not started it either ) it reminds me of what may be
coming to a close. A lack of imagination in what used to be a playground of
ideas. The scenario that Formula One could become a true spec series is
disheartening. It’s bad enough that the current crop of F1 machinery looks
like what a single seat version of what a prototurtle could be if delegated per
Grand Am, and the thought of a spec type motor? Why not a bunch of
prerecorded kazoos?
Does anyone really hold out for the cost cutting nonsense that gets trotted
out every few years like a presidential campaign? Is it any wonder that when
people speak of the Can Am it’s the McLarens and Porsche 917 turbos that
are considered the highlights the series. A basic set of perimeters and the
rest of the thinking was free. Isn’t that how it should be at the so called
pinnacle of the sport. Can’t afford it then don’t do it. F1’s change will bring the
focus back to sports prototypes where the most radical development that
benefits true production vehicles has been on display at Le Mans among
other venues.
Remember, the radio broadcast of “War of the Worlds” was a prank for
Halloween…. and the first three letters of fiasco are FIA. And after Sunday’s
final round, the real season begins.
Kerry Morse
Halloween 2008
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