tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338421.post1405411056267298240..comments2023-06-16T10:14:42.424-04:00Comments on Ricardiblog: Racing, in the rain.Richard Wintlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14644765072275026087noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338421.post-10311848284356038412009-10-28T02:13:32.068-04:002009-10-28T02:13:32.068-04:00so engaging, so real , so hard to put down. Behind...so engaging, so real , so hard to put down. Behind every succesful man is a woman, and a DOGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338421.post-85528037489334704902009-04-21T10:09:00.000-04:002009-04-21T10:09:00.000-04:00Perfect sense, indeed. But it sounds strange to me...Perfect sense, indeed. But it sounds strange to me to have a town or a place be a brand - although there are a lot of foods branded like that, now I think of it.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10816228341555194198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338421.post-56879128958426470912009-04-21T09:25:00.000-04:002009-04-21T09:25:00.000-04:00Alethea - the American Le Mans racing series uses ...Alethea - the <A HREF="http://www.americanlemans.com/" REL="nofollow">American Le Mans</A> racing series uses the same set of rules and regulations (from the ACO, i.e. Auto Club de l'Ouest, the governing body of the "real" Vingt-Quatre Heures du Mans). The use of "Le Mans" is more a branding thing than anything else (it's a trademark used under license). All the races are based on the same idea, but most are shorter than 24 hours.<br /><br />There was a European Le Mans series at one time (maybe still?) and there are races at places like Spa-Francorchamps that also use the same set of rules. There's also an Asian series.<br /><br />Many of the races do as you suggest: "12 Hours of Sebring", "24Hours of Spa" and the like. Others use different naming conventions ("Grand Prix of Mosport", "Road America 500", "Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg" and so on).<br /><br />It all makes perfect sense, really. A bit like naming conventions of kinases, or something. ;)Richard Wintlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14644765072275026087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338421.post-83906735086637654822009-04-21T06:14:00.000-04:002009-04-21T06:14:00.000-04:00I won't likely read the book, so spoilers were oka...I won't likely read the book, so spoilers were okay, but...<br /><br />How can a Le Mans race be anywhere except in Le Mans? (Why isn't it called the "24 hours of [whereever]" instead?)Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10816228341555194198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338421.post-12588748924399766952009-04-20T21:13:00.000-04:002009-04-20T21:13:00.000-04:00I agree with you - the ending was just too perfect...I agree with you - the ending was just too perfect and precious and almost predictable. Like a Danielle Steele novel. There was so much in the book that was true about F1 and motor racing in general that it was almost like Stein got bored with research at the end there and just decided to write a very happy ending where almost everybody gets what their heart desires. Still, it was a good read! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338421.post-11843688271465152462009-04-20T09:47:00.000-04:002009-04-20T09:47:00.000-04:00SPOILER ALERT - if you haven't read the book, don'...SPOILER ALERT - if you haven't read the book, don't read on.<br /><br /><br /><br />I like a satisfying and happy ending, but I thought the whole Luca Pantoni thing was a bit <I>deus ex machina</I>, as was the reappearance of Denny's parents. And the epilogue was too much - F1 champ? Puh-leeze. Stein could have left him happily as a test driver at Fiorano, or winning Le Mans, or something much more believable (and in line with his previous racing experience - no open-wheel stuff is ever mentioned).<br /><br />So, overall satisfying, and I really enjoyed it, but just a <I>tad</I> over-the-top on the ending, I think.<br /><br />The ALMS race was entertaining but the field was a bit thin (not as bad as St. Pete though). The most dramatic part was the independent Corvette catching fire at the end, and Boris Said bailing out in great haste.Richard Wintlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14644765072275026087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338421.post-5139300807052355862009-04-20T00:22:00.000-04:002009-04-20T00:22:00.000-04:00Of course I have read "The Art of Racing in the Ra...Of course I have read "The Art of Racing in the Rain", and I couldn't put it down either. Let me know what you think of the ending when you get there.<br />And of course I watched the Chinese Grand Prix, but only a few minutes of the American Le Mans. Hockey was on, you see, and apparently it didn't occur to anybody that you can actually record more than one race in a day ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com