How does one define a Dicken Wear? Neither easily nor shortly. A recognition of a friend and colleague who passed from this life a bit too quickly on Father's Day 2020. Image Credit: John Dinkel (2017)
Dicken Wear . . . Gettin' His Kicks On Route 66 By: John Dinkel, Contributor to the SAE's Automotive Engineering magazine - Republished with permission - published originally on June 24, 2020
So . . . how to define a Dicken Wear. That’s the third thought that hit me after learning from friends back in the north country (the One that is North of Australia) that Dicken had passed away.
My first thought was that Dicken was in a far better place, free of the cancer that had wracked his body for the past two years, and, secondly, great sadness at the loss of a dear friend.
Dicken behind the wheel of a Kidracer at the 2017 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: John Dinkel (2017)
Dicken was amazing. I don’t know another person who had the knowledge and connections in motorsport that Dicken had. And seemingly in every area and at every level of motorsport. And these were not just casual acquaintances from chance meetings. He literally knew and was friends with motorsports connections from go-karting to Formula 1.
Dicken hauled my Meyers Manx all the way from Arizona when I bought it. And yes, that is "Competition-Engineering.com" lettered on the engine-protection bumper. Image Credit: John Dinkel (2017)
But Dicken was much more than a storehouse of motorsports knowledge. He was a genuinely nice guy. You got a problem? Dicken was there to help. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I called Dicken, or he called me, when he wasn’t behind the wheel of a truck or a car . . . typically a BMW. Someone needed a car or something hauled somewhere.
Question: Did Dicken ever NOT wear a car shirt? Image Credit: John Dinkel (2017)
About 10 years ago [2010], I posted the following words on Dicken’s Linkedin page that are as true today as they were then:
How do you define a Dicken Wear? Neither easily nor shortly. An East Coaster, from Road [sic] Island, with deep roots in the auto industry. His grandfather was a Duesey of an enthusiast who built Rolls-Royces and imported, distributed, or sold almost all English sports cars from the 1940s through the mid 1960s. Aston-Martin, Morris, MG, etc. In other words he Triumph-ed over adversity to live a live of Riley, but it was not an Austin-tacious lifestyle. Ditto his father. Dealerships, racing, fabrication . . . that’s a small microcosm of a Dicken Wear. Wanna design and build a go-kart track? That’s Dicken. Name a dozen top currents racers and more than a few probably attribute their success to Dicken. Formula Atlantic, IMSA, Grand-Am? Dicken has had his hands wrapped around all of them. SEMA, LBGP, PRI? Dicken will be hanging out. LA Auto Show, Grand National roadster Show? Yup, he’ll be there too. Ditto car museums. Write him a big enough check and he’ll design and build you a sports racer/track car/hot rod. And that’s not a complete fabrication! Right now he’s got a hot SEMA Dodge Challenger connected to his name. Dicken loves anything dealing with cars and car people. He owns more BMWs than most car dealers . . . and most of them need a little work. But they are fast and they handle. He also loves writing and shooting cars, following in the foot steps of one of his heros, Pete Lyons. I can’t think of anyone more fun to hang out with than Dicken Wear. Okay, Paris Hilton would probably get me “access” to a few more places than Dicken. Oh, and we have one other thing in common: We’re both pizza snobs!
You owe it to yourself to know a bit more about this unique human being called Dicken Wear. I suggest the following links as a start.
"Spirit of Ecstasy" iconic Rolls-Royce hood adornment. Image Credit: James Groth, Miles Ahead Communications
Inside Rolls-Royce, An Automotive Lifestyle POV - Reprized In Memory Of Dicken Wear By: James Groth, Miles Ahead Communications for the The Motorsports-Report - Originally Published - May 9, 2015
For people drawn to luxury motoring, style or design the event to attend this Saturday evening in Los Angeles was at the swank, hip SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. Present by Rolls-Royce the event was entitled ‘Inside Rolls-Royce’. Our invitation was a preview for the Motor Press Guild; the largest group of professionals in Automotive Journalism and Public Relations. Gregory O’ Shea Experiential, Manager added several Roll-Royce owners to our group to give us their perspective, some owned classic models others current models.
“Inside Rolls-Royce” was presented in the manner of an art exhibit by our knowledgeable tour guide in from the UK, Lars Klawitter, General Manager, Bespoke. As it turned out an art exhibit format is the perfect manner to display the many unique accouterments combined in Rolls-Royce motorcars.
Lars Klawitter General Manager, Bespoke (with wood and extended arm). Image Credit: James Groth, Miles Ahead Communications
The taking the spotlight at the entry was a Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’ finished in Sliver and Jubilee Silver with handcrafted solid silver ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ a top of its grill. Those colors being two of the 44,000 in their color palate for customer to select. .
Exterior of Sliver Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’ - Image Credit: Rolls-Royce
This Wraith edition celebrates the acceptance of the film ‘And The World Stood Still’ by the British Film Industry into its National Archives. The film won a Gold Award at the 26th International Visual Communications Association Awards. BFI Senior Curator, Patrick Russell “We selected it for preservation as an outstanding award winning example of modern corporate promotional film making…” Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’ also celebrates their long association with the film industry, one that has prominently featured Rolls-Royce models in the iconic films Goldfinger, The Thomas Crown Affair and The Yellow Rolls-Royce to highlight a just a few.
Thomas Crown Affair's Two-door 1967 Rolls Royce Sliver Shadow with Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. Image Credit: Phantom Wick via tumblr
Interior of Wraith. Image Credit: James Groth, Miles Ahead Communications
This film was used to introduce Wraith as the most powerful and technologically advanced Rolls-Royce in history. Wraith’s power comes from a 624bhp twin-turbo V-12 capable of 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. This puts Wraith’s performance in the exotic sports car field.
RR V-12 Motor. Image Credit: James Groth, Miles Ahead Communications
Wood Samples - Image Credit: James Groth, Miles Ahead Communications
The rare and exotic woods used to create the dash and the interior trim’s warmth where on full display. Sam, a young talent in a nearly lost art form, is one of the few craftsmen that can take a customer’s vision and bring it to life. Sam spoke about how these seductive interiors develop through the imagination of owners and craftsman’s expertise that can include adding a family crest or logo into the veneers.
Sam behind wood sample. Image Credit: James Groth, Miles Ahead Communications
Custom Woodwork - Image Credit: James Groth, Miles Ahead Communications
This exhibit is an interactive multi-sensory experience focused on engineering, design and craftsmanship. The motion capture technology allows guests to become the statuette on top of the grill by creating themselves as the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ on screen.
Trinh’s flowing moves creating the "Spirit of Ecstasy" as she feels herself to be.
A public showing is also offered. I see the public showing as a smart PR move to give an everyone an understanding of what goes into creating these most luxurious of motorcars. If people appreciate the craftsmanship, the exotic materials or design they will tend to also have a favorable view of the owners, not as just wealthy but as people of unique style and ways of expressing it. Others may show their personal tastes with a Renoir or Picasso in their homes while some fill their garages with mobile-art like the Wraith.
Wood dash interior of Wraith. Image Credit: James Groth, Miles Ahead Communications
Gravity Seed Soap Box Car - Image Credit: James Groth, Miles Ahead Communications
With the public showing Rolls-Royce is also thinking long-term by having a dedicated children’s area along with interactive displays intended to engage children’s participation, exciting them and educating.
Following afternoon tea and the tour Trinh and I spent quality with time with Gerry Spahn and Elizabeth Williams of the US Communications department gaining insights on the latest models. The feature that I found most interesting is the Rolls-Royce Satellite Aided Transmission System.
The system is unique to Rolls-Royce Motorcars. SAT acts as a navigator does in a rally car by calling out the turns and degree of difficulty ahead of time. Except in this case SAT does without someone in the passenger seat. Using GPS mapping the system collects data based on location and current driving style and selects the appropriate gear from its ZF 8-speed transmission ahead of the turn to a degree that the driver isn’t aware it’s being done. Driver and car remained poised at all times for the road ahead. I imagine that this system in addition to its safety factor would have the benefit of making the driver more skilled and feeling additional confidence. Mr. Spahn agreed and added that system also saves fuel.
Motorsport-Report Publisher, Dicken Wear joined us later.
Any Rolls-Royce event is of interest to Dicken since he is able to trace his family’s involvement with Rolls-Royce back to the 1920’s when his grandfather (J.S. Inskip) Managed the Springfield, MA. USA Rolls-Royce factory, and built the bodies for Rolls-Royce.
During World War II the Inskip Engine Shop in New York City would rebuild the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines used in the Spitfire fighter planes after they were shipped across the Atlantic. After servicing the engines, they would be shipped back to the UK where they would be put back into service for the war effort. After the war, the Inskip operation became an Importer, Distributor, and Dealer for Rolls-Royce/Bentley Automobiles.
The pedigree of Roll-Royce is as long as the industry itself and goes back to 1904, with the stated intent to build the finest motorcars. Sir Henry Royce summed up the founding principles as ‘Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it does not exist, design it’.
Pick you adjective Best, Most Exclusive or as Rolls-Royce states, the ‘Pinnacle of Motorcars’. So successful has the company been in creating its Brand that their history of accomplishment could sever as their advertising campaign forever….
Directly following the closing of the exhibit Rolls-Royce will host its dealers for their annual meeting. Everyone should be in an upbeat mood after the companies fifth consecutive year of record sales, now topping 4,000 automobiles annually. The United States is its most important market representing thirty percent of global sales. There are thirty-six US franchised retailers and interesting enough and only the thirty-six Rolls-Royce US employees. The staff had a New York introduction of the Wraith ‘Inspired by Fashion’ edition just the night before and flew in today for the Wraith model ‘Inspired by Film’ edition.
The challenge then is to continue to make the Rolls-Royce band relevant for today’s market and in the future. Fortunately more people are newly wealthy because prosperity is coming to previously underdeveloped nations in the form of mineral deposits, oil or in the case of China realizing Capitalism is a more effective way to grow their economy than Communism. Judging by the current direction, strong dealer body and design expect to see Rolls-Royce rack up another century of success.
We were there to be enriched by the experience of Roll-Royce Motorcars, their charming hosts and educated by knowledgeable craftsmen, all done in the exquisite surrounding of the SLS Hotel.
Mission Accomplished.
Footnote:
RR Ghost in White - Image Credit: James Groth, Miles Ahead Communications
As I am writing this article I got a text from good friend Kevin showing his new Rolls-Royce Ghost.
Talk about a conquest sale, Kevin has been driving an Audi R8, Lambo, or Porsches along with riding Ducati motorcycles for decades ... and today he sends me a photo of white Ghost parked next to a new, bright orange and black, four-door Mini. Looking forward to a night out with them in their Ghost… ENDS
TAGS: Roll-Royce Motorcars, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Rolls-Royce Satellite Aided Transmission System, Wraith, Lars Klawitter, Bespoke, SLS Hotel, James Groth, Motor Press Guild, Gregory O’ Shea, Dicken Wear
"Please Come Back - I'm Ready" by Bill Patterson depicts the new Dallara with first season Red Bull Aeroscreen
Genesys 300 At Texas Motor Speedway Opens INDYCAR Season Without Fans In The Stands
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES got off to a late season start in a most grand and professional way. For the first-time ever, the season started the evening of June 6th, 2020 at a first-time venue for a season opener titled the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway - a high-banked mile and a half oval known for 214+mph speeds and close finishes. This event also featured a first-time where no one was allowed to pay money at a turn-style and sit in a seat to witness the competition on the track - in America? No concession's confectionery was allowed to be purchased because there were no fans.
Graham Rahal during the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, June 6, 2020. Graham tracks along pitlane in his Aeroscreen modified Dallara racecar in oval trim as the field goes to restart without fans in the stands a Texas Motor Speedway. Image Credit: Chris Jones - NCIS (2020)
From the beginning, everyone knew this was going to be a high-stress affair ever since the nation went on a commercial lock-down, due to fears and concerns in readiness over the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in March after the first major event cancellation was ordered by Austin Texas Mayor shut down the rites of late winter South By Southwest (SXSW) music and culture festival. Soon thereafter, the traditional season-opener through the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida followed suit setting off a chain of chaotic ripples throughout the potentials of a 2020 racing series season originally set a 17 races ending in September.
Adding insult to injury to this set-up of a natural disaster aided by Human decision-making and control, this was to be the very first season the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) was under the new leadership of Roger Penske, who had purchased the INDYCAR sanctioning body and the track from the Hulman & Co. who had been in control of both the unified series and the track since February, 2008. The IMS track and the INDY 500 event had never been under any other leadership than Hulman & Co. since the facility was purchased by Tony Hulman, November 14, 1945, re-setting the modern history of American motorsport.
Given the chaos created in this era of the hysteria and fear created by the illness and potential ending of life in a newly identified (first isolated and identified on January 7, 2020) virus infection from Wuhan, China, it is probably amazing that this first race of a recently confirmed 16 race 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season (down from 17 races), ending in October at St. Petersburg, Florida, was actually held - fans or no fans.
With all of this as a backdrop, oops - adding that there was a 6 race 2-D gaming race series held in order to keep 3-D driver skills up and fan interest somewhat focused, but this effort, while better than nothing, left most fans with a very large void that real life, with real teamwork and the technology of cars on a dynamic physical forces track (masks, or no masks) could ever be matched in the cyber world.
Again, with all of this as a backdrop, oops - with a week's worth of Black Lives Matter violent protests (riots with property damage, deaths, and fires to 100s of buildings} - masks, or no masks by gatherings of people in very close shoulder to shoulder physical proximity without a Governmental concern of enforcement to their edicts on Social Distancing. As well as the fact that the Governor moved to a stage one open-up crowd strategy of 25% commercial capacity allowed for open air event environments for music and sporting events - whereas, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Texas Motor Speedway decided not to take advantage of for this first-time set of circumstances.
Lastly, again, with all of this as a back drop, the INDYCAR teams put on the event under a 30 some-odd page booklet of COVID-19 protocols including masks, pit crew behavior, number of people in a pit crew, TV interview set-ups and protocols, and etc.. One could sense the tension that was requisite above and beyond just racing in the first race of the season - what comes to mind was watching team owner of the winner of the race - Scott Dixon - Chip Ganassi, struggling to keep a mask properly displayed upon his face throughout the event.
Firestone Firehawk tires used during the race came from an interesting sets of background and understanding. First off, this Dallara had never turned laps while in race trim at full anger. This being the first race of the season with a new platform, created some guesswork by the professionals at Firestone. What they ended up with is that the Rightside/Outside tires were the testing tires used to match up with the new aerodynamic stresses and down-force presented with adding the Areoscreen to the body. The Leftside/Inside set of tires chosen were last year's INDY 500 tires figuring that they would be able to handle the Texas track heat (nearly 150F degrees at race time) and speeds of around 214 during Qualifications for the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, June 6, 2020. Image Credit: Chris Owens - NICS (2020)
The whole of the teams, owners, drivers, emergency support staff, and the TV production crew at NBC put on a real professional event performed at the highest levels of standard and to anyone with a trained eye, not one foot was placed wrong throughout the event.
Were mistakes made? - YES, this is reality with real world consequences. No quick digital pitlane resets here.
Was any of this a distraction to the professionalism of staging a race with a whole new platform of race car with the added safety feature of an Aeroscreen which changed up potentials in tiree wear on a banked oval track with average speed of over 214mph between 23 of the 24 cars scheduled to take to the track for just under 300 miles of tire to tire, side-by-side racing? - NO, in fact this first race of a Penske owned professional racing series at the highest levels of professional challenge in motorsport anywhere in the world was beyond a phenomenal success.
As far as holding a race without fans in the stands, NBC for its part decided to broadcast the race on Saturday evening through its over-the-air general non-cable portal with a tremendous response.
Scott Dixon celebrates with his socially distanced/virtue-signalling team after winning the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday, June 6, 2020. Image Credit: Chris Owens NICS (2020)
This excerpted and edited from IndyStar -
Saturday's 2020 series Genesys 300 that served as the season-opener shown on NBC, IndyCar's first network broadcast in primetime in seven years, averaged 1.285 million viewers across the show, which aired from 8-10 p.m. Unsurprisingly, Indianapolis led all markets with a 4.36 household rating — meaning 4.36% of homes with TVs on during the broadcast were tuned into the race. On a national scale (and excluding Indy 500s), it was the most-watched NBC-broadcast IndyCar race ever, surpassing last year's race at Road America (1.110 million viewers), and it became the series' most-watched race since the 2016 Dual at Detroit Race 2 (1.397 million on ABC).
[Reference Here]
Bravo to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for a near perfect race under extremely un-perfect circumstances breaking a near 80 day lock-down of society as a whole.
Next up? NTT INDYCAR SERIES race is the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, July 4 on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
One can only hope that this race is attended with people on the grounds at IMS under these understandings: If one is sick and has a fever - report to a hospital or stay home. If one is in an identified vulnerable demographic and fearful - stay home. Outside of this, enter living life at one's own risk, with the exact-profitable-densities the retail establishments had, as if it were New Year's Day 2020!
Lookin' for FANS, not NO FANS come race day at IMS - home at Indiana, Wuhan Red Death be damned.
TAGS: NTT INDYCAR SERIES, COVID-19, Wuhan Virus, GMR Grand Prix, Genesys 300, Texas Motor Speedway, NO FANS, Masks, Social Distancing, Professionalism, Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, Penske Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, The EDJE
NTT IndyCar Series Dale Coyne Racing with Team Goh Rookie Alex Palou streaks toward the start/finish line in his No. 55 Dallara Honda during the Firestone 175 at Twin Ring Motegi, the fourth race in the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge. Image Credit: Chris Graythen (Getty Images) via NICS
NETCODE Meets Up With DIGITAL COURAGE - IndyCar iRacing Challenge & SRO's GT Rivals eSports
Let's be honest around here - digital racing is only racing for those with digits on the electronic messaging input virtual "steering wheel" and not much else.
Those who strive to remain connected to motor racing culture are left with the very inadequate yet colorful familiar impressions of a laser coded two-dimensional racing venue.
In recent successive weeks we were treated to event races, featuring truly professional drivers from IndyCar and IMSA/SRO Series, broadcast online or cable television from places like Watkins Glen, Barber Motorsports Park, Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca, Super Speedway Michigan Raceway, Danika Patrick's favorite track outside of the United States Twin Ring Motegi, and a very international circuit in San Marino, Italy Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
When the headlights of big events go out, the passion for engines remains on. As in other important sports facilities, in addition to national and international competitions, Misano World Circuit opens its doors to "Misano Circuit Tour", the program that offers the opportunity to visit the circuit named after the great Marco Simoncelli. Image Credit: sporttravelworld.com
Almost sounds exciting, almost like a travelogue, doesn't it? Well, it is not.
Interesting? Yes - but not exciting.
The expressions of NETCODE and DIGITAL COURAGE are very real functional (or non-functional given one's point-of-view) and potentially the Achilles heel elements of a gaming presentation, in a replacement motor sports event, no matter how good the graphics and on-air talking head ,via ZOOM or Skype pop-up window, color might be.
DIGITAL COURAGE (first put forward in the IndyCar iRacing Challenge Round 1 from Watkins Glen by announcer Townsend Bell) is the recognition that no real consequence happens to a driver or the repair-ability of the car when a competitor becomes too aggressive at Race Start, or within the game other than some program template consequence.
If a digital colorful blob slides off the track due to a move that could be classified as DIGITAL COURAGE, instead of having the "track" come under a Full Course YELLOW (FCY), the colorful blob is simply placed back onto the Pit Stop area of the digital race track and a time assessment of having to wait x-seconds, then the competitor can proceed back onto the track "fully repaired" and resume the fray. This process brings forward just a bit of disconnect for the viewer as well as the competitor because the calculation for a consequence almost goes on completely missing.
We are going E-Racin’! Who likes my setup for this weekends @RoadToIndyTV eRace at @roadamerica? It’s definitely got some character! 🤣👌🏼
NETCODE is technology disconnect of a different nature and can happen even if somehow there was an element of "skin-in-the-game" (like a fee in advance before competition starts in order to bring forward the concept of prize money).
Wikipedia defines NETCODE as a blanket term for anything that somehow relates to networking in online games; netcode is a term most commonly used by gamers when discussing synchronization issues between clients and servers. The actual elements of a game engine that can cause so-called "netcode issues" include, among other things, latency, lag compensation or the lack thereof, simulation errors, and network issues between the client and server that are completely out of the game's hands. Netcode as a term tends to be used only in the gaming community, as it is not recognized as an actual computer science term.
The net effect of a NETCODE issue - if this is an issue that remains localized to the individual competitor/driver - is the ultimate consequence of not being able to compete/play at all, making the experience for both fan and participant unsatisfactory in a way that seems more blasphemous than any real world non-compete definitive occurrence.
This NETCODE "bug" could pop-up at almost anytime in any game and is probably a bigger issue now that most neighborhoods across these United States are under a shelter-in-place order. Since everyone is at home all day, people are online so as to blunt the speed of the Internet as well as infections from a pandemic virus labelled COVID-19 ... which led to the broadcasting of these digital motorsports racing events in the first place. Otherwise ... who'd care?
Well...yesterday [at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca GT Rivals eSports] had some ups and downs! Qualified P2 and pitted from P2. Then after rejoining in P8 and running my strategy, lap traffic decided to race me hard and we had contact that caused a spin. Then after circulating with damage I was P7 and got collected by a driver who let his car roll down the track unattended... Which totalled my car. Thankfully I finished in the top 25 which gets me reinvited to the next event. Hopefully next race is a little cleaner! On another note, learning a lot with setup and what makes a quick car, but also what makes a long lasting car. So much goes into the preparation for these events and to be your own "engineer" against others with more "resources" is difficult. But boy does it feel good to be competitive! I thank my wife @bydanikoch for being understanding during the days leading to these events. Hahaha. Image & Caption Credit: iRacing via Kenton Koch FB Timeline
Another less than satisfactory DIGITAL COURAGE element observed during the SRO World Challenge GT Rivals eSports platform second race of IMSA and SRO Series sportcar drivers held at Misano World Circuit. The race, itself, was very hotly competitive throughout the field but especially up front between the top three podium positions.
A bit past half way through, former Southern Californian Kenton Koch, signed in to his purple metallic No. 59 BSport Racing Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT3 from North Carolina, was beginning to challenge for the lead with Sim racer Josh Staffin, when the race stewards assessed a Drive Through Penalty (from a passing incident that happened around 1:14:20) to Kenton.
This excerpted and edited from Sportscar 365 -
Sim Racer Staffin Wins GT Rivals Round in Misano By: John Dagys - April 19, 2020
Staffin took his No. 230 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo to a 30.248-second win over the No. 90 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Kevin Boehm. It came after incidents for both Bryan Heitkotter and Kenton Koch, who were in contention for the win in the 60-minute race. Staffin, a 24-year-old from New Jersey, led every lap from pole. Round 1 winner Heitkotter dropped from second to fifth in his Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 after contact with the curb in Turn 6 that sent him into the wall with less than 25 minutes remaining. The former Nissan GT Academy North America winner finished fifth. Koch briefly assumed second after Heitkotter’s incident but was handed a drive-through penalty for contact, which he did not serve and was disqualified.
[Reference Here]
The race stewards assessed the drive through penalty and one supposes that Kenton did not agree, or wished to discuss this with the stewards. He drove on and went beyond the two (or three) lap grace period while challenging for the lead and ...
... B O O M, just like that (at around 1:21:00), his Aston Martin, which was the focus of the broadcast at the time, was proceeding down the front straight in anger, at full acceleration, then it was showed parked in pitlane with the broadcasters, who were caught out by surprise as well, left to explain that Kenton Koch was disqualified.
People watching this could all have suffered a whiplash. Very unnerving to the fan who was interested in the "driving" during the competition.
Sportscar driver and coach, Kenton Koch's virtual racing rig. Image Credit: Kenton Koch via FB Timeline
One can only imagine what was going on in Kenton Koch's mind, to the realtime imagining, the feeling that he was actually driving, in his very fast Aston Martin, while sitting in a room somewhere, then suddenly he sees a view of being absolutely stationary on a track pitlane somewhere in Italy.
This has to give the sensation of an electric SHOCK with no electricity while sitting in a chair, looking at screens, in a room somewhere in North Carolina.
In the IndyCar iRacing Challenge Round 4 FIRESTONE 175 @ Twin Ring Motegi run this last weekend, DIGITAL COURAGE was also on display, but the most noteworthy incident, which did not have an effect on the outcome, came directly at race's end. The race was won by Team Penske's Simon Pagenaud for the second weekend in a row, followed by digital rookie Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon, with lap leader Will Power filling out the podium.
Soon after crossing the Start/Finish line, and coming hard at full speed, Scott Dixon rear-ended Simon Pagenaud nearly disabling the digital Chevy Dallara he was in and throwing off the rear-wing and engine cover of his DXC sponsored platform.
What's worse, a now out-of-control Scott Dixon spins in front of a non-contesting Helio Castroneves who t-bones Dixon's Dallara and sails up into the fence to possibly deal Helio a digital career-ending catch-fence injury. Of course, this being digital where the most damaging thing to happen would be NETCODE because nothing is working out properly as planned or engaged, Helio Castroneves finished the race without one hair ever being out of place just like in reality.
This also left Simon to do his digital victory donuts in a very damaged looking car - not a pretty sight. Oh, but this did not stop Simon's wife Hailey, from popping the cork on a bottle of victory champagne.
Post Race Communications UPDATE:
Turns out there is another element involved with this brave new world of truly Professional 3-D drivers compeating in a 2-D world and it is in-race communications. This can be termed as being an equal partner to NETCODE and it would be NOT-TOLD.
Take the situation that happened in last Sunday's virtual motor sports event put on by sportscar racing sanctioning SRO GT Rivals eSports from San Marino.
Kenton Koch was running in the top three positions for most of the race when Bryan Heitkotter running in the second position in his Nissan GT-R GT3 behind Josh Staffin in his Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo (who later went on to win). At around 2/3rds through the race Bryan Heitkotter had a miscue off of the track leaving Kenton in his BSPort Racing Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT3 to chase down the gaming leader Staffin. Koch's car seemed the better for late race action given that it was gaining on the P1 of Josh Staffin when the race stweards decided that Kenton Koch came too close to lapped traffic cars when passing them on the track and issued a DRIVE-THRU Penalty.
The problem resulted in Kenton Koch being DISQUALIFIED since Kenton was NOT-TOLD and his car was placed in pitlane.
In a post race communication, this is what Kenton Koch had to say via FB private messaging about the DQ.
"I actually never knew I had the penalty... Sorry to burst your bubble [in my imaginary story telling above]. I just never got a notification in my field of view and was focused on driving. I'm new to the game, so apparently I needed to have different boxes checked or something to get the correct notification."
So now there are three things competitors need to be aware of when racing in virtual 2-D:
DIGITAL COURAGE | NETCODE | NOT-TOLD
----
Last scatological thoughts on virtual motor sports racing events in relation to the everyday seriousness of living life and racing in reality:
2-D destroys the opportunity for awe.
2-D for too long creates the effect of numbness to the tactile effect and excitement of reality.
The longer this virtual shelter-in-place world goes on, hope deferred makes the heart grow sick.
In being a race fan watching digital racing, one begins to get the sensation of banging their head on a beam that's not even there.
IndyCar iRacing Challenge Rounds 5 & 6 ... the finale
The IndyCar iRacing Challenge returns on April 25 at Circuit of the Americas, and continues on May 2 with a non-NTT IndyCar Series track to be announced. For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iracing.com.
SRO GT Rivals eSports
GT Rivals Esports Invitational returns to action on Sunday, April 26th from the south of France at Paul Ricard. Tune-in on Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook for all the action.
TAGS: IndyCar iRacing Challenge, SRO World Challenge GT Rivals eSports, virtual, NET CODE, DIGITAL COURAGE, Simon Pagenaud, Kenton Koch, Aston Martin, Chevy Dallara, Team Penske, BSport Racing, The EDJE
Pato O'Ward (Mexico), Colton Herta (USA), Josef Newgarden (USA). Alexander Rossi (USA). Simon Pagenaud (France), & Scott Dixon (New Zealand) are shown from left to right as just a few of the great competitors that will fill the field in the most dynamic professional racing series on the planet Earth. Image Credit: NICS (2020)
Audacious Brand Campaign Showcases What It Takes To Compete In The NTT INDYCAR SERIES
INDYCAR unveiled its brand campaign - "A Different Breed" - for the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season that showcases the extraordinary mindset of its athletes and features narration by Academy Award-winning actor Matt Damon.
"A Different Breed" was created in partnership with Chicago-based agency Schafer Condon Carter (SCC) to convey the distinctive mental, emotional and physical strength required to excel as an INDYCAR driver. These athletes - whether 39-year-old, five-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon or 19-year-old rising star Colton Herta - have the ambition and drive to harness a carbon-fiber rocket at speeds that can reach 240 miles per hour while always aware that the smallest miscue can change everything.
The newly aeroscreened (safety feature added beginning this season) orange and black liveried Arrow McLaren SP Dallara as driven by Pato O'Ward during the first open testing day scheduled at Circuit of the Americas. Image Credit: Getty Images via NICS (2020)
"Fearless and aggressive by nature, our athletes push the limits of speed and possibility every single lap of every single race," INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. "This campaign reflects both the skills and intangibles that set them apart, giving fans an up-close and personal look at what it takes to be an INDYCAR driver."
Video content for "A Different Breed" focuses on the athletes' unique skill set and mentality as described by Damon, the 2019 Indianapolis 500 honorary starter. He witnessed the breath-taking capabilities and fearlessness of INDYCAR athletes while standing atop the flagstand for nearly 40 of the 200 laps of one of the world's most iconic races.
The video features several NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers, including Dixon, Herta, two-time series champion Josef Newgarden, 2019 Indy 500 winner and former series champ Simon Pagenaud, 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi and 20-year-old emerging talent Patricio O'Ward. Click here to view A Different Breed.
Promotional image for 45 East event scheduled in Portland Oregon - June 22, 2019
In addition to narration by Damon, DJ/producer MAKJ lends an original song - "Green Light" - to the campaign. MAKJ, a fan of the sport and former professional racer, has collaborated with some of today's most talented artists, including Steve Aoki, Tinashe, O.T. Genesis and Lil Jon. He also has played some of the most prestigious music festivals including Coachella, Voodoo, Electric Zoo and Ultra.
"INDYCAR racing is the ultimate expression of audacious athleticism," said David Selby, Co-Chairman of SCC. "The drivers are among the most courageous and committed athletes in the world - a different breed for sure... our goal was to celebrate them and introduce them to new fans."
The campaign's video content is complemented by dramatic still images energized with a shock of color to contrast the black-and-white heroic images. The campaign style and multiple-driver approach provides the flexibility to seamlessly tailor the creative to the needs of various stakeholders and partners in the sport.
INDYCAR tasked SCC with identifying a young, rising director to capture the true voice of the campaign and selected Logan Cascia. As the founder, director and DP of Los Angeles-based Cascia Films, he has produced work that includes Emmy and Peabody award-winning television features, commercials and film festival premieres.
UPDATED - "A Different Breed"
Check out the amazing athletes of "A Different Breed" when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season opens Sunday, March 15 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. (3 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network).
(ht: NICS)
TAGS: 2020, NTT, INDYCAR, SERIES, Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, NBC, NBCSN, Pato O'Ward, Colton Herta, Josef Newgarden. Alexander Rossi. Simon Pagenaud, Scott Dixon, Logan Cascia, MAKJ, The EDJE
Roughly 8,000 miles away from Tesla’s Palo Alto headquarters, Segun Oyeyiola has also managed to make something extraordinary on a smaller scale. Image Credit: Co. Exist via Fast Company (2020)
Home Conversion Made Easy In Nigeria For Only $6,000.00
Nigerian Segun Oyeyiola took a Volkswagen Beetle and turned it into a fully renewable energy-powered off-road vehicle from a Volkswagen and hunted scraps.
The engineering senior at Nigeria’s Obagemi Awolowo University spent a year retrofitting a Volkswagen Beetle into a wind and solar-powered car, partly made of free scrap parts donated by friends and family. Everything else cost under $6,000.00.
There’s little question as to why Oyeyiola, who is taking his finals in the next two weeks, would devote so much of his extra-curricular time and resources to the project.
As he wrote in an email to Co.Exist:
“I wanted to reduce carbon dioxide emission[s] going to our atmosphere that lead to climate change or global warming which has become a new reality, with deleterious effect: seasonal cycles are disrupted, as are ecosystems; and agriculture, water needs and supply, and food production are all adversely affected.” “Therefore, I came up of building a car that will use both winds and solar energy for its movement,” Segun Oyeyiola continued. “This was my personal project because of the problem I’m planning to solve.”
Dr John Preston, chair of McMaster University’s engineering physics department and faculty advisor to the school’s solar car team, says he’s never seen anything like Oyeyiola’s contraption, which also comes with a GPS app that monitors car health.
“If you could find a way to use both wind and solar in the same vehicle, that would be a marvelous thing,” Dr. Preston said. “Using wind and solar means you wouldn’t have to drive just during daylight hours. If he has figured a way to do it, that would be quite remarkable.”
Not only did Oyeyiola install a giant solar panel to the top of the Beetle, but he also inserted a wind turbine under the hood. As Preston explains, that allows air to flow into the grill while the car is moving, subsequently turning the turbine’s rotors and charging the battery at the back of the car. Oyeyiola also built a strong suspension system to deal with the weight of the battery.
The battery takes 4-5 hours to charge, but Oyeyiola says he’s working on that. The biggest challenges, he says, came from finding the best materials to use, and ignoring the people telling him he was wasting his time. [ht: Fast Company, Co. Exist, & City Scrollz]
No challenge is too big when one wishes to experiment through applying alternative technology power options to everyday mobility platforms.
The world where art and science intersect, is where Designer Frank Stephenson feels alive and is most comfortable. Image Credit: 2025AD Screengrab (2020)
Future Of Transportation As Articulated By Frank Stephenson Captured By 2025AD Speaking to 2025AD - The Autonomous Driving Community powered by Continental, Art Center College of Design trained and world renowned designer Frank Stephenson highlights his ideal way of getting from A to B, the future of vehicle interiors and of course, our move towards autonomous vehicles.
One of the world’s most successful and prolific automotive designers, Frank Stephenson has created some of the most instantly recognisable cars out there, ranging from the ubiquitous (Fiat 500, BMW X5, New Mini) to the unique (McLaren P1, Lilium flying taxi.) For many, creating something iconic is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, based on hard work, good timing, and the right conditions. For Frank Stephenson, whose work creating icons has come seemingly naturally, is now turning his attention away from the car design world and towards the future of transportation. "Chasing Perfect" is a bio-documentary that gives one insight into the complex world of designing for the masses while maintaining the integrity found in the definition of perfect. Find out more of what influences drive and inspires the designer behind what gets us around and surrounds us with space that speaks to our mobility & stylistic needs. "Chasing Perfect" can be acquired via digital download order, streaming, and DVD purchase through the following resources.
TAGS:Frank Stephenson, 2025AD, Autonomy, Continental, Chasing Perfect, Salon Pictures, Lionsgate UK, Head Gear Films, Ford, Escort, McLaren, Ferrari, Maserati, BMW X5, Mini, Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Art Center College Of Design, The EDJE
Photo Journalist holding Credentials from MPG, PAPA & AARWBA, | Memberships (past & present): IKF, WKA, CIK, SKUSA, SEMA, PAPA, SAE | Licenses (past & present) IMSA, NASA, SCCA-PRO, FIA, NASCAR, EMRA, ASRA | Secretary: Kart Industry Council (KIC) | CEO: American Indoor Kart Racing Series | COO: Amateur Karting Association | Entrant / Driver: Pirelli World Challenge Racing Series. Member: LinkedIn. (Apologies for typos and errors in grammar, I was not an English major in school).
Edmund Jenks: Memberships - Motor Press Guild (MPG) Professional Journalist | AARWBA | PAPA | NMPA | ibnma - International Blogging & New Media Association - Founding Member | Pajamas Media (MAXINE) - Blog Roll, Citizen Journalist | NowPublic - Editor, Feature Page Manager (Motorsports, Tech & Biz) | EXAMINER - LA Conservative Examiner & LA Motor Culture Examiner | Blog: ... notes from The EDJE
