[DOF_power]

FUMES

December 3, 2008


Nine-and-one-half years later, racing still needs a new idea.





By Peter M. De Lorenzo

Detroit. In the very first Fumes column that appeared on June 1, 1999, I brought forth the idea of the "Hydrogen 500" and the notion of bringing genuine automotive design and engineering innovation back to the forefront at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Two years ago this coming January, my associates and I introduced "The Future of Racing" to a group of auto industry and racing heavyweights by forging the idea of reinventing the racing car of the future, machines that would pioneer the development of the alternative propulsion systems that would eventually power the production cars of the future. Subsequently, that new racing entity, the Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation, has become the Electric Racing Federation, as interested manufacturers felt that the idea of racing hydrogen-powered electric vehicles was too far down the road, but that racing pure electric vehicles would dovetail nicely with their advanced R&D programs.

I still believe that racing advanced propulsion technology is the only way to accelerate the development of that technology for use in our future production vehicles. And a broad spectrum of automotive designers, racing engineers, race promoters, sanctioning body principals and myriad others wholeheartedly agree with me.

And while we continue in our quest to make "The Future of Racing " a reality, I can't help but think that racing has blown a golden opportunity in the last few years, and here's why.

Racing has lost its mojo, period. The classic, time-honored quest of developing advanced technologies by pushing the envelope has been overwhelmed by a kaleidoscope of limitations that seem to get more oppressive at every juncture. Racing has actually devolved because of its addiction to limitations and regulations, with this relentless obsession to "level the playing field" resulting in motorized boredom, frankly, and it's absolutely killing the sport.

But how do we get around this? And what can be done to get the sport moving in a direction that will pay dividends in new excitement and new interest down the road?

The simple answer to that is that it will take a heroic combination of vision and cojones, two items that are in desperately short supply these days. It would require the powers that be in racing to stand up and put a stake in the ground and declare that "business as usual" would no longer be business as usual at all, and then set a new course for racing that would propel the sport into the 21st century.

But who could do that, really? The Bernie and Max show is clearly only about the money. Old markets "underperforming?" Then we'll just go to new markets and soak the salivating hordes until they can't pay anymore! Nice business model. And another reason why North America lacks a single Formula 1 race.

How about the France family's money, I mean, marketing machine? We all know the answer to that one, don't we? After all, this is the same racing organization that just recently switched from leaded to unleaded racing fuel, and that has converted to full-on common body template spec racing cars. I can safely say that "vision" isn't a word that's bandied about much in Daytona Beach.

And how about the American Le Mans Series? Though they've demonstrated the most willingness to embrace new technologies, until the organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans changes the game completely and starts over - demanding a wholesale switch to advanced propulsion specifications - then I'm afraid that series will always be a case of "wait until you see what we've got coming next year."

And that leads us to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Tony George. As I said nine-and-one-half years ago, Tony George is the one man who could set the racing establishment on its ear. He is the one man who could declare that the 2011 Indianapolis 500 - the 100th Anniversary of the event - would be open to all comers and all propulsion ideas. He is the one man who could throw away the rule book and start over, setting the stage for an entirely new chapter in racing that would captivate racers, manufacturers and the public alike.

Unfortunately, Tony has demonstrated that he will listen to all ideas, but he will only act in the smallest of increments of change, so those racing enthusiasts longing for a new beginning, those hoping for an atmosphere at The Speedway full of blue sky notions, "why not?" ideas and wildly divergent creative solutions will just have to wait for...well, at this point, who knows how long?

Until then racing will be stuck in this holding pattern of same-old, we've always done it this way, it's all about the show, commonality is bliss mediocrity.
Not Good.

[Racer Duck]

Sad to say, everything De Lorenzo says is true.

Racing is no longer interested in advancing technology .. just making a buck as quickly as they can with as little effort as possible.

I would ask "Where are all the visionaries?", but the answer probably is "They're in aviation .. or bicycling .. or sports fishing." or some other place like that. For sure, they are few and very far between in automobile racing.

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Sad to say, everything De Lorenzo says is true.

Racing is no longer interested in advancing technology .. just making a buck as quickly as they can with as little effort as possible.

I would ask "Where are all the visionaries?", but the answer probably is "They're in aviation .. or bicycling .. or sports fishing." or some other place like that. For sure, they are few and very far between in automobile racing.

The unbelievably sad truth.

The days of visionaries/innovators like Colin Chapman, Smokey Yunick, Ferdinand Porsche, Mickey Thompson, Carol Shelby, Gordon Murray, Harry Miller, Vittorio Jano and Co. are gone.

I's wish for a glim of hope, somewhere.