The Indy racing league has given the ok, to hold a new event in Baltimore.  Being raised in Baltimore this really excites me!  The combination of a downtown race in Baltimore, Crabs and the Inner Harbor sounds like a perfect scene for the racing world!  Sign me up as a spectator for the event.  It looks like the event will be held in August of 2011.  Hopefully, we will be still celebrating a Ravens superbowl victory at the race!

~El Diablo

To step into the shadow of one of the greatest drivers (Shumacher) of all time is not an easy task.  Nico Rosberg has managed very well.  With two consecutive podium finishes and finishing in the top 5 for the past 4 events Rosberg is making a case that he is currently the strongest driver for Mercedes GP.

What does this mean for Schumacher?  Rosberg’s success could land Schumacher a role of pitting frequently to test different tire compounds to find the fastest setup during race time.  Not a role the 7 time world champion expected with his big return.

~El Diablo

LVGP_FaceOfFun_91609

Last night I spoke to a group of 25 boy scouts from a local troop.  Something that brings great pleasure to me is speaking to students about entrepreneurship and how that word has changed my life.  The reason for the blog today is not to dive into entrepreneurship and its meaning but to talk about how the world of racing may change in this country over the next decade.

At the meeting last night I asked the boys to raise their hands if they were into racing.  One boy raised his hand.  My second question was how many had participated at LVGP.  Half the room raised their hands with big smiles on their faces.

Here is a group of kids that probably couldn’t name two NASCAR drivers or a single Formula 1 driver but they all loved to race.  I would guarantee that none of these kids would have had a racing experience by the age of 15 if it hadn’t been for LVGP.

So what’s the point?  The point is that indoor karting facilities are breeding a new kind of racer.  A person that might not have grown up in racing but found it through a leisure time activity.  If LVGP has had this sort of local impact and the number of facilities in the US has doubled since 2007, what is the racing community going to look like by 2020?

~ El Diablo

The Race Name is something that should be given some thought.  Little did I know that I would be referred to as “EL DIABLO” by most of my friends and colleagues.  It was a quick decision made shortly after watching the film Talladega Nights.  With that being said a Race name can stick with you beyond the walls of the facility.  Whether you are shopping at the mall or walking down the hallway at the office.  That race name can come back to haunt you!

Part of the thrill of racing is the time sheet.  Everyone is hitting the race track to try and cut that tenth of a second from their best time.  To make the list of the top 50 times of the month is something that is truly special.  The fact that everyone who races analyzes that time sheet means that if you make the list, your name is going to be seen.

Remember that when you choose your race name.  Some have regretted their choices while others are proud of their creative decision making skills!  I am leaving you with this one word of advice.  “If you let your friends choose your race name for you, you are playing with fire.”

~EL Diablo