Open Wheel Racing 2021, anyone there to watch?

[Russell Jaslow]

Is this a Pope thing?

Google it. It’s a fascinating crime story.

Better yet, Google IMSA drug crimes if you want the entire story with all the players.

There’s a reason IMSA was jokingly referred to as the International Marijuana Smugglers Association in the 80s.

[Jimjamesak]

Google it. It’s a fascinating crime story.

Better yet, Google IMSA drug crimes if you want the entire story with all the players.

There’s a reason IMSA was jokingly referred to as the International Marijuana Smugglers Association in the 80s.

Randy Lanier and the Whittington’s are a hilarious story.

[Jimjamesak]

For Kepler, the Whittington brothers won the 1979 24 hours of Le Mans and also bought and owned Road Atlanta for a very specific reason.

[Kepler]

For Kepler, the Whittington brothers won the 1979 24 hours of Le Mans and also bought and owned Road Atlanta for a very specific reason.

So they bought a race team to own a track that had a straightaway that they landed their drugs on?

I'm not even mad. That's the American imagination I am proud of.

[Jimjamesak]

So they bought a race team to own a track that had a straightaway that they landed their drugs on?

I'm not even mad. That's the American imagination I am proud of.

I’m not saying it’s a bad thing either, it’s a hilarious story.

The real funny part is just how blatantly obvious they were going about things and somehow lasted as long as they did.

[Russell Jaslow]

I’m not saying it’s a bad thing either, it’s a hilarious story.

The real funny part is just how blatantly obvious they were going about things and somehow lasted as long as they did.

I was going to mention this the other week when this subject (crime in racing) came up, but I got busy.

I write book reviews for one of the racing websites I run -- autoracinghistory.com.

The most recent review was on Driven to Crime: True Stories of Wrongdoing in Motor Racing by Crispian Besley. http://www.deepthrottle.com/History/...k_review.shtml

I also heard the author talk, and he admits he could easily write a second edition, and just might do that. In my review alone, I mention a bunch he missed. The book already has a lot (over 90 perpetrators and nearly 500 pages)! Though I had one issue with the book (which I mention in the review), overall, it was hoot. And there were many stories I did not know about, and I thought I knew a lot. And yes, there is a chapter on Jos Verstappen. As well as Colin Chapman (no sh*t), Max Mosley, Jean-Marie Balestre, even Juan Manual Fangio (kidnapped in Cuba), and of course the tragic Mickey Thompson murder, as well as all the IMSA characters, and not just the drug runners (there's even a serial killer driver). Oh, and let's not forget the Great Train Robbery. And so many more, mostly white collar crimes to help fund their racing efforts.

I did an earlier review on Randy Lanier's autobiography, Survival of the Fastest. A fascinating tale. http://www.deepthrottle.com/History/...k_review.shtml

[Jimjamesak]

I was going to mention this the other week when this subject (crime in racing) came up, but I got busy.

I write book reviews for one of the racing websites I run -- autoracinghistory.com.

The most recent review was on Driven to Crime: True Stories of Wrongdoing in Motor Racing by Crispian Besley. http://www.deepthrottle.com/History/...k_review.shtml

I also heard the author talk, and he admits he could easily write a second edition, and just might do that. In my review alone, I mention a bunch he missed. The book already has a lot (over 90 perpetrators and nearly 500 pages)! Though I had one issue with the book (which I mention in the review), overall, it was hoot. And there were many stories I did not know about, and I thought I knew a lot. And yes, there is a chapter on Jos Verstappen. As well as Colin Chapman (no sh*t), Max Mosley, Jean-Marie Balestre, even Juan Manual Fangio (kidnapped in Cuba), and of course the tragic Mickey Thompson murder, as well as all the IMSA characters, and not just the drug runners (there's even a serial killer driver). Oh, and let's not forget the Great Train Robbery. And so many more, mostly white collar crimes to help fund their racing efforts.

I did an earlier review on Randy Lanier's autobiography, Survival of the Fastest. A fascinating tale. http://www.deepthrottle.com/History/...k_review.shtml

Does it talk about some of the NASCAR guys like Junior Johnson who were moonshine runners?

[Russell Jaslow]

Does it talk about some of the NASCAR guys like Junior Johnson who were moonshine runners?

No. I point that out as some of the cases he missed. The author is British, and though he included a lot of American cases, including other NASCAR crimes, and did fantastic research, some I didn’t know about, there was no doubt he knew more about European cases.

[MichVandal]

Does it talk about some of the NASCAR guys like Junior Johnson who were moonshine runners?

It’s not as if nascar is ashamed of that…. They point that heritage out at any opportunity.

[Russell Jaslow]

It’s not as if nascar is ashamed of that…. They point that heritage out at any opportunity.

Sure, but it still could have been in the book.

Even IMSA now doesn't hide from the drug smugglers days. They had no problem prominently putting it in the IMSA 1969-1989: The Inside Story of How John Bishop Built the World's Greatest Sports Car Racing Series book written by Mitch Bishop and Mark Raffauf, making it as official of an IMSA book as it can be.

Here's another fun one. When Watkins Glen went bankrupt and was bought by Corning and ISC (NASCAR), they wanted to wipe out everything to do with the Bog. They paved it over, changed the drainage, and never mentioned it at all. Then, not too long ago, it suddenly became a marketing opportunity. There is now "The Bog" hospitality area near where the original bog was. They now sell T-shirts and other swag and memorabilia waxing on the bog nostalgia. Some of the images on these souvenirs even show the infamous bus situation.

[Transplanted Tiger Fan]

Here's another fun one. When Watkins Glen went bankrupt and was bought by Corning and ISC (NASCAR), they wanted to wipe out everything to do with the Bog. They paved it over, changed the drainage, and never mentioned it at all. Then, not too long ago, it suddently became a marketing opportunity. There is now "The Bog" hospitality area near where the original bog was. They now sell T-shirts and other swag and memorabilia waxing on the bog nostalgia. Some of the images on these souvenirs even show the infamous bus situation.

Speaking of Watkins, are you planning on attending the Hilliard Vintage weekend? Great event.

[Russell Jaslow]

Speaking of Watkins, are you planning on attending the Hilliard Vintage weekend? Great event.

Funny you should ask. I drive the pace/safety car for SVRA for that event. So, the answer is yes. :-)

[Spartanforlife4]

Checo crashed four minutes into FP1 today. He may really drive himself from P2 to out of a job.

[Kepler]

Checo crashed four minutes into FP1 today. He may really drive himself from P2 to out of a job.

Danny cut his brakeline.

[Russell Jaslow]

Checo crashed four minutes into FP1 today. He may really drive himself from P2 to out of a job.

There's pressure and then there's PRESSURE.