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bopinion · 8 months

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2023 / 36

Aperçu of the Week:

“Keep pushing!”

(Literally every Formula 1 team principal over radio)

Bad News of the Week:

"Opposition is crap" is what Franz Müntefering, the legendary party leader of the German Social Democrats, once said. He may be right. But that should in no way justify the fact that some opposition politicians limit their political positioning to just that: opposition. In other words, being against. Against everything the incumbent government does. Basically. But that is precisely what Friedrich Merz, head of the largest opposition party in the Bundestag, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is doing.

As a reminder, Merz was fired by Angela Merkel at the time. He earned millions at Blackrock and thought he was in heaven - on his third attempt and after almost 20 years of political abstinence - when he finally became head of his oh-so-beloved party. But the 20 years have not been kind to him. Sometimes it seems as if he has been on another star. His catchphrase at beer tent speeches is "Kreuzberg is not Germany - you are Germany!" He is usually applauded for this.

You have to know that Kreuzberg is a district in Berlin that was very colorful for decades. Many peoples, many languages, many cultures, many religions. Beautiful, actually. But for Merz and people like him, the epitome of non-German. And then also woke - where you can order your cappuccino with almond milk, families can have two mothers or two fathers, and there's no one named Friedrich in kindergarten. So for a stick conservative, it's hell on earth. And for the political opponent (i.e. the Greens and everyone to the left of the CDU - in other words, everyone), the home of the ideologically lost.

Merz is wrong in two respects. For one thing, even Kreuzberg is gentrified these days. Investment bankers like him live in the barely affordable old buildings. And there are far more SUVs on the street than rickshaws. So the image of a parallel society outside the "usual norms" no longer holds water. On the other hand, we now live in the 21st century. In which "Who's afraid of the bogeyman?" is no longer played in the playgrounds and everyone knows that the vegetables at Tarek's or Giorgios' on the corner are better than those in the supermarket. So Merz has disqualified himself with his Kreuzberg bashing. Once again. My hope is that this will slowly get around to his clientele...

Good News of the Week:

At the latest when it became clear that China's head of state Xi Jinping would not be attending, the G20 summit in India looked like a flop. And then intermediate shades - such as whether the host would call itself Bharat instead of India - seemed to dominate. So a pure show event with pretty pictures for the evening news and political experts mainly analyzing what is not happening? No, far from it. India achieved many small breakthroughs and even three major ones that were not expected.

First, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Sherpas succeeded in issuing an official final declaration that was supported by all 20 states. Which seemed unlikely with Russia and the U.S. at one table. Even if the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is not mentioned by name, the use of brutal force is condemned. An "impressive diplomatic achievement," as Die Tagesschau writes. "The host saved a presidency that was threatened with failure."

Then a gigantic infrastructure project was launched that clearly positions itself against China's "New Silk Road." At this point, at the latest, Jinping might have regretted not coming. India, the Middle East - including Israel! - and Europe are to be better connected with the help of the United States - with rail tracks, hydrogen pipelines and power lines for renewable energies. Apparently a plan to be taken seriously. Because Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni immediately took the opportunity to announce in New Delhi that her country (the only participant so far from the European Union) was withdrawing from the partnership program with China.

And finally, the G20 effectively became the G21. For the "African Union" was welcomed as a new member on the very first day. The maltreated continent is thus given a voice at the table where the fate of humanity is decided. The bottom line is that one thing is also clear after this summit: there are more and more significant players whose self-confidence is growing. The world is becoming more multipolar. And that is a good thing.

Personal happy moment of the week:

Last week I was having a lot of happy moments. Bavarian moments with a Canadian guest to be precise. It's always nice to be able to introduce someone to your region, culture, cuisine, language, country, city, etc. If this is well received and appreciated, you are happy that you are privileged to live here. And even things that are commonplace for you start to shine again. Bella Bavaria!

I couldn't care less...

...that the Kremlin's United Russia party was declared the winner in sham elections in the Russian-occupied territories of eastern Ukraine. Key word of this statement: sham elections.

As I write this...

...everything in Germany revolves around the ball. First, on Sunday, the German men's basketball team won the world championship in Manila in a complete surprise - yes, (also) against the USA. And my second home country Canada won the bronze medal - yes, against the USA. Then the German soccer federation fired national coach Hansi Flick for losing a test match against Japan on Saturday in a crash. After he got knocked out in the preliminary round against Japan at last year's World Cup and hadn't improved at all since. If Germany were not hosting the European Soccer Championship next year, they would even have to fear for qualification.

Post Scriptum

Germany's society is aging. That's why we need a good half million immigrants every year, even if some on the political right don't want to acknowledge that. However, we are facing international competition. In which we are doing anything but well. I just read a series of interviews in which expats tell why they gave Germany a chance (leading technology companies, public safety, moderate climate) but then left again (excessive bureaucracy, difficult language, lack of a welcoming culture). As long as no one at least speaks English at the foreigners' authorities, landlords bluntly prefer "Bio-Germans", foreign educational qualifications are not recognized and little Fatima is looked at askance in kindergarten, there will be no preservation of our prosperity.

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crystalracing · 2 years

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f1 · 11 months

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Logan Sargeant: the USAs New F1 Star | F1 Beyond The Grid Podcast

Timing is everything in Formula 1 and Logan Sargeant has timed his debut perfectly. F1 is booming in the US, and with three Grands Prix in the States, fans will have plenty of opportunities to cheer their new home favourite on. Sargeant is one of three rookies in 2023, after finishing fourth in last year’s Formula 2 championship to secure his Super License and a seat at Williams. He tells Tom Clarkson how the reality of F1 compares to the dream of F1, and what he’s learned so far. Logan reflects on his journey to this point; from leaving the US at the age of 12, to competing with fellow rookie Oscar Piastri for the Formula 3 title in 2020. He talks about his relationships with Piastri and current teammate Alex Albon, why his mentality will have to be stronger than ever to succeed, how it feels to be racing some of his idols, and much more. 05:46 – F1 dream vs F1 reality 10:16 – Logan’s karting career 16:26 – Sources of motivation 19:51 – Friendship with Oscar Piastri 23:08 – Missing out on F3 title in 2020 30:50 – Qualifying drama in Jeddah 34:25 – The Williams vibe 40:55 – Logan's goals For more F1® videos, visit https://www.Formula1.com Follow F1®: https://www.instagram.com/F1 https://www.facebook.com/Formula1/ https://www.twitter.com/F1 https://www.twitch.tv/formula1 https://www.tiktok.com/@f1 #F1 #F1BeyondTheGrid via FORMULA 1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB_qr75-ydFVKSF9Dmo6izg

#F1 #Logan Sargeant: the USA’s New F1 Star | F1 Beyond The Grid Podcast #Formula 1

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jornale · 2 years

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#gplasvegas #formula1 #f1 #automobilismo #speed #hamilton #maxverstappen #leclerc #lasvegas #usa #news #noticias #jornale

#GP de Las Vegas #formula 1 #F1 #automobilismo #speed #hamilton #max verstappen #leclerc #las vegas #usa #news #noticias #eua #jornale

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nathaslosthershit · 1 month

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Team USA (AA23)

(Part of the Blind Items Series [can be read on its own])

Summary: Blind items is back with a new victim, Alex Albon and his American Mclaren race engineer of a girlfriend. With the news comes a very interesting Team Torque episode.

Logan laughed when he saw the tweet. He had been making fun of Alex for his newfound patriotism. Since Alex had started having feelings for this girl, he had been asking Logan for help trying to ‘woo’ her, as if Logan hasn’t actually lived in the US since he was twelve. But his teammate helped him, happy that Alex was not teasing him about America anymore.

Team Torque:

“Hello everyone, this is Team Torque with Alex and Logan. We are here with our very own special guest! She is a race engineer for McLaren”

“And you girlfriend.” Logan quickly adds.

“And my girlfriend. Thanks for the help Logan.” Alex says, sarcastically. “As usual, this podcast is a mess and will probably not be getting better so apologies for that.”

“We aren’t the best hosts.” Logan adds.

“No we are not. Moving on, would you like to introduce yourself?” Alex asks.

“Yes! Thank you boys. As they said, I am a race engineer for Mclaren.”

“And my girlfriend.” Alex interrupts, copying Logan's previous remark.

“And Alex’s girlfriend.”

“And a fellow American.” Logan adds.

“Would you boys like to introduce me instead? You seem to be so enthusiastic about it.” She jokes.

Alex had been begging for a while to have her on Team Torque. The team had said if they wanted a race engineer they should have one of their own but both him and Logan were insistent that she join them. After the rumors came out, Williams decided it was best if they brought her to gain control of the narrative again. It helped that she was already well loved by the Williams crew. While she would never help them, as that would be traitorous to her beloved team, she had made friends with a few of the other engineers and had jokingly been offered a job by James Vowles a few times.

“Sorry honey, we are just excited.” Alex said.

“Yeah! Team America back together.” Logan enthusiastically added. The two had become close since they met, giving Alex a taste of his own medicine by making fun of his ‘Britishness’. He wasn’t too happy at their joint effort to make fun of him but he supposed that it was a good thing they got along so well.

“Anyway, go on, say a bit about yourself.”

“Okay, as mentioned I am from the US. I was born and raised in New York.”

“Yuck” Logan teased.

“Don’t even start Florida man. I worked for Arrow McLaren’s IndyCar team in the same position, shoutout to my IndyCar family, I love you all lots. Then eventually Zak Brown asked me to come to F1 and I happily joined. Through working for them I met Lando who introduced me to Alex and a few years later we now both live in Monaco together.”

“How was the switch to F1 from IndyCar?” Logan asked.

“Rough at first. IndyCar has a much different sort of atmosphere than Formula 1 as well as fanbase. Plus moving out of the US for the first time was difficult. But it has also been such an amazing opportunity that I can’t complain too much. I am so happy where I am now.” Alex hadn’t known her when she had first gotten to Formula 1 but he had heard stories about how difficult it was. She had shared a lot with him but he also knew it was hard as he hadn't had to do the same. His experiences being a Thai and British driver had helped him understand some, but women were still such a rarity in F1, even if they preached gender equality in the sport, they didn't actually do as much as they could to make it a safe space for women to work. He also realized why she and Logan got along so well. Even if they hadn’t grown up close to each other, their shared identity of being an American in a primarily European sport had brought them together.

The interviewing portion stopped after there, as Alex and Logan were terrible interviewers, but the conversations were still entertaining and it had become viral once it was uploaded. Viewers were excited to see Alex and his girlfriend, as well as Team USA.

mclaren

mclaren williamsracing we will keep her if you don’t mind

alex_albon Idk you might want to keep an eye on her

williamsracing may the best team win ;)

logansargeant Team USA can't be stopped

#formula 1 imagine #formula 1 x reader #alex albon x reader #logan sargeant x reader

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tiredwitchplant · 6 months

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Everything You Need to Know About Crystals: Chrysoprase

The Stone of Venus

Requested by @acovenoftwo

Chemical Formula: SiO2

Color: Apple green, lemon

Rarity: Easy to obtain as a tumble stone, finer quality is expensive

Hardiness: 7

Type: Chalcedony

Chakra Association: Heart and Solar Plexus

Deities: Venus

Birthstone: May

Astrological Signs: Gemini, Taurus

Element: Water

Planet: Mercury

Origin: Formerly Poland, Now Australia, Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Tanzania, USA

Powers: Encouraging development, Compassion, Tolerance, Growth, Forgiveness, Connection to Nature

Crystals It Works Well With: Mountain “jade”, Tourmaline, Smokey Quartz

How It is Created: Chrysoprase is a type of chalcedony quartz with a microcrystalline structure. Its color comes from nickel deposits, and it can be found in pale shades through to brighter green. Raw pieces have a granular appearance, similar to pieces of coconut, and a waxy sheen when polished.

History: Chrysoprase, called Stone of Venus because in antiquity it represented the goddess of divine love, the famous Venus, is a magnificent apple-green nickeliferous chalcedony belonging to the family of microcrystalline quartz. The ancient Egyptians also used chrysoprase for practical purposes such as sealing letters, but they would also wear pendants, amulets and other jewelry made of chrysoprase. For hundreds of years, the only major source of chrysoprase was a region of southwestern Poland between the Czech Republic and Germany, formerly known as Lower Silesia. This area has a complex geology and is extremely rich in all kinds of mineral deposits, including gold, silver, serpentine, quartz, marble, granite, alabaster—and chrysoprase. Stone artifacts from as far back as the Iron Age show the long history of Silesian carving and masonry. In the eighteenth century, Frederick II, King of Prussia (now part of Germany), conquered Lower Silesia. In particular, he wanted its deposits of green chrysoprase, which he used to decorate the halls of his favorite palace at Potsdam near Berlin.

What It Can Do:

Known as the healer of the heart space and helps connect you with infinite supply of compassion and love

Supports cardiac health and provides a centered peace

Helps people suffering from melancholy and manifests optimism and joy

Can be placed by homegrown herbs and vegetables to boost production

Perfect to artist as it increases creativity and talent

Encourages fidelity, forgiveness, compassion, and nonjudgmental thinking in relationships, while banishing greed and selfishness

Helps with inducing deep meditative states and promotes the love of truth

Calming and nonegotistical, creating openness in new situations

Stimulates fluent speech and mental dexterity, preventing you from speaking out unthinkingly in anger

Lifts oppressive and recurrent images, preventing nightmares, especially in children

Is said to detoxify heavy metals in one’s body and stimulate liver function

Is said to enhance fertility, reverse effects of infertility that are caused by infection and guard against STIs

Increases the absorption of Vitamin C

How to Get the Best Out Of: Wear as a necklace, bracelet, earrings or even use it in an elixir. Carrying chrysoprase for long periods attunes to the devic realm, a band of frequency found present on Earth which can connect you to nature and the planet directly

How to Cleanse and Charge: Can be cleansed briefly under running water then recharged overnight among a host of rock crystals for a few weeks. Cleanse during a rain shower for optimized cleansing,

Crystal Grid:

Healing for Children (Nightmares)

Shape: Fruit of Life

• 6 “issue” or calming stones

• 4 grounding crystals

• 2 light-bringing crystals

1. Hold your crystals in your hands and state your intention for the grid.

2. Lay the central keystone to represent your child.

3. Lay six crystals around the keystone to assist with the challenge or issue. (These crystalscan either represent a single issue, or different ones—whichever feels best to you. However,it may be more effective to address separate issues by laying individual grids.)

4. Lay four grounding crystals to anchor the grid at each corner of the “square.”

5. Lay a light-bringing crystal at the top and bottom.

6. Leave in place until the issue or issues have been resolved, remembering to cleanse thegrid regularly.

Crystals to use: Chrysoprase, Amethyst, Prehnite, Bloodstone

Sources

#witchblr #witch community #witchcraft #paganblr #occulltism #nature #witchcraft 101 #crystal witch #crystals #crystal grid #witch books #witch resources #requested #chrysoprase #geology #rocks #venus

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its-all-or-nothing94 · 8 months

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Formual 1 / MotoGP Fusion - Part 5

Summary: You are the first female MotoGP rider ever. You race for KTM Factory Racing, leaving Jack Miller your teammate, and one of your main sponsors is Red Bull. You grew up with most of the riders but your best friend is the multiple MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez. After your horrific crash the year before, you are ready to start the new season and probably a new love?

Pre-Story - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

A/N: Some pics are just random people - I know, I know, but they fit ;)

Ship: Not telling yet (Marc Marquez, Carlos Sainz or Charles Leclerc)

Warnings: none

Taglist: @laneyspaulding19, @luciaexcorvus, @raizelchrysanderoctavius

yourusername22 ☑️ Miami, USA

Liked by scuderiaferrari, charles_leclerc and 1’746’895 others

yourusername22 Felt cut out, so I got some new friends @charles_leclerc @carlossainz55

View all 6'843 comments

carlossainz55 You’re always welcome with us 😉 yourusername22 Goof 😍 charles_leclerc But he is right! 😘

marcmarquez93 You’re such a sourpuss!🧡🧡 yourusername22 You know I hate you 💙

alexmarquez73 Haha 😂

scuderiaferrari 💖

ameliaguchgov You are stunning! 😍

hatersgonnahate She just doesn’t look right with either one of them 🤷🏻

teammmarquez SHE’S SUPPOSED TO BE WITH MARC!

f1biggesssst Y/N & CHARLES! 😍😍😍 #RacingShip

🔥 Love Triangle Explosion: Y/N Y/L/N's Picture with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Sends Fans into a Frenzy! 💔💑 Who is the y/country Sensation Really Dating?

😱 Emotions run high as debate rages over the romantic connections of the popular MotoGP star, leaving fans divided and hearts shattered! 💔💥

The love saga surrounding MotoGP superstar Y/N Y/L/N has reached unprecedented heights, as a single Instagram picture featuring the y/country sensation alongside racing heartthrobs Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz has sparked chaos among fans! The debate over who holds the key to Y/L/N's heart has ignited a fiery war of emotions, leaving supporters in shambles and desperately searching for answers. 💔💑

Rumors about a potential romance between Y/L/N and Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz have long been circulating, fueled by their close friendship and past encounters. However, the entrance of Charles Leclerc into the equation has sent shockwaves through the racing community. The snapshot that set fans on edge depicted Y/L/N sandwiched between Leclerc and Sainz, further intensifying the mystery surrounding her romantic interests. 📸❤️

With passions running high, fans have taken to social media, declaring their allegiance and fiercely defending their preferred candidate for Y/L/N's affections. Supporters on both sides of the debate passionately argue for the love connection they believe is real, leaving the racing world divided and hearts shattered. 💔🔥

Amidst this whirlwind of emotions, there remains a dedicated faction of Marquez fans who continue to hope that the bond between Y/L/N and Marc Marquez runs deeper than mere friendship. Their unwavering devotion fuels the belief that the inseparable duo may secretly be nurturing a hidden romance, far from prying eyes. 🏍️❤️

As the F1 Miami Grand Prix week unfolds, all eyes will be on Y/L/N, Marquez, Leclerc, and Sainz, awaiting any further hints, Instagram posts, or behind-the-scenes glimpses that may shed light on the truth behind Y/L/N's tangled web of love interests. Brace yourselves, for the battle for Y/N Y/L/N's heart has only just begun, and the racing world may never be the same again! 💥💘

pierregasly started follow you.

#MotoGP x Formula 1 #MotoGP #Formula 1 #Formula 1 x oc #Formula 1 x reader #MotoGP x reader #MotoGP x OC #Marc Marquez x Reader #Carlos Sainz x Reader #Charles Leclerc x Reader

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sargeantposting · 4 months

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[2016 Interview] Logan Sargeant: “My idol is Michael Schumacher”

Source: Motopark.com Date: December 2016

World KFJ karting champion Logan Sargeant from Boca Raton, USA takes part with Team Motopark in the brand-new Formula 4 UAE. We interviewed one of the USA's brightest prospects.

Who inspired you to start racing? And how old were you?

My Father inspired me to begin my racing career when I was five years old.

Who is your idol?

Forsure my idol is Michael Schumacher just from the pure fact that he was so talented to be able to achieve seven world titles.

Are you wanting to be a full time race driver?

I definitely want to become a professional racing driver in the years to come. Hopefully to get into Formula 1.

Away from racing, what are your interests and are you particularly talented at anything else?

I love fishing and spearfishing when I am home in Florida. I also play a lot of basketball.

Racing drivers are generally viewed as being fearless. Illness apart, is there anything that really scares you?

Of course before you enter a race you are a little nervous, but once the lights go out it’s like full attack and nothing even crosses my mind.

How often does your family come to races?

My family comes to maybe half of my races.

If you met Lewis Hamilton, what would you ask him?

I would just ask him what he would have wanted to been told when he was driving in junior level formula, and what he thinks would be most beneficial for the future.

#logan sargeant

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robinfrinjs · 7 months

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Some current WEC (and a few IMSA) Rumours:

Vettel to Jota Porsche Hypercar

Vettel could drive for Jota in a Hypercar next season possibly alongside Kubica and Button. While another "Top EX-F1 driver" is also in consideration. Vettel is expected to test an Oreca 07 LMP2 with Jota soon. And has not denied the rumours but has said nothing is signed yet.

Mick Schumacher to Alpine

Mick Schumacher is in talks to race for Alpine in Hypercar next year. He's likely to test the car soon and could become a driver in one of their cars next year. Milesi, Vaxiviere and Lapierre have tested the new car already.

Rui Andrade to LMGT3 with a TF Sport Corvette

Currently in LMP2 with WRT, Andrade is not expected to race in Hypercar but could go to GT3. WRT will be running a BMW in the WEC GT3 class, but Andrade his name has mostly come up with TF Sport.

Ferdinand Habsburg has signed with a Hypercar manufacturer

According to his current teamboss, Vincent Vosse (WRT). Ferdinand Habsburg has signed with a Hypercar manufacturer, this manufacturer will not be BMW.

Daniel Juncadella to TF Sport with a Corvette

Current Mercedes Factory Driver Daniel Juncadella is likely to join TF Sport in the LMGT3 class. And would also join Corvette in the endurance races for the IMSA Championship.

Acura to Le Mans?

The Acura currently only racing in IMSA could be coming to Le Mans. Honda Performance Development will formally become Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US). And this is what they said about competing at in WEC (source: DailySportscar.com)

“I think we’ve always been pretty clear. We need to look at the WEC. We have an amazing, in my humble opinion, ARX-06, which has been the work of our team, ORECA have done a stunning job, and our race teams have done a stunning job. So we were smitten with our ARX-06.

They will not be joining in 2024 but possibly 2025?

Peugeot adds a rear-wing

The 9X8 will undergo a major upgrade for 2024. Their initial revolutionary no wing design has not been exactly competitive. For 2024 Peugeot will add a new rear-wing to the car. And will also change their tyre size. Currently they've been driving with a different tyre size than the rest of the grid and want to switch to the same size as everyone else.

Alex Albon to the 24H of Daytona with Wayne Taylor Racing

After it was initially announced that WTR would be running a current F1 driver during the 24H of Daytona rumours broke loose. However Marshall Pruett has confirmed this driver to be Alex Albon.

De Vries to Toyota in 2024

De Vries could be replacing Jose Maria Lopez in the Toyota drivers squad. The Dutch driver has a long-standing connection with the team and was meant to replace Lopez for the 2023 season already. But as de Vries signed a Formula 1 contract Lopez was retained but only on a single year contract.

Isotta Fraschini is evaluating a possible second car

Isotta will be joining the Hypercar grid with current LMP2 team Vector Sport next year. However Isotta is looking for a second customer to run a second car in WEC. This could be any one of LMP2 team Duqueine, or the Swiss GT squad Emil Frey Racing.

Jules Gounon and Jack Doohan tested an LMP2 recently

Gounon and Doohan recently tested an Oreca 07 with COOL Racing at Portimao recently. Doohan could be under consideration for an Alpine Hypercar seat. Gounon was fastest among several drivers and could be looked at by other Hypercar manufacturers.

Akkodis ASP in LMGT3 with Lexus?

ASP is known to want to join WEC as a customer team. This could be with Lexus and it has been revealed that if they're successful. That their current driver Timur Boguslavskiy is under consideration to continue with ASP if it switches to a WEC program.

#racing #wec #if any more questions about anything hmu there's more but it's a lot

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blackswallowtailbutterfly · 3 months

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There seems to be a real anti-English class (or equivalent in other countries/languages where literature is discussed and analyzed) sentiment, which is coming out in the writing of a lot of people. I get that fanfic allows you to explore emotional connections between characters. It can be cathartic, it can be wish fulfillment. But it's coming out in original works. I'm not sure the state of English or equivalent class these days, but for those who are interested, here's a friendly reminder of things to keep in mind when writing. This may be a bit disjointed as I'm mostly going off memory. Last English class I took was first year college, 17 years ago.

1) PLOT A series of events does not a plot make. If you find yourself unable to find a way to end your story, it might be because there's no plot. Luckily there's a formula: Exposition and Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. You begin with:

A. Exposition--This is where you set the scene. Who is your protagonist? Where does it take place? Who/what does your protagonist care about? You don't have to state it in an obvious way (though you can, depending). You can build with little clues. For example, if there's a reference to Bill Clinton as president, then we can probably guess that this is set in the '90s USA (just an example; you may not want to date your story that quickly for whatever reason and you can be a lot more subtle). Not every character needs to be introduced and it may be clunky to do so. They can come in at later points. But you do want a character your audience can follow. Someone to lead them into the...

B. Conflict--What is the problem the protagonist hopes to solve? This can be complex or simple. Probably the character will be dealing with other conflicts when the one that starts the plot comes into play. Does the conflict make these other issues worse, or does it completely overshadow them? What does the character stand to lose or gain? Is it a simple matter of: resolve this conflict and everything else will be fine (nothing wrong with that) or resolve this conflict but it's going to make some other things worse?

C. Rising Action--Your protagonist has a problem. What are they going to do about it? Who do they consult? Who they meet along the way? Are relationships tested? You can introduce your antagonist here if you haven't done so already. If you don't, you should at least be building clues to who/what it is (doesn't have to be a person; it can be an impending natural disaster, for example--understand that this can in its own way be a character). This doesn't have to go steadily up hill, by the way. It can, but the tension can go up and down. The point is you're building towards the...

D. Climax--This is the point of high interest, what it's all been heading towards, simple or complex, this is it. The final showdown. Your protagonist confronts their enemy, the volcano erupts, the bomb is discovered and dismantled, the creature is seen face to face, the protagonist and their love interest have a painful heart-to-heart. But it's not the end.

E. Falling Action--What happens immediately following the climax? How do the characters get out of the rubble? Do they have to now shoot their way out of a building of henchmen after defeating the villain? Do they have to defend themselves in court? How is it all resolved?

F. Resolution--This is where you tie up any remaining loose ends. Maybe the other issue the character was dealing with are still ongoing but the lessons they've learned throughout the story has given them new ways to deal with. Maybe the character has learned to appreciate their life as it is. Maybe it's simply a happily ever. Maybe the lesson is that it's all pointless. Regardless, this is where you end your story.

G. Plot twist!--If you have one. This could be introduced at the climax, during what seems to be the falling action, or even at the supposed resolution. You should have clues here. They may be more subtle than those meant to initially mislead the protagonist (and the audience), but they should still be there to catch by particularly perceptive readers or else on reread. Anyway, this can come in many many forms, but it is your true climax, and some falling action and resolution should take place afterward, even if shorter than the initial one (or longer, depending how you want to do it).

H. Subplots--If the protagonist has other conflicts in their life, they may occasionally distract them from the main plot depending on their severity. These too will have some form of rising action, climax, and resolution, but they will be shorter and simpler, even if the resolution is "I will have to deal with the aftermath of this at some point" that may not be in the main story itself. Sometimes a subplot of one story can become the main plot of another. Something to think about for a series.

2) THEMES Yes! They are important! It's not just "does this have a character I can relate to in every way for wish fulfillment?" It's an exploration. These add depth to characters and your story, even if they're simple, and you can have as many as you want! Though generally one is going to stick out more than the others. Here are some:

A. Innocence vs Experience--Not always as simple as child to adult, virgin to not-virgin, etc.. It involves how your character sees the world from their naievety and how that changes as they learn through experience. This is not always a negative change; it can be positive, or mixed. Regardless, the relatively simple outlook the protagonist has on life will become much more complex. It's not just ignorance, though (however, it can be part of it); there's going to be some kind of naievety or contentment with how the protagonist initially sees things, and it's born of not knowing better. It also doesn't necessarily mean a character goes from being innocent to having experience: it can be a comparison between characters where one if innocent and the other has experience, which the innocent one may never gain, possibly even because of the experienced one.

B. Human vs Wild--Exactly what it sounds like. Positive or negative, the wild will challenge your protagonist, whether they learn to make shelter and find food and perhaps heal inner conflict, or whether a friend is picked off one by one from a bear or freezing temperatures, etc.. Your protagonist will not have easy access to civilization or its comforts. This may be the protagonist's choice or it may happen by sheer accident. It could be someone who's always loved nature and thought they had a handle on it or it could be someone who's never been out of a big city. It could be at sea, in a desert, in the forest, on a snowy mountain, or even in space. Is nature good or bad? Does it antagonize or does it teach--even if a hard lesson? Should humans connect more with nature, or are we better off leaving it behind? Not stating my personal opinions here. You get to decide what you want your story to explore.

C. Good vs Evil--Classic! But what is good? What is evil? How do you show that in your story? Which one does your protagonist represent? All of one or the other? Some of both? Does good triumph in the end, or does evil win out? Perhaps neither do, and the battle will rage on long after the conclusion of your story--remember it's a theme, not the plot, not even necessarily the conflict.

D. Coming of Age--Similar in some ways to innocence vs experience, but not the same. This is usually a child becoming an adult. Their outlook on life may not significantly change, as it does with innocence vs experience. Rather they may take on new responsibilities that they struggle with. They may realize why the adults in their lives do the things they do. They may start to look ahead and realize the possibilities for their own future.

E. Person vs Person--Unlike human vs wild, this is two or more well-developed characters at odds with another. Like human vs wild, this is an excellent way to explore what it means to be human. Who is right? Who isn't? Are all of them? Are none of them? This doesn't mean they're enemies, by the way. It can just mean they're on different journeys. Perhaps one is in an innocence vs experience journey, while the other is dealing with good vs evil. How do they relate to each other? How do they not? Does it ever even come up between? Maybe the only interaction we see between them is when they play their favourite video game. But in their personal lives we how different they are.

F. Human vs Technology--Similar in some some ways to human vs nature and person vs person. What does it mean to be human? Whereas human vs nature may question humanity's relationship to the natural world, human vs technology will question humanity's distance from nature, and their relationship to their inventions. And this can go so many different ways. Did we go too far? Is technology, having been made by humans, who are animals, just nature taking its course after all? Will technology save us? If we manage to make sentient or even sapient beings, what is our responsibility to them? Will technology be the end of us? How do you tell between human and AI? Does it matter? Is it possible to pull the breaks and go a different direction so that we can have some technology without losing who we are? Is it already too late? This can be one human vs an invention they made, or vs technology made and used by others. Or it can be humans generally vs technology at large. But as a theme--remember, not the plot--it's going to explore what it means to be human and the possible consequences to that from technology. Also remember, though, that the human vs technology theme doesn't have to be negative. It can represented positively. I have my personal opinions, but that's not what I'm talking about here.

G. Trauma--Something has happened to your character (doesn't have to be the protagonist; the protagonist can be an observer, or one of many victims). Could be before the story starts, could be during. Could be the death of a loved one, loss of their home, war, a terrible accident, a rape, a betrayal, but it has left your character(s) traumatized. How do they deal with it? Does it tie in to any other themes? What are the effects on the character? Do they develop an eating disorder? Are they out for revenge? Have they lost all faith in humanity? How do they pick up the pieces of themselves? Do they even want to? Do they avoid it and put it away? Or are they unable to stop thinking about it? Is it one horrific event out of a relatively idyllic setting? Or is it the background radiation of the character's life? Are they still in danger? If they aren't, do they think they are? If they are still in danger, do other characters think they aren't? Does it drive the plot, or is it simply something the character has to deal with in addition to the plot? Does the trauma make them stronger or does it weaken them? Does it contribute to their downfall or does it gain them understanding? Is it part of their redemption?

H. Person vs Self--The character is their own worst enemy or else their own foil. This can be written as two personalities in one body (though I'd urge you to be careful with that), or the character's self-talk or intrusive thoughts. Or none of those things. It could be a guilty conscience that drives them to confess vs their own cowardice for the consequences. They will usually be the cause of their own problems. That could mean they've isolated themself with the belief that they are unworthy when in actuality everyone's willing to welcome them with open arms. It could mean they're assholes to everyone and that's why they have no close relationships. You have to be careful with unlikeable characters, though--they still have to be compelling. And if a person vs self character is your protagonist, they had better be. Like the other person/human vs x themes, person vs self can be a way to explore humanity. Once again, what does it mean to be human? But in this case, not primarily in relation to nature, technology, or another human, but one's individual self.

3) CHARACTERS You can write a nonfiction book about themes. You can outline a plot. But you don't have a story if you don't have characters. None of them will be relatable to everyone, so forget that. You can try, but it will be obvious you're trying, and that's not a character, that's pandering. This isn't to say think nothing of making all your important characters in all of your stories straight, white, young, middle class, beautiful, and with no disabilities, but don't force it. If it doesn't come naturally, consider something that does--there must surely be something that does. Maybe your best friend is blind. Surely you've considered what that must be like to live that way. Surely they've talked to you about it. Maybe you've read a lot of accounts from immigrants to the USA. That should give you some insight into what that's like. Write what you know. In any case, you have a cast, and like with themes, there can be overlap:

A. The Protagonist--This is the one who's going to lead your audience through the plot (or subplot; the protagonist of your main plot doesn't necessarily have to be the protagonist of a subplot). You are seeing it from their perspective (if in first person or third person but in their head) or at least closely observing their actions. They should be a compelling character, one people can "get" even if they don't like or agree with them. Important to note: the protagonist not necessarily the good guy. They can be, and often are, but protagonist and hero are not synonymous. In fact, the protagonist can be the villain of the story.

B. The Antagonist--The protagonist's enemy. Remember this doesn't have to be a person; it could be an animal, it could nature itself. It could even also be the same characters as the protagonist (see Person vs Self)! But it is the cause of the main conflict that the protagonist has to overcome or be defeated by. Like the protagonist, regardless of the form it takes, it should be compelling. Does it want something? What is it? Is the protagonist simply in its way or is it directly after the protagonist? Is it a sympathetic antagonist or one you love to hate? Is there a redemption arc (you can have this other characters,too, including the protagonist)? Is this a way to question whether the hero is as good as made out to be?

C. The Love Interest--Not every story has one, and not every story that does is a romance. But this will be a character who occupies a lot of your protagonist's thoughts in a romantic context. And yes, for all you lovers-to-enemies fans out there, the love interest may even be the antagonist! Regardless, this is a good way to gain insight into the protagonist by how they think about the love interest. Is the protagonist obsessive or controlling? Are they misogynistic? Are they delusional? Do they see the love interest as a person or a prize? Do they really know who the love interest is? Do they even care? Do they have an idea of who the love interest is that they refuse to let go of in spite of evidence to the contrary? How does this tie in to the plot or the themes? Do we ever hear from the love interest? Do we ever get in their head? Or it is only through the memories of the protagonist (not necessarily a bad thing)?

D. The Foil--This is not the antagonist, though they can become one, depending. This is usually a friend who's going to call the protagonist on their shit and is going to have qualities very different from the protagonist. Perhaps it's a different outlook on life, or a different skill-set. Something that might annoy the protagonist from time to time. Often they will be close, though, and will resolve their issues within the story and become even closer (though again, not always).

E. The Confidante--The protagonist trusts this character, whether it's a family member, mentor, or close friend. It could even be a pet or a robot. The protagonist will reveal their deepest darkest secrets (yes, the confidante can turn out to be the antagonist) to them. This is a way for your protagonist to show vulnerability. If you're in the protagonist's thoughts, it can also be a way to show your protagonist's true fears or unprocessed trauma if there are things they won't even tell the confidante. This character is someone who listens. If they judge, it's gently, or else the protagonist respects them enough to accept harsher judgment (which they won't from the foil, for example, unless the foil and confidante are the same character). This character (if a speaking one) is also in a position to give advice which the protagonist may not accept from anyone else.

F. Deuteragonist--The secondary characters. They may be the protagonists of subplots, they may become protagonists of other stories. Either way, these are well-developed, important supporting characters of the story. They help or hinder your character along the way. They may even do things that drive the plot. One may even be the antagonist hidden in plain sight. How are they different from your protagonist? How are they similar? Are they friends or foes? How are they different or similar to each other? How would they react if they thought the protagonist was dead? How would the protagonist react of one of them died? Do the secondary characters know one another? Do they know the love interest? The antagonist? What's their relationship to those characters? Are they perhaps enemies to the protagonist but a friend to the love interest? Or vice versa?

G. Tertiary Characters--They don't have much page time but the best tertiary characters still read as people. They could become secondary characters or even main characters in another story. You're only seeing a very small part of their lives and yet it has significance. Perhaps to show the kindness of strangers. Maybe it's someone a secondary character deeply cares about. Maybe it's to very temporarily see a strange place through the eyes of someone who lives there. Tertiary characters can provide insight and motivation to the others even if they themselves aren't a very big part of the story.

4) STRUCTURE I have been looking some of these things up online as a reminder to myself, but this one I can't find anywhere. Maybe it was unique to my region or the English teachers I knew. Which means I'm going entirely by memory here. So the plot, the themes, the characters answer the who, what, when, where, and why of the story. This is the how. How does it all come together? And how do you avoid making your audience feel cheated?

A. The Smile--This story begins happily and ends so, even if there's horror throughout the middle. This doesn't mean nothing will have changed, but it is a distinctly happy ending.

B. The Frown--The story begins and ends on a sour note. There maybe hope throughout, even moments of happiness, but a sense of unease throughout lets your audience know it won't end happily and maybe not even hopefully. This is hard to write well. You have to ask yourself and be able to answer what the point is. Why tell the story. Maybe it's someone awaiting execution they didn't commit or that was arguably justified. Maybe they are almost saved but are still executed in the end. Or maybe they are saved, but someone else is executed and it's equally tragic. Stories like these can give insight into human tragedy but they can also turn off an audience. Tread carefully.

C. The Mountain--This begins badly but ends happily or at least hopefully. This is perhaps a character who has known very little joy in their life, but for some reason, maybe the event that starts the plot, they want it. But it's not going to be easy. Perhaps it's someone escaping the abusive cult they grew up in, or someone scratching their way out of poverty. Unlike the the frown, this story will have tension that the character may end up back where they started or worse, but there won't be that pervading sense of unease that it's all for nothing. The end will be cathartic. Whether the character succeeds in their goal or not, something has changed for the better.

D. The Slope--The story begins happily but doesn't end that way. Probably the hardest to write. If you begin a story happily and end it without even any hope, you run the risk of a very upset audience. But that doesn't mean it can't be done. Maybe it's a natural disaster. Maybe it's a fascist government or alien takeover. It can be a slow slide where things get worse as the characters try to adapt until they can't anymore. Or it can be an abrupt change, maybe the breakout of a war, that suddenly changes life as the characters know it. Either way, they will struggle and try to hold on, but the audience will get a sense of futility, of the problem being much bigger than the protagonist can handle. They will not solve their conflict. Their efforts will be futile. So as with the frown, why tell the story? The themes of Human/Person vs X can work really well here, as can several I didn't cover, such as Human as Animal. It can be a personal tragedy, or it can be extinction, or the end of freedom. It can be particularly useful in the context of past events. It can be a way to tell the audience that things should have been different before the event started. For example, we know the Atlantic slave trade did eventually end, but what does that matter for the people who were born, lived, and died in slavery? The slave trade should never have happened to begin with. Or the bubonic plague. It quieted down eventually but would never have spread so far and wide and not nearly as many people would have died if so many weren't living in abject poverty with poor ventilation and an inability to regularly wash and change their underclothes. So that's why such a story is told. What is happening right now that should be changed before it leads to hopeless and pointless tragedy for countless people?

And that's a question you should ask of any story you want to tell: what are you trying to say? It doesn't have to be one big thing. It can be a lot of little things. Let people read between the lines. Don't spoon-feed them. State explicitly only what you want your audience to know explicitly in that moment. Let people take it apart. Why did you choose to make the curtains blue? If you didn't have a reason, why state the colour at all? If it's not relevant, get rid of it. And don't be afraid to do things differently! Just because blue might mean sadness in someone else's story doesn't mean it has to mean the same in yours. Themes can overlap. Archetypes can overlap. They can be subverted. You can twist and turn. And! You can use all of this even in fanfic--but don't feel compelled; as stated earlier, fanfic can be a way to explore relationships between characters and doesn't necessarily need a plot or themes--just make sure your original works have them.

#writing #writing tips #English class #literature #plot #characters #themes #story structure #story-telling #why tell a story #long post #long text post

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olliesoakberry · 27 days

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about olliesoakberry aka sam!

hi i'm samantha (she/her) but most people call me sam

i'm 21 years old and a february aquarius

i'm from new hampshire, usa

i'm currently a college student studying criminal justice with a chemistry minor

favorite things

nhl teams: vancouver canucks and new jersey devils

college hockey teams: boston college eagles and university of michigan wolverines

formula 1 teams: ferrari and mclaren

colors: red/maroon and sage/dark green

you will see a sprinkling of players/drivers that are not from the teams listed above forewarning!

blog warnings

THIS BLOG WILL CONTAIN 18+ CONTENT

while i do not control what you consume, i do politely ask that if something is marked 16+ or 18+ you do not read it if you are underaged!

masterlist + who i write for

nhl

college hockey

formula 1

formula 2

indycar/endurance racing

tag system

#sam talks: nhl edition = for all the misc. nhl players i support (p.s. there's a lot)

#sam talks: nucks edition

#sam talks: devs edition

all respective nhl players will be tagged first intial + . + last name (ex. l.hughes is luke hughes of the new jersey devils)

#sam talks: eagles edition

#sam talks: umich edition

#sam talks: vroom vroom edition = all things formula 1/ formula 2/ endurance racing

all respective f1/f2 drivers will be tagged as initials + driver number (ex. ln04 = lando norris of mclaren f1 team)

#sam talks: asks edition = all submissions via the inbox

#sam talks: requests edition = all requests

#sam talks: mutuals = all conversations with my mutuals! (they're all great i highly recommend following them!)

all respective anons will be tagged to the best of my ability!

#sam talks: unhinged edition = all things 18+

#sam talks: fic recs = all fic recommendations

#sam talks: rant edition: sometimes we (me) just need to say what we're thinking, this is the tag for that lol

#sam talks: life updates: all things that i feel you guys should know about my personal life

most of my dividers are from @cafekitsune @rookthornesartistry @cyberbeat

#sam talks: nhl edition #sam talks: nucks edition #sam talks: devs edition #sam talks: eagles edition #sam talks: umich edition #sam talks: vroom vroom edition #sam talks: asks edition #sam talks: requests edition #sam talks: mutuals #sam talks: unhinged edition #sam talks: fic recs #sam talks: rant edition #sam talks: life updates

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seasurfacefullofclouds1 · 11 months

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Sorry to mention ***** but I think it's worth noting that The Show debuted in the UK with 14k less sales than Faith in the Future.

I think The Show did much better that FITF in the United States, which tells me a few things.

1. Playlisting on Spotify is incredibly important to artists’ charting— and breaking through to the general public— in the United States. The USA sets the international standard for “what is popular,” so it’s very important to have a hit here. Harry could not have become the popular artist he is today without Watermelon Sugar becoming the pandemic pop hit that it was, and it was achieved with relentless playlisting and many iterations of physical copies being sold. The 2020 competition (Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa) were very good, but Harry’s team simply wore them down with payola. This formula is what Niall’s team is following, although obviously the amount of money invested and recouped is much less.

2. Playlisting only goes so far with the UK, as Official Charts limits individual Spotify streams of a song to 10/ discrete account/ day. It can be circumvented with multiple discrete accounts and overwhelming blanketing of radio plays, as well as multiple iterations of a physical album (Louis’ team did this at the last minute with the digital FITF exclusive on release week, which Larrie UAs subverted by posting all songs online as soon as they were available). You can see why being blacklisted on UK radio is death to charting. No radio = no physical or digital album purchases, and the reverse is also true. People won’t buy what they’ve never heard before. A lack of live exposure to the general public— festivals— compounds the problem further. Niall has all of these bases covered: streaming, radio (he just did a BBC radio festival and live lounge), several physical versions of the new album, festivals.

3. After a while, reputation becomes fact. Popularity evokes the feeling that an artist deserves to be popular; popularity begets more popularity. Obscurity evokes the opposite. Most of the listening public (hell, most of their fans) do not care how the sausage is made, but they don’t want to follow an unpopular artist, especially one who might have a stigma.

4. Louis’ fans went all out for him in the UK, but the cold slap in the face to fans from his BMG team (in this interview) was sobering. His numbers came from loyal fans buying dozens of albums in order to beat Bruce Springsteen— a gargantuan task. Niall did not have anywhere near the same competition in the UK. Would fans have done the same for Niall? I guess we’ll never know.

5. It’s safe to say that Niall’s career is much more “normal” than Louis’. Niall benefits from being “not the competition” to Harry Styles, but a middle-of-the-road surviving member of 1D. Industry allows him a career because it wants to.

#louis tomlinson #niall horan #the show

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f1 · 11 months

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BEYOND THE GRID: Logan Sargeant on his journey to being the USA's new F1 star

This week’s Beyond The Grid guest Logan Sargeant has timed his debut in F1 perfectly – a sport where timing is everything. With F1 booming in the US – and three Grands Prix taking place Stateside – fans have plenty of opportunities to cheer on their new home favourite. Sargeant is one of three rookies racing in F1 in 2023 after his fourth-placed finish in last year’s Formula 2 championship secured his Super Licence and seat at Williams. BEYOND THE GRID: Scott Speed on his journey to F1, his ‘absurd’ Red Bull contract, his Toro Rosso exit and crazy final race In this Beyond The Grid episode the 22-year-old tells host Tom Clarkson how the reality of Formula 1 compares to the dream of racing in F1, and explains just what he’s learned so far as he begins a career that promises so much. Sargeant also reflects on his journey up to this point, from leaving the US at the age of 12, to competing with fellow rookie Oscar Piastri for the Formula 3 title in 2020. The US racer goes on to talk about his relationships with McLaren’s Piastri, as well as his current team mate Alex Albon, and why his mentality will have to be stronger than ever if he is to succeed. BEYOND THE GRID: Sam Michael on engineering his rise to the top of F1 and the people who influenced his life the most He also explains just what it feels like to be racing some of his idols in the sport, and much more. To hear Sargeant’s Beyond The Grid interview, hit go on the player above or head here to catch it on your preferred platform. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

#F1 #BEYOND THE GRID: Logan Sargeant on his journey to being the USA's new F1 star #Formula 1

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cupofkojiro · 3 months

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Hi Matchablossoms

For my February 💖Worst Valentine's Day Fic Ever💖 I am calling upon you all for the worst, most heinous Valentines day prompts ever for our friends Kaoru and Kojiro. Confession gone wrong? Chocolates melted in Kojiros back pocket and made it look like he pooped himself? Whatever you want, so long as it's rated PG13. It is my job to make everything work in one fic.

But I am following a new formula--

The fic will be set on Feb 14 in LA, USA and when they are 24 years old, so all prompts must work in this setting/timeframe

OTHER THAN THAT--go wild

accepting as many prompts as I can, until Feb 1, 2024. Please only 2 prompts max per person!!

Thanks and see y'all on Feb 14!

#sk8 #sk8 cherry blossom #sk8 kojiro #matchablossom

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truthin32bit · 4 months

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When Worlds Collide - The Early Merger Era of USCR

I remember when I was in high school I would always try and get my school's "Car Club" up and going. I'd post flyers, give announcements over the PA and ask the teacher lending us the room for help with ideas. Unfortunately it was only ever me and one other classmate who would occupy the classroom at lunch, never really finding a single person to share my rather obsessive interest with. There was this one other kid, a senior at the time, that would be at one of the computers in the class room looking at spotters guides of some sorts. At the time I was solely a NASCAR fan, not really paying much attention to other forms of motorsport. I knew Super GT existed thanks to Gran Turismo 5, and of course there was Formula 1 but I never feigned too much interest in it. So when I peeked at his screen I noticed that it was what known as the Tudor United Sports Car Championship at the time. Of course, I didn't know what it actually was at that time. My small little NASCAR infested brain had never heard of this series before -- and that's because it was a completely new idea, birthed from years of two separate American sports car series competing for the same audience throughout the 00s and early 10s. The American Le Mans Series was much like the rest of the ACO sanctioned championships across the globe, using state of the art prototypes and factory GT efforts to fill their grids. However, by the end of the ALMS era there was a clear struggle to fill the prototype grids, with only a literal couple of P1 entrants running in any given race weekend.

American Le Mans Series Cars speed around the hairpin turn during the Saturday afternoon race at the 35th Annual 2009 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

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The Grand-Am Road Racing Series was the complete opposite of the sleek and sexy cars ready to travel to France every June. Their top class were these tube frame "prototurtles", which in their first year looked more Florida man rather than Florida endurance classic. However, what they did have in their pocket was the iconic Daytona 24, which throughout its years would play host to multiple big time NASCAR superstars hopping in to turn right for the first time in a few good months. Their GT cars were also a bit non-orthodox for that matter too -- whereas you had Porsches and Corvettes battling it out for top honors literally shoulder checking each other Grand Am boasted Pontiac GXPs and Mazda6s... though, admittedly they were also tube frame based machines.

So when the merger news came about, obviously it was a pretty big shock to everyone's system. I mean, how the heck would these two completely different types of series fit in with one another given that Daytona Prototypes were literally pieces of metal put together to look somewhat like a race car in comparison to the prohibitively expensive prototypes that literally no one could afford to run these days... but maybe that's what sports car racing needed. After years of having to recover from the sudden decline of the sport (thanks Bernie) everyone was kinda doing whatever the hell in their own corner, with the BPR scurrying off into their own corner trying to make their own flavor of sports car racing before getting blown up by some guys from Stuttgart that would create so much baggage for Stephane Ratel that he garnered a hate boner for factory teams, the ACO still hanging onto the Le Mans 24 with its ever changing prototype category that once literally got gamed by those same German assholes from Stuttgart a few years earlier, the guys in Japan having to make a completely new regulation after their prototype series just kinda died off which even led one team fielding a 962C against some Skylines... America just kind of had to go their own way. And we all know the trope of the USA saving the world.

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I mean, the mere sight of seeing these brute beasts with their loud and brash V8 motors running alongside these sleek and sexy prototypes is enough to get anyone the least bit interested just for the weird factor. The racing it gave wasn't too bad either.

The premise of these awkward Daytona Prototypes bumbling through the bumps of Sebring just like their European brethren is worth the price of admission itself. And we haven't even gotten to the rest of the field! You had the infamous Prototype Challenge category that would provide the race with its full course yellow quotas and almost down right dangerous levels of idiocy, but they're just honestly trying their best. Of course, there was also the ever iconic GTLM field with multiple factory GT teams duking it out going all touring car on each other battling for 2nd to last, while the GTD class derived from the Grand-AM GT category had its own oddities that would be simply wrong to look over. The 911 GT America is a car that seems to come out of someone's fever dream that I wouldn't be surprised if it came up in a /r/ThomasThePlankEngine post. There was also the R8 LMS with the teeny ass wing. I don't know why I remember that, but it's always so funny to see that specific car show up in Forza games when there's literally newer R8s to feature.

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Even the calendar itself was a "greatest hits" of both series, with both sides having to play on each other's grounds with the Daytona 24 and the 12 hours of Sebring being the big crown jewel events. Of course, you also had the rest of the endurance races that both series managed to carry over, the 6 Hours of the Glen from the Grand-Am side and the Petit Le Mans over on ALMS' side. Long Beach and Belle Isle were two street courses that both series brought along that would prove to be marquee events, and something of an interesting tidbit that I would be remiss to mention would be the Prototype Challenge only race at Kansas Speedway. Yeah. That layout. You know the one.

The Daytona Prototype mix of cars lasted up until the end of 2016, which would bring the beginning of the new era of sports car racing. While I don't have great opinions on the DPi platform, it nevertheless influenced the current resurgence of the prototype category, whilst the growth of the global GT3 regulation made up by our good friend Stephane Ratel would occupy the GTD category and would go on to encompass the entire field, becoming one of the many influences that would make it replace the declining GTE class as the top global grand touring class in the world. Indeed, the United part of the United Sports Car Championship really did become reality -- though it probably had a far bigger outreach than they initially expected. Or maybe it was their intention from the get-go. Who knows. Anyways, take a look at this Daytona Prototype.

#imsa #grand am #sports car racing #gran turismo #forza

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