And I'm back

Nice tan !

So that's if for holidays. Possibly a little longer than I had expected but we have had some pretty lousy weather (hot) down in this part of the world which really affects the brain when it comes to creative writing, which is what this blog is all about. So firstly I hope my readers and fans of 'Electric Guitars and Racing Cars' had a good and safe Christmas and the new year is being kind to you all.

RACING CARS:
I really need to catch up on where I left things last year in what turned out to be a pretty ho hum finish to the racing season. Blingy won the F1 championship for the nineteenth time with a race up his sleeve . I have to say he looked rather flat at the presentation in Mexico.

Our lad Esteban Ocon pretty much ended his championship series where he started: eighth in the points standings right behind team-mate Serg. He didn't make a podium but he did show us a couple of spirited challenges over the series. The VJM10 (car) has now been retired so with a pair of new pinkies will Force India be a force to be reckoned with in 2018?

With the V8 hysteria all revolving around Kiwi kid Scotty Mclaughlin it was off to the Bathurst 1000 and the last of the enduro's. Dry witted Dave Reynolds and his driving partner Luke Youlden took away the gold in what was a treacherous (as usual) race for many who lost the tyre battle in simple bad choices believing in what the weather forecasters said. Most of the top contenders took to the escape road at Murray's never to make those 'mistakes' back up.

The new Newcastle street track saw the culmination of the V8 slog with young Scotty fiercely in battle with Jay Dub for the championship honours. Unfortunately is desperation and an intense struggle for points Scott had a slight altercation with Craig Lowndes (a distant team mate of Jamie) in the dying moments of the race resulting in both Craig and Scotty ending their race in the fence. With the race finishing under yellow the championship went to Jamie in what was a controversial race.

I made it out to Avalon Raceway.. the Place for Pace the other week for the annual President's Cup. I have to say I really enjoyed the racing. When sixteen thousand horses let loose in a quarter mile paddock it's something to behold. Sprintcar racing is always good value for the entertainment dollar. The 20g's-to-win A-Main was one of the best spectacles I had seen since last year's President's Cup. It is so competitive between the top drivers and teams and it's not just for the pay cheque. The front runners are pushing their cars over the limit lap after lap, there is no time for drivers to relax and the same goes for the spectators. Unfortunately race favourite and our EGRC spotlight driver from a few years back, James McFadden (J-MAC) had a comfortable lead when he came together with back-marker young 16yo Buddy Kofoid (not old enough to drive a car here) from the USofA finishing James' run. Veteran Robby Farr claimed the bickies from USofA veteran Terry McCarl where they exchanged places several times in the final few laps of an exciting race. Sprintcar racing at its best.

ELECTRIC GUITARS:
Over the holidays, in fact just weeks ago in Los Angles we saw (well, not me) the annual music convention NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants, where manufactures get to display their new wares for the coming year. The wares this year were a bit of a yawn, how many new Strat varieties can Fender come up with? I suppose the biggest thing that happened at NAMM this year was the no-show of Gibson. Gibson being one of the two biggest guitar companies and to not display at NAMM was a very big deal for the industry. There is a lot of gossip as to why that I won't be passing on but the only thing that is certain is that Gibson have closed their Memphis production plant. They cite the factory being too large for their needs, mmm? How many varieties of Les Paul's can you have?

AND FOR 2018..
The halo, aero, tyres, driver changes, new cars, grid kids, it's going to be a fun F1 year. V8's I think will be a bit same old same old this year. It will be interesting to see what Andretti and United Autosports can bring to the table. Let's hope it's not going to take a year to find out. Sprintcars have been virtually run and won for this summer season with Kerry Madsen winning the Australian title for the the third consecutive year and J-MAC looking very strong in the World Series Sprintcars for another WSS championship. Still, it's never over until it's over with Jamie Veal (the Real Deal) right on his tail tank. It all sounds a bit Supercars to me, let's hope there is not a silly coming together that decides the championship.