Getting to the root of the blog…what is next

It has been a long time since I have posted. The original idea for this blog was to comment on the racing scene, especially Formula 1 (F1) and the FIA GT series. Well that did not work out so well. Instead, I really focused on writing the first two books of the series called The Driver (A Marc Lange Novel). Book 1 - Decision and Book 2 - Training are completed and I have started on Book 3- Traitor. The editing for Book 1 is almost complete. My editors routinely break my heart by slicing out witty passages that I thought were simply great prose. Maybe not so much...

You know...the writing process has been simply amazing. While recovering from a serious injury, I certainly had the time and as it turns out the drive to complete the first two books. Every night I sat down in my red chair in the living room, dragged out my Netbook (can you believe that I actually wrote two books on that tiny screen...I think I am going blind!) and cracked out page after page. Most nights I would crank up the writing machine between 8 and 9 PM and would go until 11 PM to 2 AM depending on how much steam I had. I found that as I got close to the end of a chapter, the words would just come in waves and it seemed possible to get the completed chapter cranked out. Amazing stuff!

What an incredible feeling. Every night I sat down and turned on the tap. But instead of water, words came rushing out. People would ask me how do you do it, night after night. I think some people are just born to it. Writing is in their blood. Writing is in my blood. I just loved opening up that giant Word file and diving in to the world I was creating (and still create every day I write). How cool is that…when a fiction writer puts fingers to keyboard and just gets to make shit up. Don’t like it, just back space and come up with something else. What a joy!

So what comes next? I can promise you, my reader that I will post more. And I will work to create a platform for this blog. Right now, I must admit this is still a new game for me and I will (I hope) reward you, or at least amuse you when you visit. Big things in 2011! This past year has been rough, but I have great faith that the New Year will bring with it hope, excitement and something great…just waiting around the corner. I can feel it.

We begin... and a quick review of the Australian GP

First of all, welcome! Over the next weeks and months I hope to give some insight into the creative process and background that has inspired me to write my first novel. But from a writing perspective, I don't plan to stop at just one book...I hope to write 5+ in the series I am creating. What are the books about? Stick around and I will reveal more about the series as we move forward.

Australian GP -26-28 March, 2010

As a teen, I remember the dark days....mid 70's Gran Prix / Formula 1 coverage in the US was virtually nonexistant. We hoped for 5-10 minutes on ABC Wide World of Sports, a review (months later) in R&T, but some of us were smart enough to take Autoweek / Competition Press; at least the F1 fix was a little bit satiated.

But since the advant of cable and ESPN and other channels geared towards specific sporting demographics, we have had Speed TV. I remember the early coverage and it was marginal at best. But the trio of Varsha, Hobbs and Matchette have developed into a first class outfit who's commentary is very accurate and irreverent...I just hope that the FIA doesn't listen in. But I digress....

Today's Australian GP was soooo much more exciting and entertaining than the snooze fest that started off the 2010 season with that race in Abu Dhbai. In this race, we had actual racing AND actual passing... and some say there is no passing in F1! Can we possibly hope for more wet races? They are always the most exciting and unpredictable to watch!

From pole position (P1) Sebastian Vettel looked to run away with it again, but for the second time in as many races, his car let him down. Let's hope reliability does not plague him all season as Seb Vettel is one exciting young driver to watch. And Webbs? Marc Webber gave it his all to win at this home GP, but today was not to be his day. The drivers that came into the pits only once to change from intermediate wets to the softer of the two slick compounds took postion 1-4. They were able to nurse their tyres the rest of the race. You could only watch the frustration mount as Lewis Hamilton and Webbs made their collective charge to the front (both had to visit pits twice). You could even hear it in Hamilton's voice as he accused someone on the team (or maybe himself?) of making the wrong pit and tyre change decisions.

Lewis...you are not going to win every race! Just ask all the racing journalists who were expecting Michael Schumacher to contend for the race win in Abu Dhbai after 3 years of retirement. Your teammate did after all win the World Championship last year, he is no slouch and takes care of his car and is known for being gentle on the tyres. Be patient; there will be other races that come to you! Sometime you just take the points and race another day!

So...congrats to Jenson Button, Robert Kubica and Felipe Massa! A deserved win!

It is still to early to say who will be contending for the championship at the end of the season. The front runners have not sorted themselves out yet and there are still the factors of reliability and new driver / teams combinations. I think it takes several races to come to terms with a new car and team. And when you add the VERY SILLY testing ban...you can really appreciate how fast these guys are! Personally, I hope we see 7 or 8 different winners in the first 7 / 8 races. Now that will make for one exciting season.

Until next time!
JG