Why I Love Living Where I Do

The other day while drying off my dogs after a walk at the beach, I hung their leashes over the chain separating the sidewalk from the park. I put the dogs in the car, threw the towel in the trunk and drove away, leaving the expensive leather leashes my wife had just bought for the dogs hanging in the breeze.

It wasn't until our afternoon walk when I went to grab the leashes and couldn't find them, did I realize my error. I hopped in the car a went back to see if they were still there. Being Sunday, I was expecting the worst, and even began formulating an excuse for the wife as to how I could of lost the leashes.

But to my surprise as I drove up, there they were, still swaying in the breeze on the chain. I guarantee you in any other neighbourhood they would of been long gone.

And the second reason is, as you may know I bought a new car a few weeks ago from a used car dealer in the beach. Over the weekend the part of the muffler that is attached to the engine broke off. I did the math and it had been more then six weeks since I bought the car, I figured any good will the dealer had would be long gone. But I took it back to them on Monday to have the problem repaired at their garage instead of where I normally go, expecting to pay. And since it's an Audi I was expecting the pay a lot.

When I went to pick up my car later that night, I was shown the broken muffler and told the replacement part had cost $400. "Not bad," I thought, "it certainly could of been a lot worse." And then to my surprise, when I went to pay for the repairs, I was told that there would be no charge. They would be covering all costs as I had just bought the car from them.
Wow. Thanks Queen Compact Cars! You guys went way beyond my expectations for a used car dealer. If you are in the market for a new used car, check these guys out.
I highly recommend them!
Two more reasons to love the beach, what a great place to live!

IndyCar Takes Over Dundas Square

I went to Dundas Square this afternoon to check out the IndyCar festivities. I was impressed, there was a lot to see and do.

Alex Tagliani's team Fazzt Racing was there to unveil their new look car for this weekends race. Who wouldn't love this car? Its every boys dream car, a real life Hot Wheels racing car.

And of course Alex had to do his thing for the media, which by the way, he seemed to be very good at.

And there was a lot more to see, like Paul Tracy's Make A Wish sponsored ride.

Tracy was also letting fans sign his racing suit again this year for a small donation to the Make A Wish foundation. Madmal signed it where everyone would see, (above the one to the left).

And of course there was the Pit Stop Challenge, who could change the race car tire in the quickest time.

All in all, a pretty good effort on promotion by IndyCar. In a highly visible spot with lots of foot and car traffic with drivers, teams and sponsors out to promote the race this weekend. And even better, there was lots of people stopping to take a look and see what was going on.

Great job by Honda Indy Toronto promotions for getting the word out there about the big race on Sunday.

The Circus Comes To Town

The IndyCar Racing Series circus with all it's trucks and trailers began arriving in town yesterday.
I caught Paul Tracy, who will be driving for KV Racing this weekend, at the track this morning talking to the media about his chances for this weekends Honda Indy Toronto Grand Prix. The track is ready and the trucks have arrived.

Let's get this party started!

My First Time

I stumbled upon this picture the other day. You might call this picture, the one that started it all. It was taken back in 1986, at the first Molson Indy (now the Honda Indy Toronto), and my first race at a track. I can even remember taking it. It had been raining all weekend and the race was run in the rain. I was at the race with my buddy Tony and we could only afford general admission tickets being that we were only 16 years old at the time. As far as I can remember, we didn't seem to mind, just being that close as the cars sped by was cool enough for us.
When this shot was taken, I remember we were trying to get to the turn at the end of the straight on Lakeshore Blvd., when we ran right smack into racing legend Emmerson Fittipaldi who was getting a ride back to the pits after hitting the wall and ending his day early. I remember seeing Fittipaldi and standing there mesmerized for a second as I came face to face with one of my childhood hero's. I remember him smiling at us and giving us the thumbs up before hopping on the scooter. And then I remembered I had a camera and snapped this photo before he disappeared into the crowd.

Bobby Rahal went on to win the race and my love affair with auto racing and racing photography was born.

PT Speaks Out

Road and Track magazine just did an interview with Paul Tracy, it was a very interesting read. You can read it yourself, right here.

courtesy of John C Bassett FB

Paul The Psychic Octopus Does It Again

I haven't really been following the World Cup, but I knew Germany didn't stand a chance yesterday.
Why?
Because I heard it from an octopus. That's right, you heard me, I said octopus.
Check it out:"Paul the octopus who resides at the Aquarium Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, has become an international phenomenon after correctly forecasting the results for all six of Germany's World Cup games.
However, the octopus shocked Germany on Tuesday by picking Spain to win - a result, as it turns out, that was correct. Some Germans now want to see Paul publicly barbecued.
Paul will also make his prediction for the third-place play-off match between Germany and Uruguay.
Paul's handlers will follow the now familiar routine. Two boxes will be lowered into his tank, each containing his favourite seafood food as well as the flags of the two opposing teams.
Whichever box Paul picks food from first is adjudged the winner.
Afterwards, Paul will be offered boxes with Spain and Holland flags on the front.
However, this will only happen if he is deemed not too tired and still hungry.
A spokesman for his aquarium said. 'We do not want to overburden him.'"

If only I was a betting man......

courtesy of the Telegraph.

Today's Weather Forecast

courtesy of Amy Oops.