Do I Feel a Draft?

Any fan of racing knows what drafting is.  This most basic of techniques is used in everything from carts to Formula 1 to gain a speed advantage over the leading vehicle.  For the uninitiated or the less scientifically inclined, here's a quick explanation courtesy of Tom Cruise as Cole Trickle.  Even if you already know what drafting is, a 23 year old Nicole Kidman is always fun to watch.  Skip to 1:20 for the technical analysis of drafting. (Warning: NSFW)

The Ferrari 250 LM

Penned by the late, great Battista Pininfarina, only the first Ferrari 250 LM was fitted with the 250 engine, while the rest of the 30 odd models were powered by the larger 330. In 1965, the North American Racing Team privately fielded a 250 LM, driven by Jochen Rindt and Maston Gregory, to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To date, it remains Ferrari's last overall victory at the world's most famous endurance race.

This one isn't it. But it's still damn sexy!


Ferrari 250 LM #6045 from GridStars on Vimeo.

Check out more videos from Gridstars.

Smoke em if Ya Got em

Drifting is a strange sport to me.  There are rules, a podium, trophies, and champions like any other form of motorsport but there is also an ambiguity that determines which champion stands on that podium with the trophy.  The points are given out subjectively based on style and there's no clear concise way to determine that style.  While I don't quite understand the sport as well as grip racing, I have to admit it's a superhuman display of car control that I can't help but be amazed at.  Here are some prime examples.

Flappy Aftermath

A big thank you to all that participated last night's first ever Flappy Paddle Heads GT5 Invitational. It was a great turn out and a supremely entertaining night.

Congratulations to racer Clint_Mills. Enjoy the Lotus Elise, you earned it!

Special thanks to the Swift brothers for their devastating pace and their lack of team orders, to Zeggawong's support all the way from Australia, to Omar and Chin's Lewis Hamilton/Felipe Massa antics, to W for flying back in time to make it for the tail end of the night, to Syed of IEDEI for joining us and adding a bit of class to the grid with his classic Alfa Romeo Giulia, and to many others that joined our lobby, albeit briefly.

The Competition

For those of you competing in the GT5 Invitational tonight, here is your competition! Good luck and we will see you all in just over an hour.

Danny Choy A.K.A. Capn_Chimichanga

Danny Chin A.K.A. Anduril218

Kyle Swift A.K.A. ROADWARRIOR721

A Tribute To Sergio Scaglietti

May your soul love on forever within the greatest Italian sports cars the world has ever seen.

Sergio Scaglietti, standing 8th from the left, beige coat

It's a bit... okay it's not that great. But it's nice to just play Scaglietti for half an hour.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

A Flappy Paddle Head's Christmas List

But it's not even Thanksgiving, you say! Well, that's exactly the point. The only thing more American than consumerism is consumerism now. Chin started off with a number of presents suitable for children-- intending to infect the little ones with the love of cars at as early an age as possible.

However, when shopping for a car enthusiast that is already so hopelessly obsessed with automobiles that it's as essential as the air he/she breathes, I've made another Christmas guide to make your holiday shopping easy.