Just for fun . . .

Included below is an article from Autosport . com that very precisely
quotes Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. discussing Mark Martin's
signing by Hendrick Motorsports to replace Casey Mears next season.

I'm struck by the fact that Gordon says "you know" ten times during
his brief commentary and Earnhardt adds two more instances.

Back when Juan Pablo Montoya was still an F1 driver, I used to keep
track of how many times he said "pretty good' during interviews but
this was a habit unique to him.

However, there is now a phrase which crops up incessantly in quotes
from current F1 pedal-pushers, the EAASL* "you know" equivalent.

For ten points, what is that phrase?

*English As A Second Language

Cheers!

Mudge

********************************

Gordon: I will learn from Martin

By Diego Mejia
Friday, July 4th 2008, 08:41 GMT


Jeff Gordon says he will learn from having Mark Martin as his teammate
as Hendrick Motorsports is expected to announce they have signed the
NASCAR veteran to replace Casey Mears in 2009.
The four-times NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion was full of praise for
Martin while speaking to reporters at Daytona International Speedway on
Thursday. He said the 49-year-old is among the elite of Cup drivers.
"I love Mark Martin," Gordon said. "I think Mark Martin is probably the
most awesome racecar driver I've ever raced with. I think that, you
know, when I think of guys that should have won multiple championships,
you know, he's one of them.
"And I think it's unfortunate that he hasn't because, you know, his
track record, his talent, his commitment certainly deserve it.
"But, you know, I had an opportunity to race with him early on in the
Busch Series, had a blast, learned a ton from him. You know, I always
knew he was one of the most talented racecar drivers I've ever seen."
Gordon said he will learn from having Martin as his teammate and
praised him for being in such great shape to still be competitive,
despite being one of the most veteran drivers in the Cup field.
"You know, I learn from everybody," Gordon said. "But I absolutely will
learn from Mark. Mark has amazing patience, but he has amazing drive
and commitment. You know, you look at the shape that he's in."
"You know, there's not too many guys - I'm not saying he's old - I'm
just saying not too many guys are out there, you know, or have been out
there in the past at his age that are as competitive as he is through
all the changes that have gone on through cars, teams, everything else.
You know, that to me is one of the many things I admire about him."
Dale Earnhardt Jr also had good words for Martin and highlighted his
positive approach, which he claims makes him a valuable asset to any
team.
"Mark, in his history, especially of recent times, Mark's really taken
on that role of being - he's very gracious, you know," Earnhardt said.
"He wants to help. He wants to be an asset. He wants - whatever he's
got within arm's reach, he wants to have a
positive effect on it, if it's a driver, a team, a crew, a crewman.
"You know, he just has a good work ethic to him."

--
Life is change: How it differs from the rocks!
I've seen their ways too often for my liking.
New worlds to gain: My life is to survive . . .
. . . and be alive for you.

Curmudgeon wrote:

> Back when Juan Pablo Montoya was still an F1 driver, I used to keep
> track of how many times he said "pretty good' during interviews but
> this was a habit unique to him.

I like Kimi's personal word, "thinkso", and either Prost or Senna
(strangely I can't remember which now) used to be plagued with
"difficults". He's eased off a bit now, but a year ago everything for
Lewis Hamilton was "extremely".

> However, there is now a phrase which crops up incessantly in quotes
> from current F1 pedal-pushers, the EAASL* "you know" equivalent.
>
> For ten points, what is that phrase?

"For sure"? It's been around for a while now, though.

> *English As A Second Language

--
Duncan Snowden.

In article <486e78f3$0$1345$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere . com >, Duncan
Snowden <dss@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:

> Curmudgeon wrote:
>
> > Back when Juan Pablo Montoya was still an F1 driver, I used to keep
> > track of how many times he said "pretty good' during interviews but
> > this was a habit unique to him.
>
> I like Kimi's personal word, "thinkso", and either Prost or Senna
> (strangely I can't remember which now) used to be plagued with
> "difficults". He's eased off a bit now, but a year ago everything for
> Lewis Hamilton was "extremely".
>
> > However, there is now a phrase which crops up incessantly in quotes
> > from current F1 pedal-pushers, the EAASL* "you know" equivalent.
> >
> > For ten points, what is that phrase?
>
> "For sure"? It's been around for a while now, though.
>
> > *English As A Second Language

DING DING DING DING! We have a winner! (And yes, I know it's been
around for a while, especially among the Germans and Scandinavians.)

I think it was Senna who had a case of the "difficults" since I can
remember Emo suffering from the very same malady.

Michael Schumacher used to have his pet phrase as well, but for the
life of me, I can't remember what it was right at the moment.

Thanks for playing our little game, Duncan!

Mudge

--
Life is change: How it differs from the rocks!
I've seen their ways too often for my liking.
New worlds to gain: My life is to survive . . .
. . . and be alive for you.

Curmudgeon wrote:
> Michael Schumacher used to have his pet phrase as well, but for the
> life of me, I can't remember what it was right at the moment.

Was it "Outta my way!"?

Curmudgeon wrote:
> In article <486e78f3$0$1345$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere . com >, Duncan
> Snowden <dss@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:

>>> However, there is now a phrase which crops up incessantly in quotes
>>> from current F1 pedal-pushers, the EAASL* "you know" equivalent.
>>>
>>> For ten points, what is that phrase?
>> "For sure"? It's been around for a while now, though.
>>
>>> *English As A Second Language
>
> DING DING DING DING! We have a winner! (And yes, I know it's been
> around for a while, especially among the Germans and Scandinavians.)

Um... it's been around for *decades*. I'm trying to remember the first
time I heard it, and failing... I can't remember a time when I wasn't
interested in motorsport, and it wasn't a family joke to take the mickey
out of drivers by using "for sure" in our conversation. Mind you, there
*are* members even older than me, who might be able to remember when it
first started being used... ;o)

--
Kimbo xx

w w w .booksbykimbo . com

In article <6d8it1F1c656U1@mid.individual . net >, Kim Andrews
<bykimbo@hotmail . com > wrote:

> Curmudgeon wrote:
> > In article <486e78f3$0$1345$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere . com >, Duncan
> > Snowden <dss@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >>> However, there is now a phrase which crops up incessantly in quotes
> >>> from current F1 pedal-pushers, the EAASL* "you know" equivalent.
> >>>
> >>> For ten points, what is that phrase?
> >> "For sure"? It's been around for a while now, though.
> >>
> >>> *English As A Second Language
> >
> > DING DING DING DING! We have a winner! (And yes, I know it's been
> > around for a while, especially among the Germans and Scandinavians.)
>
> Um... it's been around for *decades*. I'm trying to remember the first
> time I heard it, and failing... I can't remember a time when I wasn't
> interested in motorsport, and it wasn't a family joke to take the mickey
> out of drivers by using "for sure" in our conversation. Mind you, there
> *are* members even older than me, who might be able to remember when it
> first started being used... ;o)

Well, I've been around for decades as well. My first clear memories of
F1 are from 1962 (although since I'm a Yank I usually fudge and prattle
on about 1961 ;->). I'm sure that Graham and Jimmy and that lot didn't
soil their speech with it but it might already have been currency among
the European drivers. The first time I remember really noticing it was
probably Ronnie Peterson's interviews, but that's quite a bit later.

Cheers!

Mudge

--
Life is change: How it differs from the rocks!
I've seen their ways too often for my liking.
New worlds to gain: My life is to survive . . .
. . . and be alive for you.

And another one is: "Obviously..."

On Sat, 5 Jul 2008 00:35:05 -0600, Kim Andrews wrote
(in article <6d8it1F1c656U1@mid.individual . net >):

> Curmudgeon wrote:
>> In article <486e78f3$0$1345$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere . com >, Duncan
>> Snowden <dss@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>>> However, there is now a phrase which crops up incessantly in quotes
>>>> from current F1 pedal-pushers, the EAASL* "you know" equivalent.
>>>>
>>>> For ten points, what is that phrase?
>>> "For sure"? It's been around for a while now, though.
>>>
>>>> *English As A Second Language
>>
>> DING DING DING DING! We have a winner! (And yes, I know it's been
>> around for a while, especially among the Germans and Scandinavians.)
>
> Um... it's been around for *decades*. I'm trying to remember the first
> time I heard it, and failing... I can't remember a time when I wasn't
> interested in motorsport, and it wasn't a family joke to take the mickey
> out of drivers by using "for sure" in our conversation. Mind you, there
> *are* members even older than me, who might be able to remember when it
> first started being used... ;o)


'Take the mickey out'? That doesn't sound like what it means in Canada.
What does it mean in British English ;-)

--
Cheers!

Dennis

Remove 'Elle-Kabong' to reply

Ruddell wrote:
> On Sat, 5 Jul 2008 00:35:05 -0600, Kim Andrews wrote

>> Um... it's been around for *decades*. I'm trying to remember the first
>> time I heard it, and failing... I can't remember a time when I wasn't
>> interested in motorsport, and it wasn't a family joke to take the mickey
>> out of drivers by using "for sure" in our conversation. Mind you, there
>> *are* members even older than me, who might be able to remember when it
>> first started being used... ;o)
>
>
> 'Take the mickey out'? That doesn't sound like what it means in Canada.
> What does it mean in British English ;-)

You can't end it there in British English. You need that all important
"of"! Now behave, or I'll tell your British wife you've been taking the
mickey out of us Brits!

--
Kimbo xx

Books, by Kimbo!
Used and collectible books at sensible prices.
Buy direct at w w w .booksbykimbo . com
Fine me on Ebid * uk.ebid . net /stores/Books-by-Kimbo

On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 02:15:07 -0600, Kim Andrews wrote
(in article <6dja9mF2ohpeU1@mid.individual . net >):

> Ruddell wrote:
>> On Sat, 5 Jul 2008 00:35:05 -0600, Kim Andrews wrote
>
>>> Um... it's been around for *decades*. I'm trying to remember the first
>>> time I heard it, and failing... I can't remember a time when I wasn't
>>> interested in motorsport, and it wasn't a family joke to take the mickey
>>> out of drivers by using "for sure" in our conversation. Mind you, there
>>> *are* members even older than me, who might be able to remember when it
>>> first started being used... ;o)
>>
>>
>> 'Take the mickey out'? That doesn't sound like what it means in Canada.
>> What does it mean in British English ;-)
>
> You can't end it there in British English. You need that all important
> "of"! Now behave, or I'll tell your British wife you've been taking the
> mickey out of us Brits!


All right. Ms Miles explained the term to me and well, you Brits seem to
have a different word for everything and usually two or three. Over here in
colonies we refer to a mickey as a small bottle of whiskey/rum/vodka/etc...

But because this is a moderated group and we're getting dangerously off topic
I just thought I'd mention that we loved the British GP in the rain (well, we
were in our basement rec room so it wasn't raining here) with a friend who
was also happy to see Hamilton win. He's not young Hamilton any longer, he's
just Hamilton?

Back to the boxing ng, there's a fight this weekend ;-)

--
Cheers!

Dennis

Remove 'Elle-Kabong' to reply

[Default] Thus spake Curmudgeon <leave@me.alone>:

>In article <486e78f3$0$1345$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere . com >, Duncan
>Snowden <dss@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Curmudgeon wrote:
>>
>> > Back when Juan Pablo Montoya was still an F1 driver, I used to keep
>> > track of how many times he said "pretty good' during interviews but
>> > this was a habit unique to him.
>>
>> I like Kimi's personal word, "thinkso", and either Prost or Senna
>> (strangely I can't remember which now) used to be plagued with
>> "difficults". He's eased off a bit now, but a year ago everything for
>> Lewis Hamilton was "extremely".
>>
>> > However, there is now a phrase which crops up incessantly in quotes
>> > from current F1 pedal-pushers, the EAASL* "you know" equivalent.
>> >
>> > For ten points, what is that phrase?
>>
>> "For sure"? It's been around for a while now, though.
>>
>> > *English As A Second Language
>
>DING DING DING DING! We have a winner! (And yes, I know it's been
>around for a while, especially among the Germans and Scandinavians.)
>
>I think it was Senna who had a case of the "difficults" since I can
>remember Emo suffering from the very same malady.

Remember Fischy in the late 90s? Oh man, it was horrible! I just
prayed they wouldn't interview him. Of course, everytime I said that
prayer, they would immediately launch into an interview.

One of the best rookie drivers I've heard was Kubica. One of the
worst was Speed. I was sometimes embarassed to hear him speak Cali.

>
>Michael Schumacher used to have his pet phrase as well, but for the
>life of me, I can't remember what it was right at the moment.
>
>Thanks for playing our little game, Duncan!
>
>Mudge

In article <iimd745v9l46ergbbj80kbd5frah2gvc5t@4ax . com >, Dillon Pyron
<invaliddmpyron@austin.rr . com > wrote:

> One of the best rookie drivers I've heard was Kubica. One of the
> worst was Speed. I was sometimes embarassed to hear him speak Cali.

I heartily agree with both opinions. Robert has a certain reserved
elegance and dignity to everything he says. He appears to be a very
bright young man. Scott, on the other hand, just tried way too hard
at everything. He just had to be the hippest dude on the grid with
his tattered cap and his mugging for the camera and his hand signals
(or whatever you call them) and his attempts at quasi-rap during his
interviews. I used to wince whenever he was approached (and Peter,
of course, had to interview him as the token Yank before every race).

Hope all is well with you, Dillon. Jacque and I really enjoyed our
time with you and your sis at Indianapolis in 2000 (I think it was).

Cheers!

Mudge

--
Life is change: How it differs from the rocks!
I've seen their ways too often for my liking.
New worlds to gain: My life is to survive . . .
. . . and be alive for you.

[Default] Thus spake Curmudgeon <leave@me.alone>:

>In article <iimd745v9l46ergbbj80kbd5frah2gvc5t@4ax . com >, Dillon Pyron
><invaliddmpyron@austin.rr . com > wrote:
>


>
>Hope all is well with you, Dillon. Jacque and I really enjoyed our
>time with you and your sis at Indianapolis in 2000 (I think it was).

Yeah, we're good. I think it was 2002.

I'm finishing my third semester. With hopefully another year to go.
We started last fall with 42 students and lost 16 after the first
semester and two more after the spring. Our first year competencies
were last week. 12 tested on Monday and 11 have partial retakes (you
get one retake on missed procedures, don't have to repeat the entire
hour). I tested on Wednesday and thought I did well, although the
instructor was so mysterious and hard to read. In one position, she
went up, moved him back and forth and left him exactly where I did.
When I was the PT, the instructor kept checking the same thing over
and over, even though Andi had it perfect and didn't change it. Mind
games. But clinic is going well. I'm in OR this rotation. After the
first geyser, I knew I wouldn't have any problems.

I'm not going to the MotoGP race this year. I read that ticket sales
were quite brisk, but I've had a few emails telling me that excellent
seats are still available. And the hotel we've always stayed at
called with a nice price, less than the USGP.

>Cheers!
>
>Mudge

In article <ieh784pmj08n3m0riqr5p46m7jut073m6s@4ax . com >, Dillon Pyron
<invaliddmpyron@austin.rr . com > wrote:

> Yeah, we're good. I think it was 2002.

Nope, it had to have been either 2000 or 2001 since Jacque flew the coop
in April of 2002 and I didn't go that year. My current main squeeze Peg
and I were there in 2003, the last time I attended. We decided to go at
the last moment and managed to find both lodging and tickets without any
trouble. Since then I've had to settle for the TV. I really hope to go
back to Montreal some time soon, and I'd like to get to another European
race as well but I'm not sure which one. Having been to Spa, Monza, and
Silverstone (and Monaco, but not for the race), I'm not sure what's next
on the "must see" list. Maybe it's time to branch out and do Le Mans.

Good to hear from you. Keep up the good work with your schooling. Been
there, done that . . .

Cheers!

Mudge

--
Life is change: How it differs from the rocks!
I've seen their ways too often for my liking.
New worlds to gain: My life is to survive . . .
. . . and be alive for you.

[Default] Thus spake Curmudgeon <leave@me.alone>:

>In article <ieh784pmj08n3m0riqr5p46m7jut073m6s@4ax . com >, Dillon Pyron
><invaliddmpyron@austin.rr . com > wrote:
>
>> Yeah, we're good. I think it was 2002.
>
>Nope, it had to have been either 2000 or 2001 since Jacque flew the coop
>in April of 2002 and I didn't go that year.

Now I'm lost. 2000 I scalped my spares to a German guy and his son.
2001 I went with my friend/coworker and his girlfriend. Jerry got a
call Friday during practice and didn't call back until Monday morning.
ISS laid him off on Friday.

> My current main squeeze Peg
>and I were there in 2003, the last time I attended. We decided to go at
>the last moment and managed to find both lodging and tickets without any
>trouble. Since then I've had to settle for the TV. I really hope to go
>back to Montreal some time soon, and I'd like to get to another European
>race as well but I'm not sure which one. Having been to Spa, Monza, and
>Silverstone (and Monaco, but not for the race), I'm not sure what's next
>on the "must see" list. Maybe it's time to branch out and do Le Mans.
>

Yeah, I'd love to go to Spa or get back to Le Mans. But the dollar
sucks SOOOO bad. I'm a travel agent on the side and I haven't booked
a European trip since January of last year. A dozen or so Med
cruises, but nothing on the land. And with air so high, I'm not even
seeing many requests for the Med.

>Good to hear from you. Keep up the good work with your schooling. Been
>there, done that . . .

Yeah, weren't you doing your postgrad at the time?

>
>Cheers!
>
>Mudge