Dear Everyone,
Over the past however-many-years-it’s-been, the Silent Pagoda has stood magnificently as a shining beacon of … something. But alas, it will stand no more. This is the final post.
No journey lasts forever, of course, and certainly not the weird ones. What began as IndyCar.com’s questionable & ill-conceived experiment quickly grew into a cherished national treasure, I think, probably on par with like Charles Grodin and Arby’s and things of that nature. (You know, not crazy super-cherished. Only moderately so.) Then it became a poorly managed hedge fund for some reason. And then a “Widespread Panic” cover band. Then it was terminated for a bit. And then it wasn’t! And then it was an offshore gambling site/denim wholesaler, but that too was short-lived and maybe illegal as well, although it’s a moot point now. Because eventually, the Pagoda returned to its natural state: making obnoxious and disjointed and vaguely coherent observations about a sport it knew nothing about. And that is how it stayed, more or less, until today — when it mounts its trusty steed and rides west, golden spatula held high, its work here mostly completed.
Or if you wanted to get all serious about it and put it another way, in less dramatic and maybe more realistic terms: It was an IndyCar blog — kind of — and now it’s not, the end. (But whatever. Tomato-tomahto, really.)
Regardless of how you put it, I can’t thank IndyCar enough for the opportunity. That may sound whorish and contrived, but it’s very much the truth. Likewise, I’m exceedingly grateful to the readers & the commenters who ultimately gave this site its identity, which is best described as … something. And to the Pagoda’s cadre of confidants, cabinet members, spiritual advisers, technical consultants, sommeliers, “friends of the program,” contributors, drug-mules and everyone else who so richly deserves an acknowledgment … well there’s just too many of you to list here. I apologize, and promise to repay you later — probably with wonderful Persian silks and other valuable commodities, or maybe horribly awkward phone calls of gratitude. I’m guessing the latter.
For now, though, it is time to shut it down and go about our business. It would be foolish to get all melodramatic about this, for that is not the Pagodian way. No, our way is paved with quiet dignity and grace and snorting lines of silver polish off a Cocker Spaniel; we have no taste for needless theatrics. And besides, in three years or two or even one, nobody will even remember the Pagoda at all, and that is probably for the best. But I will. I’ll remember it as … well, something. Something I was immensely proud to be a part of, and if that’s too mawkish for your liking, well then SO’S YOUR STUPID FACE!
Godspeed, everyone. See you on the backstretch.
Love,
Roy
By Paul Dalbey, November 16, 2010 @ 2:20 pm
Wow, this came out of the blue. Best of luck to you and I seriously hope to see you still around the IndyCar community!!
By Doug White, November 16, 2010 @ 2:26 pm
Man, I’m really going to miss… something. That which can’t be named was fun as hell. Your next dangerously flaming shot of… something, is on me.
Cheers, and thanks for the laughs.
By Rob, November 16, 2010 @ 2:26 pm
Wha…(stunned silence)
By bickeldad, November 16, 2010 @ 2:27 pm
Roy,
The Pagoda will certainly be missed. Thanks for the laughs. It’s been great.
Bickeldad
By Carrie, November 16, 2010 @ 2:34 pm
To paraphrase the immortal words of Darcy from that classic film, Bring It On, the Pagoda “put the lewd in deluded.”
Eff… I’m gonna miss this place.
By Bickelmom, November 16, 2010 @ 2:34 pm
Wait, so now I have to mother my own children instead of the Pagodites? Bummer.
I have seriously loved every minute of this blog. It really got me into the IndyCar community. And it is honestly the funniest blog I’ve ever seen. Roy and all the commenters made it golden.
I weep for the loss.
By pressdog, November 16, 2010 @ 2:59 pm
fuck
By Spike Rogan, November 16, 2010 @ 3:00 pm
WOW!!! Sucks to see such a witty and honest blogger go away. I loved your less than PC wit. (Which is so badly needed in a sport loaded with Corporate suck ups.)
Now when I want to hear excessive smart ass remarks, I need to look at my own comments. lol
The Pagaoda will be missed, its void will suck like herpes. How I will miss those IndyCar cold sores you gave me.
Seriously best of luck Roy! May you live on in the IndyCar world.
-SPIKE ROGAN
By pressdog, November 16, 2010 @ 3:01 pm
copious manly tears
By Mike Hare, November 16, 2010 @ 3:12 pm
Obviously don’t know anything about what brought this on…but I have my suspicions! Maybe better to be somewhere else than to submit every utterance to GM PR for approval? Will miss you Roy.
By Allen Wedge, November 16, 2010 @ 3:22 pm
Good gosh… the world has just lost more humor… desperately needed humor…
The pagoda will certainly be missed.
By RaceDrive.com, November 16, 2010 @ 3:29 pm
You were a great addition to the Motorsports world …
You will be missed ….
By Jason McVeigh, November 16, 2010 @ 3:30 pm
There’s nothing left to say but if I can, I’d like to thank Roy Hobbson for what he did at The silent Pagoda. With every post he made he brought laughter and made me smile and in doing so I was able to discover all the kick ass deranged folk who commented on the Silent Pagoda. You all kick ass and I’ll miss hearing from you. Viva Pagoda!! Now I’m going to get drunk and weep.
By SBPopOffValve, November 16, 2010 @ 3:31 pm
GODDAMMIT! My house is not a storage unit, Hobbson! What am I going to do with these adult diapers, psychedelic toads, and these Top Secret US Government nerve gas chocolate bars??
At least tell us that you’re taking Lindy with you to whatever limbo you’re going to – and by limbo, I mean the kind accompanied by reggae and roasted pig. You’ll want to take Lindy along because I have photographic evidence that she looks GREAT in a bikini beachside.
Au revoir, Pagoda.
By Shane Rogers, November 16, 2010 @ 3:37 pm
By Steve Zautke RacingNation.com, November 16, 2010 @ 3:42 pm
A sad day for motorsports media.
By Oilpressure, November 16, 2010 @ 3:43 pm
So, this is how you get out of the Colts-Titans bet coming up on Dec 9? Hobbson, you coward!
Seriously, thanks for all the laughs. The blogosphere lost an evil genius today.
By Scott J, November 16, 2010 @ 3:51 pm
That “something” you keep refering to is what I call just straight up fun. Thanks for everything, Pagodaville. This was the best.
By Asian Thom, November 16, 2010 @ 3:58 pm
So long Silent Pagoda. Suddenly I feel like Bobby Savoy watching Hobbson slowly walk around the bases. Watch out for Barbara Hershey Roy! She kept Roy Hobbs from being great and held Jimmy Chitwood down at Hickory.
By indygrrl, November 16, 2010 @ 3:59 pm
Please say it ain’t so! Will the old posts be left up somewhere so we may read them when we need a laugh? I must admit my first time here was the posting about the infield bathrooms, I have been hooked ever since. You will be missed.
By Larry Phelps, The Distinguished Parliamentarian, November 16, 2010 @ 4:02 pm
When a man has skin in the game, any game at that, these are the times that try men’s souls. Outside of performing admirably on the grand stage of Hinkle Fieldhouse and drunkenly shouting to Phil Donahue at O’Hare’s international terminal in the fall of 2003, “you treated Sally Field quite shabbily, you bastard!” being associated with the Pagoda has been the watershed moment in this man’s life.
I will continue to drink in great excess and burn meaningless items in the most indiscriminate of manners. It will all pale, of course, to the things I imbibed and lit aflame in the half life of a Joliet cornfield, a St. Petersburg quay or the Wisconsin fairgrounds. I bid you all adieu and can only hope that Roy and I will continue to enjoy the sport from afar and celebrate the green flag by steamboating the stickiest of ganj. Farewell, Pagodans.
By James, November 16, 2010 @ 4:25 pm
Roy,
Best of luck to you whatever you do next. You are the most enjoyable and talented… something I’ve ran across in a long time. May your next something be persued with as much drive and focus toward a nondescript, impossible to hit target that may not even be there at all. God speed Roy!! God speed
James
By andhesonit, November 16, 2010 @ 4:28 pm
I always entered expectantly and left reluctantly. You are a phoenix, Roy—RISE.
By The Speedgeek, November 16, 2010 @ 4:43 pm
I have no words. Wait, no. That’s not quite right. I have something resembling words, but they’re mainly strings of random vowels shrieked at the top of my lungs while I kneel in the middle of my living room whilst rending my garments.
Thanks for all that you’ve done for the IndyCar blogosphere, Roy. You’re going to be missed. Well, unless Pressdog and Tony Johns can up the level of crazy at their places by several notches, in which case, I’ll just mentally change the byline to “Roy Hobbson” and pretend that you’re still doing your semi-incoherent thing there. Until then, go with the wind, fella. May we meet again, and maybe this time under the influence of NON-industrial strength Windex.
By cappy, November 16, 2010 @ 4:44 pm
You say “tomato”, I say “drug fueled freak fest.” it’s a matter of semantics, and we don’t split hairs here.
Fare thee well, my beloved Pagodans. Let’s all meet up at Denny’s on US 421 later tonight and reminisce.
By Christopher Leone, November 16, 2010 @ 4:48 pm
Godspeed Roy… If you ever decide to get back in this game, well, let me know and I’ll buy the domain name off IndyCar for you. (Or, since it would be more befitting of your nature, win it off Terry Angstadt in a game of drunken high-stakes Texas hold’em while flying in jet fighters over the Mojave desert. The crazed Alaskan hockey bear would be proud.)
By A.J., November 16, 2010 @ 5:09 pm
This is wrong. So wrong. Who exists to poke fun at Arute now, huh? Who exists??
——–
In all seriousness, I hope this is ending here so you can go on to anacharize some other racing forum. Please, say it’s so. But either way, thanks for the memories. Even from those of us who just lurked enjoyed this.
By CurlingRacer, November 16, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
Roy,
Very saddened by this news. You brought an element of joy and laughter that usually was reserved to the on the track antics of Chet Fillip, Dennis Firestone, Hiro Matsushita, Marty Roth, and Milka Duno. Thank you for brightening our days and nights with your humor. Hope to see you around somewhere else and if not, hopefully in May.
Andy
By Savage Henry, November 16, 2010 @ 5:19 pm
This is a very sad day indeed. The Pagoda will be sorely missed. It needs a proper sendoff. The great Hunter S. Thompson’s remains were shot from a cannon. Perhaps the collected bits and bytes from the Pagoda should be scattered throughout internet porn, drug, and personal hygene sites so they may live on forever.
By madtad1, November 16, 2010 @ 5:24 pm
Words fail me…
The loss of your column leaves a gaping mother loving hole in the blogosphere.
By DZ, November 16, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
Re: Silent Pagoda shuttering
To summarize my comment written, re-written, edited, and censored calling into question the reasoning and people behind the action of shutting down the Pagoda:
Thank you all very much for nothing.
Killing one of the true (and ever-disappearing) joys of this longtime Indycar fan’s more recent appreciation and connection has done little in garnering faith in those who make such decisions.
Short of providing true disclosure to the fans here on this action, I can only best assume some sort of ‘esprit de bean-counting corps’ whose lack of true appreciation for the fans has been displayed with stark precision.
Roy, best wishes my good man and all past offers with full rights accorded shall remain.
Fellow Pagodans, until we meet again, may all your laps be new track records.
Sincerely,
DZ
By Chip Ganassi, November 16, 2010 @ 6:02 pm
Good riddance! Don’t let the door hit your pockmarked ass on the way out, “Roy”.
By TheKarter, November 16, 2010 @ 6:21 pm
Booo!
By Catie, November 16, 2010 @ 6:25 pm
Aw, man. I heard the news in-between classes and was like, “crap.” With a sad face. Like this-
I’m going to miss all the crazy posts- with their bit of truth in them and the nature of them.
I feel like I should write a eulogy. Or something. My world of indycar humor is crumbling, mostly because no one else is insane enough to write most of the posts here. Without being delusional.
Pagodians… unite and storm other blogs? Yes!
Best wishes to you, Roy. I hope to see you hanging around the blogosphere!
Catie
By Lou, November 16, 2010 @ 7:18 pm
But, but, but you can’t leave, I just added you to my Favorites list!
By DemondSanders, November 16, 2010 @ 7:24 pm
I can honestly say that other than the Indy 500… this blog was the single best thing about Indycar in the unification era.
On the bright side whatever Hobbson chooses to do with his free time… it will pay far better, and it won’t involve IndyCar.
By Ryan Worden, November 16, 2010 @ 7:32 pm
Horrifying new sir. Now I have no idea where I will get my hate filled fix for the IndyCar season… I’ll be drinking alone in the corner if you need me.
By P Daddy, November 16, 2010 @ 7:34 pm
Just another reason IndyCar has lost me. Damn you Roy!!! Can we have the “silent Luke”? or the “Silent Hinkle”? or the “Silent Hickory”? I need something man, I’m jonesing. Am I going to get stuck with the Jersey Shore for my mind-numbing fix? Well if so, GTL to all of you. I’m out, me and Snooki have a date.
By boilerrx, November 16, 2010 @ 7:50 pm
Roy,
Know that your whit, humor, and cutting punditry will be missed. You have helped this soldier through many a rough time, and as such have provide a great service to the Republic.
I think that your greatest victory has and always will be the death of the D Wing.
LONG LIVE THE PAGODA!
By Susan, November 16, 2010 @ 7:51 pm
*Sigh*. What a sad sad day. I can only guess that you hit big on the Wolf Urine market and now have to move on to bigger and better things. Sad Sad day. Will you show up on the Versus website from time to time? Maybe?
God Speed to the Silent Silent Pagoda. Gentle Journey, fella.
By Steph, November 16, 2010 @ 8:13 pm
I was always impressed with IndyCar for openly endorsing… something… that directly poked fun at its own sport. It demonstrated that IndyCar didn’t take itself too seriously, and it takes serious cajones to pull that off successfully.
I see why this has happened and I get it, but I don’t have to be happy about it.
By Chris Estrada, November 16, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
Ugh…Sorry to hear this. But it was a hell of a run for the Pagoda. Lots of stuff has happened over the years in this series, but this blog showed us that it’s important to have a sense of humor in the midst of it all.
Thank you, Roy. Don’t be a stranger.
By Brian, November 16, 2010 @ 9:36 pm
For what it’s worth, Tony Kanaan tweeted about this today.
This effing blows. The Pagoda was awesome. Almost as awesome as the plaster cast of Linda Vaughn’s chest that sits on a shelf in my basement next to my autographed 8X10 of Bob Harkey and my Tom Carnegie bobblehead.
You’ll be missed. I sincerely hope you find a way to reopen the Pagoda for 2011 and beyond. Thanks for the laughs, from the bottom of a sobbing heart.
By Defender, November 16, 2010 @ 10:06 pm
Roy…thanks for the consistently magnificent prose. We will miss you!
By Silvia Pierson, November 16, 2010 @ 10:19 pm
At the beginning, I confess, i did not get the Silent Pagoda. Maybe it was because English is not my first language, or maybe because I could not understand American sense of humor. When I first found the Silent Pagoda, I hated it. Not only that, I pestered Roy with postings and emails.
Roy patiently replied to all my postings, always so cleverly responding to my unfounded criticisms, that I started seeing the sport through his eyes. And soon I realized that Roy’s writings were probably the second best thing about IndyCar (the first is still Tony Kanaan _ sorry, Roy). And I looked forward to new postings. On my private computer, silentpagoda.com is the number one site. My homepage.
I had the pleasure of meeting Roy a few times, inside and outside the tracks. I met his wife, I met some of his _ crazy_ friends, saw pictures of his beautiful family. We talked about IndyCar, Brazil, and our families. We also talked, a few times, about life, our expectations, our dreams.
Roy has a very demanding real life full time job, but he also has a passion for writing. And exactly there is where my hope lies. I want to believe that Roy is leaving us to pursue his dream and passion. Of course I want Roy to continue to write about IndyCar. But more than that, I want Roy to continue write. Period. And I want to read it. I don’t care if it is about cooking, football, politics, philosophy, brain surgery, travel, or Nascar (well, maybe not Nascar, but who knows…). I will read it. And I know I will enjoy it.
Thank you, Roy, for all your dedications, for finding what to write about even during the off-season, for keeping the Silent Pagoda always a refreshing read. And for teaching me new words and new meanings. We will miss you.
By fenderless, November 16, 2010 @ 10:22 pm
Gone? Man, I just found this place today… bummer.
By redd carr, November 16, 2010 @ 10:27 pm
Like the crybaby blonde kid said to the cowboy as he rode away in that old movie, “Shane, come back. Shane?”
Only, you know, substitute Hobbson for Shane…
By Marc Bever, November 16, 2010 @ 10:34 pm
I’m speechless.
Thanks for the memories.
Here’s my farewell video:
By Zachary, November 16, 2010 @ 11:40 pm
I will get intoxicated and lure several feral children in the neighborhood who have been smashing windows and wearing Charlotte Hornets gear into a forbidding pit trap. Just for you.
Actually, if you can’t tell, I’m already drunk, and taking this news poorly. Start a new blog, Hobbson. Hell, have mine.
By redd carr, November 16, 2010 @ 11:56 pm
mr. bever. as the kids say–dude, awesome. truly pagoda-worthy.
By redd carr, November 16, 2010 @ 11:58 pm
mr. bever. as the kids say–dude, awesome.
By dshaf, November 17, 2010 @ 12:43 am
Hearing this news today was like taking a beating courtesy of Jim Nabor’s burly fists. Except I survived.
Good luck and thanks for the memories!
By God, November 17, 2010 @ 1:13 am
@cappy: How far away from San Diego is US 421?
@boilerrx: Especially the whit.
@Chip Ganassi: Your ass is mine, Fatboy.
By outtaphase, November 17, 2010 @ 2:30 am
“It would be foolish to get all melodramatic about this, for that is not the Pagodian way.”
Unless you count the 4 paragraphs above it /
Seriously going to miss this bit of whatever it was. Best of luck Roy.
By Jen, November 17, 2010 @ 4:38 am
Sooooo wrong.
Fuck you, IndyCar corporate shills.
God bless you Roy.
That is all.
By Bickelmom, November 17, 2010 @ 8:08 am
Bever, that was beautiful man. Classic.
By Memkin, November 17, 2010 @ 8:22 am
Thank you for all the joy and laughter you brought to this sport. Of the top 10 things that got me hooked to IndyCar reading the Silent Pagoda was near the top.
By billytheskink, November 17, 2010 @ 10:30 am
No, No, No, it can’t be!
This lurker is gonna miss the Pagoda quite a lot. Thanks for the memories, Roy.
By Rubio, November 17, 2010 @ 11:33 am
Apparently riding the dog like it’s a small horse is FROWNED UPON in this establishment….so solitary confinement is their answer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmw23Ad9aLM&NR=1
God Speed Roy! When one door closes another opens.
By Don, November 17, 2010 @ 1:03 pm
Sorry to hear about one of my favorite blogs disappearing. I always found this one to be the most entertaining & enjoyable. Thanks for all your hardwork Roy!
By lindy thackston, November 17, 2010 @ 2:07 pm
still waiting on that “check in the mail” for those lindypendent thoughts
By Riss, November 17, 2010 @ 3:14 pm
What? This is not what I hoped to hear. Where will I go to discuss Indycar not overly seriously? With who will I trade bad 90s songs, hoping for the last laugh? Must I actually get a job now? So many questions, so few answers. Thank you for the Pagoda, Roy. Its been a hell of a ride.
Now to quote the late, great Jack Buck, “Pardon me while I stand and applaud.”
By Riss, November 17, 2010 @ 3:20 pm
@ Marc bever: That video was incredible. It may have almost brought me to tears, until AJ Foyt showed up and punched me in the face repeatedly.
By Dale Nixon, November 17, 2010 @ 4:23 pm
There are still far too many questions left unanswered by the abrupt departure…
Was Mr. Wolf and the Penske cleanup crew sent in THERE to silence Hobbson about the Altria connection?
Is it true that Hobbson has a strange tumorous growth on THAT middle finger, which, like a reverse ET, enables him to only call others at 3 AM?
Do we need to send Leonard Nimoy over there to investigate further?
By Rubio, November 17, 2010 @ 8:22 pm
..and we wont forget the casting call…from twitter:
“Do you live in #Indy? Are you under the age of 30? You’re needed for a fan forum at IMS on Nov. 9! Reply if you’re interested! Thanks!”
No need for Nimoy..its Baby FACE…AGAIN!
By Charles JD, November 17, 2010 @ 8:36 pm
As an admitted “lurker” who fell in love with the Pagoda only recently, I bid this fair ship farewell. Too soon. Too soon. And in parting, I would like to quote my favorite post ever….”[Scott Dixon] finds loud colors bothersome.”
http://silentpagoda.com/blog/2009/06/08/scott-dixon-the-most-uninteresting-man-in-the-world/
Such poetry. Such truth, which has nothing to do with my farewell, but neither does your face!
Au voir, Pagoda.
By saddened Brian McKay, November 17, 2010 @ 10:31 pm
Unless you tell us why the shut-down, we’re left to wonder, wonder, wonder… We can guess that You’ll write much more for Versus, or resurrect FlipSideSports, or be Sarah Palin’s publicist, Pope Benedict’s speechwriter, Lindsay Lohan’s life coach, A.J. Foyt’s biographer, or a Saturday morning cartoon writer …
In the words of the Rolling Stones, “Now you’re sad, sad, sad,
sad, sad, sad,
sad, sad, sad,
but you’re gonna be fine …”
We thank you for the laughs.
The absinthe industry, Tony Kanaan, and the maker of Brasso thank you for the publicity, Jack Arute sighs in relief, and we bid you good luck in your next adventures.
Thanks again – I hope to read you elsewhere.
By wategi, November 17, 2010 @ 11:58 pm
Is that really Chip Ganassi? What a dick! Please tell me you were joking!!! “Roy” actually brought a bit of interesting commentary to your dreadfully dull product. See you on the low down, Roy.
By manfish, November 18, 2010 @ 1:10 am
Damn. Sad day indeed. Thanks for all the yucks, I do hope to be reading whatever you are writing in the future, I know it will be great. @tcfisch
By Heit Harrelson, November 18, 2010 @ 10:05 am
It blows, really. But my basement remains dark, my caffeine remains flowing. The Pagoda will be back. Perhaps like the “Pass it On” billboards. You love them and hate them all the same. The Pagoda will be back! And not in an 8-track form this time. We will have a dual cassette deck, and will be heard.
By Tom G., November 18, 2010 @ 11:56 am
What? No more Pagoda? I couldn’t have been more devastated by this news, than if you’d told em there was no Santa Foyt.
There is still a Santa Foyt, right?
By NYC Susan, November 18, 2010 @ 12:45 pm
As a devoted lurker, since finding your blog just before this year’s Indy 500, I have read and reread all of your posts and enjoyed them thoroughly, not just because I needed information about racing, but your brand of humor just tickled me. I usually check several times a day for Pagoda postings. Roy, your satiric abilities astound me and I cannot believe that the Silent Pagoda is being, well, SILENCED. The IRL just became a LOT more . . . beige.
Phrases like “sobbing hot tears of crazy” were too few in my life until I found the Pagoda. Roy, if you find another blog home, I hope you find a way to let your loyal Pagodians know. We will follow.
By DZ, November 18, 2010 @ 3:11 pm
Here is a photo highlighting how the Pagoda has made a difference in young people’s lives. OK, mostly over-40 newbs to the Indy 500, but ne’ertheless… All 6 What They Don’t Tell You for the unknowing and naïve Indy 500 goers are posted there on the RV. Yes, on easy-to-read tabloid-sized paper and laminated, mounted amidships for all to read. I’ve been to too many 500′s to not be laminatin important written shit – they will serve us well for years to come.
By Flash, November 18, 2010 @ 5:59 pm
Flipsidesports???? Please??
By Ron Ford, November 18, 2010 @ 6:29 pm
The temptation is to react to your announcement with something funny, yet poignant. How presumptious of me. Suffice to say that you will be missed by many racing fans as well as fans of….well, something.
Of course, up here in Green Bay Packer land we are used to dubious retirement announcements. Hopefully, over the course of the winter you will get the attention deficit disorder that George has described in check and we will hear from you again once training camp is over.
By cappy, November 18, 2010 @ 9:01 pm
@Flash – Oh hell yeah!! Flipsidesports!! And just in time for Colts v. Patriots, Round 38.
Let us all bow our heads and remember all that once was:
http://flipsidesports.blogspot.com/2007/01/jesus-christ-were-going-to-super-bowl.html
Greatest. Night. Ever.
By Sarah McKinney, November 18, 2010 @ 10:33 pm
Long time reader, first time commenter. I only found this blog because my husband would talk about it and I quickly understood its appeal. I won’t reiterate everything said above, but my husband and I found something that both of us could love and talk about and make inside jokes about that no one else got (“so’s your face”.) I will miss this place and its…something.
By Marvin, November 19, 2010 @ 2:00 am
Shit. Are you kidding me? The one place I trusted – gone. We’ll always have Santa Foyt’s lap, I suppose.
By rico500, November 19, 2010 @ 11:47 am
Why! No question marks. Question marks indicate weakness. WHY! For the love of GOD, WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would also like to paraphrase Pressdog (or quote him directly) when I say: Fuck.
By Sticky McCombs, November 19, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
My albino ferret and I will be gently swaying to and fro until we receive our horribly awkward phone call of gratitude. If when said call is placed, it’s difficult to hear my whisper, it’s because the last thing we want to do is wake them. They get angry when that happens you know.
By Big Hal, November 22, 2010 @ 6:06 am
I bet Stortebeker the Awesome Party Pirate is crying somewhere in heaven. He doesn’t have a head and he’s probably passed out cold from pouring barrels of the sauce down his head hole……but he is crying, I just know it.
Now get up Hobbson! Get up and make that headless dash to save your Pagoda friends! It is the Stortebeker way!
By Rothrock, November 23, 2010 @ 12:48 am
Goodbye sir and thanks for containing the riot.
By lazlo, November 26, 2010 @ 9:11 pm
Hmm, fairly grim news. I guess the easy out would be to string together a profanity laced tirade along the lines of ‘screw the man, the man is holding me down’…
I’ll refrain from that and just say thanks to Roy & the Pagoda-ites. You’ve always made me smile and I truly appreciate the shared madness.
To borrow a phrase; what a long, strange trip it’s been. Being the professionals we are; we rode it like a crazed beast. Be well.
By Grateful Lurker, November 27, 2010 @ 10:47 am
As someone who is not a “die hard” Indycar fan, I don’t frequent many racing blogs. But I found myself checking in here daily. Like NYC Susan said above, I found the Pagoda’s absurd view of things absolutely wonderful. It will be greatly missed. Roy–let us know when and where we may all convene again and relish in the “weird” as you say. Best of luck to you!
By wm. moseley, November 28, 2010 @ 8:17 am
So much ‘low lying fruit’ so little time…
Miss ya, wouldn’t dare dis ya.
You realize we are only left with pressdog’s confusion?
By Mikhail Danilov, November 30, 2010 @ 5:22 pm
No! I haven’t checked in since the season finale, but during the season I stopped by every day to see if there was a post. My day is ruined.
Roy, if you ever start writing words of wisdom somewhere else on the internets, you better let us all know. We need them!
By Christopher Leone, December 2, 2010 @ 4:58 pm
For those who HAVEN’T gotten the memo yet, Roy’s now writing for Versus.com – “The Darkened Tower,” they’re calling it. Nomenclature issues aside, it’s awesome.
By izod9, December 5, 2010 @ 1:09 pm
It’s kind of like he’s risen. It gives us all a little hope even if indycar dies.
By M Coz, March 28, 2011 @ 5:58 pm
Awwwwww, Crap. Do a couple months ’cause of some debt collection irregularities here in Vegas, I get out, and this is what I’m faced with!? Son of a bitch! Well, this was predictable when the Old Bag fired TG.
The infield toilets, one race per year, bring your own grandstand scaffolding, the North 40 Era, a second race, The Mahatma Motor Inn Era, The Speedway Inn Era, a third race complete with Japanese tourists curious about my waffles, a new all time winner at the IMS, a Brand Spanking New Pagoda, The Motel 6 Era, the ‘Jumping into an open convertible and riding in the parade’ Era, The Tom Carnegie Era, The Silent Pagoda Era, the ‘boy, the dog in a corn dog sure is shitty’ Era…
My heart is hardened against the passing of so many great era’s of Indy History. I just keep a keepin’ on. Hobbs, you’ve been as sweet as any of ‘em. Farewell, my friend.
By young harold, May 1, 2011 @ 8:05 am
Amazing it lasted this long. Maybe you and Katie Couric can enjoy each others company? She knows more about racing than you do Roy.
By Brian, June 4, 2012 @ 1:01 pm
Damn. This place is still dark and musty.
I wish the darkness would go and we’d just have the mustiness to deal with again.
Well. Figured I’d give it a try….
Hobbs. I know those hotdog fingers miss dancing across the keyboard.
Oh, the meatie treats that could be sculpted, given the fodder that abounds.
Not looking for a full blown reunion tour ala Eagles. Just a little acoustic jam down on the beach, … like the guys from Tesla might have done if it weren’t for the restraining order and general lack of taent.
Miss you and your irreverence.
Miss you and your glorious irreverence.
By DZ, July 13, 2012 @ 4:44 pm
*sniff*
PHEW, don’t remember quite THAT smell in this place…
*fumbles for and flicks on light switch*
*crackleSNAP bzzz flinkflink hmmmmm* (the soft greenish glow of the few compliant fluorescent tubes fight to illuminate a smallish dank place once teeming with Indycar fans and energy)
Hmmph.. there’s some dusty footprints.. and.. a post from only a month or so ago!
*looks around desperately to verify if anyone else is there… nothing but the hum of a few fluorscent lights*
Well.. I guess I’m glad I’m not the only one to come back.. even if it only IS to remember…
*last looks around, flicks off lights, somberly shuts the door*
(“SOMEday” he thinks to himself… “some… day…”)