LAに帰ってきました

さっきようやく家に戻ってきました。今日からアメリカはサマータイム。１時間時間が早くなり、普通だったら７時起きだったのが今朝は６時起き・・・。が、既に何処時間で生活しているのかよくわからない状態だったので、自分はへっちゃらでした！？！今日はフェラーリチャレンジの第２レースが行われ、自分がコーチするドライバーは９位でゴール。色々とぶつけられたりして、車にダメージをおってのトップ１０フィニッシュだったのでボチボチだったのでは。

I just came back from Florida. I had to wake up early this morning because of the time change to Summer Time. Since I had to travel quite a bit last couple of weeks, my brain didn't know which time zone I was in so it was no biggy waking up early this morning. Today was the final day at Homestead coaching my Ferrari Challenge driver. Today's race was OK and my driver finished 9th. He got in to several incident which damaged his car, but to be able to finish top 10 was pretty good considering his damage to his car.

家に帰ってきてほっとするのも束の間。しかし、息子の顔が見れてなんだか一安心。久しぶりにあったので、またパパっこにさせる為に頑張らないと！？！（笑）どことなくママッ子になり、それを勝ち程こった様に妻にアピールされるのはちょっと悔しい今日この頃です。

I am really happy being home now. I hope to spend some good time with my family for at least next two weeks and will have to hit the gym pretty hard everyday getting ready for Motegi!!

フェラーリチェレンジレース１

今日はフェラーリチャレンジ最初のレースが行われました。自分がコーチしたドライバーは１０位からスタートして９位でゴール！ボチボチの成績でした。自分が色々と教え始めた頃からはかなりステップアップしているので本人も喜んでいます。が、個人的には自分が乗っていても自分が教えてるドライバーでも勝って欲しいのでかなりアツクなってしまいます。

Today was the first race of the Ferrari Challenge. My driver started 10th and finished 9th. I must say that he has stepped up quite a bit since I first started to coach him but I sure would love to see on the top of the podium. It is my passion to win races even if it's with a driver who I am coaching and I think I get a bit too excited about trying to make him go faster. Everyone works at different pace and I am sure by end of this year, my driver would be a threat to win races!!

夕飯はエリオやトニーがお薦めのブラジリアン料理を食べて今夜はホテルでユックリ。明日の晩には家に戻れるので楽しみです。早く戻って息子と遊んであげないと！！

Anyhow, I am so ready to go home. I missed my son and family and can't wait to get home tomorrow!! However, I am not looking forward for the time change though....

応援メッセージ有り難う！

さっき仕事を終えてホテルに戻ってきた所です。フロリダはメチャメチャ暖かくて、今日だけでかなり日焼けをしてしまいました・・・。身体がヒリヒリしてちょっと痛めです。

Just got back from work. It was a pretty hot day today and I was able to get sun tanned... And I look like a surfer now!?!

それより、今朝メールをチェックしたら１００通以上もの応援メールが届いていてビックリ！仕事中にニコニコしながら読んでしまいました！！本当に有り難うございます！！皆さんからのメッセージでさらに気合いが入りました！！LAに帰ったら猛トレーニングをしてレースに備えないと！！皆にもあうのが楽しみです！！

When I woke up this morning, I was really happy and surprised to see over 100 fan e-mails congratulating me for the Motegi race!! I downloaded all the e-mails on to my iPhone and I spent better part of my days going through all the kind message!! I am really excited for the race now and I can't wait to race!! I am also looking forward to see all the fans at the track and I'm sure I will have fun racing in front of the crowds!! Well...for tonight, I will need to refocus on to my driver so he can do well tomorrow.

Indy Japan参戦決定！

皆さん、もうご存知だと思いますが、４月１９日にツインリンク茂木で行われるIndyJapan３００に参戦する事が決まりました！！また日本で走れる事がメチャメチャ嬉しいです！！現場にはぜひぜひ応援しにきてくださいね！！！ファンの皆さんにお会いするのもメッチャ楽しみです！！！

I have great news to deliver today! I have just signed a deal to drive for Beck Motorsports for the Interush/Wellman Racing entry at the Twin Ring Motegi race on April 19.I have worked really hard to put this deal together and I couldn't be happier especially to be able to race in front of my family, friends, and most importantly front of my fans and sponsors!!

体制はメンテはベックモータースポーツでチーム名はInterush/WellmanRacingです。InterushはNASCAR　Nationwideシリーズに参戦するスタントン・バレット選手もサポートしていて、去年のフォンタナのレースに招待して頂きました！早い時期から、茂木へのプログラムをコミットしてくれたので本当に心から感謝です。逆にシリーズ合併の話で交渉が長引いてしまった事が本当に待ちに待っていてスポンサーそしてファンの皆さんにもご迷惑をかけてしまい申し訳ないと思ってます・・・。その分レースでは頑張りますのでぜひぜひいっぱい応援して下さいね！！

Interush also sponsors Stanton Barret who drives in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. I was invited to watch the race at Fontana last year and I am happy to have them on board as their partner for the Indy Japan race!! I definitely appreciate their commitment and the support and I am glad that the deal is done now and I can just focus on racing!!

しかし、ここへの道のりは長かった〜。円形脱毛症になり、白髪が増え・・・、って状況ですが今はレースに集中できるので何よりです。詳しい詳細はまたユックリブログで書いちゃいますね！！（笑）では、明日もまたここマイアミでフェラーリチェレンジの仕事があるので、今夜は早目に寝ます・・・。とりあえず、今夜はユックリ寝れそうです。

Well...I must say it was a long road to get this deal done. I thought I was close 2months ago...but we were at halt for a while because of the merger and finally got it done after 1 week of the announcement from the merger. I will say that I lost some hair...I gained grey hair... But I am ready to race!! For tonight...since I have to work tomorrow at Homestead, I think I will hit the bed early. I think I will be able to sleep well tonight...

マイアミに到着

さっきマイアミに着きました。こっちは深夜２時。今日はメチャメチャ忙しい一日でした。７時前に起きて、９時に飛行場に行って息子と妻をピックアップ。久しぶりに息子にあったら、なんだか恥ずかしがってて挙げ句の果てに抱っこをしたら泣かれました・・・。ちょっとショックです・・・！？！で、家に戻ったらそのままタクシーに乗って自分は空港に戻りやっとこマイアミに着いたって感じです。明日は朝早くから仕事なのでそろそろ寝ます。

It was a long day for me and I finally arrived at my hotel in Miami. It is already about 2am here. My day started off early and went to pick up my wife and son who just got back from Japan. I haven't seen my son for almost a month and he didn't seem to forget me...but he definitely became a Mommy's boy now. I went home with them to help them unload the bag and jumped in the cab immediately to go back to the airport to catch my flight. I am ready to hit the bed now...

小学校を訪問

今日の朝は家でずっと交渉。本格的に最終段階って感じなのでかなり、ドタバタしております。お昼はミーティングに行き、夕方はトーランスにある小学校を訪問しました。

I had to get a lot of work done this morning since we are getting to the final stages of the negotiations. Things are going really well and I really feel like I was able to make a huge stride in last couple of days. I had a lunch meeting today in Torrance and discussed about all the arrangements that needed to be taken care of.

訪問したのはJoseph Arnold小学校のGATEと言う優等生が集まる放課後のクラスで、Alleycat Gazetteと言う学校新聞の次号の記事としてのインタビューの依頼がきました。さすがに、優等生ばかりなので小学４〜５年生と思えない程に、大人な質問ばかりでビックリしています。が、インタビューとQ&Aセッションが終わり、ではサイン会・・・ってなったら皆は大喜びで子供の素顔がみれて嬉しかったです！！

After the meeting, I went to the Joseph Arnold Elementary school and visited the GATE(Gifted And Talented Education) class for an interview for the next issue of the Alleycat Gazzette which is published by the GATE class students. The students were very intelligent and I am very happy to meet all the kids. At one point I was a bit concerned since all the kids seemed to be too mature for their age, but once I started signing the autograph cards, they seemed to brake loose and definitely seemed like they were all active kids!! I really enjoyed the time there and I appreciate their interest on interviewing me and I hope to have some time to visit them in the near future again. It was also my pleasure to meet the son of Stuart Ross and his wife, who is being deployed to Iraq next week. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifices he and all of the soldiers in Iraq make so we can lead safe everyday lives.

夜に家に戻ってきて、まずは家の掃除。明日の朝に妻と息子がいよいよ日本から戻ってくるので独身生活は今日まで・・・！？！夕飯は恐らく二人は時差ボケで外にでるのが辛いだろうからハヤシライスを作ってます。自分は明日LAの空港に妻と子供を迎えに行って、家に戻りすぐにまた空港に行ってマイアミに向かいます。今週末はフェラーリチェレンジに仕事なのでせっかく息子と会えたと思いきや、一緒にいれるのは日曜日までお預けなので少し寂しいです・・・。でも、息子の為にも仕事は頑張らないと！！

I came home at about 5pm and I had to clean up the house since my wife and my son is coming home tomorrow from Japan. It will be the last night of being single again which I did enjoy for couple of weeks...although I definitely missed seeing my family. However, I will need to pick them up at the airport, drop them off at the house....and will have to leave immediately back to the airport to catch my flight to Miami. I will be working at Homestead for the Ferrari Challenge race week end and will not be able to spend much time with my son really until Monday. To celebrate my last evening by my self...I am cooking some Japanese style Beef Stroganoff..we call it the Hayashi Rice. I figured my wife would be tired from the flight and it would be good to have something to eat when they get home without her having to cook anything.

ハヤシライスも良い感じにできたのでこれから夕食です。今日のハヤシの隠し味は赤ワインとマスカルポーネチーズ・・・！？！美味しいかちょっと心配です・・・？！？（笑）

Here is the Hayashi Rice with a secret ingredient...well not so secret if I'm telling everyone but I added a bit of Red Wine and Mascarpone Cheese to give a mild and bold taste.

もう一息！

今朝は早目に起きて朝は車をディーラーに持っていて、オイル交換。待っている間にパソコンを持っていて仕事をしていました。色々とインディージャパンの参戦に関して話を詰めていたらあっという間に、車はできあがり家に帰宅。お昼過ぎにはカイロプラクティックに行って身体のメンテ。ここ数週間でだいぶ腰の調子も良くなりました！！

I woke up fairly early this morning to take my car to the dealer to get an oil change. While I waited for my car, I brought my computer there so I can get some work done. The negotiations with the team is going really well and my car was done in an hour although it felt like 10min when I had lot to get done. I was able to get a lot of work done in the morning and went to see my Chiropractor after lunch. My back is feeling much better now and I am ready to race anytime!!

午後はジムで走り込み。今日は久しぶりに１０kmのランニングができて気分も爽快！色々と交渉が前向きなので、トレーニングの時も車に乗れる事をイメージすると全く苦痛ではありません！！って、油断してると何がおきるかわかりませんが、必ず近い将来に良いニュースを届ける事ができると思いますので、楽しみに待っていて下さい！！

I went to the gym when I got home for a 10km run. I think I am still at 90% back to where I need to be... But with all the talks moving forward, I better get on to my training program to be 120% ready for the race!! Well, I am really anxious to get this deal wrapped up and I really hope I can deliver a good news in the very near future!! Stay tuned...

ピットが帰宅

今日は日曜日。比較的リラックスのできる一日でした。朝起きてまずは色々とお仕事。来週末はホームステッドに行ってしまうので、その前にしておきたい事が山ほどあったので、朝はミッチリお仕事。お昼はお家でスパゲッティーを作って食べ、午後はNASCARのレースをみながらジムでトレーニング。

Since it was Sunday... I had a slow start to the date and I think I was able to get a good rest in the morning. I still had to get some work done before going to Homestead again from Weds so I got to work before lunch and went to the gym while I watched the NASCAR race from Vegas on the TV monitor.

そして、夜はピットを知り合いの家に預けていたので迎えに行ってきました。夕飯もご地層になってしまいラッキー！ピットも家に戻ってきたピットは甘えまくりで、自分がコンピューターに向かって仕事をしている下でずっとガン見しています・・・！？！

In the evening, I had to go pick up Pit was my friend's house. He seemed to enjoy staying over at my friend's since he is well treated there.... I guess he wants to get some attention and just keeps staring at my from under the computer desk while I try to get some work done....

リラックスしたい・・・。

今日は週末でゆっくりできると思ったのも束の間。先週ホームステッドから戻ってきたばかりなのに、来週末はまたフェラーリチャレンジの仕事で行かなくてはいけません。それに備えて、ドライバーの車載カメラのテープを見て、ライン取りや運転の癖を見極めてノートに書き取り、色々とまとめてレース前に事前にメールをします。自分も基本的にはレースに行く前に、前年度のレースを見て他のチームが何をしていたかや、自分の反省点等もチェックしています。いやはや、もっとユックリできる週末だと思ったので、せめて明日の御前中は家でユックリしているつもりです。

I thought I was able to get a relaxing week end but I was really busy working on couple of things today. I just came back from Homestead but I will be headed out to that direction again on Weds. I will be working for my driver in Ferrari Challenge and I watched his in-car camera tape from last year's race. It is always good to review the tape to understand his driving style and point out things for the driver to make improvements. If you note things down before the race and if you input that in to your brain...chances of driving better would be higher since you are better prepared. Well...anyhow, I guess I will take a day off tomorrow.

ロス疑惑

さっきフロリダから戻ってきました。昨日は遅くまでホテルで仕事をしていて、目覚ましをかけてと思いきや、スィッチをオンにするのを忘れていてまんまと寝坊。出発時間にパッと目が覚めてダッシュで用意して無事に飛行機に乗る事ができました。

Just got back from Florida. I was up until late last night and I thought I have set the alarm but I must have forgotten to turn the switch off. Luckily, I got a phone call at the time of departure so I jumped out of the bed and got ready made my flight!!

家に戻ってきてからも色々と交渉の事についてのフォローアップ。気がついたら週末・・・、週明けには色んな動きが取れる様に準備をしておきました。

The flight was OK and I am back home now working on couple of follow ups from the meeting. I can't believe we are already in to the week end and I better have a lot of thing ready so we can move the whole process forward early next week.

そうそう、最近はテレビをつけると何かとロス疑惑（三浦元社長）のニュースがでてきます。しかし、話によるとアメリカ政府は三浦氏のブログを見て動きをさぐっていたと言う話だからビックリする。しかし、それ以上にビックリするのは、三浦元社長の弁護士の発言！？！どうやら捕まるまではサイパンはアメリカだと思っていなかったらしい！？！とにかく、ブログに色々と書くのは怖いな〜思う今日この頃。って言っても自分は完全にクリーンなので隠す事はないから、毎日ガッツリ書いちゃってますけどね！！（笑）

I was just watching the TV and saw couple of updates on the Cold Case that supposedly LAPD has an additional witness info about an murder case from 27 years ago. The guy was arrested in Saipan last week and he is due to be brought back in LA next week to see if he will be convicted. Anyhow, the funny story to this is that LAPD was able to track him down through his personal blog where he was traveling and it gave them and golden opportunity to arrest the guy when he entered the US soil. Well....guess what...the guy didn't think Saipan was an US soil and he thought it would be a no brainer going in and out of the country. Anyhow, I better watch what I write in my blog from now on... Well not really because I really don't have anything to hide!?! Believe me, you guys are always the first one to hear my updates here at rogeryasukawa.com and I am always happy to share my up coming news!!

ホームステッド２日目

今日はホームステッドテスト２日目。と言っても自分はテストでなくて交渉ですが・・・。現場に来て話をするのが一番速いのですが、チームやマネージャー＆オーナーの都合を見計らったタイミングを見つけて話し合うのでメチャメチャ気を使うんですよね。ま〜正直に言うとあまり好きなプロセスではありませんが、長年やっていてひっつこいくらいがちょうど良いと言う事を覚えたので今は朝飯前です！？！（笑）

Today was the second day at the Open Test. Although it really is not a test for me...but more of a negotiation time to get all the details worked out. I must say that I really hate doing this because you have to pick the right time to approach the team manager and owner to get the talk moving forward because if you do pick a wrong time to talk (ie:when the team is struggling or after a shunt), the negotiations can go down south!?!

しかし、サーキットに来て色々と走ってるのを見ると早く車にのりて〜〜！！テンションがかなり上がってきました！！明日からはまたLAに戻りますが、具体的な話を決めれる様に全力がんばります！！

Nevertheless, I can't wait to get back in the car after watching all the car going out today!! I think my deal is really moving forward and I feel safe to say that there is a big announcement coming really soon!! So stay tuned guys!!

ホームステッド

今日はお昼にホームステッドに到着。ようやくIRL&CCWSの正式な合併の会見があったので、それを覗きチームなどと色々と話し合い。合併の話もこれで正式に発表されて、ようやく方向性が見えてきたので何よりです。でも、細かい事をまだまだ決める事が沢山あるので大変です・・・。明日もサーキットに行って頑張らないと！！

I went to the track today. There was finally a formal press conference about the IRL & CCWS merger today and I was surprised to see so many medias out there!! It definitely is a good thing for the sports!! It certainly have opened up a lot of opportunity for me and I feel pretty close on getting all the detail worked out. I have a lot more things to get done tomorrow so I better get to sleep early tonight.

マイアミに到着

今日はお昼過ぎにロスを出発して、デンバー経由でマイアミに到着。ホテルに着いたのは２時を回っていました・・・。眠っ・・・。そんなこんなで今から明日に備えてユックリ寝ます。

Just arrived to my hotel in Miami. I left LA after lunch...and went through Denver. It is already past 2am...and I better get to sleep so I can get some serious work done tomorrow morning.

明日からホームステッド

今日は午前中から連絡の取り合い。お昼前に車の原稿を書いて、夕方にジムでトレーニング。明日のお昼にホームステッドに出発するので、ピットを知人に預けて、猫のキャット・シッターへの段取り・・・。一人だと家を出るのにも色々と準備があって大変です。

Woke up in the morning and had to contact couple of people before I head to Homestead tomorrow. I also had to finish up an article about a car that I drove about a month a go... Than I had to drop off Pit to my friend's house who always look after him, and had to arrange a cat sitter for my cat. It certainly is a lot of work arranging everything for a trip when you are alone!?!

そうそう、掲載された記事の雑誌が届きました！色んな所に記事を書かせてもらえるチャンスを頂いて自分はラッキーだなと思います！！その分もこれからも頑張らないと！！そうそう、アメリカでは現在発売中にRoad&Trackにも出てます！！

Here is a pict of couple of articles that I wrote in a Japanese Magazine. I certainly appreciate the opportunity that I was given to write and I really hope I can keep doing a good job for the medias providing nice articles about new up coming cars. I am also in the latest Road & Track magazine but it may be selling quick so you may want to hit the stand quickly!?!

雨

昨晩は物凄い雨が降ってました。友達の家に誕生日パーティーのお祝いで行ったのですが、帰りは雨のドライビング。アメリカの道は水履けがわるいので、高速道路ではアクアプレーンしまくり・・・。ちょっとビビリながらの運転でした！？！（笑）

It rained pretty heavily last night. I was at my friend's house celebrating his birthday but the drive home was pretty miserable. The roads here aren't designed to accommodate the rain and when it rains...the freeway literally turns in to a river!?! Obviously it was a rough drive home doing some aqua plane on 110fwy but was able to get home safely with all my years of training as a race driver!?!

今日も雨はなんだか降ったり止んだり。フォンタナで行われてるレースも中断したりでなかなか終わらず大変です・・・。レースを見ながらトレーニングしようと思って行ったのですが、レースが始まる前にトレーニングは終わってしまいました！？！（笑）なんだか、雨で延期や中断になるレースってドライバーにとったらけっこう大変なんですよね。心の準備がしにくいと言うか・・・、トイレのタイミングを調整するのが大変と言うか。今日はNASCARの選手が大変だな〜って人ごとの様に思っていながら、去年のIndy500の事を思い出す一日でした。

The weather was slightly better in LA but not in Fontana area where the NASCAR race was held. It was delayed...stopped...resume...stopped...and still waiting to finish. It really is tough for the driver when you have that kind of situation because you don't know when to be ready and you certainly have to pace your self on the hydration and plan your restroom before you get back in to the car. It's probably the only time I was happy actually not racing today...seeing all the NASCAR drivers trying to figure out what the plan was. However, it definitely reminded me of the 500 from last year when we had to deal with similar weather situation.