Solution to 19A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.
ACROSS
1 Old-fashioned person’s description of cricket stump on a rainy day? (5,2,3,3) STICK IN THE MUD [DD]
11 Most eager Irish model posing in audition (10) THIRSTIEST {IRISH+T}* in {TEST}
12 Prospect of wicket after struggle (4) VIEW {W}<=>{VIE}
14 English member losing wife, learned to compose a funeral song (7) ELEGISE {E}{LEG}{wISE}
16 Firm is paid to smuggle ecstasy on time (7) EARNEST {EARN{E}S}{T}
17 Uses popular short undergarment, convenient to wear (7) INVOKES {IN}{V{OK}ESt}
19 One used to pull vehicle in hill without resistance by generating power (7) T?W?O?E (Addendum - TOWROPE {TOr}{POWER*} - See comments)
21 Country without any virus (4) GERM GERMany
22 Woman enthralled by date, one making an effort to pick up black rose (10) SWEETBRIER {S{W}EE}{T{B}RIER}
26 Horrible Hagar’s expression of anguish (5) AARGH*
27 Illegal act of driver, breaking up old building (6,7) DOUBLE PARKING*
DOWN
2 Horrific event is causing strain (7) TENSIVE*
3 They’re seen in Chinese restaurant’s bar with young women, as per Spooner (10) CHOPSTICKS (~ stop chicks to chopsticks)
4 Lemur in main driveway (5) INDRI [T]
.jpg)
6 Left snare to catch newts (4) EFTS [T]
10 Realistic cry of pain, not unusual in poverty (4,2,5) DOWN TO EARTH {D{OW}{NOT*}EARTH}
13 Get no response from Frank, overwhelmed by stroke, lifeless (4,1,5) DRAW A BLANK {D{RAW}AB}{LANK}
15 High heels worn by woman before getting out (9) ELSEWHERE {ELSE{W}H*}{ERE}
18 Very strange goitre causing dizziness (7) VERTIGO {V}{GOITRE*}
20 Greek character performing after clown removes cap and runs (7) OMICRON {ON}<=>{cOMIC}{R}
23 Overcame nervousness, returned to bear medical procedure (5) ENEMA [T<=]
24 Member in oblivion after loss of love (4) LIMB LIMBo
Reference List
Good = G, Day = D, Model = T, Wicket = W, English = E, Wife = W, Ecstasy = E, Resistance = R, Time = T, Woman = W, Black = B, Very = V, Runs = R
Ford vs Ferrari
ReplyDeleteI don't know how many of you have seen the movie 'Ford vs Ferrari' based on a true story involving the ACCIDENT PRONE sport of motor car racing.
In 1963, Ford is dominating the domestic car sales in the US. But somehow its image lacks ALLURE & star quality. It is considered to be a car for those with the ELBOW GREASE. TAKING OUT state of the art commercials, involving glamorous SALES GIRLS, does nothing to EXPEL its middle class image. Ford is looking to establish themselves as leaders in the automobile market, across the world from YAOUNDE to Tokyo, from ILEBO to Amsterdam.
It is at this time that the cash strapped Italian sports & race car manufacturer Ferrari comes up for sale. At that time, the most important motor race is the 24 Hours Le Mans Race held in France annually. Ferrari has a tight hold over this race. Ford Vice President Lee Iacocca HITS UPON the idea, that they should purchase Ferrari & take part in the Le Mans, thus establishing Ford firmly IN THE FRAME of everyone's mind.
The Ferrari owner Enzo Ferrari, w
Is a typically crafty Italian. He is already negotiating with Fiat. He uses Ford, to squeeze out a better deal from Fiat. In the process he makes Ford run hither & THITHER & finally insults them, dealing a DEBILITATING blow to Iacocca's capabilities as a business man. Taking personal affront, the Ford Vice President BLOWS A GASKET. But recovering quickly, he puts on a POKER FACE & suggests to Henry Ford, that they should undertake a new mission of building their own racing car & defeat Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours Le Mans race in France. Thus the Ford GT 40, their first racing car is born.
For designing this car, American designer Carrol Shelby is hired. Shelby is a former Le Mans winner in 1959, who is forced to retire due to his heart conditions. Brought out from his COASTAL abode, Shelby decides to take Ken Miles as his partner for the mission. Miles, a hot tempered British racer & mechanic, being AT A LOOSE END, currently, agrees to the proposal.
Shelby & Miles design the Ford GT 40 prototype, testing it at LA International airport & getting it race ready in time for the 1965 Le Mans. But inspite of NEATENING his appearance & persona, the blue collared Ken Miles does not appeal to the corporate Ford. Instead the APPLES of his eye, Phil Hill & Bruce McLaren are sent to the race.
As predicted by Miles they face ABYSMAL defeat as neither Ford is able to finish the race. Taking it as his personal mission, Shelby continues to improve upon the GT 40 Prototype 2. The machine is frequently ON THE BLINK, with a faulty brake system. This causes a problem even in their final race.
Meanwhile Ford again has issues with Miles, but Shelby convinces him that they should first attempt the 24 hours Daytona race, where they will try out their BEAST with Miles. Since Ford is still TENTATIVE about it, the Car is entered under the name of Shelby American, & Shelby personally OVERSEES the entire operation. Miles wins the Daytona race.
ReplyDeleteBased on this victory, he is allowed to drive at the 1966 Le Mans. Along with Phil Hill & Bruce McLaren, Ford enters 3 cars. Miles quickly moves ahead & starts setting lap records. He even handles an unexpected brake failure once & has his brake system replaced during pit stop. In the penultimate round, the Ferrari driver Bandini, blows his engine, eliminating Ferrari from the race. Now the 3 Ford teams are in top positions & Miles is cruising to victory. At that time, the Ford racing in charge Leo Beebe gets a DAFT idea. He asks Miles to slow down, so that all 3 Ford cars can enter the final arena at the same time, providing the press with a 3 Car Photo finish. He thinks this would establish Ford Supremacy in a big way.
Miles is forced to slow down, eventhough he KNOWS it is a stupid decision. Alas due to some last minute technacilty McLaren is declared the winner of the race & Ken Miles is only placed second.
Shelby is extremely upset, but still assures Miles, that they have a long partnership ahead of them & the future years belong to Miles. But as luck would have it, 2 months after the Le Mans, Miles is killed in a crash while testing their J prototype, due to brake failure. Thus Ford deprives Miles of his rightful victory, just to pander to their corporate image.
The movie is both cult & classic with well taken racing shots & amazing performances by Matt Damon & Christian Bale. A must watch for sports lovers.
PS -
Ford continued its winning streak at Le Mans, in 1967, 68 & 69, thus decimating Ferrari. Miles was posthumously inducted into the 'Motorsports Hall of Fame of America' in 2001.
Superbly written!
Delete+1 yet another lovely story
DeleteGreat story Gowri 😀
Delete+2
DeleteWonderful fiction.Henry Ford died in 1947
DeleteI dont know what is with u. This is not a fiction. Google it. It was Henry Ford 2 - who headed the Corporation for 34 years & died in 1987.
DeleteDont keep criticising without cross checking. Please...
It is insulting & hurtful.
I have seen the movie (with the credits) & read about it.
U can correct me saying it is Henry Ford II - instead of calling it a fiction
Cold solve Doc except for a reverse engineering of 11a. Technical precision at work.
ReplyDeleteMy!My!
DeleteI had a few blanks (even with crossings) and some googling.
Big yawning gap.
I also didn't know indri or connect efts straight away. But because the setter is known and the precise instruction thereof , I just know it has to be them. (Some other setter I probably would Google to confirm).
DeleteThanks a lot Prasad! Cold solving all is impressive..👍
DeleteCol small typo in 18d def is dizziness
ReplyDeleteWhat is the role of 'causing' in that case?
DeleteProducing or giving , link word imu.
Delete+1
Delete(V+goitre)* giving Vertigo.
22A- Date s just see? I thought it is more than that.
ReplyDelete13D- Lank= Lifeless,limp was new to me.
ReplyDeleteWow! for the Racing Special. I felt like seeing the movie. Thank you for delving into one of my favourite sports- although I am a Ferrari & Michael Schumacher fan.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Ayrton Senna? I admired him equally. Though of late i watch only Tennis & football & cricket rarely.
DeleteOther times i do CW, read & write. 😊
Probably Senna was equally great. But I started watching F1 (thanks to my son)
Deleteonly from Schumi period and hence greater interest. But of late F1 has become very machine and electronics oriented,thus taking the focus away from driving skills.
19A TOWROPE meaning "one used to pull vehicle"
ReplyDeleteHill = {TOR} - Resistance (R) + {POWER*} = {TOWROPE}
Generating being the anagram indicator for Power
Perfect! Well solved Sharan👍
DeleteThanks :)
Deletewell done. sharan. credit goes to col.sir for selecting this challenging one.
DeleteGood solve.
ReplyDeleteDoc - Take time off ur busy schedule & read my tale piece. 😊
ReplyDeleteNot satusfied with other appreciations?! Need one from none other than the setter himself:-)
ReplyDeleteTo be honest - i have a soft corner for Doc. He was the first person to personally encourage me in this blog & give me assurance that i will be able to solve 100% of the grid someday.
DeleteMoreover he comments in the nlog only wheh he is the setter. So.... 😊😊😊
Fine.Just in a lighter vein.
DeleteLet me encourage you to set a Sunday special. Next logical step after solving 100%
I know nothing about the different types of grids, types of clues, rules - like u can have only so many anagrams etc. The basic wordplay is only a v small part of setting a grid.
DeleteGridman had offered to teach me. But i couldnt take it up & then it was too late.
May be u can teach me the basics. My mail id is gowrih.naren@gmail.com.
Do let me know.
I am also a beginner there. Vasant is the right person. I will forward your ID to him if he does not see this today. Doc.helped me with the grid and format when I set a couple of times. He gave me a filled grid and I only wrote the clues.
DeleteAbout type of clues- there is no hard and fast rule. It has to be a fairly good mix containing all types.
Great paddy sir. Glad to know about this.
DeleteIn the present circumstances, setting 7D was 👌
ReplyDeleteAnd 20D as well!
DeleteThanks Ramesh 😀
DeleteMembers, limbs,legs - orthopedics in action :-) My FOI was 21Ac, Germ, the construction of which was simple yet satisfying. Same for the clueing for Dead Tired, Vie-w, and Towrope. Thank you Dr. Keep em coming!
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome CPC and thanks for letting me know what you liked 👍
Delete@ Doc Lovely grid, especially CDs. I am trying to set CDs like you. One day I will succeed :D
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot LV 🙏😀
DeleteExcellent observation the doc's CDs are classic. I try and solve them first in most of his grids. They set the tone for the rest. Charag Din on Bhulabhai Desai Road...do you stay closeby :)
DeleteThat's the spirit. Aim for the best!
ReplyDeleteThanks sir :)
DeleteTalking of CD's I ran into this in today's Times Quick-
ReplyDeletehaving got in,this spinner could get you out straightaway (9,4)
Revolving door
DeleteYes and I liked it. Out of the box (or wicket gate) thinking.
ReplyDeleteHats off to Dr X for 21a. spent a lot. but could not finish the grid. Dr Puzzles quite tough but very challenging.
ReplyDeletefor me this puzzle is GE(-r)M.