murphythebear.com

…it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…(Charles Dickens)

Dear Jeannie,

The American Le Mans Series will pass away before the week is out.

The latest “good source” information is that the France’s have purchased all of The Don’s racing-related assets outright. That includes tracks, hotels, series, sanctioning bodies. The Le Mans name will endure for the length of the current contract (2013), then be dropped. Prototypes will be “similar” (that covers a lot of sins, doesn’t it?) to P1’s, but will not in the future “follow ACO rules.” The Don and The Boss will be on the board of directors of the new sports car racing entity. In other words, they’ll get expenses and free dinner to attend the occasional board meeting, but have no place in running anything (the one bit of good news in this). If there’s anything important for the board to vote on, they’ll each get a vote, but allies will be firmly in control. Is this the new boss? Read the rest of this entry »

Originally published as Paddock Poop 130. Shocking news at a clandestine meeting. Murphy and his friend were just a bit (three years) early. It does give an idea of how long this thing has been stewing. A read for you while you’re waiting for Paddock Poop 200, soon.

Murphy called his friend A.C. “I’m hearing some interesting stuff. Can we talk?”

“So am I, buddy, so am I. Sure. But not over the phone. Can you meet me?” was the response from NASCAR’s favorite local scribe.

“Sure, where?” asked the Bear.

“I hear you’re in town on business, I’m near Hooter’s on International Speedway…across the street, actually. Can you meet me there?” asked A.C.

“I’m close,” said the Bear, with a grin (Hooter’s in Daytona Beach is one of Murphy’s favorite places.) “When?”

A.C.: “About 15 minutes.”

Murphy: ‘You’re on, my friend.”

The Bear got there first, renewing acquaintances – and getting hugs.

By the time he’d ordered a Warsteinerand some wings (Murphy’s been a Warsteiner fan since the “German Budweiser” sponsored the GT1 championship in the late ’90?s), a shadowy figure with a turned-up collar and a turned-down hat was sidling up to the table.

It was A.C.“What the hell…” blurted the Bear.“Shhhhh…” from the muffled figure.

Murphy: “A.C?”

“Yes. Hold it down…if someone sees me…” whispered A.C.

“Hell, A.C., you’re right across the street from the World Center of Racing in a trench coat, talking to a stuffed animal, and you think no one will notice?” asked Murphy. Read the rest of this entry »