“Car Week” on Monterey Bay got Murphy thinking. This is an experience that all his gearhead friends should be able to have, but cost – in cash and relationships – can be formidable. Let’s face it, our “significant others” put up with our automotive obsessions, but they rarely share them. So you can’t just run off and drop a couple grand all by yourself…not without becoming a single bear again, anyway.
Well, the Bear was paying attention last week and he realized there are ways to take your squeeze along and manage the time and do-re-mi in such a way as to make everyone happy. The trick? Find the less expensive car events, use the money you save to do some serious partying with your better half, and you’ll come away with her (or him, not to be sexist here) remembering a great romantic time in one of the most beautiful places on the globe while you go home having had that awesome car experience. (more…)
Murphy has had a busy week. While his friends were taking care of ALMS business at Road America (if you can call the Commercial Break “business”), he was fully immersed in “Car Week” on the Monterey Peninsula. After the Pre-historics, there were events throughout the week, culminating in the Historic Races at Laguna Seca and the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach. To be honest, the Bear can’t afford much of that, so he was mostly out exploring other gearhead stuff. What he learned will be described in an upcoming People and Places column – “Monterey Car Week on a Small Bear’s Budget”. 
The Bear went to Laguna Seca yesterday. It was the Pre-Historics. Best deal Murphy’s seen to watch real racing sports cars, even if they’re not really racing. Free. Our friend Mat was there, shooting at the corkscrew. He’ll head back to LA, work a half week, and return for the big event – the 33rd Annual Monterey Historic Automobile Races – at Laguna Seca.
Murphy Bear: Good Morning, I’m Murphy H. Bear, CEO of Murphy Chassis Engineering, something I do in my spare time from my regular job as Society Editor of dailysportscar. A little background is in order. The Bear attended his first race right here at Laguna Seca. I still remember the excitement, the anticipation of a prototype introduction that had been scheduled for Road Atlanta, but pushed back to Laguna Seca in 2004. Déjà vu all over again, eh? It seems that it had to be cancelled then because the paint hadn’t dried on the chassis model. Terribly disappointing, but understandable. That constructor, like Porsche this year, wanted everything to be “in order”.