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It’s been a big week here on Monterey Bay for Murphy and Heidi, with it all just catching up to the two of us on Sunday night at the big party.  The proprietor of the Diablo Grande was on hand, as were his wines, which are Estate Bottled in the appellation’s own designated viticultural area.  Murphy thinks he’ll have to add a couple to his cellar.  Here we are, near collapse with the debris of the evening as the witching hour approached.

The Mazda announcement didn’t happen. Something is not yet in place.  Murphy hopes it doesn’t all come apart – to be honest, the impression he gets is that the principals aren’t worried.  In fact, they are pretty excited about their 2007 program, and though the Bear has been pretty hard on them this season, he’ll be happy if they can pull it off.  The chassis are already on hand, he hears, and they are English, not French.  Now, if they can just get that last piece to fit into the puzzle… Marcus Haselgrove has had a tough job bringing B-K Motorsport and the Mazda program along this year – he called it “character building” last night. (more…)

The Bear, barely back from a ball, is catching up with the apparently non-stop scurrilous rumor and irresponsible speculation of sports car racing.  Having read that the celebrated 1996 burgundies were not aging as well as expected, Murphy sat down at his keyboard with a newly-opened Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru and went to work.

Those with the best handle on the Audi situation are insistent that the German manufacturer will be back in 2007 in the silver colors of Audi Sport North America.  However a “big presence” in Europe for the diesel-powered R10 will cause augmentation and re-shuffling of the factory driver line-up. Murphy reported last week that all of the Audi driver contracts lapse at the end of this season.  They will mostly be renewed, he now hears, to support as many as six entries in Europe.  Don’t be surprised if there are three new drivers here, and if those drivers include current Porsche pilots Lucas Luhr and Mike Rockenfeller.  The Bear has always liked the Senior Team – Junior Team approach.  Remember Mercedes’ Jochen Mass with Jean-Louis Schlesser and Karl Wendlinger with Michael Schumacher?  Or BMW, John Watson with David Hobbs and Davy Jones with John Andretti? How does Allan McNish with JJ Lehto and Lucas Luhr with Mike Rockenfeller sound?  Not saying that will happen, of course… (more…)

Monterey, California, USA – The Bear has returned from Petit Le Mans, and is happy to be back in his cozy cave.  Not that he didn’t have a great time.  He certainly did.  But this one plum wore him out.  He went out for Mexican at La Parilla the very first night, then stopped in at Paddy’s, where Kari, his favorite bartender, had been saving a pair of sunglasses since last year to replace those he lost then.  What a Georgia Peach – even if she is from Wisconsin.  Then he spent some time getting an education about team management and pit stop excellence.  The pinot noir, Jameson, and Johnny Walker Black were lined up on Kari’s bar that night.

Murphy’s ole buddy Jungle Cat tells him his attention wanders readin’ these long Poops, so before we get any deeper into this, here’s the condensed (Georgia) version:  Two new LMP1s. Two GT2 regulars may be gone.  Just one Intersport. Elan Technologies on the block.  J3 50-50 – Porsche or not.  Tom Milner hates fishing.  Swedes still talking to the Dutch.  Dumb baseball. Barbour will be back. Doran Infinities – or something else.  Aston’s got another sponsor.  Saleens may join them and Corvette in 2007.  Previously expected LMP1 is a dropout for Laguna.  Audi drivers without 2007 contracts – youth movement?  The IRL will share the July Mid-Ohio date.  Six GT1 entries at Laguna? OK, that’s the short version.  The rest of you can read on. (more…)