murphythebear.com

It was a new and different kind of holidays at Murphy and Heidi’s this year. Not the important stuff, of course – there was family and there were friends – but since the Bear family has northern roots, they’re used to sleigh bells, snow, reindeer and such. Christmas on the Monterey Peninsula has its charms, but decorated cypress and palms aren’t quite the same. The large decorated faux pine on Cannery Row was one of a few  gestures to the traditional. Seen framed by a palm and cannery-cum-restaurant it captured the feel of the season in this place as well as anything.

The Bear knows his last column wasn’t particularly festive. Too few, however, seem to have understood the importance of the story that was behind Murphy’s cynical look at the state of the sport. One need not look far to find evidence that this sport is a fragile endeavor at best. If nothing else, such stories should bring to mind Robert Burns’ observation that
 
“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Gang aft a-gley.”

Some others read that column as prediction of a dire state for the American Le Mans Series in the upcoming season. Though 2007 could be that, it probably won’t. The Bear is neither Grinch nor Pollyanna, but simply an observer and reporter of the sport’s back room – its paddock. Read on for what Murphy’s hearing from there about the 2007 season. (more…)

Our friend Malcolm, the editor over at dailysportscar, did us a service this week by uncovering one of the most interesting – and disappointing – stories in sports car racing in some time.  Not the Audi diesel. Given the engineering expertise and financial resources of Audi, and the free pass to diesels provided by the ACO, there could never have been any doubt of success, could there? No, the Bear is referring here to the Great Cosworth-Courage fraud. The time and money lost in this deal by the principals involved aside, it does demonstrate how fragile this niche of the racing industry is, doesn’t it? Not just fans, but racing businesses and racing series are so desperate for good news that they will seize on just about anything.

Murphy has to give the American Le Mans Series credit here. Braselton certainly didn’t give the Detroit soup kitchen guy any press time, but they were certainly hopeful, and some there believed for a time that there would be a test at Paul Ricard in early December. The series’ low profile is testament that it’s learned since the Hawaiian shirt’s infamous press conference at Petit Le Mans in 2004.  (more…)

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – Murphy’s stopped over here on his way over the river and through the woods, as they say. ’tis the season. It’s also racing’s silly season—as if the rest of the year isn’t.

There’s been a flurry of announcements lately, hasn’t there? They’ve mostly been naming drivers, Ralf Kelleners to Rahal, Marino Franchitti to Andretti Green Racing (that one made Murphy happy), former F1 pilots Brabham (announced) and Johansson (soon to be, the Bear hears) to partner at Highcroft. Well, there are still a lot of seats to fill, and some that won’t need filling.

Among that latter bunch – phantom seats – are any for Cosworth-powered Courages. Murphy heard that one was on “life support,” and soon thereafter, not even one showed up for a test date at Paul Ricard. It’s not entirely dead; Murphy makes it about as likely as Titan, actually. Yves can’t be happy. (more…)