It’s been hard for Murphy to get help with his column since Sebring. His friends have been busy launching an ambitious new motorsports destination, here. But he finally got their attention – and help – on this new column. At the bottom, that recipe’s got a point to it. You guys really need to get with the program sometimes. Murphy keeps hearing that significant others aren’t fully behind your racin’ habit. Well, he’s tried to help before, with The Bear’s guide to Car Week on Monterey Bay, here. This time, his plan is even more insidious. You can do that chicken thing, sauce and everything, no matter what a stumble sumpin’ you are in the kitchen, as a surprise! Murphy’s even got the recipes for the simple sides there. Trust the Bear. This is even better than flowers. Print Murphy’s instructions, strap on the apron and have at it. You won’t be sorry. Wink, wink. Good luck.
Tubby Still Needs Hugs
Murphy ain’t no one-track motorhead. Ya’ll know that. He likes lots of sports. He’s also a fan of the Golden Rodents. That got him kidnapped by the minions of a Nittany Bear a couple years ago at PLM, but he ended up making a friend. Anyway, his beloved Rodents shocked the buckets world by hiring Tubby from the Wildcats. What’s this got to do with racin’ sporty cars, you ask? Well Marino’s brother Dario is sharing an Acura drive this year, and it seems Mrs. Dario is a very big Wildcat fan. She gave ole Tubby a big hug once, too. Even Tubby hopes he’ll remain in her affections. In an interview last week, Tubby was asked who his favorite actor is. “I’m impressed with Denzel Washington,” he replied, “but also I’m impressed with Ashley Judd. We need to make her a Gophers fan.” Anyways, here’s a pic of the Bear in his fave hat. He’s got one just like it for Mrs. Dario.
More of the Same
Those expecting a big change in performance for the Creation CA06H at St. Pete are likely to be disappointed. The “big wheels” are expected, but otherwise the Kumhos will be the same compound and construction as those at Sebring. “Just more of the same bad rubber,” was the assessment of one wag. (more…)
Our rental car was one of those, and sorry, all it did was remind us how much some parts of the auto industry are in trouble. Buzzy, underpowered, ill-handling, poorly engineered, is the Bear leaving anything out? Oh yeah, lousy fuel mileage. Sebring the town was, well, as it has been. Some good places, some not so good. Rampant price gauging, particularly hotels, though the worst we saw was $3.80 (regular) gasoline near our rental car return in Orlando. Phantom wireless internet connections. Sebring the event is never a disappointment. The race was good, though its gotten to be a bit of a habit that the oldest, greatest sports car race in North America can’t put together four solid classes in the same year. As soon as one is up, another is down. The crowd was “about even with last year’s record,” and the rain and cooler than usual weather kept a damper on the celebrations – the local rag reported only 39 arrests, including a DUI – for running into a Sheriff’s cruiser – and a bunch for various other recreational substances (see also Dopey’s Rule, below). Still, the flags were flying, and the 
homesteads – some simple, some not so – were established. The Bear visited friends around the track, including the Coburns and their friends at Turn 13. After fifteen years at Daytona, and nearly every ALMS race since its founding, Murphy tries to tell his friends and acquaintances that Sebring is “different,” but they don’t seem to really get it. I guess it’s just one of those “you gotta be there” things.
Murphy’s been busy lately. The Champ Cars were out at Laguna Seca, so he had to go see. Since he did, he’s now seen the two fastest laps ever at the track celebrating it’s fiftieth anniversary. At the Historic Races in August just last year Toyota – the title sponsor – spent some cash and flew their 2006 F1 and driver Ricardo Zonta in to set a new record. It made the intended splash at the time, but by Friday last, the first day of testing at the track for Champ Car and the new Panoz DP01, Paul Tracy had come within four tenths. That was enough for Murphy’s friends over at The Last Turn Clubhouse to ask “When is a second worth $725 million?” By the next morning, Champ Car figured they had a good thing and offered a bounty for the record, which Sebastian Bourdais (pictured at Laguna Seca Saturday) got by a full four tenths by the end of the day. There can be excuses, like weather, tires, yadda, yadda, but for what Toyota spends on F1, it shouldn’t even be close, should it? Arrogance, perhaps? Thought they were going to be “fast enough?” Well, Toyota, add that one to your Lexus fiasco. And the GT1 that never won. Hope your foray into taxicab racing works better for you – but that looks a little weak now, too, doesn’t it? The only really good thing that Toyota has going in motorsports is its sponsorship of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, where the new Champ Car will be seen along with the ALMS circus. That’s going to be Murphy’s kind of show. The Bear thinks that Toyota Chairman Hiroshi Okuda should ask Honda CEO Takeo Fukui how it’s done. And congrats to the guys and gals over at Panoz. Nice machine.