90. Watering Holes and a Quiz
A note from the Bear Cave
Murphy’s become just a little concerned that recent readers think the Bear has few interests beyond passing on paddock poop and patter (rumors and other stuff). That’s not how Murphy started. From the beginning, he’s commented on whatever he saw around him in his (mostly) sports car racing-related travels. Over the years (yes, years – amazing, isn’t it?), he’s written about a Russian restaurant in New York City, about going to the Monterey Historic Races, (without going broke or ending up in divorce court) and singing at a piano in Portland.
He’s going to make a real effort to get back to that balance. So, if you’re just looking for rumors and get no fun out of riddles and restaurant reviews, then…well…farewell, and Murphy doesn’t nuch care.
Still Seventeen – With an “If” or Three
The Bear wrote earlier this month that he expected 17 prototype entries at Road America. As expected, there were 14 at Mid-Ohio. Murphy’s Mid-Ohio “miss” was in GT, where sixteen, not eighteen, showed (a second VICI Porsche and the Bell Motorsports Aston Martin being the absences.) All the Mid-Ohio entries will be back – GT and prototype – for the four hour enduro in Wisconsin’s kettle moraines.
Murphy’s hoping you can add those two GT cars not at Mid-Ohio, plus he still believes it’s very possible to add three prototypes. That depends on (1) completion of “due diligence,” (2) the cost of salad oil, and (3) a big change for one team – actually entering after you say you’re going to.
Friends
One of the first things the Murphy did at Lime Rock Park was look up his friend Don, (aka AutoXerPCA) who was directing traffic (with the lovely Barbara) at the Porscheplatz. We missed them at Sebring. We’ll hope to connect at Petit Le Mans – Paddy’s perhaps?
Watering Holes and Such
The Bear had a good time at Lime Rock Park, and yes, he did stop by the Woodland. Unfortunately, the rather small bar was full. Murphy and his friends had come from The Boathouse, up the road from there, and recommended by his buddy Bibendum. He might be convinced otherwise, but small sedate bars and white table-cloth dining aren’t exactly Bear fare.
He liked the Vodka Sauce pasta (with the optional chicken chunks, being the omnivore type). The Boathouse –strangely for the decor and location – has a sushi menu. Though one of his companions has been a big fan of the raw fish dish (four years in NYC and some time in Japan will do that), she passed this time; perhaps next year.
This year, as in the past, the lack of (reasonably priced) nearby accommodations put a crimp in the nightlife of Murphy and friends. His temporary cave this time was in Monroe, New York. A two hour drive after spending a day at the track will put a crimp in any celebration. Walter the Walrus was over in Torrington and reports that Bachi’s is a fine watering hole with a lean and lovely barkeep. (Murphy was there a few years ago with a couple of lady bears.)
Next up is Road America, one of the Bear’s favorite tracks – and so little time, so many hangouts, including The Commercial Break, (Murphy dares you to fine this one – you’ll get help if you go back and do some “vintage Bear” reading) the Outback in Appleton, and of course Seibkens in Elkhart Lake, one of the world’s great racing watering holes (check out this crowd).
The Quiz of the Week (OK, you wanted a rumor, so here it is.)
Sometimes rumors come with encyclopedic detail. So much that it almost has to be true – or the output of a diabolically fertile imagination. Anyway, something Murphy was told the other day leads to this Quiz of the Week:
What do Ed Rendell, Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Camps, Lukoil, the 4th of July, 100,000 square feet of concrete, 200,000 bushels of corn, the US Navy, and a grove of willows have in common?
Murphy H. Bear
Tags: Bachi's, Lime Rock, Lukoil, Road America, The Boathouse, The Woodland
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 am
I’ll take a swing at the inside fastball. BioEnergy International?
http://www.bioenergyllc.com/