Murphy and the gang hit the Commercial Break on Thursday. Huge was told he was “quite a handsome man.” His admirer then stumbled outside and fell down. The previous day Murphy discussed the Prince of Darkness with this Triumph Spitfire fan.
Below is a Spitfire – Wisconsin style.
The Break makes Seibken’s Stop-Inn Tavern, where Murphy Stopped-Inn Friday and Saturday, seem real upscale, though. It was a “say-hey” to rickybaker on Friday. Pictured are two close friends of Murphy’s on Siebken’s patio.
Saturday, he chatted with Wolf and Jörg after the race, and made some new friends, too.
As always, he stopped by to see friends and visit Brian Redman’s cat in the Carousel, too.
2009 Schedule
Braselton thinks that 14 would be a nice schedule, long-term, and doesn’t want to add more than one new race in a season. But there’s a “whoops” to that second part that goes like this: “Unless a good opportunity comes along,” in which case they might “have to” add two. So, waddayaknow, there seems to be a “good opportunity” in the upcoming season.
Murphy’s heard seven venues mentioned in the paddock and around the water cooler. The Rose City is entirely out of the running for the IRL, so that puts the Northwest in play again for the ALMS. Will the third time be the charm? Or has the track finally settled into the minor leagues for good, now listing drifting, bicycle races, and the Cascade Sports Car Club on its “major event” schedule?
NASCAR declared victory (“mission accomplished, we’ve raised motorsports profile here, our work is done,” or some such nonsensical statement that you’d have to be into the Kool Aid to believe) and will take its Nationwide series out of Mexico City. Murphy doesn’t think Grand Am will stay there on its own. Like Portland, Mexico City gets no mention with the open wheel guys, so does the American Le Mans Series step into a void there? That’s the rub, of course, so many think of the Mexican capitol as a big, scary void. Some not particularly eager to race in Ciudad de México are key to making the sports car schedule. On the other hand, there is another former big-league racing venue south of the Texas boarder. Murphy’s heard it could be one of two new venues to make the grade in 2008.
The Bear told you about the NAS and Lukoil, but there’s another option nearby – east, not north, of Philly – that seems more likely now. The track that shares a name with the famous “Jug” that flew in the middle of the last century may be that second 2008 “opportunity.”
Cleveland and Houston have gotten mentions, especially since the promoter has met with the IMSA guys, but inclusion in some future IRL season seems more likely than landing on the ALMS schedule.
Another Cannuckistani race? The Bear hears (as his lion friend once famously said), “not nohow.”
New Porker Lumps for Dyson
Dyson Racing will get its first DI motor at Mosport and the second at Detroit. (That’s the Weissachian promise, anyway.) Seeking to change his luck, this guy rubbed the Bear before starting his Spyder at Road America. It worked.
What will we see at Petit Le Mans? Lots of cars, it seems. Pugs for sure; Connor says they’ll announce this week. (Independent of web broadcasts, Murphy got a “not our announcement to make…”). You can read that anyway you like, but the Bear thinks just two questions remain: One or two? (that’s cars and races) The Lola with the gasoline V12 might be on its way. In fact there may be a plethora of Astons, beyond the two in the ALMS now.
Forget Cytosport, it seems their announcements of their post-Le Mans ALMS program were as bogus as the ones about the pre-Le Mans program – both LMS and ALMS. On the other hand, we’re going to be much happier with the Corsa Zytek, anyway. And maybe Embassy. Don’t forget the AIM Creations.
Y’all know Mazda’s stepped up to the plate and will field a new Lola coupe in place of the B0something/something spyder (sometimes it seems an extra dive plane will get a new model designation). Murphy’s not sure it will put B-K on race pace, but he’s pretty sure it will get more useful notice than another walk-over bridge with “MAZDA” painted on it.
Will Eco make it to Petit? Silverstone will tell us; good if it shows up, bad if it still won’t run or is damaged. So in the meantime the Bear will ignore everything that’s announced, said, printed, or rumored. You should, too.
Murphy thinks the Mansells are telling the truth about wanting to share a Lola, but also are truthful that someone else will have to pay the bill. So, if “Our Nige” is such a hot commodity under St. George’s Cross, will someone step up? The Bear’s waiting for a note from his correspondent in the Empire.
For 2009, the Bear hears that optimism over funding for a Florida team is at an all-time high.
Murphy spent race day morning with some friends down at the “pit-out” end of the paddock, talking with U.B. about the good old days of shade tree (or garage) mechanics, about Kugelfischer FI, and about engine braking on diesels (now the Bear knows why there isn’t any to speak of). The Herr Doktor was there and in good form with a broad smile, as was Murphy’s new favorite Audi driver, (apologies to the wee Scot) who gave him a big hug. Is there another Audi in the DTM driver’s future? Murphy couldn’t get any denials.
There was a printed copy of Peter de Lorenzo’s “Fumes” from last week on various paddock tables. It’s interesting that what Detroit described it wanted from Daytona Beach was a pretty good description of what GM is already getting from Corvette Racing, albeit on a smaller scale. Does that mean the General understands what Corvette in the ALMS does for it? We can hope, can’t we? Doug said “I’ve given it my best shot.”
The Bear’s heard that planning is underway for a very special event for forum fans at Mosport. Look for information soon. (Actually, while finishing this Poop, Murphy’s just now seen the news posted in the ALMS forum’s Mosport thread.) The Bear is planning a “Paddock Poop Special Edition” to be available only at the gathering.
Tags: Audi, Corsa, Cytosport, Dyson, ECO Racing, Embassy, Katherine Legge, Peugeot, Porsche
P-47 Thunderbolt, New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Funding for a Florida team: Wayne Taylor Saleen? Or the former Canuckistani RS Spyder outfit? Hahaha.
If Portland or New Jersey happens next year, then my partly-Irish eyes will be smiling. Right now, the “controlling half” is making flyaway races typically a non-starter (this year I sandwiched Sebring in on the tail of a business/visit family trip to SOFLA) and these two tracks are in either my mother’s or my backyard respectivelty…
I’m hoping ALMS will return to Portland. It’s a great track, and it was resurfaced this year. And the people there are always great, along with great attendance. Portland really needs a replacement for the Champ Car race and ALMS could easily fit the bill. It probably will return for 2009, since Scott wants events all over the country, and the Pacific Northwest has been missing since 2006.
Perhaps it is the green beer or the green fuel fumes, but I am hoping for a venue possibility on the southeast coast, in a place our good father called home
This statement creates more questions than answers. Please Murphy, we need more details on this incredible story!
“Huge was told he was “quite a handsome man.” His admirer then stumbled outside and fell down.”
And onto another related topic…..That I’m sure Huge will have a comment about. If the ALMS returns to Portland (and I hope they do!), who will the promoter be for the event?????