Geez, will ya give it a rest?
Will Aston Martin ever make a statement or D.R. give an interview that doesn’t include a snide remark about “the diesel advantage,” or the “Michelin advantage,” or “Corvette’s rule breaking” or some other kind of excuse? We know, you don’t have to tell us again and again, and again. It’s getting really boring. And it seems to be a communicable disease – Peugeot’s come down with it now.
While we’re on the topic, maybe Lou and Dave should get together.
Versus, boon or bane?
The adulation of Versus lately looks to the Bear like one of those “grass is greener” things. The open wheel guys have the same struggles for sponsors we see in sports cars, though not quite as pronounced. A good Bear source bemoans the whole” backwater network” thing, saying Tony’s there because it’s the only place he could get any money, and not much at that. Then there was a big (very big) sponsor’s question, when told of the Versus contract, “Where?”
After Tony
Who’s going to run IMS? Murphy hears it will be a prominent Indianapolis criminal defense attorney. To oversee marketing, a former Gamecock lineman will come out of retirement.
A Medieval Bear’s Fable
A story handed down from Murphy’s great-great-grandfather, Paddy O’Bear, went like this:
Once upon a time a king built an empire with dominions far flung, some squeezing the grape into happy libations, some for the hitting and chasing of little balls, and some for promoting great jousts in sands near the Magical Kingdom of the Mouse, in the red mud honored of the great King George, and amongst the Canuckistanis, a small tribe in the great northern wilderness.
It came to pass that a chief with noble brow, having before been in command over a place for jousts and tournaments in the Land of the Chicken Ranches for the Great Captain Roger, was made a Duke and appointed by the King to rule over his own jousting dominions. In creating those contests the King had signed a treaty with the Counts of Maine in their capital, Cité Plantagenê, where was spawned the great King Henry II, and where is now held the greatest tournament of them all.
Thereafter the Duke brought to his table a young knight in whom he put much trust, making him Count of one, then of another of the King’s fiefdoms.
There followed a number of good years, in which the serfs labored mightily, and the Duke and his young Count became known far and wide as good stewards of the King’s estates and great tournaments. More and more itinerant knights participated in the King’s jousts across the land.
Yet, as will happen in the fullness of time, there came upon the land a great famine of credit, and the feed for the great jousting steeds became very precious, requiring many shekels per measure. Many serfs lost their meager cottages and even the merchants could not sell their wares. Of course, since there was little gold in jousting for the itinerant knights – for some perhaps for honor, and others for the favors of fair damsels arranged through the “black phone” – many knights stopped coming to the tournaments. This made the King and the Duke unhappy, and they sadly could no longer employ all their serfs, many who have been forced to leave the manor, while cutting the meager wages of the rest.
The Count saw this, and proposed changes he hoped would save the kingdom, some of which were accepted and helped, and some of which did not. In this he came into conflict with the Duke, but they remained allied in their stewardship of the King’s jousting domains and fiefdoms. As things worsened, however, the young Count became disenchanted, and thought if the great and powerful Duke could be displaced, and the treaty with the Counts of Maine put aside, he might save the tournaments, and bring the itinerant knights back to the King’s jousts.
So, he laid his plans in the dank hallways of the great castle on the broad way in the land of the red mud, and bided his time, until he made his move, sprung the coup. To his surprise and demise, however, the King sided with the Duke, unwilling to set aside any of his treaties – or even modify them – with the Counts of Maine, whom he had long admired and loved. In this, the Count had badly misunderstood the King, and having risked all, was naturally banished from the Kingdom, to wander in the wilderness until, having consumed the last of the King’s boons, he will be set free to pledge his fealty to another King of jousting and grand tournaments. (to be continued)
Wirth to F1
Murphy was pretty much alone in reporting back on May 22 that Wirth Research would be an F1 entry. Sure enough, a denial from Wirth was forthcoming, dutifully “reported” by the usual purveyors of any drivel the powers in the sport want to feed us – perish the thought they’d actually print the truth if it might endanger their precious “access.” It was another instance of the Bear getting too close to the truth, proving once again that “the team,” “the owner,” “the driver,” having the most motivation to “spin” are those mostly to do so. “Spin” – there’s euphemism if there ever was one. Well, there they are on the FIA’s list of “accepted teams” for the 2010 F1 Championship – if there is one. Who is “Manor Racing?” The Bear’s got no idea, but he did report it’s possible that a US racing (and auto industry) magnate – or his progeny – will turn out to be a partner.
KERS
F1′s dumped the idea – too difficult, too expensive. So you think it will happen for “the green racing series?” It didn’t at Utah, and probably won’t anytime this season, if ever.
Farewell Road America?
You already know the ALMS race a Road America will be cut to a sprint of 2 hours 45 minutes, from the announced 4 hours. That rumor’s been floating around a while – from Long Beach on, actually. Finally, this week they sent the memo to teams and partners, and once again couldn’t help themselves, they had to spin it. In addition to admitting that it’s “a problem” for television (Murphy suspects that means “too much money we don’t have) – blames ‘survey data.’ Huh? They found a human – more than one – who would opine that Road America’s four hours is “too long?” Where did they run this survey? In Daytona Beach?
What’s the real story here? It should come as no surprise that the top two races in attendance are Sebring and Petit Le Mans, both true enduros; Monterey’s attendance has more than doubled since it changed its format to “four hours into dusk.” Road America has only Utah to thank for keeping it from being the worst-attended ALMS race. Given the history of the iconic Wisconsin track, what gives? If you’ve been reading the Bear for long you know his answer.
Sadly, after this year’s failed event, Road America will likely be off the ALMS calendar in 2010.
Murphy’s Le Mans GT Punter’s Guide
Wondering why you haven’t seen it? The Bear isn’t really in the business of simply writing the obvious, but by popular demand, here it is.
GT1 qualifying was Corvette, Corvette, Aston Martin, Corvette, Corvette. Murphy picks Corvette, giving the two Corvette Racing entries identical 3-2 odds on the win. The whole rest of GT1 goes into “the field” at 50-1.
Baring bad luck (or boneheadedness) will look like your nearby American Le Mans Series event plus on interloper, for a while, anyway. Risi bring their all-pro driving squads, while Flying Lizards will hang in there while Bergmeister and Law are piloting. More a threat is the interloper –Felbermayr Proton, mercifully with the Felbermayrs in another entry. Everyone else is handicapped, whether by Hankook tires, a one-eyed driver, a Spyker, McDreamy, a rich banker, or a richer oilman. Make those first three teams each 3-1 favorites, and throw the rest into “the field” at 50-1. There. Done.
Enjoy Le Mans