It’s a good time to recall that this sport is all about fun – especially Sebring. So here’s a look back to Murphy’s Somewhat Silly Sebring Stories. Nobody the Bear’s ever met failed to have a boatload of fun at Sebing. Whether there are ten cars or one hundred, Sebring is always a real hoot.

Murphy’s 2008 was a landmark year, perhaps – he hopes not – a year in which he saw a high water mark in his favorite sport.

Shortly before New Year’s past, Murphy lost his best friend, Jeannie. That cast a pale over everything that came after, though much that came after was good. He might have enjoyed it more under different circumstances, but it’s onward, isn’t it? One paw in front of the other. Here the Bear reflects on sportscar racing in 2008.

January - At the end of the month was the Wheels Down Winter Test at Sebring, which created big photo gallery traffic for Murphy’s friends over at Last Turn Clubhouse. Paddock Poop projected “four full time GT Porsches” for the ALMS season. There were five, counting both Farnbacher Loles and VICI, neither of which made all the races. Earlier in January, he projected sixteen GT entries, 6 Porsches, 4 Ferraris, 2 Fords, 1 Aston, 1 Corvette, 1 Viper, 1 Panoz (50-50), and 0 Spykers. We got to a pretty good idea of the actual entry by subtracting Rahal and a second car from Farnbacher Loles and adding a VICI 911. The Bear wrote “five rules for picking the Rolex,” then listed three. Not one of 5,000 readers wondered why. That reminds me. There was the Roval Race at the World Center. Along with his rules, Murphy picked five teams as “most likely to be on the podium. Three of them were. The winner was exactly as described in “Murphy’s Five Rules.”

February - Nothing much happened. Champ Car died, but that wasn’t exactly news. Houston was collateral damage – also no surprise.

March - Sebring. The GT winner was a 3-1 – that was the second favorite – in Murphy’s GT Punter’s Guide. In prototype, Murphy’s favorite, an Audi, stumbled home third overall. Tabby collected autographs. Murphy published a bedtime story for the cubs, a tire fairy tale called “The Great King of World Center and the Prince of Milan.”

Solo Al didn’t make it to Sebring. Scott A. hinted at a new manufacturer.

April - AC Guillermo debuted as a guest columnist. The Corvette prototype project and Le Mans EVO rules were still alive, but on life support. Murphy’s friends contributed some things they thought were Awesome. None were sports cars. Solo Al didn’t make it to St. Pete or Long Beach. There was a rumor of a new manufacturer.

May - Murphy’s Indy 500 Punter’s Guide made Ganassi’s Scott Dixon a 3-1 favorite. Bingo. At Utah it was friends, beer and babes. The race? A bit of bashing about. Lou howled. Ho hum. Solo Al didn’t make it to Salt Lake City. A new manufacturer was rumored.

June - Nothing important happened. Murphy’s Punter’s Guide for Le Mans departed from conventional wisdom and made Audi’s “Mutt and Jeff with TK” the favorite. Bingo. Solo Al didn’t make it to Le Mans. The paddock thought there might be a new manufacturer in the wings. AC Guillermo kept Murphy and his friends entertained.

July - ALMS butchered a race on a butchered Lime Rock race course. Murphy published his own “Best North American Road Racing Events,” after Katrina Flood did a similar piece over on Last Turn Clubhouse. Mid-Ohio had another big event. The Bear looked in vain for Solo Al. Apparently the new manufacturer wasn’t ready yet either.

August - Road America was one of those whoo-whee fun times again, with Siebken’s and the Commercial Break highlighting the weekend schedule. It was a pretty good race, too. The crowd looked ok, but when the accounting was in, George’s stewardship of the great track had laid another promotional egg. Perhaps it was because neither Solo Al nor the new manufacturer showed up.

September - Mosport delivered the third largest ALMS crowd – as it always does. In the Dumbest Quote Department was this gem on Midweek Motorsport. “Er, any championship that wants to be taken, er, seriously in North America, er, has to race at Watkins Glen.” Geez. For those being sentient enough to recognize the signs, it began to be clear that Petit Le Mans might be the sport’s high water mark for a long time to come. Solo Al missed his home race in Canuckistan, then disappointed us by passing on Roger’s last party in Detroit. The new manufacturer clearly figured that rural Ontario wasn’t a good place for a debut. Was skipping Motown a clue that the manufacturer isn’t one of the Detroit 3?

October - Petit Le Mans. It’s “The Drive” by the Wee Scot. Or should we call it “The Drives” and include the one on the way to the grid? Murphy spent the high water mark with good friends, including tippling Black Label at Paddy’s. The conversation was proof positive that even the best-placed in the sport didn’t see the extent of the trouble ahead. Neither Solo Al nor the elusive manufacturer made it to Petit.

Laguna Seca didn’t disappoint. The much awaited ECO Racing made its appearance, to the cheers of the crowd, and the jeers of competitors who didn’t appreciate the oiling of the track. No Lizard party this year, so Murphy spent Friday night with friends above Turn 9. He was given a book about a pooch who loved racing. It’s now his favorite.

Murphy was still hopeful about double figure prototypes in the new season. Wrong. He made an early call on Poughkeepsie coupes, and raised questions about a Wisconsin builder. Bingo both times. The Bear searched the paddock high and low, but couldn’t find Solo Al or the new manufacturer.

November - Silly season. Is the new manufacturer Jaguar? The Bear heard it was. The outlook for 2009 continued to worsen. AC Guillermo answered the questions everybody had on their minds about Grand Am and NASCAR.

December - Murphy was told that IMSA would react to the worsening economy. Among cuts would be the Sebring Test. That seemed to be the trigger for a disclaimer; there would be a testing bulletin “later.” The P2s got a little rule break from stone-cold-stupid ACO aero tinkering. The P1s got nothing. For the rest of the month there was deafening silence from Braselton. In the meantime more entrants – and the Detroit race – slipped away. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported on the 18th that “series officials hope to add at least one more manufacturer to the lineup before next year.”

Murphy had a quiet Christmas. He hopes for a better 2009 than it now appears, but he’s not holding his breath. It’s been a while since he’s published a recipe, so here’s a reprise of his favorite snacks, just in time for New Years and the Bowl season.

Murphy’s Simple Football Dip1 Sixteen oz. can Refried Beans
1 Eight oz. jar queso dip
4 oz Salsa

Spread refried beans in pie tin. Layer with queso, leaving a half inch of beans at the edge. Bake in oven pre-heated to 350° for twenty minutes or until headed through. Top with your favorite salsa. Serve with tortilla chips.

Murphy’s Racin’ and Football Wings

Marinade (for 3 lbs, approximately 2 dozen wings, increase or decrease as needed)
1 ¼ cups Louisiana hot sauce (Crystal or similar)
¼ cup white wine vinegar
½ tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons Cajun spice

Mix in bowl, marinade wings overnight in covered shallow pan or in sealable plastic bag. Remove wings from marinade, and in batches, microwave wings two minutes, turn over, microwave two minutes more. Heat about 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (enough to cover bottom) in a large skillet, fry wings until golden brown on each side (one of those screens-with-a-handle thingies for spatters is a good idea). Meanwhile, in a small skillet, prepare the wing sauce.

Wing Sauce (for approximately 1 dozen)

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons Louisiana hot sauce
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
½ teaspoon flour

(the above for medium, add ½ teaspoon Cayenne pepper for hot, 1 teaspoon for blazin’)
Melt butter, whisk together with other ingredients and toss with, or simply spoon over wings. Serve with favorite dipping side, ranch, blue cheese or other dressing.

OK, class, that’s Kat’s view, and Murphy’s sure you’ve got your own “best.” But first, there’s one more item in our “Events 101” course syllabus, the Bear’s very own “Best North American Road Racing Events,” below.

1. The 72 Hours of Sebring.

Sebring is simply the biggest party and biggest race in North America for those bears, beavers, mooses, and other wildlife not enamored of roundy-round racin’. A hundred-thousand nice folks behaving badly (but not too badly), gates open straight through, babes (likely including Kat) winning beads, good food at the track and elsewhere.

Sebring has the required classic and historic race bar in Chicane’s, plus a few other good nightlife and good grub possibilities, including The Watering Hole, home of Bully, the serial killer alligator. Oh, and near the end of that 72 hours of high-octane flat-out fun, is the best twelve hours of sports car racing on the planet.

2. The Monterey New and Old Sports Car Championships

Murphy’s pulling the same trick that the hot Kat did. Illegally combining two events separated by two months on the calendar. Oh, you could decide to “stay over” from the Monterey Historic Races, but you’d be broke as The General by the time you got to the Monterey Sports Car Championships.

From the famed Corkscrew at Laguna Seca, to popping a cork with Dirty Harry at the piano bar in his Carmel restaurant, there aren’t many places like The Peninsula. Race bar? Well, the bar at the Sardine Factory (which Murphy once listed as his business address) will have to do. For the Brit-heavy American Le Mans Series crowd, there’s a plethora of genuine pubs, too.

3. The Circus at Montreal

Nope, it’s not a sports car event. It’s Formula 1. Get over it. Montreal is Monaco for the rest of us. Park on the outskirts of the city, take the Metro, walk across the bridge to the island for the race, maybe do the casino before you Metro back to Montreal and party. Sidewalk restaurants, car shows, street bands, great food, fine wines, and designer beers. Race bar? How about the whole damn downtown?

4. Le Mans in the Blue Ridge (foothills, anyway)

More often called the Petit Le Mans, Murphy thinks the name’s a bit of a stretch. After all, Sebring will always be the crown jewel of Le Mans-style sports car events in North America. But Petit Le Mans was the first to make the official tie-up with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, preceding the Series by a few months, and class wins do earn auto-invites to the French Classic (as if that’s necessary – winners at Road Atlanta in October aren’t likely to be passed over for Le Sarthe, anyway).

The track is one of the best on the continent, hilly terrain within a lovely woodsy setting. Camping, partying, and cruising are nearly as much a part of this nouveau-classique event as they are at Sebring. No doubt this is the best 1,000 miles of sports car racing in North America (forget ten hours, it’ll never last that long).

Like the Petit, race bar Paddy’s at Chateau Elan is itself a bit of an “instant classic.” Its ambience and race crowd put it comfortably in the company of those other great watering holes, however.

5. The Honda Motor Company, Ltd. Employee Picnic

Once a year, they come flooding into the Mid-Ohio Sport Car Course (now that’s a proper name for a race track) from plants over around Marysville. Whether anyone actually has to buy a ticket is a matter of some debate, but it really doesn’t make any difference. They fill this picturesque venue in the middle of Ohio (hence the name, in case you were wondering).

This is just the best show in racing. Non-stop action, and nary a Formula BMW in sight. Speed World Challenge (both flavors) Indy Lights (or whatever the Indy training thing is now), ALMS, the IndyCar Series, it’s hard to catch your breath. The food at the track isn’t wonderful, but they do sell Jack Daniel’s cocktails – beat that! Nearby is Bucks, a real racing bar with some real history, though it’s gone a bit NASCAR –like everything else – lately. Who knows why? The local track’s got nothing to do with the taxicabs.

6. The Lac qui Parle County Fair IMCA Late Model Stock Car Races.

The half-mile dirt oval was one of the gems of the IMCA schedule in the 1950s and 60s, a week before the big event in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dick Hutcherson, Ernie Derr, and Ramo Stott battled wheel-to-wheel in Sunday’s Late Model feature, but not before the Pie Race preliminary wound up the crowd. Stott’s black Ford had “500 HP” painted in white on the hood, and Derr was the “white hat” perenial champion. Hutcherson would race at Le Mans one day – not that we had any idea what that was. Combined with Friday’s Tractor Pull, and the Hell Drivers of Joie Chitwood Thrill Show on Saturday, it was a motorsport feast.

Food? The Faith Lutheran Church Ladies Aid slapped down a plate of the best Beef Commercial on the planet, if you weren’t already stuffed with corn dogs and cotton candy, The Jaycees’ had a Beer Garden down by the Livestock Barn, and if you wanted to seriously get into your cups, there was the American Legion Club in the basement of the Post Office.

That was an event that lives only in memory -  the track has been cut to a 1/4 mile to accommodate the local stock car racing that fills summer weekends across the nation. If you’ve never done one of these events, get out there. It’s a necessary part of your education.

7. The Road America 500 Something.

As George once famously said, “It’s 500 something.” The Bear hasn’t been able to figure out what. At least now it’s a minimal enduro of four hours, and if it took the love of Champ Car to get that done – then fine, fine. Great piece of timing, though, wasn’t it? One and done. Murphy’s happy with that. The American Le Mans Series got the race it wants and the weekend to itself. (No one’s taking the Sunday show seriously.)

Anyway you look at it, this is a track of superlatives: Best road racing track in North America. Best food at a track in North America. Among the most beautiful track settings in North America. Nearby Siebken’s is one of the truly great classic race bars. To hobnob with the Cheeseheads, (and deal with the “morning after”) go on up to tropical Neenah and drop in at the Commercial Break (1348 S Commercial St.) for one of the world’s great Bloody Marys, served anytime after six ay em. (More about the Commercial Break here.) 

Another good Neenah destinations is Zacateca’s Mexican Restaurant.

With a whole roster of junior-grade open wheel races surrounding the American Le Mans Generac 500-something, there’s some ways to go for the famous track to recapture the tradition of sports car endurance racing to which it was born. At least it’s finally headed in that direction.

8. The Cannuckistani Mobile Grand Prix.

Mosport, a lovely and wickedly fast track up the Queen’s Highway from Toronto is a Panoz Motorsports Group property whose recent mission has been to be the floater race – the one that can me moved around a weekend or two in order to accommodate other races – the most recent being Roger Penske’s weekend at home in Detroit.

Defying the dictum that a stable date is a significant component of success, the American Le Mans Series event at Mosport has been one of the series’ best-attended races. So far, the Canadian event has remained both a sprint race and stand-alone event, and is by far the most successful of events of that type.

Murphy hasn’t found a true race bar, but there are a couple places he likes, Fazio’s for fine dining – popular with teams and scribes, but a little too high class to be a true racing hangout. Straight from the track, looking for a beer and some grub, we’d head over Harry Keester’s in Whitby.

9. The F1, er…F5000, er…CART, er…Champ Car, er…IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Proving that an event can overshadow its race(s), the Bear offers exhibit number 1, the Grand Prix of Long Beach. The race on the harbor gets points for tradition and for off-track ambiance. You’ve probably figured out those are Murphy’s primary criteria anyway. Racing is nice, but…

Anyway, Long Beach is one of those events you should experience at least once. Watch the cars go by for a while, then head for The Pike, an entertainment complex adjoining the track that houses the Auld Dubliner Irish Pub (naturally a Murphy kind of place) or head out the front gate to Pine Street’s restaurant row – just a few steps away. There’s Hooters – always a hoot – plus the Mariposa Salza Club, and on the Promenade a half block off Pine, the Blue Cafe. On Second Street is Shannon’s (once voted Playboy’s College Bar of the month).  That’s just about everything you’d want except a place for a quiet drink or a romantic dinner. Head across the causeway to the Queen Mary for that.

10. The 24 Hours at the World Center of Racing.

Murphy’s hesitant to put any race that features Daytona Prototypes anywhere on this list. If anything can kill the charm, sense of history, wonder of the automotive art – the entire raison d’etre of sports car endurance racing – it’s the slow, ugly, squashed-down NASCAR guppies. Let’s face it, to say the Rolex is an afterthought at the World Center is an understatement. Say “The 24” within shouting distance of the DIS start-finish line and someone will nod and say, “Jeff Gordon.” Then the bear had a revelation – he doesn’t actually have to go to the race! Not that he hasn’t given the Sun Bank, Rolex…whatever…his heart and soul – many of Murphy’s friends were regulars in the Daytona infield for nearly two decades.

As for race bars, there are “favorites” to please just about anyone, though most are NASCAR or biker-oriented. That’s the territory you’re in, isn’t it? Head to Ponce Inlet for Down the Hatch, and the Bear’s favorite, the Lighthouse Restaurant & Raw Bar, where his friends – egrets, squirrels, pelicans – inhabit the deck with the people. Back toward Daytona Beach from there is “The North Turn,” an honest to gawd race bar with an honest to gawd race crowd – even during the Rolex – right on the beach. If Murphy had to pick his “classic race bar,” that would be it. Of course, there’s Hooters, right across from the World Center of Racing. You’d be almost at the race, then…without actually having to expose yourself to a DP.

She found Murphy, a small Gund bear, alone and naked, in a Sonoma bed and breakfast in 2004, and immediately adopted him. His first race was just a week later at Laguna Seca, though he didn’t write his first column until July 2005. (Jeannie’s contributions to race coverage over many years is described here, at Last Turn Clubhouse.)

Murphy’s not sure what will become of him now, but he’s certain nothing ever again will be quite the same.

Farewell, Jeannie.

Anyway, the Bear settled onto his favorite mid-bar spot, and even though he and his friends would only be there for tapas, they were as welcome on the year’s busiest night as anyone else. As usual, barroom banter with “Big Mike” Kilpaczyk and partner Brad O’Roark (juggling cocktail shakers) ran the gamit from economics through politics and to sports. Stories Mike and his compatriots can tell might include the time Rod Steiger joined the staff in singing “Happy Anniversary” to a celebrating (and certainly surprised) couple, or Clint Eastwood bringing his own sandwiches while filming “Play Misty for Me.” Tiger might be in the house, or Paul Anka. Anyway, Mike’s the fan of the local and California teams, and was quick to offer that USC would kick Michigan’s patootie. Brad was just as quick to take that bet – too quick, as we all know.

Though this place has a world famous wine cellar – it’s been the recipient of the “Best Wine List in the World” award from Wine Spectator for 21 years running – we passed on the 1870 Chateau Lafitte Rothschild Pauillac in favor of the house by-the-glass cabernet sauvignon (the Justin Vineyards, Paso Robles, cab rated a 95 from Robert Parker, not too shabby for a house pour, but nothing less than we’ve come to expect here). We hit the bar menus’ tapas section for the large, plump Saut?ed New Caledonia Prawns with basil & olive oil on grilled polenta cake with a smoky tomato coulis that give this a mild character that have us ordering it again and again. As should be clear, the Bear’s friends are exactly first name with Amy Vanderbilt, so we don’t hesitate to go for finger food. The Crispy Thai style Chicken Wings, tossed in sweet & spicy sauce with Asian slaw, are meaty drummies shaded enough toward sweet to make them a unique and pleasant change of pace from the ubiquitous buffalo wings. Some time make sure to have the Abalone bisque. Featured at Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural Ball, it’s nothing less than a culinary (that’s like cooking and stuff to the Bear’s red neck friends) treasure. The house Italian sausage pizza, is another of those bar tappas.

For restaurant revelers there was a fixed price entrée choice of Prime Petite Filet Mignon & Gulf Prawn with potato nest, wild mushrooms, vegetables, béarnaise sauce & port demi sauce or Lobster Thermidor in Shell, truffles, sherry & english mustard-tarragon sauce served in a parmesan crust. Both come with the proper accompaniments – a crab bisque, a Winter Salad (pears pinenuts, hearts of palm, watercress, pomegranate vinaigrette), and the finish, a warm chocolate cake (as you can imagine, that one ain’t just from a Duncan Hines mix either), plus a Baked Alaska – space prohibits all the detail here. Prices? The bar tapas are six bucks between opening at 5 PM and 7 PM every day. That fixed price was $60, and entrees are from $20 to $40, on a largely al a carte menu. Not cheap, but what you’ll spend at the better restaurants, even the chain steakhouse and seafood places. Wines by the glass are seven bucks, plus or minus, and up. Make yourself at home, David Connelly is on the piano starting at seven.

Last time through Las Vegas, the Bear bet a five-game football parley to add a little spice to the season. To win anything he’d have to manage no less than a tie in five games, and by the first day of the year had garnered wins in his first two NFL games. The remaining three were bowls. First up, Murphy had Auburn minus three over Nebraska (the Bear doesn’t think the west coast offense is ever going to work out for the Big Red). That ended 17-14, an uninspiring tie. The way these things work, the ticket was still alive, but would pay for four picks, not five, 11-1, not 22-1. Ah well, still a few bucks and an excuse to go back to the bright lights in the desert.

Next up, the Rose Bowl, where Murphy needed Michigan, and was getting a point. So we warmed up the dip – a combination refried beans, queso, and salsa – and settled in. It didn’t take long for the Bear to get pretty worked up. Michigan looked flat – so what else is new? Neither team was truly dominant in the first half, and it ended even at 3-3, too. Except for one obvious problem -  Murphy was sure it would be a half time adjustment – but he was already uneasy that there had been no reaction even in that first hald, however. Michigan’s quarterback was dropping deep, five, even seven steps, in slow-developing passing plays. When he did, the USC rush – they were blitzing every play – simply ran by the Michigan blockers for five sacks.

Consider this second quarter sequence, on Michigan’s fourth possession: One yard run. Sack. Pass, short drop, quick rhythm, complete, twenty-one yards, first down. Sack. Two yard run. Sack. Punt.

Screens? Too deep, to slow. And where are the misdirection, counter, cut-back running plays. Zone blocking has only two plays, say the talking heads? The Bear knows that’s bull manure – the Denver Broncos zone block. There was one comment in the second quarter from the booth – never repeated. “They need to run short-drop rhythm passing plays.

At the start of the second half, USC gains nine, then is stuffed two plays and punts. So far so, good. Michigan, four yard run. Ten yard run, first down. Now they’ve got it going! Two yard run. Next play, deep drop, right into the Southern Cal pass rush, just as before. Interception. Game over.  Michigan actually pays this coach over a million dollars a year?  Geez, what a scam that is. Hey, Murphy is available! He’ll be much cheaper, and win or loose, he’ll not meet the definition of insanity like those bozos on New Year’s Day, “Doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome.”

Obviously, the next trip that Murphy’s gonna take will be to Florida, not Las Vegas. See y’all at Chicanes!

Murphy’s Simple Football Dip

1 Sixteen oz. can Refried Beans
1 Eight oz. jar queso dip
4 oz Salsa

Spread refried beans in pie tin. Layer with queso, leaving a half inch of beans at the edge. Bake in oven pre-heated to 350° for twenty minutes or until headed through. Top with your favorite salsa. Serve with tortilla chips.
 

Well, the Bear was paying attention last week and he realized there are ways to take your squeeze along and manage the time and do-re-mi in such a way as to make everyone happy.  The trick?  Find the less expensive car events, use the money you save to do some serious partying with your better half, and you’ll come away with her (or  him, not to be sexist here) remembering a great romantic time in one of the most beautiful places on the globe while you go home having had that awesome car experience.

Did you know that a ticket to the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach – a one day event – is $175?  Each.  For the Monterey Historic Races at Laguna Seca, $125.  For Corso Italiano, $150, the Quail, $150.  Seen the Barrett Jackson auctions on Speedtv?  The “big boys” are playing during car week – Bonhams & Butterfields, $75 bucks will get you in.  Gooding and Co., $30.  So far, that’s seven hundred bucks to go “first boat,” as they say, fourteen hundred for those of you who play together.  Get the picture?  Did you know that you can skip all these while taking in free events that will get your black little car-loving heart racing as never before?

The Bear might have stuffing for brains, but he’s no dummy.  Here’s his car-romance-stay-off-the-couch week.

First, don’t even think about the “official” Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca.  Go to the “Pre-historics” the week before.  No, that doesn’t mean Barney, Fred and Wilma, it simply means many of the same cars on Saturday and Sunday before “Car Week.”  Free.  Yes, free.  Historic F1 cars?  Check.  Pre-war?  Check. Historic IMSA?  Check?  Gullwing Coupes?  Check.  Crowds.  None.  Paddock access – no, unless you buy an associate membership in SVRA or some such organization.  But you can go anywhere else around the track.  The Bear saw his friend Mat shooting photos at the Corkscrew, and took a few himself.  So there you’ve got your start, Saturday, Sunday, or both.

So now it’s Monday, and there won’t be much going on of the car kind until Thursday.  Bad news?  Not if you’re a smart Bear, because this is where you get to be a hero, with all the conjugal benefits that brings (which is exactly why the Bear doesn’t recommend staying on some friend’s living room floor).  A good start will be Monterey, its historic downtown and the wharf.  Did you know that this was the headquarters of the whole California Mission system back in the day?  That it was the Spanish and Mexican capital of California?  History buff?  You’ll have no trouble entertaining yourself here.  There’s the Path of History through Old Monterey, and the Maritime Museum on the plaza, right at Old Fisherman’s Wharf, which most aficionados of such stuff will tell you is far more charming and entertaining than the one in San Francisco.  For dinner, there’s Rappa’s at the far end, with fabulous views of the harbor, plus Dominico’s, Fisherman’s Grotto, and Café Fina, where Rachel Ray found dinner as a part of Monterey on $40 a day.  Wander over to Wharf #2 for crisps, pickled eggs, fish and chips, plus a good selection of ales and such at the London Bridge Pub, or stop in for a bump or a bite at the Sandbar, where Jessica Walter did the freak-out number on Clint Eastwood in “Play Misty for Me.”

Tuesday would be a good day to do something completely different and cruise down the Big Sur coast in a replica 1929 Mercedes SSK from “Rent-a-Roadster” (to stick to your budget, pass on the Mercedes).  If you want to visit the Henry Miller Library – yes that Henry Miller – you’ll want to re-arrange your calendar.  It’s closed Tuesdays.  At the far point of your drive, stop for lunch at Nepenthe, its stunning views of the coast that Robert Lewis Stevenson called “the greatest meeting of land and sea” featured in the Elizabeth Taylor- Richard Burton film “The Sandpiper.”  Staying with our literary and movie theme, since you’ll be on Cannery Row when you rent the Mercedes and when you bring it back, Murphy thinks you should stop in at Clint’s real “Misty” haunt, The Sardine Factory on Wave Street.  The Bear has trouble getting past the bar, Big Mike, and its tappas menu.  Sauteed New Caledonia Prawns with basil & olive oil on grilled polenta cake with smokey tomato coulis, and Baked Oysters on the half shell with steamed spinach, creamed leeks, pernod, and toasted herb bread crumb topping, are just two of a dozen picks, all just $6 during happy hour from five to seven PM.  Stay after seven for mellow romantic popular tunes and vocals by David Conley at the piano.  If you’re lucky, Elvis will stop in to do a set – he does about once every other week.  This is not a time to hang around on The Row; there’s a warm bed beckoning on a cool coastal evening.

You’ve done Monterey and Big Sur, plus a taste of Cannery Row on Wave, so Wednesday – after sleeping in -  you might want to pretend to literati status and visit the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas in the morning and then return to Cannery Row for the afternoon at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. After that, the Canneries, on their piers jutting into the bay, are restaurants and night spots, so live it up where Mac and the Boys threw parties for Doc and where Dora and the Girls entertained the fishing fleets and the boys from Fort Ord.  The Fish Hopper is good food and drink, and the glass walls look out over the antics of gulls, pelicans, and sea otters in the early evening.  Go early to get the best tables on the ocean, and it will be light enough to enjoy the sights.  Want Mexican?  El Torito is also right on the ocean.  Likewise Louie Linguini’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and others.  For music, singing, dancing, comedy, and other nefarious activities check out Sly McFly’s,  Bullwacker’s, and Planet Gemini.  Of course, you can leave the Row for downtown Monterey to celebrate what-ever-it-is-you-want-to-celebrate before another one of those memorable nights of…

Is everybody happy?  Good, because it’s back to a bit of car heaven on Thursday, blended with a memorable day in Carmel-by-the-Sea.  This little cottage town of just 8,000 on the California coast is where the glitterati go when they are tired of the glitter.  Keep your eyes peeled for Jennifer Anniston, Doris Day, John Madden, Brad Pitt (probably not with Ms. Anniston), Kim Novak, Betty White, Charles Schwab and Leon Panetta – all among the residents of this little village.  Since it’s Car Week, that list will be augmented by Jay Leno and others here on the Peninsula for the festivities.  What you’re here for, though, is this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance cars in the Carmel Vintage Parade and Display – they’ll arrive soon after 11:30 AM and park along Ocean Avenue (that’s the main street that goes down to the beach) over lunch, then parade out of town onto 17 Mile Drive.  Before and after the car festivities you can wander through the shops and galleries, many in nearly hidden courtyards.  Murphy’s advice is to leave the credit cards in the lock box if you want to stay out of the poor house. Restaurants are as ubiquitous as the art galleries, Tiffany & Co., and Louis Vuitton, you might pick up a copy or check the online version of Guide to Carmel.  Some of the Bear’s favorite spots for lunch include Jack London’s Bar and Grill for an inexpensive “build your own sandwich, or the famous Tuck Box for breakfast, lunch, or afternoon tea.  Other options for lunch or an afternoon break include The Hog’s Breath Inn behind the Eastwood Building, and Merlot! Bistro on Ocean Avenue.  All that should keep you busy until about 7:00 PM, when Murphy suggests you head over to the Mission Ranch, near San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo Mission.  Take Ocean down toward the Beach then turn left on Scenic Drive.  After passing Carmel River Beach State Park, turn right on Santa Lucia and right on Lasuen Drive.  Mission Ranch is just a small white sign board to your right; if you get to the old mission itself, you’ve gone too far.  Mission Ranch is the Bear’s most favorite place.  Again, he and his friends don’t get much further than the piano bar with jazz pianist Gennady Loktionov.  The bar menu is reasonable, including an excellent hand-ground hamburger; they’ll even let you split it.  You can sit by the fireplace, or at the bar, and later at the piano (no food at the piano).  Gennady in there with jazz from 8 PM until the sing-along featuring talented locals – and sometimes your proprietor on trumpet with his favorite white wine – starts at nine.  The Bear suggests it’s cheesy to take photos of Clint.  Gennady, who arranged and scored “Mystic River” and “Million Dollar Baby” is worth an evening, even if the boss doesn’t show.

On Friday, head for 17-mile Drive (an $8.25 toll).  Enter the Highway 1 gate and do not take the shortcut to Pebble Beach, take the long way around to see some of the most beautiful coastline (and homes) in the world.  You’re headed for Pebble Beach, and the Blackhawk Collection’s Show of stunning, significant, odd, and historic cars, from the 1948 Porsche Weibel Prototype Custom Sports Cabriolet to Howard Hughes’ 1929 Duesenberg J Murphy Disappearing Top Roadster, a 1986 Sauber Mercedes Kouros Group C, and the 1978 Dick Barbour Le Mans Porsche 935, fifth overall. The cars are in a tent and spread around the Peter Hay Golf Course.  Just beyond are the manufacturer’s exhibits (stop at the Mercedes pavilion for a free glass of wine or beer), and RetroAuto, a memorabilia show of books, art and other collectables.  You can stop in at the Lodge at Pebble Beach for a libation or (pricey) lunch in the Tap Room, or just gaze down from the veranda on the famous eighteenth hole.

From Pebble Beach head to Pacific Grove (there’s a gate the drive) for the Classic Car Rally. An eclectic range of cars are on display in downtown Pacific Grove from 2-6 PM.  They simply park ‘em as the arrive, so you’ll see Healeys next Corvettes, next to Ferraris and California hot rods.  New and old, it doesn’t make any difference.  A street band entertains with standards, “Dead Man’s Curve,” and “The Little Old Lady from Pasadena,” and “Little Deuce Coupe.”  This is probably a good place for a late lunch, assuming you didn’t want to pay the freight at Pebble Beach (or Jay cut in line for a table ahead of you).  Achie’s American Diner, a couple blocks off Lighthouse and a bit back toward Cannery Row is a good option that fits the theme, and there are a number of good option right along Lighthouse Avenue, where the cars are displayed.

For a farewell dinner, stay in Pacific Grove for the Victorian Corner, or you might try Shane’s Irish Pub, at 401 Lighthouse above Cannery Row, another of Murphy’s favorites.

Saturday, you’re on your way home with your memories, your honey, and (some of) your money.  Life is good – even for “the rest of us.”

(this article originally appeared on www.dailysportscar.com) 

For those of you who are there in March – or watching on television – the ‘green Fords’ will be there. One of the Bear’s favorite sources dropped him a note a couple weeks ago, “AMR can’t confirm it yet…but it will happen, drivers all sorted. The C6s have some rivals!” That can’t have meant just the widely anticipated Sebring-only entry, can it? So, now we’re just waiting for some details to be worked out before a further announcement. The announcement that Prodrive will take on the Corvettes at Sebring doesn’t mention drivers or any races after Sebring. Will there be more than the enduros? Will there be anything after Sebring at all? Murphy is really hoping there is something more. He was watching the Super Bowl XL last night, and saw a couple of forgettable Ford adverts. Thirty seconds each. That’s five million dollars. Meanwhile they cancel the GT, and AMR can’t seem to run a couple of lousy races. The Bear’s getting to be a real Corvette fan. Elsewhere in the GT1 class, about which the Series’ Prez said at the WDWT that he was very optimistic for fields after Sebring and for the rest of the season, it seems that the Saleen deal – cheese and bratwurst – came together this past week. So add two green and white Saleens to the grid. Six cars of that caliber throughout the season would be just ducky. If we get a Maserati – no one will say that’s dead, just “on life support” – that’ll be gravy.

Murphy had a great time at Sebring. He joined his friends at the Outback Steakhouse, and nearby Clint, Jon and Liz, who already know Murphy, pointed him out to Highcroft Racing drivers Gregor, Duncan and Rick (left). That last guy, Rick is a hoot…Gregor, you remember Gregor from Sebring last year and from a winning drive with Clint at Portland, don’t you?…says he’s “straight from Woodstock, Haight-Ashbury or something…” Murphy doesn’t know about that, but Gegor seems to like the idea of racing with his old mate Duncan – and on British tires (tyres?) too. Murphy also likes the new guy, Rick, who comes straight out of a Busby Porsche 962 into a Dayton Lola B01/60. I mean, this guy is truly entertaining. On the difference between the Porsche here in 1985 and the Lola in 2006? “Stopping…I mean this thing stops! I got on the brakes and hit my faceplate! The 962 had power,” he said, “like a rocket strapped to your back. But this car stops. If you brake where you did with the Porsche, you’ll have to get back on it to drive to the corner!” Think Woody Allen’s “Sleeper.” Murphy thinks Rick might be right up there with Woody’s early years. “My Brain? That’s my second favorite organ!” Naw…that makes me think of Martin, the Coastie Photog.

Murphy made it to Chicanes at the Inn on the Lake, of course, perhaps second only to the bar at Siebkins as the site of historical indiscretions…. Tim from Braselton was there with friends, and graciously helped Murphy sign the wall, where he joins so many real racing luminaries.

This Ursa minor is truly humbled to be in such company. Later a nice guy named Ralf from Atlanta introduced himself and declared he was a big fan. Wow, Murphy’s been a big fan of Ralf from Atlanta for a long time.

Later Ralf from Atlanta said if it were him, he wouldn’t worry that Champion won’t have a place with Audi, though there are still a whole bunch of scenarios. Speaking of those scenarios, the one where R10s run at Sebring and R8s for at least part of the season after that might be a serious possibility. One who seems to think that might happen is JJ Lehto, who told a Finnish rag that it would be important to catch on with Audi at Sebring to preserve a chance for the driver’s crown for the American Le Mans season. One declarative statement by the Finn (relying here on a summary translation of the Finnish): “Audi won’t race the R10 and the R8 in the same race.” We think he’s dead right about that.

I hear that Van der Steur Racing won’t make Sebring, but will be around after that. Is it because of a chassis upgrade? Count on a new Lola chassis for B-K motorsports and their Mazda Wankel after Sebring. A concerted effort to fund a pair of Dallaras also ended recently.

The attempt to field a pair of Mercedes, though said to be fairly advanced, has come, for now, to naught – or not, and is not enough funding. And the Risi story is out, with two cars at “selected races” so far. Murphy told you about the second car, purchased by Ferrari of Toronto…that’s the one. So far, the funding doesn’t seem to include the Wagner-New Century Mortgage connection, but recent developments on the money front may add more races to the list. Elsewhere in GT2, the BMW story keeps trickling out. We knew to look for at least one Z4 coupe this season, though that might be sooner after Sebring than we thought. And now we hear that the Z4 is, like the current GTR-based six-cylinder M3s, no more than a placeholder. For the 2007 season, PTG will be fielding brand new V8-powered E90 M3s.

After three days in Sebring, I went along on the trip to Mickey World – he’s my favorite entertainer after – and in honor of my fave role by my mouse friend I donned this set of ears.

Then it was on to Daytona Beach. Brunch on the way was at Race Rock, where I read the USA Today Daytona coverage. Danica, Schmanica.

Liz wins races, jumps horses, and looks great; she’s actually won races, too. The guy in the photo is simply “team-mate Allan McNish.” Andy Wallace is a guy with eighteen starts, nothing else about him of note, of course. Elsewhere they tell us the race draws “champions such as Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte…” well, you get the drift.

The Bear wants to upchuck.

We went to a couple of places in Ponce Inlet – my favorite is the one where my friends – egrets, squirrels, pelicans – inhabit the deck with the people. Near there we stopped by “Down the Hatch,” and then “The North Turn” where the Murphy saw the Atlantic. The Bear loves oceans.

I’d never been to a 24 Hours at Daytona before, though my friends have been to fifteen. (OK, sometimes we call it the Rolex, but wasn’t it the SunBank 24 before that, and who knows what else? This “naming rights” thing is a relatively recent phenomenon, you know. Rolex is a sponsor at that French race, too, of course, and that isn’t called “The Rolex,” is it?) The Bear has become fond of the symphony of many different engine types. That’s sure gone, pretty much drowned out at the start by V8s; it sounded like one of those roundy races. Unfortunately, the GT field, where a decent section of Porsche boxer sixes helps fill out the choir, gets the green a half lap back of the DPs. Strange. Rick and Duncan went up to Daytona to join Michael Gue’s Essex team. Rick was “kind of surprised about how heavy it is,” was his observation of the DP. Coming straight from a Lola B01/60 that’s no surprise, is it?

Murphy ran into Rick again at the Orlando airport, and he was in good humor, though disappointed at being punted out of what might have been a fourth place finish with less than four hours to go.

It was all a little mind-numbing, so the Bear and friends adjourned to watch the finish at a little spot across the street. Another of Murphy’s favorite places.

That’s more than enough excitement for a little bear. I’ll see y’all at Sebring for the start of the sports car racing season.

It struck me how right Hindhaugh was with his “One-hundred-forty-seven days to Sebring – welcome to the 2006 American Le Mans season.”

Monday in Monterey – make that one-hundred-forty-six.

(this article originally appeared on www.dailysportscar.com) 

The Bear got here Thursday evening last week, in time for dinner on Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Dominico’s is as good as it gets; Choppino, Bouillabaisse. As good as it gets – for tonight, anyway (right).

At the track Friday, Martin was getting his lunch. Five portions enough Martin Spetz?

Scurrilous rumor is in season year round, of course, so let’s get started. Two talented and respected drivers for “The Don’s” cars didn’t get along particularly well, and it seemed to worsen as the season wore on. The Bear said to someone close to the situation over a cocktail, “He seemed to have one foot in ‘another effort’ for 2006.” “More like two feet,” was the wry response. Speaking of “new efforts,” the Bear has a lock (well, I think so) on one “S2” team for 2006. Four doors, starts with an “M” and has Heidi (you remember where she is from?) thrilled to death! And in one of those odd little twists, that entry ends up guaranteeing the continuation of the current anti-Porsche GT2 entry. The Bear’s understanding is that S2 is not a class itself, but rather a “rule” within the GT2 class.

Chuck Dressing was convinced that the Bear’s great grandfather was the bear on the California flag. Murphy got pretty excited. But he found out that the bear on the flag is a grizzly, not a brown bear, like Murphy. Too bad. But that still makes him a cousin, doesn’t it?

The Don and gang had the big budget meeting this weekend, and the Bear thinks it went well. Look for improved performance in 2006. And look for LNT to join them on the grid at Sebring. That will make four, right?

Friday we headed from the track down to Cannery Row and the Monterey Plaza hotel, where Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca CEO Gill Campbell was hosting a get-together. Emanuele Pirro drops by, but only for a quick hello. He’s got a dinner engagement. Tom Kristensen stays and chats with Gill and other friends. Kay is on her cell phone; JJ is loose in Monterey. Not good. Maybe we send someone else out for the tuxes next time? (He’s safe and sound, actually. Just delayed in traffic.) Then it’s off to the bar at the Sardine Factory on Wave a block above the “Row”, among The Bear’s favorites. Mike the bartender is on vacation. Jasmine is behind the bar. David Conley is the piano player. He was last year. His young wife M’Kalah is at the bar with us. David plays “The Shadow of your Smile,” like he did last year. M’Kalah sang, “Killing me Softly.” Life is good for the Bear.

Oh, sorry, there’s another little detail about that “M” thing. The Bear has heard that it might not be ready in time for Sebring; but certainly soon after.

Penske Porsche P2 Performance. Panzer-schmanzer. Sure, it’s fast, but it’s an LMP2 for god’s sake! And that is just about exactly what Sascha is saying, too. My friend Tom at dailysportscar already wrote that you throw a set of Michelins on the Lola B05/40 and turn it loose at any track with a “real straight,” and you won’t have a pence (or nickel’s) worth of difference between the only two “new rule” LMP2 cars on the planet. And that is just about exactly what folks familiar with recent side-by-side testing at Road Atlanta are saying, too. OK, that’s other than the Murphy 5 ¾, of course, but that story won’t be posted until later in the week.

The Bear brought his tux along for the ALMS Awards Banquet (right). This is the place to find out what’s going on, and what’s not. Being the end of the season, there’s lots of discussion about next season. Oh, you know that. It’s what this column is about.

Dearie, wait ‘til you get a gander at the new generation prototypes – the big suckers – the P1s. The Bear is certain of no less than four on the grid at Sebring, more are possible. Seriously, the Bear is hearing a two-fifteen number for the Mulsanne, chicanes and all. That ain’t P2 stuff. The Bear can count as well as the next wild animal, (Bears have five toes, you know) and he’s up to eleven LMP1s. And the Bear isn’t counting cars not already in existence or on which construction is not underway. No less than five of those are “new rule” (not “grandfathered,” and not “hybrids”). Two will be diesels. A brand new Lola B05/10 powered by an AER V8 twin turbo will be there, if all goes well. All but three will certainly go on to the remainder of the American Le Mans Series races. Are we having fun yet? And the Bear’s not even talking about LMP2, yet. Intersport will return in that prototype category, Liz Halliday partnering Clint for the whole season this time. The Bear thinks this will be a good year for Liz to be near home; that’s California. She was stunning on Sunday night, by the way, before flying to Zhuhai, China, to wheel the Lister Storm GT1 in the first of its last three outings this season. Big Mr. P. is going prototype-hunting next year. Think Sebring to start.

For a lot of hard working folks, the banquet is finally a chance to relax, to celebrate work well done over the season.

Much of the news and notes we read on the ALMS site is the work of Ryan Smith. Even though Murphy suspects he’d rather be at a Dawgs football game, he and the Bear sure had a good time. I think Ryan was having an even better time than me!

The Bear hit the Fish Hopper in an old Cannery – the ones on the piers over the water of Monterey Bay. Used to be Mark Thomas’ Outrigger. There was Souix Scott and Jerry something, songs and piano. Long gone, perhaps passed on. A beer at Sly McFly’s.

Our friend Jörg won the GT2 drivers’ title, with Pat Long. Jörg’s girlfriend Daniele is here; she was at Mosport. Good looking couple. The Society Editor pays attention to these things. Funny line of the weekend, Dale White: “Someone came up and asked me, ‘how did you ever get Bergmeister away from Alex Job’?” Well, the Bear can share. Jörg was released by Porsche at Christmas last year (why do so many companies do that kind of thing around Christmas?). You can imagine, it was an unsettling time. The result is gratifying, though. Jörg’s income this year? Increased. And of course there is the little thing of this championship. It’s always nice to beat your old boss, isn’t it, Jörg?

Tonight we thought we’d try something different – well not so different, since so many of our readers (and the Ed. and Deputy Ed.) are Brits – a “British Pub” in Old Monterey. Shouldn’t that be “English Pub”? Anyway, whatever they say, it’s not all bland, or even entire British Isles, this place called The Mucky Duck. The first item is colonies through and through. Crab cake. Think Maryland Eastern Shore. This one, dressed up with a brandied lobster sauce, red peppers, and Salinas Valley greens is really the best The Bear has ever had. Ever. Next, a Caesar Salad (origin of that one is Tijuana, Mexico, of course), with anchovies, just like the original. For the main course we order the Bangers and Mash. Good.

“Can we talk?” The Bear is disturbed – OK, some of you aren’t surprised, but I’m not talking about the crazy kind of disturbed, but rather the “verge of anger” kind of disturbed. The horse (“from the horse’s mouth,” you see) told the Bear just last night that the fate of Champion Racing’s prototypes in 2006 is “in the hands of the board.” The board, as in the VAG management committee, board, or whatever they call it over there. They have not decided to run an ALMS program for the new R10. Let the Bear say that again so it sinks in. The Volkswagen – Audi Group (of which Porsche recently acquired a hair less than twenty percent, making them, after the State of Swabia, the biggest shareholder) has not yet decided to run the R10 prototype in the ALMS (or with Champion) after Sebring (or at any time) in 2006. Without the ALMS the R8 would probably never have existed, or if it did, been one of those quickly-forgotten “Le Mans specials” – at least until the LMES in 2004. Without Champion Racing (and Audi Sport UK / Team Veloqx), the R8 would have faded from the scene long ago. Do you want to confirm for some, what they already believe – that Porsche and Audi prototype programs are “coordinated” and won’t compete with each other? Of course you don’t. Reinhold Joest might be your great friend, and there certainly is no doubt he can do a bang-up job helping to develop a new prototype, but what is Champion – chopped liver? It ain’t about dealing with a diesel either. How many diesels has Joest campaigned? (I’ll make that simple. Zero.) Just hire a couple of Caterpillar mechanics and teach them how to change a tire? No. It’s all about team; building a good one. And in case you haven’t noticed (you Audi big-wigs were at Le Mans this year, weren’t you?) the Bear will just tell you that Champion Racing is as good a team as there is on the planet, in racing or in any other sport.

The Bear is pretty sure that the absence of prototypes from Champion Racing on the grid would be seen as a grim prospect indeed by the American Le Mans Series. And the Bear is quite certain that the defending Le Mans champions have earned such a spot. They wouldn’t leave Champion with nothing, would they?

Aside from that, the thing most on this Bear’s mind is the upcoming winter. I’m thinking of hibernating. There’ll be lots to write about, but I’ll not be around my friends. What I’m feeling now, is lonely.

(this article originally appeared on www.dailysportscar.com) 

The Bear headed over to the Chateau. You know which one. How many Chateaus are there in Georgia, anyway? Once there, he headed right to Paddy’s where, sure enough, they had plenty of his favorite Jameson Irish Whisky. He liked the barkeep, too. She’s Kari, and from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, in the Bear’s neck of the woods. She’s a figure skater, so the Bear doesn’t mind admitting that he and the barkeep carried on about “double Saltows,” and “triple Lutz.” Being from the north woods, the Bear knows about such things.

Pretty soon the Bear was joined by his friends Tom, Martin, Steve, John, Phil, Bill, Barry, and Susan. Susan smothered ole’ Murphy…how come I have that effect on women?

Then the Bear joined the little band to sing a tune for the folk. Quite a good time. The Bear has to give the Don his due; for an Italian kid from West Virginia, he knows how to do Irish!

So what does the Bear hear? That there is a real interest from an ALMS LMP2 team in the Zytek 04S for 2006. And perhaps the series will get Hayanari as a regular driver with it.

There is a suggestion out there that Champ Car has reached an agreement with Grand Am for the latter to take to the streets of Long Beach, in support of the Grand Prix of Long Beach April 7-9, 2006. The Bear could get no ALMS denials, and has independently learned that the report is correct, and came about as a result of a late intervention by NASCAR, with Long Beach title sponsor Toyota. The Bear is told, but cannot absolutely confirm, that Toyota’s participation in the Craftsman Pick ‘em up truck series was implied to be at risk, along with any future plans for the automaker in other racing series, like taxicabs, under the NASCAR umbrella. Actually, this confirms what the Bear heard in the pit lane on Wednesday – that the open wheel series was “playing” ALMS and GARRA “against each other” for “the best deal” for the Long Beach event. And both items would appear to confirm the Bear’s earlier report that there were discussions to put Long Beach on the ALMS calendar. This leads the Bear to make two observations. First, regardless of the attraction of an entry to the southern California market, there aren’t many good things to say about street course events – and Long Beach is no exception. They are lousy places to watch races, and not such good places to drive race cars. And (with the exception, I guess, of Monaco) they lose prodigious amounts of money – among these many are Minneapolis, Des Moines, Detroit, Miami, and yes, Long Beach. Remember, Aquarium Asset Management (a Kalkhoven – Forsythe holding company) bought the LBGP for a song – about $15 million, after its previous owner had acquired the rights for about six times that amount. So regardless of the “municipal events” that recently purport to drawn tens of thousands, there is scant evidence for anything more than a few good years – if any – before the red ink begins to flow. According to reports, attendance at the Long Beach event has declined 25% in recent years.

What the Bear really wonders is why the ALMS, having been down this road before with these same folks (mostly the same, anyway), would again expose itself to this situation? Hasn’t it long since announced its intention to run on the “best traditional road race tracks,” and as nothing but a “headline event”? Did the lessons of Miami, Washington, and Mexico City make no lasting impression? Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. What in Champ Car’s management’s track record would give one confidence that it can halt the recent slide of the Long Beach event?

ALMS’ 2006 schedule will be announced later today (Friday). Long Beach will be on it or will not. Neither outcome should be seen entirely as good news. But the Bear is convinced that the “winner” of this event has not likely made a good bargain.

In some other schedule news, good sources have convinced the Bear that Edmonton is not likely to be an ALMS stop, but that another “shared” street race in the Lone Star State is. Not only do all the above reservations apply, but if that the funding for that race has not yet been legislated by local authorities, how like is it now that the city in question is struggling with many millions of dollars worth of hurricane damage? If Long Beach has not made the schedule, there will be about a seven week gap after Sebring. If this other street race is also lost that will further thin the series stops before July to a mere two. But, don’t mistake the Bear. In the long run he is convinced that the ALMS is much better off without such a deal.

There will be more from the Bear this trip, but he had a good draught of his Jamesons and had to get all this off his chest.