Posts Tagged ‘Audi’
Saturday, April 9th, 2011
Mobtown
A rumor of layoffs in Baltimore Grand Prix, LLC. circulated last week but proved to be false. The Bear suspects it was an “echo rumor,” (that’s a story based on an earlier – but different – set of facts) of the February dual firing of the public relations and advertising firms. Ad firm GKV, was replaced by the Leffler Agency, Mobtown’s big agency. Baseball-focused Maroon PR, (the Cal Ripken baseball empire is their cash cow) bowed out, in favor of Edie Brown is the doyen of Baltimore PR. (more…)
Tags: Abruzzi, ACO, Andy Hall, Andy Lally, Audi, AutoWeek, Baltimore Grand Prix, Cal Ripken, Dave Spitzer, Daytona Prototypes, DTM, Edie Brown, Ferrari, GEICO, GKV, Hermie Sadler, Kevin Buckler, Leffler Agency, Level 5 Racing, Long Beach, Maroon PR, Martinsville, Matt Tarleton, Mercedes, New England Grand Prix, Reg Tarleton, Richard Petty, Signature Motorsports, Sonoco, TRG
Posted in Paddock Poop | 24 Comments »
Saturday, February 26th, 2011
The Abruzzi Archives
It’s not like it’s a big recall. You are dealing with two copies built on left-over Canadian-built race-car chassis. A torch, order some glass, and viola! (The body panels never did fit, anyway.) The bookkeeping makes the Bear a bit crazy, and leaves him wondering how this project can ever produce a competitive race car. Winchester need a part from Hoschton? The Don writes a check in Braselburg, mails it to Winchester, then Winchester writes a check and mails it to Hoschton. Meanwhile, Gordon’s got a consulting job with the Abruzzi at Sebring. Murphy expects he’ll be in charge of the tent flap.
It’s all pretty odd. The Bear remembers a big dust-up 2001 when not enough Bavarian touring cars were built. That led to our first ALMS one-make racing class. (more…)
Tags: Abruzzi, ACCUS, ACO, ALMS, Archimedes, Audi, babysitters, Bahrain F1, CART, Charlie Whiting, Corvette, Doug Fehan, DTM, FIA, Gil de Ferran, Highcroft, ILMC, IMSA, Intersport, Jay Penske, John Dagys, Katherine Legge, Kirk Russell, Lord Drayson, Lou Gigliotti, Luca Moro, Luciano DaSilva, Paul Collins, Petit Le Mans, Rahel Frey, restricted events, Road America, Road Atlanta, Scott Elkins, Signature Motorsports, Tony Kanaan, Trevor Bayne
Posted in Paddock Poop | 7 Comments »
Monday, February 7th, 2011
Murphy got to Daytona Beach – over on A1A – on Wednesday. His room was waiting for him, and the Alchemist’s team was getting things sorted out at the World Center of Racing – or so the Bear thought. When the Alchemist and his team found Murphy in Atlantic Jack’s with bartender Walt, was clear something had come unglued……(to be continued – maybe)
And now, back to our story…The Bear’s still recovering from his trip to the World Center of Racing. Circumstances beyond his control kept him from his favorite places – Down the Hatch, Racing’s North Turn, and the Boondocks – to say nothing of Molly Brown’s, even though Molly’s was right around the corner from his Wednesday and Thursday night digs. He finally did get to Hooters on International Speedway Boulevard. (more…)
Tags: Abruzzi, Aston Martin, Atlas eFX Team FS, Audi, Chip Ganassi, Creation Autosportif, Daytona Ale House, Dempsey Racing, Dyson Racing, Ferrari, Flying Lizards, GAINSCO, Gill Campbell, Goerge Bruggenthies, Hooter's, Jimmy Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Lou Gigliotti, Martin Brundle, Matt Tarleton, McDreamy, Molly Brown's, Monty Python, Norwegian Blue, Patrick Dempsey, Peugeot, Reg Tarleton, Wing House
Posted in Paddock Poop | 6 Comments »
Monday, October 25th, 2010
The Unvarnished Truth: DTM in North America
Back on July 7th, Murphy told you about talks between NASCAR, the FIA, and the folks who run DTM. The Bear’s comments reflected what was said at a little get-together in Daytona Beach that week. Soon thereafter, Grand Am published its “GT3 Memo,” reported in detail by Murphy’s friends over at Last Turn Clubhouse.
Now ITR – the promoter of DTM – announces that they are working on a joint schedule with NASCAR and Grand Am that would bring 12 races to North America in 2013. Some question the story, one critic writing it’s “BS,” trumped up solely by Hans Werner Aufrech of ITR. If that were so, would Grand Am President Tom Bledsoe (said to be very close to Jim France) have released a statement confirming the general outlines of the on-going discussions? Murphy suggests you shouldn’t ignore that these talks were announced at that same reception for Grand Am and other NASCAR team owners in Daytona in July. (more…)
Tags: Abruzzi, AMC, Audi, Baltimore, Cadillac, Citroen, Creation, DTM Grand Am, Duncan Dayton, Dyson Racing, Edsel, Ferrari, Ginetta-Zytek, Hans Werner Aufrech, Highcroft Racing, HVM Racing, Jim France, Kurt's and Vreny's European Bistro, Laguna Seca, Lawrence Tomlinson, Mazda, Munchkins, NASCAR, Oldsmobile, Peugeot, Porsche RS Spyder, Road America, Roush-Yates, Studebaker, Tom Bledsoe, Triumph, Tucker, Zytek Motorsport
Posted in Paddock Poop | 10 Comments »
Saturday, September 25th, 2010
Crickets
The Bear’s hearing precious few rumors – and that’s a worry. It’s a worry because this is usually the time of year when stuff is happening. Hearing good news (or not so good) from sponsors, putting together budgets, talking to drivers, suppliers, engine and car builders. But there’s little of that going on, and little has gone on over the summer. To borrow a rather overused term, there’s not much “buzz.” (more…)
Tags: Abruzzi, Alex Lloyd, Audi, Baltimore, EFR, HVM Racing, Judd, Legends, Marshall Pruett, Office Depot, Oklahoma City, Padova, Panoz, Porsche, PTG, Road America, Saleen, Sarah Fisher, Sebring, Simona di Silvestro, State of the Series, Super Bowl, Tony Stewart, Triest
Posted in Paddock Poop | 9 Comments »
