At Laguna Seca, the Don was told by key manufacturers and teams they were unhappy with his management team, that the value of their ‘investment’ in the series was unacceptably declining. That he would have to do something to earn their continued support.

In response, our entrepreneur appointed a ‘steering committee,’ of prominent ‘stakeholders’ led by Duncan Dayton (Highcroft Racing) and Seth Neiman (Flying Lizard Motorsport).

The charter of this ad hoc committee is to recommend future strategy and implementation planning. Questions on the table include: How many classes should there be? What should the nature of the relationship to Le Mans, the Le Mans Series, and the Intercontinental cup be? Indeed, even such detail as the administration of performance balancing to promote competitive racing within classes.

The members, who Murphy hears were more or less nominated by manufacturers and teams, include a company turnaround specialist, a businessman/team owner, and public relations executive Paul Pfanner, the latter appointed by PMG chief Scott Atherton. Pfanner is seen as an Atherton ally, while Duncan and Seth are trusted by the rest of the ALMS community. The Bear’s been told that Rob Dyson is also a member.

If you’re looking for the éminence grise behind the Series’ marketing direction, Paul Pfanner is your guy. A former Haymarket executive currently on his own with Pfanner Communications, he was responsible for the market study of the Series fan demographics, helped create the logo, the ‘World Class’ title, and more recently the ‘Leader Green Racing’ tag line. Some would say (and do) the presence of Pfanner on the committee all but ensures it will accomplish little of substance.

It’s rumored that Neiman considered a purchase of the whole lot two years ago, one of just a number of such offers and near-offers, and separate from one Murphy previously reported from New York investors brought to the Don by Fountainhead Holdings CFO Tony Mastandrea. Tracy Krohn has also been a player in such discussions.

The price then was too high for the revenue streams. The Bear suspects it still is, even having dropped by half, the revenues have dropped further and faster. Those in the business point to the sale of the race car parts business to Haas, telling us “The car is a loss leader for race car constructors; the profits come from selling parts,” and asking, “What then does it say when you sell the parts business?” What, indeed?

Regardless of reference to a “management team” it’s believed that decisions in Braselton (outside of the Don) are made by the CEO alone. Unfortunately, even in the face of dissatisfaction with policies and performance, no replacement is apparent. Thus the committee was created to provide direction and ratify decisions.

One observer doesn’t expect any substantive changes, but wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of a sale, “Panoz does not want to manage day to day, nor does he want to put any more money in. It suits him to keep the guy at the top because its the easy option. A sale would be an even easier option, but only if he can get the price he wants.
 
“I think the only reason he has set up this steering committee is to avoid having to make public changes at the top. It allows the American Le Mans Series community some comfort that they can have an input and it allows Don to continue to enjoy his retirement.”

This past week our committee has been considering whether to be represented at the upcoming road racing conference, an annual event between the series and its constituent tracks. In the past, the ALMS has presided on the first day, then tracks’ executives have met separately on the second day of the conference.  A source told Murphy, “The (track) organizers have made it clear that they don’t want the same old BS, that they are looking for reality and new approaches. That’s why the committee may want to be represented separately from the Series.”

Of one thing Murphy is certain. If this ad hoc committee can’t make a substantive change in the direction of the American Le Mans Series, it will quickly become an ‘escape committee.’

LMP Challenge still Fraught with Uncertainty

Murphy’s been trying to follow the potential for Challenge cars on the Sebring grid and thereafter.

Intersport Racing – announced the second funded driver, Brian Wong, today; order placed.
Gunnar Racing – no announcement, but “firm rumors.” Declared interest at Road Atlanta test drive.
Comprent Motorsport – announced “interest,” and asked “funded drivers” to contact them.
O’Connell Racing – plan to enter “selected events.”
Genoa Racing – “expect February delivery.”
Primetime Race Group – rumored, but unannounced.

Murphy thought PMG would have a role in building the LMP Challenge cars under license from ORECA. It seems last year’s financial problems and subsequent cuts have made that impossible. A recent visitor wrote to the Bear, concerned that there may be delays in delivering the Challenge cars, “…the day I stopped by there, there were only about 1/3 the parking spaces used and only one guy in the fabrication shop. …the old offices that in the past had been full of cubes had been rearranged to be rather spacious for the current employees.

“I know more about manufacturing than the race car business, but it seems to my meager eyes that while Braselton has equipment to manufacture they don’t have anyone to put the equipment to work. Not just anyone can put that equipment to work though, and it would be a reasonable guess that the trained personnel doesn’t reside in north GA anymore which is likely why the Haas deal took place.”

Really good?

Murphy has been told to expect ‘really good Sebring entry news.’ What might that be? Wouldn’t that almost require an Audi entry…anything else would be ‘good news’ without being ‘really good news?’ At least that’s the way the Bear sees it.

A.C. hears the “Good News” about the Sebring entry will likely be a two-car ECO Radical entry, with both cars powered by (believe it or not) a urine blend fuel (U85, to be exact). The ACO has not blessed the urine-powered LMP1s yet, and they remain skeptical about the team’s refueling rigs. Several NASCAR teams have been looking into U85, and the virtually unlimited supply of the fuel, which could flow directly from the grandstand urinals to the fueling rigs. NASCAR has already trademarked “Global Leader, Yellow Racing” and hopes to run at least two cars in the Flomax Series powered by U85.

Look for Murphy’s upcoming Rolex 24 preview.

Follow Murphy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Murphythebear