We all know that through the past few years, the ALMS has been a bit “GT heavy,” or should the Bear say “prototype light.” We’ve had – still have actually, looking at the Lime Rock entry – as few as three regulars in LMP-1. And that sorry count was preceded by years in which the LM-P2 count was just as bad. (If you counted at the end of races, rather than at the beginning, that LM-P2 count was worse than awful – certainly not awesome, eh?)

Then along came Porsche, and it all started to change. The prototype count at Lime Rock will be 12, at Mid-Ohio, about 14. GT at Lime Rock, 16, and perhaps 18 at Mid-Ohio. Then it gets interesting.

Cytosport returns, and Intersport fields two cars, increasing the LM-P1 entry at Road America, and it’s now possible that a Zytek makes the grid there – certainly soon thereafter. Who? Not the usual suspects. The team will be near a great North American lake, and the drivers on hand have relevant (useful, even) American Le Mans Series prototype experience.

In fact, there are other possible new prototypes as we go through the remainder of the season, but increases to the GT grid are improbable. Put Road America down for 17 prototypes and 18 GT entries. All the trends are for the “tipping point” (when prototype entries equal GT entries, and thereafter exceed them) soon after that, certainly at Petit Le Mans (and not just temporarily because of a European invasion). In GT, we’ve lost a Ferrari – that’s likely to stay that way.

The Bear is still hearing that Road America will remain off the IRL schedule in 2009. With only minor league racing on Sunday, can North America’s best race track build on the success of last season’s shared event? Murphy certainly hopes so. (He’s planning his time at Siebken’s Stop-Inn Tavern, Neenah’s Commercial Break, Appleton’s Outback, and other favorite bear haunts. Say hi.) The Bear’s still looking for a drop-in kind of pub near Lime Rock – a place where friends can gather after a thirsty day at the track.

Houston won’t be back – for anyone. Sebring and Long Beach are “fixed” on the calendar – that’s a good thing. Will there be a 12th race? If there is, Murphy thinks it should be before Le Mans. Where? A friend of the Bear’s was at Millville this past week, and there was still talk at the members-only event of an ALMS visit in 2009. On the other hand, this place has strong ties to Grand Am through one of its investor-owners, and already has a Guppie race on the 2008 calendar. Would it work before Le Mans? Yup. (Murphy checked his Almanac and New Jersey’s just as warm as Utah in May.)

Is the Lime Rock entry good enough to make it a show? On a 1.5 mile track? Are you kidding? 28 entries (or 26, given that PrimeTime has hinted its “under the gun to make it,” and Black Swan isn’t all that certain either) (Murphy adds, “I just heard that PrimeTime is certain for Lime Rock, car is set, and barring some complete disaster, count on them for the remainder of the season…that makes the Bear very happy.) will keep the field and the fans occupied on the short and narrow course. Hope that the racing takes place “for position” and not just for the hell of it. Drivers challenging cars laps ahead has ruined races before.

Where does that leave Road America? With an event that looks like this year’s American Le Mans headliner. If you sports car fans want that Saturday enduro to continue in 2009, make sure you’re in the Kettle Moraine country in August.

Cold Day in Houston

It will be a cold day in Houston (ain’t many of those, are there?) before it hosts another big league race. ALMS isn’t planning on Edmonton, either.

That’s Twelfth Race, Shakespeare

If they do, where will the sports cars add a twelfth race? Murphy thinks New Jersey makes sense. May weather averages a couple degrees warmer than does Utah, though the chance of precipitation is about double. Four inches is typical for the month. (It’s not the desert, you see.) It’s a market argument the series can easily make, and early and mid-May races – both on natural terrain road courses – fit American Le Mans Series scheduling better than crowding Houston into April ever did.

Is Canuckistani Urban Festival History?

Interest in a certain monster deal was pretty much built around rights to a Canuckistani event. But that circus, like most urban festivals, was big time upside down – about $2 million worth – and in need of deep pockets, corporate or government. With no significant corporate cash in the offing – Tukeo Fukui’s company passed, and the monster deal is for 2009 – the would-be promoter turned to government. There they’ve gotten some Loonies (not nearly enough) and extended the decision deadline to the ides of May. It’s all complicated with a location 14 kilometers from downtown in play, and some pushing (without much notice) to get Mosport into the mix. What it means is the driver won’t sign and the race will fade into history.

Auf Wiedersehen R10

From the get-go, Audi told the IMSA guys the R10 was planned as a three year deal. So a decision now is no surprise in Braselton. One option might have been to extend, but there’s this Peugeot, and though the four rings bunch should be 2-1 rather than 1-2 (you see, there’s this radio thingie to talk to your driver…aw,fughedaboutit!) the R10 is still about a second and a half adrift of the Frog diesel. The Acura LMP1 is on the way, perhaps one from the horse farm, too. So, what to do? Murphy thinks Ingolstadt has two options (they know damn well what the rules will be – close enough, anyway) 1. stay in LMP1, probably with a coupe, but certainly with a new chassis, or 2. field the R8 in GT1, as a diesel. But they run the risk of being without competition in GT1, you say? That’s ever bothered the Ingolstadt boys, how?

The Bear’s also heard more, ah, devious reasoning. If the R8 diesel was developed from the R10 TDI diesel, but can be homologated as a road car motor, why not put it – unstressed – in that coupe (rules are you can “upgrade” it a bit), get the more generous restrictor, and… Glittering generalities will be revealed…soon.

Murphy’s Top Ten Reasons to be a Field Filler

Murphy has always known he can’t drive for spit, so it never occurred to him to go racin’. Then he looked at the entry for top-shelf sports car racing, and said “whoa! Drivin’ ain’t no requirement!” He’d be a back marker; a field filler. But he got to thinking that might not be so bad, since he quickly came up with the

Top Ten Reasons to be a Field Filler

10. You can’t take it with you, anyway.

9. The radio web guys will talk about how fast you are before you crash.

8. You don’t have to buy a race ticket.

7. You’re an optimist – you think you’ll get better.

6. You can get the notice of the crowd with a “Sunday drive” down pit lane.

5. You really, really love to sign autographs.


4. You like the cool-looking helmet. Is Chuck Barris still alive?

3. At Hooters, the answer to “What do you do?” is “I’m a race car driver.” (the response, unfortunately, will be, “NASCAR?”)

2. You’d be great on Dancing With the Stars.

1. You’re sure you’ll get a hug and a kiss from a Kumho Girl.