The Bear Returns

Murphy arrived on the Peninsula on Thursday tired from the drive, but still determined to stop in The Sardine Factory for a drink, tapas at the bar, and the piano of David Connelly – who always plays the Bear’s favorite, “The Shadow of your Smile.” It brings a tear to his eye every time.

Then it was off to Carmel to Clint’s Mission Ranch and pianist Gannady Loktianov. Clint must not have heard the Bear was in town, because he didn’t stop in. Prancer, having made the trip many times before, was able to get Murphy and his friends safely back to Salinas.

Mucky Duck

The Bear dropped in the Mucky Duck after the race. Being a smart Bear, he got there early, came in the back (where the band was), and migrated to the front bar. A bit later, there was a long line of hopeful partiers outside hoping – without much luck – to get in. The Poughkeepsie team was on hand as was a Brit engine bunch. All were quick to point out it took a while for the Lola AER to “come good” last time, but it went on to regularly challenge and sometimes beat the mighty Audi R8. Panoz in the early years can claim that, but no one else can. Some friends of the New York team are looking for Mazda to “step up.” Murphy agrees. It’s one thing to brand an engine and get an entry (or a bridge) with your name on it. It’s quite another to get a winner.

Enzo

Murphy attended the small forum party above Turn 9 for the second year in a row. He got a Dancing Zebra mug.

He really likes these guys – all named Chris, he thinks – and will certainly return in May. Last year he got a copy of Garth Stein’s, “The Art of Racing in the Rain.” (A video promo is here.) It’s become his favorite book, and Enzo the dog his racing hero. (The Bear’s review is here. ) On Friday night he learned that McDreamy has gotten the rights and Paramount will produce/distribute. McDreamy plays racing driver Denny Swift. That’s good enough, but Murphy wants to know who plays Enzo, the terrier-shepherd mix who’s the real star. Meanwhile, in June, Enzo’s story hit No. 7 on the New York Times best seller list for paperback fiction – it’s stayed in the top ten since, too.

Algae

It was mentioned elsewhere that the Don just happens to have some dough in a Lake Okeechobee plant that skims algae for biobutanol. However, Dyson Racing sources have been clear that the impetus for the recent fuel demonstration entries came from BP. That seems logical, since DuPont and BP plan to make biobutanol the first product of a joint effort to develop, produce, and market next-generation biofuels. So, if it were up to the Bear, one way or another, the entries at PLM and Laguna Seca would have gotten a ton of visibility. Murphy would have mentioned a hybrid was on the grid, too. But what the hell does a stuffed animal know, compared to the combined genius for promotion of the Braselton Brain Trust?

The Ferrari(s)

USA-based constructor/race team Aten Motorsports has its Ferrari program, in which it will race and build cars for others in Rolex GT well underway. The project, nine months in the making, took delivery of the first F430 on Tuesday. Here’s the first one being stripped down to be built back up as a proper race car.

Miscellany

de Ferran seems a cinch for IRL in 2010, but reading between the lines (and putting a furry ear to the ground) Murphy doubts there will be an ALMS team.

A US-German Porsche racing partnership is about to go out with a very spectacular bang.

Danny Watts could be driving an Acura ARX-01b next season – without straying too far from home.

Chris McMurry’s traded in his friend Shrek for a better deal – family.

Will Robertsons (finally) get some help from Henry’s company? There have been ‘stories,’ one of which mentions a second car. Both seem rather unlikely.

 Brumos and Grand Am

A few friends of the Bear’s who thought – hoped – that NASCAR might dump Grand Am if it failed to improve its fields or attendance are probably going to be disappointed. The boss (no, not Rober the junior employee) is “in it for the long haul,” according to a very good Bear source.

Does the “loss” of “funded” driver J.C. France mean that Brumos won’t return? Murphy said in this space that they were toast even before J.C. indulged in the “tradition” of racing across the Daytona Beach lift bridge (Raul Boessel and Little Al are previous offenders, the Bear was told). In this case, of course, the white powder (probably not confectioner’s sugar)is a bigger deal than the racing. Anyway, Brumos said this past week they’d be bumpin’ an rubbin’ agin in 2010. We’ll see. Murphy’s not holding his breath.

The Party

Moving on from the Middle-aged and Angry to the Bold and the Beautiful (or the Young and the Restless) the big bachelor party is in November. Will the Bear be able to smuggle in a mole? Not likely.

The Mole

Speaking of moles, the Braselton Brain Trust believes there’s one in their midst, and they’re “closing in.” It hasn’t occurred to them, of course, that if you lay someone off or cut their pay in a small Georgia town, it will take about, ah, maybe five minutes for the word to get out? Murphy can play that game, too. Who amongst “the big five,” (Tim being gone) would have “loose lips (that) sink ships?” (Borrowing a phrase from history.)

Reprobates

The four ring’s North American motorsports chief is history as of April 30, unless they keep him on a consulting contract – which they certainly should. The move to Virginia is starting to look as goofy as Nissan’s to, well, wherever they went.

The coupe-with-the-Cosworth story isn’t new, but it does seem to have legs this time. More than one inside wrench confirms. Earliest possible is New England, but later is much more likely. Another oldie but goodie rumor still alive is the big time tire company. Last time Murphy heard anything, it was “late 2008,” but one team reportedly switching will still be involved in championships contests, so the Bear thinks that means Sebring 2009 is the earliest debut – with a big-time team, anyway.

The Bear expects to see a jump in P1 programs in 2009, with further progress in that direction the following year, and he won’t be surprised when IMSA lets the two prototype classes drift apart. P1 will once again be the place where the big dogs play.

Was the Bear speaking of tires? Then he’ll “put this one to bed.” The Ferrari that didn’t start at Sebring is on Dunlops, with which they will likely stay for the remainder of the season. The other tires are not “suspended,” not “up in the air.” Permanently gone. Divorce, not particularly amicable. That company was at Long Beach shopping for another team.

Murphy saw Kumho girls JC and Aspen in civilian clothes. They’re in the newly published yearbook in uniform. Look good either way, don’t they?

There was some talk of another GT1 competitor, but Murphy also heard this one’s been “on again, off again,” for a long time, so he’s not going to get too cranked up, at least for now.

On the other hand, the new manufacturer entrant that’s expected before the end of the year is getting pretty obvious, isn’t it? It looks like a GT1 program to Murphy, who now hears it will come the long way around in route to the ALMS this summer.

In the meantime, Bell aught to be back at Miller, another GT2 Ferrari, and now Gil. ECO said they would, but that seems to have slipped – gone from two cars, to one, to none. They raced once, though, so they’re ahead of Cytosport, 1-0. Will we finally get over thirty entrants for a regular old race?

Champ Car had a nice farewell at Long Beach (Since it was a points-awarding IRL event, was it really a Champ Car race at all?) Danica won at Motegi, and then showed up at Long Beach all the way from Japan. In St. Pete, Graham won. Helio leads the championship. The whole country knows who he is. It doesn’t hurt that he drives one of Roger Penske’s familiar red and white cars.

So North American open wheel racing is “on a roll.” Next, a very popular – mercurial – driver will sign with a top team. It will be a huge – some might say even monster – deal, and a homecoming of sorts for our driver.

Murphy’s got friends who like the “Outback.” Well, so does the bear. Here’s his favorite Outback restaurant, on his way home from La La land.