11. What new LMP2 was announced at the 2003 Petit Le Mans?

The Shaw Chassis Engineering SCT 100. An entertaining event that gave the Bear and  others many laughs at Road Atlanta and later at other events where Shaw was a no-show. From the report of the news conference Murphy’s friend wrote for dailysportscar at the time: “Shaw Chassis Engineering, of Mazon, Illinois today announced a “chassis program” based on new technology that will allow competitive ALMS-rule-compliant prototype race cars for as little as $180,000, complete with a 3.4 liter V8 of Shaw Chassis’ own design. Manufacturing of thirty-six chassis is underway, allowing such attractive pricing. Corey Shaw said, “We have several contracts in hand, some from teams, or drivers currently competing in ALMS, for cars to be delivered to be raced at Sebring in 2005. The thirty-six chassis include “some” that are being built for SCCA’s A Sports Racer class (ASR).” In retrospect, the number of lies told by Mr. Shaw is astounding – or perhaps it’s not, considering Al Solaroli, Greg Loles, the Soup Kitchen Guy, and Henri Zogaib.

12. What factory team made its only ALMS start at Sebring in 2004?

Morgan.

13. Name the 6 diesels that have raced at Le Mans.

Delettrez, 1949; MAP, 1950 (also first mid-engine entry); Taurus/Caterpillar, 2004; Audi R10, 2006-2008; Peugeot 908, 2007-2010; Audi R15 2009-2010.

14. How many wins and series championships did James Weaver win for Dyson Racing?

33 race wins, 3 championships. Some of you came up with other numbers; Murphy’s using the Dyson Racing website as his authority.

15. What was the first racing event attended by Murphy H. Bear?

Laguna Seca, 2004. Murphy H. Bear was adopted at the Inn At Sonoma a few days before Audi Sports Car Championships at Laguna Seca in October 2004.  He took his name from Murphy’s Irish Pub,  in an alley just off the Sonoma plaza. This photo appeared in dailysportscar’s coverage of the event.

16. Harry and Oscar played a peripheral role in the 2006 American Le Mans P2 championship. Identify them.

Harry and Oscar were Liz Halliday’s Eventing Horses; a native Californian, Liz lives in England, where she pursues her dream of Olympic Gold. Eventing is an equestrian event which comprises dressage, cross-country and show jumping. Her racing and eventing schedules didn’t directly conflict, but they certainly required a great deal of planning and air travel.

17. Seven new LMP projects were announced during 2005. What were they?

Zytek 06S, Lola B06/10, Panhard, Riley Mk.XII/XIV, Titan, Porsche RS Spyder, Radical SR9 were the ones Murphy had in mind, but it turns out some others were also announced that year, including the Lavaggi LS1, Peugeot 908 (how could the Bear miss that one?), Zulltec CZ-01 and Project Raven/VIP. The Courage LC70 ran in 2006, so the Bear assumes it was announced in 2005 along with the LC75, though he can’t find an announcement for either; the same applies to the Creation 06/H. Though the Courage C65 was launched in 2003,a chassis modified to take the Mazda rotary for the ALMS was introduced in 2005, so Murphy will accept that answer if it specifies the Mazda version. The Pescarolo version of the Courage C60 went into production in 2004, but the “hybrid” version debuted for the 2005 season, so Murphy will count that one, too.

18. What notable sports car partnership was launched in Asheville, North Carolina, October 30, 2005?

Andy Wallace and Catherine Crawford were wed – became partners – at the world-famous Bilmore Estate of George Vanderbilt. They subsequently also collaborated as driver and race engineer in Grand Am events.

19. What was the modern era racing debut for Spyker Cars?

12 Hours of Sebring, 2002

20. What brand was the American Le Mans Series “Official Audio and Electronics” partner?

MB Quart

BAM! a Porsche GT team, was announced in 2003 for the 2004 season; Tim Munday and Peter Baron were identified in the release as owners. “The BAM! team owners are Tim Munday and Peter Baron (right) – Munday as technical director, Baron as business director.” – DSC 3 November 2003. Leo Hindery was listed as a sponsor/driver with his YES Network. We all know that Leo was a significant investor/supporter, which is why Murphy specified “managing” partners.

2. At what events did Lola’s B06/10 start on the ALMS pole?

Three; Houston, Portland, Mosport, all in its inaugural 2006 season by Dyson Racing. The grid at Mosport was set from practice times after qualifying was rained out. The other poles were won in qualifying by James Weaver.

3. What was the North American branding of the IES-built JI V6?

Willman 6, after ALMS driver Bryan Willman, who contributed funding to the design and development of the engine, and drove for the Bucknum Racing team that used it in the Pilbeam M91 in the 2003 season. The engine and the chassis were equally successful.

4. What two famous driving stars were signed by Tom Milner for the ALMS 2002 season but did not race when BMW’s M3 GTR was withdrawn?

This could be tricky, since drivers like Stuck and Auberlen are “famous,” at least in Murphy’s sports car world. But they were holdovers, and this refers to an announced signing of new drivers Patrick Long and Danica Patrick. Their contracts were voided when BMW cancelled its M3 GTR program rather than race with restrictions imposed by the ACO and followed by IMSA.

5. What car did Jeff Giagrande’s company enter in the 2003 ALMS season?

Ferrari 360 Modena.This one was easy to track down, if you know that Jeff Giagrande was CEO of auto parts company ACEMCO. Just check the 2003 race results at IMSA’s website.

6. Sebring 2003 was a gathering of famous names. Of the car companies represented by entries,  which was the first to build a motorcar?

Spyker in 1899. At least one submission named Mercedes because a Merc engine powered the Pagani Zonda. But since Mercedes was not named as an entrant, Murphy has to rule it out.

7. From whom did Donald Panoz purchase Professional Sports Car Racing and the rights to the IMSA name and logos?

Michael Gue, Tom Milner, Doug Robinson, and Ray Smith. This was a “trap question.” The Bear tried to make this quiz easier – most questions about the ALMS, and most easily found online – but he needed a question that would reduce the likelihood of ties at the top. This one fit the bill, since the Wikipedia article, which identifies the seller as Andy Evans, is wrong. Murphy made it a bit  more difficult by giving it just “1 point”, not “1 point each.”

8. Who said, “Everyone knows that shepherds and poodles aren’t especially smart. They’re responders and reactors, not independent thinkers…” ?

Enzo, the canine narrator of “The Art of Racing in the Rain.” If you think this is obscure, you aren’t a regular Paddock Poop reader. One entry knew the quote was from “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” but identified the speaker as “Enzo Ferrari.” He needs to read the book.

9. Why was laundering the team uniforms the most popular job for White Lightning Racing?

“Hollywood Madam” Heidi Fleiss opened “Dirty Laundry” in Pahrump, Nevada, where the team’s shops were located. Another question meant to reward the Bear’s regular readers. Odd as it seems, this is a true story. The Bear doesn’t know if Heidi is still in the laundry business in Pahrump. Dale?

10. What Grand Am entry was piloted in a single season by famous names Petty, Newman, Minter and McQueen?

Gunnar Racing’s G-99 – Kyle Petty, Paul Newman, Milt Minter, Chad McQueen – 2003. Kevin Jeanette, even beyond what might be expected from someone who restores historic race cars, has a wonderful appreciation for the history of the sport and the people who have contributed, so the chance to add an ailing Milt Minter to the 2003 G-99 Grand Am race team for a single event was irresistible. Who can forget Jeannette’s tribute to the WWII United State Army Air Forces and the B-17 crews that trained at Sebring for the track’s 50th Anniversary?

The top two at the Rolex once again came from Murphy’s top 5. After putting both Ganassi cars on the list (a bit of a no-brainer, even if your head is stuffed like a mattress), plus Brumos and two-time Grand Am Champion GAINSCO, the Bear mused in Paddock Poop 152 about the fifth, finally settling on the No. 9 Action Express because it fit all three Bear rools. Including the one about established teams, since in crew, staff, and owner, it was largely the “other” Brumos entry, the one vacated by the accused Daytona Beach druggie.

One Ganassi car blew an engine, a rarity in recent years; it had 8 hours on it at race’s start. Is it a measure of the economy that Ganassi’s ran a well-used motor? Even if his race engine was replaced because of an oil leak, no fresh engine was available?

Readers wondered about the Bear’s bullishness on the BMW M6 entries, but they’re thinking like ALMS fans, where ‘new cars’ are new cars. In Grand Am, tubers shed their skins like snakes, yesterday’s Pontiac becoming today’s Chebby, and tomorrow’s Bimmer. Finishing 8th and 11th, they didn’t have any more trouble than any other make in the field – less, in fact.

Two of Murphy’s five favorites finished in the top five, one on the podium; among the 30 GT entries, the Bear’s Five were 2nd, 5th, 8th, 9th, and 12th.

Saab-Spyker Saga

So Spyker’s ‘buying Saab?’ Everyone knows that the one-time Dutch F1 team masquerading as an automaker doesn’t have a guilder to its name, so how does this happen? The devil’s in the details. The Dutch want their pet car company, as do the Swedes, so the Dutch arrange a $562 million loan for Spyker and get the Swedes to guarantee it. GM will ‘sell’ Saab to Spyker for $74 million in cash and $326 million in Spyker-Saab preferred stock (what’s that worth, given neither has made a guilder or krona in living memory?).  Spyker pockets $488 million in cash (perhaps some of that will buy out the 30% Spyker holdings of Vladimir Antonov, suspected (by Swedish Intelligence) of money laundering and links to organized crime.

Rolex Rumor

Northeastern Florida isn’t exactly populated by ALMS well-wishers at this time of the year, so Murphy has learned to anticipate one or more pretty nasty rumors. Some have a kernel of truth, some are just off-the-wall. The 2010 annual ‘Daytona ALMS Rumor?’ Widely circulated in the paddock on International Speedway Boulevard was the story that ALMS has not yet paid 2009 prize money, so teams, in a kind of “strike,” are sending in their 2010 entries with no money. Of course the Bear is more than a little suspicious of the whole thing, but the “fact of the rumor” is surprise – just a measure of the ‘bad blood’ between these two competing sports car racing series.

Murphy’s sources indicated that at least the ‘strike’ part of that is untrue. If any team was withholding entry funds it wasn’t in concert with any other teams, and likely wasn’t in any ‘retaliation’ for nonpayment. Prize payments have dragged in a bit late – sometimes in installments – in recent seasons, and apparently this one is no different. The Series has suggested that prize money be credited against the new season’s entry fee, which seems perfectly reasonable to the Bear.

Defecting

Expect more than one Grand-Am team to “defect to LMPC” after Daytona. Alex Job is said to be one of them (interest by AJR was expressed early) along with Level 5, and at least one other. The LMPC count for Sebring will be 4 or 5, with 2 or 3 to join the series after that – consistent with ALMS Supremo Scott Atherton’s recent pronouncements.

From one quarter Murphy is told, “the Grand-Am fields will be horrific after Daytona,” and that “NASCAR upper management is fed up with Grand-Am.” If that’s true it didn’t keep Jim-Bob from winning the Rolex with his own entry. Close connections to Action Express’ owner Bob Johnson – along with other information – would suggest so. Mr. Johnson is Jim-Bob’s personal CPA; the company funding Action Express is something called High Rev Racing. Entering your own race series isn’t exactly revolutionary (Don Panoz being another example); the Bear takes it as a vote of confidence rather than something nefarious.

GAINSCO Gone?

The Bear’s been told that the Rolex was GAINSCO’s last race. Miami hotel reservations have been cancelled.

Audi In, Peugeot Overboard?

The Bear hears that Braselburg is considering allowing Audi to enter Sebring, pending the outcome of the new car’s testing, now underway. If the entry accepted is the “transitional” car, and not the “new rules” R15, then there’s little doubt the effect will be to toss Peugeot overboard. Peugeot may jump anyway, of course. The new Audi just might be ready for Sebring, anyway, since Audi Sport Joest has turned up as a “full season” LMS entry. That would mean the car is now believed to be ready by April…March 20th isn’t all that much earlier, is it?

There’s Cars and…

…then there’s cars. Ferrari can’t be happy about the two street-car based (barely more than that) Ferrari 430 Challenge cars entered at Daytona. One was turned away (‘not ready to race’ is a kind description) the Bear hears. The other muddled around, thoroughly uncompetitive. Look for entries from Tony Dowe later in the Grand Am season to be much more representative of the iconic marque.

Inlimbo Racing League

Izod is the IRL’s new title sponsor; you’ve probably seen the ads. Other noises from the surviving – for now – North American open wheel series aren’t so good. Ganassi is just the latest to join the ‘new car’ discussion, having produced a mock-up – a sign, according to one source, that the series is “just blundering around.”

The addition of Lanigan to Newman Haas was the work of the late Paul Newman; Carl’s family’s not on speaking terms with the new partner. Are we seeing the unraveling of Newman-Haas-Lanigan? That’s one opinion Murphy’s heard.

Unemployment Line

Here’s a measure of the weakness of the racing industry world-wide: Butch Leitzinger, Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller, Sascha Maassen, Emanuele Collard, Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, all ‘available and looking.’ And that’s just a few.

USF1

What the Bear is hearing is pretty grim. The chassis hasn’t been ‘crunch tested’ yet. There’s no motor on hand, payments to Cosworth reportedly now in arrears. The team has applied to the World Motorsports Council for dispensation to miss the first three races without penalty – more a courtesy than a rule, since guaranteed participation is not a part of the new concorde, as it was in the old.

It’s  not over yet. USF1 owner Chad Hurley (one of Youtube’s three original founders) could rescue the operation – with new management – if he so chooses. Meanwhile, Bernie is in his element, the eminance gris trying to arrange an interim chassis, but that’s wrapped up in a ride for Bruno Senna. If Bernie can’t get USF1 onto the grid, he might be stuck with the Russians, who’ve grabbed the rights to the ex-Toyota chassis (someone will have to check the accelerator pedal).

Lou News

Murphy’s friend Lou Gigliotti is running for Congress – here’s his web site. Meanwhile, he’s charging ahead with his Grand Am Corvette entries. 

Unlike others in Grand Am GT, Lou tells the Bear that, “Our Corvettes are ‘Prep 1’ using stock frames like ALMS cars. We learned a lot from that car and we are moving the technology over to Grand Am.” It makes particular sense for Lou to stick with ‘the real thing’ because Lou’s business is selling Corvette performance parts. Lou says a result of the new program will be   ‘really nice Corvette parts’ that will one day make their way into LG Motorsports’ catalog.
 
Eric Lux and Kelly Collins are set for the season in the first Corvette, with a hoped-for second car possible as early as Birmingham, depending on finding a good driving partner for the Boss.

Pssssssst…anyone interested in a nice ALMS Corvette? Murphy knows where to find one.

Follow the Bear on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Murphythebear