He’s been thinkin, how much can you rip the gang that can’t shoot straight before it’s just same ol’ same ol’? Which it has been for a long time. When The Bear launched this thing – way back in 2005 – he was documenting exciting and fun stuff. That started fading about three years later, and the whole damn thing’s turned pretty dark. Which Murphy doesn’t really like. At all.

Good News

Anyway, here’ some good news. Ah…ah…geez…The Bear’s thinkin’…ahah! That’s it! Dyson will be back racing against Greg! Like last year. And there will be some P2 guys – no one really knows how many – but it might include the Payday Lender King. Well, perhaps not King, but Chief, since he’s “gone native (American).”

GT will be cool, though there are way too many indications that’s headed for a slip, too. But all the more reason to enjoy it when you can. The Bear still isn’t sure whether the Texas car dealer will be back with his Ferrari(s) (that “s” is pretty unlikely, for sure). That will leave the Mexican cactus squeezers in charge of Ferrari’s prospects – and they haven’t had a lot of luck cracking the top 5 – ever. Not likely to change.

Where were we? Oh, yeah. Good News. There will be a handful of spec. LMP’s and another handful of spec. Porsches on the ALMS grids. If that turns your crank, then by all means go for it. Brewskis  and brats (with an “a,” you know who you are way over there “down under,”) – and stronger stuff – with friends at the track hasn’t changed, regardless of the rest of it, right? That part of sports car endurance racing is a big part of its uniqueness, something that the stocker guys and OW guys (and girls) really have trouble understanding while sitting on their tushes in grandstands, heads on swivels like a rotating perversion of the crowd at Wimbledon.

Watchin’ the Rolex

Anyway, back to racin’ Like it or not, the Rolex is racin’ and the Bear’s going to settle in to watch  in a couple of hours. Last year he was in Daytona Beach and even spent some time at the track. A disaster, though he met some really cool people. This time it’s his comfy rocker and his telebision. Ain’t it great not to have to screw this the streaming crap? (And crap it is.) Hey, ‘burgers, where the hell is Roku? Too busy? You have to be fricken kidding.

Good Ole Georgia Boys, New York Lawyers, and a Formerly FIA Frog in Volusia County Court

And Don, ol boy, suing a poor graphic artist known for poster of ocean liners? (and a girl at that)? The Bear ain’t much of a speller, but he sure kin’ git a person’s name spelt right, specially on a lawsuit. Will it get tossed for the mis-spell do ya think? Jus more paperwork keepin’ the New York lawyer busy, I spose. Anyway, does the new Grand Am tech guru Gabriel Cadringher know too many secrets? Did you have a contract wit him? More busy-work. No wonder there’s no time to open a Roku channel of  yer racin’.

The 50th and the 60th

The 50th Rolex at Daytona. The whole world knows it’s the 50th, what with the gnomes of International Speedway Boulevard telling a story-a-day for a couple of months it seems, making sure everybody knows that great history. While who knows that Sebring is the 60th? (The Bear’s got a Sebring 50th commemorative bottle of The Don’s red – he and J. had some back 10 years ago at your Chateau at the safety pin, pretty good stuff, but this one is staying firmly corked and in the Bear’s cellar, where it’s been for the past decade.) What’s your PR department doin’ to tell the folks about the big race in March? Other than the new book (cool) by Sebring’s PR boss Ken Breslauer, all we’ve heard so far is the Frogs ain’t showin’ up wit their diesel. That should make it a one-marque race up front – again. (Murphy still thinks that Audi truck looks like a platypus.) Still, Sebring is the best party on the planet, and for Le Mans-style racin’, bein’ the only WEC round, the only ALMS race worth going to – except for the hard-core partiers, of course, who can have a good time at all but the dumb-ass street courses.  (Have ya’ll figured  out The Bear really does not like street courses?)

Where Were We?

Ok, the Rolex. Here are Murphy’s famous “Top 5” picks of the classes. He’s been pretty good at this. You can look it up.

Daytona Prototypes (new or old), the Top 5 finishers, in no particular order:

10 Angelelli/Briscoe/Taylor SunTrust Racing Corvette DP
02 Dixon/Franchitti/McMurray/Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing BMW Riley
90 Garcia/Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook Spirit of Daytona Corvette DP
5 Donohue/Fittipaldi/Law Action Express Racing Corvette DP
01 Hand/Pruett/Rahal/Rojas Chip Ganassi Racing BMW Riley

The Bear’s not enamored of the pole-sitter. DP’s become a pro driver’s class. Peter’s got some nice drivers goin’, -check out the two Scots and the German guy, but he’s had to sell too many seats, so the three that could win it all are carrying a pair of weak sisters. Is this the year that Bob can break through and bring GAINSCO the big win? Daytona’s not been kind to the insurance maggot. So Murphy can’t make them a favorite, either. Spirit of Daytona has a really nice driver line-up, but has France cash converted this team from a couple of guys in a Daytona garage to a real race team? Sun Trust always has a shot, and while the World’s Greatest Race Car Driver (hello to the family at home) will start at the rear, Chip’s Grand Am regulars will be back in the hunt soon enough.

In GT, Porsche’s got the numbers. (24 Porsches in the field of 60 sort of overwhelms the whole damn event, doesn’t it? Pretty soon we’ll not be able to tell the difference from ALMS until we read out ticket.) Ferrar’s got a new car. Murphy’s not a Mazda fan, but they won in 2010, and McDreamy and company climbed the podium last year. The Camaros have struggled in practice and qualifying. Will they find the pace in the race?

Again, the Bear doesn’t like the pole winner to come through on top, for pretty much the same reason as above for Daytona Prototypes. He likes the Lizards a lot, even with the owner aboard – that doesn’t hurt nearly as much in this field as it does in the ALMS GTE field – and Seth is experience even if not fast. That should help a lot on a tough, crowded track. The Ferrari’s may be new, but they look good, and the Grand Am configuration isn’t a “high stress” kind of thing subject to the teething issues the GTE cars are.

45 Bergmeister/Long/Neiman/Rockenfeller Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche GT3
63 Beretta/Bertolini/Vilander Risi Competizione Ferrari 458
93 Auberlen/Dalla Lana/Marsa/Muller/Werner Turner Motorsport BMW M3
67 Bertheau/Bleekemolen/Goossens/Henzler/Pumpelly TRG Porsche GT3
23 Collard/Holzer/Leitzinger/MacNeil  Alex Job Racing Porsche GT3

Rumors

What? No rumors? Maybe next time.

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.

Almost simultaneously with the lay-offs rumor, BGP announced a clutch of sponsors, an “official airline,” (something Murphy’s never heard of) “official auto insurance” (GEICO, who else?), the “official gasoline” (Sonoco, of course), a bevy of hotels. Small potatoes. The Bear expects this race to take the green this season; after that remains in doubt.

The mea culpa

Signature’s principals went ballistic over Murphy’s doubt they will have an LMP on the Lime Rock grid. In fact, the Bear got a love letter from Reg and Matt reading in part “the responsibility is upon you to correct and/or retract statements which are misinformation, slanderous, libelous and defamatory both on this forum (that would be americanlemansfans.com) and on the blog Murphy the Bear.”

Murphy went back and checked. According to Matt, the Bear omitted Reg’s 1980’s Formula Ford Performance Driving Academy at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and wrote that Signature’s plans included two prototypes, when it’s just one. Murphy regrets those two errors.

Murphy would like nothing more than to see another prototype in the ALMS, so whenever Reg and Matt can confirm they have a binding contract to buy or build a prototype or a motor to put in it, the Bear will take that to be good news, indeed.

Grand Am Update

The rumor that Mercedes and Audi will contest the 50th 24 Hours of Daytona was greeted by the Cogs with a “ho-hum, we knew that.” Anything from the Bear will get that response, but though there’s been no official announcement, those additions, particularly if they turn into full-season entries, will likely be just part of the story coming out of Grand Am this summer that will keep the American Le Mans Series in the hole it’s dug itself into.

Look for more GT announcements as the field for 2012 is filled with Audis, Mercedes, Porsches, Ferraris and others. The Bear’s been told there have been some upper management personnel changes following a winter in which development of new rules “bogged down.” On the positive side, one of those changes – a sideways move by Dave Spitzer – would seem to have increased the series focus on its “international alliances,” important to the nascent alliance with DTM. If Grand Am is smart (and Murphy thinks the new management over there is) they’ll announce new DP rules before mid-summer. Having hung onto the current rule set for a decade, they surely won’t get themselves into the same “late to the party” fix that’s become standard for the ACO, will they?

The Bear hears a draft of the 2012 DP rules was circulated a week ago. Do they include a shrunken green house? Murphy hears that’s the case, and sure as hell hopes so.

Media Failure

Data and analysis keeps trickling in on the Sebring viewer count. Last Turn Clubhouse’s Mediterranean correspondent  Chuck Farrell broke it down, and AutoWeek followed. Between them, they pretty much blew up the fiction that Sebring represented any better  – or more valuable – exposure for the series and it’s entrants. Murphy did, however, enjoy the irony of ESPN PR guy Andy Hall (unconvincingly)  keeping the wraps on the detail of the ALMS media disaster.

The On-line Fan Experience

Since the recent dust-up between American Le Mans Series management and certain of its teams over its putrid media presence, the Bear’s dug up an items or two.

First, looking backward (though Murphy doesn’t really want to, there’s the matter of context) there was an extensive but unsuccessful effort to land a “traditional” television contract. Regardless of self-congratulation, the Series’ brave new leap into the future of media, right or wrong, was very much under duress.

Looking ahead, the Bear’s been told the channel is fixed for the remainder of the year, likely longer; that is, live delivery will be to your computer – period. While accepting that – as they must – some in the series have demanded at least an upgrade of that delivery, using the resources of the teams, plus a more robust platform technology, to improve the fan experience. Murphy can’t share details, but if the series – they could simply ignore it – accepts this challenge, fans should expect some exciting additions to the on-line coverage beginning with the New England Grand Prix in July.

Given the magnitude of the undertaking, Braselburg will find it necessary to launch a project using at least some outside resources. So far, there is no indication they have done so. Along with that, on the table is a request for the series to allow its teams to use race video without the current fee of thousands of dollars. The Bear intends to follow progress – if any – over the next three months.

Abruzzi Adios

The Don’s Abruzzi is gone until Mosport or later. Sebring failure was paddle shift, then “internal engine” (likely due to a missed-shift over-rev). Did someone say “$5 million rat hole?”

Andy Lally update

Andy spent Martinsville on the bench. Kevin decided to start Hermie Sadler, for whom Martinville’s “home track,” and who tested well there for TRG. Hermie garnered a finish of 29th, putting TRG (listed as “Richard Petty” in the owner’s column…don’t ask) in a tie for the all-important qualifying-exempt 35th place on the season. Not sure if the tied teams both get the exemption, neither does, or whether there is a tie-breaker. Hermie and Kevin won $81,325, but that’s just an FYI from the Bear, since Andy’s DNS leaves his earnings at $654,911 to the ALMS field’s $844,000 (the latter including credit for its privateer bonus program. Murphy’s now updated the Challenge for Andy’s result at Texas Motor Speedway, in which he finished 32nd (again) and earned $96,150. That makes his earnings total $751,061. Owner’s points are 36th, so he’ll have to qualify to make the field in upcoming races. Here’s the table.

Press Releases

Most of the motorsports press is little more than a daily repository of unedited team, manufacturer , and driver press releases. If anyone needed evidence, they got it this week when one such site published an “article” with this lead-in sentence: “Level 5 Motorsports hopes to maintain its momentum coming into round two of the American Le Mans Series this weekend on the Streets of Long Beach, California.”

Hopes? The rest of the article tells us how great a challenge it is for Level 5 to compete against….no one?

Anyway, Andy started in karting, and after various driving adventures in ALMS, Grand Am (a three-time series champion), NASCAR

NASCAR driver Andy Lally

pick-ups, and Nationwide, has finally landed a whole season ride with Kevin Buckler’s TRG, and filed to compete for Rookie of the Year honors. Since Andy is a friend of many in the American Le Mans Series paddock, Murphy thought it would be interesting to track how he does this year versus the entire field of a series in which he has been a popular, but decidedly part-time driver.

We’re going to keep track of Andy’s – and Kevin’s – earnings (we don’t know what the driver’s share is) versus the entire earnings of the American Le Mans Series field. We’ll report as Andy – and the ALMS – complete each event. Photo courtesy Martin Spetz.

Some of you know how this is going to turn out; for a few, it might be an eye-opener.

As of today, Andy has driven five Sprint Car races, plus the “Dual” before Daytona. He usually finishes 32^nd and only varies from that – so far – by one place (excepting the Dual, which has a smaller field). Andy has officially earned $654,911.

With one event in the bag, the American Le Mans Series field has earned a total – in all classes – of $284,000, with one even, Sebring, in ledger. We’re not going to calculate in detail the peanuts distributed in the “privateer bonus” program. That will add another half-million or so to the ALMS total after the end of the season. We’ll just put in $560,000 up front for 20 entries times about $3,500 per race.

As of today, through Bristol for Sprint Cup and Sebring for the American Le Mans Series, Andy trails the ALMS field by $189,089. Here’s the table over at LTC. (Murphy’s blog doesn’t do very well with tables.)
(The Andy Lally Challenge is not endorsed by Andy Lally.)

Murphy’s Rolex Punting Rools

1. Riley only. The first non-Riley in 2008 was 15th. In 2009, a Dallara snuck into 4th, a Crawford into 8th. Last year, the oil maggot got his Lola into 4th and Wayne, Ricky, Max and Pedro dragged a Dallara into 6th for NASCAR’s favorite bankers. That’s marginal improvement, but not enough to change the rool.

2. Teams you’ve heard of. Ganassi won its third in a row in 2008, another of Murphy’s teams,  Brumos, won in 2009 – and took third, too. Action Express won last year, and you might be scratching your head, but even the barely sentient knew that was the Brumos gang with the Godfather’s money.

3. No oil (or Silicon Valley venture capital) billionaire drivers, no scrawny girls. The scrawny girl’s a no-show; the capitalist is slower than the oil maggot, but stays on the track.  No drivers with the same name as the team. The Bear’s rule has been no brain doctors or heart doctors, but this year the Murphy’s going with Starworks anyway, because he likes Peter, and Peter invited him to lunch. Hey, you didn’t really think there was no graft in this stuff, did you? Still, you better be a pro – or close to the pace – to win this thing. Yes, the oil billionaire was 4th last year, but that’s still not the podium. The Bear didn’t say anything about racing empire trust fund boys, though.

Rolex Picks for Punters

So, here are Murphy’s picks. Both Ganassi entries – the Bear hasn’t taken leave of his senses (stuffing or not). Starworks fields four pretty good drivers, you’d think  they’d be able to carry one neurosurgeon, especially one that styles himself as “the world’s fastest” (see also reference to graft, above). Action Express won the last one of these, and well, J.C. is no brain surgeon, is he? GAINSCO? The Bear picks them every year and it seems they bag it about half way. Someday, they’re going to figure this race out, like the two-time champions have long since figured out the rest of the schedule.

01 Ganassi  Hand, Rahal, Pruett, Rojas – BMW / Riley
02 Ganassi  Dixon, Franchitti, Montoya, McMurray  – BMW / Riley
  8 Starworks  Braun, Dalziel, Enge, Forest, Lowe – Ford / Riley
  9 Action Express  Barbosa, Borcheller, Fittipaldi, Papis, France – Porsche / Riley
99 GAINSCO  Fogarty, Gurney, Johnson  – Chevrolet / Riley

Murphy’s “dark horse” is Michael Shank Racing. They’ve been ignored by the Bear, but last year flirted with the podium. If they were a Riley again, they’d have made the “Bear’s Five,” but their real “pro car” is a Dallara. The No. 6 could be the first non-Riley to crack the podium in many years. And the other Shank car, No. 23? Martin and Mark are heavy lifters, but Zak’s too heavy even for them.

GT with the Bear

Last year, for the first time, the Bear decided it was time to pay some attention to the GT field. So, what are Murphy’s GT rools?

The Rools

1. At least 3 pros to carry a weekender. If so, doctors and CEOs are O.K. here.

2. Teams with experience and talent. Some of these are easy to pick out: TRG and Turner Motorsports, for instance. Others aren’t so obvious.

3. Current or former ‘factory’ drivers. They don’t go – or aren’t sent – where they have no chance.

In 2010, the Bear’s picks were all German – four Porsches and a BMW. This time the colonies are represented with a pair of Camaros to go with two Porsches and that same Bimmer. (Ok, the Bimmer is an “M3” this time – just like the last one was an “M6.”)

48 Paul Miller Bell, Miller, Sellers, Sugden – Porsche GT3
57 Stevenson Bremer, Liddell, Magnussen  – Camaro GT.R
59 Brumos Davis, Haywood, Keen, Lieb – Porsche GT3
88 Autohaus Lester, Marsh, O’Connell, Taylor – Camaro GT.R
94 Turner Auberlen, Dalla Lana, Plumb, Said – BMW M6

Three TRG entries, 54, 66, and 67 look good and nicely fit Murphy’s rool about factory drivers with Pilet, Luhr, and Henzler, but the Bear’s concerned the pros (who also include Bleekemolen, Farnbacher, Lally, and Pumpelly) are diluted too far with those weekenders. With more teams fielding more drivers, there are more and more unknowns and many more bankers, surgeons, actors, and trust fund kids in the GT field. It’s getting to be more of a crap shoot than ever to pick a winner. Is the stuffed one foolish to stay away from the Mazdas? Who knows. Crap shoot.

00 Aten Motorsports Ferrari is the Bear’s GT dark horse. Collard and Pompidou are quality pros, as good as anyone on the grid, Davy Jones isn’t quite his former self (who is?), but he’ll keep it in the hunt. Abergel and McCutchen are good as weekenders go. If the race can be won on smarts by a car the factory would like to see go away, this is your long shot.

Tommy Gets the Gig

Murphy was the only one back in December, and today Team Corvette made it official, Tommy Milner will be the full-schedule replacement for Johnny O’Connell. Nice work, Turbo Tom.

Where are They?

Back in July, Grand Am’s Dave Spitzer (not the Bear) wrote in a memorandum to teams:

Audi R8
We are in advanced discussions with Audi surrounding the possible introduction of the R8 in Rolex GT.

Ferrari 458
Discussions are underway to introduce a version of this car for Rolex GT competition.

Other GT3 cars – Mercedes, BMW, etc.
We are in early discussions with these brands to include versions of their GT3 cars in Rolex GT also.

Snag Somewhere? Smokin’ sumpin’? Whatever, the Bear is wondering if an opportunity has been lost, given Grand Am has exclusive rights to sports car endurance channel surfers in the 2011 season. Build them sumpin’ and they’ll come. Zoom, Zoom aside, Mazdas don’t qualify as sumpin’ – Ferraris and Audi R8’s do.

The big trick in business is to find something exciting before someone else does, then promote the hell out of it. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the cute little phone biz or the sportycar racin’ biz. The Braselburgers haven’t figured that out, so the Bear was hoping the World Center had. Not so sure now.

Atlas, Panoz, Autocon, and Lou

It’s kind of like the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. Atlas eFX can’t do an Abruzzi deal (Murphy thinks no one, no where, no how, no time will), so buys Lou’s ALMS Corvette for the ILMC, and Tomy Drisi signs on to drive, materially reducing the chance that we’ll see very much of Autocon in the ALMS.

Krohn rumor No. 5: Georgia shop working on independent ALMS Ferrari entry. One-off Rolex 24 in Lola then ALMS GT for 2011. One car or 2? Honestly, Murphy hears a new Krohn rumor just about every month, from McLarens to Mercedes, and now Ferrari. The Lola partnership has been in Delaware Chancery court, while the oilman continued to race the car in Daytona Prototypes. Beyond coming from a pretty good source, this one makes some sense. Krohn has paid Risi to run a Ferrari for him in selected races over a number of years, so why shouldn’t he strike out on his own?

Lola no more; Prodrive talking to ORECA for next Aston Martin proto chassis. Yes, “talking” is what the Bear heard, though you’d think they’d have to be further along than that. Perhaps they are, and the news that there’s a “donor” chassis is just now catching up with the reality. One’s thing seems to be widely believed in the industry: Lola and Aston Martin Racing/Prodrive don’t want anything to do with each other. It’s that intellectual property thing.

New (final?) ILMC schedule announced; Seven events. Petit back in, Japan out. China TBA, Imola added. Is this good news or bad? If you’re planning to go to Petit or Sebring, you’ll see it as good. If, on the other hand you live just up the road from, say, Road America, what then? You have to hope the GT field holds together, because the prototypes are going to suck. Console yourself that it will be even worse at some other stops, like Lime Rock and Mosport. The Bear can’t believe the Cannuckistanis are going to be very happy. No Japan. That tells Murphy that there may be a Toyota motor in an LMS team, but there’s not going to be any significant participation in the ILMC by Japanese manufacturers or teams. Why Imola? That can’t be more than a place-holder, can it? What’s left of the LMS schedule? Two races? Everything else is co-opted by the world thing.

Six for Grand Am. TRG, TRG/Steven Bertheau, TRG/Black Swan, Brumos, Magnus, and Muehlner take delivery of new-for-2011 Porsches. This in interesting for lots of reasons. First, it’s an indication that Porsche is “back” in Grand Am. Most of those new models can be expected to continue in the remainder of the Grand Am schedule. There’s only one for Brumos which was thought to be a two car team. Also there’s no new team there, so if there’s a new Porsche team on the horizon, it’s headed to the American Le Mans Series, not to Grand Am.

Rolex 24 Ferrari GT announcement imminent; quality of effort indicated by “modern alchemist” and drivers Bell, Simonsen, and Farnbacher. Murphy hopes this actually happens, especially after a good Sebring test the week before Thanksgiving, but he’s a smart enough Bear to know that it’s a long way from a press release to a grid. The news this week was not good, with promised financing seemingly going into hiding. The car in Regis Lefebure’s photos from Homestead was not “Tony’s Ferrari.” This is:

Pumpelly, Lally announced in TRG’s third Rolex 24 Porsche entry. According to Porsche’s release, this is not one of the new-for-2011 Porsche 911 Cup cars delivered for the Rolex 24.

Just got information on an “open top spec prototype series for gentlemen drivers.” Just what we need. HSR will host a “Race Your Radical” series with its other events. Now there’s word of a GT3 Cup series associated with HSR. Really, just what we need  – another place to race Porsches.

Another schedule change – the expected Road America 4 hours “sunset finish” and move to Saturday August 21 is finally announced by ALMS. At least all these revisions in the schedule since it was rushed out at Road America in August are keeping us entertained while we’re waiting to find our what television coverage we’ll get.

The Bear hears an ALMS prototype team is considering a jump to GT. No word on the racing series for the GT program. An ALMS prototype team principal is spending a little time in Europe in the Stuttgart area. Murphy doesn’t think it’s a vacation. The Cytosport rumors a team source bemoaning the lack of prototype options after Porsche’s retirement of its RS Spyder.  Then the Bear heard Greg was in Germany for something other than a vacation. The conclusion? Perhaps a GT team, but it’s been quiet of late, so who knows? Is this the rumored new GT team, or is that a move up by Alex Job Racing, or a second car at Falken? All of the above? None of the above?

A life member of the Peerage was poking about in Leafield, giving credence to rumors he’ll join the ranks of prototype constructors. Leafield is where the former TWR shops are located. Lord Drayson is rumored to want to build his own chassis. A source said he was touring the TWR facilities. Murphy’s heard nothing since.

Sour Milka

It’s not a rumor that the IRL has cut its cash-sharing program to 22 entries from 24. The collateral damage was Conquest, which ran its No. 36 as an arrive-and-drive with five different pilots. The real target was Milka Duno, for whom Dale Coyne will not be able to collect $1.2 million from the series.

The Under-Boss Says So

The Under-Boss tells John Dagys at speedtv.com the combined ACO-rule schedules will make contesting the ALMS and ILMC “very difficult.” What he calls “product” will have to be “on both sides of the Atlantic.” Murphy’s translation of “product”: cars, tools, tires, transporters, tables, chairs, timing stands, stopwatches, fire suits, shoes, spares,  gloves, fireproof underwear. Like that’s going to happen.

Dyson and Riley

It’s been rumored that Dyson is “looking at” a new Riley. Murphy has been skeptical, but he’s lately been told that Riley is actually building something, so unlike the company’s last LMP announcement, the project has moved beyond a drawing. The connection to Dyson – or anyone else – remains tenuous, but Bill Riley has some hope to be building. (Another source chimes in, “In spite of what you’ve heard, they are presently building nothing and still waiting for a “donor”. At this point it would be impossible to field a car by Sebring.” -MHB-)

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

The Bear decided to delay Paddock Poop 170 for this important and extremely timely A. C. column.-Murphy-

Bad luck? Hardly. According to the Bear’s sources, the Keystone Kops routine was on display all week, from an embarrassing rented transporter that ultimately had to be covered up, to an empty hospitality suite for Jaguar executives and their guests  – no furniture, not even a cup of coffee.

Even the mainstream press had serious doubts about the program continuing once they saw it at Le Mans. The Daily Telegraph, UK’s largest circulation broadsheet newspaper, noted Jaguar’s “approval (of RSR’s official support) became rather strained” at Le Mans. Twenty years after the Tony Dowe-managed XJR-12 win, the Gentilozzi Jag went just 18 minutes 30 seconds into the 24-hour race before expiring. Murphy hears now that Jaguar will likely end its support for the RSR program before the American Le Mans Series gets to Miller. Will Jaguar continue with some other arrangement? Perhaps, but not immediately. Meanwhile, some suggest that since it’s been largely a privateer effort anyway, Gentilozzi may try to continue.

Bavarians aren’t thrilled, either

Jaguar wasn’t the only famous make that had a troubled Le Mans. insiders admit Schnitzer was an embarrassment to BMW, too. The betting is that the Bavarians will – or have – express their unhappiness, but won’t “changing horses.” For now Schnitzer will continue as BMW’s most important racing partner.

Porsche wins Le Mans GT2 – maybe

Le Mans GT2 winners – or not? What could possibly be in doubt about the winning Porsche’s motor that would take until “early next month” to sort out. Some wag wondered if the timing was dependent on “the check clearing.” Meanwhile, any marketing value in having won Le Mans is frittering away – except, of course, Porsche has been happy to claim its 98th class win anyway. Since the runner up Ferrari is also under review, perhaps Porsche feels secure because the third place car is another Porker?

A Dane Sprints – and Likes it

Jan Magnussen had his Sprint Cup series debut and loved it. He called it “fantastic; unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.”
“They go two wide and three wide. That’ll never happen in ALMS…here (in NASCAR), they allow you to race and to be two and three wide. Fantastic.”  Yuppers, Jan, the ALMS will pull you into the pits for “avoidable contact.”

Kevin to “Start and Park”

Given the instruction by cash-strapped Kevin Buckler’s TRG to “start and park,” 2000 Cup champion Bobby Labonte decided to walk. Andy Lally will get the opportunity to try to make the field, then park for the cash. That’s good for Andy, who gets a chance to show his skills to the Cup paddock.

Murphy told you about Buckler’s plans for new digs at New Jersey – and his sponsorship troubles – last August. Any chance Buckler’s fancy new shop will progress beyond this photo appears to be fading fast.

Mid-Ohio still “on” for IRL

Murphy’s been sorting through the comments on the 2011 schedule by IndyCar VP Terry Angstadt. Of most import to ALMS fans is his confirmation that Mid-Ohio will remain on the IRL schedule, albeit on a different date, the current one having now been committed to the new-in-2011 Baltimore street race.

With Baltimore and Loudon added, two current events will necessarily be dumped to achieve the series’ preferred 17 events. There could be more, but two seem certain according to Angstadt’s latest comments. Also implied in his remarks to the Elmira (NY) Star Gazette is that any “drops” will be within the events that occur before August on this year’s schedule. Since Long Beach is sacrosanct, it seems certain the only impact on the American Le Mans Series is the changed date for Mid-Ohio. Still to be answered, of course, is whether the ALMS will “follow” the IRL to the new date.

Prototypes Prospects

Expect Highcroft to return as Honda’s “Semi-Official Foot-in-the-Door” entry in Le Mans-style sports car racing. Although there have been statements of interest in an LMP1 engine under the new rules (since that would be a 3.4 liter NA designed-for-racing V8 they actually already have one, don’t they?) what they do will be determined by analysis of the final 2011 IMSA rules (if it and the ACO ever actually get around to publishing those). There’s no way there will be enough prototype entries for the series to restore its LMP1/LMP2 structure, so that class distinction is irrelevant and whichever engine appears to have the best chance to win will be the way this goes.

Murphy similarly thinks you can count on Dyson Racing to return, even though both Mazda money (cut this season) and BP petrodollars (other obligations to worry about) are “problematic” at best. Will Dyson stick to the so-called “little four-banger?” Yes, if the redesigned-for-2010 engine proves to be good over the remainder of this season, and the feeling on the team is it’s off to a pretty good start. As with HPD and Highcroft, the idea of a Dyson “class change” is moot as long as IMSA stays with a single LMP class – which it will do if it isn’t planning seppuku (though it does seem to be working on that).

Autocon’s LMP1 entry depends on Bryan Willman’s largess. He loves to race, but sooner or later will “hit the wall” (see Tom Weickardt). How does the Le Mans disappointment figure in that? Will the team be able to replace Shrek if it needs to? The Bear will score a 2011 return as “probably not.”

Intersport likewise needs one or more Sugar Daddies. Futility got old for Richard Berry, and the new Beverly Hills mark (er, driver) has hardly turned a wheel with a third of the season already gone. It’s a crap shoot to predict a top-class LMP entry for this team the rest of this year, say nothing of next, though the Bear expects continuation of its LMPC and IMSA Lites programs.

There’s some speculation that rule changes could end Cytosport’s Porsche run. Some of that appears to be rooted in an idea that a Porsche LMP1 (not just a modification of the RS Spyder) is imminent. Murphy doesn’t believe it is. So, will Cytosport continue? The team is not (like Highcroft or Dyson) an  ALMS competitor of many years. Greg Pickett is “getting on in years” (his lap times show it). Porsche doesn’t seem eager to support the Spyder (though they will continue to do so if adequately paid). Murphy thinks there’s no more than an “even chance” Pickett and his team will return.

Will Audi return? Yes and no. The “no” first. The R18 is about as substantial as any other video game, meaning it hasn’t made it off the hard drive of the design computer, and won’t until Audi’s board says “jawohl.” 

If it does, Murphy expects to see the new prototype in the Intercontinental Cup events and nowhere else. Herr Doktor Ulrich told a respected radio personality earlier in the spring  that a GT program in the American Le Mans Series is probably the way to go. Murphy would be disappointed if an Audi GT effort was wasted on a GTC entry, but it’s not clear which of those directions (GTC or GT), if any, Audi will finally take.

Everything the Bear hears about Corsa/ARES screams “dead on arrival.” Even the most recent team Facebook update couldn’t find anything more positive to say than “we are in a bit of a holding pattern,” and though they “want to race this year,” the “main concern” is 2011. Murphy puts the odds of even that happening about equal to those he gives to full seasons from Creation and ECO Racing. Both of those are slim and none, hoping in vain for one (or more) of those “sugar daddies,” so much in short supply. It’s a measure of the dearth of interest in racing in the American Le Mans Series that beyond ARES and ECO, Murphy can’t even find a good rumor about 2011 prototype entrants.

Drayson Racing is the one entrant for whom prospects for next season (and this one) have actually improved, due to Labour’s UK election loss. That left Lord Drayson “unemployed,” but now free to take on partners and sponsors. His current Judd V10 will be obsolete by the rules in 2011, and his enthusiasm for losing will be tested at some point (See Bryan Willman), but for now the Bear expect’s the Lord to return.

Unless there’s something out there completely under the radar, the American Le Mans Series top class will include no more than the six entries on this year’s grids with “bumps” in the two Intercontinental Cup races at Sebring and Road Atlanta.

LMP2 Kit Car

Kit car builder Bailey Edwards Cars claims it has six people working on a new-rules LMP2 to be built entirely in South Africa. Nearly two years into the project, there’s nothing to show but Greg Bailey’s chatter about testing in October and some artists drawings. To the Bear it looks like a small-scale US F1. Speaking of whom, they auctioned off US F1’s assets the other day, getting about a million dollars for tools, desks, parts and pieces, the largest of which, one tub, brought a mere $8,000. The You Tube guy, who’s turned out to be more big mouth than big money, seems perfectly happy to let his employees get stiffed on the pay due them. Class.

Peugeot’s Plan

Peugeot’s plan to participate in Petit – or in any of the remaining Intercontinental Cup and Le Mans Series races remains in some doubt. At the start of the season, it was Sebring oui, and PLM non. Then they said PLM ( and China) ouah! (Murphy dutifully booked his trip.) Following the Le Mans debacle, though, reports spread that it was now ah non Petit! (At least.) “Directly from the boss,” wrote one of the Bear’s trusted sources. Whatever. Girls and Frogs reserve the right to change their minds – often. As long as Paddy’s is open, Murphy will be happy.

Where’s T-Mobile?

 An article appearing in “Wall Street 24/7” lists the “10 Brands Most Likely to Disappear” T-Mobile, Kia, BP, Blockbuster, RadioShack, Moody’s, Merrill Lynch. Murphy had to laugh when he saw T-Mobile on that list. The chuckleheads ripping the poor Bear lately are the same ones who were touting VICI Racing’s Porsche T-Mobile sponsorship as “all set for 2010.” Murphy’s still looking for it…maybe later? Hey, corporate budget cycles don’t work like that – approving 2010 money in early 2009. What you saw in 2009 was all that was committed. 2010 was just hope – or hooey. The Bear told you as much.

Abruzzi

Le Mans was something short of a complete success for Don, Danny and the rest of the Braselburg gang. The Abruzzi made it across the Atlantic, but worries it might not make it around cancelled its scheduled demo laps. After a run up and down a nearby airport runway revealed a little problem or two (including wrong-length pushrods – “hey, we were in a hurry”), the Italian-inspired automotive sculpture became a static display at Le Mans, and remains in Europe. Parts packages are headed to Winchester, Virginia, so it’s now up to Tom Milner to see if he can build a racer. According to an observer, “It’s 75-1 on making PLM…against.”

A friend of Murphy’s asked, “Is Jaguar an endangered species? At Sebring, the car smoked more than a hookah in Istanbul. This is not doing the Jaguar reputation for reliability any good.” The Bear asks, “What reputation?” Ok, there were the Castrol/Silk Cut and D types. But any more of this…

The Bear has heard not a few in the paddock are wondering how large a check Tata wrote to the ACO for the Rocketsports’ Le Mans invitation. Now Bill Riley is on board to do what he can before June. Murphy hears several team owners from the ALMS, GA, and IRL have made contact with Jag about taking over the program. The smart money is on a European operation that’s been talking to Tata HQ in India. The car will have to get to Le Mans, and then perform substantially better that it has thus far, or it will be a very quick exit for Rocketsports.

I’m Daniel Orr, and I’m a Grand Am Driver

Before Momentum Race Group’s transporter had even returned from Daytona, Daniel Orr and Jordon Musser had put together a contract that would see them in the AmSource Capital/Monster Graphix #06 Camaro GS.R for the entire 2010 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race schedule. So wrote Momentum’s press flack in February.

That all ended in another one of those spectacular race-driver-arrested stories. Daniel J. Orr, 40, went into the Space Coast Credit Union branch in Palm Coast, Florida and tried to open an account with a $63,000 check, Flagler County sheriff’s spokeswoman Debra Johnson said.

A hold was put on the account until the check cleared, but it never did because officials from Wells Fargo Bank, where the check supposedly was issued, said the account number wasn’t valid.

Orr claimed the problem occurred because the account was dormant for a while, and returned a few days later with a second check for $65,000. When another hold was placed on the account, an unknown woman called and claimed to be the branch manager. She ordered the hold to be lifted, the report states.

Orr then cashed two checks, $400 each, before bank officials noticed the hold was lifted. “The investigation indicates that Mr. Orr has done this in other states and other areas in South Florida,” Sheriff Donald Fleming said in a statement. “He told bank officials that he had a significant amount of money in that account and wanted to move it to a local account so he could live off it, until he got his new found racing career going.”

 Orr was charged with two counts of grand theft and two counts of organized fraud to scheme. He remained at the Flagler County Inmate Facility on Wednesday on $45,000 bail.

Trophies by El Cheapo, Inc.

The Bear is hearing that the ALMS’ 2010 trophies are el cheapo specials of the kind your nine-year-old might get for Pinewood Derby “participation.” Another observer called them “a workshop project.” In one of the dumbest excuses for penury the Bear’s heard yet, someone at the series said they had to be “downsized so the Tequila girls could handle them.” So, get bigger and stronger girls. Besides, the girls don’t need to hand you the trophy; a hug and kiss will do. Let Hindy handle the hardware.

What’s Big Mac doin’?

The Bear hears McLaren and the ACO are in talks about something or other.

Abruzzi Explained

Tom Milner is designing – and will build – the race car in Winchester, Virginia. Danny and the boys at Elan will build some road cars so the race car meets homologation requirements. Elan Motorsports Technology is manufacturing some tooling and perhaps a bit of bodywork. Meanwhile, It’s the classic race car first strategy.

Where is Miller Barrett?

Miller Barrett Racing announced it would skip Grand Am’s Barber round – and perhaps more – because Grand Am rules, even with recent revisions, leave Porsche’s iconic 911 uncompetitive in its Cup form. Kevin Buckler’s TRG quickly followed suit, leaving just two second-tier-team 911’s in the Barber GT field. None of this will surprise the Bear’s readers, of course, since he told you last year that Porsche was cutting its support for Grand Am, and teams would naturally follow Weissach out the door.

However, that’s still not the whole story. As Murphy advised over Twitter last week, “Miller Barrett Racing won’t do Barber with its Porsche; read the Bear next week for where they’ll be and what they’ll be doing instead.” The clue to that (if Murphy’s sources are correct, of course) was in a little noticed line in the same Miller Barrett presser: “We understand that other rule adjustments are under consideration, and we respectfully await those decisions.”

While the rest of the Grand Am gang is at Barber, Miller Barrett will be at Road Atlanta testing a Porsche 911 Cup with a 3.8 liter RSR motor, the Bear’s been told. Rumor has it that Greg Loles snuck a 3.8 through tech at least twice last season, and TRG may have done so another time.

Why all the sturm und drang? Another line in that press release is telling: (Along with the unibody “Prep 1” Porsches , Grand Am allows) “modified production or tube-frame chassis (Prep 2). Although series rules attempt to equalize the different manufacturers’ cars, the Porsche has been uncompetitive against the new Prep 2 cars.”

Note the reference to “modified production…chassis.” Murphy bets y’all thought Prep 2 meant “tube frame.” It’s not that simple. It’s not against just the Mazda, but also the Corvette – a Prep 2 tube frame – on the pole at Homestead, and new “modified production chassis” waiting in the wings that Porsche teams know they will struggle with the engine-hanging-in-the-back 911, unless they get a “game changer.” The 3.8 RSR engine (and its transmission) is rumored to be that game changing “other rule adjustment under consideration.” Even if it is “a bit expensive,” Murphy said, with characteristic understatement.

Sebring Quote of the Year

A GT2 driver, “What is up with Jaguar?  Did Gentilozzi pack the car in the transporter following the Laguna Seca finale and then simply unload at Sebring in March of 2010?”

Sebring Quote of the Year, Runner-up

“What’s Don been spending his money on? Certainly not this track.”

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For the third year, the Bear’s picking five entries likely to contend for the win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. In 2008, his list of five captured 1, 2, and 3. Last year, they grabbed the top two steps.

Before he picked, Murphy gave away the five rools that will let his friends pick the Daytona Prototype winners, too. Not much has changed, so here they are again:

1. Riley only. The first non-Riley in 2008 was 15th. Last year, a Dallara snuck into 4th, a Crawford into 8th. That’s not enough to change the rool.
2. Teams you’ve heard of. Ganassi won its third in a row in 2008, another of Murphy’s teams,  Brumos won in 2009 – and took third, too. Ganassi was second and fifth, Penske sixth, GAINSCO seventh. The Bear didn’t mention SunTrust, which was fourth; they’ll replace the departed Penske among our picks. Murphy thinks “nicely turned out” counts for a lot. It’s a team that does that.
3. No oil billionaire drivers, no scrawny girls. No drivers with the same name as the team. No brain doctors or heart doctors. In other words, absent an LMS-type ‘gentleman driver rool’ DP is a “pro only need apply” class.

Rolex Favorites

The Bear had no trouble picking four, but his fifth turn out to be ‘a bear,’ so to speak. After Ganassi (2), GAINSCO, and Brumos, it came down to SunTrust Racing, a familiar (and successful) team (see rool 2.) but with a Dallara (rool 1.). It was the SunTrust Dallara that snuck into 4th last year, too. On the other hand, there’s Action Express Racing, a “rookie” team (that runs afoul of rool 2.), while meeting rool 3. (drivers), and rool 1. What to do? The elves told the Bear it was time to do a little research.

A little digging uncovered that Action Express is the ‘second Brumos entry,’ owned by long-time Brumos associate Bob Johnson, with a number Brumos staff and crew, and with drivers Barbosa and Borcheller. So, with good leadership, it might meet rool 2. after all. SunTrust’s 4th was a break-through for the non-Riley Dallara, three of four drivers return – Ricky Taylor (son of team owner Wayne) replaces veteran gentleman Brian Frisselle. Is that an improvement? Was last season’s Dallara break-through a trend or an aberration?

Here are Murphy’s by-the-rools five favorites for the 2010 Rolex. Last year we asked if this ‘Looked familiar?’ This year, it’s ‘Look familiar – again?’

01 Ganassi  Papis, Wilson, Pruett, Rojas – BMW / Riley
02 Ganassi  Dixon, Franchitti, Montoya, McMurray  – BMW / Riley
  9 Action Express Barbosa, Borcheller, Dalziel, Rockenfeller – Porsche / Riley
59 Brumos Donohue, Haywood, Law, Leitzinger, Matos – Porsche / Riley
99 GAINSCO   Fogarty, Gurney, Johnson, Vasser – Chevrolet / Riley

If anything, Ganassi is fielding even better driver lineups. Brumos returns without the drug felon, and with Leitzinger and Matos – a huge upgrade in talent (and sense) if a Bear ever saw one. Two-time Grand Am champion GAINSCO returns with drivers as good as anyone – intent on capturing the prize that’s eluded them. Action Express – as we’ve explained – is ‘Brumos Lite’ with a better roster of pilots.

Murphy makes SunTrust his “dark horse.” Level 5 having morphed into NPN Racing might have made the Bear’s favorites list, until Tucker, the designated rich guy, listed himself in both cars, diluting otherwise stellar driving lineups. If you can figure out which car will not get Tucker’s driving help, pick the other one.

Taking a Flyer on GT with the Bear

The Bear decided it’s time to pay some attention to the GT field. Just in time for the faux Mazdas to drop from contention, now having fallen to second tier teams and too many otherwise-employed drivers out for a weekend fling. That doesn’t rule out other bodies on the tubers – the odd BMW and Corvette look-alike.

So, what are Murphy’s GT rools?

1. At least 3 pros to carry a weekender. If so, doctors and CEOs are O.K. here.
2. Teams with experience and talent. Some of these are easy to pick out: TRG and Turner Motorsports, for instance. Others aren’t so obvious.
3. Current or former ‘factory’ drivers. They don’t go – or aren’t sent – where they have no chance.

23 Alex Job Baldwin, Burtis, Farnbacher, Pagerey, Ragginger – Porsche GT3
44 Magnus Bleekemolen, Lietz, Potter, Stanton  – Porsche GT3
67 TRG Bergmeister, Long, Neiman, van Overbeek – Porsche GT3
71 TRG Bernhard, Dumas, George, Labonte, Pumpelly – Porsche GT3
94 Turner Auberlen, Dalla Lana, Hand, Said – BMW M6

07 Godstone Ranch Corvette is the Bear’s GT dark horse. Young up-and-comer to watch is Thomas Merrill, Salinas California, Corsa Team PR1 BMW.

Murphy’s Predictions

A smaller field gets less opportunities to hit the favorites, so the good ones will mostly be there at the end. If it rains – and it seems it might – all such bets are off.

Matt Connolly Motorsports will be relevant in Matt Connolly’s mind and among the cogs.

We’ll see more of McDreamy than we do on Grey’s Anatomy.

No one will mention that Krohn Racing is in a dust-up with Lola. Krohn, who shouldn’t want to bend the Lola with few spares (and none in the pipeline) will drive anyway, and bend the Lola.

Sebring and Le Mans will disappear into a parallel universe for the duration of the coverage.

Jack Baldwin and Hurley Haywood, separated at birth in May 1948, will insist senior discounts at Hooters on International Speedway Boulevard. Well, Jack will, anyway.

With only six NASCAR drivers on hand, that story line should be a bit more subdued in this year’s telecast. Those seats are filled by current and former German factory pilots.

Kia Goes Grand Am Racing

When it came time to pick a ‘platform,’ the fast-growing manufacturer ‘passed’ on the Global Leader Green Racing to field a new factory team. It’s particularly interesting that a manufacturer intent on building a new ‘luxury’ image would consider, then reject, the American Le Mans Series.  Wouldn’t it’s market strategy have fit ALMS’ ‘World Class’ image?  Too bad it was abandoned to chase a green strategy.

Perhaps the Braselburger boss has been too busy with alternative energy mucky-mucks to waste time with automobile manufacturers. After leaving Phoenix, he went hobnobbing in Toronto chatting up “alternative fuels” this past weekend.

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The Bear wrote in his last Poop that Porsche had been “reigned in” by a reduction of 5 kilos, because that change to 1245 Kg reduced its restrictor – at least that was an engineer’s reasoning. Now it’s said that Porsche had 25 Kg added to its minimum weight. The illegal engine thing, you know. The Porker’s been illegal since it introduced the 4.0 engine. Fünfundzwanzig kilo? Vir lachen bie Sie!

Is it one or the other, or is that a new 25 Kg since the 1245? Or is the reduction – or the increase – wrong? The IMSA memorandum cryptically simply announce the RSR would compete at an 1245 minimum weight. Does that really mean its previous minimum was 1220? Can someone explain it all to the Bear? (See comments. Murphy thinks Duff44 has solved the mystery.)

The Lord has a New Plan?

The Bear heard that Drayson Racing has bought a Lola LMP1 coupe with Judd power. Will that affect the team’s plan (or “expressed interest”) in contesting the final two ALMS rounds in GT with the Aston Martin Vantage?

Cytosport Support

Some are asking what support Porsche is giving the Muscle Milk guy. The Bear doesn’t know what’s in it, but given the huge $ figure he heard this morning, it better be pretty damn good, and the protein drink better keep selling like  hot cakes (or whatever it sells like).

Maybe it’s in the Mail?

Murphy’s invite to the big stakeholder’s confab at Elkhart Lake hasn’t arrived. Nor has he heard anything contradictory to the “new prototype class” story he was told and passed on in Paddock Poop 134.

Monterey, Sonoma, Petaluma, Mooresville

Kevin Buckler is nothing if not mobile, all those places being former or current shops. Just a few days ago, Buckler announced plans to build a “complex” at  New Jersey Motorsports Park  (Thunderbolt) near Millsville, NJ.  A wine guy amongst NASCAR beer drinkers (he sells a California wine with his Adobe Road label), he’ll open a wine and cigar bar in the 40,000 sq. ft., $5,000,000 facility – if it gets built (there’s no scheduled groundbreaking and Buckler admits he’s looking for an investor) What about the Mooresville shop? According to reports, Buckler will move his east coast operation to New Jersey in its entirety. There’s a rumor it’s already closing – or closed (no confirmation of that). In related news, the Bear was told that Buckler Grand Am driver Spencer Pumpelly (6th in GT points after Barber) was out of Buckler’s TRG Porsche with sponsorship “difficulties” at the Grand Am Watkins Glen round, but was able to sub for an ill Robin Liddell at Stevenson Motorsports.

Hard on

The Bear’s been hard on Road America over the years. It’s because its his favorite track, but it’s never been his favorite event – or even close. George know a lot more than a dumb bear about promoting great racing. He must since his marketers produced the 2009 brochure with the Malibu Grand Prix cars on the front, and the promotion video that features golf cart scavenger hunts. Murphy wouldn’t have thought of any of that!

A Perfect World

What Gil actually said about 2010 plans is that “in a perfect world” he’d like to run two cars in IRL and two in ALMS. It seems to Murphy that the next question (not asked by any of the “crack journalists” present, it seems) would be, “What’s likely in a “not-so-perfect world?” The Bear hears there are driver and sponsoship ideas being kicked around the rumor mills for two IRL entries, but he’s not heard much for the ALMS side.

Bookings

Murphy’s been told September accommodations in Northeastern Georgia have been booked for männer von Wald-Michelbach.

Favorite Places

Siebken’s has been the prototypical race bar since the beginning. Everyone from Dan Gurney to Pat Long has tipped a cold one at Siebken’s Stop Inn Tavern. In recent year’s Ferrari celebrated a break-through victory over Corvette Racing.
Of course there’s the Commercial Break in Tropical Neenah.

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