DAYTONA BEACH – It's time to uncork a Jed Clampet "Wee doggie!!"
Yesiree, Bob.
But having been, um, lambasted for revealing things like a Rolex Series Indy race a bit too early (among other gaffes) then hopefully you'll forgive that Ol' DC wasn't all over this matter even sooner – or at least alluding to it – as he was five years ago when the first buyout talks were held, ironically, in the week following Grand-Am's Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca date (MRLS being on the Rolex Series schedule this weekend).
It went downhill from there in the following years, mainly because of too many leaks -- loosing subsequent contractual and sponsorship nervousness -- which then forced public denials, but the damn had been breached and a beginning of an end achieved.
In the few days subsequent to Speed.com's John Dagys breaking the demise of ALMS (it's always nice to see having journalistic talent head for a future HOF induction) a million suggestions for sportscar racing's future were posited and herein some of the more plentiful re-twits are examined.
Can We All Just Get Along?
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: If getting along were possible, there wouldn't have been two "premier" North American-based series in the first place, huh?
Well, Then, Let's Make Everyone Happy!
Short Answer: "Oh, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, that's a good one!"
Longer Answer: We're dealing with owners, drivers, sponsors, fans and, well, still more owners, drivers, sponsors and fans. Each has been complaining about something, like, forever. Some samples, respectively: "The 'series' likes that other team better and that's the reason we got our butts kicked”; "That other driver has more horsepower and that's why he kicked my butt"; "That sponsor's sign is better placed than my sign and that's why he's kicking my butt"; and, "We can smoke it at Sebring."
Better TV Coverage!
Short Answer: It wasn't Grand-Am's fault that ALMS decided to look the future in the eyes and blinked.
Longer Answer: ALMS largely had 21st-century video distribution correctly pegged but partially caved when the hounds wailed . . . the no-longer-really-major networks are traveling exactly the same path as have newspapers and periodicals for the last decade: down. Just as has doctoring evolved from Deadwood, South Dakota's single "Doc Cochran" (played by Brad Dourif on the HBO series "Deadwood") treated gunshots to kidney stones, while patients today sees trauma surgeons and urologists, respectively. A long-gone W.J. Gardiner, Esq., one of Daytona Beach's first practicing attorneys, was legal counsel to three generations of this scribe's family in every possible legal matter. Available today are attorneys covering more specialties than even the most esteemed attorneys ever saw coming 50 years ago.
Longer Answer Part 2: In a perfect world, a worthy series shouldn't pay for TV coverage. It should be the other way around, in fact. One of the two sportscar series involved in this deal paid for their TV exposure (Big $$$ cost, too). The other didn't and, in fact, wouldn't. The age of specialty only gets more "special." The so-called big networks haven't yet learned they aren't special anymore and day by day are less relevant.
The ALMS GT Class Is Phenomenal; Let It Live On!
Short Answer: It shouldn't be hard to find a home for eight teams. Really.
Longer Answer: Honestly, this writer must be missing something, but he just doesn't get how the ALMS' "GT Team Championship," as of Baltimore's conclusion, can be so wonderful when only eight teams exist within it. Perhaps there are more here and there, after all some teams don't care to participate in season-long championships (which likewise exacts extra money for participation) but eight teams just didn't ring any chimes here. Admittedly, Ol' DC at times gets a tad confused, misses some things here and there. Thinking such must be the case, he looked at manufacturer participants but, at five, that was of little help. Then, throwing his hands into the air, he figured maybe, just maybe, a tally of the Baltimore GT cars might help his gray matter find a tally that provides for the nirvana of which so many have spoken. He tallied 17 cars in Baltimore’s results, of which many were two-car teams and of which five were GTC. One notable team owner, with whom your scribe chatted while writing this, noted that the cars are actual factory examples and that a "balance of performance" is used to equalize the table, um, er, “playing field.” Then, there's the subject of "going to LeMans," itself , which brings us to . . .
What About The ACO?
Short Answer: Insofar as Americans are concerned, the French revile anyone not named Jerry (not "Lee") Lewis and Patrick Dempsey.
Long Answer: What, have we Americans developed some sort of inferiority complex? See short answer and screw 'em (the ACO, not Lewis or Dempsey).
J.C. France Will Run, er, Ruin The New Series
Short Answer: Congressman (14th district) Connie Mack IV is running for a Florida U.S. Senate seat and he's been arrested far more frequently than has J.C. France.
Long Answer: J.C. France gives the appearance as one tough mother. Actually, he isn't. A "mother," that is. But he is someone anyone would and should have protecting their back. But he's also a helluva nice guy whose heart runs deep to those who know him. Given his understandable disdain of the political beast it's doubtful that J.C. France will find himself the head of Grand-Am but he, at the least, has run the gamut of motorsports, unlike the many who have held lofty "racing" positions. Going beyond the mere obvious, J.C. France had competed in motorcycle racing to Legends cars to Skippy School and even team ownership. Certainly, he deeply loves motorsports, as can anyone attest who has seen him tussle in the streets of Mexico City.
Manufacturers Are THE Answer
Short Answer: History says they aren't.
Long Answer: Big international-level manufacturers don't really want to constantly play in a prototypical pool, else they'd be here.
Longer Answer: Study history, preferably wearing something other than rose-colored glasses, and specify a time when manufacturers -- as a full-on factory effort, mind you -- have really, truly played without interruption in the international sportscar arena for, say, a decade's length. The insistent but inane drumbeat of "manufacturer involvement" is grating, to say the least. When the male ego -- or might that be "testosterone" -- gets wrapped up in pissing contests (I apologize for the base language and imagery, but it is what it is at its core) someone inevitably has more money than someone else, and they'll spend it to find a better way; a faster way; a quicker way to corner; ad infinitum (or nauseum; your choice). The whole idea of, "Well, we just haven't done it right before and all we need to do is have another chance . . . blah, buh-blah, blah, blah, blah" reminds me of Marxists who have a never ending supply of, "We just didn't get it right the first time," even though Karl Marx and Fredric Engels tried and tried and tried -- and it didn't work.
Many years of effort awaits beginning today. Who among us really knows what it'll all look like a year and, roughly, five months from now when the 52nd Rolex 24 At Daytona gets underway?
At this time, I'm heading for the news conference that'll perhaps give us more knowledge on the subject.
Later,
DC
