Two 'Tranes Running Kerry Morse on being off schedule Aside from the night and fog of what makes up the daily grind by getting up in the morning, making enough money to pay the bills that lubricate the social injustices, what can be accurately said about 2004 and what the halfway point of the new decade will bring? I really don’t know…. However, for those who asked what's been going on, here are a few scrambled eggs of places, people, photo ops and performances above and beyond the plane of obliqueness from then to when. Here's the deal, we make the cars…. You buy them! Porsche continues to be immensely successful in the profit area while failing to take stock of the firm's brilliant capabilities of creating front line racecars. The much-criticized Cayenne has done well enough in the market place to prop up the slump in overall sales of the Boxster and 911 models worldwide. However in countries like Australia, where sportscar sales have dropped off dramatically, there is concern in Zuffenhausen that after the Cayenne variations have reached the saturation point, what will be next in line? One area that Porsche has had record sales is the GT 3 Cup car. At less than 120K U.S. the GT3 cup is one of motorsports' greatest bargains. From Sebring to Sepang there are GT3's running in club races, Carrera Cup and national championships. While there can be no questioning the wisdom and profitability of Porsche continuing to offer the GT3, the one trick pony has extreme limitations and this also includes the more sophisticated (and more expensive) GT3 RSR. It is difficult to understand the company that mass-produced the 962 unable to come to terms of the damage done to their image by concentrating on 996 variants. A word of caution: For all those who think that the new consulting agreement between Porsche and the recently retired Norbert Singer will result in a new LMP for 2006, I say let's wait and see what shakes out in the market. The very same weekend Singer was in China with the FIA GT, I was standing in the parking lot across from the Staples Centre in L.A. watching the Williams sisters, among other tennis pros, driving Cayennes around a temporary course. So much emphasis has been put forth convincing the public that the Cayenne was the right decision that it will take a lot more than a revamped Boxster to make a Porsche the must have for a new year. L.A.'s Shows of Shows How does the old C&W tune go? Oh yeah, it's not love but its not bad… That would sum up the differences between the L.A. Auto Show and the journalistic love fest that takes place in Detroit this time of year. Who really cares that the corporate offices for most of the manufacturers are located on the eastern seaboard. If we went by that warped logic then the convention centre in Las Vegas would be storage shed. Detroit is a place you want to leave, especially with temperatures in the "is it hockey season" climate. Spare me the " it's a tradition " nonsense. Cars are built all over the U.S. and Motor City is more Motown than happy motoring. No clearer opinion has ever been offered of coastal customs than what was uttered during the Ferrari press conference. Maranello was showing the new SuperAmerica but it was supposed to be Detroit that got the nod. Not so, as those sharp dressed men pointed out. Most of our clients are in So Cal and not Lake Michigan. Detroit has lots of journalists, L.A. has our customers. Meditate on that! Roll credits… The boys from Wolfsburg received a somewhat more reserved response on their new release. The Jetta has been redone rather blandly as what VW hopes will be competition for the Toyota Camry. The Jetta has always enjoyed a small but loyal following in the U.S. and the air had a certain sense of betrayal for the faithful. While a larger sales volume is in reach the sacrifice of what made the Jetta somewhat unique has been sacrificed. VW may discover it wasn’t worth the trouble. For your consideration… On the other end of spectrum of VW product was the latest offering from Bentley. The new Arnage Drophead Coupe is a stunning example of how Crewe has figured out how to remain faithful to their roots while being funded by the mother ship. Anyone who has witnessed the silliness that has become Rolls Royce can take comfort that Bentley may be building the last of what can be considered the best of British coachbuilding. And the Arnage is a trip and a half to drive. I will get to that some other time. And in a best supporting role… Jaguar is on the road to recovery from the ill-fated excursion in to F1. Those of us, and there were many, that let fly rants on the cat's misadventure don’t take any solace in being correct. Jaguar is supposed to be a sports car or a grand touring machine. The mystique of the older cats has a real hold on many an enthusiast. A perfect example is Jo Powell. Her husband Mark has put together a decent collection of Porsches but Jo wanted a Jag. Her patience was rewarded with the find of a perfect example but then that is what it is supposed to be all about. Jaguar seems to be sincere on getting it all back together. Hey, the Trans Am isn't my first choice of where Jaguar should be but at least they are racing and winning. No one is willing to say anything about future motorsport plans but I give the Cat three years before they return to La Sarthe. Would everyone at Aston Martin just shut up. We love the damn road car, the hell with the Robb Report award and let's get to Sebring. A test is scheduled at the Panoz owned circuit before Daytona and anything less than success from the former tractor firm will not be acceptable. Get with the program, punks, lies and videotape. Also wouldn't it benefit the press side if Fiona Miller was moved from Prodrive directly to corporate side? If Walter Hayes were still with us it would be a done deal. Wiffenpoof BMW gave us a concept hydrogen car that looked like a Veritas and that comment baffled many a Bimmer stand personal who had no idea what a Veritas looked like. Nine speed records from a dual mode gas bag. No word if future cars will be built at Lakehurst. The beer hall boys also launched the M3 with a competition package while a loop of Team PTG's Grand Am season ran non-stop on the monitors. I have yet to find anyone impressed with BMW winning in Grand Am as where was the competition? At least Alex Job had the Lizards in the ALMS to keep his effort honest. PTG just had to unload the cars and proceed directly to the podium in Grand Am. Remember when Munich hated Stuttgart and vice versa? Memories….. La Primira Ford has the new Mustang which really is an old Mustang but that's OK. They are cool and have that right kind of attitude. The GT was shown again as was a Shelby concept but cars on turntables are not what people wanted from the majors. Feel me, touch me, heal me… the public should be able to get close and personal with the GT. For some it may be their only chance. Saleen showed off the new version of the S7 as well as the Saleen versions of the Focus and a new Mustang GT. The true entertainment was courtesy of Jack Gerken with a phone glued to each ear, Pirelli brass on one channel and Steve Saleen on the other, Jack in the middle as a human boom box. The Fan Man The whole Grand Am and ALMS mess has been debated in to the dead zone. I tend to agree with Bill Oursler in his columns but it may be David Soares who figured it out. What good is " for the fans " if the fans don’t have the funds? As Soares pointed out, it's the well off that continues to enjoy their lifestyles when the economy has traditionally turned sour. The entries for the upcoming Daytona 24 hours certainly show that somebody has surplus cash. The teams from Europe that traditionally enter the race no longer are part of the equation but drivers from Europe certainly are. And I mean top pros, so who is picking up that tab for that? Is Grand Am a racing chapter of a restricted hunting lodge? The myth of cost effective racing as pushed by Grand Am is just that, a myth. No motorsport is cost effective and never will be. What Grand Am has delivered is job security for a great many people in motorsport who would be unemployed. As a business plan, it is hard to fault Grand Am. It's the other part, the one that involves why sportscars were once so exciting. Note I said sportscars, not how close they race on track. Let's leave both Grand Am and the ALMS to represent their strengths and cover up the weak areas. If you don’t want to watch Daytona because you can't stand the looks of the chicken coupes then don’t. If old Audi R8's are not your gig, ignore Sebring. But get off the fence. Like a Volcano Last year was a weird. From a cultural point of view, a lot of people that made their mark departed the place. People we met, ones we never met. I used to see Susan Sontag at a bookstore in L.A. several times a year. She browsed the shelves like a prospector looking for gold. Her passing was surprising if only because her presence was always so strong. Using that as a metaphor, what are the sportscars and drivers that we will look back at the first part of the new century with that same feeling? Wonderwall Our friends and related SCP family have their own problems but will continue to churn out good work. There are a few new friends that will be showing up on a regular basis. John Brooks and I never intended the site to be anything more than a place to feature a different viewpoint without the fear of annoying an advertiser. To this we have succeeded but it is also a lot of work. We owe a lot to the people who have supported us and they know who they are. (Take a bow Harald…. and thanks to Michael Knauthe of MSK) One area of the site that will be more prominent is " Baby you can drive my car " which is loosely based on road tests and driving impressions. Why? Because it matters and we want to do it. Also we get the chance to abuse a lot of different rides. They will not be all sportscars strictly speaking but anything we deem that has a sporting manner. It's just a matter of going… So who is doing what at the moment? Note that some have nothing to do with SCP at all. They are just our friends. John Brooks is getting ready for another season of globetrotting at minimum wage., FIA GT, Le Mans, LMES, WTCC, ALMS, Grand Am will once again be featured in his images if he remembers to take the lens cap off. David Lister will continue to supply top quality images when he is in the mood to do so. A man not to be rushed and who can drink with the best of them. Andrew Cotton is enjoying being a father but that costs money therefore is now charging by each individual letter of the alphabet for every article he pens. Michael Cotton is enjoying semi-retirement by working in his garden and digging the weeds. Several book projects have been given the go ahead so all the knowledge that is part of Michael's past will be coming to a bookstore near you soon. Sherri Collins left european car Magazine this month after what seemed like decades keeping the ship true to compass. She says she will be tossing in a few stories now and then for our benefit. John Elwin has taken up residence in Northern France, rumours that he is starring in Hollywood remake of the classic Brit sitcom ‘Allo, ‘Allo are wide of the mark. He will continue to test cars and cover the shows. David Soares has bailed out on the idea of building a 911 to race and is going to use the funds to take his family to the racetracks he has always wanted to experience. By day he is a nasty bit of work in a suit practicing like an episode of " Law & Order " and after hours it's music, photography and GT racing. Terry Burkhart has been studying black and white photography in between her farming and ranching in Firebaugh. Burkhart Farms ships a lot of almonds and Terry is considering going retail for a limited amount to be marketed on the East Coast with the family name. She can also be found at Laguna Seca on almost any weekend involving racing. The rest of her free time is spent with her horses, which she prefers to being with most people. Bill Oursler continues to be in the mainstream of motorsport coverage. Aside from weekly columns, Bill has been a monthly regular for Porsche Panorama for decades. His background covers television production as well as the publishing arena. Chances are if you own a Porsche, you have one of his books. If you don’t own a Porsche buy one of his books anyway. John Dinkel is a former engineer, editor of Road & Track, baseball coach and one of the most knowledgeable automotive people on the planet. Currently he is working with Saleen and Pirelli as well as contributing to a number of publications. John will drop in a road test here and there, schedule and Jack Gerken permitting. Jim Bamber is Jim Bamber. Enough said, buy his new collection of cartoons at www.jimbamber.co.uk and Praise the Lord. Lizett Bond came back to Southern California to continue her gig in the publishing field but will return in the spring to the ranch near Pyramid Lake where "The Misfits" was filmed. Aside from her research project on the early California cowboy, Lizett plans to continue to help run cattle near Sutcliffe to Bridgeport. That's what horses are used for I hear. Cara de Vlaming continues to recover from the illness that sidelined her while working with Ralliart. Our favourite tall Dutch beauty is working in the legitimate stage theatre and is doing just fine, thank you very much. Chris Syfert will continue utilizing her timing and scoring skills for IMSA's benefit. A class person if ever there was one. Steve Soper continues to sneer at people and has let loose on the world a couple of drivers through the Formula BMW project. Presenting the Steve Soper Experience, " Are You Qualified" coming to a venue near you. Let's hope not. Dave Price is feeling better these days but not feeling like taking Brooksie's phone calls. Allan McNish (see Dave Price) Jurgen Barth has learned that he is a German. And last of all, there is a rumour going around that David Donohue is somehow involved in a racecar project. (I can't wait to get a note from DD on this!) |
Kerry Morse |
