OK Folks.. He's Baaaack..

[Bram Hume]

After some lengthy sick time.. ( most without pay..lol) I'm back and ready to take on the Bench Racing world.. firsdt of all a huge thank you to those that kept me in touch with the the world and sent along the well wishes.. Beth, Steve and Charlie.. you're all top draw and super friends.. I cannot thank you all enough... now let's get to some stuff..

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.. bust the making?

Bobby Labonte is having his pictures made for No. 41 Target hero cards as we speak...

Chrysler to resume merger talks with GM?... so does that mean.. no Dodges on track.. smells like monopoly to me.. and opening for yet another Japanses -based manufacturer.. as Honda is gathering all it's horses for some other type of run at the fast world..

American Le Mans ~~~ Audi leaves after 12 Hrs of Sebring, no more races in the States..hear that collective angst from ALMS sanction, and the collective sigh of relief from Acura and Creation/Lola LMP1 .. and BMW is full factory for a run at GT2.. good luck...

Wood Brothers.. 12 races for the season.. and Petty Enterprises is no more

SCCA ~~ The Trans-Am will be back with a full slate of races.. and Paul Gentilozzi has the Jag all polished up...

Let's get to it Bench Racers.. bring it on.. let's get jiggy wid it... what's got you racy today?

and by the way.. a joyous holiday season to all

[Charlie]

Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing....where's the strength? DEI's shop staff seemed highy rated. Truex Jr and JPM are pretty strong. Bobby Labonte might still have it (I hope so anyway). With Chevy power I give them a punchers chance to win a race or two. Is that enough to keep them in the game?

I think the Wood Brothers are making a prudent move. But they need to be competitive in their chosen arenas.

The Pettys blew it.

There's no cash for a GM/Chrysler merger. Won't happen. Chrysler liquidation is more likely.

Trans Am returns! Who will field the Challegers? Camaros? Insights?

Welcome back my friend. It just got warmer around here. Happy holidays BenchRacers!

[Nascar Addict]

::: blink blink ::: Are we supposed to come out of hibernation now? Is someone trying to breathe life into this site or is it really the big bad wolf and his bad breath at the door? Good grief, someone is asking questions. My brain is pickled from eggnog and hot toddies.

I personally don't give a flying whatsit what happens to DEI. I only hope those drivers put in their time and find a solid ride with a real team and that they take their crews with them. Then Dale Jr. can sneak in and shut off the lights.

The rest of your questions are way too complicated for the cocktail hour. Here is my list of excuses - too tired in the morning, afternoons are for running the dogs, evenings are recovery time and then the best time is snooze time. I am much better at gossip than I am at solid facts.

And hello, Bram. I don't believe we've met. But I have a sweatshirt that says "SLEIGH PITCREW" so I am entitled to throw my cent and a half in here. Merry, merry to all too!

[Clance' McClannahan]

It's so good to pretend to hear your sweet Brogue voice Bram! Welcome back! It hasn't exactly been our year for health has it?

EGR? NutZ.

Bobby's horoscope for the next year is a little challenging, but very positive. The outcome will be good and positive for him, whatever that ultimately turns out to be.

I am sick about Petty Enterprises...a great piece of history goes into the bygone era.

Wood Brother's: Bill Elliot said it best ~" “It’s important to these guys, especially where they’re at, fighting for sponsorship and stuff. And it goes to show you that racing can turn around, and things can get better. I’m just proud for these guys. They deserve better. "

Chrysler, GM, Dodge, Honda? Where are the Rabbit's? Kill em.

I unashamedly say I don't follow the other's. NASCAR, SCORE and CORR are enough to keep my brain operating.

Perhaps we should all come out of hibernation, huh? I have neglected my poor flock, I must say...

**My boss is writing the shout out, Charlie:)

[Diecast_Dude]

Look. Just because I've been mailing it in for the past few months doesn't mean you also can take a vacation!

And the next time you're under the weather, mind having someone let me know? I had no idea why I hadn't heard from you in months.

[Tom Fuller]

Well welcome back from your hiatus. Glad to see you are feeling racey.

Wood Brothers---very sad day.

American Auto Makers---not even going to touch that subject, too many ill feelings about the whole situation.

As for me, what has gotten me really racey is the fact right now I am stuck in Charlotte, NC due to severe fog and I do mean severe!!! All flights were cancelled tonight. I was on my way back on business from San Diego to Providence but had to stop for a change of flights in Charlotte. My flight left San Diego at 2:35pm (PST), which was an hour late, got into Charlotte around 9:30pm (EST) and saw that my flight to Providence had been delayed from 10:05pm till 11:30pm, not a good sign. Well after the bell struck midnight, they called it and said the flight had been cancelled. Had to get my suitcase from baggage claim, grabbed a shuttle to the Double Tree Inn and I am on the 9:55am flight to Providence. Now, another interesting point, we have a major snow storm heading that way and is suppose to hit around noon, just around the same time my flight lands. I only hope I get in instead of being laid over again here in Charlotte or being diverted to another airport. I have been gone from home for 2 weeks and all I want is to sleep in my own bed.

I hope everyone is having a better day then me...LOL

Happy Holidays to all!!!

[Nascar Addict]

I have to say if I was stuck in Charlotte I would be grabbing a taxi and finding me a 24-hour Nascar store! Or heading over to Junior's new watering hole. Or calling the real estate agent and asking to see Denny's 4.7 million mansion that's up for sale, dishes and everything included. You people just need to take me along when you travel to know how to have a good time!

[Bram Hume]

Nascar Addict said:

I have to say if I was stuck in Charlotte I would be grabbing a taxi and finding me a 24-hour Nascar store! Or heading over to Junior's new watering hole. Or calling the real estate agent and asking to see Denny's 4.7 million mansion that's up for sale, dishes and everything included. You people just need to take me along when you travel to know how to have a good time!

C'mon.. Denny's place in the same cove with Joe's home and JD's home .. And Whiskey RIver is having some good bands, 3 Doors Down and the like...

[Bram Hume]

Diecast_Dude said:

Look. Just because I've been mailing it in for the past few months doesn't mean you also can take a vacation!

And the next time you're under the weather, mind having someone let me know? I had no idea why I hadn't heard from you in months.

You know me by now.. high speed. low drag

[Bram Hume]

Charlie said:

Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing....where's the strength? DEI's shop staff seemed highy rated. Truex Jr and JPM are pretty strong. Bobby Labonte might still have it (I hope so anyway). With Chevy power I give them a punchers chance to win a race or two. Is that enough to keep them in the game?

I think the Wood Brothers are making a prudent move. But they need to be competitive in their chosen arenas.

The Pettys blew it.

There's no cash for a GM/Chrysler merger. Won't happen. Chrysler liquidation is more likely.

Trans Am returns! Who will field the Challegers? Camaros? Insights?

Welcome back my friend. It just got warmer around here. Happy holidays BenchRacers!

I'm glad to be back.. any day above ground is a day I'll be here

Yeah.. the Pettys blew it.. and never has there been a more textbook example of living in the past.

The Wood Brothers.. yeah.. lots of reason for that grave being dug.. so it's back to the David Pearson schedule.

Saving Chrysler as a viable entity ( all of the Big Tree , in my opinion) will be best served by filing a structured bankruptcy agreement, start it all over, this time , do it right.. meaning those that actual offer the jobs get to make the rules.. not the UAW.. get salaries in realistic lines, and by all means, the car lines themselves.. I love my Suburban, I love my Avalanche.. but I've had to pay the price for ownership... at the gas pump being the least of it...

Trans Am.. here's some insight ~~ technical regulations will be based on current GT-1 rules from the SCCA Club Racing General Competition Rules (GCR) with additional potential safety requirements.

2009 MUSCLE MILK SCCA TRANS-AM SERIES SCHEDULE*

Date
Venue
With

March 21-22
Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.
Atlanta National

April 17-19
VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, Va.
North Carolina National

May 15-17
Mosport International Raceway, Canada
SPEED World Challenge

June 12-14
Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore.
Oregon Region National

July 11-12
Watkins Glen Int'l, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Finger Lakes National

* - Three additional dates to be announced

[Bram Hume]

Let me add this thought.. Ford seems to be having the least amount troubles of the domestic makers . not that there's a business model to be followed there, but maybe somebody dusted off Henry's original plans.. but today's 17 bil. announcement is just a temp measure at best.. it's time for US domestics and the entities involved to re-think, re-tool and get domestically in-touch... the 50,000 page UAW contracts are no longer afforable.. given the less than 5000 page contracts that Toyota , Honda and BMW have... do the math... come into this 21st century and it's economy.. to get it back to the future.

[Charlie]

The Diecast Dude said...
Look. Just because I've been mailing it in for the past few months doesn't mean you also can take a vacation!

A sighting!!! Just in time for Christmas! I hope your changes are going well Jerry. We'd like to have you around here too.

[Nascar Addict]

The quote of the week from Scene magazine is by Kyle Petty: "Everything was tied to Richard Petty. Maybe we rode that horse so long, there was nothing left in that horse and maybe we just rode the King into the ground".

Sad.