lastturnclub.com

We've been visiting family since this past Sunday, putting off writing our Lime Rock preview because we don't relish the task (see our Utah Review). Still, that was our plan when we checked our email this morning. So what should we find? An unsolicited no-holds-barred article that says what many (yes even in the paddock, where this one originates) have been thinking and some have been saying out loud (but out of earshot). We've been happy to call Miles Geauxbye our friend for nearly a decade, and though this is his first contribution to Last Turn Clubhouse, we find his style (regardless of the topic) delightful and hope we'll be the beneficiaries of many more pieces in the future. Besides, we get to put off that Lime Rock Preview for another day.-Editor-

No one in the polite society that makes up the American Le Mans Series management and press will address an issue that is painfully obvious to public: Jaguar should shelve their ALMS racing program until they can deliver a better product. The current factory backed effort is a complete disaster for everyone—the drivers, the press, the sponsors, the manufacturers and Jaguar owners.

We got the following letter the other day:

Dear Editor:

Does LMPC really deserve your neglect if it fields drivers of the calibre of Bouchut, Hunter-Reay, Wallace, Hildebrand, Jeannette, and Julian? LMPC also seems to be establishing itself as that rarity, a spec class in which no one is moaning about the car (perhaps because IMSA's officiating gives them enough to complain about). I would respectfully urge you to reconsider your policy of disdain toward LMPC. Thanks for your time, and the always thoughtful blog...

Clearly a writer deserving of a serious answer. We appreciate a question that’s thoughtful and polite even if it presents a disagreement with our editorial position. We’ve spent a week thinking about this now, so here’s our answer.

Over on the americanlemansfans.com forum, in the thread titled “Anyone feel like patting Scott Atherton on the back?” we were surprised to read that we were “predictable and political,” and “hoped for the worst.” Having given those characterizations some thought, I – predictably, perhaps – think they are quite wrong. Why? Well, we think the record on Last Turn Clubhouse is clear, but since it’s over a period of years, perhaps it isn’t well remembered. What follows is a summary of the editorial views over the past few seasons most relevant to the ALMS’ current situation, and some thoughts on where that series is today.

 In July, we wrote in “Marketing 101, “To its fans, racing is a sport – an entertainment – and needs to be marketed as one. When you've done all the advertising you can do of the kind that says, "come have a fun weekend with these wonderful, powerful, fast cars in exciting racing at (Lime Rock, Road America, etc.),” then be my guest and tell the masses that, by the way, you're also relevant.”

Braselton’s disagreement with that sentiment was clear in the annual “State of the Series” message at Petit Le Mans in September, when CEO Scott Atherton proudly unveiled a new logo, with the words ‘Global Leader Green Racing’ replacing ‘World Class.’