Oh, Boy

Well, when automakers start laying off key designers, engineers, and PR flacks like they're dusting dirt of their shoulders, it has to make everyone on down a trifle nervous.

Besides a staggering drop in car sales, this industry is feeling a big bite from tire manufacturers to car bloggers, Collector auctions to specialty tuners.

What it means for this particular auto journo is a big, fat freeze on travel. I got in a trip to Lajitas, Texas for the Inaugural Shelby Terlingua Bullrun and Chili Cook-off, during which I was granted a private interview with Carroll Shelby, rode co-pilot with legendary racer Bob Bondurant in a road rally, and found my new love, the Super Snake. I was an incredible weekend in Big Bend, something I won't ever forget.

Barrett-Jackson's First Collector Car Auction in Las Vegas is out, so is SEMA. Travel is extremely expensive these days and the publications who employ me do not provide reimbursement. Not whining, mind you, just acknowledging the state of affairs.

With fewer new cars to review, the news reporting being all of the bad variety, and limited ability to cover out-of-state car events, it looks as though my job will downsize to that of an enthusiast/blogger. And hey, that's not so bad.

Racing around the Texas desert in a variety of incredible Shelby vehicles with Carroll Shelby, Bill Neale, Bob Bondurant, a few terrific media types (and one less so), the Terlingua Racing Team, and a bunch of crazy Shelby enthusiasts is a pretty good last hurrah, if it comes down to that.