Detroit Grand Prix .... write this day down.

Buckle up my friends.

Think about it... we may be finally be facing the realization that what we do (race petroleum based machinery as a sport and form of entertainment) may soon be viewed has irresponsible and pointless. Irresponsible because of energy challenges facing the global economy and climate, and pointless because even the Scion Xb that is parked on my driveway may soon be viewed as a transportation "dinosaur." Of course, I don't mean in size or function... just its form of propulsion.

We've heard this dialogue for nearly two decades. Guess what.... you hear that knock on the door? .... it's reality and it's coming in whether you answer it or not.

The "PR" problem that will hurt us all will be the NASCAR fall-out, which is inevitable. All the noise NASCAR has made with their growth over the past 10 years is going to come back and bite them (and all forms of racing) right in the ass.

Any time I mention I photograph motorsports, the response is always... "Oh, NASCAR?" And, of course, I set about explaining to them that there are other forms of racing besides NASCAR.

So... as NASCAR begins to navigate their way over the cliff (speaking of irresponsible use of petroleum based energy) toward their ultimate doom.... we're going to be tossed into their wake.... with all the other flotsam.

I'm not trying to be doom and gloom here.... but unless there's a fleet of Chevy Volts ready to take the grid for the first Dura-Cell / RayOVac 500.... we're going to waiting around a long, long time. I'm afraid this deal ain't coming back.

Believe me... racing as we knew it is winding down. The restructuring of the automotive industry will include the restructuring of the automobile. The talking is over.

This deal is going to require... no demand, outside the box thinking beyond our standard definition of outside the box. What we were cheerily promoting as "diversified" over the past couple of years will not cut it given the most recent downturn in the economy. Let's face it... this is impacting every part of our lives... it is the proverbial perfect storm.

Most gasoline cars produced currently will sit like ... 1965 Coupe de Villes. People are going to avoid them like the plague. No one is going to want to be seen as being cavalier or irresponsible. Everyone is going to get a conscience. They're going to buy as GREEN as they can. Not only for all the right reasons.... but to give the right impression.

This country and the auto industry has squandered umpteen opportunities and "warnings" to get out from under petroleum based energy. When the rest of the world was paying $5 per gallon, we were paying a $1.50 and buying Hummers and Escalades. We got wake up call after wake up call and stayed in bed.

So... now it's here.

The proof of how bad this is, is the fact that low gas prices aren't having any effect on anything... AND even Dubai is collapsing under the strain of falling oil prices. Attempts to boost oil prices via reduced production is not working.

So, when you see what happens to the middle east when we don't use our quota of petroleum, it tells you.... that this is the key to disarming the disruptive impact the middle east has on the rest of the world.... If we devalue their product by reducing the deman, we reduce their global clout. That includes the financing of terrorism.

Any "help" the US Goverment gives to the car makers is going to have GREEN strings attached. Any incentives passed on to the "main street" tax payers will come with GREEN strings attached. If you want to do any thing... get anything done, or do anything new and innovative... it had better be GREEN.

Racing ain't green. Certainly the perception of racing ain't green. We've got trouble.