This is the Statt Mann Baby. It's time to Scatt a little bit.

The other night I received a piece of Ford swag that showed where the company's head is internationally.

A media notebook for Ford Racing featured a vintage Ford Escort rally car on the back with other vintage Ford race cars including the GT40 that won at Le Mans.  On the front was a current Ford Fiesta WRC rally car on top of the notebook above a NASCAR Sprint Cup car, an NHRA Funny car and a Grand-Am Continental Tire Mustang.

These are giant steps for a company that has rocked and rolled through the bumpy economic times in the American auto industry. Ford was the only one of Detroit's Big Three to turn down bankruptcy or government bail outs to survive the tough times.

Ford is marketing its belief in real world cars like the Focus and Fiesta in real world racing situations like touring cars and rallying and it's having success in the effort.

The tagline on the notebook says “We Race. You Win.” And that's at the heart of the matter. Cup cars and Funny Cars have little or nothing to do with what we can buy in the showroom. But touring cars and rally cars are based on what we can put in our driveways or garages.

I believe racing improves the breed.  It's good to see that Ford is a believer too.

Peace.