Hmm, you see I doubt it's a lack of current because the starter works 99.9%
of the time.. however when I drive for 3-4 hours or more then it doesn't
re-start.  Also because it functions perfectly time and time again during
'normal' usage it makes me think it doesn't need replacing.

I was thinking that a component was somehow getting affected by high heat,
and when I wack the starter with a brick it was somehow freeing up the
funny problems.  D'oh.  If it was manual I could let it go, but it's
automatic and no starter means no start!

Thanks for the suggestions.  I'm still hopnig to find those ghosts however.
Uhm is it possible there are brushes on the way out or something similar?
I suppose I need to pull it off anyways and take a look but I thought it
may be a common problem that people know how to remedy.

- Shawn.