New races... - Page 2

macdaddy · 4 Oct 2002, 14:57 (Ref:395815)

But Mosport would never enjoy the same success as the downtown Toronto venue does. The racing would be better, sure. But the people wouldn't come. (There's no subway to Mosport!)

paul-collins · 4 Oct 2002, 15:10 (Ref:395824)

I know, it's a pipe dream. CART can't afford to give up such a guaranteed-attendance bonanza.

I'd rather they just add a Mosport race.

4 Oct 2002, 15:48 (Ref:395846)

Lee i Think that is an excellent track design! the straights are long which is well-needed.as for the D.c. race I attended that event and it was well done. It would be a good event for CART!

muggle not · 4 Oct 2002, 19:32 (Ref:395988)

Liz...My post on "No more Urban races" was a tongue-in-cheek post regarding Lee Janotta's comment on my recommendation of Wash, DC. You need to go back a few posts to get the full understanding.

To clarify: I would like to see Sebring and DC added to the schedule. There is nothing wrong with Urban racing as it does bring fans. My preference though is for the road tracks such as Mosport and Laguna Seca.

Tailwind · 5 Oct 2002, 01:41 (Ref:396142)

I wonder if a race at Meigs Field has ever been pitched to CART or Chris Pook? Lee?

Lee Janotta · 5 Oct 2002, 13:12 (Ref:396320)

Well, the problem with Meigs is the size. Pook has said publicly it's too small, though I don't know if they considered a combined airport-street course.

But Pook is in favor of a race through Grant Park, immediatly to the northwest. The problem, though, is the roads there. Many are _major_ roads servicing the heart of Chicago. And the roads themselves alternate between major streets which are completely straight and uninteresting, or tiny tree-lined park roads which you couldn't possibly get two CART cars going side-by-side on. Basically the problems street circuits always face. Even Miami's looking like a pretty poor venue. It's downright depressing to see these purebred race cars just _creep_ along!

And it's like I've said before... If CART and ALMS don't support North America's road courses, who will?

muggle not · 5 Oct 2002, 14:04 (Ref:396336)

CART, ALMS, Trans Am, and World Challenge will probably go where the fans are. So, to get more road courses on the schedule it is up to US to attend the races at these locations. No question, personally I enjoy the road courses more than the street tracks.

paul-collins · 1 Apr 2003, 20:22 (Ref:555254)

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
Hmm... Now if we _were_ to have a street race in Chicago, it should at least be off the grid system streets. Better for the city and for the track. Could something like this work?

Too late...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...168/3o8q7.html

macdaddy · 1 Apr 2003, 20:26 (Ref:555261)

That could make for a rather bumpy track. Abrupt elevation changes, at the very least!

paul-collins · 1 Apr 2003, 20:29 (Ref:555264)

Here's a good photo of the wreckage;

http://friendsofmeigs.org/images/Mei..._Closing_1.jpg

paul-collins · 1 Apr 2003, 20:48 (Ref:555282)

It's funny, reading the Tribune's coverage, it makes Mayor Daley sound like our own little mayor here in Toronto, before the meltdown occurred. Except that here the mayor's push is for a fixed link to the Toronto Island Airport, instead of the removal of the airport.

Why were Chicago's business travellers not using Meigs?

macdaddy · 1 Apr 2003, 21:59 (Ref:555340)

Lee's got a helluva challenge in designing a course now!

Omega99 · 2 Apr 2003, 00:35 (Ref:555433)

Well, if it's closed now, there's no airport to contend with. Just turn it into a designated road course, and hold other racing events there as well. (It's like an empty canvas for our artist Lee over here) If you line the edges with stands, cars are visible 100% of the time. It could work... Though if the mayor didn't want an airport there, what are the chances he'll want a race track?

Lee Janotta · 2 Apr 2003, 01:53 (Ref:555468)

His daddy was an SOB, and so's he. Gah, look at him, he just oozes evil!!!

Oh well... That leaves Lincoln Park... Unless they'd allow Meigs to be redeveloped as a permanent road course.

Y'know, I bet someday some poor sucker needs to make an emergency landing in Chicago, coming in from the east, and has to ditch before he makes it to O'Hare, because Meigs was closed...

Tailwind · 2 Apr 2003, 02:24 (Ref:555476)

Oh well. I've flown into there so many times on Flight Sim. I never did understand why the city tried so many times to close the airport. Lee I thought your track there was a great one. So those of you that live out there, why did he close it?

Lee Janotta · 2 Apr 2003, 04:28 (Ref:555522)

Thanks Tailwind.

Lincoln Park _could_ make a fantastic circuit, but the yuppies living around the park would probably put the kibosh on the idea.

Grant Park would just be awful for a GP, nothing but right-angle turns along very narrow roads!

gttouring · 6 Apr 2003, 22:49 (Ref:560920)

According to family sources, The Mayor decided that no airplanes were going to come and threaten his city, with the worlds' biggest building in it (the Kuala lampur towers have 'decorative spires' extending their hieght making them not really as atall an occupied building as the Sears Tower) So any ways, as Meig's folk protested in the middle of the night when Meigs is not busy and just taking up space, King Daley decided to trash the runways and say it is not a big airport and it was a security risk, so it will become a center for parks, rehab of the marina and maybe some houses. Go daley, what a great mayor.

macdaddy · 8 Apr 2003, 16:11 (Ref:562920)

Mario Andretti on CART.com:

"I hope CART never gets away from the diversity that makes it such a great challenge. The street races are great but Champ Car can't become only a street racing series. It must continue to be the most diverse challenge in racing with street races, road circuits, short ovals and superspeedways. That's what differentiates Champ Car from the rest of motor racing. Champ Car must not lose that criteria. It would be a crucial mistake."

Prost! · 8 Apr 2003, 22:36 (Ref:563385)

Streets of San Francisco... imagine the air they'd catch flying across Webster & Broadway? The "Zigzag" on Lombard St. could be an evolved "Corkscrew"!

Prost!

Lee Janotta · 8 Apr 2003, 23:22 (Ref:563400)

San Fran's just an insane idea, especially with Laguna Seca already there, and Thunderhill.

Prost! · 8 Apr 2003, 23:47 (Ref:563415)

Indeed so... you've seen the grades of these streets and Lombard St., yes? Unless your name is McQueen, Malden or Douglas, racing through them would be an impossibility! But, I'm still hooked on your Vegas by night idea... any contact with Champcar brass on your idea??

Prost!

Prost! · 9 Apr 2003, 00:13 (Ref:563423)

But, in all seriousness... there was a bloke here in SF attempting to round up VIP's to consider a Grand Prix (F1) event on Treasure Island in the middle of the SF Bay. Apparently, Chris Pook & the mayor backed the idea as well, but TG and Indy came 'round, and the idea was cooked. I still think Treasure Island could do far better than Laguna, as SF is such an international city (among other things!) and on the island, might create an environment along the lines of a Monaco or Long Beach. But, difficult logistics and the demise of Silicon Valley would make it quite a challenge for such an event to occur.

corkholio · 9 Apr 2003, 00:26 (Ref:563429)

Miami and Denver make Lombard St. look like Eau Rouge.

A SF street race will never happen for the reason that the people living in San Francisco hate cars. The Treasure Island idea was pretty damn stupid considering the only way you car really get there is thru one bridge which is over congested half the time as it is. Knowing the Bay Area I can tellyou right off the bat that everyone who would attend that race would drive there. The chance of people actually using public transportation to get to Treasure Island is about as good as seeing Osama bin Laden hanging out at a Barmitzvah.

A SF street race would never create anywhere the same atmosphere as Monaco or the vastly overrated LBGP simply because there aren't enough shallow SoCal/LA-idiots you would need for it. I am willing bet that if it rains hard this weekend Laguna Seca would have better attendance than the LBGP.

Laguna Seca would be much better if they promote the damn race.

corkholio · 9 Apr 2003, 00:32 (Ref:563432)

Quote:

Originally posted by muggle not
There is nothing wrong with Urban racing as it does bring fans.

It doesn't really, espeically when it comes to full season sponsors, especially in the US. CART had great crowds last year but absolutely **** poor ratings here in the US. Unless that improves you are going to see more Rodolfo Lavins than actual professional drivers.

Prost! · 9 Apr 2003, 00:48 (Ref:563437)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by corkholio
The Treasure Island idea was pretty damn stupid considering the only way you car really get there is thru one bridge which is over congested half the time as it is.

The plan was not to drive to the island, but barge or ferry from China Basin(Pac Bell lot) & East Bay.

A SF street race would never create anywhere the same atmosphere as Monaco or the vastly overrated LBGP simply because there aren't enough shallow SoCal/LA-idiots you would need for it.

NASCAR doesn't do well with Sears Point? Have you never been out to Concord, Pleasanton, Silicon Valley or Marin? To claim the Bay Area "hates cars" is ludicrous! I'll remember that the next time I'm stuck on one of the bridges. BTW, Ducati & other high-end motorcycle sales in the Bay Area are the highest in the US, and that crowd flocks to 4-wheel events (see LBGP & Laguna).

I am willing bet that if it rains hard this weekend Laguna Seca would have better attendance than the LBGP.

Now that is funny! And, talk about lack of access to an event, Laguna is pathetic as far as access is concerned. I love the place, but it's never an easy time, nor does it ever near its capacity for Champcars.

Laguna Seca would be much better if they promote the damn race.

Agree.

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