And now for Surfers!

[Jay]

Interesting...hope the finances are good and it can happen!

Aus.CARTfan, glad to hear you met those two! Both very friendly guys. I think Darren Manning might even be the friendliest pilot in the series (unless of course you can't stand the Yorkshire accent).

[Crash Test]

It's been another rainy day up here, with storms up and down the coast. The weekend forcast for Brisbane is afternoon storms, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.... grrrr....

[macdaddy]

I hope the Vanderbilt Cup is waterproof!

[MLM]

Oh no....deja vu with the rain
Let's hope it doesn't play havoc with the race as it did last year.

[macdaddy]

Brightline suggested in another thread that maybe it's Geoff Boss' turn to win!

[Aus.CARTfan]

Yeah both nice guys (Darren Manning). I cant wait for thursday we have the drivers breakfast in the morning (with all the drivers).Hoping to get some things signed by them. NEWS UPDATE WEEKEND TO BE MAINLY FINE!!!! This was just on the National news. Fingers crossed they are right.....
We are in for a great weekend of racing wish you could all be here!!

[vatuloa]

From Todays Gold Coast Bulletin

Series boss doffs hat to Coast Indy
22Oct03

THE Gold Coast Indy will be promoted next year as the flagship event in a new series run by a United States company committed to ensuring there are at least 18 teams on the grid.

One of the men behind the new Open Wheel Racing Series is Australian venture capital billionaire Kevin Kalkhoven, who flew into Australia yesterday and is expected on the Gold Coast tomorrow.

Mr Kalkhoven said he was going to 'listen and learn how to put on a great motorsport race' during his time in Surfers Paradise.

"Hats off to Surfers Paradise," he said. "This race is the jewel in the crown of Champ car racing. I'm here to learn how you guys put together such a great event and maybe we can implement some ideas for other races.

"There will be some changes next season. Certainly from a technical point of view we are looking at making the racing more exciting, more competitive, with more intensity and passing.

"But . . . I don't think you tinker with a winning formula."

The consortium, known as Open Wheel Racing Series, is made up of Mr Kalkhoven, Canadian billionaire Gerry Forsyth, Trans-Am series owner Paul Gentilozzi and Indy lights owner Carl Russo.

The new company has launched a pre-emptive 50c a share strike for the struggling CART organisation, which has lost $50 million over the past four months and has said its future beyond 2004 is 'speculative'.

[Zinger]

The flagship event is great praise for the Gold Coast Event, but with Miami making a big festival of there race There might be some competition for top events honours in the future.

[Dov]

Not a big deal, but why do so many people think that Gerry Forsythe is Canadian......maybe because the team (most of them are) is Canadian? Mr. Forsythe is from Chicago.

[jetsetter]

The weather forecast for the race is looking better every day so hopefully we'll be able to see a race this year.

[Dov]

From Cart.com:http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=7267

[Crash Test]

Yep, it's better and better every day here. Stinking hot yesterday, and I got up a good sweat walking to the track this morning. They reckon mid-30s on race day.

This was the view yesterday from Burleigh looking north to Surfers

[vatuloa]

Tracy arrives from Gold Coast Bulletin

Tracy swipes CART and backs Indy's new big wheels
23Oct03

SERIES leader Paul Tracy has delivered a stinging broadside against the ailing company which runs the Indy series, saying its decision to publicly float on the New York Stock Exchange was the beginning of the end for Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART).

Tracy, the firebrand Canadian driver who can wrap up the 2003 series with a win at Surfers Paradise, said he believed CART going public was a 'bad idea'.

CART is in the throes of being acquired by a consortium headed up by three billionaire team owners - Canadian Gerry Forsythe, American Paul Gentilozzi and Australian venture capitalist Kevin Kalkhoven. Their rescue bid follows CART's financial freefall over the past 12 months.

Its share price has plunged from US $5.90 to US 90c on the back of a financial disclosure earlier this year that it was headed for a $50 million loss in 2003 and the future of next year's series was 'speculative'.

The new consortium, known as Open Wheel Racing Series, will revamp the series next season, cutting out self-promoted races and making technical changes to ensure a more exciting spectacle.

It will also promote the Surfers Paradise race as the 'jewel in its crown'.

Relaxing on Surfers Paradise beach yesterday, Tracy said the new owners of CART wanted to invest in the series, rebuild it and make it grow.

"They want to invest in the series and not really take out like the other owners did when it was a public deal," he said.

"I think going public was a bad idea. This (Surfers Paradise) is a great event and it gives the drivers an opportunity to come a little earlier and enjoy the beach and the atmosphere.

"It's a serious race for me. If things go to plan I can win the series at this race."

[macdaddy]

Allow me to correct Paul's grammar...
"If things go to plan I will win the series at this race."

I've got WAY too many gray hairs already - taking the battle to Fontana would mean the end of every fingernail I've ever known.

[Crash Test]

BTW- im posting pics from the weekend in the news section at www.qrda.asn.au

[GTV27]

nice shots Crash - good to see that you're also getting into the extra-curricular activities

keep up the good work

[Crash Test]

I've also posted pics from Friday and Saturday on me website

[jetsetter]

Originally posted by Crash Test
Yep, it's better and better every day here. Stinking hot yesterday, and I got up a good sweat walking to the track this morning. They reckon mid-30s on race day.

This was the view yesterday from Burleigh looking north to Surfers

Queensland, Beautiful one day perfect the next. I wouldn't live anywhere else for quids.