LA "alternative" to Long Beach

jock25 · 14 Apr 2005, 09:34 (Ref:1277845)

Kevin Kalkhoven was quoted this week saying that CCWS has a contigency plan for a street race in Los Angeles, should Dover Motorsport decide to jump ship with the Long Beach GP. Surely a Champ Car race in Los Angeles would be a better step forward for the series than remaining at Long Beach?

Long Beach certainly has the history, an established support base and a nice location but a race in LA could drop Champ Cars into the middle of a massive potential market for fans and sponsors.

What does everyone else think?

macdaddy · 14 Apr 2005, 10:06 (Ref:1277881)

I'd imagine it's more of a "contingency idea" than a "contingency plan". And the longer the LBGPA holds out, the less likely this scenerio becomes.

Kicking-back · 14 Apr 2005, 10:15 (Ref:1277888)

I'd be slightly sceptical about it going ahead.

Long Beach was an area which was down-and-out before it had a race, and it has used the event to lead to fantastic regeneration.

As a city, LA has a lot going on, and may wonder what it would gain from having such an event.

Flatspot · 14 Apr 2005, 14:41 (Ref:1278090)

It would be better if LB kept Champ Car but if they don't Personally I would go see Champ Car instead so.....go Kevin.

racinthestreets · 14 Apr 2005, 15:08 (Ref:1278106)

San Diego?

Snrub · 14 Apr 2005, 15:49 (Ref:1278129)

I think the contingency plan is, talk to people in LA if the LBGP falls through for CC. They might even have had some casual talks, but I'm sure nothing is anywhere close to happening.

rustyfan · 14 Apr 2005, 16:25 (Ref:1278155)

Hell, have 'em race up and down the hills in San Francisco - now that would be an interesting race

Kidding aside, it all depends on the layout - given the current restrictions when it comes to develop and improve the Long Beach layout, I'm sure they could put together a much better layout in LA starting from a clean sheet of paper.

blueflagger · 15 Apr 2005, 01:21 (Ref:1278459)

I hope they're doing more than just talking about it. There was a lot of serious talk about LB making the switch. It was the hot topic at the event. I hope not. There was a heckuva lot of good racing last weekend.

Snrub · 15 Apr 2005, 02:49 (Ref:1278480)

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueflagger

There was a heckuva lot of good racing last weekend.

No kidding. CC did the best it could to show the LBGP people why they should stick with what is working. Hopefully this is an indication of how the season will progress. One of the factors mentioned was which series had more forward momentum. A terrific season by CC would help.

Amar7605 · 15 Apr 2005, 06:19 (Ref:1278557)

Quote:

Originally Posted by racinthestreets

San Diego?

There was that Trans Am race a few years back at some airfield. I wondered what happened to that?

I lived in San Diego for a few years, and I thought that the downtown area near Petco Park and the Convention Center would be kind of a neat street race venue.

jock25 · 15 Apr 2005, 09:29 (Ref:1278709)

I'm glad there are some more fans who are positive to the LA idea. KK is a shrewd businessman and whether or not the comments are posturing for the LBGP negotiations, it would be a surprise if the negotiations for an LA race amounted to only a few "what if" conversations.

It is certainly true to say Long Beach used the Indycar/Champ Car races to regenerate but now that process is effectively completed surely Champ Car must ask what there is to get out of Long Beach anymore? IMHO comparing Long Beach with a race in LA...well, there is no comparison!

Amar7605 · 15 Apr 2005, 17:18 (Ref:1279083)

Alright... assuming that there can be an LA street race, where could it be held?

blueflagger · 15 Apr 2005, 22:19 (Ref:1279235)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amar7605

Alright... assuming that there can be an LA street race, where could it be held?

In the street, silly!

macdaddy · 15 Apr 2005, 22:22 (Ref:1279239)

Actually, blueflagger, it would be "on" the street.

blueflagger · 15 Apr 2005, 22:39 (Ref:1279247)

Quote:

Originally Posted by macdaddy

Actually, blueflagger, it would be "on" the street.

And on more than one street or the track will have two very tight hairpins.

How about the entry road to LAX?

icemachine · 15 Apr 2005, 22:44 (Ref:1279251)

If they lose Long Beach, I'm pulling for Santa Monica. Main Straitaway on Pallisades Beach Road. Yeah That would be sweet

Mike_Wooshy · 15 Apr 2005, 23:57 (Ref:1279285)

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemachine

If they lose Long Beach, I'm pulling for Santa Monica. Main Straitaway on Pallisades Beach Road. Yeah That would be sweet

agreed !! that would be a good alternitive to long beach.

Rob29 · 16 Apr 2005, 07:25 (Ref:1279452)

I seem to remember Historic & NASCAR (west division?) races held a few years back near the main rail station.

Sivat · 16 Apr 2005, 08:13 (Ref:1279465)

I can't figure out where they could hold the race. The problem is that it will effectively close down the area for at least 4 days. That works in long beach because the area they close is right on the beach and somewhat out of the way. The only area really effected is shoreline village, which sees much more business that weekend so they don't mind. Plus, the area is big enough to have the track and the stands. Considering there was talk about cancelling the LA marathon because it disrupted the city for one day means that an LA race seems very unlikely.

Amar7605 · 16 Apr 2005, 08:22 (Ref:1279467)

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemachine

If they lose Long Beach, I'm pulling for Santa Monica. Main Straitaway on Pallisades Beach Road. Yeah That would be sweet

Santa Monica would be neat, but wouldn't it basically be a carbon copy of Long Beach, or even Surfers Paradise?

How about something really outrageous, like having a race on Catalina Island?

Amar7605 · 16 Apr 2005, 08:24 (Ref:1279468)

Wait... for those who are in the LA area, how is Century City? I went to a club there a couple of years ago, and I remember the streets being wide and there would be enough space for grandstands and pit boxes. At least, that's what it looked like to me at night.

indycool · 17 Apr 2005, 15:47 (Ref:1280468)

Gentilozzi first floated that idea of an LA race in December, 2003, before the bankruptcy. IMO, Kalkhoven has made two bad moves in this situation that will hurt Champ Car as this plays itself out:

1. His comment about LA will be regarded as a threat. Doubt that Long Beach will take that threat seriously as things shake out and will probably be hostile to it. When anyone for any reason gets threatened, they become hostile to it.

2. Screwing around with the Long Beach City Council. This was a panic move in case TG wanted to buy the Long Beach race from Dover. Contrary to Robin Miller's rumors, TG has given no indication that he wanted to "buy" a street race. The City Council of Long Beach and the LBGPA have a contract through 2010. The LBGPA selects the racing to be held and makes the deals. Kalkhoven trying to woo three female City Council members by Gulfstreaming them to San Jose may have had its merits but neither the City Council nor the LBGPA are going to allow Kalkhoven to get in between them when all is said and done. That's THEIR town and community. Not Kevin's.

Where this race goes, I have no idea, but the CC cards aren't being played very well.

trout · 17 Apr 2005, 16:35 (Ref:1280504)

Don't know Indy.

How else can CCWS play it out? If they do nothing - everyone thinks they don't want the event. And if they lose it - we will all be calling them a ship of fools.

I think the cards are being played in the only fashion that they can. This is in the negotiation stages now - don't expect everyone to play nice in the sand box.

I think the salvo to Long Beach was needed. If you underestimate us, we will plan something in your back yard. It has to be said.

But that is just my 2 cents

codename_47 · 18 Apr 2005, 01:02 (Ref:1280802)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustyfan

Hell, have 'em race up and down the hills in San Francisco - now that would be an interesting race

Kidding aside, it all depends on the layout - given the current restrictions when it comes to develop and improve the Long Beach layout, I'm sure they could put together a much better layout in LA starting from a clean sheet of paper.

Oh, if you were running the series!

It'd be bankrupt by now, but what GREAT racing it would have provided already!

Yeah, the LB layout isn't good (though that didn't seem to stop passes from happening this year...) but it makes a profit, so much so that other series are sniffing around it to claim it as their own, same old story!

I hope this "contingency plan" or whatever they're calling it remains just that, a plan. One that doesn't have to come into fruition!

macdaddy · 18 Apr 2005, 01:52 (Ref:1280819)

Quote:

Trout:

If you underestimate us, we will plan something in your back yard.

Great analogy. Works as well with everyday-life as it does OW unification.
Won't go off-topic, but thanks for the "wisdom".

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