OWRS to acquire Trans-Am!

Dov · 17 Dec 2003, 19:28 (Ref:814392)

From AutoWeek.com: http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=00228348

(13:39 Dec. 17, 2003)
OWRS to acquire Trans-Am

Open Wheel Racing partner Paul Gentilozzi and Trans-Am Racing executive director John Clagett jointly announced that effective Jan. 1, 2004, OWRS will purchase Trans-Am Racing.
The move follows OWRS' announcement that it will purchase specific assets, including contracts with promoters, sponsors, and teams, through the planned Chapter 11 bankruptcy process of CART.

OWRS will immediately become involved in the planning of the 2004 Trans-Am season, which will herald an alignment of one of America’s sedan road racing series with the Champ Car single-seater championship.

“The Trans-Am Tour needed to continue its association with America’s premier road racing circuits, and the synergy created by integrating it under the Open Wheel umbrella along with the Champ Car World Series allows us to meet that goal,” said Gentilozzi. “Bringing Champ Car and Trans-Am under the same roof will also allow us to best capitalize on both series’ strengths, while more effectively managing both.”

“This is another positive step for Trans-Am, and we are pleased to join Champ Car under the Open Wheel banner,” said Clagett. “Planning for the 2004 season is well underway, and we expect to announce an exciting and ambitious Trans-Am racing schedule the week of Dec. 21.”

jjspierx · 17 Dec 2003, 19:29 (Ref:814397)

Woohoo!! I think thats great news. I've never seen a Trans-Am race, hopefully OWRS and Trans-Am will be in Portland this year, although thats up in the air still at this point.

Testure · 17 Dec 2003, 19:36 (Ref:814401)

Things certainly seem to be happening don't they? Could be good alright... Trans-Am can have a role as a supporting series and provides some interesting racing in it's own right, from the few races I've seen on TV. Is there a slight scent of nepotism, though?

Dov · 17 Dec 2003, 19:38 (Ref:814405)

I used to watch Tommy Kendall, Paul Gentilozzi and Ron Fellows battle it out every year at the Toronto Molson Indy before Trans-Am was replaced with the CASCAR series. I hope you get to see Trans-Am come to Portland.....it's a fantastic racing series!

Dov · 17 Dec 2003, 19:41 (Ref:814409)

Quote:

Originally posted by Testure
Is there a slight scent of nepotism, though?

As long as it benefits both series (especially CART), then what's the big deal!?

camcartfan · 17 Dec 2003, 19:53 (Ref:814427)

Smart choice since now they can automatically confirm 2 races for each road or street venue. Quicker sell to the promoters and tracks. Brilliant!

codename_47 · 17 Dec 2003, 20:00 (Ref:814435)

Interesting! No one saw this coming did they?

What would be even more interesing is if they could start talking to some of the road courses Trans-Am races on but CART doesn't.....erm, for the future I mean!

But surely that says good things about OWRS finances if they can afford to "splash out" on such "luxuries" as Trans Am? :confused:

Still, a nice suprise,...Here's to more OWRS suprises between now and April!

paul-collins · 17 Dec 2003, 20:22 (Ref:814459)

So, does the "18 cars" requirement apply to total cars provided? Like, say, 13 champcars and 5 TA's?

Kidding, folks!

Flatspot · 17 Dec 2003, 20:28 (Ref:814464)

This is great. I remember watching Trans-Am, IMSA, and C^RT all in the same weekend at Laguna. This is the kind of stuff that will make things go. Diversity of track and vehicle. This looks like many great racing weekends next summer. Race tickets make great stocking stuffers. All this news is timed well.

The Snout · 17 Dec 2003, 20:39 (Ref:814473)

So am I correct in hearing that OWRS now owns Champcars, Atlantics, Trans Am. And Champcars also have Formula BMW coming onboard ? All of a sudden we seem to have a package here.

gttouring · 17 Dec 2003, 20:51 (Ref:814479)

yeah but I hope Fat head Gentilozzi doesn't destroy the trans-am as it was, with a Participant driven Trans-am rival(all Gt1's from SCCA, and ex GTS from GrandAm) i feel the Trans-am fields may get thin. and PG is selfishly unwittingly destroying it. Bring on the GT1 guys, for race winning if not the championship it is the best deal so far, i don't see an SCv8 growing ot of this, or a DTM, so PG better wake up and smell the burning rubber.

gaines · 17 Dec 2003, 20:56 (Ref:814480)

Am I the only one that gets the feeling that Open Wheel has a plan much bigger than any of us could have ever thought? Trans-Am racing is excellent racing in my opinion and if you package together CART, Trans-Am and Toyota Atlantics into one day you have one heck of a race day. I'm feeling pretty good about what we're seeing.

The Snout · 17 Dec 2003, 21:11 (Ref:814500)

Quote:

Originally posted by gaines
Am I the only one that gets the feeling that Open Wheel has a plan much bigger than any of us could have ever thought? Trans-Am racing is excellent racing in my opinion and if you package together CART, Trans-Am and Toyota Atlantics into one day you have one heck of a race day. I'm feeling pretty good about what we're seeing.

You're not the only one. OWRS has made a few moves and has a few plans that I haven't seen anyone here predict. But it's apparent that PG and company have a direction in mind and are beginning to walk their talk.

Emfa · 17 Dec 2003, 21:27 (Ref:814515)

Quote:

Originally posted by codename_47
...
But surely that says good things about OWRS finances if they can afford to "splash out" on such "luxuries" as Trans Am? :confused:
...

Since Gentilozzi basically owns TA and is also a partner in OWRS, how much money do you think will actually change hands?

Sounds like a good plan to me - as people are saying, it's the package deal.

enemy-ace · 18 Dec 2003, 00:07 (Ref:814689)

A ChampCar/TransAm race weekend is a ticket sold in my book. Road-racing is alive in North America.

What would be really cool is to see some ChampCar drivers in a TransAm car on some weekends.

Dov · 18 Dec 2003, 01:15 (Ref:814743)

The History of Trans-Am...... http://www.trans-amseries.com/

macdaddy · 18 Dec 2003, 04:54 (Ref:814810)

I don't remember a Detroit GP without the TransAms.

jjspierx · 18 Dec 2003, 05:13 (Ref:814814)

Quote:

Originally posted by The Snout
So am I correct in hearing that OWRS now owns Champcars, Atlantics, Trans Am. And Champcars also have Formula BMW coming onboard ? All of a sudden we seem to have a package here.

No, not quite. The Formula BMW thing was a rumour from a a few months ago, I haven't heard anything since, so I don't think anyone knows if Formula BMW will be a regular part of OWRS events.

Aircon · 18 Dec 2003, 05:18 (Ref:814817)

PROCAR in Australia is owned by Ross Palmer and that includes the Nations Cup Championship (sort of NGT), Aust. GT Peformance Championship, V8 Brutes (sort of NASCAR Craftsman Trucks) and the Aust. Production Car Championship as well as including strong ties to the Aust. F3 Championship.

It works well as it is its own circus. They don't need to stuff around with anyone else to put on a show, they do it themsleves!

Dov · 18 Dec 2003, 06:22 (Ref:814834)

Quote:

Originally posted by jjspierx
No, not quite. The Formula BMW thing was a rumour from a a few months ago, I haven't heard anything since, so I don't think anyone knows if Formula BMW will be a regular part of OWRS events.

jjspierx, here is the conformation that Formula BMW MAY soon be replacing the Barber Dodge Pro Series at the bottom of the CART ladder system.

Quote:

From Yesterday's CART Teleconference
The addition of the Formula BMW class seems to be only a signature away from becoming the bottom rung of the Champ Car ladder, replacing the Barber Dodge Pro Series, and Toyota Atlantic remains unchanged.

camcartfan · 18 Dec 2003, 10:08 (Ref:814940)

Quote:

Originally posted by gaines
Am I the only one that gets the feeling that Open Wheel has a plan much bigger than any of us could have ever thought? Trans-Am racing is excellent racing in my opinion and if you package together CART, Trans-Am and Toyota Atlantics into one day you have one heck of a race day. I'm feeling pretty good about what we're seeing.

And don't forget the MotoRock concerts too!

Dov · 18 Dec 2003, 11:03 (Ref:814980)

Quote:

Originally posted by camcartfan
And don't forget the MotoRock concerts too!

Please get U2 & Metallica!!! Metallica....."Give me Fuel/Give me Fire/Give me that which I Desire/Oh Yeahhhhhh"!

jjspierx · 18 Dec 2003, 11:14 (Ref:814986)

Quote:

Originally posted by Dov
jjspierx, here is the conformation that Formula BMW MAY soon be replacing the Barber Dodge Pro Series at the bottom of the CART ladder system.

Yeah, I hadn't heard anything about Formula BMW again until today...but yep, I was wrong, it does seem like it will replace Barber Dodge Pro. I still think its a bad idea to replace a step on the CART ladder by switching from cars the make 265hp, to 135hp. Thats a huge step down.

Dov · 18 Dec 2003, 11:28 (Ref:814993)

I here that this Formula BMW series is supposed to be pretty good!? But I completly agree with you, jjspierx. You were mentioning in another thread about another series (I think Fran-Am) that will have 600 ponys next year? That sounds good to me, but with that much HP, it would have to replace Toyota Atlantics as the final stepping stone to CART!?

billiaml · 18 Dec 2003, 15:56 (Ref:815319)

Cool! Since I'm a fan of both series, this looks good -- @ first glance, anyway. Has anyone compared schedules to see what %-age of Champ Car Races are supported by Trans Am (rule out the ovals, of course) and vis versa?

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