Carl Haas takes over distribution of Panoz race cars and parts

WMUCarGuy · 22 Jan 2010, 20:33 (Ref:2617729)

Before Carl Haas became better known as Paul Newman's partner in Newman-Haas racing, racers themselves knew Haas as the importer for Lola racecars and parts in North America. In recent years, Haas has continued as a distributor for Hewland gearboxes and has now assumed distribution and service responsibilities for Elan Motorsport Technologies (EMT).

EMT is the race car branch of the Panoz Motor Sport Group and builds machines under the Van Diemen and Panoz brands, including the Panoz Esperante GTLM. EMT products race in Formula Ford, American Le Mans Series and Superleague Formula among others.

Haas' operation will stock and sell EMT's cars and parts around the world and provide trackside service at races to help keep competitors running.

Source: Autoblog

Fogelhund · 22 Jan 2010, 20:51 (Ref:2617735)

Selling off the empire......

Tim Northcutt · 22 Jan 2010, 21:25 (Ref:2617741)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Selling off the empire......

Yep...

There has to be more beneath the surface on this, because it isn't logical to give up the parts distribution side of your business, which is where a builder makes its money over the long haul.

JAG · 22 Jan 2010, 23:35 (Ref:2617791)

Could someone move in and buy the rights to the ALMS?

Fogelhund · 23 Jan 2010, 00:25 (Ref:2617805)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

Could someone move in and buy the rights to the ALMS?

What exactly do you mean? The rights, or the property?

JAG · 23 Jan 2010, 01:00 (Ref:2617823)

Initially just the rights to the series, but I guess any potential purchaser would have to weigh up whether the ALMS brand is of much value without also securing Sebring and Road Atlanta.

It would be interesting to see what could be achieved if someone with deep pockets stepped up, I wonder if they'd carry on in a similar vein or restructure the series, race formats etc.

All a dream ATM.

Tim Northcutt · 23 Jan 2010, 14:43 (Ref:2618082)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

Yep...

There has to be more beneath the surface on this, because it isn't logical to give up the parts distribution side of your business, which is where a builder makes its money over the long haul.

Read Murphy The Bear's lasted "Paddock Poop" on this and it explains why PMG cut this deal...things seem to be rather dire in Braselton these days...

www.murphythebear.com

Hugewally · 23 Jan 2010, 03:58 (Ref:2617841)

Of course, who is to say there haven't been attempts to do so already?

WMUCarGuy · 23 Jan 2010, 10:20 (Ref:2617945)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugewally

Of course, who is to say there haven't been attempts to do so already?

Didn't Murphy mention that Seth Nieman and Tracy Krohn had both been interested in buying the whole shebang at some point?

Tim Northcutt · 23 Jan 2010, 16:11 (Ref:2618108)

Quote:

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

Didn't Murphy mention that Seth Nieman and Tracy Krohn had both been interested in buying the whole shebang at some point?

Keep in mind that Duncan Dayton and Rob Dyson also have the $$$ to possibly do this as well...If just 3 of these 4 were to pool their interests together, they could buy it all and hire people who would run the series the right way...

Canada ALMS fan · 23 Jan 2010, 18:59 (Ref:2618188)

Quote:

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

Didn't Murphy mention that Seth Nieman and Tracy Krohn had both been interested in buying the whole shebang at some point?

Ed Brown (Patron) was rumoured at one point too, I believe.

NaBUru38 · 24 Jan 2010, 14:51 (Ref:2618597)

Road America had a traditional 500-mile race, so no PLM there to me.

Fogelhund · 24 Jan 2010, 15:24 (Ref:2618607)

Miller is the last place for a marquee event. Frankly, the only way they can keep an event is with a decent sanction fee, which can't be profitable to them.

It is highly probably that the name Petit Le Mans is used under license from the ACO. Any new management group may choose to change the direction of IMSA, whether they continue on with the ACO relationship under it's current format, whether the name ALMS is used, or whether they are allowed to use the name PLM would be TBD.

Under any scenario where a new ownership group does take over, I would suspect that any marquee event would likely be hosted at a venue they own. Again, further assumptions, but it is most probably that Sebring and Mosport go with the IMSA package, if tracks are sold at all. Road Atlanta may, or may not be sold with it. (I certainly hope it is.)

**skycafe** · 24 Jan 2010, 23:17 (Ref:2618833)

The encroaching development at Road Atlanta really makes you wonder what the future is there. Sebring even now has encroaching development.

I would say Sebring holds on because of fame/name/tradition if all goes bad and the ALMS or whatever stops. I would hate to see it with Grand Am, actually preferring NASA or something else like that. Something inspiring.

All this talk is making me fear for road racing's future in America beyond club only tracks, rovals and street courses.

robert -growing glum.

JHamilton · 25 Jan 2010, 15:21 (Ref:2619174)

Quote:

Originally Posted by skycafe

The encroaching development at Road Atlanta really makes you wonder what the future is there. Sebring even now has encroaching development.

I would say Sebring holds on because of fame/name/tradition if all goes bad and the ALMS or whatever stops. I would hate to see it with Grand Am, actually preferring NASA or something else like that. Something inspiring.

All this talk is making me fear for road racing's future in America beyond club only tracks, rovals and street courses.

robert -growing glum.

I don't think there will be any new developments in Braselton for quite some time. That area has been hit hard by the bust and gas prices and has some rough years ahead of it. Hell, they built two neighborhoods in ten years (a third had infrastructure in place and was abandoned three years ago), and a few gas stations and fast food resturants near the highway. Hardly a real estate boom.

dxk1 · 25 Jan 2010, 17:13 (Ref:2619239)

Quote:

Originally Posted by skycafe

The encroaching development at Road Atlanta really makes you wonder what the future is there.

robert -growing glum.

Seems to me that real estate development was part of the original plan of Road Atlanta when they built it and that the original developers (IMSA entrants themselves) owned a condo on the back straight themselves and were encouraging other developers to come in and build houses and condos. Am I just delusional or am I remembering correctly?

DK

Hugewally · 25 Jan 2010, 21:28 (Ref:2619387)

Just like why you don't see negative new car reviews in your local newspaper.

**skycafe** · 26 Jan 2010, 01:45 (Ref:2619495)

Thanks, I didn't think so.

andy97 · 26 Jan 2010, 16:58 (Ref:2619780)

Does Laurence Tomlinson still own the Panoz rights in the UK?

ger80 · 26 Jan 2010, 20:52 (Ref:2619930)

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy97

Does Laurence Tomlinson still own the Panoz rights in the UK?

Dont think so - he owns Ginetta (Zytek) now. Wouldnt make sense to sell products that compete with your own

andy97 · 27 Jan 2010, 08:51 (Ref:2620179)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ger80

Dont think so - he owns Ginetta (Zytek) now. Wouldnt make sense to sell products that compete with your own

I'm sure that when he took on Ginetta, he still had Panoz then. Don't really think that Panoz road cars compete with Ginettas - different types of cars really.

WMUCarGuy · 28 Jan 2010, 04:53 (Ref:2620774)

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy97

I'm sure that when he took on Ginetta, he still had Panoz then. Don't really think that Panoz road cars compete with Ginettas - different types of cars really.

Then again, I don't think Panoz are selling like hot cakes in Europe either. Panoz has made approximately 550 road cars in total since 1992...

220 Roadsters and 320ish Esperantes

Fogelhund · 27 Jan 2010, 18:28 (Ref:2620480)

Fernandez's entry (if it happens) is not a manufacturer entry. When you have a limited budget, you are not "picking and choosing", but being forced to select which events you can afford to do.

Regarding Audi, as what I thought, just your opinion, nothing factual. You are entitled to an opinion of course. It is somewhat puzzling that you've taken your opinion about Audi, and somehow managed to project that on all manufacturers as if some grand statement had been made, when they never had.

Tim Northcutt · 27 Jan 2010, 18:45 (Ref:2620492)

Why are we having this discussion in the "Carl Haas takes over distribution of Panoz race cars and parts" thread?

Ten of the last 12 posts have been about manufacturers racing in LMS, ALMS LMIC, or whatever...which has ZERO to do with the subject of this thread.

Please stay on topic...carry on the LMIC argument in the LMIC Thread, please...

chernaudi · 28 Jan 2010, 04:05 (Ref:2620760)

Anyone think that Panoz might be ready and willing to sell at least part of the race and road car businesses as it seems that they're money pits and are diverting money and attention that could be better used on the ALMS and the rest of IMSA?

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