The future of Grand Am? - Page 3

Jonerz · 11 Mar 2010, 02:19 (Ref:2649330)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugewally

Just think, at one time it WAS an IMSA series...

Not directly. Firehawk Cup died, Motorola Cup which was sanctioned by ASN Canada FIA or BARC or someone up in Canuckistan used virtually the same rule book and it was bought by Grand-Am and renamed Grand-Am Cup, and no rules changes, exploding grids, cool cars, fabulous racing and dozens of name changes bring us to today.

I should be a history teacher with brilliant accounts like the above.

...

"Germany started invading people, some guys called 'allies' got ****ed about it, there was exploding bombs, Germany stopped and that takes us to where we are today."

Chris

Speed-King · 11 Mar 2010, 09:03 (Ref:2649437)

If you can write these in twitter format you might be onto something...

Jonerz · 11 Mar 2010, 13:53 (Ref:2649595)

Hahaha! Hmm... @JonerzHistory, might have a ring to it! lol

Chris

NaBUru38 · 11 Mar 2010, 20:58 (Ref:2649858)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

the Rolex and ALMS serve the same market, and is needless duplication

I on the other hand believe that a series with more endurance races (ALMS) and one with more sprint races (Grand-Am Rolex Series) can coexist, as long an competitors are allowed to race in both of them with similar or identic cars, just as it happens in Europe.

Fogelhund · 11 Mar 2010, 21:10 (Ref:2649868)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I on the other hand believe that a series with more endurance races (ALMS) and one with more sprint races (Grand-Am Rolex Series) can coexist, as long an competitors are allowed to race in both of them with similar or identic cars, just as it happens in Europe.

Maybe, but as we both know, similar equipment is not going to happen with the way things are setup now.

cmk · 12 Mar 2010, 02:36 (Ref:2650027)

Quote:

Originally Posted by picchiofan

WC would be elated if it were "a dozen factory cars" this year. They're looking at single digits for touring.

Quite so. 'Was' is a past-tense term, of course. The point was that WC lost the plot several years ago, this is just the point where rock bottom has finally been hit.

Bob Riebe · 13 Mar 2010, 22:55 (Ref:2651344)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

I am of the opinion that at this point, both WC and Trans Am need to go away. Neither are particularly relevant anymore, and are just taking entries that should be in other series.

At the same time WC and the Trans-Am, (with cars more closely related to production cars) would be (as Ford hinted with their production racer) far more relevant to Detroit and the general car buying public than any other series.

Fogelhund · 14 Mar 2010, 00:33 (Ref:2651382)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Riebe

At the same time WC and the Trans-Am, (with cars more closely related to production cars) would be (as Ford hinted with their production racer) far more relevant to Detroit and the general car buying public than any other series.

Tube Frame Trans Am cars are closely related to production cars?

I would suggest that the cars in Grand Am are closer to production than WC too, though some are the same. That is the unibody GT's and Grand Sport.

Bob Riebe · 14 Mar 2010, 04:01 (Ref:2651424)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Tube Frame Trans Am cars are closely related to production cars?

I would suggest that the cars in Grand Am are closer to production than WC too, though some are the same. That is the unibody GT's and Grand Sport.

Re-read what I wrote.

johntt · 14 Mar 2010, 19:39 (Ref:2652038)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I'll hijack this thread and write what I would do if Nascar quitted suporting the Grand-Am and IMSA took over it. First of all, since you claim that the Grand-Am Continental Tire Challenge works (keep in mind that I live in a galaxy very, very far away), then it should stay.

IMO the Continental Tire Challenge should be Grand-Am.

juicy sushi · 15 Mar 2010, 01:35 (Ref:2652312)

Quote:

Originally Posted by johntt

IMO the Continental Tire Challenge should be Grand-Am.

After watching the Homestead round, I agree. Good looking cars and great racing, both what the Rolex series lacks. Grand-Am may have started from reasonable premises with their Daytona Prototype and GT classes, but their solutions have proven commercially non-viable.

The GS class should be taken as a model for how to go forward. If the cars aren't fast enough then there is an easy solution:

Run cars like the Corvette ZR1, Nissan GTR and Ferrari 458 in their own class above that. It would be a great show with cars people want to drive and fans want to see; everything the current Rolex series isn't.

picchiofan · 15 Mar 2010, 15:28 (Ref:2652734)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Riebe

At the same time WC and the Trans-Am, (with cars more closely related to production cars) would be (as Ford hinted with their production racer) far more relevant to Detroit and the general car buying public than any other series.

So, if Trans Am and WC completely changed their ruleset to be more like Conti challenge, they'd be a more relevant series for manufacturers than conti challenge.

Brilliant.

Jonerz · 15 Mar 2010, 17:54 (Ref:2652833)

Quote:

Originally Posted by picchiofan

So, if Trans Am and WC completely changed their ruleset to be more like Conti challenge, they'd be a more relevant series for manufacturers than conti challenge.

Brilliant.

You're putting words in his mouth.

Chris

dxk1 · 8 Apr 2010, 00:03 (Ref:2668548)

I don't know if this means anything for the future of Grand Am but the GT Class, for which Porsche used to be the dominant marque now hardly has any Porsches in it at all. The latest entry list for the Porsche (ironically) 250 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, scheduled for this weekend (April 8-10, 2010), only has two Porsches listed. There are a total of 17 GT entries made up of 8 Mazdas, 4 Corvettes, 2 Porsches, 2 Camaros and a single BMW. There are still 3 Porsche-engined entries in the DP Class. As a matter of fact the latest rumor has Autohaus switching from a Porsche to a Camaro, further depleting the ranks of Porsche GT entries to 1!!

DK

Purist · 8 Apr 2010, 00:19 (Ref:2668554)

And two of those three DPs are running Porsche V8s, which makes for only one non-V8 car in that class.

Jonerz · 8 Apr 2010, 02:33 (Ref:2668588)

The Autohas team does in fact have a Camaro, currently painted red with their #46. Grand-Am doesn't want Porsche in the class and I think that is the end of the story. Will teams find a Grand-Am alternative to the Porsche, or will they find a series that is an alternative to Grand-Am to run their Porsche. The brilliance of Porsche, and particularly their Cup car of late, has been that there is always a place to run it. Not sure Grand-Am understand what a blessing it is to have Porsches legal and competitive in one's championship. If nothing else, fast, quality, reliable, good bang-for-buck turn key racers. That said, their Prep 2 rules look to compete directly with the Porsche way of doing things, by making cheap and easy turn-key racing one level cheaper, if somewhat detached from "true" GT racing.

Chris

Speed-King · 8 Apr 2010, 08:43 (Ref:2668682)

Autohaus has indeed switched to a Camaro: Story here

pederb · 8 Apr 2010, 20:40 (Ref:2669092)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Autohaus has indeed switched to a Camaro: Story here

Quote:

Team owner Robert Kirland made the decision to convert the Pratt & Miller chassis to a Camaro following the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona, the final race for the Autohaus Pontiac.

To a Camaro body, same car just different body. That's why I don't like GA

merlot brougham · 8 Apr 2010, 20:52 (Ref:2669098)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxk1

...8 Mazdas, 4 Corvettes, 2 Porsches, 2 Camaros and a single BMW.

Alright, help me out here. So all the Mazdas, the Camaros and BMW are prep 2. How many of the Vettes are? Are the Whelan and LG cars prep 1 and the Banner and Connolly cars prep 2? Then the Porsches are prep 1. Percentage-wise that is at least 65% of the field as prep 2.

It definitely looks like it is headed towards an all silhouette class, huh? Why did Lou Gigliotti think now was a good time to move to GA if that is they way they seem to be headed?

Also, anyone know how many of the GTC cars at Sebring were full-on defections from GA to ALMS? I haven't been paying attention since I didn't really care about GTC.

NaBUru38 · 9 Apr 2010, 03:27 (Ref:2669228)

If the GT class gets filled of silhouettes, the Grand-Am should consider adopting a more radical bodykit (see DTM, Japanese Super GT).

dxk1 · 9 Apr 2010, 23:35 (Ref:2669757)

Quote:

Originally Posted by pederb

To a Camaro body, same car just different body. That's why I don't like GA

Is it just me or is that Camaro the ugliest car you've ever seen? Kind of looks like a tank. Bring back the Porsche if you ask me. At least the Corvettes and Mazdas look decent.

DK

Canada ALMS fan · 9 Apr 2010, 23:44 (Ref:2669760)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxk1

Is it just me or is that Camaro the ugliest car you've ever seen? Kind of looks like a tank. Bring back the Porsche if you ask me. At least the Corvettes and Mazdas look decent.

DK

Agreed. If they get away completely from "real" GT cars my interest in GA will disappear. The ALMS needs to get these Prep 1 teams onto their grid, it is a great opportunity, they'd better not blow it.

**skycafe** · 10 Apr 2010, 00:16 (Ref:2669773)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxk1

Is it just me or is that Camaro the ugliest car you've ever seen? Kind of looks like a tank.
DK

Even the street ones, and I have seen a couple, look heavy and ponderous. It is funny it tries to harken back to the original, but those were trim looking, and interesting, and these things are just blockish.

**joeb** · 23 Apr 2010, 15:57 (Ref:2678524)

The future of grand-am looks good JC France has be reinstated as a driver. it turns out that there was some "jurisdictional technicality" so the charges against him for cocaine possession were dropped

fjn356 · 23 Apr 2010, 16:34 (Ref:2678550)

I was gonna go to Barber but I read an earlier post on this thread that it is always sold out.

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