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20 Nov 2003, 13:54 (Ref:789517)
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Gurney Has Confirmed Possible New Sportscar
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Dan Gurney was the featured guest on "WindTunnel" last night on SpeedChannel... The second question asked by Dave Despain (but not followed up on for more details) concerned his phone call two weeks ago about the new project that may be in the works... Mr. Gurney responded: "I have been approached to build a new sposrtscar" and added that they are currently looking at the specifications that this car would race under, as well as the criteria set by the sanctioning body to see what is rrequired to be recognized by them as a builder.... Sounds like a prototype project to me.... Dave Despain didn't follow up with any questions to get more details, and I couldn't get through on the "Windtunnel" phone lines.... Sure hope that it is for the ACO and ALMS and not for Grand Am....but either way, it'll be good to have Dan Gurney back in sportscars... TO MODERATORS: Since the "Aar Thread" addressed this issue, you may want to merge them... I didn't want this news to get lost in that other thread, and I thought the members wouyld want to know this info... Thanks! |
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Finally... One American Open Wheel Series! 
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20 Nov 2003, 14:33 (Ref:789565)
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,721
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Superb! Let's hope we see an Eagle in the ALMS next year. And at La Sarthe, of course.
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Interviewer: "Will the McLaren F1 be your answer to the Ferrari F40?" Gordon Murray: "Hmm... I don't think we have anyone at McLaren who can weld that badly..."
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20 Nov 2003, 15:49 (Ref:789659)
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,147
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Re: Gurney Has Confirmed Possible New Sportscar
Quote:
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__________________
... Since all men live in darkness, who believes something is not a test of whether it is true or false. I have spent years trying to get people to ask simple questions: What is the evidence, and what does it mean? -Bill James
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20 Nov 2003, 15:50 (Ref:789661)
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,536
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i have a feeling it is for Grand -Am racing- 'to be recognized as a builder'
Grand-am rules states this exactly, any constructor wishing to use their chassis and bodywork for sale or competition must be officially accepted/approved and recognized as a constructor. I feel an ALMS/LeMans prototype would be easier to build as the rules allow you to do certain things, where a DP has rules for chassis you must follow- The IMSA sanctioning body following rrules per ACO for ALMS would have a straight answer compared to what Mr.Gurney had said. |
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SuperTrucks rule- end of story. Listen to my ramblings! Follow my twitter @davidAET I am shameless ...
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20 Nov 2003, 16:15 (Ref:789690)
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Racer
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 256
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Grand Am is the rumor on the street.
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20 Nov 2003, 16:23 (Ref:789700)
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,147
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Louis, does the rumour tell who approached Gurney? I have a theory that would get them around the limits on new constructors...
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__________________
... Since all men live in darkness, who believes something is not a test of whether it is true or false. I have spent years trying to get people to ask simple questions: What is the evidence, and what does it mean? -Bill James
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20 Nov 2003, 16:24 (Ref:789703)
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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You are probably right....the part of his answer that I did not put in quotes was that part about the requirements ....but that was the context that I gathered from hearing it....
I recall Fulvio telling me in an e-mail last spring that Durango had to be "recognized" or "Licensed" as a builder by the FIA and the ACO per their changes to what what an exisiting chassis that they ran... So I don't know for sure which route this may be going....because it sounds to me like Both sanctioning bodies would have to recognize you in some way, shape or form.... If anyone wants to check out the transcript of his remarks on the speed channel site, I guess we can all read it in Black and White... that site is www.speedtv.com I believe... But I think you have to register and my passwords, etc. don't work and I can't figure out how to change it or square it away to give me access to their forums and other areas where it is needed.... Regardless of the series, I'm also interested in knowing who exactly approached him to do it...that should speak volumes about which way this program is going. |
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Finally... One American Open Wheel Series!
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20 Nov 2003, 16:28 (Ref:789710)
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Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,699
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I truely hope that this car is destined for the ALMS. Gurney's talents and inovative thinking would be lost in the Grand Am series.
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"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." Albert Einstein
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20 Nov 2003, 16:29 (Ref:789712)
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Racer
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 204
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Being approached about building one and being commissioned to build one are two entirely different things. It doesn't say that a manufacture has approached him, it could be Grand-am sent a feeler to see if he was interested because they would like his name associated with their series (who wouldn't?).
I would love to see him build a car and be back in racing, but until there is an actual anouncement this has as much credibilty as the Prodrive Mazda LMP or the Audi R9 diesel closed top. All nice things to hope for but will any of them happen? By the way anybody seen the Rahal Audi R8s yet? 
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20 Nov 2003, 16:42 (Ref:789723)
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Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,241
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yeah! Eagle will fly again!
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20 Nov 2003, 17:52 (Ref:789803)
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Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,010
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Well, even if he does go to GA, consider this, his car will probably be a better looking car than most...just a thought...
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20 Nov 2003, 18:07 (Ref:789812)
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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Given the parameters that builders must work within, it still will look out of proportion with the large greenhouse, etc....it is the nature of the beast....
And I do agree with you, to an extent, BobN...being approached and being commissioned are worlds apart when it comes to a project becoming a reality....but I would think that if he was "approached," somebody has some cash to spend from whatever source.... and if it was Grand Am itself or the France Family approaching him, then Gurney wouldn't have to look at the criteria for approavials as a builder, would he????? I would think not...so it could easily be a team that wants to race Grand Am, but it sure wasn't Grand Am putting a "feeler" out.... Now for the other possible scenario.... What does it take to receive "approval" or get "licensed" to build something for the ACO or the FIA???? I think the Grand Am route is more likely based on what I read above, but I'd just as soon know what the whole story is before leaning that way in my own speculations... |
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__________________
Finally... One American Open Wheel Series!
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20 Nov 2003, 19:19 (Ref:789859)
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Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,699
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What would Gurney have to gain by doing a DP project? Maybe money, but what else? His ability can be showcased much more effectively in the ALMS, LMES, or more importantly Le Mans.
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__________________
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." Albert Einstein
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20 Nov 2003, 19:38 (Ref:789871)
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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I think he'sd like to get abck into racing in some form, but from what he said last night, I don't think he wants to do the whole Team Owner, Team Manager thing....but getting involved in projects like creating a new sportscar interests him...
Maybe he does a DP to sell to generate revenue so that down the road he builds an LMP car???? I don't know what he gains from it as well, other than cash...because the DPs seem to be fairly low-tech... But it would bring money that will spend for him.... Guess we won't know until the deal is in fact sealed, he meets whatever "critieria" he spoke about, etc.... BobN makes a point...it isn't a reality until it actually Becomes one...right now, it has a few "ifs" still hanging out there... |
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__________________
Finally... One American Open Wheel Series!
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22 Nov 2003, 13:48 (Ref:791444)
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Racer
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 386
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Quote:
 Seriously, the cars are still overpriced IMO. After all, one can buy a brand-new turn-key T/A for a third of the price for a DP, and there is little difference to their technology or materials, and the engines are cheaper if anything. No wonder Rohr is building his own! |
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23 Nov 2003, 15:06 (Ref:792187)
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 Race OfficialVeteran
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 4,125
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One of the caller's questions later in the interview asked Gurney if he missed the days of old with the 'run what you brung' categories, and the development of technology and inovation that took place years ago, to which Gurney replied that he did indeed miss those things-snce he had been heavily involved of course in being an inovator. For reason's like that I would be surprised at Grand Am, but fear that might be the place.
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You live and learn. At any rate, you live. Douglas Adams
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23 Nov 2003, 15:09 (Ref:792188)
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,536
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well fact is gurney in Grand-Am would make me watch every race, and if the chassis' are all the same basically the bodywork is quite different per DP car, and the engines, i bet Mr. Gurney would really see it as workable- as the ALL American Racers shop does have it own windtunnel, and the engines are pretty good (except the champcar one eeesh-but that was before the Toyota influx)
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SuperTrucks rule- end of story. Listen to my ramblings! Follow my twitter @davidAET I am shameless ...
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23 Nov 2003, 15:17 (Ref:792190)
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Race Official Veteran
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 4,125
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Hey, maybe he'll be invovled in a tube frame GT car? There might be some openings for inovation there.
If he does somehow end up in Grand Am, that would certainly add even more force to the wind shift that Grand Am has. |
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You live and learn. At any rate, you live. Douglas Adams
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23 Nov 2003, 17:41 (Ref:792274)
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Racer
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 422
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After watching windtunnel I can honesly say that Dan won't go to grandam-great news-after his thoughts on rules I feel that he would go nuts in that series.
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23 Nov 2003, 19:31 (Ref:792327)
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Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,035
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Wasn't Guerney trying to set up an American F1 team, take it that made a quiet disappearance!
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__________________
le bad boy
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23 Nov 2003, 19:33 (Ref:792328)
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Racer
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 399
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If you look at the rules for the DP class and compare them to the LMP's... Are you sure its the DP rules that are stricter?
DP- http://www.grandamerican.com/daytona...to%2010-13.pdf LMP- http://www.lemans.org/sport/ressourc...ONS_LMP_GB.pdf Seems to me the LMP rule book would be 4 times thicker  Other then a spec wing, roll hoop and tires the DP rules are fairly open. |
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23 Nov 2003, 19:41 (Ref:792333)
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Racer
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 234
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What about the greenhouse? Isn't that basically spec, or pretty close to it, due ot the minimum windsheild size, or something like that.
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"Sebring which - if Le Mans is the heart of our sport - is our sport's soul." -Leo Hindery
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23 Nov 2003, 20:26 (Ref:792358)
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Racer
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 399
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Its only limited by the roll cage hoop size. If you look close at the Fabcar its greenhouse is about 2" wider then the roll cage on both side's. The Crawford and Multimatic DPs have thier bodys wrapped as close to the cage as they can. Which i think looks way beter...
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23 Nov 2003, 21:49 (Ref:792401)
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Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,010
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I think in the coming years we will see some true "lookers" in the DP class, lets face it, the first examples were quite rushed out the door.
Even Audi cant build a world beater in an offseason. |
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24 Nov 2003, 07:48 (Ref:792700)
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Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,189
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I'll echo paulzhino's comments...I remember last year at the Indianapolis GP there was much hoo haa about Dan Gurney setting an F1 team up...the way it was being hyped it was virtually a done deal.
How concrete are these DP plans?? |
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