Baltimore Gets IndyCar Race - Page 2

JagtechOhio · 8 May 2010, 07:31 (Ref:2686394)

Bird, don't they run vintage cars on a street course there?

Long live Boog Powell!

Birddog07 · 8 May 2010, 09:18 (Ref:2686431)

Yes, it's the largest vintage GP in America and the only one run on streets simalar to where racing started. Hopefully next summer I'll beable to come home for the races, and maybe catch ALMS and IndyCar at Mid-Ohio.

It would be a dream if they let the modern cars run, but maybe not since all the safety barriers and crap. Or at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex. Good flowing track, elevation, if they ever finish the south track and the connector then it will be amazing.

mountainstar · 8 May 2010, 14:36 (Ref:2686568)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birddog07

Yes, it's the largest vintage GP in America and the only one run on streets simalar to where racing started. Hopefully next summer I'll beable to come home for the races, and maybe catch ALMS and IndyCar at Mid-Ohio.

It would be a dream if they let the modern cars run, but maybe not since all the safety barriers and crap. Or at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex. Good flowing track, elevation, if they ever finish the south track and the connector then it will be amazing.

Pittsburgh would be a great town for a street race, but I don't know where they would put it.

Beaverun would have to be completely rebuilt and what infrastructure it has is crumbling. I heard they are out of money so I don't think that south track will be built anytime soon.

Birddog07 · 9 May 2010, 01:40 (Ref:2686766)

I've always fantisised about a track on the North Side, past the stadiums, over the bridge and around where the Pens play, under the convention center, then back, over the bridge again, and past station square. Paddock could probalbly be in all that space by station square. Logistically, a modern street race in Pittsburgh is a logistical nightmare, the parking and traffic is bad enough as it is, try constructing everything closing main streets (by the stadiums and Station Square) and atleast 2 bridges. It would be a great challenge to drivers and teams though with all the bumps and potholes.

mountainstar · 9 May 2010, 01:50 (Ref:2686770)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birddog07

I've always fantisised about a track on the North Side, past the stadiums, over the bridge and around where the Pens play, under the convention center, then back, over the bridge again, and past station square. Paddock could probalbly be in all that space by station square. Logistically, a modern street race in Pittsburgh is a logistical nightmare, the parking and traffic is bad enough as it is, try constructing everything closing main streets (by the stadiums and Station Square) and atleast 2 bridges. It would be a great challenge to drivers and teams though with all the bumps and potholes.

Yeah I don't think it would happen nor I don't know where you could run it, or if locals would even care. But Pitt is a city on the move and since I am anti indycar

a ALMS race would be the ticket!

Dutton · 9 May 2010, 04:18 (Ref:2686790)

I don't mind that new track is not an oval, but I really would rather get another road course than yet another street circuit. It is not easy making a decent track out of USA cities.

Purist · 9 May 2010, 04:26 (Ref:2686792)

With all the traffic circles, Europe is even worse.

JagtechOhio · 9 May 2010, 05:24 (Ref:2686803)

The whole topic of street races, venue selection etc, isn't really that complex, is it?

You have a circus, and you are looking for people to invite you to set up. If they think it is a great idea, they pay you to show up. If they make a bad decision, that's their problem and maybe they don't invite you back. If you can get a multi-year contract, so much the better.

All you have to do is put on the best show you can so it looks good for the cameras. If you want to do an oval show and they don't invite you, find somebody to pay for the road show.

Look at what happened to Surfers. They correctly reasoned that inviting an international circus would increase international tourism and elevate domestic interest. They were right, and the local economy suffered greatly by comparison when all they could stage was the local circus.

Baltimore sees the opportunity to obtain government funding to fix their

, and put on a show to inject tourism dollars into the local economy. Maybe a local corporation begins a profitable relationship with IICS that didn't exist before. Pitch the tent.

Richmond loses its event sponsor, the promoter decide the circus sucked, bye bye. RA won't pay or attract a local corporation to sponsor the event, no circus. Same for Phoenix, MIS, Fontana, ect. etc.

Racing comes second. It only happens when the business gets done first.

fasteric · 9 May 2010, 05:45 (Ref:2686809)

jeez..the inner harbour of Baltimore hosts thousands to resturants, night life and ball games every weekend ...repaving of the streets for a race will take place this summer. Mountainstar said good luck with Brasil.. it happened. 25 car entries..it happened..Indy Car falling apart ..didn't happen..good luck with Baltimore..it will happen and be a great event on the east coast..maybe Indy Car will live and find new fans and support ..

Purist · 9 May 2010, 06:09 (Ref:2686812)

The other option is to be bound and determined to get certain venues, and do whatever it damn well takes, including the business, of course, to MAKE those races happen.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 12 May 2010, 15:28 (Ref:2689229)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

"good ovals" - no such thing, compared to road courses and street courses (Indy excepted). At least until we get away from a spec series.

As soon that happens the better.

NaBUru38 · 22 May 2010, 00:54 (Ref:2695758)

It's almost done: "Baltimore officials have approved a contract and an IndyCar spokeswoman said the signing of a sanctioning agreement is a formality." Now, Randy, let's go for New Hampshire!

Purist · 22 May 2010, 01:00 (Ref:2695760)

It's good that Bernard actually says he wants to go to SMI tracks. Talk isn't the same as action, of course, but saying that intent out loud is certainly a good thing.

BTW, would someone please give a rundown of the SMI and ISC tracks, not just the ones ICS uses right now, for quick reference?

icemachine · 22 May 2010, 01:27 (Ref:2695767)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purist

It's good that Bernard actually says he wants to go to SMI tracks. Talk isn't the same as action, of course, but saying that intent out loud is certainly a good thing.

BTW, would someone please give a rundown of the SMI and ISC tracks, not just the ones ICS uses right now, for quick reference?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedwa...ts#Race_tracks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...ion#ISC_tracks

**bjohnsonsmith** · 22 May 2010, 01:52 (Ref:2695770)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

It's almost done: "Baltimore officials have approved a contract and an IndyCar spokeswoman said the signing of a sanctioning agreement is a formality." Now, Randy, let's go for New Hampshire!

Is there a map of the track layout?

Purist · 22 May 2010, 02:10 (Ref:2695778)

Thanks for that, Icemachine.

BJS, check the image in the opening post of this thread for a basic view of the layout.

Something interesting I noticed is that the official length is listed as 2.4 miles, but on another site that has a Google Earth image, it says the measurement according to the aerial photo is 2.67 miles.

fieldodreams79 · 22 May 2010, 20:04 (Ref:2696090)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanicaFan

Well, it looks like the city of Baltimore will get an IndyCar race next year.

Ugg.

wanna see an irl race in the Chesapeake Bay area? run them at Dover. that would be a show!

why does the IRL feel they need to take the risk of building more circuits in untested regions when there are plenty of tracks, already mentioned (RA, Cleveland, etc.) that have hosted successful, exciting races for years?

**bjohnsonsmith** · 22 May 2010, 20:31 (Ref:2696106)

I'd like to see a return to Cleveland.

Birddog07 · 23 May 2010, 06:55 (Ref:2696395)

Cleaveland was always an exciting track, especially at night.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 23 May 2010, 12:21 (Ref:2696537)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birddog07

Cleaveland was always an exciting track, especially at night.

At night?

nickyf1 · 23 May 2010, 12:46 (Ref:2696543)

Yeah, Champcar did it at night a few times in the mid-2000's

nickyf1 · 23 May 2010, 12:53 (Ref:2696549)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2JLups6WQU

**bjohnsonsmith** · 23 May 2010, 14:07 (Ref:2696570)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickyf1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2JLups6WQU

Thanks for that. I missed most of the 2003 season.

Purist · 24 May 2010, 00:30 (Ref:2696856)

I really don't think running at Dover is a good idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Kpsi8oxvo

With the speeds the open-wheelers can run there, the space is too confined. Also, with the banking, even on the straights, you get guys sliding down the track, until they careen back up onto the track going into Turns 1 and 3, which is a MAJOR hazard.

I'll look at some more videos, but I would say that the best oval bets are New Hampshire, Las Vegas, Rockingham, and Charlotte. After the 2001 "BIG ONE", I don't think I want to see Indy Cars at Atlanta again.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 24 May 2010, 00:45 (Ref:2696860)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purist

I really don't think running at Dover is a good idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Kpsi8oxvo

I never followed the IRL but back then the stands were practically empty, so no change there.

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