Trans Am dropped.

Fogelhund · 12 Dec 2005, 18:28 (Ref:1482471)

http://www.whowon.com/sResults.asp?S...StoryID=173049

INDIANAPOLIS -- What follows are statements from the Champ Car World Series regarding its future with the Trans-Am Series. As of today, the Champ Car World Series will no longer be affiliated as the sanctioning body of the Trans-Am Series. Any use of the following quotes should be attributed to Champ Car President Steve Johnson.

“We have elected not to renew the licensing agreement with the Trans-Am Series. Any further comment on the matter should come from Trans-Am.”

“Trans-Am had been a mainstay in road racing for many years and has been a popular component of our three-day festivals of speed for the last two seasons. We have enjoyed having the Trans-Am series compete at our events, our fans enjoyed the series and we wish the series, and all its competitors, the best of luck in the future.”

Marcel ten Caat · 12 Dec 2005, 18:40 (Ref:1482480)

So finally the announcement of what many expected came.

Wonder if the series will run as support race to any other series or under another name.

Kicking-back · 12 Dec 2005, 18:43 (Ref:1482486)

No loss really - Gentilozzi had ruined the series.

luke · 12 Dec 2005, 18:52 (Ref:1482495)

Trans-Am wasn't at it's best. It was just a matter of when really.

macdaddy · 12 Dec 2005, 19:25 (Ref:1482518)

Not good for the ticket-buying racefan, though. Less racing to enjoy over the weekend. All of the series would have their schedules locked up by now, so it's likely too late to add anybody else. Formula-BMW is already running with CC at San Jose and Denver, sure would be nice if they could fit more dates onto their schedule.

macdaddy · 12 Dec 2005, 19:47 (Ref:1482538)

Quote:

SCCA chairman Gary Pitts denied that Champ Car's decision signals the end of the series.

“With Champ Car’s decision not to renew the Trans-Am name in 2006, SCCA is considering its options of how the name might be utilized in the future," he revealed.

"These options include, but are not limited to, licensing the name out to another organization for a racing series or utilizing the name ourselves.”

From SpeedTV.

kingfloopy · 12 Dec 2005, 20:38 (Ref:1482580)

Too bad Trans Am has to die, but the series has been deaths door for a while so it isn't a surprise. The series owner has been also been the dominant team owner. That doesn't sound like a good way to keep a race series alive. I wonder what will happen to the teams that were running Trans Am still. Seems like they will be left with a bunch of equipment and no where to use it for the time being. The only way the series will probably return is if a manufacturer or major sponsor gets involved. Beyond that I don't see it being economically feasible for Trans Am to return.

J.D.

Fogelhund · 12 Dec 2005, 21:17 (Ref:1482609)

American GT has the opportunity to be a place for teams to race, with the same equipment. It is a much lower budget series right now, and won't give the same sponsorship exposure, so it might not be an option for those dependent on sponsor $.

StickShift · 12 Dec 2005, 22:40 (Ref:1482672)

I thought the rumour a few months back was that the Speed GT series would acquire the Trans-Am moniker for their series?

indycool · 12 Dec 2005, 23:07 (Ref:1482690)

Nation's oldest road racing series.....very sad, but I agree with K-B.

Snrub · 12 Dec 2005, 23:55 (Ref:1482719)

^ Agree with the above, but I've yet to be convinced that it was purely PG who did it.

macdaddy · 13 Dec 2005, 00:35 (Ref:1482737)

Speaking as the uneducated buffoon that I am, but I'm assuming that the cars wouldn't meet spec for either ALMS or GrandAm?

paul-collins · 13 Dec 2005, 01:11 (Ref:1482746)

Correct, mac. The cars are tubeframed with big honkin' V8s. They were once in a class in Grand Am called AGT, but it never drew any significant competitors.

gttouring · 13 Dec 2005, 01:26 (Ref:1482752)

of course now the Grandam is allowing tube frame Gt's again...hmmm
of course who or what will partner Champcars? Speed GT and TC?
and will Trans-am send its name off to the Speed challenge series' or someone/where else?
(Many are upset at PG) for what he did to his toy land, but Trans-am is too cool to let go to nothing

Fogelhund · 13 Dec 2005, 04:12 (Ref:1482807)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gttouring

of course now the Grandam is allowing tube frame Gt's again...hmmm
of course who or what will partner Champcars? Speed GT and TC?
and will Trans-am send its name off to the Speed challenge series' or someone/where else?
(Many are upset at PG) for what he did to his toy land, but Trans-am is too cool to let go to nothing

As of right now, there are no Champcar races planned for SWC.

Code:

March 15-17
With ALMS 	Sebring International Raceway
Sebring, Fla. 	

March 31- April 2
With IRL 	Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Fla. 	

May 19-21
With ALMS 	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Lexington, Ohio 	

June 23-25
With NASCAR 	Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, Calif. 	

July 14-16
With ALMS 	Miller Motorsports Park
Tooele, Utah 	

Aug. 18-20
With ALMS 	Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wis. 	

Sept. 1-3
With ALMS 	Mosport International Raceway
Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada 	

Sept. 27-29
With ALMS 	Road Atlanta
Braselton, Ga.  	

Oct. 20-22
With ALMS 	Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Monterey, Calif.

mountainstar · 13 Dec 2005, 04:59 (Ref:1482819)

Trans-Am was dead meat before PG got his hands on it.

cartpix · 13 Dec 2005, 05:27 (Ref:1482832)

I really like Trans Am but it has really gone down hill in the last few years. It wasn't a big surprise to hear this news.

Jeff

Uesque · 14 Dec 2005, 20:23 (Ref:1484201)

Quote:

Originally Posted by macdaddy

Speaking as the uneducated buffoon that I am, but I'm assuming that the cars wouldn't meet spec for either ALMS or GrandAm?

With minimal modification, they can race in SCCA GT-1, but not many club racers can pay full budget team prices for a car.

Amar7605 · 21 Dec 2005, 15:17 (Ref:1488120)

It's too bad that Trans Am is in the situation it is in now.

muggle not · 24 Dec 2005, 12:50 (Ref:1489643)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Trans-Am was dead meat before PG got his hands on it.

Trans Am was having 35 and 40+ car fields when P.G. took it over.

cybersdorf · 24 Dec 2005, 20:37 (Ref:1489800)

Apart from the, hm, sub-optimal way the series has been run in recent years, maybe the GT-1 concept has run its course.

cybersdorf · 24 Dec 2005, 20:38 (Ref:1489801)

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul-collins

Correct, mac. The cars are tubeframed with big honkin' V8s. They were once in a class in Grand Am called AGT, but it never drew any significant competitors.

Because GA ran the class into the ground. (i.m.h.o.)

cybersdorf · 24 Dec 2005, 20:39 (Ref:1489803)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

American GT has the opportunity to be a place for teams to race, with the same equipment. It is a much lower budget series right now, and won't give the same sponsorship exposure, so it might not be an option for those dependent on sponsor $.

Is the AGT management up to it, though?

muggle not · 24 Dec 2005, 22:04 (Ref:1489826)

It brings tears to my eyes to think that the longest running road racing series in the U.S. is kaput. All the great drivers that have competed in Trans Am left a legacy that will not be forgotten by some.

enemy-ace · 25 Dec 2005, 15:53 (Ref:1489954)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersdorf

Is the AGT management up to it, though?

Hard to say. It appears they have made pretty good progression in the 3yrs? since their inception. They (AGT) however seem to have a Mom & Pop attitude towards their operation of the series.
I would hate to see the Trans Am series die. I like the formulae, it makes for some good racing.

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