Gold Coast's Indy car race axed a1 gp to replace

[Malfunction Junction]

Originally Posted by NewsStalker

From memory though - they lost didn't they??

Edited: You're right - they did lose!
http://www.lawfont.com/2006/01/18/we...ts-is-generic/

That's a different scenario. Anyway, I am sure that the IRL would have taken legal action in a heart beat during the bitter Champ Car/IRL war if they had a firm case, but they obviously didn't.

I'm not so sure, but then I've just taken a bruising from NewsStalker, so who knows...


Mind you, I don't think "Indy" is the right name anyway. Haven't got an alternative suggestion, but I"ll get back to you....

[NewsStalker]

Actually - that's not the case I was referrng to - well not really a case as such. That link (and the ones through it) refer toMarch 2004 and January 2006 - the US company continued to pursue this last year (200&0 - and, if you read the link you provided this was only the Australian Trade Marks Office - the US company was trying to sue under US and INternational Trade Mark laws.

Again - I'm not sure if this really got to court or whether it was stopped before hand. (similar suits happened 10 or so years ago with companies that had been trading for many many years with the name Crown in their name - when Crown Casino came along they also tried to come the heavy and stop them using the name - again - some caved in, but I don't believe any got to court with those that said 'get suffed')

[mountainstar]

As I understood it, the gold coast always paid a fee for use of the word "indy".

[Average Punter]

Great chance for a marquee sponsor to come on board.

Nearly everyone calls the Adelaide event simply "Clipsal"????

[alfacors]

Do A1 events have a title sponsor? Or would it be "A1 Grand Prix of Nationals Presented By...."

[JustASupporter]

It'll be called "The thing that used to be Indy" ... it's being registered as we speak.

[fomoco]

This could be brilliant if we grasped the idea and ran with it.

1. International exposure for QLD and the Gold Coast
2. More iNternational visitors to SEQ
3. More international dollars arriving into QLD
4. A mix of Open wheelers and V8's
5. Still a great Race and Party on the Coast.

the list of positives is endless if managed and promoted right, it could grow.

I accept Eastern Creek was a taad dull, but mix it with Gold Coast, V8's and suport cats, it will still be a top event.

Get on board and join in the party.

[TheTaipan]

I agree with fomoco - we got a good local product lineup - although bringing the fujitsu series and utes in would be good! Throw in an international act for a bit of interest sakes and it'll be great. At least these cars can turn both left AND right unlike their american counterparts!

A1GP - 600hp 448Kw Ferrari V8 - weight 695kg without driver or fuel.
Indy'08 - 670hp Honda V8 - 1640lbs including driver and fuel. (745kg).

Comparable power/weight ratios should give similar lap times so it'll be interesting to compare next years track... I can't wait...

[fomoco]

Originally Posted by JustASupporter

It'll be called "The thing that used to be Indy" ... it's being registered as we speak.

Could we still call it indy, CART gone. CHAMP CAR gone, IRL- Iam Indy gone, Registered trade mark GOLD COAsT INDY 300, nah lets go with

Gold Coast A1/V8 300

[speedreader]

Whilst the A1GP series is not as well known here at present, it's profile will rise just like Indy car / Champ car did in their day. I believe overall it is a good move. Cars look & sound just as good (if not better being modified Ferrari F1 chassis) not so many prima donna's involved & a better world wide audience to show off the GC / Australia to. Just wish A1GP Team Australia could get a little closer to the pointy end of the grid....

Never mind, will be good plus some other benefits are :-

a) A more diverse range of driver abilities plus rookie driver opportunities in early testing / R1

b) TWO races - if they follow their Sprint Race, Main Race format

c) Possibly better opportunities to sell sponsorship to the event because of larger, more international, TV audience.

d) And this is the best - THE POWER BOOST BUTTON !!! This should allow the drivers an opportuntiy to - wait for it - OVERTAKE meaning we get to see actual racing

Bring it on

[Mak]

tital sponsor! they wish..

[Mak]

Maybe if this works they could carry the relationship further with joint efforts for NZ (Wellington) and an Asian(Indoneasian street)race in the future.. Makes it all more finacially viable

[thunderbolt]

for some of you that do not know this
this seasons car is a cut down version of the winning 2004 ferrari that michael won his last title with.

[nabz]

I am a fan of the 1 longer 70 lap race. I really hope they continue this rather than the 2 small and meduim sized races although i doubt that would be possible.

[eduardo1]

I'd be curious to see if the A1GP brings any more international visitors than the Indycars (all versions - Indy/CART/Champ/IRL) did.

The Indy event never appeared to attract that many international visitors, mostly interstate, plus a lot of people from Brisbane.

Be curious to see if that changes much with A1GP. Maybe more Kiwis will come across considering how well their team usually does. Maybe some more European fans will come across too - considering that the Indy event has a good reputation as a party event, so they have an excuse to come here, holiday and support 'their' team. Who knows.

Either way, I think it will be a good change. The cars are supposedly faster (or at least as fast as) than the IRL versions, so in reality most of the people there won't notice any difference. And the party will still rock, as it always does.

[Oldtony]

As far as travelling national supporters are concerned I think it is more likely to attract them from the Middle East, India, China and SE Asia than from Europe.
That certainly is the target TV market for the Qld. Government as it is the most important source of overseas tourists to the Coast these days.

[Gaz170]

As a Gold Coaster, I'm not too unhappy about losing the Indy cars and picking up the A1s.

Should be better international exposure for the Gold Coast, rather than just US orientated.

I think next year's event will certainly have a different feel about it, but no less successful.

[Mak]

Sorry to Hamilton Street circuit, must be getting old when I said Wellington!

[cavvy]

Understand the hedge fund behind A1GP is embroiled in the current financial problems of the world ... looking for guarantees from the other stake holders, franchisees, circuits, TV ??

Not great timing for Surfers !!

[stmookeyj033]

I have a funny feeling the whole thing will be canned for next year.

[mac]

Look what happens when you get two imovable and obstinate forces (George and Cochrane) to the negotiating table...

My biggest disappointment is the fact that the IRL brought a field of thoroughly professional teams with at least half the field being truly professional drivers. Dixon, Franchitti, Castroneves, Kanaan, Briscoe, Wheldon, Junqueira, Servia, Wilson, Power, Hunter-Reay, Meira and Tagliani are all pretty close to the finished product as far as drivers are concerned - you're always pretty convinced a group like that can put on a good show.

The A1GP guys are all largely up-and-comers and nobodies - some of them are frankly verging on embarassing at times. I don't think it will be anywhere near as professional or interesting as the IndyCars.

Will still be good to watch - but not as good.

[Crash Test]

Not too sure about the $$ dramas...

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...oast-news.html

[D.R.T.]

I am interested where these well timed rumours are coming from? Who would possibly gain from destabilizing A1 GP as they look to sign off on Surfers for the next 5 years?

[cavvy]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

I am interested where these well timed rumours are coming from? Who would possibly gain from destabilizing A1 GP as they look to sign off on Surfers for the next 5 years?

I got my info from the financial press & according to Jonesy it was wrong - good on him for jumping on it ...

[lookleft]

On a positive note, we will finally get to see if Cochrane was right and all the spectators were there for the V8s. If so there will be no negative impact on the numbers next year.

He is 4 down already, I'm not paying to go to a track that has limited viewing to watch A1GP. Very disappointing, the prospect of seeing Penske, NHL, Ganassi, TA, AGR and other properly run teams go at it next year was a glimmer of the past - guess we will never know.