Latest on Toronto

[indycool]

Race has been a loser and AGP is negotiating with the city.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/419875

[Rich D]

If anyone feels like voicing their support, a petition organised by BARC-OC

http://www.barc-oc.com/gp_petition

[Amar7605]

This topic can bring up an interesting discussion:

For those who have been to the Toronto race - what's good about it, what's bad about it, and do you think that it's worth for the IRL to race there?

[indycool]

Toronto is like many underfinanced street races. The crowd that shows up loves it and it's an institution. In the early days, the city put a "cap" on the number of people they could stuff in there. Don't know whether or not they do that now. MOST street races can't put up enough seats (or sell what they put up) to make the "nut" without heavy sponsorship. That's been lacking since Molson was in the unique position of sponsor and promoter and could write off losses as advertising and they got both advertising and exposure value out of it, thus pretty decent "bang for the buck."

It's worth it for the IRL to race there if the finances are there. If AGP is sniffing around it, the IRL WANTS to race there. But neither AGP or the IRL are going to lose money doing it, bottom line.

[Dutton]

We need a solution that somehow makes city politicians and businessmen rich(er). If that could be worked out, then the race would be a total certainty.

Not that corruption rules the world, or anything.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Originally Posted by indycool

Toronto is like many underfinanced street races. The crowd that shows up loves it and it's an institution. In the early days, the city put a "cap" on the number of people they could stuff in there. Don't know whether or not they do that now. MOST street races can't put up enough seats (or sell what they put up) to make the "nut" without heavy sponsorship. That's been lacking since Molson was in the unique position of sponsor and promoter and could write off losses as advertising and they got both advertising and exposure value out of it, thus pretty decent "bang for the buck."

It's worth it for the IRL to race there if the finances are there. If AGP is sniffing around it, the IRL WANTS to race there. But neither AGP or the IRL are going to lose money doing it, bottom line.

A1GP might, they've never been afraid of throwing away money before...

[Fogelhund]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/autoracing/2...oronto-Indy-0/

The deal is complete, with AGR taking over. It would seem like the race will be back on the schedule in 09'.

[Amar7605]

This is good news. I'm sure Toronto will be back in '09.

[MiniMadness]

Originally Posted by Rich D

If anyone feels like voicing their support, a petition organised by BARC-OC

http://www.barc-oc.com/gp_petition

I went to the race back in 2000, I remembered Michael Andretti won and NASCAR drivers Dario Franchitti and Juan Montoya had contact on the 1st lap. I was disappointed to learn that Toronto lost it's race, so it would be great to see it back on the calendar.