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9 Mar 2010, 18:00 (Ref:2648367) | #1 | ||
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OKC Grand Prix?
Just saw on the news Oklahoma City wants to have a race through downtown as soon as next year.
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12109433 If this happened I wonder if a race would be taken off the schedule now or if this will just add another race? |
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10 Mar 2010, 00:11 (Ref:2648617) | #2 | ||
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If it's properly planned there's no reason why this couldn't be a credible extra race on the calendar. It's good too that the ALMS is being talked about, and seen as something 'good' to bring to town.
I'm not sure there's any obvious dead weight on the calendar at the moment that needs replacing, and while there's probably more momentum behind a return to Sears Point and (secretly fingers crossed) Portland tackling a new market in Oklahoma might be a good idea. |
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10 Mar 2010, 00:35 (Ref:2648622) | #3 | ||
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I agree with those who have commented in other threads on this forum that the ALMS needs more races west of the Mississippi. California is the most populous state in the union, so another race out there isn't that bad an idea. The next most populous state out west is Texas. If your not going to have a race in Texas, then get close to Texas, so Oklahoma is not a bad place to go.
DK |
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10 Mar 2010, 01:13 (Ref:2648636) | #4 | |
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I like Oklahoma and it's one of my favorite states, but usually gets ignored by most due to it's location. Lots of good driving roads, interesting topography and good food. I have not been to downtown OKC for ages but I have heard it has had a bit of a revival. I'd be in favor of a race and would be interested in going as long as it isn't in May thru August. May is tornado season and June to August is hot as hell.
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10 Mar 2010, 01:32 (Ref:2648642) | #5 | ||
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10 Mar 2010, 15:13 (Ref:2648952) | #6 | ||
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MS, yes, they have been renewing that old downtown area. Also, access to the area is pretty good, and it's very close to the I-35/I-40 highway interchange (I-44 isn't too far away either). Not to mention, you're in close proximity to the Civic Center (concert venue) and the Ford Center (basketball arena and concert venue). I'll do some checking around, but if Devon Energy is onboard for this, then this effort definitely has some legs to it.
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10 Mar 2010, 20:49 (Ref:2649154) | #8 | ||
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10 Mar 2010, 20:52 (Ref:2649156) | #9 | ||
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It could make a nice mid-way stop-off on the way to Long Beach.
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4 Apr 2010, 16:31 (Ref:2666679) | #10 | |||
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4 Apr 2010, 21:50 (Ref:2666813) | #11 | ||
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Could be an interesting race to see. Do you guys think there's a market for racing in Oklahoma/Texas? Last circuit I heard of in that area outside of NASCAR was the Texas Motor Speedway used by CART and IRL, I think.
The bear ain't polite. There's quite a few street circuits that have survived and strived: Long Beach, Toronto, St. Petes (although, could Oklahoma be substituting St. Pete's?). I doubt all 'failed' street circuits are because of bankruptcy. They're probably very costly and a lot of other circumstances went into play. I'm sure a large % of the 'failed' street circuits come from CART and IRL, and, not the place to discuss it, but the eventual problems with money also had a lot to do with the problems those championships had. |
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4 Apr 2010, 22:45 (Ref:2666840) | #12 | |||
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5 Apr 2010, 00:46 (Ref:2666876) | #13 | ||
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5 Apr 2010, 00:55 (Ref:2666881) | #14 | ||
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I think I can come up with a few more than just two lasting street/temporary circuit events.
1. Adelaide, Australia (1985-95 F1, ALMS 2000, then V8 Supercars) 2. Pau, France (1935-39, 1947-55, 1957-) 3. Guia, Macau (1954-) 4. Trois Rivieres, Canada (1967, 1978-) 5. Monte Carlo, Monaco (1929-) 6. Toronto, Canada (1986-2007, 2009-) 7. Long Beach, USA (1975-) 8. Montjuich Park, Spain (1933-50, 1953-86) 9. Cleveland, USA (1982-2007) 10. Surfer's Paradise , Australia (1991-) 11. Miami, USA (1983-95) 12. Vancouver, Canada (1990-2004) 13. Norisring, Germany (1947-) 14. Detroit, USA (1982-91 Dowtown; 1992-2001, 2007-08 Belle Isle) 15. Diepholz, Germany (1968-98) 16. Montreal, Canada (1978-) 17. Albert Park, Australia (1996-, no more F1 sanction would help solvency) 18. Wunstorf, Germany (1975-) 19. Brno, Czech Republic (1930-86) 20. AVUS, Germany (1921-39, 1951-98) OKC makes reasonable sense geographically. There isn't a major permanent road course to go to in Oklahoma or Texas. ALMS did use the TMS "roval" on two occasions, but I don't see that happening again, and nobody seems too keen on the TWS "roval" either. Hallett sure as heck isn't up to code, and ALMS would probably want upgrades at Heartland Park to go there. OKC puts you four hours, or less, from Tulsa, Wichita, Little Rock, and Dallas. As it stands right now, if you're on the plains, and east of Colorado, it probably makes more sense to go to Road America or Mid Ohio than to head out to Miller. From where I am, Elkhart Lake is ~700 miles away. Mid Ohio is ~900 miles from here. And Miller is ~1000-1100 miles out by road; you have to jog north at Denver to Cheyenne to get to SLC, because Salt Lake is on I-80, NOT I-70. If you're coming from further south, and trying to make it to Miller, there aren't any big roads that will get you north into Utah really; the Colorado River takes care of that possibility. |
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5 Apr 2010, 21:15 (Ref:2667338) | #15 | ||
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6 Apr 2010, 03:47 (Ref:2667416) | #16 | |||
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6 Apr 2010, 06:52 (Ref:2667440) | #17 | ||
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Unfortunately, Wunstorf and Diepholz haven't had any racing since - I think - 2000 and the GP of Pau has been cancelled for 2010.
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10 Apr 2010, 20:59 (Ref:2670281) | #18 | ||
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Unfortunate that Pau is off for this year. From what I can tell, Wunstorf was still active at least as recently as 2005.
I think there is demand for a major road racing venue in this part of the country, and heck, even the big ovals are spread a bit thin out here. |
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11 Apr 2010, 00:00 (Ref:2670345) | #19 | |
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11 Apr 2010, 02:43 (Ref:2670388) | #20 | |||
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11 Apr 2010, 04:21 (Ref:2670405) | #21 | ||
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OKC itself isn't a huge market, but it's well located when you consider the cities within a day's drive going either way along I-35 and I-40.
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12 Apr 2010, 02:44 (Ref:2671203) | #22 | ||
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And there's no ALMS in the whole Texas.
In addition to IndyCar, Baltimore aims to attract a sports car racing series. They are considering both of them: ALMS and Grand-Am. |
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12 Apr 2010, 05:26 (Ref:2671218) | #23 | ||
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After what happened at Long Beach in 2006, I think some people are rather dubious of GA on street circuits, and that race wasn't even a combined DP & GT event, but rather just the DPs on their own.
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