ALMS Circuit Choices

dxk1 · 4 Aug 2007, 00:06 (Ref:1980194)

Here's a question, I guess I'm dating myself a little with this, but I used to go to the World Championship race every year at Watkins Glen (early 1970s to mid 1970s). It was a great track for sports car racing and drew talent like Mario Andretti, etc. Why has ALMS not used this track, at least not in recent years? Maybe this belongs in another thread somewhere, but I guess I'm just curious as I figure most fans will be adding comments to this Road America thread and maybe someone knows the answer.

DK

HORNDAWG · 4 Aug 2007, 00:42 (Ref:1980205)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxk1

Here's a question, I guess I'm dating myself a little with this, but I used to go to the World Championship race every year at Watkins Glen (early 1970s to mid 1970s). It was a great track for sports car racing and drew talent like Mario Andretti, etc. Why has ALMS not used this track, at least not in recent years? Maybe this belongs in another thread somewhere, but I guess I'm just curious as I figure most fans will be adding comments to this Road America thread and maybe someone knows the answer.

DK

Because the track is owned by NASCAR.

L.P.

AU N EGL · 4 Aug 2007, 01:41 (Ref:1980231)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonerz

Bingo on the Watkins comment. The same cannot be said however about VIR or Barber so I don't know why ALMS don't go there.

Chris

There have been teams to VIR to test. Challange is that VIRs schedule is so booked from March though early Dec that it is almost impossible to get an open date.

A race is a differnt story. It a promotor wanted a big track and had the sponsorship money to back the race, I would not be supporsed if some tracks would open up too the idea.

Race weekends means revinew, plus rental fees for the track.

There have also been tests at VIR for a possible spring 12 hour race there.

VIR currently has one amature 13 hour race the end of Oct.

Fogelhund · 4 Aug 2007, 03:03 (Ref:1980250)

Barber simply isn't suitable, being too small.

The359 · 4 Aug 2007, 03:20 (Ref:1980257)

I can't imagine how the Barber folks would react if someone spilled some diesel on their precious paddock...

nasdriv87 · 4 Aug 2007, 04:34 (Ref:1980270)

it should be nice to see alms cars running at long glen or maybe using the gtp layout!!!

AU N EGL · 4 Aug 2007, 11:56 (Ref:1980405)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Barber simply isn't suitable, being too small.

Barber is not a small track, just it was designed for motorcycle racing. No real long straights to let the big HP cars run. So yes Barber is not suitable.

Lime Rock is a small track, but is designed for high speeds.

AU N EGL · 4 Aug 2007, 12:00 (Ref:1980406)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The359

I can't imagine how the Barber folks would react if someone spilled some diesel on their precious paddock...

No problem. they would just YELL AND SCREAM, then send out the clean up crew and send Bruno and Gwedo to shake the offender(s) down until they paid up for all the dammages.

Heaven for bid a car should go off and dig up there grass. And ppl think that Home Depot add with Tony Stewart about paying for damages is funny.

It is reallity it at Barber. However, Each track has their own policies. A car damages the armco, the team gets a bill for repairs.

dj4monie · 4 Aug 2007, 12:35 (Ref:1980429)

Barber is a Motorcycle track, I wouldn't want to see the series there anyway and did you see the crowd or lack there of at any of the Grand Am events??

Only those on the East Coast want to see VIR on the schedule, I don't like that track either. It has all the earmarks of a club racing track and not a international site for racing.

They should at The Glen. We are in bed with the IRL, I don't see why we can't have 6 hours at the Glen on the Saturday before the Sunday IRL race.

Maybe they feel another event at the track separate from the rest of them won't draw.

I say add-on to the schedule for '08 a shared weekend with the IRL....

But isn't this suppose to be apart of the Post Le Mans ALMS thread??

AU N EGL · 4 Aug 2007, 13:03 (Ref:1980454)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj4monie

Only those on the East Coast want to see VIR on the schedule, I don't like that track either. It has all the earmarks of a club racing track and not a international site for racing.

Guess you have not been to or on VIR? One of the finnest motorsports facilities, Clubs and tracks in North America.
http://www.virclub.com

In my opnion the Eastern US / Canadain tracks for major races.

Ones I have been on:
VIR-Full
Road Atlanta
Sebring
Mid-Ohio
Road America
Watkins Glen

Ones that I have not been on:
Mosport
Gille Villenue ( sp?) Montral
Lime Rock ( needs major repairs and re-Zoning too allow sunday races)

Club tracks not apporate for major races but good for club and regional races)
VIR-South, North or Grande East
Summit Point & Sannandoha ( West Virginia)
Carolina Motorsports Park ( South Carolina )
Roebling Road ( Georgia )
Putnam Park ( Indiania )

I have not been on Barber but know many ppl who have. Good for club races with small HP cars, Not for big HP cars as there are not enough long straights or good sweeping corners for high hp cars to run.

Rember it is the Race Promotor, not the track that host or puts on the events.

AU N EGL · 4 Aug 2007, 13:08 (Ref:1980466)

Road America is an excellent race track. Great for HIGH HP AND TQ cars. I think one of the Corvette drivers mention that Road America is the second fastest track for top speeds. The Front straight P1 and GT1 cars approach 185 mph( 300 kph) going into turn 1, 170 mph at the end of the Morain Sweeps and 160-170 going into Canada Corner.

Le Mans has the highest speeds, and Road Atlanta the third highest speeds on the back straight going into turn 10.

Purist · 4 Aug 2007, 14:37 (Ref:1980618)

In 2002, the telemetry showed 185-mph into Turns 1, 5, and 12 at Road America during the race. I suspect now the Audi may be able to push 190-195, at least into Turn 1.

VIR is one of the best road courses in the country (the full 3.27-mile layout), and has facilities that are no worse than Lime Rock from what I've seen of the coverage of GA Rolex Series races. It's a track of tow halves, as from Turn 1 down to Oak Tree, it's rather technical, and then you have the 4,000-ft backstretch, the "Roller Coaster", and finally the 3,000-ft frontstretch. It would make for great interclass action and good comparisons between LMP1s and P2s on the different parts of the circuit.

And obviously, I would love to see ALMS at Watkins Glen. I would also be interested in seeing ALMS at Seattle International Raceway once the refurbishment is complete.

P.S. I suspect top speeds at Road Atlanta, Road America, and Mosport are all very similar (185+mph for all three most likely in LMP1).

dxk1 · 4 Aug 2007, 17:17 (Ref:1980742)

Again, Fellow Posters, thanks for the answers about Watkins Glen and ALMS. I just feel like its such a beautiful track in such a beautiful part of the country that it would be a great place for an ALMS race.

DK

AU N EGL · 4 Aug 2007, 17:20 (Ref:1980746)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purist

In 2002, the telemetry showed 185-mph into Turns 1, 5, and 12 at Road America during the race. I suspect now the Audi may be able to push 190-195, at least into Turn 1.

VIR is one of the best road courses in the country (the full 3.27-mile layout), and has facilities that are no worse than Lime Rock from what I've seen of the coverage of GA Rolex Series races. It's a track of tow halves, as from Turn 1 down to Oak Tree, it's rather technical, and then you have the 4,000-ft backstretch, the "Roller Coaster", and finally the 3,000-ft frontstretch. It would make for great interclass action and good comparisons between LMP1s and P2s on the different parts of the circuit.

One lap of VIR in a SCCA T1 CR Corvette Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVES715qL0w

and the Start of 2006 Road America ALMS race on board Clint Fields P2 ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbwMJye8dE0

Purist · 8 Aug 2007, 04:54 (Ref:1983695)

I'm not quite sure how that qualifies as a response to my post, but the videos are nice.

Dutton · 8 Aug 2007, 07:00 (Ref:1983759)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

In my opnion the Eastern US / Canadain tracks for major races.

Ones that I have not been on:
Mosport
Gille Villenue ( sp?) Montral
Lime Rock ( needs major repairs and re-Zoning too allow sunday races)

1) Canadian.

2) Gilles Villeneuve. Montreal.

3) What about Mt. Tremblant? An utterly magnificent track in the Mosport vein, but better (IMO).

AU N EGL · 8 Aug 2007, 11:34 (Ref:1983958)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutton

3) What about Mt. Tremblant? An utterly magnificent track in the Mosport vein, but better (IMO).

Forgot about that one. YES heard that was a great circuit

broadrun96 · 8 Aug 2007, 14:28 (Ref:1984078)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

Lime Rock ( needs major repairs and re-Zoning too allow sunday races)

Should be getting MASSIVE work within the next 2 years with the membership packages they are selling, but the rezoning will NEVER happen. That is unless the church less than a quarter-mile off the track packs up and moves.

AU N EGL · 8 Aug 2007, 14:38 (Ref:1984086)

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Should be getting MASSIVE work within the next 2 years with the membership packages they are selling, but the rezoning will NEVER happen. That is unless the church less than a quarter-mile off the track packs up and moves.

Did you see the price of those membership packages?? <img>

JHamilton · 8 Aug 2007, 16:31 (Ref:1984160)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

Forgot about that one. YES heard that was a great circuit

Looked fantastic for the Champ Car race. I'd really love to go.

Dutton · 8 Aug 2007, 17:43 (Ref:1984222)

It is stupendous, IMO. I could accept that I may be even more enthusiastic than most (not sure, TBH), but the Mt. Tremblant track just does it for me something chronic.

Right up there challenging for Best In The World, IMHO.

porsche45 · 8 Aug 2007, 19:32 (Ref:1984306)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purist

I'm not quite sure how that qualifies as a response to my post, but the videos are nice.

I think Au might have been repsonding to himself, again.

Purist · 8 Aug 2007, 20:05 (Ref:1984326)

I've been thinking. With Fernandez running a major team, wouldn't Mexico City be a good option? It might be even more appealing to some if CC shelves their race down there. No offense to Monterrey, but Fundidora Park isn't much more open a layout than a lot of street circuits.

I would definitely be up for seeing St. Jovite (Mont Tremblant) on the calendar, especially if they don't run that chicane in Turn 1.

Dutton · 8 Aug 2007, 20:07 (Ref:1984329)

Yes, that chicane is evil.

Speed-King · 8 Aug 2007, 20:46 (Ref:1984371)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purist

I've been thinking. With Fernandez running a major team, wouldn't Mexico City be a good option? It might be even more appealing to some if CC shelves their race down there. No offense to Monterrey, but Fundidora Park isn't much more open a layout than a lot of street circuits.

I would definitely be up for seeing St. Jovite (Mont Tremblant) on the calendar, especially if they don't run that chicane in Turn 1.

WTCC will go to Mexico City in April next year, that would be a nice double header.

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