The State of Sports Car Racing in America
11-08-2006, 08:47 AM
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The State of Sports Car Racing in America
http://www.the-paddock.net/content/view/240830/49/
Getting back on topic, sports car racing in North America is divided. While many consider that a bad thing for the sport, I think it’s a good thing. We get to enjoy double the amount of racing. The drivers often race in both series, enjoying each for what they are. We often hear the fan’s perspective on how they feel about the two series. Throughout the message boards and at the tracks, it’s clear that there are Grand-Am bashers and ALMS haters out there. Everyone has the freedom to their own opinion. But why not take each series for what it has? ALMS features modern, state-of-the-art, sexy-looking, sports cars while the Grand-Am series promotes ultra-competitive, door-banging, heart-pounding sports cars. Is that so hard to ask?
11-08-2006, 09:18 AM
#2
Le Mans Master
I think Grand Am is kind of like the "cross-over" series that attracts a lot of Nascar fans. They run lots of rovals and use many Nascar drivers for the 24 hours of Daytona. You have the same principal with spec type cars that on the surface vary little from one to the other.
ALMS seems to have a more global focus for the manufacturers to battle out their latest and greatest.
I personally enjoy both leaning more toward ALMS, but in the past 2 years have become a bigger World Challenge fan.
ALMS seems to have a more global focus for the manufacturers to battle out their latest and greatest.
I personally enjoy both leaning more toward ALMS, but in the past 2 years have become a bigger World Challenge fan.
11-08-2006, 09:48 AM
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Seems to me we are looking at a simular situation that happened in open wheel racing, Champ Car vs. IRL !IMO... this is not good for the sport. The Rolex 24 hour @ Daytona used to be an International Event... now it's become spec car racing with Big Name NA$CAR Drivers drawing the fans.
ALMS needs more cars entered in each class... maybe with Honda coming in competing with Penske's Porsche's we will see better racing in 2007.
11-08-2006, 10:52 AM
#4
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I see it two ways, sports car racing and race car racing. Sports cars look like something I can buy and race cars look like something I wish I could buy.
Car racing is like offshore boat racing. Every time someone doesn't like the rules they make their own racing organization. The offshore sport is all about dead, where 130-140 boats showed up 35 now race with no international credibilty or sponsors. Some race venues can't even get enough boats now to have a race. DOA.
Car racing is like offshore boat racing. Every time someone doesn't like the rules they make their own racing organization. The offshore sport is all about dead, where 130-140 boats showed up 35 now race with no international credibilty or sponsors. Some race venues can't even get enough boats now to have a race. DOA.
11-08-2006, 07:30 PM
#5
Safety Car
Cart/IRL is a lovers spat compared to the murder/suicide that is sports car racing begining with John Bishop leaving SCCA to form IMSA in 1971! Although both have had flashes of brilliance in the years between, the lack of cohesion(sp), clear ladder series, and enough cars to hold a race without resorting to multiple classes has allowed NASCAR to grow to the unchallenged top of American motorsport today (fan base, sponsor dollars, entrants).
Daytona Beach even has a large hand in road racing (not like they didn't have at least a thumb in it w/the Rolex 24).
Daytona Prototypes are ugly and technologicly dumbed down, ALMS and WC are a joke with champions decided by lobbyests and mid season rules changes. Trans Am is dead. Speedvision features 23 1/2 hours of NASCAR lifestyle programing every day during the week. ARRUGH...
Daytona Beach even has a large hand in road racing (not like they didn't have at least a thumb in it w/the Rolex 24).
Daytona Prototypes are ugly and technologicly dumbed down, ALMS and WC are a joke with champions decided by lobbyests and mid season rules changes. Trans Am is dead. Speedvision features 23 1/2 hours of NASCAR lifestyle programing every day during the week. ARRUGH...
11-09-2006, 07:24 AM
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Originally Posted by John Shiels
DP I guess are affordable, more cars added every year and close competition and a slew of manufacturers represented.
and spectators or TV ratings, ALMS is free with that informationand publishes the numbers and ratings. GARR does not give that info out.
I inquired about getting a seat in a two different DP teams. Both teams said 30K per race.
11-09-2006, 08:18 AM
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NASCAR, Monster Truck Jam, WWE, aren't they all the same thing? Unfortunatly its the marketing and the target audience not the racing.
Unfortunatly its the marketing and the target audience not the racing.
11-09-2006, 10:46 AM
#10
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Originally Posted by AU N EGL
Affordable is a relative term. A DP is still 500 - 600 K plus engine and electronics. DP are avalible where as LMP cars are few and far between.
and spectators or TV ratings, ALMS is free with that informationand publishes the numbers and ratings. GARR does not give that info out.
I inquired about getting a seat in a two different DP teams. Both teams said 30K per race.
and spectators or TV ratings, ALMS is free with that informationand publishes the numbers and ratings. GARR does not give that info out.
I inquired about getting a seat in a two different DP teams. Both teams said 30K per race.
30 is cheap for a race. Cars custom built 500 is cheap compared to other venues.
11-09-2006, 11:57 AM
#11
The only thing that I'd fix about the ALMS is to get more competition, especially in GT1. Why is it that the Saleen competes in the FIA GT series, but doesn't compete regularly in the ALMS?
DP's are boring to me. Are those even sports cars? I like the prototype class in the ALMS because it lets the manufacturer's flex their engineering muscle and show what they can do. The DP's neither resemble a sports car (that you can buy for the street) nor do they allow the manufacturer's to do much with them (like NASCAR). As far as I'm concerned, they can keep the series going for the relatively low price competition, but calling them sports cars is a major stretch IMO.
DP's are boring to me. Are those even sports cars? I like the prototype class in the ALMS because it lets the manufacturer's flex their engineering muscle and show what they can do. The DP's neither resemble a sports car (that you can buy for the street) nor do they allow the manufacturer's to do much with them (like NASCAR). As far as I'm concerned, they can keep the series going for the relatively low price competition, but calling them sports cars is a major stretch IMO.
11-09-2006, 09:35 PM
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Count Your Blessings
The divide in sportscar racing is caused by the different goals of each series. Not like that foolish self destructive behavior we have seen in open wheel racing. Room for both in my opinion.
Daytona prototyes have come a long way in a short time. Very good if not great cars. Teriffic racing, big fields. ALMS keeps America in the worldwide picture. Glad to see it. Plus World Challenge, Trans Am, Daytona Cup, what's not to like. Sportcar racing has never been logical or very stable. These are great times, we should be counting our blessings.
Daytona prototyes have come a long way in a short time. Very good if not great cars. Teriffic racing, big fields. ALMS keeps America in the worldwide picture. Glad to see it. Plus World Challenge, Trans Am, Daytona Cup, what's not to like. Sportcar racing has never been logical or very stable. These are great times, we should be counting our blessings.
11-09-2006, 10:00 PM
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Originally Posted by parkerracing
ALMS and WC are a joke with champions decided by lobbyests and mid season rules changes.
P2 was a joke for most of the season due to just three cars, but van der Steur was waiting for their new Radical SR9 and B-K Motorsport's Courage C65 was damaged at Lime Rock Park.
Rule changes from March
http://www.americanlemans.com/news/Article.aspx?ID=1771
Rule change from early April (includes only GT2 change all year)
http://www.americanlemans.com/news/Article.aspx?ID=1914
11-10-2006, 06:23 AM
#16
Safety Car
Privateers would have a hard time overcoming the race by race competition adjustments. The gap would have been much wider had that not been the factory team (te$ting).
11-10-2006, 07:28 AM
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Originally Posted by micro
It'd help if privateer C6.Rs were available.
11-10-2006, 10:06 AM
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Originally Posted by parkerracing
Privateers would have a hard time overcoming the race by race competition adjustments. The gap would have been much wider had that not been the factory team (te$ting).
11-10-2006, 02:10 PM
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Originally Posted by parkerracing
Privateers would have a hard time overcoming the race by race competition adjustments. The gap would have been much wider had that not been the factory team (te$ting).
