Will the ALMS Survive?
05-17-2009, 09:43 AM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Will the ALMS Survive?
I love gossip. Right now the gossip is that the ALMS is about to close up shop. The COO quit/was fired recently. The car count in Utah this weekend is really really bad and it won't get any better until Atlanta.
The word is that the France empire is thinking about putting them down when the time is right. Grand Am is going great guns. They don't have many spectators but they have bunches of cars. Right now they're letting the nicotine patch guy sort of hang out there and bleed cash.
We've all been concerned about whether of not the Corvette will race in GT2. There may not be a GT2 class that they can race in. Right now the ALMS only exists because the France family lets it exist.
Can we see GM/Obama racing in Grand AM?
btw - this is all just gossip. Ignore it as you see fit.
Richard Newton
The word is that the France empire is thinking about putting them down when the time is right. Grand Am is going great guns. They don't have many spectators but they have bunches of cars. Right now they're letting the nicotine patch guy sort of hang out there and bleed cash.
We've all been concerned about whether of not the Corvette will race in GT2. There may not be a GT2 class that they can race in. Right now the ALMS only exists because the France family lets it exist.
Can we see GM/Obama racing in Grand AM?
btw - this is all just gossip. Ignore it as you see fit.
Richard Newton
05-17-2009, 09:53 AM
#2
Vetteless
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St. Jude Donor '09
Hate to see ALMS fold up shop, but I've heard the rumors too. I would think Grand-Am and ALMS would find a way to consolidate which would probably create one much stronger series that could have a shot at some real growth in the US.
05-17-2009, 10:49 AM
#3
"AlohaC5" Senior Member
ALMS and Grand Am - Koni/Rolex are among my favorite road racing series (even got my wife into it - she records all the races on our DVR) - hope they continue to survive during these tough economic times and prosper again real soon!
Last edited by Gray Ghost GS; 05-17-2009 at 11:04 AM.
05-17-2009, 10:55 AM
#4
Race Director
I would hate to lose the only real prototype class in the US, but consolidation would only help the sport. I enjoy the Rolex series competition, yet if I wanted to watch tube frame cars race, I'd watch NASCAR.
GT2 could be very strong if GM makes it in, especially if a few customer teams come along.
Will be interesting to see what happens.
GT2 could be very strong if GM makes it in, especially if a few customer teams come along.
Will be interesting to see what happens.
05-17-2009, 11:28 AM
#5
Melting Slicks
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I wouldn't be surprised. I like ALMS more than GA, but the ALMS field this year has just been boring. And sorry, but P1 vs P2 is too confusing.
Why do the "better" series (cf. Champ car) have to be the ones to go?
Why do the "better" series (cf. Champ car) have to be the ones to go?
05-17-2009, 12:14 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
How deep is Mr. Panoz pocket ????? ALMS buys the time slot on the TV and they sell the commercial time,so who will continue buying the commercial slots??
05-17-2009, 04:29 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
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Interesting. I would hate to see ALMS close up.
05-17-2009, 06:41 PM
#9
Race Director
but how long do you turn your large fortune into a small fortune.......I can't imagine ALMS or the Panoz auto company being hugely profitable. However, owning Rd Atlanta, Sebring, and Mosport (maybe even Chateau Elan) etc probably aren't bad investments.
05-17-2009, 08:56 PM
#10
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Tough year for any race series. I'm watching the NHRA race right now and the stands aren't even 20% full.
ALMS needs to return to it's roots and do like the LMS does. 5 endurance races for the season. The LMS has great car counts and doesn't even have TV coverage. The ALMS has better fan and team participation for thier endurance races.
I would hate to see it go. It's about the only non-spec car series out there. It's been my favorite series and the 12 hours of Sebring is my favorite race.
ALMS needs to return to it's roots and do like the LMS does. 5 endurance races for the season. The LMS has great car counts and doesn't even have TV coverage. The ALMS has better fan and team participation for thier endurance races.
I would hate to see it go. It's about the only non-spec car series out there. It's been my favorite series and the 12 hours of Sebring is my favorite race.
05-18-2009, 11:16 AM
#12
Racer
Pratt & Miller was out at the NARRA event at Sebring this weekend, preparing their car to test today. They said it was a new GT2 Corvette, though unfortunately they didn't want me to take any pictures. It certainly looked new - no paint or decals on it at all, just black body panels.
05-18-2009, 11:22 AM
#13
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I have a love/hate with the ALMS. I love the open cockpit prototypes, which look beautiful to my eyes. The Rolex GA cars by contrast are just ugly. And I love all the passing that ALMS's formula creates by having Prototypes and GTs on the track at the same time. But P1/P2 is confusing, as is GT1/GT2. Never understood the rationale behind that.
Watching the ALMS cars in Houston was actually more entertaining than the Champ Cars were. Would really like to see ALMS survive and GA go away but I don't think that will happen.
Watching the ALMS cars in Houston was actually more entertaining than the Champ Cars were. Would really like to see ALMS survive and GA go away but I don't think that will happen.
05-18-2009, 11:42 AM
#14
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We would all love to see more enduracne races like LMS. But they have their problems too. TV wont cover the races.
No TV no sponsors.
IIRC that is where the 2:45 min race fit into the 3 hour TV time window
No TV no sponsors.
IIRC that is where the 2:45 min race fit into the 3 hour TV time window
05-18-2009, 11:46 AM
#15
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Allow all the Speed World GT cars up into GT2.
All the current LMP cars into LMP1 and make the IMSA lights LMP2.
Or would this be one big cluster F**** ??
All the current LMP cars into LMP1 and make the IMSA lights LMP2.
Or would this be one big cluster F**** ??
05-18-2009, 09:46 PM
#17
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Do a Google search of this "elan pharmaceutical panoz". You'll see just how deep the good Doctor's pockets are.
The best part about the series is how the rules follow the LMS. They must lure more European teams over here for races. That's what makes Sebring, Petit and Lemans such great races to watch. I love seeing American teams compete with the best sports cars in the world.
The best part about the series is how the rules follow the LMS. They must lure more European teams over here for races. That's what makes Sebring, Petit and Lemans such great races to watch. I love seeing American teams compete with the best sports cars in the world.
05-18-2009, 10:16 PM
#18
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CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Dr. Panoz invented the transdermal patch and the time-release pill capsul. So... he gets royalties on every single type of nicotine patch, birth control patch, etc. Also, any type if pill/medication/anything that uses a time-release capsul. So... his pockets are DEEP.
