Mjolitor 68

I've been hearing that w all its troubles GM will be pulling the plug on factory Vette & Caddy racing

Any news ?

What about NASCAR ?

StealthLT4

Wouldn't surprise me. It would seem kind of silly to be asking for billions in aid while still spending millions on racing programs. And, sadly, NASCAR would probably be the last thing to go, as it has the largst fan base, even though ALMS has so much more applicability to production models. Not to mention it's interesting...

AU N EGL

IIRC Corvettes racing budget is untouched though 2010.

joemoia

I thought I heard/read the same thing. However based on the congressional hearings Thu/Fri, it appears that the auto companies will have to report to some type of oversight board/bailout czar if they receive govt. funds, and who knows what additional funding cuts/restricions will be imposed upon the companies by govt. overseers.

AU N EGL

Compuserve is the teams sponsor.

Oyishdog

How much $ does GM kick into ALMS racing? How much is covered by sponsors?

BrianCunningham

They're planning on making a switching to customer cars anyway.

parkerracing

Cheapest way would be to buy a set of LG Longtube headers for 2.5m and be done with it (hey, it works for the DoD)

pjazz

You mean Compuware.

micro

Corvette Racing has a contract with Pratt & Miller through the 2010 season. P & M would like to compete in the Indy 500 and could do that with the new turbo indy cars for 2011.

http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/050702.html

Z11409

New sponsor for the forth coming GT2 cars.

micro

How do you know that?

HORNDAWG

Hmm, what factory Caddy racing?

And I also have heard that "that the Corvette Racing program is cash positve. It is now a commercially-viable venture and, according to recent reports, its sponsors cover all racing expenses".



L.P.

abc 123

GM pulled out of racing the Caddy in WC at the end of the 07 Season. 08 was run by a privateer team. Although some of the Katech guys still supported the Caddy.

HORNDAWG

Once again, what factory Caddy racing?




L.P.

Oyishdog

exactly...so if the tab is paid for by sponsors, the guberment shouldn't have a say in Corvette Racing.

With ALMS GM would have a strong arguement for developing "new technologies" and it is a "green" racing series. If no cash from the taxpayers is used, then who cares what they do??

ryan0

he's the mole.

LG Motorsports

Rumors are just that, Rumors. But most have SOME basis in fact!

There was a factory program that backed the McCann racing Cadillac CTSv's with Pilgrim driving one of them and Mike McCann in the other. GM Paid for Pilgrim and one complete car, and they did much more in 08.

GM did pull the plug on that program and Pilgrim has signed to drive a Volvo All wheel drive turbo with 3R racing. Mike McCann is on a holding pattern.

With the GM Executives having to drive Buicks down to Washington, they are putting a stop to any activities that appear to be outside of their Core business. For sure to appease the Government "Czar".

If contracts are in place already, then they will be honored to the "Minimum" and in most all cases they will be negotiated away to avoid the "Appearance of extravegance".

I would have to say that racing a GT1 Corvette against NO ONE would qualify as "extravagance" and in fact meaningless.

And any development of any project not under contract will be halted. ANd contracts that are in effect are being bought out and negotiated away if they don't fit the template for PC business.

All this is in the media if you read all the right places.

I think the Corvette racing team spent any political capital that they had when they raced for the past couple of years against no competition then went to Lemans and lost to a car that raced only one race in 08...Lemans.

Also from what I have heard, there is NO GM roadracing group in existance any more. That means that those in charge have been moved to other jobs that are not racing related or moved out the door.

It did appear that spending in excess of $20 million per season on a Corvette racing program was the kind of behavior that ran rampant in the whole company.

And the easy quick agreements that avoided a Strike now seem so wrong headed and extravagant that the union agreements are coming back to haunt them.

(Because of the labor pool agreement, there are work stations that need only one man, now with 3 men rotating during the same 8 hour shift to do the job of one man. And while not taking their turn, they watch TV or play cards.)

So GM racing at this point seems to be either hanging by a thread or the thread has already broken.

LG

See you at the races (Maybe)

Timz06

I can not imagine that GM will be racing in this kind of climate. They are in some hot water.

I was at an event last year and met some GM people, I was not really impresssed....they seemed a bit out of touch.
Tim

John Shiels

Will be interesting to see what happens to NASCAR and how thin it gets.