vetdude

Just curious if any of the local Corvette clubs are planning group attendance at the 2011 Grand Prix of Baltimore now that the ALMS and Corvette Racing will be joining the Indy Racing Series over Labor Day weekend next year?

Info:

http://wjz.com/seenon/indy.car.racing.2.1891297.html

VatorMan

I will be there.

Dan Wendling

Corvette Club of America and Cornercravers will both be well represented.

sothpaw2

I can't believe they are coming to Baltimore. When I heard about racing through the Baltimore city streets, I thought they were talking about cops chasing drug dealers. I remember being stuck on the beltway (traffic just stops) more than once for such a chase.

The streets down there are the worst I have ever encountered--hopefully the whole place gets re-paved. It's a joke--you can feel where the County/City line is on 295 going in, since the city has not re-paved it since the 60's. I've never taken either of my Corvettes down there--not a place to go with a stiff suspension.

vetdude

Streets are being smoothed and re-paved as we speak. As Johnny O'Connell said yesterday in his interview by the local media, the sound of the cars screaming through downtown should be incredible bouncing off the tall buildings. Indy and ALMS all in one place - I wouldn't miss it for the world!!!

* Kevlar vests optional.

shakedown067

For the IRL to run, it has to be pretty smooth. They told St Petersburg they had to shave down the street markers as they were getting too tall and causing issues. Haven't been down there to see if they actually did it or not. Baltimore should certainly make for a cool street race next year...not that I'll be there.

jaa1992

Mmmmm may have to figure out the vacation time for this one.

I went to the one and only Wash DC ALMS race and it was interesting and a fun weekend.

varkwso

I intend to try to get there....

vetdude

It should be a fantastic weekend, however, for those Corvette brothers and sisters who plan to attend, I would strongly suggest you DO NOT bring your Corvettes to Baltimore.

sothpaw2

Isn't it funny how 50 years of pot holes could never be repaired for the taxpayers, but to attract a race, suddenly it can all be budgeted at once? They will have to tear the streets apart and start over.

gbvette62

We raced on the streets of St. Pete in the 80's, with the Trans-Am Series (ok, I crewed, not raced). The first year (85?), the course went out and back on the pier. It worked ok in practice and qualifing, but in the race someone got sideways in the middle of the turn and brought the whole race to a stop on the pier! They didn't use the pier in following years.

Street races always offer some interesting challenges. Not just street markers, but storm drains and man hole covers can cause trouble too. We lost a trans racing on the streets of Detroit, after we bent the scatter shield and input shaft, hitting a man hole.

I'm not a big fan of street races, I much prefer a real road course, but any race that's only 2 hours from home, I'm going to try to get to.

vetdude

So true, but, it also helps when an outside interest (Indy Racing) chips in!

Glennm27

They (IMSA) will probably set up a Corvette Corral at this event and I would guess they'd set it up in the Ravens Stadium parking lot. Easy in and out from the highways. No reason to leave the Corvette at home if you buy a Corral ticket(s)....

vetdude

As someone else mentioned, the stadium lots will probably reserved for the teams and all their support equipment (tractor trailers, etc.). Being very familair with Baltimore, it's hard to imagine any large open space secure enough to accomodate car corrals.