BrianCunningham

surprised there's no thread on this

http://m.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/alm...ome_latest_art

jcsperson

It was cool seeing those LMP1 cars, but the three-car "races" were a farce. In a perfect world there would be 10-15 of those out there, but that doesn't appear as though it would ever be a possibility.

Zoxxo

But even the three car "exhibitions" were far more fun to watch (in person, at least) than 6-12-24 hours of Porsche 911s trundling around. The last "GT" series that regularly drew a crowd was the original Trans-Am and even that was regularly paired with the Can-Am. No crazy cars = no attendance and it's been that way pretty much ever since the original Can-Am died.

Oh well.

Z//

jcsperson

I'm not sure about other venues, but the Daytona Prototypes never lacked for attendance at VIR and the fields were 16-18 cars deep and the racing was close.

Zoxxo

Attendance for the Grand-Am series was "light" (to be generous) at most of the venues. And the DPs aren't the mega-fast cars that inspire awe when you watch them run. They're barely faster than the old GT1 Corvettes. Apparently they intend to run the DPs with what are currently the ALMS LMP2 cars but:
Traditionally the sports car racing fan has been technology oriented - they want to see the coolest, fastest stuff on the planet. DP is decidedly not that.

There is talk that Le Mans might let the DPs run as an "exhibition class." That will be interesting.

Z//

jcsperson

True enough, but unlimited technology priced the LMP1 class out of reach of most sponsors.

VetteDrmr

But, how many fans are there that will pay to see them race are that geeked out to watch a 3 car race? If there's no (or little) competition then how long before spectators get bored?

So, as much as "spec class" racing makes the techno-geek in me look down my nose, good competitive racing is what I enjoy watching, especially with a TV saturated market.

Have a good one,
Mike

AU N EGL

But are more affordable for the average team vs the ultra cool ALMS P1 cars with factory hundred (of) million dollar budgets.

the Delta wing will get its nose punted into the guard rails AGAIN, unless it can keep up and NISMO makes the car more stable. I give it 1/2 of year, they it is out for non competitiveness.

Get rid of the hybrid race cars for now. maybe again in a few years. F the Green chit, Too expensive. But ppl like it. OK fine.

Take the restrictors of the DP cars to balance out with the LMP2 cars. the ALMSC should be a supporting race withe the GTC. this class should be for amateurs, or NON-paid professionals FIA-C and D lic drivers only.

More then TWO classes on the track at one time, DP and GT is too confusing for ppl.

tell the ACO to conform to the NEW GRAND AM standards, of they want any money.

1991Z07

Good luck on that...the French think they invented Motorsport and rarely listen to ANYONE.

Zoxxo

Besides, the ACO and the FIA and back in bed together so good luck with *any* suggestions/ideas that don't come from within.

Btw, the 1895 Paris-Bordeaux-Paris auto race is widely considered to be the first true auto race so the French do have a valid position on this.

Z//

Zoxxo

High tech sports car racing has always been boom-and-bust. And not since Can-Am #1 has there been "unlimited" tech allowed (and not even then really.)

All I'm saying is that for the Grand-Am/ALMS merger folks to expect to generate "so excited by this that I will pay good money for tickets and travel and hotels" from the tradtional American sports car racing fan by providing yet another "GT" series and a spec "extreme" class just flies in the face of the clear history of the past half century of sports car racing. These fans KNOW what the cars are. And these series need the knowledgeable fans on board so that they will introduce the newbies to the racing.

If these guys think that the problem was "the split" then they are delusional. As was pointed out above, the DP cars had plenty of cars, close racing, well-publicized fender-banging in the races, etc., and still no one cared except the participants. The country's sports car racing fans offered up a collective yawn.

Not that ALMS did all that much better but as long as there was Audi and Acura and Porsche (P2) involved there was decent attendance at the races.

Z//

1991Z07

Only by a few months...America had our first race on Nov 27, 1895

Doesn't give them the right to think their $hit doesn't stink and completely ignore input from outside of France when it comes to motor racing...but that's the French for you.

shakedown067

Kinda of funny since it's the "France" family that owns NAS&#* and they think they know everything about motorsports too.

mgg

Maybe if they actually focused on RACING rather than "green" technology they could attract a fan base that once was significant. Penalizing gas powered race cars in order to make diesel powered race cars appear superior and more environmentally responsible has crippled prototype racing. Guess what , RACING IS NOT AND WILL NEVER BE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION. It is racing! GO watch the soap box derby if you want environmental friendly. I am not saying that it needs to be irresponsible or to completely disregard fuel economy improvement or emissions but this emphasis on "green " technology has destroyed what is so paramount in major manufacturers racing. I understand the value of technological advancement and how that can have a positive impact on street driven vehicles but for gods sake its is racing. Fuel economy is playing WAY to big a part in the outcome. Lets see one or two classes where this is not a factor. Have a little green friendly class for those who care and to satisfy the earth dogs. Old school you say, ignorant? I recycle, drive fuel efficient vehicles but when I go to race my priorities are not fuel economy or emmisions. The overall impact of what racing has on the environment is negligable. Lets get back to racing. Not politically correct, environmentally sensitive, do not want to offend anybody racing. Sheesh!

Bill Dearborn

It isn't attendance at races that makes the difference. It is what sponsors will pay to advertise their products during a show. If there aren't enough people watching (the fans at the race don't count) the sponsors will not go near it. That is what happened to ALMS. Once it went to a web broadcast where even fewer people could get access to it the numbers got worse.

As for race attendance has anybody noticed the lack of attendance at the big NASCAR races over the last couple of years. Seems like they have priced themselves to high for people who are out of work.

Bill

1991Z07

NASCAR gate receipts are down by anywhere from 25% up to 60% depending on the market and which group you're talking about.

http://www.thatsracin.com/2012/07/07...-in-sharp.html

dvandentop

seeing those audis at sebring last year was amazing doubt I will ever see them run again unless i go to the 24 huers

Zoxxo

Of course. But the gate attendance is generally a good indicator of TV audience (Formula One is an exception.) And the gate attendance is what keeps the race tracks alive and healthy - they don't partake in TV income unless they can extract some from the sanctioning body (can you hear Bernie laughing ala Montgomery Burns?)

Regardless, it's pretty much a given that there won't be a TV audience for the new series based upon the last 50 years of experience. At least with Speed still in place (and heavily NASCAR-weighted so Grand-Am can leverage that relationship) they still have a place to televise the races. But what happens when Speed goes away and they have to (as you rightly point out) live/die by the ratings and compete for time slots. Is Grand-Am going to pony up the $$$ to put their shows on network TV or another cable outlet? That's why ALMS did that web thing - they could no longer afford to pay to put their races on TV. Same thing happened to CART in their dying days - they were having to pay for air time instead of being paid for access to their races. Cost them some serious cash.

Z//

AU N EGL

French organization and the France family. Both know it alls.

RC000E

All I know is yeah, granted p1 was light On teams but in 2011 and 2012, P1 sure did put on a show at Road America! Both fantastic finishes....loved every second of it! Hopefully we could see this P2/PC/DP jumble turn into something good.

The speed of those p1's versus the others made traffic avoidance exciting...I hate to lose that. I just hope this all works out because ALMS has been an amazing thing for Corvette, as a race team, as a production car and for us as buyers/enthusiasts alike.