Long Beach ALMS/IMSA

that is a fair point. there should be periodic announcer commentary to point out the positions and to explain the lighting.

 

i am surprised there is not more thread activity w/ respect to the risi team. there is huge discussion in the f1 threads but again...virtually no interest in true sportscar racing. the production bases 430 is winning like no tomorrow...and no one on f-chat cares!

what is wrong w/ sportscar racing in the united states? come on folks, these are actually identifiable, sexy, and fast machines!!

get out and go to the race!!!!

 

Probably because there's no factory team. But such great sights and sounds from GT especially. Watching the F430s whomp on the GT3 RSRs is so fun. And that Panoz is pretty cool too. But it would be a lot better if ALMS dropped the "2" classes and revamped the rules to put the Saleens, DBR9s, Z06es, etc. in with the others. Love to see a Ford GT in the mix as well.

 

well, partly true frank. but w/ a driver like mika salo on board and melo too...as close to a factory effort as you will see in a ferrari.

too bad ferrari sees little to no value in sportscar racing.

 

Personally I love it. Just throwing out a reason why more people don't follow it in the States. If Ferrari had a true factory team, every tifosi would be glued to their every move.

 

a full-factory works 333sp replacement would have us all lined up on the pit wall or hugging our plasma screens f1 is so droll now

the grid is a bit crowded though

 

Get out and see. There's more than taillights in a row.

 

I am sorry, I love the sounds and sights of the cars, but F1 is snores-ville. Way too static in positions up front. When race results come down to pit stop efficiency, something needs to change.

ALMS all the way, even if the evil 430's have a (temporary) advantage over the GT3s! I would rather lose all season long than go back to the days of a sea of 911s in GT2.

Vive la difference! (Did I spell that right? lol)

I am confused. The ALMS web site says the Houston race is this weekend, but won't show on CBS Sports until April 29th...? Is that right?

 

There would have been more thread activity on my part, however, John & I were at Monza for the Le Mans Series race and didn't have the computer with us (no way to connect either). There are a FEW of us on FChat who care about the 430's racing. In fact at the LMS race, GT2 podium was all Ferrari - with more 430 entries too.

Guiseppe runs a very professional first-class operation and this year has one of the best driver line-up in ALMS (Audi #1 is also a terrific duo).

We'll be at Houston for the race and take our scanners. Ya'll might try the IMSA site for live timing and GlobeCast radio for live commentary (unless that's time delayed also, if so, big time bummer). www.imsaracing.net

Personally, I willl be very happy when the ALMS races get back to the real circuits for real racing. The race in Long Beach IMO is a waste only being 1 hour 40 minutes - it's not endurance racing, it's nothing more than a sprint race. The majority of the races are 2 hr 45 minutes except for Sebring, Petit Le Mans and Laguna Seca. These races have much more appeal than F1 (we've attended our fair share of F1 races at various venues).

Someone asked about why only two Vettes in GT1 - the Pro Drive #007 & #009 ran last year but the competition adjustments were always being made and I think Dave Richards decided to stay in Europe and concentrate on Le Mans this year and his F1 entry in '08. Rik, Antonio, Liz and the other team members from Team Modena were at Sebring with their Aston and ran against the "Vettes". . hopefully they'll be back for Petit.

Hopefully some of you who attended LB for your first ALMS race, will find your way to Laguna Seca in October for the final race of the season. If you are even thinking of attending, you best get a hotel reservation now as many, many of the hotels are alredy booked. Tickets are also available on the Laguna website. And too, remember with ALMS, every ticket gets you into the paddock and onto the grid for the grid walk just prior to start of the race.

I'll be posting photos of some of the cars that were at Monza on another thread.

Carol

Forza Risi #62

 

We truly enjoyed our first ALMS race and look fwd to many more! Also looking fwd to learn more about this series.

btw, the sound of those 430GT's are unbelievable!!