Of course, he's in bed with the ISC who funnel huge campaign contributions to him. And, now he's running for Senate. BHW
It occurred to me that the FIA controls world motorsport and if Homestead, NASCAR or the ISC attempts to throw the FIA and Liberty’s plans to hold an F1 race in Miami off the rails, they may well do so at their own peril. I contacted a highly respected racing journalist and author with regard to the FIA’s inner workings and how their sanction operates. A primer on how the FIA works. It has two wings, Touring and sort of like the UN, each country is a member. Some countries (like the US and Canada) have completely different entities as the FIA rep. In the US, the AAA is the touring member, thus AAA members get things like road service in all the other FIA member countries. Each country can designate an ASN (Association Sportiv Internationale). In the US it's ACCUS (Automobile Competition Committee of the United States). They have a small office in Chicago run by Nick Craw, ex SCCA head. ACCUS in turn authorizes the actual race sanctions through its member clubs, who are SCCA, IMSA, USAC, NHRA, and NASCAR. Thus, for a race to be considered international it must be licensed by one of those. F1 would already have or is applying for sanction by either SCCA or USAC. Should Homestead/NASCAR/ISC continue to attempt to thwart pubic opinion and/or move against the proposed F1 race in Miami in the courts as they did in the lead up to the Miami Grand Prix of Americas events in 2002-03, the FIA could retaliate by simply withdrawing their sanction of NASCAR events or events taking place on ISC controlled tracks that include Homestead, Sebring, Daytona, Road Atlanta, Watkins Glen, Fontana, Chicagoland, Darlington, Kansas, Martinsville, Michigan, Phoenix, Richmond, Route 66 and Talledega with disastrous effect. Therefore, the ISC had better consider very carefully their position in trying to upend the FIA and Liberty’s plans to have F1 in Miami and play nice! BHW
A Formula 1 race or any kind of race in Downtown Miami is a terrible idea. Anyone who does not understand why, should try to go downtown when there is a Miami Heat game at the AAA arena there. Since a race would most likely take place during the day, there is also the traffic going in and out of the Port of Miami to contend with and the local infrastructure is not capable to handle the kind of traffic and relative disruption coming from an event of that proportion. There is no shortage of available space around Miami (if Homestead does not cut) but downtown is a NO, NO !!
If Monaco can manage it Miami can figure it out. Besides, as you mentioned, when is traffic there not an absolute nightmare? They have every other nonsensical event like urban weekend that essentially shuts down the city, why not add F1 too? All that has to be done is grease the right people like everything else and it can happen. Thankfully I don't live there so I would only have to worry about getting to the race and back. What's one more traffic cluster ****? The bonus is we'd get an F1 race out of it.
Exactly the point. After all, downtown Miami has hosted sports car and Indy Car racing dating back to the 80s in one form or another. The only ones griping about the traffic during the Miami Grand Prix of Americas weekends was Homestead/ISC. The talk has always been Formula One in Miami and now that Liberty is openly seeking out new U.S. venues to bolster F1's profile, Miami is on the short list and through a fairly reliable source, we're hearing "It is happening". If Homestead/ISC wants to fight the FIA over this, they do so at their own peril. BHW
Perhaps you guys have forgotten that some years ago there was a race being held in downtown Miami, before it was moved to Homestead. The track was less than 1 mile long, with virtually no room to pass and no run offs. In other words an unsafe and overall terrible futile exercise to bring race cars where they do not belong
Actually, downtown Miami has hosted major international racing several times. Beginning in the early 80s with Ralph Sanchez' Miami Grand Prix, the IMSA GTX/GTP events were a commercial success and a model for all other street races. The exception would be the first Miami Grand Prix event which saw torrential rains ruin an otherwise excellent event which was run on the original 1.85 mile Bicentennial Park circuit. Sanchez kept this event going for several year as the Miami Grand Prix became a tradition coming just after the 24 Hours of Daytona and before the 12 Hours of Sebring, creating what were three important Florida races to start the seasons before the opportunity to build the Homestead/Miami International Raceway after Hurricane Andrew. After that, the Miami Grand Prix of the Americas featured ALMS and Champ Car events in 2002-03. These were likewise commercially successful with large crowds but organization was suspect. Most recently, Formula E ran in Miami. While I didn't attend this event, it was rather slammed by attendees and media alike as it seems the faculty wasn't ready and access was an issue. Believe me, when F1 does Miami, it will be done right. It's going to be landmark and Homestead/ISC are well advised to keep their noses out of it. Interestingly enough, I'm in contact with one of Ralph Sanchez's main men and he is 100% behind the F1 in Miami deal. BHW
In matters such as this, I tend to go to the source(s). And, in this case, to the most successful American sports car driver of all time. I asked him whether he and other drivers thought the original downtown Miami Grand Prix circuit was overly dangerous and his reply was, "No, we all loved racing on the streets of Miami". The original downtown Miami Grand Prix was very much a part of the renaissance of Miami during the 80s. And, as the arrival of F1 approaches, the possibilities are endless as this event, beyond anything else (including Art Basel) will be a sensation in Miami. BHW
apparently the proposal for the race is going to a city commission vote. Stephen Ross (Related Development, owner of Dolphins) getting involved. http://racer.com/2018/05/02/miami-to-vote-on-plans-for-2019-f1-race-next-week/
Good example of a really bad newspaper headline here--- the race is next year, not next week as the headline implies at first glance.
I'm not sure F1 has been great for Austin or Texas. How much is state putting in of taxpayer money, $10mm a year? COTA and Austin have maybe got lucky in discovering way to sell F1 tickets is to have concerts. Most of those going to the concert don't even go to the race. Whatever works.
the committee vote is next week F1 races almost never work out for the track or region. that's why Indy dropped it so easily. also why F1 has had to branch out into so many 3rd world countries trying to make a name for themselves.
Lmao, "First class global city." Personally I would love to see the F1 race happen. It will be a gigantic cluster **** like everything else that occurs in Miami but it would be worth it to see them run thru the streets. If I lived down there I might have a different view considering the havoc it would cause. One thing Miami is good for is showing off and posturing. F1 is all about the show now so it's a perfect match. Better buy stock in velvet ropes because they will VIP the **** out of every drop they can.
The Homestead/ISC lobby wrings its wiry hands an anticipation of buying off the votes in 5... 4... 3... 2... BHW
It would be possible to get to a downtown race site by either MetroRail or the new Brightline train, so one would not need to drive there. I've taken MetroRail to the Bayside Marketplace quite a few times, and I never felt unsafe.
From the beginning, Liberty had three new U.S. venues on their short list, they made it clear they wanted a second USGP and were looking at Miami, New York and Las Vegas. Miami is clearly the best fit for them. If they're smart, they'll make the Miami Grand Prix (SIC) the first race of the year in mid-March the week after Sebring, they'll have exactly what they're looking for as Miami is busting with European and South American visitors, so their fan base is already built in. There have been three occasions when FIA and Liberty delegations have visited Miami to meet and go over potential course layouts. This, and the fact that Homestead/ISC hired a lobbying firm with right wing leanings and free access to Governor Skeletor in Tallahassee indicates just how real this is and the lengths Homestead/ISC is willing to go to attempt to thwart the event. We are of the understanding that the financing is in place but will let them make that announcement official in due course. The only thing left is the course layout. There have been suggestions that they want to use the tunnel off the MacArthur Causeway out to the port side. Not quite sure how all this would work out due the heavy volume of traffic that uses the causeway as the main egress and digress from South Beach. The other issue is that F1 requires a full pits complex. Where would this be set up, would it be permanent or temporary structure (a-la Melbourne)? Remains to be seen. On the side, we've had on very good authority that the Miami Grand Prix is happening from an unimpeachable source. So, come on down to the 305. We know how to throw a party which is why we're so exhausted all the time! BHW
Carey vows that Liberty won't turn its back on traditional European venues. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-not-turning-back-europe-despite-miami-push-carey-1033043/ BHW
Looks as though the pace is picking up and more details are being made public. http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/f1-miami-grand-prix-track-10-year-deal?utm_source=DailyDrive20180504&utm_medium=enewsletter&utm_term=headline-center&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=awdailydrive BHW
This is getting real... Stephen Ross revealed as the financier. http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/f1-miami-grand-prix-track-10-year-deal?utm_source=DailyDrive20180504&utm_medium=enewsletter&utm_term=headline-center&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=awdailydrive BHW
The City Commission votes on it on May 11. I just spoke with a major Miami player and he says that Homestead/ISC has $20M to $30M to fight it and they want the Grand Prix at Homestead running at night. Also, the proposed date is in October, not March as previously expected. BHW
Julia Piquet's video report on the Miami F1 Grand Prix circuit. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/explore-new-miami-track-layout-1035278/ BHW
Late breaking news… The City of Miami Commission voted unanimously to move the Miami Formula One Grand Prix forward today. The event now has the blessings of the City of Miami and moves to the next level. More news as it happens. BHW
Miami Herald article... http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/downtown-miami/article210799924.html BHW
Fingers crossed! Sucks for all those that paid millions to live there but it’s tremendous for us race fans. I can’t wait.