India is gone, Sochi will happen. Austria is likely, NY unlikely. Le Mans date can be worked around, not an issue.
Not according to their "spokesman"..... I know who I'm gonna believe! The more we learn of these new deals/tracks the more out of touch some of the organisers/promoters seem to be - It's almost like they've never heard of Bernie and think because they're rich they can steamroller him with late payments etc...... Oops! Cheers, Ian
It would be nice to know how they thought it could work financially. It can't just have been wishing and hoping. Could it?
I just cancelled my hotel reservation in NYC. Who says a GP doesn't bring additional $ to the host city?
Well, it could be that there were early expectations among the promoters/organizers that Bernie would make substantial reductions in his sanctioning fee ... i suppose that would qualify as "wishful thinking", since Bernie just isn't one to walk away from $25~30 Million, every year, that he could easily get from any number of other venues. Certainly, the fact that NO taxpayer money would be used, was known since day one. Maybe the real cost to build, and promote every year, didn't materialize until the project was well underway? I still maintain, as i have since day one, that asphalt work would not be trivial ... and that's well-supported by the recently-announced need to raise $100 Million. I don't know ... the promoters/organizers never owned or controlled the property around the track (as far as i know), and with no real asset for investors or creditors to "attach", and zero government/taxpayer funding ... it just isn't an attractive business model for investment or loan. It's sure looked like a real dog to me, from the opening announcement Still, I would have loved to watch a race or two ...
See now I don't know what to think anymore. This past weekend it was off, then on, then Mexico got involved. Now these two articles. New Jersey still has a contract - Bernie Ecclestone | Formula 1 | Formula 1 news, live F1 | ESPN F1 Ecclestone says Formula One stiil has contract for New Jersey race - Autoweek Racing F1 news - Autoweek The autoweek one mentions a fall date. Which is the first time I've heard of that during this whole saga.
Donington - the sequel Just Bernie reminding them that there is a valid contract which has a penalty for failure. Bernie making money one way or the other
I made reservations for every weekend in June, at a Comfort Inn, in Jersey, maybe two miles from the proposed track. Not bad, average $160/night. I will wait until January to cancel.
Most likely. Although I am still pulling for it. There is still a fair amount of construction now up on blvd east. The other thing that caught my eye was in the CNN article from this past weekend was this quote: "However, the investment opportunity overview produced by UBS in June states that the Grand Prix of America contract gives the organizers "exclusivity for all F1 races across the northeast corridor" so the vacant calendar slot could be filled by another new race in the area." F1: 2014 Grand Prix of America is off, says Bernie Ecclestone - CNN.com Aside from being a major perk for investors, I wonder if there really is any other plans for something in the northeast if this one fails? What classifies as the "northeast corridor" in this deal?
You noticed the comment about the race being in the fall? Anyhow I still have a reservation for Montreal, Graz, Milan and Spa. Most likely that I will cash in Spa at this point.
Thought I'd post a few pics from the drive home. Headed down the road that the cars will potentially be going up to the top of the cliff. A few weeks back it was all marked off for construction. Now you can see what is built. Its right at a vantage point on the curve that either safety crew, crane or tv camera might be able to view the cars in both directions. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
That's not a whole lot of work, for a race a few months away, and winter coming ... My heart wants this race to happen. My head still bets against it (although i would love to be proven wrong!).
Thats what I'm still thinking as a possibility. I forget which interview it was, but Bernie mentioned Fall 14' at Spa this year.
It would be in June. And tracks need a FIA inspection 6 months before the event. So in December the FIA will release the final calendar and that will be the final word.
