F1 in Vegas...Bernie speaks out

It's not that bad with people i know. Last year was the first time my friends attend F1 race and they all willing to try again this year.

If you look at H or J tickets at speedway site - you can only get row A now - which is a good indicator of it being 99.9% sold out. Hotels are pretty much all booked too. So this year i expect crowd about same size as last year.

 

Here's my question: If they attempt a street course in Vegas, any idea where it would specifically run? I just did a Google Earth of Las Vegas and the streets are all pretty gridded. Unless they do something with the road course outside the LV Speedway.

 

they could make some turns out of the hotels driveways, or maybe the pits could be there.

 

Vegas would be a great venue for an F1 race as long as they build a world class track with an infield casino...

 

Barber Motorsports is fairly small track and there aren't many accomodations in the area, on the upside, there is an awesome Greek restaurant in downtown Birmingham. I think Vegas would be the best choice.

 

F1 should not race anywhere in america except Laguna Seca or Watkins Glen.

I'd LIKE to throw Elkhart Lake, Road Atlanta, or even Vegas onto that list, I just don't think the F1 crowd would go there. If they wouldn't go to Indy last year (tire problem notwithstanding), what makes anyone think they could go to a real racing venue that has a built-in fan base.

 

I'll bet Kimi will get out for a quick swig of Smirnoff during his pitstop much to Ron Dennis' chagrin. Who knows he might still finish on the podium.

 

What ever happened to F1 going to Birmingham? I heard that rumor going on a while back.

 

There was a huge row at the end of 1980, Bernie & co. made an absolutre fortune from the Long Beach GP, yet the organizers actually would up in the red for the third year running, despite pretty much selling out every seat.

The organizers asked Bernie for a larger share, he told them that they should be privilaged that he allowed them to hold an F1 race. In the resulting row, Bernie told them that if they did not accept the deal, the would never again hold a GP there.

They did not accept, and as a consequence signed up CART to replace the Long Beach F1 GP with the Long Beach GP. Thus infuriating Bernie still further.

As long as Bernie is in control, there will never be a Long Beach GP again.

As for Birmingham (UK), I crewed at the first street race there back in 198? F3000 Superprix races, they where fun, but there where many issues with noise and the 'pits' where incrediblky cramped the first years - much better the second year - but nowhere near the standard required for F1.

There was talk of a London GP too, but again logistics would be a nightmare.

I would love to see a Vegas GP again, preferably not around the parking loot though more of a Monaco style circuit could be amazing, and its only a couple of hours away by car....

The Indy race is 'OK' at best, its just another circuit really, and apart from the banking, there is little to differentiate this circuit from any other on the calender. I was a little less than impressed with the two real races there that I have been to, and last year was a total JOKE. Indy is not that much fun, Vegas could be..

 

Then a decision needs to be made: do you race at a storied (good) venue, or do you race at a venue because of the surroundings ?

Anymore, we know the answer, and it's sad.

P.S. Bernie has made an absolute fortune at EVERY race, because he gets paid in-full up-front before the race is even put on the calendar.

 

Laguna would never work. They had about 60k there for the motogp race and the traffic was terrible (if you drove, some of us took the helicopter). If you had say 100 - 150k, it'd take 10 hours to get out, same to get in. Would only happen once.

Art

 

Just outside of Las Vegas, about 45 min away is Spring Mountain Motorsports park, which i think isn't F1 capable yet, but could be with a few renovations. They just expanded the track to 3.1 miles I believe, and definately have the land to make it F1 capable. A street race in Vegas wouldnt work, as the roads out here really aren't great. I think that Vegas would definately be a very good venue for a race, as we do have capabilities, and I do live here, meaning I could attend .

 

http://www.jabbasworld.net/viewtopic.php?p=591663&highlight=#591663

somebody leaked that info to me over a month ago

the story at the time is that Indy seems likely to stay; contrary to what they are writing now...

Bernie/Mosely want to have a second GP in the US... it WILL NOT BE a city course; but more like Bahrain or the Chinese GP... more flat, and very safe. it also wouldn't be called the US GP... but rather the Las Vegas GP, that happens to be in the US

reasons for Vegas... 2 airports, plenty of Hotels/transportation... its a city completely ready for a GP.

 

Vegas is also used to accomodating 300,000+ people for New Year's and other events, so 150,000+ will be no problem...

 

Vegas would be a perfect fit for the traveling circus that is Formula 1!

 

Let's see how Indy plays out this year.

 

So if it wouldnt be a city course, that leaves either the LVMS track or a new track in the desert.

I don't think the LVMS track would be that great - I've got a fair amount of track time on it and I think it would be inferior to Indy. A new track in the desert - I dont see it happenning. I don't think the USA is as "gullible" (for lack of a better word) as to fall for Bernies promises of being "put on the map" and all that. I don't think they'd be able to get the funding to make a new track.

The roads in Vegas IMO are very good. They are flat and smooth and dont deteriorate due to winter. It would be a good city race, IMO.

 

im just telling it as i was told...

i am by no means saying that its impossible to run the streets of Vegas... or that is what is going to happen.

i guess i really dont care which is going to happen... as i think its pretty funny that it may be cheaper to fly to Las Vegas then to drive to Indy :lol: it would be a good chance that i would attend both races...

 

The American public and F1 parted ways years ago. Indy is barely hanging on, and after last years debacle, it will be interesting to see what happens after this years 'face saving' make-up race. Face it, F1 appeals to a different crowd. Most Americans like their racing 'real simple'...! Blatently rigged Nascar racing, with the 'crowd' to go with it. If you've ever gone to Monaco, then visited Daytona...the contrast in crowd is....intersesting! In the rest of the world, the BIG sport is Football (soccer). Here, it barely gets a mention. The US doesn't appreciate the nuances and subtleties of F1. Doesn't matter why, it just is. No amount of money and promotion will get the average American sports fan to take to F1. Basically, Bernie is better off building the sport in the countries that are genuinly enthusiastic and understand the sport. The 'good ole USofA' isn't that place....

 

All the talk and hype about las Vegas is simply pure speculation at this point. I would tend to agree with the previous post by Andrew regarding the US and F1. I think the "waters" parted many, many years ago after the great racing at Watkins Glen. I would have to agree with the journalist from the UK interviewed on Wind Tunnel last night - Tony George is holding the key to all of this - not Bernie.

Carol

 

Not quite: Tony holds the key to Indy, but it is Bernie who holds the key to F1. He can place it into any town he wants. He doesn't need Tony, he simply chooses to use him or not.

 

IMO, Berne and Max are both a-holes!

 

That might be true, but what's the alternative?

Before Mad Max there was bala bala Balestre. Compared to that clown Max is a wise man.

And without Bernie there'd be only the team managers and they have never managed to agree on something. No wait, I take that back. They did find agreement just once. Last year in Indy and we all "appreciated" their senseless consensus.

 

Andrew you nailed it !

And that's part of the problem, or, most of the problem:
Europeans were raised on racing and soccer, here we have, TONS of sports on all levels, where we have seen High School football and basketball games on ESPN, let alone all the college sports, minor league sports, top-level pro sports, plus all the sports people are personally involved in such as bowling and softball, and the sports parents have their kids in, F1 racing is simply of little consequence in the USA. My wife won't listen to it because it hurts her ears.....

Each of us is more likely to be able to name people off of the 50th ranked college football team than the average american is in naming any prior F1 world driving champion, let alone ANY f1 driver. And by the same token, I had never heard of 'Beckham' until he married a Spice Girl: I thought Beckham was a corner on a british racing circuit.....

You know you are in trouble when most 'sports' TV channels have more Poker tournaments on them then actual 'sports'.

As was said, two different cultures.