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San Antonio Champ Car Race?

Discussion in 'Texas' started by Seth, Jul 11, 2006.

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  1. Seth

    Seth Formula 3

    Feb 8, 2004
    1,551
    Texas
    #1 Seth, Jul 11, 2006
    so, all this talk, is it going to happen? i've only seen one small article about it so far, but a lot of talk on the radio, and applying for some permit or something.... who's organizing it this go-around, Coiner did it last time, or was involved with it... will there also be some feeder races, porsche GT cup... anybody else have any info?
     
  2. Ferrariman355

    Ferrariman355 F1 Rookie

    Jul 11, 2004
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    #2 Ferrariman355, Jul 11, 2006
    Was this the thing that was going to take place downotwn?
     
  3. Seth

    Seth Formula 3

    Feb 8, 2004
    1,551
    Texas
    #3 Seth, Jul 12, 2006
    yup, it happened b4 in the 80's at somepoint, my parents went to all the races and everything, only have no clue about the races, i think it was durring fiesta time, so people saw it more as a social event, everyone i ask about it remembers "it", as in the partys and what not
     
  4. Ferrariman355

    Ferrariman355 F1 Rookie

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    #4 Ferrariman355, Jul 12, 2006
    There was a thread about this awhile back...I found an article about it and the idea was dead i believe. I wish i can find it....

    john
     
  5. writerguy

    writerguy F1 Veteran

    Sep 30, 2003
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    #5 writerguy, Jul 12, 2006
    it was supzd to be one of the A1 GP things but it got canned and the race went elsewhere
     
  6. Ferrariman355

    Ferrariman355 F1 Rookie

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    #6 Ferrariman355, Jul 12, 2006
    ahhhh...found it.

    supposibly it was supposed to be this season that it was goign to come but if you go to their website it doesnt show sa their...heres an article that might have stopped it....damn san antonio conservation people....

    http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/met....1279d489.html

    Auto racing group is seen as jumping the gun for S.A. event
    Web Posted: 08/03/2005 12:00 AM CDT

    Laura Jesse
    Express-News Staff Writer

    As the A1 Grand Prix racks up international teams and sets the course for what's considered the world cup of motor sport, the circuit's announcement of a race through the streets of San Antonio in March is, well, a little short-circuited.

    A news release Monday announcing the entrance of a U.S. team in the competition names San Antonio and Monterey, Calif., as the two American events on the 12-race circuit.

    That was a surprise to City Manager Rolando Bono.

    "I would never say it can't be done," Bono said Tuesday. "But I am a little concerned that we keep hearing about these dates. We have no active negotiation going on. We have no piece of paper to even look at."

    It's the second time Bono has learned about a proposed date for a race in San Antonio from the media.

    The first questionable announcement made by the auto racing circuit, funded by Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum, nephew of the crown prince of Dubai, was in late May, and it scheduled the event for mid-February.

    Bono said at the time that race organizers brought a proposal to city officials, who expressed interest in having such an event downtown, but nothing was completed and that was the last time it was discussed.

    "These things involve a lot of coordination with logistics, street closures and property owners that have to be involved," he said. "We would have to answer many, many questions."

    A public relations specialist representing A1 Team USA said organizers are negotiating for the San Antonio event. But exactly who they're talking to remains a mystery.

    "We did meet with some folks who represented A1," Bono said, referring to a session near the end of former Mayor Ed Garza's term. "But we've had absolutely no commitment to even commit."

    The selection of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey also came as a surprise to racetrack officials who in June said they were in an "embryonic" stage of planning with the circuit.

    "We are definitely still talking to them," said Reece White, a spokesman with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. "But we still don't have a confirmed date either."

    According to the same news release that announced the San Antonio race, the international racing series, which is sanctioned by Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, will begin Sept. 25 at Brands Hatch in England, then hit Germany, Portugal, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa and Mexico before ending in China in March.

    www.a1gp.com

    john
     
  7. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

    Oct 30, 2004
    7,821
    Central Texas
    #7 jknight, Jul 12, 2006
    A1GP 2007 schedule is already out and there's an opening for a race in "North or South America" tba - hardly think it will be San Antonio. As far as Champ Cars, it's back in Houston again in the spring along with an ALMS night race. Already planned on going to San Marino F1 GP again so it's out for us unfortunately. It was a great event in Houston this past May.

    Carol
     
  8. Seth

    Seth Formula 3

    Feb 8, 2004
    1,551
    Texas
    #8 Seth, Jul 12, 2006
    no no, that was a while ago check this out got it from this page

    http://cranialcavity.net/fullthrottle/wp/index.php/category/champ-car/

    May 10th, 2006 | Category: IRL, Champ Car
    Both the Champ Car and the IndyCar Series have launched bids to hold a street race in San Antonio Texas.

    A local company says it’s just days away from putting the wheels in motion to bring Indy car racing to San Antonio. But another racing league says it wants to put the pedal to the metal here, too.
    The Indy Racing League, or IRL, continues working on its proposal to bring the Grand Prix to San Antonio. However, a company called Champ Car is close to bringing a deal to local developer, HollyHills, who will pick up the tab for most of the race-related expenses.

    The president of Champ Car toured the proposed race layout around the Alamodome with City Councilman Kevin Wolff on Friday. Both Champ Car and IRL hold auto races on street tracks and bring out more than a million spectators every year.

    Whichever deal HollyHills chooses, there would still be a cost to the city. Taxpayer dollars would pay for security, clean up, and even repairing the streets used for a race. That’s why Wolff wants the details of the agreement laid out soon. He says city staffers need to get busy determining if San Antonio can make this work and still turn a profit.

    HollyHills says television advertising is a big selling point. Whichever racing league offers more free TV spots for San Antonio during its races in other cities may clinch the deal.

    It’s not clear who will win this “food fight” or when any event would be held. My gut feeling, considering the repaving requirement and molasses-like movement of governmental bureaucracy, 2007 would be a fair target date. By then the two sanctioning bodies may merge into only one, if rumors turn out to be true.
    I would also question the “free TV spots” request by HollyHills. That seems to be a “blood from a turnip” proposition to me, but I have been wrong before. A search of HollyHills turns up projects from a golf course, to resorts and time-share projects. That indicates they may have the financial where-with-all to pull it off.

    Time will tell.

    One last note: Would you call this a “food fight” or a Danica vs Katherine Legge racing diva fight?





    in the SA paper though there was some small article about this, and on the radio, 1200AM? 550AM? they were talking about this for a good hour the other day
     
  9. Seth

    Seth Formula 3

    Feb 8, 2004
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    #9 Seth, Jul 12, 2006
    i'll keep looking for an SA paper article, it was from last sat? i think
     
  10. Ferrariman355

    Ferrariman355 F1 Rookie

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    #10 Ferrariman355, Jul 12, 2006
    hummm....interesting.
     
  11. TXesprit

    TXesprit Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2001
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    #11 TXesprit, Jul 12, 2006
  12. Seth

    Seth Formula 3

    Feb 8, 2004
    1,551
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    #12 Seth, Jul 12, 2006
    this better happen, and it better not fizzle out after one attempt...

    i just cant stop thinking about track layouts downtown now... anyone remember/have layout of the orginal one? i know for sure it went infront of the Alamo... thats about it, and crossed the riverwalk a few times... but that doesnt really help
     
  13. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
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    #13 BigTex, Jul 12, 2006
    Champ car has a five year deal over here, I think......maybe A1, they only lost $212M last year...
     
  14. Seth

    Seth Formula 3

    Feb 8, 2004
    1,551
    Texas
    #14 Seth, Jul 12, 2006
    damn, they as in the city? or champ car over the year?
     
  15. Ferrariman355

    Ferrariman355 F1 Rookie

    Jul 11, 2004
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    #15 Ferrariman355, Jul 13, 2006
    neat, thats interesting...yet we would only get this if our city profits some how, $$$ wise...lets see what happens down the road...

    john
     

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