With October approaching, its hard to fathom that a haunted house promotion, started 26 years ago in a seedy written off warehouse district, could arguably provide the spark that has led to the revolutionary developments that we are discussing today. BTHW RIP. Maybe a statue will be built for you someday.

I thought credit went to Spaghetti Warehouse.

With October approaching, its hard to fathom that a haunted house promotion, started 26 years ago in a seedy written off warehouse district, could arguably provide the spark that has led to the revolutionary developments that we are discussing today. BTHW RIP. Maybe a statue will be built for you someday.

Come on now OKCboy, you know, I know, and you know I know you know that Bricktown's evolution is far more complicated than that. The guy behind the haunted ware house, however, can't be denied credit for transforming Bricktown into an entertainment district. As for the RIP comment... it's not being continued?

Yes complicated it is. I basically meant "agruably" we might not of been discussing all of these great developments unless we had little deals like this back in the day. The pyramid club, Baja Cafe, Piggys,The Spaghetti Warehouse and O'briens were promoting this area as a cool place to come. This momemtum led to an un heard of "pass a tax on ourselves" movement that has expolded into the awesome things we are talking about today that are in Bricktown and downtown. I wanted to just throw some credit to the hard working liitle people behind the curtain of the great and powerful "oz". Yes, Steve this is the last year in its current home. It will be a sad day as well as a year to celebrate its origin, its founder, and what this move will bring to this property in the future and what was contributed to the area in the past. It will be missed and definetly deserves a story. I think.

You can count on me to write it up. Very interesting.

Hmmmm.. Interesting. I do work for Brewer Entertainment from time to time (In the Haunted Warehouse). I haven't heard anything about it coming to an end but I can't say I would be surprised, they did have to take out a good portion of it because of PeachWave and Sammy's Pizza.

Thunder? Not interested, but appreciate it. Sooner? Not interested, but appreciate it.
Le Mans? Finally, something that I am really interested in spending some $$$! Too bad.

Hmmmm.. Interesting. I do work for Brewer Entertainment from time to time (In the Haunted Warehouse). I haven't heard anything about it coming to an end but I can't say I would be surprised, they did have to take out a good portion of it because of PeachWave and Sammy's Pizza.

I remember I went to High School with One of Mr. Brewer's Grandson's and we got to skip The Haunted Warehouse lines and get in free!He was a very nice man!

The race is an interesting idea, but would you really want to be standing on the sidewalk as a car hits a pot hole at 125mph? We have some of the worst roads in the country and we want 10-15 high octane cars speeding down the road with cracks, bumps, holes, and all manner of instability beneath them?

I'll be completely honest that I am nowhere NEAR informed about the Le Mans races or their dynamic but I just get the sense that with our roads that, after the first lap, The Myriad may have a rear axle embedded in its facade.

The race is an interesting idea, but would you really want to be standing on the sidewalk as a car hits a pot hole at 125mph? We have some of the worst roads in the country and we want 10-15 high octane cars speeding down the road with cracks, bumps, holes, and all manner of instability beneath them?

I'll be completely honest that I am nowhere NEAR informed about the Le Mans races or their dynamic but I just get the sense that with our roads that, after the first lap, The Myriad may have a rear axle embedded in its facade.

Safety barriers and fencing would line the course. That is what the $6 million was for. IRL and LeMans races on road courses much worse. If you watched the Brazil Grand Prix there was one place where the road was so rough the cars would get a little airborne over it. That is what makes a street course a street course. Otherwise, they would just race on an oval or closed circuit road course.

Probably what you are thing of is rally racing where there are not any barriers and people line the track mere inches from the race cars. A lot of people die that way.


Rally Car Event - see, no fence.

http://i.usatoday.net/sports/gallery/2008/08/03/s080803_xgames.jpg http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/25/xin_10212042508220001712519.jpg

http://www.newsok.com/article/3502231?searched=grand%20prix&custom_click=search

OKC Motorsports tabs Rod Bymaster as consultant in hopes of hosting grand prix race in Oklahoma City (Oklahoman, 10/7/10)


Racing legend Rod Bymaster has been named consultant for OKC Motorsports, the organization that is continuing its effort to host grand prix racing in Oklahoma City in 2012.

Bymaster founded Audi Sport North America and claimed the American Le Mans Championship nine times (2000-2008). He also won the prestigious 24 hours of Le Mans in 2005.

"Rod has done and seen it all in grand prix racing," said Mike McAuliffe, CEO of OKC Motorsports. "He brings a wealth of racing knowledge from all perspectives and racing relationships throughout the racing world, and he's an Oklahoman who is passionate about bringing grand prix racing to Oklahoma City." ...

WOW!! That's huge news for the OKC Motorsports group and future of racing in OKC. Great move!!

http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-racing-to-adventure-district-story,0,5088259.story?track=rss

Awesome! Any word (inside info) about a track layout?

http://www.okgazette.com/article/10-21-2010/Grand_Prix_may_race_through_city_s_Adventure_Distr ict.aspx

Call me biased, but I think a track in the "Adventure District" is a snooze. Cars racing through the streets of the CBD and Bricktown sounds much more interesting and exciting.

One question, where are 70,000 people going to park in the Adventure District + plus have a race track? I assume a large part of the Remington Park parking lot is going to be taken up by racing activites.

I imagine just like any major event, they will have shuttles as well as people will be scattered across the course.

Is OKC motorsports backed by Ron Norick?

yep

I imagine just like any major event, they will have shuttles as well as people will be scattered across the course.

Shuttled from where? We are talking a lot of cars here. Are they going to have to park downtown and ride a bus to the course? This isn't like a NASCAR race where you show up just before the green flag drops, drinks some beers, and go home after the checker flag waves. It is an all day event, actually - a multi-day event.

http://gh2equestrian.com/images/rem1d.jpg

I understand there is a large parking lot there but I was assuming it will be filled with race related support services, grandstands, food vendors, medical facilities, port-o-potties, race pits, car haulers, garage services, etc. We are talking parking for 30,000 cars and shuttling 70,000 people 18 hours a day for 3 days. Does OKC have that many buses?

If I was to attend the event in that area I would want my car parked WAY away.

This is a time when the Heritage train from Bricktown to the Adventure District would come in handy... think that will ever be finished?

Not in the foreseeable future.

Platemaker, the Heritage train is an excursion ride that carries no more than a couple hundred at a time. It's not meant for mass transportation

What impact does the County Commissioners' vote have on this? Does it have any?

Nada.

Kerry, Norman seems to manage fine on Saturdays in the fall. Parking always seems to be available for 85,000 people without any major parking areas next to the stadium. Given the length of a race course the area for parking in OKC would seem to be spread over a much larger area and shouldn't be a major issue. Have you ever been to the Texas State Fair for the OU-Texas game? They manage to cram up to 300,00 people per day in a congested residential and business area without significant parking.

A HUGE assistance to the Texas State Fair is the DART System.

A HUGE assistance to the Texas State Fair is the DART System.

That's only been true for the last couple of years. I agree it's great but they managed the parking without major issues for decades.

Kerry, Norman seems to manage fine on Saturdays in the fall. Parking always seems to be available for 85,000 people without any major parking areas next to the stadium. Given the length of a race course the area for parking in OKC would seem to be spread over a much larger area and shouldn't be a major issue. Have you ever been to the Texas State Fair for the OU-Texas game? They manage to cram up to 300,00 people per day in a congested residential and business area without significant parking.

Maybe so, but imagine if the football game was played on Highway 9, Lindsey, and Jenkins for 4 days. Think they could still do it with no problem? I'm not saying they can't do it, I just want to know how they plan to do it. This is not a 4 hour event. It is 4 solid days with most of the people being there for 3 full days of it. Busing people in might work for the actual race, but it won't work for practice sessions, time trial, qualifying, or any other companion races.

Maybe so, but imagine if the football game was played on Highway 9, Lindsey, and Jenkins for 4 days. Think they could still do it with no problem? I'm not saying they can't do it, I just want to know how they plan to do it. This is not a 4 hour event. It is 4 solid days with most of the people being there for 3 full days of it. Busing people in might work for the actual race, but it won't work for practice sessions, time trial, qualifying, or any other companion races.

Kerry, if your concern is parking, I don't think the length of the event has any effect on that. If your concern is closing streets, that is a separate issue to be worked out.

I don't have any concerns about street closures as most areas have multiple access points. My two primary concerns are track layout and how to get 70,000 people in and out for 3 days. It is going to be a logistical nightmare. As for the track, I am seeing very limited course layout opportunites in the area. My only guess is that they plan to snake the track through the Remington Park parking lot. It is a big parking lot with elevation changes so that might work

70,000 people maybe equals 30,000 cars.

70,000 people maybe equals 30,000 cars.

That is about what I thought. Here is how I see it thought. It is a 3 days event but most of the people will only attend the race itself. That means that maybe 15,000 to 20,000 people will attend day 1 and 2 activities. Shuttle buses work great for race day crowds becasue they will be there for hours during the race and festivites. But what about Friday and Saturday? Are they going to have to park 5 miles away and ride a bus for a 1 hour visit? My guess is that will cause a reduction in Friday and Saturday crowds.

I did do some Google Earth track layouts on Remington Park parking lot, they can probably get a pretty good track on it because there are some nice elevation changes and plenty of room for track and seating.

That is about what I thought. Here is how I see it thought. It is a 3 days event but most of the people will only attend the race itself. That means that maybe 15,000 to 20,000 people will attend day 1 and 2 activities. Shuttle buses work great for race day crowds becasue they will be there for hours during the race and festivites. But what about Friday and Saturday? Are they going to have to park 5 miles away and ride a bus for a 1 hour visit? My guess is that will cause a reduction in Friday and Saturday crowds.

I did do some Google Earth track layouts on Remington Park parking lot, they can probably get a pretty good track on it because there are some nice elevation changes and plenty of room for track and seating.

Kerry, I still can't see your concerns about parking and shuttles. Why would it be necessary to park 5 miles away and take a shuttle when you're talking about an area that is less congested than Norman around the OU stadium or the area around the Texas State Fair which attract larger crowds and most people basically park within about a mile and walk.

Kerry, I still can't see your concerns about parking and shuttles. Why would it be necessary to park 5 miles away and take a shuttle when you're talking about an area that is less congested than Norman around the OU stadium or the area around the Texas State Fair which attract larger crowds and most people basically park within about a mile and walk.

OU game - 4 hours
LeMans race - 3 to 4 days

Why does everyone keep comparing a major auto race to a football game? I know some of you go to the Texas Speedway to watch NASCAR but there is a lot more going on than a green flag and a checkerd flag. If that is all you are getting out of a NASCAR race you are wasting your money because you can watch the race on TV.

OU game - 4 hours
LeMans race - 3 to 4 days

Why does everyone keep comparing a major auto race to a football game? I know some of you go to the Texas Speedway to watch NASCAR but there is a lot more going on than a green flag and a checkerd flag. If that is all you are getting out of a NASCAR race you are wasting your money because you can watch the race on TV.

But what does that have to do with parking?

But what does that have to do with parking?

Where are people going to park? There seems to be this idea that people will park in lawns at $20 per day like at OU games. The difference is that this is not a 4 hour event with a start time and an end time. Depending on what is going on that day people will be arraiving at all different hours and staying for different lengths of time, for 3 days. Is someone going to pay $20 to park in a lawn so they can go buy a souvenier hat and get their picture taken next to a race car and leave after 30 minutes? Nope. Other people are going to show-up and spend all day there. I hope the homeowners don't mind having a car in their yard for 12 hours, or maybe even over-night if the person drinks a little too much and decides to go home with friends.

Why is everybody so worked up on parking. There is a large amount of parking at the racetrack, zoo, science museum, theater down the road, softball hall of fame, Lincoln golf course, Western Heritage Museum. All within easy shuttle distance and all who would likely cooperate with getting traffic for the area that would come with this race.

Rover, you do know that most of that parking is going to be used for race functions and won't be available for parking cars. Also, are you expecting the Zoo and Science Museum to close during this time? If not, where are zoo/museum patrons going to park if their lots are used for race parking? But you are correct, shuttles are going to have to run from somewhere.

Rover, you do know that most of that parking is going to be used for race functions and won't be available for parking cars. Also, are you expecting the Zoo and Science Museum to close during this time? If not, where are zoo/museum patrons going to park if their lots are used for race parking? But you are correct, shuttles are going to have to run from somewhere.

I would assume the Zoo and Science Museum will have extremely low attendance during the race time as most won't want to fight the traffic, etc. to go down there. Those events are year round and can be visited anytime. People will postpone and go later. Zoo and Science Museum should plan on SLOW business then but increased traffic there later due to the great exposure they will get during the event. The entertainment businesses in the area will suffer for a couple of days but should benefit overall.

I just don't think it is as hopeless as many try to portray it. If you read these boards, these great opportunities get lost in negativity. Instead of focusing on all the benefit something like this brings, we get bogged down on the more petty issues. Yes, there will be issues, especially on the first one. But it will be worth it. There are always growing pains. It just seems like we love to wring our hands alot.

This is OKC, if you can't park right next to the starting line people are going to throw fits

This is OKC, if you can't park right next to the starting line people are going to throw fits

Thank you. If you think people complain about Bricktown Parking just wait. I am sure the organizers have a plan for this, after all they picked the location. I looked at it and I can't see how to do it in a way that will keep surrounding attractions open and provide variable-duration access so I want to know how they plan to do it. This is educational for me on a personal level and I think the event will be great for OKC.

Isn't there quite a bit of parking at the movie theater too?!? So you have Remington park parking lot...Theater parking lot... How many people go to concerts at the Zoo Ampitheater? Where do they park?

I don't know if I have ever seen as many worry wartz as I do on this message board. Crazy!

Parking. Is that the killer to this deal? OKC Grand Prix wanted nearly $7 million from the City, with no guarantee the funds would be repaid.

I've read what has been published in the Oklahoman, but does anyone know what the real financials are for OKC Motorsports group? Who's to say they don't have their hands out to the City for big bucks at a time when 100 positions have been cut?

This could be a great event. But it is extremely expensive to stage a temporary track, specifically the capital infrastructure.

I don't question the incremental economic impact, but timing is everything. Just tell me... where's the money?

Isn't there quite a bit of parking at the movie theater too?!? So you have Remington park parking lot...Theater parking lot... How many people go to concerts at the Zoo Ampitheater? Where do they park?

The Remington Park lot is going to be used for the race so you won't be able to park there. Theater parking - possible. Zoo - only if the zoo closes for 3 days. How many people go to the Zoo Ampitheater? A lot less than 70,000. Softball Hall of Fame - maybe. Cowboy Hall of Fame, only if it closes for 3 days. We're talking 30,000 cars here. If they have to shuttle everyone in it would require 1,400 trips on a 50 passenger bus. If they did 1 bus per minute it would take 23 hours just to get everyone there, and 23 hours to get them out.

The Remington Park lot is going to be used for the race so you won't be able to park there. Theater parking - possible. Zoo - only if the zoo closes for 3 days. How many people go to the Zoo Ampitheater? A lot less than 70,000. Softball Hall of Fame - maybe. Cowboy Hall of Fame, only if it closes for 3 days. We're talking 30,000 cars here. If they have to shuttle everyone in it would require 1,400 trips on a 50 passenger bus. If they did 1 bus per minute it would take 23 hours just to get everyone there, and 23 hours to get them out.

Used as part of the race track?!? Is there a track layout already?

Where are people going to park? There seems to be this idea that people will park in lawns at $20 per day like at OU games. The difference is that this is not a 4 hour event with a start time and an end time. Depending on what is going on that day people will be arraiving at all different hours and staying for different lengths of time, for 3 days. Is someone going to pay $20 to park in a lawn so they can go buy a souvenier hat and get their picture taken next to a race car and leave after 30 minutes? Nope. Other people are going to show-up and spend all day there. I hope the homeowners don't mind having a car in their yard for 12 hours, or maybe even over-night if the person drinks a little too much and decides to go home with friends.

Kerry, you focused too much on my mention of an OU football game and forgot about my mention of the Texas State Fair. It operates for much longer than this race would in a much more congested area for parking and has larger crowds than the race would draw. And some people actually stay at the fair for a short time and some all day. Parking just shouldn't be a major issue. Relax and it will all be fine.

Doesn't the Texas State Fair have a large parking lot? Have you ever been there on any other day the OU/Texas Saturday? If so, how much neighborhood parking take place on non-OU/Texas days? I have only been there for OU/Texas but we parked in the lot.

Used as part of the race track?!? Is there a track layout already?

No track layout yet, just a few mentions of where the track will go (the parking lot being one of them). However, race activities involve far more than the track itself. For starters, the teams need access to their equipment and semis during the race so all those trucks will need to park somewhere. They will also need a garage area to perform work. Then there are hospitality tents, fan activities, souvenier sales, concession areas, bathrooms (know how many port-o-potties you need for 70,000 people), etc... Then there will also be grandstands, a winners cirlce, pit road, and a medical helicopter landing zone.

Like I said though, I'm not doubting that they can, I just want to see how they are going to do it. Since the race isn't until 2012 I'm probably going to have to wait awhile before actual track layout is announced.

Doesn't the Texas State Fair have a large parking lot? Have you ever been there on any other day the OU/Texas Saturday? If so, how much neighborhood parking take place on non-OU/Texas days? I have only been there for OU/Texas but we parked in the lot.

Yes, there is a parking lot but it's really dinky compared to the number of people who go to the fair. I have been there over 40 times and never parked in the parking lot. I went for both football games and other reasons and the majority of the people have to park in areas both residential and commercial around the fair grounds. I always tried to be gone before dark though. LOL

Well, I think we have discussed parking enough.

So here is a recap of what we know:

First race proposed for 2012
Track will be in Adventure District using parts RP parking lot, MLK, Grand Ave, and I think 50th St.
Will bring in 70,000 people (40% will be from outside OKC metro area)
Received token support from Oklahoma County

Does anyone know who the sanctioning body will be, Grand Am, La Mans, IRL?

Don't know how they did it, but they did: OFFICIAL DETAILS
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/11/alms-headed-to-oklahoma-city-with-new-street-race-in-may-2013/

Don't know how they did it, but they did: OFFICIAL DETAILS
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/11/alms-headed-to-oklahoma-city-with-new-street-race-in-may-2013/

I did not see that coming. Fantastic.

Outdated skyline photo strikes again.

Outdated skyline photo strikes again.

That is what happens when the skyline doesn't change for 30 years. There is no reason to update the stock photos.

Read the press release carefully. This isn't a done deal.