OKC Grand Prix

[gen70]

Hope it happens.

[pinlifter]

The mayor mite try getting the Go-Carts back downtown before getting his feet wet with the Big league. BTW World Rally cars would not need the pot holes fixed.

[rcjunkie]

The mayor mite try getting the Go-Carts back downtown before getting his feet wet with the Big league. BTW World Rally cars would not need the pot holes fixed.

Been there, done that, the Mayor/City is doing the right thing by thinking big.

[Watson410]

This would be a GREAT event for OKC, not to mention be a huuuuuge hit! I would support something like this in a heartbeat. The Indycar series would be much better than the Le Mans series but i'm not going to be picky, it would be BAD ASS to get either event. Come on Mick! Let's push for this...

[Jethrol]

Wow...American LeMans would be awesome. How about Formula 1?? Too much to hope for?

I would love to see auto racing here in OKC....the more stuff the better!!

[bluedogok]

Yeah...F1 in OKC...

Bernie thinks Indy is to "hickish" and small time for him and Tony G wouldn't agree to the 25-25 million dollar sanctioning fee that Bernie wants and gets from the Middle East and Asian governments. FOTA wants a race or two in the US but until someone pays Bernie's ransom it isn't coming back. We went to the last F1 race at Indy. He wants a NYC street race, there has been a Las Vegas street race idea floated out there. The only FIA sanctioned track in the US (other than Indy) capable of hosting F1 is Miller Motorsports Park outside of Salt Lake City, I don't think Bernie is going there. Laguna Seca and Barber are too small for the F1 circus and Miller would have to build more facilities for it. F1 has been abandoning many of the traditional tracks because they aren't in the cosmopolitan cities that he so desires to get the high rollers. At least Montreal is back on the calendar.

I think an ALMS race would be great, they had it in Houston a couple of years at Reliant Park as a support race to Champ Car. When Champ Car folded the race went away. Until the IRL changes cars they will be a non-starter almost anywhere new. I remembered when CART cars used to test at Hallett, I love that little track.

The F1 season starts next weekend at Bahrain.

[Jethrol]

Yeah...F1 in OKC...

They said that about the NBA also.

[gsan]

They said that about the NBA also.

Jethrol-

I am a huge fan of F1 and would love for them to come, but they would not in a million years come to OKC.

I have to say it would be great if American Le Mans or IRL came that would be huge.

It is a very exciting time for OKC!

[gsan]

Yeah...F1 in OKC...

Bernie thinks Indy is to "hickish" and small time for him and Tony G wouldn't agree to the 25-25 million dollar sanctioning fee that Bernie wants and gets from the Middle East and Asian governments. FOTA wants a race or two in the US but until someone pays Bernie's ransom it isn't coming back. We went to the last F1 race at Indy. He wants a NYC street race, there has been a Las Vegas street race idea floated out there. The only FIA sanctioned track in the US (other than Indy) capable of hosting F1 is Miller Motorsports Park outside of Salt Lake City, I don't think Bernie is going there. Laguna Seca and Barber are too small for the F1 circus and Miller would have to build more facilities for it. F1 has been abandoning many of the traditional tracks because they aren't in the cosmopolitan cities that he so desires to get the high rollers. At least Montreal is back on the calendar.

I think an ALMS race would be great, they had it in Houston a couple of years at Reliant Park as a support race to Champ Car. When Champ Car folded the race went away. Until the IRL changes cars they will be a non-starter almost anywhere new. I remembered when CART cars used to test at Hallett, I love that little track.

The F1 season starts next weekend at Bahrain.

Blue dog are you an F1 fan?

Who do you think is going to take it this year?

It will be a great year:
Schumi's back, Lewis and Jenson are on the the same team and my team Ferrari has Alonso.
It will be very exciting!

I bet Lotus, Virgin and Hispania will not finish the first 5 races.

[Jethrol]

Jethrol-

I am a huge fan of F1 and would love for them to come, but they would not in a million years come to OKC.

I have to say it would be great if American Le Mans or IRL came that would be huge.

It is a very exciting time for OKC!

I could tell by your post that you're not dogging the city....I'm just having a little fun at your expense.

And I agree....regardless of which series comes, I think it will be awesome and I'll be one of the first to buy tickets, hats, tshirts and any other swag....I'm seriously like the biggest sucker when it comes to souvenirs! I buy all kinds of **** I don't need but I usually either use it or pass it on to someone else via birthday gift.

[gsan]

I could tell by your post that you're not dogging the city....I'm just having a little fun at your expense.

And I agree....regardless of which series comes, I think it will be awesome and I'll be one of the first to buy tickets, hats, tshirts and any other swag....I'm seriously like the biggest sucker when it comes to souvenirs! I buy all kinds of **** I don't need but I usually either use it or pass it on to someone else via birthday gift.

Whomever comes it will be great for OKC and it will be a blast for us.

[Kerry]

I will travel to OKC to see this.

[Kerry]

How is this for a potential track?

1. Start at Reno and Oklahoma Ave
2. East on Reno to Stiles, turn left on Stiles
3. North on Stiles to California Ave, turn right on California
4. East on California to Byers, turn right on Byers
5. South on Byers to Reno, turn left on Reno
6. East of Reno to Lincoln, left on Lincoln
7. North on Lincoln to Sheridan, left on Sheridan
8. West on Sheridan to Central, right on Central
9. North on Central Main, left on Main
10. West on Main to EK Gaylord (under Walnut Ave Bridge) left on EK Gaylord
11. South on EK Gaylord to Reno, left on Reno
12. Finish at Reno and Oklahoma Ave.

Total distance is 1.88 miles, has 10 turns (7 left and 3 right), a chicane down EK Gaylord. and the longest straight away is 0.4 miles. There would be plenty of room for grandstands with access to inner-Bricktown via the canal, multiple overhead walkways and Walnut St Bridge.

[bluedogok]

They said that about the NBA also.

The difference is the NBA has a solid track record with single sport mid-sized cities, if Sacramento, San Antonio, Indianapolis and Portland wouldn't have worked (they were considered mid-sized at the time teams were granted or moved) there probably wouldn't have been a chance for OKC.

If they won't go to Indy with the facilities already in place or Watkins Glen (where the USGP was held from 1961-1980), Miller, Barber, Las Vegas, etc. they aren't coming to OKC. The only way that they would consider it is if someone was willing to bankroll it to the tune of $60 million, the $35 million sanctioning fee to FOM and $25 million or more for local improvements/expenses for a street race. Then FOM controls all track advertising so the promoter does not get any revenue from that, the FOM does, that was always a gripe of Tony George about the Indy race.

Blue dog are you an F1 fan?

Who do you think is going to take it this year?

It will be a great year:
Schumi's back, Lewis and Jenson are on the the same team and my team Ferrari has Alonso.
It will be very exciting!

I bet Lotus, Virgin and Hispania will not finish the first 5 races.

After the way last season went with Brawn winning everything early and Ferrari and McLaren bringing up the rear I have no idea, of course I am sure the double deck diffuser had a lot to do with that until the others adapted.

I have always been more of an open wheel/sports car fan, while working away today I had the Grand-Am race at Homestead going, now the AMA at Daytona is on (DMG, what another debacle). CART was always my favorite, ever since the split IRL/ChampCar was never the same and Trans-Am was always a good watch. The problem is now they don't run anywhere close to this part of the country anymore.

The only "big" races that I have been to are two USGP's, Dallas in 1984 and Indy in 2007. Most of the races that I have been to have been the SCCA races at Hallett. I will watch Nascar until the other series start up, .

[Watson410]

They're suppose to be voting on this right now or sometime this morning.. I hope they pass it or say "OK". I think this can be a great annual event for the City of OKC. Quick question... If we show we can support this kind of event and show interest along with the drag boat event (Interest towards racing in general) Do u think OKC or private investors would consider or be interested in building a Multi-Use race track? (3/4-1 mile concrete oval (NASCAR regulation) with (NHRA regulation) drag strip inside oval and (Indycar/LeMans Reg.) road course.) I believe the people of OKC want professional racing.. they just don't want to drive 3-5 hours north or south to see it... not including Tulsa. Thoughts? Is this just a pipe dream?

[onthestrip]

I say a definite no to the city building a race track. There are just too few racing events and too many other tracks around the country to justify building one. Just doesn't make financial sense

[smooth]

I say a definite no to the city building a race track. There are just too few racing events and too many other tracks around the country to justify building one. Just doesn't make financial sense

The city of Oklahoma City would not "build" a track for the Grand Prix. Grand Prix races are conducted on city streets (for the most part) within a set distance which is two miles. The course is with a lot of turns and harder than the NASCAR, Indy, or hicktrack racing.

DISCLAIMER: Hicktracks are these rinky-dink southern or southern want to be dirt ovals such as the State Fairgounds Speedway.

[Platemaker]

I say a definite no to the city building a race track. There are just too few racing events and too many other tracks around the country to justify building one. Just doesn't make financial sense

Sorry.... as far as a track goes.... a NASCAR track in Oklahoma City makes perfect sense

[smooth]

Sorry.... as far as a track goes.... a NASCAR track in Oklahoma City makes perfect sense

I agree. Why go to Texas or Kansas when we can have our own. Plus, Oklahoma City is too large and too modern for hick races like we have had.

[CaseyCornett]

They're suppose to be voting on this right now or sometime this morning.. I hope they pass it or say "OK". I think this can be a great annual event for the City of OKC.

Vote passed.

[Watson410]

I agree. Why go to Texas or Kansas when we can have our own. Plus, Oklahoma City is too large and too modern for hick races like we have had.

Your the only one talking about dirt tracks.. I didn't mention anything about that in my post.. I said concrete oval, drag strip and road course, and how is a "grand prix" any different or harder than the Leguna Seca or Watkins Glen's of the world besides being surrounded by buildings?

[Kerry]

The mayor said the other day he favored a multi-surface race park that would accommodate all types of racing. I take that to mean a dirt track, an asphalt road course, and a drag strip. He wanted to include this type of venue in MAPS III but there wasn't enough support. Most American LeMans series races occur on dedicated tracks, not street courses. Here are the track on the LeMans series.

Sebring
Laguna Seca
Miller Motorsports Park
Lime Rock Park
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Road America
Mosport International Raceway
Road Atlanta

Only the race at Long Beach is on street course.

[onthestrip]

The city of Oklahoma City would not "build" a track for the Grand Prix. Grand Prix races are conducted on city streets (for the most part) within a set distance which is two miles. The course is with a lot of turns and harder than the NASCAR, Indy, or hicktrack racing.

DISCLAIMER: Hicktracks are these rinky-dink southern or southern want to be dirt ovals such as the State Fairgounds Speedway.

Well aware that grand prix is on city streets. I was referring to a NASCAR track. There are only so many events to go around and there are numerous other tracks around the country vying to attract/keep them. If we built one, we still wouldn't be a stop for a NASCAR race.

[Kerry]

There are far more types of racing than Sprint Cup NASCAR.

[smooth]

Your the only one talking about dirt tracks.. I didn't mention anything about that in my post.. I said concrete oval, drag strip and road course, and how is a "grand prix" any different or harder than the Leguna Seca or Watkins Glen's of the world besides being surrounded by buildings?

I'm not "Talking" about anything. While on the computer, I write, not talk.