OKC Grand Prix

[smooth]

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.

You never mentioned a NASCAR track. You only mentioned a track. That could have been any kind of track.

[Watson410]

We may not be a guarantee stop as soon as the facilities are built but we would be within 2 or 3 years.. GUARANTEED!!! (well, my guarantee anyways) OKC/OK ranks in the top 3 in TV rating and I don't remember the exact numbers for TX Motor Speedway attendance but if I remember correctly, the owner said Oklahomans make up 25-30% of attendance on race day.. Those numbers may be a little off, but my point is NASCAR knows the interest is here, they just can't do anything about it. If OKC were to build a multi-surface facility the number of events would be endless... there could easily be some sort of racing going on most weekends.

[Watson410]

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

Oh, my apologies. lol.

[Kerry]

I feel like Bubba from Forrest Gump

Their motorcycle racing, truck racing, semi racing, IMSA, USAC, Nascar Nationwide, Nascar craftsman, sprints, Outlaws, dirt track, ... ... .... ..., American LeMans. That, thats about it.

[the hip]

Can we have it go down Classen? It needs to be patched up.

[CaseyCornett]

Oh, my apologies. lol.

Doesn't he technically "type"

[decepticobra]

this may seem like a new concept to many Okies, but Long Beach, Ca has done this on an annual basis for over 30 yrs with their Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

[OU Adonis]

Ca has done this on an annual basis for over 30 yrs with their Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Not sure I want a bunch of Toyota's racing around OKC right now.

[bluedogok]

Most of the tracks that Nascar runs on are owned by two groups, one being a France (Nascar) family member and the other being Bruton Smith's group (owner of TMS). There is very little hope of getting a Cup race, let alone a 1.5 mile Nascar oval in Oklahoma with TMS and Kansas Speedway so close, the owners would block it, the time has passed to get in on that aspect of Nascar. There are already built "Nascar tracks" that have never held a cup race and really have no hope of getting one, they are having to do some of the lower level Nascar series races in addition to local races to keep afloat.

It does make sense to site the different venues together but you wouldn't normally build a drag strip inside an oval, they just aren't conducive to working together like that, like football and baseball fields in the same stadium has never worked well for either. Most of the time you build a road course inside and oval to attract roval racing for sports cars like the Grand-Am cars or locals like Texas World Speedway in College Station does. You would also build a dirt track outside the main oval like TMS has, as some tracks they even have some night dirt races the same weekend as daytime big races.

[smooth]

Most of the tracks that Nascar runs on are owned by two groups, one being a France (Nascar) family member and the other being Bruton Smith's group (owner of TMS). There is very little hope of getting a Cup race, let alone a 1.5 mile Nascar oval in Oklahoma with TMS and Kansas Speedway so close, the owners would block it, the time has passed to get in on that aspect of Nascar. There are already built "Nascar tracks" that have never held a cup race and really have no hope of getting one, they are having to do some of the lower level Nascar series races in addition to local races to keep afloat.

It does make sense to site the different venues together but you wouldn't normally build a drag strip inside an oval, they just aren't conducive to working together like that, like football and baseball fields in the same stadium has never worked well for either. Most of the time you build a road course inside and oval to attract roval racing for sports cars like the Grand-Am cars or locals like Texas World Speedway in College Station does. You would also build a dirt track outside the main oval like TMS has, as some tracks they even have some night dirt races the same weekend as daytime big races.

I hear this crap a lot about a lot of things. If NASCAR tracks in the mid Atlantic and Southeast can survive with many being closer together than that craphole to the south or Kansas, then it can be just as successful here. You can not say what owners will do.

[bluedogok]

Most of those tracks in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast are historic, they were the only places run when Nascar was still pretty much a southeast only race series and have a long relationship with the France family but even some of them have lost races to California and Vegas but most of the rest of the are owned by the France's or Smith.

I don't doubt that it would be successful if they could get a race, I just don't think it will happen. Like everything else, there are a lot of politics (not the gov't kind) involved in getting on the race calendar and unless it was France or Smith opening a track in OK, I don't see it happening and I don't see one of them (or anyone else) opening a Cup level facility in Oklahoma. If the desire is to get a truck or nationwide race, maybe, but I don't see cup there with two races at TMS. There have been different track proposals floated all over the country by the major players, I have never heard of one in OK, the problem is TMS is too close. If Kansas Speedway didn't exist there might be a better shot but right now nothing but country club sports car tracks are being built. The financing market for the super speedway type of facilities has dried up.

[venture]

I didn't see anyone else post it, but this is the race route proposed (graphic from OKBlitz.com)...



It doesn't seem like a horrible route, but I did have one concern. Are they really going to want to have a route where racers have to watch out for concrete barriers/supports in the road due to the railroad overpass (on Reno)? To me that seems like it would be too high of a safety risk when most images I've seen of this kind of racer are on streets with no obstructions in the roadway or on the immediate sides.

[Richard at Remax]

that map looks good but 2nd street is across the bridge to the north, and what they have highlighted is Main.

[onthestrip]

Are you sure these races don't have concrete barriers? I would thnk nearly the whole route would be line with barriers. If it isn't, count me out as a spectator.

[venture]

Are you sure these races don't have concrete barriers? I would thnk nearly the whole route would be line with barriers. If it isn't, count me out as a spectator.

I'm talking about the barriers/supports in the middle of the road at Reno and the train station.

[possumfritter]

I'd much rather the City invest in constructing a NASCAR track along the river somewhere, or out near N. MacArthur and just west of the Turnpike. However, I would support the Grand Prix race.

[Kerry]

The entire course is enclosed on both sides by concrete retaining walls. In areas like pictured above the course will only go down one side. There won't be supports in the middle of the track; it will just be a narrow part of the course.

The second thing is the use of Mickey Mantle Drive as part of the track. The track barricades will be in place for about 4 days during the event and using the route they have marked it will not allow traffic into Bricktown during this time. This will be a big problem for Bricktown merchants. They need to keep Walnut Street Bridge open (besides – I don’t think there is room they way they drew the map). If they really meant 2nd isn’t that going to take it thru a residential area?

The course I laid out in one of the above posts is much a better use of available infrastructure - IMO.

On a final note - you guys need to give up the NASCAR thing. They are having a hard time using all of the existing tracks for Sprint Cup races. Many tracks now only do one event per year and some have lost all their races. Another oval track would not entice NASCAR to leave an exisiting facility. The best bet would be to build a road course and bring in different racing leagues and maybe a high profile driving school (and I don't mean a Richard Petty drive 10 laps for a $100 - I mean something like Bob Bondurant)

http://www.bondurant.com/

[possumfritter]

Kerry...a real NASCAR fan will never give up! LOL! But, this is Oklahoma City and NASCAR will never happen around these parts in my lifetime. I just miss going to the time trials and races out at the old Darlington Racetrack in South Carolina.

Oh well, as long as I can still watch the kiddies race down the NW Expressway on friday nights.

[Richard at Remax]

NASCAR is dying. Just say no.

[progressive_liberal_lion]

I think if it (Racing) must come, build a track, doing so on City streets is asking for more maintenance and just one accident will give a horrible view of OKC.

[Kerry]

Kerry...a real NASCAR fan will never give up! LOL! But, this is Oklahoma City and NASCAR will never happen around these parts in my lifetime. I just miss going to the time trials and races out at the old Darlington Racetrack in South Carolina.

Oh well, as long as I can still watch the kiddies race down the NW Expressway on friday nights.

I know what you are saying. I used to work across the steet from Daytona International Speedway and could walk over at lunch and watch teams practice. Without security there you could stand right next to the fence. I even stood in line at WalMart in Port Orange, FL just to see Mark Martin. You think the crowd at WalMrt is questionable on a regular day, try it on a race weekend.

I think American LeMans will be great for OKC and I think OKC will be great for American LeMans. There is not any other racing like this within 500 miles of OKC: not in Dallas, not in Houston, not in Denver, not even in Kansas City. OKC will have the only show in town from LA to Atlanta.

[sroberts24]

There is not any other racing like this within 500 miles of OKC: not in Dallas, not in Houston, not in Denver, not even in Kansas City. OKC will have the only show in town from LA to Atlanta.

Now that is what I'm talking bout!

[onthestrip]

I think if it (Racing) must come, build a track, doing so on City streets is asking for more maintenance and just one accident will give a horrible view of OKC.

No it wont. Why would a driver wrecking his car into another car or a barrier wall give a horrible view of OKC?

[venture]

I think if it (Racing) must come, build a track, doing so on City streets is asking for more maintenance and just one accident will give a horrible view of OKC.

Isn't part of the reason people watch racing is to see who is going to wreck? Not that people look for bodily injury and such, but the risk factor leads to some of the excitement to watch. I guess. I have never watched any auto racing...doesn't hold an interest for me.

More maintenance? For an event that is one day out of the year? How do you justify making such a comment? The only thing I could see is where they would need to ensure the roads are smooth.

[Kerry]

More maintenance? For an event that is one day out of the year? How do you justify making such a comment? The only thing I could see is where they would need to ensure the roads are smooth.

Technically it is 4 days and national TV exposure.