F1 - GP (General Purpose)

Chode ^ | 8/5/2009 | Chode

[Chode]

it was unbelievable...

USGP - Watkins Glen, 1977 Hans Joachim Stuck, qualifying second, took the lead at the first corner from Hunt in the rain. He was leading the race, after losing his clutch cable on lap three, when his clutch popped out of gear on lap 15 sending him into a race ending spin. Hunt went on to win over Andretti in second and Scheckter in third.

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/419712435_936384718039814_1588355504150259773_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_p600x600&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c42490&_nc_ohc=Qw5RHOKhSpEAX-lTGVq&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AfBfUWWyJzPcZw9Yxbh77oqd3GDC5zlNEldFcbeAcNt79A&oe=65B37650

[Chode]

https://www.thedrive.com/news/new-madrid-street-circuit-will-host-spanish-f1-gp-starting-2026

Come 2026, the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix will be hosted in the Spanish capital of Madrid, at a new hybrid race track made up of street and non-street sections. The future of the current host, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where the Spanish Grand Prix has been held since 1991, is currently unknown.

The hybrid venue—which is still pending FIA approval—will measure 3.39 miles and feature 20 corners. Judging by the provisional map provided by F1, it’s a considerable improvement over recent street circuits. That said, the 2D layout doesn’t give us an idea of the width, elevation changes, or other factors that affect on-track action. F1 estimates a qualifying lap time of 1:32 minutes.

The new venue is said to have a 10-year contract, with race promoters promising to take advantage of the expansive IFEMA exhibition center grounds to make the Madrid GP one of the largest venues on the calendar, hosting up to 140,000 fans per day during a race weekend. In comparison, the Barcelona-Catalunya venue reportedly attracted 200,000 fans across four days.
F1 photo
F1 photo
F1 photo

Crowd, vehicle, and public transportation management at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit were often described as some of the worst on the calendar, and Madrid reportedly aims to fix that. F1 claims the new venue is just five minutes from the Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suarez airport, making it one of the most accessible in the season. Also, F1 estimates that 90% of attendees will be able to travel to the event via public transport whether it be on subway, train, or bus lines.

IFEMA claims to already run on 100% certified renewable energy, something which it expects to continue doing while hosting F1. Furthermore, all temporary structures erected for grand prix weekends will be constructed using recyclable materials.

No mention of the future of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was made during Tuesday’s announcement, though it’s no secret that its place on the calendar has been uncertain for some time now. It will likely be a challenge to keep its spot moving forward, but having two races in Spain isn’t completely out of the question. After all, this has already happened in the past, most recently from 2008 to 2012 when F1 visited Barcelona-Catalunya and the Valencia street circuit.

[Lockbox]

hybrid race track made up of street and non-street sections

OK! On and off road racing. Ride height set up will be critical, too high for pavement or too low for dirt and slicks vs mud tires! This is going to be interesting! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[BBB333]

Could be fun!

Thanks!

[Chode]

LOL, Watkins Glen original course had brick, concrete and dirt...

[Lockbox]

My 1st race there, the Glen had just paved the track for NASCAR. Track told us they would fine any team spilling fuel on the track. My comment was, “have you ever seen a NASCAR pit stop? The put fuel in until the puke tube dumps fuel out so they know the cars full, then the car accelerates down the pit lane leaving a trail of fuel out the puke tube”.

After the endurance race Rusty Wallace stop by and laughed at the dents and scratches on our race car, I told him “you think your car’s going to look any different after your race here?” Guess I won that argument….

[Chode]

LOL, yeah, the pits are concrete but they tried to protect the new surface was like the old days where you got bitched at if you wore street shoes on the bball court...

[Chode]

https://gotransam.com/#three

CHARLOTTE, NC, Jan. 25, 2024 — NASCAR and Watkins Glen International veteran Michael Printup is assuming the role of chief operating officer of Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH), overseeing the operations of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli and the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA).

“In his short time with Parella Motorsports Holdings, Michael has been using his vast experience to expand track relationships and enhance company communication,” said Tony Parella, owner of PMH. “We believe this experience will benefit the Trans Am Series and Parella Motorsports Holdings as a whole.”

Printup joined PMH last year and has been serving as president of SVRA since July. The Hamburg, NY native previously spent nearly three decades working for NASCAR, most notably in the role of president of Watkins Glen International. He was also president of Americrown and, more recently, he oversaw the Levy food service contract for 12 NASCAR-owned racetracks, and directed the Mobil 1 show car program for Tony Stewart.

“It is an honor be named COO and take over the helm of Trans Am,” Printup said. “The accomplishments of John Clagett and his impact on Trans Am speaks for itself. The continued leadership from Tony has been and will be paramount for PMH moving forward.”

John Clagett, who is stepping down from the post, has served as President and CEO of Trans Am Race Company for 13 years and been affiliated with the Trans Am Series for 31-plus years. Under Clagett’s leadership, the Trans Am Race Company has generated a 10-fold increase in revenue over the past decade, while upgrading the series’ race operations, marketing, broadcast and social media outreach.

“I’m at the point where I can look at the culmination of all that hard work and see how the series has flourished,” said Clagett. “I’m confident that now is the time that I can step back, turn my focus towards an advisory role, and leave Trans Am in capable hands.”

[Lockbox]

Greg Pickett Still racing! WOW!

[BBB333]

“LOL, yeah, the pits are concrete but they tried to protect the new surface was like the old days where you got bitched at if you wore street shoes on the bball court...”

---

In a previous life I was approached, then offered and accepted a position as Manager of a Bowling facility — bar, kitchen, amusement games and a casino...(yikes!)

Once a fairly nasty female patron came up to me at the desk and stated: “One of the toilets in the women’s bathroom is flooding the floor! It’s a DAMN good thing I wasn’t wearing my bowling shoes!” Then she stomped away in her wet socks.

I never knew so many crazy existed!

[Chode]

LOL!!! oooff...

[mabarker1]

GREEN FLAG ALERT, Sorry for the short notice.

ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

SAT | JAN 27 1:30PM-2:30PM ET
NBC Local Network (LIVE)

2:30PM-8:00PM
USA Network

12:00am-2:00pm (L) - Peacock

6:00am-12:00pm (L) - USA

12:00pm-2:00pm (L) - NBC

[Seaplaner]

Hey, “Ma”, thanks much!

[Chode]

*

[Bob434]

Thank ya kindly-

[Chode]

oh hell no...

https://www.thedrive.com/news/f1-trademark-filing-hints-at-potential-chicago-grand-prix

Formula 1 might be looking to add another U.S. city circuit to its calendar over the next few years. Nothing has been confirmed, or even hinted at, by the FIA but a new trademark filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) shows that Formula One Licensing applied for four different Chicago race names earlier this month.

According to PlanetF1, The four different trademarks filed on January 19, 2024, are as follows: Formula 1 Grand Prix of Chicago, Grand Prix of Chicago, Chicago Grand Prix, and Formula One Chicago Grand Prix.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that there will be an F1 race in Chicago anytime soon. It only means that F1 thinks that it could be possible one day and it wants to lock up the trademark rights, just in case it needs them. Companies of all kinds like to future-proof themselves by filing patents and trademarks for anything they think is possible.

If there is a Chicago Grand Prix, it won’t happen until 2025 at the absolute earliest, as the 2024 season calendar is already set. If it does happen, it will be interesting to see if F1 replaces one of the existing United States races—there are currently the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the Miami Grand Prix—or if Chicago would be added to the calendar. The latter would give the U.S. four different F1 races, by far and away more than any other country.

F1 has shown interest in The Windy City before, though, when it set up a little popup circuit with Red Bull. However, there haven’t even been any public discussions between F1 and the city of Chicago, so at least for the moment, this is just a preemptive trademark filing. This also wouldn’t be the first street race through Chicago, as NASCAR held one last year and will be doing so again in 2024.

While there’s no official word on a Chicago Grand Prix, the other aforementioned U.S. grand prix did become realities shortly after their names were trademarked. So it’s entirely possible that we see F1 cars driving through Chicago as early as 2025.

[Yo-Yo]

The Chinese GP is coming up in 2024 and 2025, but nothing firm after that. Maybe F1 is hedging their bets with Chicago in case China invades Taiwan and the Chinese GP gets axed?

[Chode]

sure, hunger games on the horizon...

[Lockbox]

Welcome race fans to the inaugural Chicago Drive It Like You Stole It F1 Race.

[Chode]

GTA-F1...