If there were a "Racing Capital of the World", where would it be? - Page 2

MotoVegas · 07-04-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by proto

Jingoistic? I hadn't noticed that BDA had posted in this thread.

Okay, so which is the bigger sport - cricket or baseball?

Huh? Cricket is an insect not a sport. Bada-boom. Thank you folks, I'll be here every night until 2 am with a 2 drink minimum. And remember, to tip your waiter or waitress!

ONEvcs · 07-08-2008, 04:29 PM

Valencia, Spain. Not that I am biased or anything.

Purpdust · 07-08-2008, 04:43 PM

First place that I thought of was Le Mans

luvtolean · 07-08-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by proto

My point is that such a bold proclaimation on the Brickyard wall is vulgar, tacky and arrogant. By pointing this out, I was only trying to help you (i.e. the USA) improve your place in the world of diplomacy and friendship. Maybe.

Bah, if you want to work on that, talk to your neighbors, or go fight them again or something.

Most Obnoxious Tourists? The French - TIME

...and on that note, I also vote, Le Mans.

Damn French own Paris (well, most of the time), motorsports and cycling. No wonder they're arrogant.

oldfogey · 07-09-2008, 03:55 AM

Le Mans for me this coming weekend, Classic this time

.

Baketech · 07-09-2008, 07:41 AM

Pics please...

jose_jimenez · 07-09-2008, 09:22 AM

I would definitely say Europe as F1/GP are shown on the BBC, Spanish Television, etc. In other words it's a huge deal compared to the interest in the states. Choosing one track is futile.

luvtolean · 07-09-2008, 09:32 AM

Regionally...hmmm...tough one.

According to friends of mine, who do sprint cars today, and Grandad did sprints and Indy when it was still governed by a " 'lil skinny rulebook" (in other words, when the Indy 500 might have been the world's most interesting, if not greatest race), the midwest is the heart and soul of the weekend warrior racer in the US.

And there are a hell of a lot more weekenders than pros...

Baketech · 07-09-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtolean

According to friends of mine, who do sprint cars today, and Grandad did sprints and Indy when it was still governed by a " 'lil skinny rulebook" (in other words, when the Indy 500 might have been the world's most interesting, if not greatest race), the midwest is the heart and soul of the weekend warrior racer in the US.

Incidentally, USAC is still right across the street from the Speedway...located in Speedway, Indiana...which just happens to be a small town with a highly offensive nickname. Dumbphuck city fathers...what were they thinking...

luvtolean · 07-09-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baketech

Incidentally, USAC is still right across the street from the Speedway...located in Speedway, Indiana...which just happens to be a small town with a highly offensive nickname. Dumbphuck city fathers...what were they thinking...

As a person used to seeing local racing in the news only when some developer and/or group of yuppies is trying to shut down the track; their stories blow me away. They've done 2 or 3 tours through there and they're racing in large fields on weeknights at times.

They're on a shoestring budget, and local fans are always more than happy to help out the racers, inviting them to stay at their houses and such. Pretty incredible vibe I'm told.

Baketech · 07-09-2008, 03:24 PM

There's a lot of interesting history there for those looking for more than a sound bite. The town of Speedway was one of the first in the nation to be designed and built around automobiles rather than carriages.

The number of racing businesses (international and domestic) located there during the heyday was phenomenal, but still carries on today in a very big way. Motorsport is a significant piece of the local economy...

The vibe and hysteria seem to be cyclic, I've only lived through one peak and valley...but with the addition of the GP and rumors of a 4th race coming (back)to Indy, it's definitely on an upslope again...

Shenders1 · 07-09-2008, 04:15 PM

My pops grew up in Indy, and used to tell some great stories about it. As a young boy he would play his harmonica and pass his hat for entry money. So no argument on the rich history.

And it's certainly true that Indy is resurgent, with Nascar, F1, and now Motogp visiting.

But go back a few (ok, 15) years and all we had was the 500 - Granted, Indycar was the best series going at the time, and the 500 was without a doubt the biggest single racing event in the country, and probably the world (Monaco?). But it was still only one event.

Ask a US non-enthusiast from that era to name their favorite formula-car venue, and you'd get Indy 99% of the time, ask an Indycar racing enthusiast for their favorite and you'd likely get some different answers - Road America, Laguna Seca, even Long Beach. Ask a stock car fan, and you'd have definitely got a different answer.

So I still think crowning a 'Racing Capital of the World' requires some care in metrics selection. Personally, I'd still vote for a combination of local racing history, utilization, and local grassroots enthusiasm as the criteria for choosing 'Racing Capital of the World'.

Indy would certainly be in the running, but it would have some stiff competition.

luvtolean · 07-09-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shenders1

But go back a few (ok, 15) years and all we had was the 500 - Granted, Indycar was the best series going at the time, and the 500 was without a doubt the biggest single racing event in the country, and probably the world (Monaco?). But it was still only one event.

Ask a US non-enthusiast from that era to name their favorite formula-car venue, and you'd get Indy 99% of the time, ask an Indycar racing enthusiast for their favorite and you'd likely get some different answers - Road America, Laguna Seca, even Long Beach. Ask a stock car fan, and you'd have definitely got a different answer.

Indycar racing has gone through hell with series feuding. Ask racing enthusiasts up to about the 80s what was the race in the US, and I'll bet the majority would've voted Indy 500.

We still had some interesting stuff in the 80s (I was a particular fan of the scrappy Buick V6s, especially since Dad bought a Grand National) but really after the IRL series BS and the series going "spec" it became "who cares" for many race fans I know...

What other race in the world has had passenger car based engines, jet engines, blue-blood race engines, boost levels that made F1 guys cry, run gas, methanol and jet fuel, front, rear, side-pod drive cars, front/rear/all wheel drive etc etc, and all running heads up?

Shenders1 · 07-09-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Indycar racing has gone through hell with series feuding. Ask racing enthusiasts up to about the 80s what was the race in the US, and I'll be the majority would've voted Indy 500.

We still had some interesting stuff in the 80s (I was a particular fan of the scrappy Buick V6s, especially since Dad bought a Grand National) but really after the IRL series BS and the series going "spec" made it "who cares" for people like me...

What other race in the world has had passenger car based engines, jet engines, blue-blood race engines, boost levels that made F1 guys cry, run gas, methanol and jet fuel, front, rear, side-pod drive cars, front/rear/all wheel drive etc etc, and all running heads up?

Remember the Penske 'stock block' (purpose built race engine with vestigial pushrods)? Man, that was an effort worthy of the Smokey Yunick legacy if there ever was one.

And the Cummins diesel? And Granatelli's Turbine car?

Those were the days.....

Baketech · 07-09-2008, 04:39 PM

I have a pretty cool memory of seeing Smokey walking the old Gasoline Alley in the hat...

07-08-2008, 04:43 PM	#33
Purpdust Join Date: 12-19-2006 Location: Fort McMurray, AB Canada Age: 33 Bike(s): gsxr 750 Posts: 1,246	First place that I thought of was Le Mans __________________ GSXR 750 - Track CRF450X - Dirt CRF100F - Soon to be a Mini Motard

07-09-2008, 03:55 AM	#35
oldfogey Senior member Join Date: 12-14-2006 Location: St Albans, UK Age: 55 Bike(s): Honda VFR800i, BSA Posts: 980	Le Mans for me this coming weekend, Classic this time . __________________ Nothing is more obstinate than a fashionable consensus. - Margaret Thatcher

07-09-2008, 07:41 AM	#36
Baketech Same Koolaid, different cup... Join Date: 12-14-2006 Bike(s): VFR800 - CBR929 - VFR800 Posts: 1,344	Pics please... __________________ "Ten times more charming than that Arnold on Green Acres..."

07-09-2008, 09:32 AM	#38
luvtolean Mmmm...Burgers Join Date: 12-13-2006 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Bike(s): 2004 F4 SPR, 2000 CBR 929 Posts: 5,304	Regionally...hmmm...tough one. According to friends of mine, who do sprint cars today, and Grandad did sprints and Indy when it was still governed by a " 'lil skinny rulebook" (in other words, when the Indy 500 might have been the world's most interesting, if not greatest race), the midwest is the heart and soul of the weekend warrior racer in the US. And there are a hell of a lot more weekenders than pros... __________________ "Nothing happens unless first we dream." – Carl Sandburg

07-09-2008, 03:24 PM	#41
Baketech Same Koolaid, different cup... Join Date: 12-14-2006 Bike(s): VFR800 - CBR929 - VFR800 Posts: 1,344	There's a lot of interesting history there for those looking for more than a sound bite. The town of Speedway was one of the first in the nation to be designed and built around automobiles rather than carriages. The number of racing businesses (international and domestic) located there during the heyday was phenomenal, but still carries on today in a very big way. Motorsport is a significant piece of the local economy... The vibe and hysteria seem to be cyclic, I've only lived through one peak and valley...but with the addition of the GP and rumors of a 4th race coming (back)to Indy, it's definitely on an upslope again... __________________ "Ten times more charming than that Arnold on Green Acres..."

07-08-2008, 04:29 PM	#32
ONEvcs Bull Fighter Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: Ft. Worth Age: 40 Bike(s): '05CBR1000RR. Posts: 2,096	Valencia, Spain. Not that I am biased or anything.

07-09-2008, 09:22 AM	#37
jose_jimenez Jaws Lives Join Date: 01-05-2007 Bike(s): Hurricane Posts: 1,640	I would definitely say Europe as F1/GP are shown on the BBC, Spanish Television, etc. In other words it's a huge deal compared to the interest in the states. Choosing one track is futile.

07-09-2008, 04:15 PM	#42
Shenders1 2 Cylinders, 4 Valves, No Waiting Join Date: 01-14-2007 Location: South Lyon, MI Age: 42 Bike(s): Ducati HM Posts: 906	My pops grew up in Indy, and used to tell some great stories about it. As a young boy he would play his harmonica and pass his hat for entry money. So no argument on the rich history. And it's certainly true that Indy is resurgent, with Nascar, F1, and now Motogp visiting. But go back a few (ok, 15) years and all we had was the 500 - Granted, Indycar was the best series going at the time, and the 500 was without a doubt the biggest single racing event in the country, and probably the world (Monaco?). But it was still only one event. Ask a US non-enthusiast from that era to name their favorite formula-car venue, and you'd get Indy 99% of the time, ask an Indycar racing enthusiast for their favorite and you'd likely get some different answers - Road America, Laguna Seca, even Long Beach. Ask a stock car fan, and you'd have definitely got a different answer. So I still think crowning a 'Racing Capital of the World' requires some care in metrics selection. Personally, I'd still vote for a combination of local racing history, utilization, and local grassroots enthusiasm as the criteria for choosing 'Racing Capital of the World'. Indy would certainly be in the running, but it would have some stiff competition.

07-09-2008, 04:39 PM	#45
Baketech Same Koolaid, different cup... Join Date: 12-14-2006 Bike(s): VFR800 - CBR929 - VFR800 Posts: 1,344	I have a pretty cool memory of seeing Smokey walking the old Gasoline Alley in the hat... __________________ "Ten times more charming than that Arnold on Green Acres..."

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