Re: Random Motorsports Discussion ***MAY Contain Spoilers***
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 20:33 pm
Bottom post of the previous page:
Very sexy.Incorporating Farzad's F1 Gallery & F1Onboard.com
https://forums.the-fastlane.co.uk/
Bottom post of the previous page:
Very sexy.It was called the Global Rallycross Championship, but it ran predominantly – almost exclusively – in North America, although there were plans to take it to the birthplace of rallycross in Britain this year.
Australian ace Chris Atkinson raced in it the past two years.
Tony Cochrane, long-time executive chairman of Australia’s Supercars series until 2012, became a special adviser to it 2½ years ago.
There was talk of it being floated on the Australian stock market.
Other drivers have included celebrity daredevils Ken Block and Travis Pastrana, ex-Formula 1 racer Scott Speed, a multiple champion for America’s motor racing ‘royal family’, the Andrettis, in Volkswagens.
Another iconic team owner, Chip Ganassi, had a team in it at one time, while Subaru, Ford, Honda and earlier Chevrolet have participated.
The series was sponsored by Red Bull, but this week it became clear that GRC – with its short, rapid-fire races combining dirt and tarmac surfaces, jumps and water splashes at glitzy events in prominent US cities – has collapsed.
GRC is in dispute with car-makers, especially Atkinson’s manufacturer Subaru, there are reports of drivers and venues not being paid money owing to them, and of “thuggish” behaviour.
GRC promoter Colin Dyne is on the back foot and representing him is Michael Avenatti, who is also acting for adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her legal stoush with US president Donald Trump.
Dyne has been described as “dangerously angry and irrational”.
Autoweek publication has alluded to “a litany of unpaid bills”, quoting one event promoter, Jon Hoenig, in Connecticut, saying: “They have a reputation of not paying their bills. We trusted them because of their initial reputation and their partnership with Red Bull.”
Website Jalopnik.com’s Stef Schrader commented: “Once, Red Bull Global Rallycross seemed like a bright spot in the racing world: action-packed events popular with young fans where Subarus, Volkswagens and more flew across dirt and asphalt courses. Now … participants and former employees alike are left with little more than a bad taste in their mouths.”
When Subaru and Volkswagen opted out of the GRC early this year, Dyne scrapped the premier class – for 600hp 2.0-litre machinery called ‘Supercars’ – and 300hp Lites were going to be his main act and be called ‘Gold’. Plans for an electric category have died too.
While downgrading his show but claiming driver skills would be highlighted more and the field tighter, Dyne was trying to extract more for putting it on.
No go. Venues on the calendar – with the start scheduled in June and finish at Lydden Hill in Britain in October – have been advised this week it’s off.
Several of them have gone public about not having received their share of revenues previously, while Michigan state is pursuing money over a failed event at Detroit’s Belle Isle (where IndyCars also race).
The GRC had been around almost a decade. It was on October 20, 2015, that it announced Tony Cochrane’s appointment as “special advisor” to provide “strategic input” to its board.
Calling him an innovator who had produced and promoted more than 400 sporting and entertainment events around the world, sold more than 25 million tickets with gross sales topping $US2 billion and written nearly $US250 million in sponsorships, it said he would “perfectly compliment the GRC series as we continue to disrupt the traditional motorsports landscape”.
Cochrane described the GRC as “fantastic racing that appeals to a much younger demographic than traditional [American] motorsport such as NASCAR … it’s growth is going to be amazing”.
Immediately there were signs of Cochrane’s Australian Supercars imprint on the GRC – the introduction of a Racing Entitlement Program (REP) intended “to build meaningful equity value in GRC teams”.
Series boss Dyne said the REPs were “designed to solve one of the biggest issues in motorsport team ownership – the inability to monetise many years of investment in your team”.
“We intend to disrupt the status quo with this program,” Dyne said.
Then in May 2016 it was reported in the Australian Financial Review that there were plans to list the GRC on the Australian stock market.
The Fin’s Street Talk column said stockbroking firm Taylor Collison was trying raise $12 million for starters, and ultimately $30-40 million, with the market capitalisation of the business projected to be in the $100-200 million range.
Potential investors were being told the GRC was “the second-highest rated motorsport on television in the US”.
Among others reported by the Fin to be involved with the listing concept was the original chief executive of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation Judith Griggs, who worked with Bernie Ecclestone in his long tenure as F1’s impresario before and after her stint at Melbourne’s Albert Park.
Nothing more was heard publicly of a stock market float.
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2018/06/1 ... e-run.htmlTimo Bernhard On The #919Tribute’s Nordschleife Run
Respecting Bellof's achievements
What can you tell us about the run last week with the #919Tribute on the Nordschleife?
“At this point it is just a test, we only had half a day, just three and a half hours of track time. We ran way less than that of course but there was a lot to do.
“It was about gathering data, it’s just preparation, and to even see if it possible to use the car for such an attempt.”
Does the track suit the car?
“But we have to admit we did a lot of preparation work beforehand, so it wasn’t a five minutes job, just to arrive, unload, and head out onto the track. There was a lot of preparation and a lot of thinking!”
And is there a date, or even a window, for a record run?
“No, not yet.”
Is there any doubt in your mind that, if it all comes together, we’re going to see the record shattered?
“I’m not thinking so much about it. We’re not thinking about a lap time that we have to do.
“It’s just to showcase what a car like this can do. I think it’s a cool project. When a manufacturer does something like this, and you produce the video material, it’s something for younger people. They play games, they have PlayStation, and for them, the Nordschleife is the ultimate track. It’s an inspiration.”
Having run already at some speed on at least part of the track is it fun, or is it mildly terrifying?
“Oh yes, it’s very much fun, but also, with this car, and in particular on this track it is the quickest you’ll ever go. On this track, you really feel that it’s ultra fun, but you’re also aware that it’s very, very quick.
“It’s tremendous to be a part of this.”
And what about those who say that this effort doesn’t respect the history books?
“You always have to have full respect for the track, and also to recognise the challenge.
“Everybody knows that, in my youth, I was a great fan of Stefan Bellof. I admired him, and I’m in contact with the family.
“We speak from time to time, and as recently as a couple of weeks ago, and that’s also important for me. (Stefan Bellof set the current lap record for the Nordschleife in 1983, driving a Porsche 956, but was tragically killed during the 1985 1000 Kilometres of Spa.).
“In the end, it’s not to break the record, not to take away something, but it’s to showcase something.
“I think, from a driver’s point of view, you have more appreciation of what Stefan did, thirty-five years ago, with this car (the Porsche 956), on this track, which was even bumpier than it is today, and through traffic, it was not a clean lap. He didn’t go out at the right time, in perfect conditions, but it was a race weekend with other cars on the track.
“It highlights even more how astonishing it was, to set that time (of 6 minutes, 25.91 seconds).
“I think running there with car highlights how huge his achievement was, and takes nothing away from it at all.”
the motorsport community has always been great at coming together during hard times, we should never forget that.“Hearing from that mother—well, it was very emotional. And I thought, if my voice is strong enough to help one kid, it might help two kids, or five or a hundred"
Both great articles, thanks for sharing.Cheeveer wrote: ↑5 years ago This is a great, and important, story: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opin ... t-be-story
And I had never before heard of Hurley Haywood being gay, but he publically came out earlier this year, and I found his heart-warming article:
https://jalopnik.com/racing-legend-hurl ... 1822818164
this is what we all should remember regarding these sort of stories:
the motorsport community has always been great at coming together during hard times, we should never forget that.“Hearing from that mother—well, it was very emotional. And I thought, if my voice is strong enough to help one kid, it might help two kids, or five or a hundred"