am i the only........ [Archive]

rabbit

02-28-07, 11:48 PM

I liked the Champ Car negativity a whole lot better when I was the only person here spouting off about it. :\

I think a lot of us have been pointing out various flaws for some time. And many have voiced their displeasure via silence. I have noticed several original OC posters who have significantly reduced the amount of posting they do in the Champ Car forum. Heck, I used to be like the second highest poster on here. But I've dropped way down the list and most of the posts I have been making have been in the Community forum. So no, you're not the only one.

Insomniac

02-28-07, 11:52 PM

I don't know if thigs are any more bleak than last year or if they look so bad because of the high expectations they set and most of us believed.

cart7

02-28-07, 11:56 PM

I got bounced off the fanatics board last year for bringing up the very questions they're all asking of CCWS right now. Must be all the liquor. :laugh:

FCYTravis

02-28-07, 11:59 PM

Financial reality can only be hidden as long as the subsidy checks keep clearing, and eventually, someone notices that the checks aren't getting smaller, they're getting bigger.

RTKar

03-01-07, 12:51 AM

What's there really worthwhile to talk about? Years ago silly season was damn near as much fun as the race season, now it's nothing but alleged "big" announcements that rarely materialize and who's buying what ride. We keep hearing about an increased car count yet it's still struggling to be 18. By this time into the rebuilding of the series any realist will see that it isn't going as it should. It's a bummer if you've followed racing for any length of time.

formulaben

03-01-07, 02:05 AM

There's too much "alignment" happening for me.....the writing is on the wall.

Bingo. :tony:

Spicoli

03-01-07, 06:27 AM

I just don't believe anything they say anymore. They have a SERIOUS credibility problem. No stabilty in driver lineups, venues, sponsors, etc. There is a complete lack of leadership and follow through.

Look at their "fansite". Its like some trekkies decided they wanted to follow racing.:irked:

Now they tell us - just wait for Laguna for EIGHT major announcements.

OK. Let's revisit after LS.

KLang

03-01-07, 07:48 AM

I don't know if thigs are any more bleak than last year or if they look so bad because of the high expectations they set and most of us believed.

The PTB have already admitted they goofed in this regard. I don't really think the situation is any different this year then the last two.

I'm confident I'll be watching 18-20 Champ Cars start the race in Vegas.

toymaker

03-01-07, 09:32 AM

I think that the reason that you are feeling that way is they have not given us any reason to believe things are getting better. Even the D&G'ers have given up, and if that isn't a sign to ChampCar that the fan base is collapsing, then they are not wearing rose colored glasses, but rather a pair borrowed from Ray Charles!

I live in Akron where all the ChampCar race tires are made and the local paper does not even cover Champ Car any more. What's that saying...

spinner26

03-01-07, 10:09 AM

sometime it takes a while for the truth to sink in. In this case it has been four years.

The truth hurts.

:sccaleadership:

Indy

03-01-07, 10:16 AM

There's too much "alignment" happening for me.....the writing is on the wall.

Sometimes you can feel the suckerpunch before it hits, eh Chief? So you brace yourself for it.

If that is not what is going on, someone needs to pay attention to sending better signals. There are too many things lining up right now...

Insomniac

03-01-07, 10:22 AM

The PTB have already admitted they goofed in this regard. I don't really think the situation is any different this year then the last two.

I'm confident I'll be watching 18-20 Champ Cars start the race in Vegas.

They clearly did, but it's still hard to take back expectations.

Insomniac

03-01-07, 10:25 AM

Sometimes you can feel the suckerpunch before it hits, eh Chief? So you brace yourself for it.

If that is not what is going on, someone needs to pay attention to sending better signals. There are too many things lining up right now...

I see it too, but there's still always the same wildcard, TG. CC has cleared out May before and it led to nothing. Even if they announce it, it could still fall apart. I won't be 100% on it happening until they all show up at one race together.

Andrew Longman

03-01-07, 11:56 AM

For me anyway, I'm going to see what these "8 major announcements" are at LS before I jump off a cliff.

Do I wish I had heard more by now? Sure.

Do I wish the season would open with more than 18 cars? Sure.

But the car arrived and performs (so far) as promised. The Euro dates actually got announced as rumored. The series did draw new owner and sponsor interest. Atlantics still is working as planned.

The point is the trend, while not as upward as we want, is still in the right direction.

But that could all change at LS.

If they've been holding off, as SJ has said, then they better make the most of their "big splash".

I think that means among the announcements we need to see:

-- A bigger role for Mazda
-- 14+ drivers confirmed including all the "name" drivers
-- Several team sponsorships
-- Paint the damn cars, even those without sponsorship. I like CF as much as the next geek, but look more "finished". Show the world and potential sponsors how cool they could look in liveries
-- A final, final TV schedule
-- Some event, championship (Mazda Vanderbilt Cup?) or even a series sponsor

FTG

03-01-07, 12:57 PM

I'm confident there will be a full season of great racing.

I'm still up in the air over whether talking about it on the Internet will make the season more or less enjoyable for me.

KLang

03-01-07, 01:01 PM

I'm still up in the air over whether talking about it on the Internet will make the season more or less enjoyable for me.

I was thinking about that this morning. It was so much easier to be a fan when all my information came from On-Track magazine.

FTG

03-01-07, 01:02 PM

Now they tell us - just wait for Laguna for EIGHT major announcements.

Almost sounds like they have a PR strategy and are bundling their announcements to maximize media coverage.

Nahh. Can't be.

Andrew Longman

03-01-07, 01:16 PM

I'm confident there will be a full season of great racing.

I'm still up in the air over whether talking about it on the Internet will make the season more or less enjoyable for me.

Well we may have less and less interesting stuff to talk about.

I've never been to a NASCAR board, but I can't imagine chatting about Junior's new Bud ad, Jeff Gordon's marriage, or DJ's new UPS paint scheme.

If we didn't have hope, hate and vague business plans what else is there to talk about?:)

Spicoli

03-01-07, 01:23 PM

Almost sounds like they have a PR strategy and are bundling their announcements to maximize media coverage.

Nahh. Can't be.

Well, that's one view of it. I say we wait and see just how "Swell" and "important" these announcements are.

don;t get me wrong, I'd really like to wear my sock-tethers that day, but something tells me its going to be less than worthy.

We've been told 22-24 cars. And although they have conveniently backpeddalled on that one, lets see whaere we end up. Cancelled races - AGAIN. Faulty TV - so far (if you are canabian). No replacements for B'Stone and Ford - so far. Musical chairs drivers, etc etc.

What would constitute MAJOR announcements IMO?

sponsors, sponsors, sponsors, promo deals, etc.....

Look, We all know that Uncle Gerry and KK have propped this up for a couple years now, and we also know they were/are gonna be upset about nothing getting done to fill in for their check writing, so its really all down to making the splash with sponsors. God, even Tony knows you gotta have some sponsors...

Logic says - no sponsors - no racing. AT SOME POINT. Will that be this year, this November, wtf knows....

So, that's my thought.

FTG

03-01-07, 01:54 PM

I was thinking about that this morning. It was so much easier to be a fan when all my information came from On-Track magazine.

It's the personal vendettas that I find annoying. I didn't give a **** in high school about who wouldn't let who sit at the cool table and don't give a **** now.

FTG

03-01-07, 01:59 PM

Logic says - no sponsors - no racing. AT SOME POINT.

Personally, I think that Honda is already gone from Tony's vision and we'll get lots of yen next year, which is why no one is too upset about what happens this year, except for a bunch of fans on the net who have their panties in a bunch.

But I'd watch Seabass, PT and Rahal race the DP01 around a parking lot.

Gnam

03-01-07, 02:46 PM

Word is we’ll hear and see at least eight announcements regarding the growth and future of Champ Car, announcements dealing with new sponsor partnerships, marketing agreements, television, and new driver and team combinations. We may also get confirmation of a couple of schedule shifts for the new season, changes that should make the year’s travel schedule more efficient and cost effective for all the teams in the series.

my speculation:
1. Mazda on the engines
2. China in Oct.
3. Assen in Aug.
4. Driver announcments (Minardi, Coyne, RS, RuS, PKV)
5. Team Sponsorship deals (3 or more)
6. Race Sponsorship deals (2 or more)
7. Series Sponsorhip deals (1 is a victory)
8. Pace car program

I will continue to hope for the best while expecting the worst.

grungex

03-01-07, 02:50 PM

Good post. :thumbup:

Tim

03-01-07, 02:55 PM

It'd be nice to know stuff before my family spends anymore money on the series.

Andrew Longman

03-01-07, 05:40 PM

my speculation:
4. Driver announcments (Minardi, Coyne, RS, RuS, PKV)

Graham officially at NH would be nice too.

Agree on the rest of your list

MAXAR RE

03-01-07, 06:51 PM

champcar fan that feels like they're headed straight towards a coast to jump off a cliff?

I have thought that they were racing along the edge of a cliff since 2000. Sometimes the track they are on takes turns away from the cliff, but sometimes the track they are on turns back to the edge again. Right now I think they have about an inch of tire off the edge and need to turn hard in the other direction before we find out how fast that much downforce can pull a Panoz to the bottom of the crevasse in open wheel racing. :(

Racing Truth

03-01-07, 08:43 PM

I'm sure he's a nice enough fellow, really, but that snippet from Benjamin makes him out to be a tool.

"More efficient" travel my a$$. Do we REALLY think Zhuhai's gonna happen?

But hey, nice spin Rick. 'Course it does nothing to actually help the series, but if you say good things (albeit BS things) often enough, maybe someone besides ,,,,,, will believe you.

JLMannin

03-01-07, 10:21 PM

Ed_Severson

03-01-07, 10:41 PM

if you say good things (albeit BS things) often enough, maybe someone besides ,,,,,, will believe you.

If a few of you aren't careful, you're going to end up being just as wrong just as frequently as the comma brigade just so you can say you never agreed with them.

I don't really understand where all the angst over China is coming from, and the comparisons to Ansan, quite frankly, are baffling ... reeks of nothing more than "Chinese people sorta look like Koreans so they must be the same" in many ways. Believe whatever you want, but the teams have been griping about making two trips across the Pacific since the day the schedule came out.

I'll be the first in line to say I thought it was pretty dumb to schedule the Zhuhai event in May in the first place, but moving it to October is not a bad decision and it's not a sign of impending doom either for the event or for Champ Car.

Sean Malone

03-01-07, 11:40 PM

It'd be nice to know stuff before my family spends anymore money on the series.

Nelson Phillipe, is that you?

MAXAR RE

03-02-07, 12:34 AM

I have realized that I am no longer a Champcar fan. I have only watched one or two races on TV each season for the past several seasons, I don't know all the drivers and teams, and if the 2007 season never happens, I really would not care.

My passion for the sport is gone.

Ditto for me! I Tivo-ed every race but only watched Long Beach, Portland and Denver. All the rest I just read the highlights on AR1. I read all the CC news and rumors there, but I am not excited enough to watch the races anymore, much less fly or drive to Houston and watch it live.

Meanwhile I have become a fan of F1 and watch every race and even some of the practice sessions. Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett really work well together and do a great job of calling the races. Maybe CC should consider having 2 color guys in the booth. I know I really enjoyed it the few times they have had a "guest", like when Fernandez had a broken wrist 5 or 6 years ago.

extramundane

03-02-07, 08:39 AM

I don't really understand where all the angst over China is coming from, and the comparisons to Ansan, quite frankly, are baffling ... reeks of nothing more than "Chinese people sorta look like Koreans so they must be the same" in many ways.

I don't think anyone has remotely suggested that. But when you've been burned twice on vaporware races in new, faraway markets whose value to an American-based series isn't clear, one tends to eye similar ventures rather suspiciously, especially when said new venture suddenly changes dates. I suspect the reaction would have been much the same if the race in question were in Bora Bora, Turkmenistan or Dubuque (at least 2 of which are probably in the running for a street race next year).

I'll be the first in line to say I thought it was pretty dumb to schedule the Zhuhai event in May in the first place, but moving it to October is not a bad decision and it's not a sign of impending doom either for the event or for Champ Car.

Perhaps not a sign of impending doom, but the fact that it wasn't planned for October in the first place doesn't especially make me swell with confidence in The Powers That Be.

Ed_Severson

03-02-07, 09:34 AM

Perhaps not a sign of impending doom, but the fact that it wasn't planned for October in the first place doesn't especially make me swell with confidence in The Powers That Be.

Wish I could explain that one. I hope it wasn't a "get out of Dodge during May" type of decision, but it might have been. It was an odd choice of date, that's for sure.

mueber

03-02-07, 09:58 AM

It’s hard to be optimistic at this point, but it is the way it is. I quit hating Boy George years ago and remain confident that something good will happen eventually. I think chances are that KK and GF are far more likely to move open wheel forward than Boy George is.

What angers me is that I may be too old to get up to a seat at the top of the stands by the time a professional open wheel auto race is staged in the United States by an organization other than the FIA. What's really changed for me is that, if it never happens, I won’t die; I’ll just move on.

Jox

03-02-07, 11:50 PM

Nelson Phillipe, is that you?

In my opinion, Nelson Philippe is the only "Racer to see" in 2007. LOL

Sean Malone

03-03-07, 10:42 AM

In my opinion, Nelson Philippe is the only "Racer to see" in 2007. LOL

Yep, I was r2c. What's your point? I didn't change my nick to hide from a ban (like you). I told everyone here that I was retiring the r2c nick, had some stuff to work out and would be back at some point after the '07 season while I became just a doe eyed fan again. Well, with all the mismanagement from Champ Car, I couldn't resist the lure back to the boards. I've always respected those posters like Mike Kellner and yes, even Sean O' Gorman for using their real name, so I decided to do the same. I have nothing to hide and simply call it like I see it. Oh, and here's a news flash for you...NO ONE CARES !

Now, about you. You are that immature, instigating kid that caused all the trouble posting the porn on Track Forum, you are also the kid that spent three days stirring up trouble over at smackforum by insisting you are black and that because you are black you were justified in using the 'N' word. Then you were outed for not actually being black. Subsequently, those actions got you banned from a site that only has one rule, 'don't use the 'N' word'. I'm sure you probably think that's hysterical.

Thanks for dragging me back to the third grade. It's not as fun as I remember.

Sorry for airing this out in the open forum nrc and racegrrl. Oh, and hi!:)

RHR_Fan

03-03-07, 01:03 PM

Nelson Phillipe, is that you?

Tim = Nelson Philippe? I hope not. ;) :p

RusH

03-03-07, 01:35 PM

Might as well add my d&g bit here too.
That penguin stroking trip really threw my over the edge. Champ Cars are still the better formula, but I`m done defending them.
:thumdown:

cart7

03-03-07, 03:15 PM

I've lost track of every race that CCWS had in the works or proposed or even had temporary course layouts drawn up and posted here. Ansan? WTF is up with that? How about Philly? We had a proposed course layout posted up here. Then Newman was talking with NY city about some old WWII airport that could be used. Portugal? wasn't that on the list at one time? I recall the earl trying to get something going in San Antonio and then CCWS swooping in and taking that from them. What happened to that one? How many more am I missing?

These guys have some serious troubles being consistant and locking this stuff in.

I think I forgot the Korean street race that had part of the circuit running in a floodplain.

cart7

03-03-07, 03:29 PM

Good to see you back 2c, er uh Sean.

Your departure seemed so paperish anyway,,,,,,,,, ;) :p :D

Tim

03-04-07, 09:14 PM

The two people arguing are even less irrelevant than CC has become.:D

Sean Malone

03-04-07, 10:18 PM

The two people arguing are even less irrelevant than CC has become.:D

Love your show.

http://www.bobandtomstore.com/frames/store_2004/mr_obvious/mr_o_150.jpg

ferrarigod

03-05-07, 12:10 AM

2 Sean's?????????

Excuse me Mr. Malone, we have 1 too many already.

Sean O'Gorman

03-05-07, 12:12 AM

Hey, I noticed that UCLA is up to #2 in the NCAA mens rankings, isn't it about time you transferred there to cover all your bases? :gomer:

Sean Malone

03-05-07, 12:19 AM

2 Sean's?????????

Excuse me Mr. Malone, we have 1 too many already.

I pronounce mine differently. :)

And to think, me great great grand pappy dropped the O from O' Malone when he signed his name at Ellis Island.

devilmaster

03-05-07, 01:08 AM

good to see you back r2c. :)

Spicoli

03-05-07, 09:39 AM

good to see you back r2c. :)

ditto.:thumbup:

Indy

03-06-07, 12:55 AM

good to see you back r2c. :)

And from me. God loves an Irishman.

rabbit

03-06-07, 01:27 AM

I should have known. I kept thinking, man, this Malone guy knows his stuff! And his just appears out of nowhere!

Good to have you back. :thumbup:

Ed_Severson

03-06-07, 01:45 AM

God loves an Irishman.

Only one? ;)

ferrarigod

03-06-07, 03:48 AM

Hey, I noticed that UCLA is up to #2 in the NCAA mens rankings, isn't it about time you transferred there to cover all your bases? :gomer:

I don't really like basketball. So I'm actually with my current school with this one. Football is a real sport, basketball is just an excuse to shut down university and rub up against the womenfolk.

:D