Long Beach F-1?

[mueber]

http://www.gazettes.com/news/so-moved-formula-or-indycar-long-beach-signs-race-study/article_6049e802-2477-11e7-8a21-2fd793b41e64.html

[opinionated ow]

http://www.gazettes.com/news/so-moved-formula-or-indycar-long-beach-signs-race-study/article_6049e802-2477-11e7-8a21-2fd793b41e64.html

That circuit (and any extant variation of it) is too Mickey Mouse for F1. City of Long Beach still turns a handsome profit from Indycar/IMSA. What possible benefit can they get from F1? It will cost more and I can't see how they would sell that many more tickets to check it off. I've watched Long Beach my entire life and it still doesn't make me want to visit!

[Gnam]

No way. This is some race promoter's fever dream. California is broke. There's no money to pay for the upgrades or F1's ransom fee.

[SteveH]

Meanwhile in California (https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2017/04/24/meanwhile-in-california/)

The track needs to be longer to meet current F1 standards. And there needs to be permanent garages. The first would be easier to accommodate. The latter would be difficult with the current configuration however when I attended in 1977, the pits were not on Shoreline. Possibly they could be relocated, especially since the track would need to be lengthened.

[Gnam]

This resulted in two rival bids, one from the Grand Prix of Long Beach organization, which is owned by Aquarium Asset Management, a company that belongs to Kevin Kalkhoven; the other from an organization called the World Automobile Championship of California (WACC), which is run by Chris Pook, the man who created the Grand Prix, back in the 1970s.
Paul Gentilozzi, where art thou? ;)

[TravelGal]

Paul Gentilozzi, where art thou? ;)

:laugh::laugh:

[Gnam]

Can't believe I'm getting sucked into this...:shakehead:

The track could be extended from it's current 1.9 mile length by travelling farther west on Shoreline. The new section would add 1.3 miles and increase the total track length to 3.2 miles. The rest of the course would remain unchanged. The only drawback is it would be a lot of full throttle racing.

https://s7.postimg.org/65yurjqa3/LBGP_extension.jpg

[SteveH]

No kidding, there would be a lot of full throttle racing. Not that that is a bad thing, necessarily.

Also room to build permanent garages if your satellite view is current. Plenty of room, actually.

then there is this....
New York back in the running to stage grand prix (http://www.grandprix247.com/2017/04/26/new-york-back-in-the-running-to-stage-grand-prix/)

Multiple F1 races in the US is a huge win. Hope they all happen.

[SteveH]

In 1977 I saw Mario win at Long Beach. The pits were not on Shoreline, neither was the start/finish. They were on Ocean.

938

There have been several configurations (http://www.racingcircuits.info/north-america/usa/long-beach.html#.WQEU9GfrvSc)for the track over the years.

[Mary]

then there is this....
New York back in the running to stage grand prix (http://www.grandprix247.com/2017/04/26/new-york-back-in-the-running-to-stage-grand-prix/)

Multiple F1 races in the US is a huge win. Hope they all happen.


Oooh, back to Weehawken?

Mary