View Full Version : A cool idea that could/should be applied to other tracks
http://www.champcarworldseries.com/News/Article.asp?ID=7924
MONTREAL (June 24, 2004) – The Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford will make its third visit to Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on August 29 for the Molson Indy Montreal, for a race that has quickly joined similar events in Toronto and Vancouver as being one of the most successful stops on the Champ Car schedule.
This year as the cars and stars of the Champ Car World Series flash by packed grandstands at top speed, they will do so with the knowledge that the people in those grandstands are not only there to see the current generation do battle, they are there honoring past legends as well.
The Molson Indy Montreal organizers announced that they would rename seven of the grandstands around the 2.709-mile road course to honor some of the great personalities of the series. The VIP grandstand has fittingly been named the Villeneuve Grandstand, honoring the 1995 series champion Jacques Villeneuve. Jacques is the son of the late Formula 1 hero Gilles Villeneuve, for whom the track is named.
Two-time series champion Alex Zanardi, Michael and Mario Andretti, long-time racer, legendary actor and current team owner Paul Newman, 1989 series champ Emerson Fittipaldi and 1999 titlewinner Juan Montoya are also being recognized with grandstands named in their honor.
In addition, Canadian racing hero Greg Moore, who lost his life in a crash at California Speedway in 1999, will also be honored with a special grandstand. Tickets for the Greg Moore Grandstand are priced at $99, in memorial to his car number, which is the only number to be officially retired by Champ Car. A portion of the sales from these tickets will be donated to the Greg Moore Foundation.
The Molson Indy Montreal has also devised a plan to help cultivate the next generation of Champ Car fans, allowing general admission ticket holders to bring two children, 13 years or younger, to the event at no charge.
Tickets are now available by calling (514) 397- INDY (4639) or via the web site www.molsonindy.com
I like it. Champ Car needs to embrace its history and build on it.
Insomniac
06-24-04, 01:19 PM
How about a Champion grandstand at every race where the price per ticket is $1 to match the car number of the champion. ;)
Pretty neat idea though. How much are tickets normally?
Dougrun
06-24-04, 01:59 PM
tickets usually run $40-60 for grandstand seats, $20-30 for General Admission. $20 for paddock passes. and of course there are ticket bundles like 3-day super tickets for a discount.
pferrf1
06-24-04, 02:39 PM
What would make for great at-track presentation is if they used vinyl graphics to place some images of each driver on the grandstand...perhaps on the sides where the scaffolding is.
Steve99
06-24-04, 03:33 PM
Who gets stuck sitting in the Michael Andretti grandstand?
Who gets stuck sitting in the Michael Andretti grandstand?
The family section will henceforth be known as the "Michael Andretti Grandstand." Crying babies will be allowed to sit there for free. Once that stand has sold out, crying babies will be redirected to the Junqueira section. If you're not familiar with the Junqueira section, they're the seats that look good on paper, but ultimately end up being a disapointment.
Another interesting note is that no matter where you sit in the Paul Tracy stand, you'll feel like your view is blocked.
Then there's the Coyne section...
And don't forget the Bobby Rahal grandstand, where all the people who sold their souls for a ticket get to sit...
FCYTravis
06-24-04, 04:42 PM
Then we can have the Adrian Feryendez Spectator Mound, which gives you a world-class view of the track marshal portapotties.
Wheel-Nut
06-24-04, 04:43 PM
. . . . .
Then there's the Coyne section...
Where upon arrival to your seats you will be given a number. When the race gets to that lap you will be asked to leave your seat.
The Montoya Grandstand will be reserved for registered snipe hunters.
Oh, and the Tracy Grandstand will have the best view of the King Hiro Chicane.
FCYTravis
06-24-04, 04:45 PM
When the race gets to that lap you will be asked to leave your seat.
And you can also be removed from your seat at any time if another spectator will pay more to sit there than you did. Let the bidding wars commence!
Sean O'Gorman
06-24-04, 04:58 PM
I'd rather sit in the Tagliani grandstand, which was placed right in front of the PT grandstand.
Of course, nothing is worse than the Carpentier grandstand. Odds are only 50/50 that your seat will even exist come race day!
I just got an email that they're adding a stand called the "PacWest Summit."
This stand will have padded seats with individual cupholders, a canopy providing shade, and a staff of waiters to deliver gourmet food.
Unfortunately, they didn't think much about the racing, so don't expect a good view of much more than the safety team trucks. While the waiters are nice, they'll probably try to stretch the food window to be as long as possible - and odds are they'll still run out on the last lap.
Admission is free to those with media credentials.
RaceGrrl
06-24-04, 05:03 PM
The family section will henceforth be known as the "Michael Andretti Grandstand." Crying babies will be allowed to sit there for free. Once that stand has sold out, crying babies will be redirected to the Junqueira section. If you're not familiar with the Junqueira section, they're the seats that look good on paper, but ultimately end up being a disapointment.
Another interesting note is that no matter where you sit in the Paul Tracy stand, you'll feel like your view is blocked.
Then there's the Coyne section...
:rofl:
scanman
06-24-04, 05:26 PM
All the above are priceless... :thumbup: to all...
Whatever you do, do not sit in the Hiro Matsushíta grandstand! You'll just be sitting there, when all of a sudden, WHAM!!! A French-Canadian comes out of nowhere and smashes it to smithereens.
What an outstanding way to couple the past and present. :thumbup:
Maybe OWRS can produce a Master set of vinyl banners for continued use at participating tracks.
What's the line on "toldyaso" on how long before the IRL "appropriates" THAT idea from Champ Car too? :saywhat:
nz_climber
06-24-04, 06:20 PM
Hasn't Surfers been doing this for years? I know cause Kiwifan always get tickets for the Andretti Stand (Mario not the whinny kool aid drinking fruit cake) ;)
Michaelhatesfans
06-24-04, 06:57 PM
Avoid the Foyt grandstand - seemingly the team that was brought in to construct it had their heads us their a@ses, and the lead engineer on the project really hasn't learned anything since 1965.
datachicane
06-24-04, 07:23 PM
Don't forget the Al Jr. stand, where they tow your car after a pizza box falls off the underside of the bleachers.
...or the Memo stand, where you're promised a seat but somehow it never materializes.
...or the Minassian stand. Seats are expensive, but you gladly pay since you're planning on scalping them to an old buddy anyway. After five laps you decide your seat sucks and wander off towards the Memo stand, which you don't find. Your buddy welches.
Montoya doesn't get a stand, but his port-o-john is quite popular, especially after a couple of beers :D
Sean O'Gorman
06-24-04, 07:27 PM
I just got an email that they're adding a stand called the "PacWest Summit."
This stand will have padded seats with individual cupholders, a canopy providing shade, and a staff of waiters to deliver gourmet food.
Unfortunately, they didn't think much about the racing, so don't expect a good view of much more than the safety team trucks. While the waiters are nice, they'll probably try to stretch the food window to be as long as possible - and odds are they'll still run out on the last lap.
Admission is free to those with media credentials.
Hmm...I heard that at the PacWest stand they start off the race serving you last year's food, and once that has fully been vomited and theres no chance of you eating anymore, then they start serving the fresh food.
Avoid the Foyt grandstand - seemingly the team that was brought in to construct it had their heads us their a@ses, and the lead engineer on the project really hasn't learned anything since 1965.
you're forgetting the part when AJ comes and slaps you in the face.
Michaelhatesfans
06-25-04, 11:21 AM
you're forgetting the part when AJ comes and slaps you in the face.
And steals your lunch. :laugh:
You know, that's the best part about the split - it's finally ok to publicly ridicule Foyt. It was long overdue!
Ruben Barrios
06-25-04, 11:30 AM
Don't forget the Derrik Walker stand, it's located at the backstreach, athough it stinks you will get respect and tickets are always available through OPM.
best thread ever... :D :thumbup:
JLMannin
06-25-04, 12:44 PM
Don't forget the Robby Gordon stand, only accessible via the bridge from the Ford grandstand. After you take your seats, the bridge burns and you are stranded there until the end of the race.
datachicane
06-25-04, 01:19 PM
How about the Donnie Beechler stand- it's about five miles outside the main gate, wedged between a freeway and a rendering plant. The whole stand is sticky with spilled children's beverages, there's broken glass strewn everywhere, the safety rails are electrified, and the seats are fashioned from rusty razor wire. There's a three-year waiting list for seats, since five guys in Marion County who live in their parent's basements renew all of the seats every year.
It's just that good.
:D
racermike
06-25-04, 07:55 PM
Dont forget the Franchitti Grandstand
Each ticket comes with a prized, movie-star girlfriend, but the grandstand will collapse, and you will fall on your kiester (breaking it in process)
racermike
06-25-04, 07:58 PM
and Dont forget the Grey Ray Grandstand.
It may fall down and collapse sometime during the race, but dont worry, a crack crew will come to fix it worse, so it will collapse again during same race
Amanda B.'s Mom
06-26-04, 01:29 AM
The idea is wonderful. I really hope more tracks do this.
Sorry, no thoughtful remarks about the special secrions I visualize. Too late.
The only one I can think of is the Mario Andretti stand. You are assigned seat numbers, then are notified that your seats are unavailable and your ticket price will be refunded. At the late minute you are notified that the seats are again available.
The Helio Castroneves grandstand: You have to climb a fence to get to it...
The Sam Hornish Jr. grandstand: Every seat has a mysterious button on it...
The Scott Goodyear grandstand: It's just past the pace cars...
The Tony George grandstand: I don't know where it is...
The Nelson Fellipe grandstand: (tickets sales are reeeaaally slow for this one)...
The Dan Gurney grandstand sponsored by Toyota: Your seats are really crappy for several year, and just when they start to get good, Toyota pays a bunch of guys who used to sit in the Chip Ganassi/Honda grandstand to take your tickets...
The Roberto Moreno grandstand: Seats so good they'll make you cry...
The Alex Zanardi grandstand: Free donunts for everyone!
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