cameraman
12-18-05, 01:06 AM
According to the Cleveland newspaper, The Plain Dealer, it might just be so.
The Grand Prix of Cleveland race, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in June, is on the verge of getting a new owner. Rena Shanaman, managing director of the event, would identify the new ownership only as "local business interests." The race is scheduled for June 23-25. Champ Car caught the eye of many last summer when both old and new road racing venues, including Cleveland, had increases in attendance numbers. While the Grand Prix of Cleveland would not release 2004 attendance figures, Champ Car said the 89,788 people who attended last season's race weekend were an increase from 2004.
It has been reported that Mi-Jack, the owner of the Houston race, is looking for more races to put under its umbrella. The worldwide equipment and transportation business has offices and terminals in Cleveland.
Mi-Jack will also sponsor the car of Toyota Atlantic series driver Graham Rahal, son of Medina-born race team owner Bobby Rahal. The elder Rahal is a former Indianapolis 500 winner as a driver, who was team owner for 2004 Indy winner Buddy Rice and currently guides an Indy Racing League team that includes driver Danica Patrick.
"This will not be a temporary fix, but a long-term solution for the Cleveland race," Shanaman said of the new owners' investment.
The rest of the story (http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/sports/1134725473149830.xml?sxcar&coll=2)
Houston and now Cleveland. Interesting.
The Grand Prix of Cleveland race, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in June, is on the verge of getting a new owner. Rena Shanaman, managing director of the event, would identify the new ownership only as "local business interests." The race is scheduled for June 23-25. Champ Car caught the eye of many last summer when both old and new road racing venues, including Cleveland, had increases in attendance numbers. While the Grand Prix of Cleveland would not release 2004 attendance figures, Champ Car said the 89,788 people who attended last season's race weekend were an increase from 2004.
It has been reported that Mi-Jack, the owner of the Houston race, is looking for more races to put under its umbrella. The worldwide equipment and transportation business has offices and terminals in Cleveland.
Mi-Jack will also sponsor the car of Toyota Atlantic series driver Graham Rahal, son of Medina-born race team owner Bobby Rahal. The elder Rahal is a former Indianapolis 500 winner as a driver, who was team owner for 2004 Indy winner Buddy Rice and currently guides an Indy Racing League team that includes driver Danica Patrick.
"This will not be a temporary fix, but a long-term solution for the Cleveland race," Shanaman said of the new owners' investment.
The rest of the story (http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/sports/1134725473149830.xml?sxcar&coll=2)
Houston and now Cleveland. Interesting.