Daytona
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 10:37AM
No I did not watch it, but congratulations to the Wood Brothers, nice to see them back in the winners circle. Growing up in England I used to read the monthly NASCAR reports in Motor Sport when it was all totally foreign to me and ruled by King Richard Petty, and the Wood Bros. So what will we see next at Daytona, cars with couplings built in or a sort of "stretch limo" in the shape of two cars?
No news on Bahrain, but the expectation is still that it will be "postponed." So when would you fit it in to an already crowded schedule? Before or after Abu Dhabi? The general consensus is not to go, so even if it goes on there may be those not attending.
Testing continued in Barcelona, but the new President of the region is now saying they cannot afford to keep the race, even though their fee seems to be more modest than most. So even with Alonso mania you cannot make a quid. Another politician has come out in Melbourne to say the race is no longer worth it economically, and the locals don't want it anyway, if they ever did. Anyone remember the demonstrations both in Melbourne and outside Bernie's house when it was first being built? So Shanghai has negotiated a lower fee, Valencia and Barcelona have both indicated they are not happy, and there is Melbourne. Korea has fired its Chief and India's has quit. Is the wheel starting to turn at last? France cannot afford it, Indy stopped, Hockenheim can't make it pay, Spa is always in trouble, Fuji gave up, Turkey is I think run by Bernie as they get no spectators, as is Hungary, Canada had to be bailed out by the Government, so where to next?
No news on Bahrain, but the expectation is still that it will be "postponed." So when would you fit it in to an already crowded schedule? Before or after Abu Dhabi? The general consensus is not to go, so even if it goes on there may be those not attending.
Testing continued in Barcelona, but the new President of the region is now saying they cannot afford to keep the race, even though their fee seems to be more modest than most. So even with Alonso mania you cannot make a quid. Another politician has come out in Melbourne to say the race is no longer worth it economically, and the locals don't want it anyway, if they ever did. Anyone remember the demonstrations both in Melbourne and outside Bernie's house when it was first being built? So Shanghai has negotiated a lower fee, Valencia and Barcelona have both indicated they are not happy, and there is Melbourne. Korea has fired its Chief and India's has quit. Is the wheel starting to turn at last? France cannot afford it, Indy stopped, Hockenheim can't make it pay, Spa is always in trouble, Fuji gave up, Turkey is I think run by Bernie as they get no spectators, as is Hungary, Canada had to be bailed out by the Government, so where to next?
Reader Comments (5)
This makes me wonder about Austin.
Thanks for starting my Monday off in a downer.
Gibralta may be interested.
I hear they did run a race some years ago:-)
The races are expensive enough, and for Bernie & Co. to have an annual fee increase of 10% to the organisers is crazy.
They have been living in a La La land. Tell me any business now that can pass on a 10% increase every year to its customers. Not many.
It may have been different back in the late '70s, early '80s when inflation was running at those figures, but, not now.
Yes, I have the recording of the Grand Prix of Gibralta commentary. As you say, when a fee was $2m in the eighties a 10% increase was not tooo bad, still doubles the price every seven years I think, but when it is already $20m, that starts to hurt.
That is why I have been questioning the economics of Austin since the news broke. Unless a Government is paying no one can afford a race, except Silverstone it seems, but they built their track a long time ago and did not spend $250m.
Man, I better go to Canada this year before the whole shooting match goes belly up! Problem is, just to go to a race now is mucho dinero.
The Hotels triple the price that weekend and the on track action isn't what it was. Maybe I'll just sit home and watch the tape of Senna wiining in the rain.