ALMS merges with Grand-Am

[Drjones]

http://www.grand-am.com/News/GA_News/tabid/141/Article/52370/grand-am-road-racing-american-le-mans-series-announce-historic-merger.aspx?cid=6383&sid=1

I understand the business decision, but fear that sports car innovation will lose out.  Grand-Am = the challenge classes in ALMS.

[derby]

i hope they don't "dumb down" the premier class (american le mans) so that there's no feeder/test series for le mans.

[ducpainter]

i hope they don't "dumb down" the premier class (american le mans) so that there's no feeder/test series for le mans.

Based on your position of the proposed changes to motogp...

I really can't believe you just said that...

seriously.

[derby]

Based on your position of the proposed changes to motogp...

I really can't believe you just said that...

seriously.

completely different situation.

the american le mans series currently acts as a testing/feeder for the 24 of le mans. the "international" teams even come to the states to do shakedowns in preparation for the "big race"...

with the exception of the usgpru (and barely an exception at that*), there is no north-american feeder series for motogp (racers or hardware).

if it makes you feel any better, i also have an issue w/ the disparity in the rules between ama superbike and world superbike (and, in some senses, the differences between the latter and everything else). i used to really enjoy the "proper" wildcard racers in world superbike. specifically at the british, japanese, and united states rounds.

[ducpainter]

completely different situation.

the american le mans series currently acts as a testing/feeder for the 24 of le mans. the "international" teams even come to the states to do shakedowns in preparation for the "big race"...

with the exception of the usgpru (and barely an exception at that*), there is no north-american feeder series for motogp (racers or hardware).

if it makes you feel any better, i also have an issue w/ the disparity in the rules between ama superbike and world superbike (and, in some senses, the differences between the latter and everything else). i used to really enjoy the "proper" wildcard racers in world superbike. specifically at the british, japanese, and united states rounds.

You mean NASBIKE? 

They haven't done anything to fix it...and won't.

We should continue this in R&TD so we don't jack DrJones' thread any further.

[kopfjäger]

This move is about money, or lack there of. Grand Am  will be in charge and will make it work. Americans don't much care for road racing.

[Drjones]

ALMS was recently profiled on Bloomberg (like two days ago) and the viewership almost doubled in the last two years due in part to being on ESPN/ABC.  I wouldn't say they don't care for it, but more like haven't been exposed to it as much.  Road racing is pretty much only broadcast on SPEED, which for most people means cable $$ and the sports package $$ on top of that.  NASCAR is broadcast on network tv a lot more, so has a wider audience and when road races are actually broadcast on network tv they're cut down to almost nothing in regards to racing and filled with commercials and historical background crap.  If a tree falls in the woods does it make a sound.

[derby]

sebring out, circuit of the americas in austin (penciled) in:

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2012/09/28/endurance_racing_penciled_in_f.html/

[Drjones]

September. Not exactly a good weather month, but I'll take it.

[derby]

September. Not exactly a good weather month, but I'll take it.

nothing wrong w/ september weather.

[duccarlos]

sebring out, circuit of the americas in austin (penciled) in:

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2012/09/28/endurance_racing_penciled_in_f.html/

They cut out Sebring?! WTF?! Add a make the beast with two backsing round when there's no tornados!

[derby]

They cut out Sebring?! WTF?! Add a make the beast with two backsing round when there's no tornados!

looking a little further, it looks like there may still be a race at sebring (tickets for march went on sale last august), but the wec cars won't be there.

the september round in austin is looking like it'll be grand-am/alms on saturday and the world-endurance guys on sunday.