Most liked posts in thread: ALMS Baltimore - Or Why Street Courses are Stupid

  1. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 1, 2009
    9,244
    3,802
    113
    Ratings:
    +3,863 / 0 / -1
    #2 CHKMINI, Sep 2, 2013
    The travesty is that ALMS will schedule a stupid street course in Baltimore yet take Mid-Ohio off the schedule.
     
  2. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    #3 Dave.0, Sep 2, 2013
    Typical crappy NE roads don't make good race tracks. :frown2:
     
  3. Firebro17

    Firebro17 Dazed, but not Confused
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 18, 2010
    7,820
    3,327
    113
    Retired CAL FIRE Battalion Chief
    The Great Irrigated Desert of Central CA
    Ratings:
    +3,328 / 0 / -0
    #4 Firebro17, Sep 2, 2013
    Ya I agree it's a dumb concept. I for one don't go to an auto race in search of carnage, nor do I go to a team sporting event to watch amateur boxing....

    I'm satisfied with my money's worth to see them run balls out, only to be interrupted with the normal mishaps that come with good competition and not from the likes of a venue not designed for auto racing.

    Driver safety must remain the focus for all! Maybe an old fashioned F1 boycott is what's needed to turn the tables.
     
  4. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

    Jun 12, 2009
    1,315
    154
    63
    Civil Engineer
    Durham, NC
    Ratings:
    +155 / 0 / -0
    #5 BThayer23, Sep 2, 2013
    Looks like they brought in safety equipment from all over. @1:02 you can see a safety truck from VIR in southern Virginia.
     
  5. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
    Supporting Member

    May 4, 2009
    8,767
    2,547
    113
    Bend, OR USA
    Ratings:
    +2,678 / 1 / -0
    #6 ScottinBend, Sep 2, 2013
    ......and the Indy race wasn't much better.
     
  6. Steve

    Steve Administrator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator

    Apr 23, 2009
    12,154
    3,164
    113
    Maryland, USA
    Ratings:
    +3,166 / 0 / -0
    #7 Steve, Sep 2, 2013
    Here's the entire race broadcast.

    If you haven't seen it, here's a warning. Nearly 16 minutes of pre-race, then a few seconds of almost racing (the ruined start) followed by about an hour and 5 min under red and an hour of mostly racing that begins with a false start and wave-off.

    There have been some good ALMS races at Baltimore but it seems like they've always been rather crashy. No surprise though given it's almost impossible to arrange a good circuit on city streets.

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqEEf719eJI]2013 Baltimore Race Broadcast - ALMS - Tequila Patron - ESPN - Sports Cars - Racing - USCR - YouTube[/ame]
     
  7. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #8 Crashton, Sep 2, 2013
    Looked like a demo derby to me. I find it hard to believe the organizers build a rally yump in the middle of the main straight in the name of safety. Just !@#** nuts I tell ya! Maybe they thought they were hosting a global rally X race. :crazy:
     
  8. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Dec 22, 2009
    5,641
    4,595
    113
    Male
    Overland Park, Ks
    Ratings:
    +5,187 / 1 / -0
    #9 Minidave, Sep 2, 2013
    Yeah......how many times did they get so balled up in turn 1 that the race pretty much stopped all on it's own?

    The answer is "too many"

    Bourdais had a pretty good race tho, didn't he? at least till somebody clipped him in turn 1 and spun him around.

    And poor Marco Andretti, got the lead at last only to drop 5 places in the last couple of laps due to worn tires and a banged up front wing.

    Yeah, third year they've run there, I hope it's the last.....
     
  9. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #10 Crashton, Sep 3, 2013
    I usually say any race is a good race, but the Baltimore streets are not suited to those types of cars. Maybe the Continental Tires series or World Challenge.

    The war between Ganassi & Penske is really heating up. :popcorn: