Most liked posts in thread: ALMS - Grand Am to Merge in 2014

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  1. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #45 Steve, Jan 1, 2013
    I think someone is smoking something funny...just not sure who...

    The Midweek Motorsport / Specutainment / RadioLemans folk are claiming Grand-Am are telling their teams that Daytona Prototypes will be allowed to run at Le Mans starting in 2014.

    :skep:
     
  2. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #58 Nathan, Jan 4, 2013
    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW27kyh7PVM]Oh no, I've gone cross-eyed - YouTube[/ame]

    I think Jalopnik says it best so far...

    ALMS And Grand Am Announce Plans To Become Most Confusing Thing In The World
     
  3. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #9 ScottinBend, Sep 5, 2012
    I am not sure why there is so much concern about France being the head of this new series. I feel that the Rolex/Continental Tire series are the most competitive and participant friendly series in the states right now. I mean, just look at the attendance numbers along side the number of competitors. The ALMS is IMO a second tier series simply as a way for teams to compete in the LeMans race.

    Everyone can jump on the NASCRAP wagon (as I do....) but you have to admit they put on one hell of a show.

    I am really hoping this works out as it could be a real boost to the sports car racing here in the states.

    I also disagree with the author at Autoextremist about the DP cars. These cars allow teams to get into a top tier VERY competive class w/o a huge amount of money and engineering.
     
  4. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #18 minimark, Sep 11, 2012
    Problem is the cost of P1, exactly why team participation is low in that class....I mean how many P1 cars actually compete on a regular bases?

    I'd bet that 80% of the teams that compete in DP would disappear if it is made into P1...they just couldn't afford it. 2cents

    ....and then how many would drop out if DP wasn't the top class and race in a GT class or another series all together?
     
  5. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #35 minimark, Nov 5, 2012
    If they can pull this off and somehow retain the best from both series this could be very good for us the fans!!

    Let's give them time and see what the end formula is, there is some very smart guys working on this after all....;)
     
  6. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    #43 Jason Montague, Dec 5, 2012
    :cornut: IMSAheimers strikes again!:lol::lol::lol::lol::Thumbsup:

    Jason
     
  7. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #57 Steve, Jan 4, 2013
    Thinking about it, this is basically all the 2013 classes kept (minus P1 plus DeltaWing) and crammed together for a 2-year trial -- 2014-15 -- during which things will be assessed and adjusted before deciding on something more sensible for 2016. Makes sense in one way as it allows teams to get more out of their investments in the current structures plus an overlapping assessment period should allow for more fact-based decisions going forward.

    On the other hand, it should make for quite a bit of confusion with all those different car types racing together. It's also potentially a LOT of cars on the track at once. Could end up looking like a full Continental field but at prototype and GT speeds.
     
  8. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #59 minimark, Jan 4, 2013
    In their defense I do think they are trying to make it as easy and inexpensive for teams in both series to stay and not just walk away, hands in the air because everything they now own doesn't have a place on the grid...

    Cleanest thing would be to certify four or five groups and that's it, but that would mean a lot of parts would become instant junk..

    The couple year deal as Steve eluded too will give teams time to transition...and leave as few people as possible not feeling left out...

    Perfect? Nope....
     
  9. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
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    #76 mrntd, May 28, 2013
    The last alms race only had 3 p1 cars and 3 p2 cars. So I understand way the dp guys are resistant to change things and spend a bunch of money.

    Don't get me wrong I would love to see the dp cars go faster and have more innovation.

    I miss the imsa cars.
     
  10. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #2 Steve, Sep 1, 2012
    I've see a story or two a year lately suggesting this unfortunate alliance. Looks like it might be serious this time. :prrr:
     
  11. Crashton

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    #3 Crashton, Sep 1, 2012
    I think it will be to both series advantage. Look what the CART vs IRL years of fighting did to both series. Indy racing is a shadow of its former self. Here's hoping a combined Grand Am & ALMS makes for a stronger road racing series here in the USA.
     
  12. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #4 Dave.0, Sep 1, 2012
    Yay racing racing racing.
     
  13. minirab

    minirab Well-Known Member

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    #5 minirab, Sep 2, 2012
    I don't know, with NASCAR involved it makes me shudder what the out-

    come will be.
     
  14. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #6 Steve, Sep 4, 2012
    One more update before the press conference tomorrow. I don't imagine we'll learn how this will really pan out until it actually begins to happen. I suspect that means some time during 2013 when they start to publish rules for the new combined series.

    I'm actually more worried about how it will be handled, managed, etc, than I am about the classes and how they'll be equalized. Don't think we'll get a feeling for the "flavor" of the series until the first combined season is well underway.

    Details Of ALMS Unification Emerge (auto-racing.speedtv.com)
     
  15. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #7 Nathan, Sep 5, 2012
    This scares me...

    GRAND-AM co-founder and NASCAR Vice Chairman/Executive Vice President Jim France is expected to serve as the Chairman of the unified series.

    It reeks of NASCARification of Road Racing in the US.
     
  16. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #8 Nathan, Sep 5, 2012
    After posting the above I went over to Autoextremist.com. It's Wednesday, the day the new columns are posted. I was curious as to what they had to say since the editor there has been harping that US Road Racing needs to be unified for years.

    It's a rather long read to take it all in since they reprise some of the columns about the subject but any of us that are Road Racing fans ought to take a few minutes and read it all in full. Fumes - Autoextremist.com ~ the bare-knuckled, unvarnished, high octane truth...

    Discuss at will after reading...
     
  17. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #10 Steve, Sep 5, 2012
    I've seen those articles at Autoextremist and I agree with most of what they say, particularly the praise of ALMS GT racing and hope for its continuation.

    The focus on DP cars is one of the reasons I click away from the Rolex series, the GT action is the only draw for me. On the other hand, given a choice between Rolex and ALMS GT I'll take the ALMS every time. It's not just the cars and the action either, it's the deterioration (in my mind) of the way Rolex is covered.

    In truth, I wouldn't mind a GT-level series, don't really care what happens to the big prototypes. On the other hand, I like De Lorenzo's idea for cars and classes:
    It won't work out that way though.
     
  18. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #11 Steve, Sep 5, 2012
    From the ALMS announcement article, here's a snip to help understand how much is involved in / affected by this merger:
     
  19. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    #12 Steve, Sep 5, 2012
  20. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #13 Nathan, Sep 5, 2012
    I watched the full press conference. It was as expected, lots of jabber, not much said.
     
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