I just got tickets today for the Rolex 24. I've lived an hour and a half away from Daytona for four years and this is the only time I've been able to make it. I've been to a couple of NASCAR races there, because I got free tickets, but as a road racing fan this is the one I want to see.
Anybody out there following the Grand Am?
- Thread starter Parnelli Bone
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- 804
- GTP_ZippyCat
I'm well aware of that, but it's the commentary that's all the difference. SPEED's is horrible because most of their team isn't at the track; they watch from a studio here in the States. So they're really unable to pick up on last-minute in-paddock twists and turns like the nuances of this year's diffuser debate at Silverstone and the Red Bull wheel-camber issue at Spa. The Beeb's people were at the track and were always on top of matters.
It was driven home to me just how ridiculous SPEED's approach is when lead commentator Bob Varsha was absent from the broadcast of I think Friday practice at the Canadian GP because he'd traveled to Montreal to actually attend the session.
The SPEED F1 commentary team is mediocre in general. Varsha was bettered by replacement Lee Diffey on the several occasions Diffey had to pinch-hit as lead commentator. David Hobbs is an ex-racer who hasn't competed since the late 80s; he doesn't really have much illuminating to say about the approach of the current crop of drivers most likely because SPEED's too cheap to send him to the races to talk to them. Only partly redeeming member of the team is ex-engineer Steve Matchett, who seems to still have buddies in the paddock he's able to learn things from via email and Skype. But that's no substitute for being there, as even short exposure to the commentary on the Beeb by Brundle and Coulthard shows.
To be fair SPEED did a superb job with the broadcast of last year's Bathurst 1000, an excellent job with Le Mans and a fair job with the Daytona 24. But in each of those cases, Le Mans perhaps being an exception, they sent their lead on-camera people to the track.
- 24,636
- Anoka, MN
I can agree with that argument, I see why they do it though as I'm sure it's expensive to put them in a hotel and get a spot to broadcast from.
That they did, they flubbed the F1 race after it though.
Back on topic, it should be interesting to see how the new cars compete with the old DP's.
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- 804
- GTP_ZippyCat
- 9,884
- Carthage, TN
- race_emhard
^Add Montoya to that and you'll get a big list!
- 804
- GTP_ZippyCat
LOL. Separate over/unders for each of them, then.
SuperShouden
(Banned)
- 7,542
- SuperShouden
Well, I think they got the Challenger issues sorted. They just ran a time faster than Matt Plumb....at least they were.
EDIT: This is the old Blackforest Challenger from last year that had sooooooo many issues. It's running 2:02.xxx and 2:01.xxx in practice.
The New Challenger is running with the ST cars.
EDIT: This is the old Blackforest Challenger from last year that had sooooooo many issues. It's running 2:02.xxx and 2:01.xxx in practice.
The New Challenger is running with the ST cars.
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- 523
- Florida
I'm just here to check in on this thread. I'll be going to the race. Who else is going?
I'm in Jacksonville so it should take me less than 2 hours to get there Saturday morning.
I'll be parked on the infield overnight. This is going to be awesome!
I'm in Jacksonville so it should take me less than 2 hours to get there Saturday morning.
I'll be parked on the infield overnight. This is going to be awesome!
SuperShouden
(Banned)
- 7,542
- SuperShouden
GT Qualifying is underway.
- 5,184
- Phoenix, AZ
- nitrorocks
Is there a stream? Maybe speed.com
- 300
- Florida
- Mr_Tim-Tim
nitrorocks
You might be able to find a stream somewhere like Justin tv. I know motorstv or something like that puts some live streams of different races on there. That's how I watch the whole outdoor motocross series and some touring car races.
- 5,184
- Phoenix, AZ
- nitrorocks
Alright I will look. Thanks
- 300
- Florida
- Mr_Tim-Tim
I looked for some streams and sites are saying you can watch the whole race on speedtv.com and on speed on your tv but they break the race up into two parts on tv. Nothing about qualifying or practice though.
SuperShouden
(Banned)
- 7,542
- SuperShouden
I was watching the live Timing and Scoring feed on the Grand-Am website.
So....The Viper didn't qualify very well. And the one Blackforest Challenger, after running an AWESOME practice session, didn't participate in qualifying. Which means, once again, the Dodge Challenger is going to be back with the ST cars this year. It's too bad Blackforest, since they weren't going to be in the race, couldn't have helped out the other Challenger that's actually racing.
- 26,911
- Houston, Texas, USA
- JMarine25
Can you feel it? 24 Hours of Daytona about to kick off proper, as well as the start of a new season! I extend my best wishes and prayers to all teams and drivers. Have fun, be safe, and put on a great show for all of us racing fans!
- 889
- Pangaea
- eatfrogs4tea/GTP_thesrdic
- Why would I want an xbox?
Stupid questions time; I've followed sports car racing avidly for a few years, but I have no idea what Grand-Am is? What class of cars do they use? And what sort of length are most of the events- and does it compare with the ALMS? TBCH I thought the Daytona 24 was a Nascar thing (partly why I never took notice) until I saw a post from Audi Sport on G+ showing their new grand-am R8.
Edit: And have now just seen a fb post from Oreca showing the 'Vette C5R and Viper GTSR - which I thought where older GT1 spec cars!
Edit: And have now just seen a fb post from Oreca showing the 'Vette C5R and Viper GTSR - which I thought where older GT1 spec cars!
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