Domestic-Based Racing Series With International Involvement: Good or Bad for Racing?

[JohnBM01]

GTPlanet, the popular Speed Channel show "WindTunnel with Dave Despain" featured an E-Mailer who said something that infuriates me as a racing fan. This is an indirect quote from this week's show:

(indirect quote) "NASCAR is an American sport. It doesn't need to go to Mexico for racing. It's an American sport, and it isn't like Mexicans can't see the races. Most of them live here in America. " -(undisclosed name)

Despite the rather racist tone of the E-mail sent to the show and patriotism at its most ludicrous degree, this gave me my own idea. What do you think about domestic-based series opening its doors to the world? Should popular domestic racing series stay in their home nation and race, or open its doors to the world and take on brand-new challenges? As the creator of this thread, I'll offer my opinions, then you can follow up with yours.

This is much the same way people thought Toyota's entry into NASCAR meant the death of NASCAR (like it wasn't dead anyways). This is sort of the reason why I shy away from what mainstream racing fans think about racing, because I sort of can't tolerate certain comments. This is no different. I usually believe that talent and competition should come from anywhere. I'm one of the people who welcome diversity and new challengers. I'm not talking about diversity as in, a bunch of stock car racers from North Carolina and Florida, but Japanese or perhaps Canadian racers competing in an American sport. If Yao Ming can play for my Houston Rockets and make an impact, what authority does one have to say that people don't need to look to other nations and other people for talent and races? I don't think anyone complained when DTM raced outside of Germany, when the Australian V8s raced in China, then Super GT (formerly the JGTC) raced in Malaysia and America and almost China... so why NASCAR? I'm not the NASCAR posterchild, but I hate the "let's stay in (your nation here), f:CENSORED: the rest of the world" concept. I think it was a great idea for NASCAR to take on Mexico City and why not? There's absolutely nothing wrong with taking on a road course challenge outside of America. Why not see the world rather than be like "I don't care about other nations in a domestic motorsport?" I am a fond believer in international competition. While NASCAR isn't as glamourous as F1 or the Le Mans endurance, it is still a nice deal for NASCAR racers to check out and race Mexico. I hate two things about people talking about racing in other places- patriotism and politics. NASCAR is an American sport. Australian V8 Supercars are Australian. Nothing wrong for NASCAR to go to Mexico or maybe see Canada (can you imagine a one-off race pitting NASCAR against CASCAR?). Nothing wrong for Australia to go to New Zealand or China.

All in all, I welcome international competition for ANY motorsport. Marcus Ambrose wants some NASCAR truck action, so why not give him the chance? I'd prefer him in ALMS GT racing or maybe Rolex Sports Cars, but yeah. Okay, your ideas, please.

 

[somebody]

I'm all for national comps to get international rounds, so long as it doesn't come at the expense of the national scene. The V8's here in Australia did have a hard time convincing the public that overseas racing was not going to kill off a chance for Australians to watch their sport. I think it comes down to how suitable the events are.

Nobody really minds the V8's going to New Zealand as the two countries have such close ties. Having the V8's go to the middle east has some opposition but Australian cars are exported there so we understand and accept that this is reasonable. The move to China was ridiculous - we don't have a market there.

With NASCAR I can understand moves in to Central/South America, Canada, and even western Europe as American cars have markets there. A move to Australia, for example, would be wrong as there is no (or extremely limited) market down here.

As for drivers/teams from overseas, I can understand why some people wouldn't like this, but as a fan I want to see the best drivers I can so I'm not complaining.

Sorry if this doesn't sound quite right - I've just finished a 13+ hour shift at work... come sweet slumber, envelope me in your purple cloak... zzz

 

[Layla's Keeper]

NASCAR fans are still feeling jilted that traditional tracks are being removed from the calendar and replaced by "mass-market" cookie-cutter superspeedways.

The trend began with Texas Motor Speedway taking the place of the grand 5/8th's mile North Wilkesboro Speedway in Wilkes County, North Carolina (Benny Parson's hometown, and just a couple of miles away from Level Cross, NC, homestead of the Petty family).

Then we lost Rockingham.

Then Darlington lost the Labor Day date - THE LABOR DAY DATE - THE SOUTHERN 500, Oldest Race on the NASCAR Circuit!

Naturally, NASCAR fans get a little pissed when they hear that Martinsville, Dover, and Pocono are threatened and see that Mexico City's rather lackluster road course is getting a date with Busch and considered for a Cup date.

That's really what this boils down to: NASCAR traditionalists who hate seeing the sport leave the places where blood and sweat was poured to build it up.

As far as JGTC coming to America, I complained wholeheartedly and to this day get the urge to punch people who say that "Super GT" should come stateside, because these same jackasses won't watch the good series we already have in the states, and so our homegrown road racing shrivels and dies on the vine, our road courses fall into disarray and disuse, and the sponsorship money all ends up on Dale Jr's fender.

All you folks who cry for JGTC, DTM, V8 Supercars, Belcar, or what have you, YOU ARE THE REASON TRANS AM IS DEAD!

 

[Schrodes]

Nobody really minds the V8's going to New Zealand as the two countries have such close ties. Having the V8's go to the middle east has some opposition but Australian cars are exported there so we understand and accept that this is reasonable. The move to China was ridiculous - we don't have a market there.

I have never heard anyone complain about the V8's going to NZ but the Middle East is a bit of a stretch. It's not about selling cars, the Holdens are badged as Chevs there, it's about how much money Vee Eight Supercars Australia can make for themselves. They couldn't give a rats how many cars Australia exports to the Middle East, they just want to expand their bank balance. At least we don't have to worry about China anymore.

NASCAR fans are still feeling jilted that traditional tracks are being removed from the calendar and replaced by "mass-market" cookie-cutter superspeedways.

Sounds a bit like what is happening here with street circuits. They introduced the Clipsal 500 on the streets of Adelaide and got rid of Mallala. A street circuit in Hamilton NZ will replace the Pukekohe round even though there are at least two other circuits, who have both spent money on upgrades, in NZ who would love a round. They would love a street race around Homebush (site of the 2000 Olympics) to emulate Clipsal and eliminate a permanent circuit in Sydney. There are still talks of a street race at Townsville and even though the QLD Gov't said it could not replace the QLD Raceway round i'm sure they could think of a reason to ged rid of it.

All you folks who cry for JGTC, DTM, V8 Supercars, Belcar, or what have you, YOU ARE THE REASON TRANS AM IS DEAD!

Bring back Trans-Am cars! Not the fibreglass ones they have now but the ones based on production cars that were basically homologation specials. They were so much like our Improved Production Touring Cars. There was even a Boss 302 Trans-Am Mustang racing in the ATCC.

Ok, better think of something vaguely on-topic to say now...

I would prefer the V8 Supercars to have all their rounds in Australia and NZ mainly because we only have thirteen rounds to start with and there are tracks that are missing out. If they were to increase the number of rounds (against heavy opposition from the teams) then I could see them having more events off shore but Tony Cochrane said they would not be going further than the Middle East. Another option is to have exhibition races but V8 Supercars think they are way to important to have exhibition races. Even at the Australian F1 GP.
Although there were plenty of flaws with the Group A formula for Touring Cars I believe they were on the right track. During the Group A era in Australia there were several European teams here every year with their best equipment to take on the locals at Bathurst and there was a huge variety of cars and more that weren't here but were certainly eligible. Quite often they managed to find a team to buy their cars here so they didn't have to lug them all the way back to Europe. Even the Group C formula, which was not as universal as Group A, attracted more international drivers than the V8 Supercars do. Since the introduction of the V8 formula here there have been far less internationals having a go at Sandown and Bathurst and far fewer Australian drivers being targeted for overseas drives in touring cars and sports cars etc. The exceptions are probably David Brabham who was in sports cars before the V8 formula was introduced, Mark Skaife who had a one off drive at Le Mans in a Lister in 1997, and Wayne Gardner who was successful in the JGTC but was famous in Japan from his motorcycle days, not V8s. All the other Australian drivers who are currently racing overseas did the smart thing and got the hell out of Australia before they stepped into a V8 Supercar and were forgotten by the rest of the world forever. Ryan Briscoe has signed with HRT to drive at Sandown and Bathurst. That will be curtains on his open wheeler/international career, just like James Courtney.
I am all for international drivers and teams having a go at a domestic series but what I would like to see is them bringing their own cars and teams so we can have some proper competition. For that to happen the controlling bodies would have to use a similar set of rules for each series so the cars were compatible. Imagine a European team bringing a Jag to race at Bathurst again, or an Alfa Romeo. Imagine if Ford America bought a new Shelby Cobra GT500 to go up against a Commodore and Falcon. Imagine some of our Australian teams going to the Spa or Nurburgring 24 hours to strut their stuff. Imagine if Formula 1 teams could still enter their cars in the Indy 500.
That's what world motorsport needs, a uniform set of rules to accomodate each countries motorsport culture. Then each country could have their own series on their own soil but still have an international flavour.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

No, leave the cars as over-powered silhouette beasts. One of the big myths about Trans Am is that the tube-frames killed it. Well, guess again. The cars have been tube framed since about 1975, that's 30 YEARS of Trans Am competition under more or less the current rules.

And guess what, there's been MORE FACTORY PARTICIPATION with the tube frames than there ever was in the years of A Sedan Production (the Trans Am Challenge's formal SCCA classification in those days). Jaguar, Qvale, Panoz, Audi, Porsche, Merkur, and the traditional standbys of Dodge, Chevy, and Ford, have all come to play with full factory efforts.

Oddly enough, from 1966 to 1975, there never was a factory Mustang or Camaro effort in Trans Am. Only AMC, Mercury, Dodge, and Plymouth had factory teams, and AMC's team was in competition the longest at a grand total of 3 years.

The tube frame cars also have a huge amateur participation following as the SCCA's GT1 classification. These cars used to make the fields swell in Trans Am to 40 odd cars. They're easier to maintain, have a longer shelf life in competition, and have made for the single wildest road racing series in the world.

There is not ANYTHING in road racing today that matches the visceral impact of a full-boat Derhaag Corvette or AER Camaro bellowing through The Kink at Elkhart Lake, then slamming the brakes and squirrelling around, belching flames, the Jerico four-speed whirring as the driver bangs down through the gears, then hearing the big carb'ed V8 roar as the driver gets back into the gas, feathering a little as the car pitches sideways out of the corner, scrabbling for grip and clawing back to speed.

It's raw, violent, visceral racing that is desperately needed in these days of seen-it again, quiet, politically correct motorsport.

 

[Schrodes]

No, leave the cars as over-powered silhouette beasts. One of the big myths about Trans Am is that the tube-frames killed it. Well, guess again. The cars have been tube framed since about 1975, that's 30 YEARS of Trans Am competition under more or less the current rules.

I guess I was comparing the tube framed cars to V8 Supercars in that they no longer represent the car whose shape is bolted to their frame and the lack of character. What I miss is seeing a driver working the wheel around a corner, watching the nose of the car dive under brakes and lean into the corner and seeing the car snap into power oversteer as the driver straightens up coming out of a corner. You don't see that in V8 Supercars. They might as well be on rails. Obviously the driver is working very hard but you don't get to see that in the cars behavior.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

All in all, I welcome international competition for ANY motorsport. Marcus Ambrose wants some NASCAR truck action, so why not give him the chance? I'd prefer him in ALMS GT racing or maybe Rolex Sports Cars, but yeah. Okay, your ideas, please.

Well, there are three questions here, aren't there?

Firstly, Should non-residents be allowed to drive in domestic racing series? It's a thorny question. On the one hand, you want the best drivers available, and if they're from some foreign field, it's not a huge problem. Especially if one of your home-grown boys can see off the foreign scum!! (Note: xenophobic overtone here is not meant seriously). But on the downside, it can make life difficult for domestic drives to break into a series populated by foreigners, and shouldn't the domestic series be the preserve of domestic drivers? I say no. Whomsoever wishes to and is able to should be allowed to drive in any series, in my view.

Secondly, Should foreign racing organisations be allowed to compete in domestic racing series?. Trickier one, this. Again, I can see both sides, although I am generally negative about it. I think that Schnitzer brought huge professionalism to the BTCC in 1992. Audi (in '93) used a British team as a bridgehead for its own assault, which was successful and worthy. But then in '94, Alfa Corse came over with a bunch of trick 155s, and dominated the series in what was apparent at the time to be a cynical pillaging of the championship. It speaks volumes that in '95 they handed the whole lot over to Prodrive, minus the budget, and the car bombed.

Finally, Should domestic championships run offshore rounds? (Note: I use the term "offshore" to denote rounds outside the domestic's borders). I actually think that this is generally a bad idea. Yes, I think it's good that championships hold foreign rounds, but actually I think it detracts from the championship itself. I do not support NASCAR going to Mexico, for example. The DTM's international pretensions (cf 1995) killed it because they pushed the budgets beyond the pail whilst reducing the overall audience by taking it out of its core market. I saw a round of the ITC (nee DTM) in Donington, and it was awesome, but at the time it was like watching the last throes of a dying animal. You knew that the series was cannibalising itself. I worry that Super GT is doing the same thing: rebranding and going international is bound to harm the core values upon which any domestic series is so dependent.

I think that Schrodes is close to the money. I like to see a common ruleset facilitating special event competitions between domestic series. The World Touring Car Cup (as opposed to the current international WTCC) was an awesome event, and I just loved it when the Super Tourers went to Bathurst.

So there you have it. My perceptions on the topic at hand...

 

[Jim Prower]

Now, there's allowing international cars, and there's allowing different cars of different types to race.

Toyota's car runs on the same platform as anyone else's. NASCAR is sticking to their guns on their formula, that is Midsized bodies and Pushrod, Carb'd V-8s in tube-frame chassis. that's what they need to do.

Now, about the Mexico City race...Well, I'm not sure. on one hand, i'd like to see more Road course races, (Still laments the death of Riverside.) but we have plenty of good tracks here. I'm not sure about going other places. I mean, i'd like to, but there's the cost thing.

as for drivers, we don't care where you're from, that's America. if you wanna drive a stock car, you're welcome to it.

I like JGTC here. I'd like to see V-8 Supercars here, with a Charger SRT-8 Entry. I'd like to see DTM here. I don't mind foreign series coming here.

 

[YSSMAN]

As a diehard NASCAR fan, I can understand why so many people are pissed about Mexico... Its like OUR sport is being taken away from US. If you really look at it, the two most American sports in America today are Football (not Soccer) and NASCAR...

But in general, I really dont mind the sport going international. It keeps it interesting, and it opens up the popularity of the sport to a whole new segment of people... Although classifying Mexicans as people may be questionable (J/K, but some of my fellow rednecks think that way)...

As to Toyota getting into NASCAR, all I have to say is "Meh." Sure, Toyota surprised a few folks in the trucks series, but the big three figured it out, and proceeded to beat the snot out of Toyota and take the drivers and manufactuers championship. I'm pretty sure the same will happen in the "big show," and its not like many NASCAR fans are going to be out buying Toyotas because Michael Waltrip is winning races in them...

F1 however, is a tricky subject. There arent any American teams nor any American drivers (that I know of) that are currently competing in F1. That right there is a big turnoff for many Americans. The other is that the cars have in no way any similarities to any production models, and therefore people automatically loose interest. They also dont have a grasp on how those cars work, as they are a gazillion times more complicated than any American NASCAR or GT car would ever be.

...Thats all I feel like talking about for now... Maybe I'll wrap it up later...

 

[Schrodes]

I know in the Australian Sprintcar Title only Australian citizens are allowed to compete. This is the same for the state titles, NSW, QLD etc. The main reason for this is if they allowed the Americans to race, once winning the title they would piss off back to America for the World of Outlaws and not come back until the next Australian Title. The way they currently run the title is that an Australian wins the Australian Title and that is a promotional tool for the rest of the year. All the tracks that host an event where the Australia 1 car races can advertise that the Australian Sprintcar Champion will be racing and attract more spectators.
I think the Speedcar (Midgets) title is different. I believe they allow internationals in the Speedcar Title.

There arent any American teams nor any American drivers (that I know of) that are currently competing in F1.

Scott Speed is starting with Toro Rosso this year.

I think that Schrodes is close to the money. I like to see a common ruleset facilitating special event competitions between domestic series. The World Touring Car Cup (as opposed to the current international WTCC) was an awesome event, and I just loved it when the Super Tourers went to Bathurst.

The problem is that if the two governing bodies for motorsport in Australia can't agree with eachother, how are they going to agree with the governing bodies from several other countries.

 

[JohnBM01]

The Champ Car World Series is an American-based series. But since the Champ Car/IRL breakup, they've been more of an American series still reluctant to try international racing locales. Probably the most popular is the Surfer's Paradise event whereas the Champ Car stars race on the lovely (and tricky) street course. There was a complaint about how come the championship can't begin and end in America. In some way, I do believe something can be done about that. I can recall when the series started wirh Homestead or [the late] Nazareth, then finished at California Speedway and that high-speed thrill ride. Champ Car used to race Motegi... now the IRL does. The Honda-owned Twin Ring Motegi Superspeedway course plays host to the series' only international course on the tricky oval. It wasn't until 2004 or so in which Honda finally won an Indy Car race at its home track.

I guess where I'm getting at is, there are series that want to take on these challenges. They don't have to, but they do. Regardless of what anyone says, I still consider America and Canada two different countries. This is true even as the GARRA and ALMS race in Canada. This is the funny thing. People were talking about brining NASCAR to Canada. Well, why is it sort of okay for NASCAR to hold a race in Canada (Mosport would be perfect), but have people hate the idea of NASCAR in Mexico? Hell, NASCAR could have had racing at Interlagos or Brasilia and I'd still support them taking on a unique challenge. It's still within the Americas, and I think times are in about Eastern Time, maybe even 1 hour ahead, so it isn't like waking up at 7AM Eastern time to see an F1 race on Speed Channel or anything.

Because I love racing and love a world of challenges, I admire the idea of domestic series taking on new tracks. I see no patriotic or ethnocentric points of view about a domestic series racing in some other place. It isn't like a series is going to be based in one country while the race schedule goes all around the globe and... maybe a stop back home. I think it's all about the racing. I seem to believe more about taking on challenges at different courses in different places. That's what Formula One is like. That's what FIA GT is like. I'll even extend this point to the A1GP, FIM Superbike, MotoGP (one of my personal favorites), and the World Rally Championship among others. I still think domestic racing series should still do things laissez-faire. Just work to keep the exposure and support highly intact. If they want to be completely clear on not stepping out of bounds, many series should just simply have certain "Special Stages" of race events, whereas these will be non-championship races and just give teams a chance to race for fun. I don't think us Americans would use a term as "Special Stage," but I like competition from all comers. Oh... and by the way. This even includes American cars racing in the Super GT series such as the Viper, Mosler MT900R, and the Ford GT likely to debut in Nihon (Japan).

Or does it seem sometimes that most of our own American series gets a bit too picky about international involvement, compared to some other domestic series?

 

[TheCracker]

...If they want to be completely clear on not stepping out of bounds, many series should just simply have certain "Special Stages" of race events, whereas these will be non-championship races and just give teams a chance to race for fun.

Trouble with this is that with motorsport being so expensive, a non-championship round becomes an unnecessary distraction that just cuts into their yearly budget.

Or does it seem sometimes that most of our own American series gets a bit too picky about international involvement, compared to some other domestic series?

On the contrary, Champ Car and to a lesser extent IRL, have a mostly non-US driver line-up. ALMS also has a high volume of non-domestic drivers and the Champ Car/IRL 'feeder' series (i forget what they call them these days) also appear to have a lot of South American and European drivers.

As far as the actual cars are concerned, with the exception of relative new comers Panoz, Champ Car/IRL chassis have been mostly Reynard, Lola or Dallara - all european. ALMS, and whatever sportscars series came before it have also used mostly European or Japanese chassis.

I think with perhaps the exception of DTM, American race series have a long history of competing overseas (or across continent) - They even named the shorter version of Brands Hatch after the Indy car series when they raced in the UK in the 70's!. Indy/Champ/IRL have raced in the UK, Germany, Mexico, Japan, Australia and even Italy (Monza's high-banked 'oval' in the 50's) So really, apart from traditional/backwards NASCAR and it's spin-offs, the US has a very 'international' flavour to its top-end racing scene.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

Cracker, Reynard and Lola only became popular when rules began to prohibit anything else.

Gurney's AAR Eagle was really the last alternative to a Reynard/Lola in Champ Car, and that effort folded in 1999. I can't find my exact date, but some time before that Roger Penske stopped building his own chassis and switched to Reynards.

The sports car series that came before ALMS was IMSA Camel GT, and guess what - IT WAS MOSTLY AMERICAN BUILT CARS.

True, power (and financing) came from overses, but the cars were built by America's substantial constructor base, which equals even Britain for sheer number of shops.

The list goes as follows in GTP alone......

Porsche 935's, Jaguar XJR-5/7, Porsche 962 - Fabcar
Mustang/Probe GTP - Roush
Porsche 962, Nissan ZXT - Chapman
Porsche 962 - Holbert
Toyota Eagle - Dan Gurney's AAR Eagle
Chevy Intrepid - Riley & Scott
Mazda RX792P - Crawford

(as far as why several 962 builders are listed, the 962 was in such high demand amongst IMSA competitors that its construction according to IMSA spec - the base 962 was woefully uncompetitive and didn't meet several safety, aerodynamic, and chassis regs - that Porsche farmed its construction out to respected IMSA chassis builders, who each put their individual touches on the car)

The Riley & Scott MkIII was the dominant chassis in the World Sports Car classification that took over from GTP as the top rung class, and only the Dallara developed Ferrari 333SP was able to actively take the fight to America's little wedge that could. This chassis remained competitive in ALMS/IMSA well past its original appearance in IMSA competition in 1995, up until the appearance of the BMW LMR V12, and also found success in Grand Am SRP competition until the dissolution of the SRP1 category, at which time the Crawford SSC2K was giving it fits.

Not to mention the Riley & Scott MkIII received a bodywork update - the MkIIIC - that brought it in line with its competitors, but a lack of development money meant it was no better off against the Audi R8 than the Panoz LMP01/07, the Cadillac LMP02, Dallara-Judd, or Lola B2K10. Autocon, however, campaigned a MkIIIC up until this year's purchase of the ex-Dyson Lola EX257.

American chassis and cars are in sports car racing, don't EVER make the mistake of figuring that road racing - especially in our series - are still dominated by European cars. We've been proving ever since the Scarab and Cunningham that defeating European cars is entirely within our realm of ease.

 

[TheCracker]

Layla's Keeper - i wasn't saying that European or Japanese manufacturers dominate the US racing scene, it would be a sweeping statement to do so and i have better knowledge than that. All i was pointing out is that the top-flight US racing scene isn't as insular as John was making it out to be.

However, i find it a bit of a stretch of the imagination to class any Porsche 962/956 or 935 as an American built car - sure the teams that ran them will have substantialy modified them, but so did the European based teams like Kremer, its always been the case in sportscar racing that 'customer' cars will be modified by whoever buys them to suit their needs - there's no such thing as an 'off-the-peg' sports car.

I'm pretty sure that the Mustang/Probe was originally built and run by Zakspeed and based originally on their Group5 Capri.

You only have to look at the entry list for any late 80's IMSA event to see that 70% of the competitors have their origins from outside the US. Porsche, Jaguar/TWR, Spice, March, Lola, Argo, Tiga...

As for Champ/IRL/CART - as far as i can see, with the exception of Penske and the odd Eagle, most of the chassis competing since 1983 have been March, Lola and more recently Reynard.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

While the Group5/IMSA GTX category car was a Zakspeed conversion, as was the first IMSA Mustang GTP car (the front engine beast that competed early on with the Group 44 Jaguar), the later rear engine car was built entirely by Roush.

 

[RACECAR]

I think racing series opening the doors to other countries is awesome as it adds a challenge and diversity to the series. Drivers from around the world, I believe that that alone can establish some world class racing status. now unlike maybe some race fans, I watch all kinds of racing, whether its american or european, in america or in europe. heres my opinion on some racing series:
JGTC-I think that its just mainly young import fans who watched "fast and furious" too much and all the sudden get the idea that seeing a honda pass an chevy or a dodge is the coolest thing ever, at the same time, haven't gotten to watch racing in its Grassroots.
NASCAR-I think that keeping the old tracks that made the sport popular at the same time adding new venues can further expand the brand to new heights, attracting fans of all kinds.
TRANS-AM-what other series lets you hear Loud V8s and see those huge flames spitting out of the pipes? I think most young racing fans(why are they so close damn minded?)don't seem attracted to it.again, they do not understand real racing from the grass roots so as a result, anything with a wing on it that goes fast is a race car.
Formula 1
I think that racing series needs to cut down on the politics and complexity. you notice that seems to be the only series which keeps having the costs go up so much every year? seemingly, all of the old american race series that Layla's Keeper and Cracker brought up were simple and if you look at the ALMS and GARRA, they are simple:
ALMS prototypes- weight limitations and engine restrictions. GARRA prototypes- even more simple production based engine restrictions. ALMS GTs-cars based on production cars. GARRA GTs-Road cars modified to race under "Prep 2" requirements.
I think the ultimate answer is the theme one used by Bill Riley for his race cars-Simplicity.

to end this post of my opinion, the Keyword here:Open

 

[JohnBM01]

I confess! It's sad to see Trans-Am go if it is indeed "dead." I'd take the roar of those Trans-Am racers and their racing more than NASCAR. I even admit that sprint cars have wonderful engine noise as well. When it comes to V8 sound however... you can't go wrong with the Australian V8 Supercars.

In talking about domestic series going to other places, there is another key factor- acceptance. I never liked the C6R's racing in sportscar racing (especially not that "Velocity Yellow." Okay for sports cars but not "hot hatches." Never understood it.), but the French loved the roar of the Corvettes. I think if people embraced a certain type of racing, then the usually domestic racing series will be liked by another audience. Look at the NASCAR racers who raced in the Busch series event in Mexico along with Mexican nationals. Obviously, there is a following for "stock" car racing like here in America. I think the acceptance is something Mexican racing fans can likely appreciate. Fans of Champ Car in Canada and Australia like some of the racing action when Champ Car came to town. Acceptance is probably another key element of series doing well outside of the main country. I guess this would also apply to the D1GP as well.

RACECAR, I wouldn't stereotype on Super GT by linking it to the "Fast and Furious" series (I heard the original movie had muscle cars and such before the import/sport compact useage in the series. This true?). I've loved the JGTC because the competition is heated and combines two elements: sprint racing, and endurance racing. I grew up as a racing fan by watching NASCAR, because that was all the racing to keep me busy as a racing fan. I've always seemed to have a lot of respect for Jeff Gordon. I think he's won more races and titles at age 30 or something... than most others have done before 30+. I first seen Trans-Am sometimes on TNN (then The Nashville Network, now Spike TV) in 1999 because I didn't have (then) Speedvision. I loved the series for the lovely cars and lovely roar of the V8s. Just to watch TV and listen to the V8 beasts zoom down a backstretch was sweet music.

On a WindTunnel show and even on NASCAR Trackside, there were people wondering where NASCAR would race if they were in Canada. To me, Mosport would be the best pick. I think Mosport really suits the NASCAR rides very well. If they want to really some attention, why not Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant? It's a track the GARRA races, and I'll admit... it's a beautiful track. The ALMS races Mosport in Canada, but Mont-Tremblant would be a nice pickup as well. Carry on, GTPlanet!

 

[RACECAR]

RACECAR, I wouldn't stereotype on Super GT by linking it to the "Fast and Furious"well I'm not necessarily saying thats all they are, but it seems like its mostly just import fans that seem to show any interest and just might be those who didn't get interested Like you or I did watching NASCAR. I do apoligize if it did sound stereotypical as I seem to see an increasing number of closeminded race fans.

 

[JohnBM01]

It's okay, fellow Texan of mine (RACECAR). You're clean about the "Fast and Furious" deal you tagged onto the JGTC/Super GT.

 

[RACECAR]

I appreciate that fellow Texan:tup: like I said, it seems as if race fans are slowly becoming closed-minded. they are becoming so stereotypical.

 

[animateria]

They are? Personally I enjoy watching almost any motorsport that I can (exceptions being drag racing...)... Nowadays it being NASCAR since thats the only one on regular TV channels (no cable)... Tried to watch American Lemans once but couldn't get reception so turned on the live radio broadcast.... I go nuts for WRC(or rally clips I can find on the net. Good websites anyone?)... Never seen much of JGTC so I would like to see it... D1GP is interesting... Seen some Indy action on TV before...

I don't understand people who just enjoy one motorsport... Its just pointless...

As for NASCAR... Its fine in its form... It is exciting to watch... I don't think it really needs much international involvement at all... I just think the other motorsports in the U.S. need some backing...

Just for reference I'm a Californian (Who was born in Georgia, lived in Arizona then Korea.. Then California ). An 'Asian' who only owned Hondas so far... And did watch the two F&Fs...

.................Okay... I admit I do play games a bit excessively.........

 

[RACECAR]

well, the american Le mans series will have five races on CBS so hopefully that solves your problem.

back on topic, some people are so closed off to see outside the box if you will. you could say that they are basically closed minded, where only what they believe is racing applies and anything else is ludacrous.

 

[kart racer]

I feel that the off shore racing is good for any racing body.It adds new blood to the fan base as well helps with the intrest in the given event.It evens helps the local scene as it seems to bring out people that would not regulary be there.As a "true" race fan,(I will watch anything) I feel that as long as the cost dose not get out of control,let them race were they feel the crowd is.Now if we can only get some of the big shows out west in Saskatchewan. 👍

 

[JohnBM01]

I like Ludacris, but it's "ludicrous," RACECAR... ^_^👍

 

[RACECAR]

I like Ludacris, but it's "ludicrous," RACECAR... ^_^👍

oh it sounded the same so I thought that was the word for some reason. thanks for pointing that out.👍 ^_^

 

[JohnBM01]

I don't know if it's just America who are so much of "screw the rest of the world, let's focus on America." Are some other nations like this? Italy and England and such embraced the DTM with tracks like Donnington Park and Adria Raceway (Italian course, can be seen in "ToCA Race Driver 2"). I don't know, do we get to be a bit overprotective about our domestic race series?

I had America in mind when it comes to domestic race series competing worldwide (worldwide meaning any nation besides its home nation). This means Champ Car in Canada and Australia. This means Brazilian Stock Car in Argentina (or do you all race outside of Brazil?). This means Australian V8s racing in China's awesome Shanghai Circuit. I love having an international focus on racing issues with America. America isn't the only nation in the world, so I'm sure whatever issues we have in America, someone somewhere else in the world may have the same beef with racing as we do. Therefore, I'm proud to share some issues I've seen with America's racing public with the world so we can see if things are any different elsewhere. I agree with my friend "Kart Racer" as we sort of have the same views of domestic series in international competition.

Now outside of racing, here are some examples of domestic teams having some international involement. The NFL is considering having a regular season game in England (preferably London). No, not NFL Europe. But this is probably since the series played in Mexico City, Mexico last season. This is despite the fact it was San Francisco and Arizona. Even in the NFL, some preseason games are played in Japan. Funny enough in college basketball, Division 1 independent school Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (or was it Texas Pan-American?) welcomed Monterrey Tech, a Mexican school. The Texas school in question won the game. In Division 2 college basketball, there are as many as four different schools in Puerto Rico playing in America. These include Puerto Rico-Bayamon, Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Puerto Rico-Cayey, and Puerto Rico-Rio Pierdas. The only reason why I mention some other non-racing sports is because racing in a sport. What really makes racing any different from any other sport in the sense of a domestic-born sport taking the sport or series into another market?

Just something to think about in regards to racing.

 

[animateria]

I don't think we are being overprotective... We just don't have a huge reason to do so yet... I don't know much about the situation with NASCAR (My knowledge is pretty shallow) but the U.S. market for it is huge from what I know. Quite frankly if your big in the U.S. your already cashing in a big profit. There isn't a real reason to spread out overseas because it costs more than what you gain... Especially since racing means that they need to move their cars overseas... Moving people around costs less and takes less time...

Mexico or Canada is most likely to have more races cause its easier to go to those areas though...

 

[Elegy]

Other nations are indeed at least partially like that. Or, at least the fanbases are. Many people thought (and some still do think) that the idea of an American in F1 again is farcical at best. I've even run into a few people who laughed at the idea of an American Le Mans series: "What, do they run on ovals for 24 hours straight or something?"

Also, I can't agree with you calling the C6-R a "hot hatch". 👎