2012 GP New York

[mkay]

My whole point is that there seems to be only one circuit that will currently meet Bernie Ecclestones demands - Indy. I'm guessing that any other circuit would need a massive amount of investment and work done and would loose much of its character. Indy was not a particularly good F1 race but I would like to see F1 at Laguna Seca. Sadly it is probably too short and in some repects basic for F1.

When there are circuits like Imola, Buenos Aries, Paul Ricard, Mangy Cours standing idle, it seems more sensible to use those then spend a huge amount of cash on upgrading a circuit in the US for a race that may not last.

But this has nothing to do with my personnal opinion of America but is to do with not wanting to see what may be a good track get ruined - like Donnington.

I like how you call Laguna Seca basic and how you mention Paul Ricard (which is a good test track) and Magny Cours (which is a god awful track no matter how you put it). Buenos Aires was meh. Too mickey mouse-y. The only good track was Imola, but it was a borefest as it was near impossible to overtake and the infrastructure were not up to par with the rest.

Indy was not a flashy track but gave some great duels and fights over its stint as the host of the US GP.

[andrew]

My whole point is that there seems to be only one circuit that will currently meet Bernie Ecclestones demands - Indy. I'm guessing that any other circuit would need a massive amount of investment and work done and would loose much of its character. Indy was not a particularly good F1 race but I would like to see F1 at Laguna Seca. Sadly it is probably too short and in some repects basic for F1.

When there are circuits like Imola, Buenos Aries, Paul Ricard, Mangy Cours standing idle, it seems more sensible to use those then spend a huge amount of cash on upgrading a circuit in the US for a race that may not last.

But this has nothing to do with my personnal opinion of America but is to do with not wanting to see what may be a good track get ruined - like Donnington.

I like how you call Laguna Seca basic and how you mention Paul Ricard (which is a good test track) and Magny Cours (which is a god awful track no matter how you put it). Buenos Aires was meh. Too mickey mouse-y. The only good track was Imola, but it was a borefest as it was near impossible to overtake and the infrastructure were not up to par with the rest.

Indy was not a flashy track but gave some great duels and fights over its stint as the host of the US GP.

Laguna Seca is a top notch track but as far as Bernie Ecclestone's usual demands go it is basic. I actually quite like Mangy Cours and it does have a couple passing opportunities. The same goes for Buenos Aries.

[WhiteBlue]

Regarding the geographic location of Monticello Raceway:

In my opnion this is one of the better geographic locations you could pick in all of the United States. So what if certain "rich & famous" people are turned off by a 90 minute limo ride to get to the track. Is that what makes a good F1 venue, the ability for rich people to easily get to the circuit in under 30 minutes? Sorry for beating a dead horse.

Here's why its a good location:
1. 90 minutes from New York City, an easy drive for anyone living in NYC, and an even easier drive from the West Chester area, and south western Conneticut (both wealthy areas) The greater New York area has an enourmous population (19 million people). Not to mention the track is a 10 mile drive from a Metro North Train Station. Even people without cars, who were located in NYC or near a metro north station could easily get to this circuit (and drink beers on the train while doing so). All that they would have to do is set up a shuttlebus to and from the circuit.
2. About 2.5 hours from Philadelphia (even closer for nothern suberbs), another very large metropolitan area (9 million people) million).
3. About 3 hours from Boston, yet another large metropolitan area(6 Million people)
4. The area has a beautiful rolling landscape, which should make for a great circuit.

This circuit would by no means be in the middle of nowhere, considering there are about 30 million people within a 3 hour drive.

The best news is the Metro station ten miles from the track. I guess that people would probably accept that and you would get 50.000 day tips from NY metro area to provide a basic stock of spectators. If you get another 15.000 to camp and use local facilities you might have something that could work with some massive investment. They would need at least 5.000 local hotel rooms for the teams, hangers on and the press. Not totally sexy but workable.

[sticky667]

There's no mention of the queue of fans lining up in the Belgian or German mountains waiting hours to get into the gate at Spa or Nürburgring. There are no rail links or anything going directly to the front gate, there are no hotels or any other form of civilization either. But those races are still there year in and year out.

Why is it so difficult to imagine this place hosting the race. It's fairly close in proximity to NYC and the infrastructure is well in place a few clicks down the road. Plenty of hotels, restaurants, public transport and an international airport 10 mins from the track. Hell the cabbies from NYC could make it killing over that weekend to leave the city and service the GP from the metro up to the circuit.

[ISLAMATRON]

Just have to throw in that I laugh at Monticello being called "Upstate", but I guess to people in the city anything North of them is upstate (so the entire state).

Anything north of the Bronx is upstate, but still worth visiting... unlike Buffalo which is the worst place I've ever been... and I've been to Detroit.

[engineguru00]

Just have to throw in that I laugh at Monticello being called "Upstate", but I guess to people in the city anything North of them is upstate (so the entire state).

Anything north of the Bronx is upstate, but still worth visiting... unlike Buffalo which is the worst place I've ever been... and I've been to Detroit.

Spoken like a true New York city resident. Haha. Don't be insulting the Buffalo. I live here year round and go to school at UB and have no problem with it. It might not be as huge or flashy as NYC, but I like that and its certainly better than a lot of places. Buffalo just had its economy crash a few years before the rest of the US...

I think one of the major hurtles in the US is setting up a race that allows the largest percentage of the population to view it. Stuff in the US is a bit more spread out than in Europe from the impression I am getting. I don't think anything of driving the seven hours to see my parents on a weekend if they need a hand. Most people would be willing to drive at least 3-4 hours for a race, so the allowable distance from a major city is stretched a bit.

[Pandamasque]

I have an idea. Why not have a US Grand Prix at Paul Ricard and just set up a few cranes holding huge posters of Manhattan skyline in the background around the track, isn't that what Bernie wants? Actually they can stick one with Grand Canyon for Friday practices, then switch to LA hills and 'Hollywood' sign for quali, and then go for NYC for the race. Great!

Hang on! They can do with just some bright green background and then any US landscapes can be added into the TV picture as CGI! =D> Plus give some burgers and hats to the French on the grandstands.

[mx_tifoso]

Plus give some burgers and hats to the French on the grandstands.

American stereotype fail! Hot dogs are the preferred 'meal' at sporting events.

[donskar]

Plus give some burgers and hats to the French on the grandstands.

American stereotype fail! Hot dogs are the preferred 'meal' at sporting events.

And weak beer. At $7+ a glass.

[mx_tifoso]

That's $12 right there!

[Pandamasque]

Deal! + some bottles being smashed into the chickenwire.

[WhiteBlue]

Plus give some burgers and hats to the French on the grandstands.

There ain't no grandstands at Paul Ricard. They have all been taken down by the wrecker. There is a small 600 VIP capacity and that's it. The track is a high tech, super safe test track cum private airport. You can't run a GP there unless you just run it for TV. I don't think that the media center with just 50 places is fit for nowadays GP requirements by FOM. Too small and only good for testing.