Remember what Road America did a few years back, grabbing the Chicago Historics
(now known as the Brian Redman International Challenge on that prime July
weekend) from the independent promoter who created that event? It was a very
unpopular move at the time, but the event has survived and prospered in the
years since under VSCDA sanction and rules. Would sanctioning and operation of
the Monterey weekend by a respected group such as CSRG really "destroy" the
event?
Back in Wisconsin, RA has reinvested some of its increased revenue in a greatly
improved facility for spectators and participants alike. Much as I admire,
appreciate and sympathize with the enthusiast-promoters who kept the spark
alive for decades while American road racing events and venues were going dark,
unless the tracks can now share some of the wealth generated by a relative
handful of very popular spectator events, they will not survive to nurture us
in the years to come.
Could any promoter these days negotiate a deal at any track as favorable as the
one General Racing has enjoyed at Laguna Seca? It would be interesting to know
how the proposed terms compare with those for other major races. Are they
wholly out of line? How will this affect SCRAMP and the charitable
organizations it supports?
There's some sad irony in the prospect of vintage racing's premier event
returning to the flat, featureless expanses of military runways where it
flowered generations ago. If only Coronado were a SAC base, the circle would
be complete....
Brian Mertz
PaceCars@aol.com wrote:
> Sounds like a pack of thieves out to steal someone else's hard work. What
> would car selection be based on? Highest bid? Favorite color? All it would
> take is a boycott to stop that bullshit dead in its tracks....so long as no
> other vintage group agrees to take it over. This could be a real test of the
> VMC and the vintage community in general. If they can destroy the Historics,
> no group is safe.
> Harold Pace
>
> In a message dated 9/18/01 10:53:46 AM, cwright@pdghightower.com writes:
>
> << There was an article in AutoWeek last week about the problem. Apparently
> Laguna
> Seca, ala Mazda Raceway, wants to raise the rent 40% and get 1/2 the
> profits. If
> Earl doesn't agree, they will put it on themselves and get all of the
> profits.
> Seems unfair to me. Steve took all of the risks for years to build a
> successful
> program and they just want to confiscate it.
>
> Craig Wright >>
>
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