The Milwaukee Mile is dead, probably for good. This Governor is succeeding in destroying this once great state. This week the lastest deal to find a promoter for the Milwaukee Mile failed when the Governor's State Fair Board quietly changed the already agreed upon contract. The Guiffre Brothers with Menard and other Wisconsin business were our only hope. Trust between the State and WI businesses have been left in ruins.
The Mile will sit now, it's new stands rusting, without races for the foreseeable future. Doyle's DOT also announced this week that the nearby I94 I894 (Zoo) Interchange, which by the way is already diverting truck traffic off the bridges, needs to be rebuilt by May 30, 2010. This emergency bridge rebuild is not the planned 2011 or 2013 redesign. That work will have to come later at more cost. Doyle and his cronies are leaving Wisconsin is decay because they do not understand the importance of cars, roads, and those silly races that glorify a time gone by. The history of this once great track has been destroyed.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
of F1, Renault, & Taking One For The Team
I have no idea what is happening in F1 with Renault and Piquet. Sounds like he was told to take one for the team in Singapore last year, now he's fired, and taking Renault down with him. With that kind of ghost in the closet you think they'd have hung onto Piquet just a few months longer. Instead they decided to embarrass him with a midseason firing.
My take. F1 and many forms of motorsport are indeed team sports. In team sports people come off the bench and commit fouls to stop the clock, pitch at the batter, and yes drive into the wall. It looks like this is what happened.
Regarding Bernie's comments about this pushing Renault out of the series. Why should the FIA care? Renault is gone soon anyway. Comments like this do not help the FIA's appearance. They are often accused of looking a blind eye at rules when it involves their favorite teams. If the FIA is going to do nothing they should do and say just that - nothing. If the FIA doesn't like that kind of behavior they should deal with it harshly when it happens, not 2/3 through the next season.
My take. F1 and many forms of motorsport are indeed team sports. In team sports people come off the bench and commit fouls to stop the clock, pitch at the batter, and yes drive into the wall. It looks like this is what happened.
Regarding Bernie's comments about this pushing Renault out of the series. Why should the FIA care? Renault is gone soon anyway. Comments like this do not help the FIA's appearance. They are often accused of looking a blind eye at rules when it involves their favorite teams. If the FIA is going to do nothing they should do and say just that - nothing. If the FIA doesn't like that kind of behavior they should deal with it harshly when it happens, not 2/3 through the next season.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Saved The Mile - Lost The Race
There is not much else to say. The State Fair Board reacted too slowly. They picked a "top promoter" but the agreement is dependent securing NASCAR and IRL races for 2010. Today the IRL dropped the Milwaukee Mile from the 2010 schedule.
Now what? This plan never had a chance and Doyle the Weasel's cronies knew it.
Now what? This plan never had a chance and Doyle the Weasel's cronies knew it.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Mile
Your calls and emails are working...
from 12 WISN
Milwaukee 2009/07/21
Wisconsin State Fair Park is looking for someone to run the Milwaukee Mile.
The board of directors decided to end its contract with Wisconsin Motorsports, which was running the track.
Park officials said the promoter faced insurmountable financial challenges.
The board said it's looking for a new promoter to secure IRL and NASCAR races for next year.
from 12 WISN
Milwaukee 2009/07/21
Wisconsin State Fair Park is looking for someone to run the Milwaukee Mile.
The board of directors decided to end its contract with Wisconsin Motorsports, which was running the track.
Park officials said the promoter faced insurmountable financial challenges.
The board said it's looking for a new promoter to secure IRL and NASCAR races for next year.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Save The Milwaukee Mile
I could write about a lot of things this week. The ALMS is denying all rumors about Grand Am DP buyouts or mergers. The ALMS is closer to the ACO than ever. The ALMS admits that the 2009 Le Mans break was too long. OK. That's all great - really. I could say more but do not have time. The FIA and FOTA are still fighting and plans continue to move forward for a new FOTA series. This is just getting silly. FOTA - go for it. Bernie and Max have shown their time has passed them by. But there is something that has been keeping me up at night all week and now the news broke - The Milwaukee Mile has been driven into the ground by a promotions hack and it needs your help.
Some background - The Milwaukee Mile is a $150 to $180 million, newly renovated asset owned by the State of WI, overseen by the WI State Fair Board, and it's promotional rights are leased out. The current promoter is Wisconsin Motorsports' Claude Napier. The Giuffre Brothers successfully ran the track from 1983 until 1991. The Mile is 106 years old. It's North America's oldest continuously run race track and has always had a major sanctioned race.
Stories (1, 2, 3) have been out there for a few weeks now. On July 2, Mark Belling discussed the situation in depth on his radio show. The Milwaukee Mile can't pay the bills it owes to the IRL and NASCAR. We are talking about nearly $4 million for the 2009 races. Claude "The Hack" Napier, head of Wisconsin Motorsports can't seem to make money with a NASCAR weekend. As of July 8 the remainder of 2009's races have been canceled. In 2010 the track could be closed.
The Giuffre Brothers have offered - pleaded with the State Fair Board to allow them to come out of retirement and take over the running of The Milwaukee Mile. The Giuffre's have reported that they have backing from John Menard. Mr Menard runs a small lumber yard hardware store business and has a small interest in motorsports. The offer seems like a no-brainer for Governor Doyle and Wisconsin.
The Milwaukee Mile needs your help. The following people or organizations can make a difference but they need to know that Wisconsin's racing heritage and The Mile are worth saving. Please contact them now.
Some background - The Milwaukee Mile is a $150 to $180 million, newly renovated asset owned by the State of WI, overseen by the WI State Fair Board, and it's promotional rights are leased out. The current promoter is Wisconsin Motorsports' Claude Napier. The Giuffre Brothers successfully ran the track from 1983 until 1991. The Mile is 106 years old. It's North America's oldest continuously run race track and has always had a major sanctioned race.
Stories (1, 2, 3) have been out there for a few weeks now. On July 2, Mark Belling discussed the situation in depth on his radio show. The Milwaukee Mile can't pay the bills it owes to the IRL and NASCAR. We are talking about nearly $4 million for the 2009 races. Claude "The Hack" Napier, head of Wisconsin Motorsports can't seem to make money with a NASCAR weekend. As of July 8 the remainder of 2009's races have been canceled. In 2010 the track could be closed.
The Giuffre Brothers have offered - pleaded with the State Fair Board to allow them to come out of retirement and take over the running of The Milwaukee Mile. The Giuffre's have reported that they have backing from John Menard. Mr Menard runs a small lumber yard hardware store business and has a small interest in motorsports. The offer seems like a no-brainer for Governor Doyle and Wisconsin.
The Milwaukee Mile needs your help. The following people or organizations can make a difference but they need to know that Wisconsin's racing heritage and The Mile are worth saving. Please contact them now.
| WI State Fair Board 640 South 84th Street West Allis, WI 53214 1.800.884.FAIR | Jim Doyle WI Governor Madison Office P.O. Box 7863 Madison, WI 53707 608-266-1212 |
| Senator Herb Kohl Washington Office 330 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-5653 Fax: (202) 224-9787 | Senator Russ Feingold Washington, DC 506 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-4904 (202) 224-5323 TDD (202) 224-1280 Fax (202) 224-2725 |
| Scott Walker Milwaukee County Executive 901 N. 9th Street Courthouse, Room 306 Milwaukee, WI 53233-1458 Phone: 414-278-4211 Fax: 414-223-1375 countyexec@milwcnty.com | Dan Devine West Allis Mayor 7525 W. Greenfield Ave West Allis, WI 53214 (414) 302-8200 |
Thursday, July 2, 2009
of ALMS & Indianapolis
In the past two months the Hulman-George family ousted Tony from 1st being CEO of IMS and then IRL. Mom allowed Tony to stay on the various boards but like all good children he is to be seen and not heard.
Things are changing on Georgetown Road and they might be looking for a sports car race. Now, the American Le Mans Series web site is running a poll. "Would you like to see the Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?" Well, Duh! YES! Please head over to the ALMS and vote yes.
I know it would be too much to ask the ACO to allow a 24° of Indianapolis but a 12° enduro there would be spectacular.
Things are changing on Georgetown Road and they might be looking for a sports car race. Now, the American Le Mans Series web site is running a poll. "Would you like to see the Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?" Well, Duh! YES! Please head over to the ALMS and vote yes.
I know it would be too much to ask the ACO to allow a 24° of Indianapolis but a 12° enduro there would be spectacular.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
of The IRL, IMS, & Tony George
NOW the war is over. After being voted out by the Hulman-George board of directors Tony George is no longer the CEO of IMS or his IRL. He was allowed to remain a board member.
Anyone who knows me will remember that I pledged to not attend an IRL race until Tony George apologized for destroying American Open Wheel Racing. With ChampCar gone, I had given up on ever seeing a live IndyCar race again. But now it was announced that Indianapolis Motor Speedway is free of Tony George - mostly. I will take this opportunity to accept, if not Tony's apology, then IMS' admitting to the huge mistake. The Speedway will still need to make me want to come back but there is hope.
This story has been brewing for months: here and here. In May, Tony George was voted out of power CEO of IMS by his mother and sisters. His foolhardy plans for forming the IRL cost the family too much money. Numbers have been reported that come in between $600 to $700 million in 13 years. Mom said, "enough Tony".
Yesterday it was reported that Tony George was stripped of his precious Imitiation Racing League. After last month's firing, Mom allowed Tony to save face and resign as CEO of the IRL and to stay on the various family boards. But, don't make any mistake - Tony is grounded and can't come out to play. He might be allowed to to play on Sundays with his Vision Racing Team - if he saves his allowance & behaves.
This is good news for IndyCar racing. The Hulman-George family could have hired a monkey to do a better job than Tony did. OK. I'll try to be fair. In the nearly 20 years that Tony has been in charge he has done a few good things. He started the Brickyard 400. He brought F1 back to the US and built the road course at IMS. I don't think he can be blamed for losing the USGP. MotoGP now races at Indy. These are good things that bring The Speedway closer to that original plan of Mr Fisher's over 100 years ago. But, Tony's temper tantrum resulted in a 13 year fight over Indy Cars eclipsing all of the progress.
Once it was announced that Tony George no longer controlled the purse strings or the series, the ugly truth was once again openly discussed. Kevin Kalkhoven of KV Racing and former ChampCar owner, "Clearly, we have a problem right now with boring races and old technology so we need new cars and engines as soon as possible." Sure. Now you speak up. Thanks for nothing Kalkhoven. The fans of American Open Wheel Racing knew this last year!
Tony's resignation & dismissal came, at the very least, 18 months too late. ChampCar could have been saved! Heck, the IRL could have been saved. ChampCar and the IRL could have merged on better terms. The Hulman-George family reports that they remain committed to the IndyCar Series as they do all of their companies. But something is up. If Mari's daughters are tired of paying for Tony's folly then why would they remove him only to keep paying for it? I don't believe they will. The former CFO of ChampCar, Gene Cottingham, is currently doing a top to bottom examination of the Hulman-George properties. I'm sure he is to report back on what is worth salvaging. Tony's IRL is eating money even after the 'merger' and the Hulman-George family is tired of paying. Someone needs to step forward and drive IndyCar into its second century.
My hope is that there are more team owners and manufacturers that feel the same way that Kalkhoven feels. Maybe they will step up to save IndyCar. I still have hope for the Indy 500 to return to true greatness by 2011.
Anyone who knows me will remember that I pledged to not attend an IRL race until Tony George apologized for destroying American Open Wheel Racing. With ChampCar gone, I had given up on ever seeing a live IndyCar race again. But now it was announced that Indianapolis Motor Speedway is free of Tony George - mostly. I will take this opportunity to accept, if not Tony's apology, then IMS' admitting to the huge mistake. The Speedway will still need to make me want to come back but there is hope.
This story has been brewing for months: here and here. In May, Tony George was voted out of power CEO of IMS by his mother and sisters. His foolhardy plans for forming the IRL cost the family too much money. Numbers have been reported that come in between $600 to $700 million in 13 years. Mom said, "enough Tony".
Yesterday it was reported that Tony George was stripped of his precious Imitiation Racing League. After last month's firing, Mom allowed Tony to save face and resign as CEO of the IRL and to stay on the various family boards. But, don't make any mistake - Tony is grounded and can't come out to play. He might be allowed to to play on Sundays with his Vision Racing Team - if he saves his allowance & behaves.
This is good news for IndyCar racing. The Hulman-George family could have hired a monkey to do a better job than Tony did. OK. I'll try to be fair. In the nearly 20 years that Tony has been in charge he has done a few good things. He started the Brickyard 400. He brought F1 back to the US and built the road course at IMS. I don't think he can be blamed for losing the USGP. MotoGP now races at Indy. These are good things that bring The Speedway closer to that original plan of Mr Fisher's over 100 years ago. But, Tony's temper tantrum resulted in a 13 year fight over Indy Cars eclipsing all of the progress.
Once it was announced that Tony George no longer controlled the purse strings or the series, the ugly truth was once again openly discussed. Kevin Kalkhoven of KV Racing and former ChampCar owner, "Clearly, we have a problem right now with boring races and old technology so we need new cars and engines as soon as possible." Sure. Now you speak up. Thanks for nothing Kalkhoven. The fans of American Open Wheel Racing knew this last year!
Tony's resignation & dismissal came, at the very least, 18 months too late. ChampCar could have been saved! Heck, the IRL could have been saved. ChampCar and the IRL could have merged on better terms. The Hulman-George family reports that they remain committed to the IndyCar Series as they do all of their companies. But something is up. If Mari's daughters are tired of paying for Tony's folly then why would they remove him only to keep paying for it? I don't believe they will. The former CFO of ChampCar, Gene Cottingham, is currently doing a top to bottom examination of the Hulman-George properties. I'm sure he is to report back on what is worth salvaging. Tony's IRL is eating money even after the 'merger' and the Hulman-George family is tired of paying. Someone needs to step forward and drive IndyCar into its second century.
My hope is that there are more team owners and manufacturers that feel the same way that Kalkhoven feels. Maybe they will step up to save IndyCar. I still have hope for the Indy 500 to return to true greatness by 2011.
Friday, June 26, 2009
ALMS Going to France?
There are rumors flying everywhere since Robin Miller repeated a rumor he heard from "a team principle" that Grand Am and in turn the France Family is looking to eat up the American Le Mans Series.
It would be nice to see sports car racing come together. ALMS car counts are down. LMP1&2 are sorely lacking. Eight cars across the two prototype class causes me to question if I want to buy tickets for this season's Road America race. GT1 has been on life support for the previous 2 seasons and died this year at Long Beach. The ALMS in Utah brought up GT3ish cars from the Challenge series to fill the grid.
Still, Le Mans style racing is the best thing going. The GT2 grid is growing. The fan experience is second to none. Where else can any fan with a general admission ticket walk the pre-race grid among the drivers and their cars? There is hope of Audi coming back with the R15 in 2009 and 2010. Porsche's prototype plans remain to be seen, and we have heard rumors of a Ferrari LMP1. It is true that this is a down year for the ALMS, but the ACO is successfully running the LMS in Europe and kicking off a new Asian Le Mans Series. When FOTA threatened to walk away from F1, we saw F1 team leaders and manufacturers talking to the ACO about running sports cars under ACO rules. Something must be attractive about this form of sports car racing. I had high hopes for 2010.
If a merger is to happen in sports car racing I'd like to see Daytona adopt the ACO's rules rather than ALMS going away. If the ALMS is eaten up by the NASCAR machine this isn't a merger or a coming together at all. It is both sides digging in.
If the France Family gobbles up the American Le Mans Series it is a sad day for the fans. It was fun while it lasted.
I'll be watching this closely.
It would be nice to see sports car racing come together. ALMS car counts are down. LMP1&2 are sorely lacking. Eight cars across the two prototype class causes me to question if I want to buy tickets for this season's Road America race. GT1 has been on life support for the previous 2 seasons and died this year at Long Beach. The ALMS in Utah brought up GT3ish cars from the Challenge series to fill the grid.
Still, Le Mans style racing is the best thing going. The GT2 grid is growing. The fan experience is second to none. Where else can any fan with a general admission ticket walk the pre-race grid among the drivers and their cars? There is hope of Audi coming back with the R15 in 2009 and 2010. Porsche's prototype plans remain to be seen, and we have heard rumors of a Ferrari LMP1. It is true that this is a down year for the ALMS, but the ACO is successfully running the LMS in Europe and kicking off a new Asian Le Mans Series. When FOTA threatened to walk away from F1, we saw F1 team leaders and manufacturers talking to the ACO about running sports cars under ACO rules. Something must be attractive about this form of sports car racing. I had high hopes for 2010.
If a merger is to happen in sports car racing I'd like to see Daytona adopt the ACO's rules rather than ALMS going away. If the ALMS is eaten up by the NASCAR machine this isn't a merger or a coming together at all. It is both sides digging in.
If the France Family gobbles up the American Le Mans Series it is a sad day for the fans. It was fun while it lasted.
I'll be watching this closely.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Mosley: Peace In Our Time
Mosley Announces Peace...
2010 Grid Confirmed...
FOTA stops new series...
FOTA reportedly gets what they demanded. FOTA teams must call off the breakaway series and commit to F1 until 2012. The FIA agreed to accept FOTA's demands and there has been agreement to get back to 1990s spending levels. Details of how that will be done are not yet available. It was these details that caused the rhubarb in the first place, so this will be interesting to see. Despite Max's announced plans to run again for FIA/WMSC president in order to "save" F1; it turns out that the saving move might be his agreement to go quietly into the night at the end of this term.
My take:
Mosley gets to announce that he preserved the peace while the team owners rise in power. The new president, who ever that is, will be beholden to FOTA. The current and future team owners have made it clear that they will race high tech cars against other members of this exclusive club, by their rules, no matter what the series is called.
Whether under the banner of FOTA or not, F1's top teams have threatened this before - as they should - they will do this again. FOTA is stronger. 2012 is not too far away to start laying the groundwork for a series laying in wait.
It looks like 2010's grid with 26 cars is a throwback to early 1990s CART: high car count, several manufactures, a mix of chassis and engine combinations. This could be good.
I had hoped that this threatened split would lead to a true merger of the world's open wheel formulae. With the promise of reduced costs with in two years, is there a chance? Hey. I can dream.
2010 Grid Confirmed...
FOTA stops new series...
FOTA reportedly gets what they demanded. FOTA teams must call off the breakaway series and commit to F1 until 2012. The FIA agreed to accept FOTA's demands and there has been agreement to get back to 1990s spending levels. Details of how that will be done are not yet available. It was these details that caused the rhubarb in the first place, so this will be interesting to see. Despite Max's announced plans to run again for FIA/WMSC president in order to "save" F1; it turns out that the saving move might be his agreement to go quietly into the night at the end of this term.
My take:
Mosley gets to announce that he preserved the peace while the team owners rise in power. The new president, who ever that is, will be beholden to FOTA. The current and future team owners have made it clear that they will race high tech cars against other members of this exclusive club, by their rules, no matter what the series is called.
Whether under the banner of FOTA or not, F1's top teams have threatened this before - as they should - they will do this again. FOTA is stronger. 2012 is not too far away to start laying the groundwork for a series laying in wait.
It looks like 2010's grid with 26 cars is a throwback to early 1990s CART: high car count, several manufactures, a mix of chassis and engine combinations. This could be good.
I had hoped that this threatened split would lead to a true merger of the world's open wheel formulae. With the promise of reduced costs with in two years, is there a chance? Hey. I can dream.
Friday, June 19, 2009
The New Open Wheel Split
| FOTA is announcing that it is setting up a new Formula 1 alternative. They have threatened this before, but the threats were years out and the FIA had given concessions. This time it just might happen. WOW! Tony George needs to call FOTA now and come up with a common formula. 2011 with two series under one formula would be too unbelievable. FOTA teams to launch breakaway series It will never happen. (The Indy/FOTA formula - that is.) |
Thursday, June 18, 2009
GTO Woes
| The Muse seems to have struck some at Slot Car Illustrated as they lament the poor performing 1:32 GTO. SCI Thread: I do not love thee... Below is my submission there and my first attempt at an emailed web log post. grand rouge horse lumbers taunting shouts, "get off the road" - once was three time champ |
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