Baltimore Grand Prix

[pepperjack]

people are still mad about those trees...

Letter to the editor in the Sun comparing (wrongly) the Grand Prix to the Marathon. Said the marathon didn't interrupt traffic (26/13/3 miles through the city didn't inturrpt traffic? I wasn't dodging cars when I ran up Fayette Street at the start of the half). The marathon raised money for charity (I would find it hard to believe there wasn't any charity component to the grand prix, I ran the Grand Prix 5k which labels itself a charity 5k). And then they used the tragic death of Dan Wheldon to call IRL unsafe (every large marathon has a high risk of a death--Chicago had one this month, Baltimore had one in 2009).

The only even remotely valid point they had was the trees, so that has to be it...

[jamie_hunt]

Originally Posted by pepperjack

people are still mad about those trees...

Eh. Trees are a renewable resource. Most of the ones that went down were ugly. Many had girdled roots. All were in fairly crappy pits. Death was in the forecast before long anyway.

And new ones will be planted in the spring. Life is good.

[scando]

Originally Posted by jamie_hunt

Eh. Trees are a renewable resource. Most of the ones that went down were ugly. Many had girdled roots. All were in fairly crappy pits. Death was in the forecast before long anyway.

And new ones will be planted in the spring. Life is good.

A lot of them were due to be torn up for the berm-removal project anyway. They were short lived non-native species and had about hit their probable life span in a city dirt hole.

[micrip]

Originally Posted by pepperjack

people are still mad about those trees...

Letter to the editor in the Sun comparing (wrongly) the Grand Prix to the Marathon. Said the marathon didn't interrupt traffic (26/13/3 miles through the city didn't inturrpt traffic? I wasn't dodging cars when I ran up Fayette Street at the start of the half). The marathon raised money for charity (I would find it hard to believe there wasn't any charity component to the grand prix, I ran the Grand Prix 5k which labels itself a charity 5k). And then they used the tragic death of Dan Wheldon to call IRL unsafe (every large marathon has a high risk of a death--Chicago had one this month, Baltimore had one in 2009).

The only even remotely valid point they had was the trees, so that has to be it...

....I made the mistake of traveling north thru town during the marathon. I was headed up Calvert with the intention of going east on 33rd and then north on Loch Raven. It was well after noon so I thought I was safe. Got detoured off Calvert into a rather nasty area...made my way to 33rd and couldn't use Loch Raven. Had to go way past Lake Montebello and double back. Anyone not having some knowledge of the city would have been in trouble.

[jamie_hunt]

Originally Posted by micrip

....I made the mistake of traveling north thru town during the marathon. ....

I've run in the Marine Corps Marathon in DC a couple times. You can feel the hate of the drivers stuck in traffic on the Virginia side of the 14th Street Bridge, which is around Mile 23. Maybe I was hallucinating at that point, but couldn't help feeling that any one of those drivers would have attempted to beat the crap out of any runner they could get their hands on.

Not sure why they weren't diverted ...

[scando]

Originally Posted by pepperjack

people are still mad about those trees...

Letter to the editor in the Sun comparing (wrongly) the Grand Prix to the Marathon. Said the marathon didn't interrupt traffic (26/13/3 miles through the city didn't inturrpt traffic? I wasn't dodging cars when I ran up Fayette Street at the start of the half). The marathon raised money for charity (I would find it hard to believe there wasn't any charity component to the grand prix, I ran the Grand Prix 5k which labels itself a charity 5k). And then they used the tragic death of Dan Wheldon to call IRL unsafe (every large marathon has a high risk of a death--Chicago had one this month, Baltimore had one in 2009).

The only even remotely valid point they had was the trees, so that has to be it...

You really just can't make some people happy. The marathon is much more disruptive of traffic, although for a shorter period of time. It's worth noting that many more people die in marathons and other foot races than in Indy Cars. In one race in Detroit in '09, there were 3 deaths of runners who THOUGHT they were in good shape. On the other hand, Indy car drivers are all well paid professionals who understand the risks of their brand of sport.

[pepperjack]

yeah, I wrote a response to the sun article that mentioned the death in the Chicago Marathon this month, as well as a Baltimore death in 2009. If you had to bet which race would result in a death in the next 5 years, you'd be a fool not to choose the marathon.

[pepperjack]

I guess the person writing the article is running things now

Baltimore threatens to pull the plug on the IndyCar and ALMS event http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/ne...nd-alms-event/ via @motorsport

[ChrisLHanssen]

Well that does suck. I hope that there is another event in Baltimore.

[micrip]

Well, the 2nd race is in the books, and the question is, will there be another? Attendance was obviously way down from last year, but that could be due to the late start in promoting it.

The race groups themselves seem to be behind it, so that probably bodes well for its continued existence. Further tweaking is required, though. I think Orioles attendance was negatively affected in the week before the race. The O's should consider asking for an extended road trip around next year's dates. Also, any business that is directly on (or within) the course should get free access. Not to install their own seating, but to at least be able to benefit in some way in return for having their access disrupted. Restaurants on Pratt had to pay something like $5,000 this year if they didn't want the view of the track blocked from their premises.

[Balmurfan]

I didn't get to attend this year, but I'm already making plans for next year!

[pfd103]

Originally Posted by Balmurfan

I didn't get to attend this year, but I'm already making plans for next year!

Same here!

[scando]

Originally Posted by Balmurfan

I didn't get to attend this year, but I'm already making plans for next year!

I got a 3 day ticket this year went 2 days (3 days are cheaper than 2 1-day tickets) and really enjoyed it again. I continue to be surprised by all of the negativity that I hear from people that were not even there. I had a conversation with somebody today who characterized the attendees as a bunch of "pot-bellied, brawling, drunk rednecks". She objected to the traffic problems downtown, but admitted that she doesn't GO downtown.

When I fessed-up to being one of the barbarians who attended, she got embarrassed but recovered when I told this art fan that the crowd at Artscape is more rowdy than the racing crowd. She also didn't believe me when I said that it was a reasonable spectrum of people including families with kids and that people were reasonably well behaved. This from a person who considers herself to be educated. This echoes a lot of sentiment I have heard. We really need to have some good publicity.

[micrip]

I think that perception comes from the NASCAR crowd, which tends to be rowdier, and, ahem, a bit more redneck-ish. The Indycar series and most of the other race groups, such as SCCA, seem to attract a different crowd. Back in the day, I was a regular at Summit Point Raceway ( I wonder who else on this board knows where and what that is) and one year spent a week at Road Atlanta for the SCCA runoffs.

Amazingly enough, I haven't attended either Baltimore event, but that will change next year, if they come back, and I believe they will.

[smokeybandit]

Coming back again next year

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/a...,2741036.story

[scando]

Originally Posted by smokeybandit

Coming back again next year

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/a...,2741036.story

I'll be there...glad to see it back. I was not sure, but apparently the backers are taking a long view that the first couple years are likely to lose, followed by profit in upcoming years.

[micrip]

This years' event was guaranteed to be a loser, seeings how it didn't even get off the ground until late May.

There will be a whole year this time to promote and sell tickets. There is also an agreement that next years event will be promoted at all the Indy races before it.

I felt that there was very little promotion of this year's race. Some ads during Orioles broadcasts (who may not be racing fans) and not much else.

[KLynch]

Whether you are for or against the Grand Prix, I hope everyone gets behind it for the sake of the local businesses. They are the ones the most affected by the negative attention.

[Coldspring]

Originally Posted by scando

I'll be there...glad to see it back. I was not sure, but apparently the backers are taking a long view that the first couple years are likely to lose, followed by profit in upcoming years.

As Arnold would say....."They'll be back..."

[rockin'.baltimorean]

in all-due fairness, you guys are right; this event didn't have long to get the word out, so, like anything you do, what you put into somethin' is what you're gonna' get out of it. So, naturally, the turnout was dismal @ best.

i have many acquaintances that say the sport of racing is, pretty much, on its "last deathbed". So, after hearing that, it has now made me extremely curious to see what next year's numbers will be. I got a feelin' that the turnout will be through the roof!!