I did some fact checking before writing this and it seems that it may become a reality - no more Denver GP.

According a quick blurb by Robin Miller on the Speed Report, Champ Car announced two additional races (in Europe) for '07. But the race organization failed to mention that the Denver Grand Prix has not and likely will not be scheduled for 2007. Here's a LINK for further info.

The state of professional racing in Colorado has reached a depressing level. I don't know what else to say.

Joel

 

take it to the streets!!!!

LOL just kidding

 

I saw that, too Joel. It was the prevailing rumor at the race last year, and during the off-season. Unfortunately, it seems to be somewhat of the norm for Champ Car street races...come into a new venue, run for a few years, and then when the non-race-fans in the city (who come for the first few years as a curiousity) tire of it and stop coming, there's not enough ticket revenue from just the race fans to make it viable, and the series moves on, sometimes to return after several years, sometimes not.

But it's not just street races that see this, as Champ Car hasn't raced on some of it's classic tracks for several years (Laguna Seca and Mid-Ohio for starters, with the Road America race on life support for the last few years).

I was initially relieved when I saw Denver on the Champ Car schedule for '07:

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/E....asp?Year=2007

But just because they put it on the schedule, doesn't mean it won't get cancelled (as we're seeing).

Yeah, Colorado's a tough place to live for race fans. We might just have to start travelling to get our fix (Joanne and I went down to the Houston race last year, and we're considering either Edmonton or San Jose this year, but we'll have to wait and see what shakes out).

 

Having been around for the first Denver GP (the course layout on that one went down Broadway and back up through Lincoln Street!), I have the feeling that the Pepsi Center interation will be back. The problem is finding a local sponsor. The impending 2007 cancellation (when it becomes official) means that Champ Car will start beating the bushes locally to get a title sponsor for '08.

Champ Car itself will be a fight for existence in a few years and Denver is not a stop that they'll easily relinquish. But as Gary says, it's gonna be a tough year for fans of pro road racing. Time to look at your favorite race in some other locale- Montreal F1 anyone?

 

I saw that too, but there's no info on ticketing like the other dates listed there. Also, I checked out the Speed World Challenge website and they are showing 3-4 dates with locations to be announced, and Denver is not listed. Maybe it is too early in the season to get concerned about losing the Denver GP, but I'm concerned anyway.

Joel

 

as someone who works downtown, i say "good riddance" to this crap. If the product sold, rest assured they'd be right back here in a heartbeat.

Really-racing through an arena's parking lot? that's like Saturday at the Po-dunk county fair on the go-cart ride.

 

Oh but i miss it, as someone who works downtown, i made everyone in my office open their window and turn the volume down on everything so we could listen to the cars making their laps. It was amazing, im so sad to know i missed out on my one chance to go see it! Hopefully they will come back so i can see it, someone sponsor them quick! I have a friend racing in the champ cars for 07 and wanted to see him do his thing!

 

I think you're absolutely right about this. They're not announcing anything yet, but I think all parties (ChampCar, Kroenke Sports, SCCA pro racing, etc.) are preparing for that announcement. Maybe a sponsor for the race will be found, but the odds of that happening are shrinking everyday...

 

Cut back on the coffee dude.

Joel

 

in what scenario do you envision this race being cancelled if it made money or was an otherwise profitable venture?

 

It would suck if there was no more DGP. I went to the one last year and had a blasted. I am seriously consider going to a F1 GP in the next couple of years.

 

Canadian GP baby! We need to go bad, we will have to start planning. Canadian is more exotic than Indiana too.....Plus they race on a real circut instead of the infield at Indy.....

 

I dunno, the race at Indy can be exciting if you're standing 3 feet away from the Renault booth and Fabrio. J

 

LOL- I think you mean Flavio Briatore. Did you have to push any supermodels out of the way? And you're right- being a SCCA/FIA official at the USGP must be exciting!

 

Yes, it's a kick and I can see how that might have made you laugh. "Fabrio" is a Hobbs-ism (David Hobbs)... Flavio + Briatore = Fabrio. Another Hobbs-ism that makes me giggle is when he refers to the double turn "Curve di Lesmos" (in Monza) as "the two Lesbos." - Joel

 

LMAO! Thanks for the clarification, but I still want to know if you rubbed elbows (or more) with Heidi and company?

 

No elbow rubbing, but at one point we were tasked to hold up the ropes for crowd-control as the drivers greeted the fans in a parade of vintage cars. I was in arms reach of the entire field of drivers and I'm not kidding when I say that I'm literally a foot and a half taller than most of them! Bernie is the shortest runt without a doubt, and not the prettiest either. We did see Flav and his girlfriend that day too, but there's so much going on that you get hooked into watching one celebrity while 6 more walk right by you.

Joel

 

I'm all for a trip to Montreal for F1, but I made the mistake of agreeing to crew for some up-and-coming driver that nobody around here has ever heard of who has a Double National at La Junta that weekend!

Are you suggesting that I should just blow it off and go watch some open wheel cars north of the border instead?

 

Here's a link to the official announcement. Looks like it's off for at least 2 years:

http://www.champcarworldseries.com/N...243&print=true

 

that sucks I was hoping to go this year