173 replies to this topic

[SKL]

Even though I'm a lifelong (60+ years F1, indycar, sportscars) race fan, I admit I've become more interested in the tin tops lately, especially when on a road course, and the new cars look VERY interesting.  My son was lucky enough to see some testing last week at PIR and was very impressed with the cars in person. Much better driver position, center locks, etc.

 

In looking at this upcoming race, it definitely looks like a publicity stunt, but I will be taping it.  (Can't watch live as I'll be trying out some various Ford products at a local track on Sunday)   I'm trying to figure out how the hell they'll do pitstops, etc as there is NO room!

 

Has anyone read how they are going to handle pit stops, etc???    It will be hard to beat the action in the last hour or so at the Rolex!!

[John B]

There's a halfway break during the 150 lap main because of the lack of space for pit stops. Speed expected to be around 60 MPH down to 20 in corners! Looking forward to the new car, which has brought preseason interest that's been lacking for many years.

[danmills]

It looks absolutely mental, not far off racing 23 hotwheels around a dinner plate. 

[Beri]

For the ones, like me, who don't know anything about NASCAR and who don't know about the Los Angeles Colosseum, here is a picture of the track to get a first impression. And to me it is a "h*ly sh*t, what the actual fudge is this? That is bonkers!"



I can't imagine what it must look like when all those cars are battling it out on track.

[Henri Greuter]

If you think this is tight,

 

Have a look at this: take a look at the YouTube clip on the page.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=23290

 

 

As for this NASCAR event....

 

To remember that at this location Carl Lewis gained fame and glory in 1984.....

 

And now it being turned ito a demolition derby ring, and all of that just for the show.......

 

 

Edited by Henri Greuter, 02 February 2022 - 09:18.

[Anja]

I can't imagine what it must look like when all those cars are battling it out on track.

 

You're assuming there will be any actual battling going on. 

[prommer]

I feel like this silliness is a direct result of allowing a Tennessee vs Virginia Tech football game at Bristol Motor Speedway a few years ago. No crossing the streams!

 

(still, I will probably watch for a few minutes at least, out of morbid curiosity).

 

(It also appears to have two more lanes than Texas lol)

[Risil]

Thank you for bringing this to the forum's attention. I had to read the NASCAR schedule two or three times to understand that they really are planning a race at the real LA Coliseum.

 

How many cars will start the race? Same as usual?

[OvDrone]

Thank you for bringing this to the forum's attention. I had to read the NASCAR schedule two or three times to understand that they really are planning a race at the real LA Coliseum.

 

How many cars will start the race? Same as usual?

 

I am guessing somewhere between 30 and 40, yes.

Thank you SKL for brining more forum awareness to this. I hesitate making separate Nascar threads, even for this month's 500 as people just started making fun of it and also the Daytona 500 really sucked in the past Gen 6 era.

I do share your enthusiasm for the new cars but not for this race or the 500. I'll be more detached and watch it for the 'novelty'. 

The fan-base apparently is really mixed to ugh on the scale of hype for this. Looks more like a asphalt Speedway track to me and I don't care about no points paying race, no matter where it is.

Let's see, I'll tune in a bit, sure.

[BRG]

   NASCAR meets Spedeworth.  Shades of Saturday night at Wimbledon Stadium watching hot rods, stockers and bangers.

 

After the nonsense of a dirt race last year for NASCAR, evidently the search for the next novelty continues.  I suggest they try holding a race on the Nordschliefe. 

[Risil]

I remember the WTCC races they held at the Nordschliefe, those were fabulous.

 

I think NASCAR could do with something less twisty. Maybe the old Spa.

[Disgrace]

Looks awesome, I would love to be there.

[PayasYouRace]

I remember the WTCC races they held at the Nordschliefe, those were fabulous.

I think NASCAR could do with something less twisty. Maybe the old Spa.

How about the circuit in the Argentine volcano that FIA GT raced at?

[krapmeister]

Would be better if it was dirt and Sprintcars racing on it

[jonpollak]

To remember that at this location Carl Lewis gained fame and glory in 1984.....

And now it being turned ito a demolition derby ring, and all of that just for the show.......

Who’s getting Mary Decker’ed ?
Are there any little South Africans in the race?

Jp

[eibyyz]

I feel like this silliness is a direct result of allowing a Tennessee vs Virginia Tech football game at Bristol Motor Speedway a few years ago. 

 

There was more passing at UT v. VT than there is usually at a NA$CAR race...

[Izzyeviel]

is this a points race or just a pre-season friendly?

[Jahn1234567890]

is this a points race or just a pre-season friendly?

 

Exhibition race.

[dbltop]

They are going to run heat races to award positions in the feature race. There won't be 40 cars on track at once.

[BRG]

Who’s getting Mary Decker’ed ?
Are there any little South Africans in the race?

Jp

What are you suggesting sir?  Zola was a true Brit, as British as chicken vindaloo, pizza or beef chow-mein

[John B]

Format info below. 23 cars on track in the main event, 7 races total. There have been supply chain concerns with the new car and the annual Speedweeks glorified demolition derby upcoming, but (presumably) they can't do too much damage at these speeds

 

After Saturday’s practice and the initial single-car qualifying session, drivers will be placed into heat races based on their best-posted speed. Every car entered into the Clash automatically advances to one of the heat races, giving them a chance to move on to the main event.

On Sunday, drivers compete in one of four 25-lap heat races with up to 10 cars in each race. The fields will be filled out in a manner consistent with their initial qualifying speed. Fastest will start on pole in the first heat race, second fastest starts on pole in the second heat race and so on (one, five, nine, etc. line up in Heat 1).

The top four finishers in each heat race will automatically advance to the main event, totaling 16 drivers with a ticket to Sunday night’s feature. Drivers who do not advance from their qualifying race will be placed into one of two 50-lap Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) races. The top three from each LCQ advance to the Sunday feature.

The final spot in the 23-man main event is reserved for the driver who finished the highest in the 2021 points standings who does not transfer on finishing position in the heat races or LCQ.

[ensign14]

   NASCAR meets Spedeworth.  Shades of Saturday night at Wimbledon Stadium watching hot rods, stockers and bangers.

 

After the nonsense of a dirt race last year for NASCAR, evidently the search for the next novelty continues.  I suggest they try holding a race on the Nordschliefe. 

It's hardly a novelty, it's surely a throwback.  As the dirt race was.

 

After all, they've been to shorter...

 

[danmills]

It doesn't look symmetrical in that pic, sheer bonkers. I can't wait. 

[paulb]

Bristol looks like Daytona compared to this.

[Beggysmalls]

Plenty of 1/4 mile sized dirt tracks here in aus and the racing is pretty good. The issue i see is that it doesnt look particularly banked so i can see it being very one laned. Plenty of bump and rins on the cards too

[loki]

I think I’ll suggest this race format in one of the F1 threads…

 

The short tracker in me would rather see a pea pick for the heat positions.  The single car will be cool as we can see more track time and who has a fast car and what line they take.  They’re mixing it up.  I’ll give it a shot.

[maximilian]

They should do one on the rooftop race track of Fiat’s Lingotto factory 

[Rob G]

I remember the WTCC races they held at the Nordschliefe, those were fabulous.

 

I think NASCAR could do with something less twisty. Maybe the old Spa.

 

The old Monza, without the chicanes but with the oval.

[jonpollak]

I think Kyle Busch trotted out Nelson Piquet’s “Riding a Bicycle in a Bathroom “ classic.

Jp

[jonpollak]

I think I’ll suggest this race format in one of the F1 threads…

The short tracker in me would rather see a pea pick for the heat positions. The single car will be cool as we can see more track time and who has a fast car and what line they take. They’re mixing it up. I’ll give it a shot.

Does Bobby get Fox?
We don’t over here ya know…..
And the race is soooo late for these kids over here.

Just sayin’
Jp

[Peat]

Total gimmick and will be an ugly circus show.

Therefore, I CAN'T WAIT!   

[B Squared]

They should do one on the rooftop race track of Fiat’s Lingotto factory 

I think this setup is so cool! For any who may be unfamiliar.

[Jim Thurman]

I feel, and have seen quotes, where the NHL stadium series is more the inspiration for this.

 

There have been countless 1/4 mile ovals, both dirt and paved in U.S. racing history, and it is still the most common track size for American short track racing.

 

NASCAR ran some 1/4 mile ovals up through 1971, including the even smaller 1/5 mile paved Islip Speedway (as ensign14 posted). The Western series also used to run 1/4 miles more commonly, and later. There is a paved 1/4 mile oval in San Bernardino, not many miles from Auto Club Speedway, that has been in operation since 1946 (dirt until 1964). For more trivia, that track - Orange Show Stadium - was the first NASCAR sanctioned track in Southern California.

 

So, not unusual. Just not recent at NASCAR's top level. Most of the current drivers likely cut their teeth racing smaller cars on 1/4 mile ovals.

 

For that matter, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum hosted midget auto racing in the late 1940s, first on a paved track, then a small, temporary board track. Midget auto racing being all the rage then, crowds were in the 35,000 plus range with one topping 65,000.

Edited by Jim Thurman, 03 February 2022 - 18:09.

[John B]

And California (Riverside) once was the season opener for many years, usually in mid-January. In 1981 when NASCAR had another significant car change, both old and new cars were allowed.

[DinocoBlue]

I can't believe they're going to race there.

 

Random Fact: LA Colisuem will be the first stadium to host three Olympic different games 2028.

 

So I guess a Nascar race will just be another 'fun fact' for this storied stadium.

[Jim Thurman]

And California (Riverside) once was the season opener for many years, usually in mid-January. In 1981 when NASCAR had another significant car change, both old and new cars were allowed.

 

And for years before that, back in the 1960s, the January date at Riverside was sometimes the 4th or 5th race of the season, with NASCAR starting their seasons in November!

[Beri]

I think this setup is so cool! For any who may be unfamiliar.

I cycled that track once when I was on a business trip during a little private tour of Turin. Amazing building and architecture and also very fun to realize you're actually on a roof.

[Vitesse2]

'Supercars' at Lingotto in the rain (linked to the real action rather than endless waffle) : https://youtu.be/t7DsJ_wWQZE?t=496

 

But of course there's only one way to run Lingotto - in a Mini!

 

[PayasYouRace]

A virtual preview:

 

[noriaki]

I have many, many gripes with the choices Nascar has made. But applaud them for getting a bit creative with the venues in the last few years. The Cup had well enough years with what was, for all intents and purposes, the same 36 races over and over again.

[Lemnpiper]

 Hi All

 

Outta  curiousity     how big were the tracks   at Solder Stadium  in Chicago   back in the 1940's & 1950's?    Any film footage of those races  ever been located?

 

  Should be  a slam bang event thats for sure

 

 

Btw 

 

 If you think  that is small    i once saw a series of local motorcycle races held in a small haybarn back in the 1970s.  the "straight" was all of 30 feet with a roof bracing pole at the ends to show where the paperclip turn was. (  Hey in the dead of winter  you hold races where you can)

 

 

   Paul

Edited by Lemnpiper, 04 February 2022 - 19:32.

[427MkIV]

For those who remember the 1984 Olympics and LA Raiders games and the 1/4-mile running track around the field, that track was removed in 1993, the field lowered by 11 feet and 14 more rows of seats were added for better football viewing. You can make out the rows of new seats in the photos, which are basically where the track used to be.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I saw monster trucks inside a basketball stadium.

[Jim Thurman]

Here's a good read on the history of racing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum:
https://www.autoweek....g-la-coliseum/

And, a podcast on it:
https://www.amfilmfest.com/podcast

[danmills]

Oh wow that virtual preview looks rubbish, they barely get to any speed to do anything.

It's basically gonna be a 1:1 scale scalextric.

[ANF]

Video of four real cars: https://twitter.com/...780578354450435

[Ross Stonefeld]

NASCAR really, really, wants to race in big cities and be a Big Boys Sport. I don't think they care about the series beyond it being a means to an end for the executives to get to hang out at the right gatherings of team and league owners. 

 

Which is why you get the comedy of "Well, if this goes well maybe we'll add more stadium races. Maybe London, maybe Tokyo?" Sure, Jan.

[BRG]

Which is why you get the comedy of "Well, if this goes well maybe we'll add more stadium races. Maybe London, maybe Tokyo?" Sure, Jan.

Good luck with getting any of the major London stadia to rip the grass up and tarmac it. 

 

If only Wimbledon Stadium was still operating.  They could have just slotted a NASCAR race in after the junior hot-rods and before the bangers.

[Risil]

Is Hednesford urban enough? How about Cowdenbeath?

[BRG]

How about Cowdenbeath?

Ah, the Racewall !  That's got NASCAR written all over it!