Toronto Indy 2016...

Zoodles95

Zoodles95

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Anyone else attending? I have gone for several years now. The qualifying was fun today, lots of food trucks, and the Pintys Nascar race was awesome. Two days plus parking for less than a Leaf's ticket. Going to spend some more time tomorrow checking out the Honda bikes since it is such a pain to get to KW Honda with all of the Waterloo LRT construction. I have not looked at any of the new Hondas at all so another plus I get from going to Indy every year.

Call me crazy but I think I get a good bang for my buck at this event. A nice little thing to look forward to every year for my wife and I. My autistic brother-in-law loves all things automotive so he enjoys it as well. This plus the C.N.E. are two things I do every year without fail.

It seems that every year I end up chatting up some dignitary or other notable person who attends. I have met Tony Kanaan more times than I can count and the drivers are super accessible if you have a Paddock pass. Even without a Paddock pass you may well get a chance to snag an autograph or a handshake as they are out and about on the grounds. Paul Tracy is racing in the Stadium Trucks again and like usual he is very giving and open with his time for those who might want to meet him. In short, a very fan friendly environment.
 
I used to be a big big indycar/CART fan in the 90s. The series and race were much larger then.

I went to the race a few years ago, and it's pretty stunning to see how different it now is.

The series is smaller, and the race is much smaller.

I'm happy you see the value in it, but I have to admit after knowing what it used to be, it's hard to get excited about going.

Maybe next year. The bronze grandstand ticket prices are somewhat reasonable.
 
First Indy race was in 1911. Good to see that it's still relevant, both for spectators and participants alike. Gives a sobering reminder that everything you experience dies with you when you pass.
 
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Chaos said:
I used to be a big big indycar/CART fan in the 90s. The series and race were much larger then.

I went to the race a few years ago, and it's pretty stunning to see how different it now is.

The series is smaller, and the race is much smaller.

I'm happy you see the value in it, but I have to admit after knowing what it used to be, it's hard to get excited about going.

Maybe next year. The bronze grandstand ticket prices are somewhat reasonable.
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I worked that race for 20 years from the first year onwards, and it has certainly diminished over that time. 33 car fields were the norm and actual entrant lists were even larger. Simply showing up for the race didn't guarantee you a spot on the grid like it does now, and in the first years there was usually 2 or 3 teams that didn't make the grid for the race because they got bumped out during qualifying.

Local yellows which used to be the norm while an incident was being cleaned up are now full-course yellows, and I've seen races where it seemed half the running time was under full-course yellow. It's much smaller and nowhere near as exciting these days. Mind you, some of that might be due to the fact that over time I got maybe too used to cars flying at 300 kmh within 3 meters of me.
 
griff2 said:
I worked that race for 20 years from the first year onwards, and it has certainly diminished over that time. 33 car fields were the norm and actual entrant lists were even larger. Simply showing up for the race didn't guarantee you a spot on the grid like it does now, and in the first years there was usually 2 or 3 teams that didn't make the grid for the race because they got bumped out during qualifying.

Local yellows which used to be the norm while an incident was being cleaned up are now full-course yellows, and I've seen races where it seemed half the running time was under full-course yellow. It's much smaller and nowhere near as exciting these days. Mind you, some of that might be due to the fact that over time I got maybe too used to cars flying at 300 kmh within 3 meters of me.
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I'm guessing the local to full course yellow was a safety precaution, which I am more or less ok with, but the amount of time it would take to clean up would take way too long (this was a problem with all the series' races, not just Toronto).

Both the speed of the cars have been neutered, and well as the aggressive chassis development. I remember the days of 4, even 5, chassis competitors (vs 1 now), and 4 engine manufacturers (vs just 2 now). It had a great balance of real competition without the disparity of F1. Also, and this is anectodal to me, the chassis and engines were just better looking and sounding in the 90s.

It also has to be said that Molson put a LOT of money and effort into the race from a marketing perspective. They kept the event on the city's radar all year round. Once Molson was no longer the promoter/sponsor, it was not nearly as on the radar. When the race disappeared for one year, no one really seemed to care.

I do hope the series/race can return to more glory days but it will take a while.
 
Chaos said:
I'm guessing the local to full course yellow was a safety precaution, which I am more or less ok with, but the amount of time it would take to clean up would take way too long (this was a problem with all the series' races, not just Toronto).
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I was working the Detroit race (last year for downtown street circuit before it went to Belle Isle) for this one, and while it was a tight corner, you'd think that one of the top winning (whining) dynasties in CART should have been able to get by a safety truck without hitting it or the car it was hooking up to. Then again, papa Mario did manage to run into a disabled car on the off-line side in the middle of Toronto's Lakeshore-straight even though he had already driven by it for three laps prior and knew it was there.

[video=youtube;KwEqjuvAZzE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwEqjuvAZzE[/video]
 
Tony George killed the series, the quality of the racing in the 90's was awesome.

The track and layout has run it's time, should really be moved east to CTMP.
 
Day 2 and still having fun. I could have stopped going to Jays games in the 2000 s but I still went to them anyways. Will Power is still racing great today. They added led displays to the cars which show their position in the race. Kind of cool. With my phone I can see the position and time differentials on the indy app but at a glance these led indicators are a nice thing for the fans.
 
We will be adding an F1 race to our next European holiday. Any particular race which we should hit? Also, I have seen Nascar in Michigan but the track is so long that it is like a top speed fest. I would like my next Nascar race to be on one of the tighter tracks. Any suggestions?
 
Zoodles95 said:
We will be adding an F1 race to our next European holiday. Any particular race which we should hit? Also, I have seen Nascar in Michigan but the track is so long that it is like a top speed fest. I would like my next Nascar race to be on one of the tighter tracks. Any suggestions?
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I've worked the MIS track in Michigan, and at 2 miles it's not that long but it is fast. NASCAR on a road course is something else completely, and I've worked NASCAR at the Glen for many years. The fans and campers are just as entertaining as the race.

Nascar weekend at Watkins Glen on Aug 4,5,6,7 race weekend. http://www.theglen.com/Tickets-Events/Events/2015/Cheez-It-355-at-The-Glen.aspx

Camping is available.

I'm not sure you can call it a "tight" course as they are not using the boot for the NASCAR race, but it can be entertaining watching the taxi cabs slug it out through the inner loop chicane.
 
Zoodles95 said:
We will be adding an F1 race to our next European holiday. Any particular race which we should hit? Also, I have seen Nascar in Michigan but the track is so long that it is like a top speed fest. I would like my next Nascar race to be on one of the tighter tracks. Any suggestions?
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Spa in Belgium or Barcelona Spain is where I would go.
 
Spa is my favourite track but I have no idea what it's like to spectate there.
 
Silverstone is a great race and atmosphere. The timing is excellent as you can also go to Wimbledon during the week leading up to the race or stay a week later for the Open Golf tournament.

They have added an Indy car race at the Glen for labour day weekend and it is one of the best road courses for spectators . As a bonus it is close and great riding roads are close by.
 
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Zoodles95 said:
We will be adding an F1 race to our next European holiday. Any particular race which we should hit? Also, I have seen Nascar in Michigan but the track is so long that it is like a top speed fest. I would like my next Nascar race to be on one of the tighter tracks. Any suggestions?
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For F1 definitely go to Spa Belgium and sit at Eau Rouge (Its a magical corner). I went a few years ago back in the V8 days when it sounded good. Suprisingly cheaper than going to Montreal lol. Hotels are reasonable if you book in advance, i think I paid 100 euros a night right in Spa, no price gouging like here. The hotel next to us housed alot the F1 teams and drivers, so I would see and talk to them everyday lol. Paul Di Resta would park his AMG beside my little rental Peugot lol
Just be prepared for the flaky weather lol, rain showers are common on only one side or turn of the whole track as the track sits in the Arden forest. Its awesome and the coffee and Belgian fries are awesome :)

To tell you my opinion though, the V6 turbos are very disappointing and make it alot less of a spectacle. That is why I havent been to a race since the change. I still watch on tv, but I refuse to pay for mediocrity.
Go see a MotoGP race and you will never leave disappointed
 
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Zoodles95 said:
We will be adding an F1 race to our next European holiday. Any particular race which we should hit? Also, I have seen Nascar in Michigan but the track is so long that it is like a top speed fest. I would like my next Nascar race to be on one of the tighter tracks. Any suggestions?
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F1, my top choices would by Monaco, Spa, Monza. Never been, just have it in my head they'd be great.

I was never an oval fan but in the heyday of CART I was often pleased by the racing at Phoenix and Nazareth (had to look that one up, seems it shut down in 2004). Both flat, short tri-ovals. So PIR for NASCAR? The track where Tracy crashed out while leading 2 laps​ ahead of 2nd place! Ah the good old days.
 
Chaos said:
+1

Get to a MotoGP race in Europe while Rossi is still racing.

I went to Catalunya and Mugello and they were both absolutely bananas. Great atmosphere.
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Dream vacay right there
 
Chaos said:
+1

Get to a MotoGP race in Europe while Rossi is still racing.

I went to Catalunya and Mugello and they were both absolutely bananas. Great atmosphere.
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Awesome. I went to Misano just before Simoncelli passed away a few races later :( Also been to Laguna Seca in Cali when moto gp used to race there.
 
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