Nope! I’m NOT talking ‘bout the great Sears Point Raceway that some have affectionately designated as being located in “SNORE-HOMA.” NO, I’m talking ‘bout ‘dat supposed “Clean Sheet ‘O Paper” that Indy Car promised in regards to the 2009 calendar. Can I get a price check on aisle 9 for a six pack ‘O Charmin toilet paper...
Thus I found it very infurirating that once again Tony George and his band of ‘lil Merry men (TA; Terry “Muskrat Luv” Angstadt, Joey “Look Ma! NO Hands!” Chitwood, Brian Braveheart, etc.) SNUBBED Portland, Oregon...
SHAME ON YOU INDYCAR!!!
And while I really DON’T wanna get into the whole Oval Track vs. Road Course hoopla, or my new favourite word learned in Germany; BULL SHEISA!!! Unfortunately the Red Flag has been waved in front of my face once again, as some of the Blogosphere is chanting Ole, Ole! In hopes of having an ALL Oval Indy Car calendar, but as Don Henley once sang; GET OVER IT!
Thus I was surprised to learn that Portland International Raceway went ahead with its previously scheduled 2008 Champ Car event date and hosted the Mazda Grand Prix of Portland after all, this past July 27th, while the majority of Open Wheel Racing’s attention was focused upon The Thrill from West Hill Up North Eh? And all of ‘dem FREE Subway Sandwiches...
The Portland event was a sign of just how far things have sunk in the Northwest racing scene, as the event’s headliner was the Star Mazda series, albeit a double header race outing, with the Jetta TDI Cup, Mazda MX5 Cup and “Starzs ‘O Karting cast as supporting races... Aye Karumba!
Did somme-body say Maz-Duh MX5 Cup? Why this gives me flashbacks of ‘Ol Timer USAC Midget piloto Robin Miller gleefully recapping the 2007 Chump Carzs event for The Speed Report with the Nat-like screeching of “Me Tooze” (Miata’s) droning on behind him...
As I was actually one of the few Diehard’s to sit thru the Me-Tooze racing session, well actually I watched the start but they were so FLIPPIN’ SLOW that I couldn’t bear to watch them any further and sauntered back to my hotel instead. But the long winded point is...
Although Indy Car’s hands may have been tied by various tracks having existing contracts and kissing the ARSES of others. (Can you say Bruton Smith?) I’m still quite befuddled how Portland could be left outta the mix... Although crowd attendance has been down the past few years largely due to the PATHETIC WATERED DOWN Racing Series formerly known as CCWS, Mr. Miller claims that there wasn’t even 20,000 spectators at the 2007 event...
And I could see this being true, since I was there for ALL 3 Days ‘O Action, as in Friday, Saturday and Sunday... And a few thoughts come to mind upon this miniscule crowd figure, as the Portland Champ Car race used to be the cities largest single day event with 65,000+. (And that’s REAL Attendance, NOT “Juan ‘O ‘dem” Kentucky sell-outs!)
First of all it RAINED the entire day Saturday, as I sat frigidly motionless the entire day at my metal grandstand watching the cars hydroplaning down the front straightaway into the Festival Curves. (Where cars actually OVERTAKE one another) And I recall leaving the track after ALL of the competitors had splish splashed they’re way thru their respective sessions being so cold that my teeth wouldn’t stop chattering!
Secondly, in an ignoramus attempt to “bundle” the Champ Car weekend, the city of Portland lumped the event with the 100th Anniversary of the Rose Festival with the Rose Festival Parade being held on race morning... So with the threat of another day’s precipitation, 17 cars on the grid and The Hamburgular (S. Bourdais) running roughshod over the entire grid, its NOT hard to understand why the attendance was down...
Yet, I ask... Is Portland LESS DESERVING than Homestead? As I’ve seen numerous reports claiming that it too only draws 20,000 spectators *to an Oval NO less!) and that its Fans don’t give a SHIT ‘bout the event, which I can tell you, the majority of PIR attendee’s do, as I’m constantly amazed at how many have been going for nearly two decades! Perhaps it’s just that the fellow Northwest racing enthusiast can smell a RAT! And ultimately tired of such a sad product? I mean just think if there was one unified racing series... Ta-Duh?
Of course Portland wasn’t the only ex-Champ Car race to end up on Terry Angstadt’s cutting room floor, as Cleveland and Houston also got cut, which is entertaining since they’re both Mike Lanigan events, although I don’t see Houston ever going back into play while they’re some blowhard named Eddie “The Goose” Gossage shootin’ off his trap...
And supposedly Loudon and Las Vegas were looked at, but didn’t make the cut for extraneous reasons, like the Los Wage$ amphitheater having way too MANY seats, i.e.; 120,000+
So, it appears for the time being my closest Champ, Err Indy Car World Series events will be the two Californications; Long Beach and everyone’s favourite road course... You know the “Juan” up in sleepy ‘lil SNORE-HOMA... Which I’ve been to twice and is a great little track with massive elevation change, just extremely hard to pass upon and it’s a wee bit out in the booney’s...
But hey! Give me Portland ANY day! As we do truly appreciate our road racing up here and it seems obvious that Attendance is NOT the core reason for certain venues being selected to ‘lil Napoleon’s schedule... I mean if Iowa can swing a date on 35,000 then give Portland International Raceway a chance!
Thus I found it very infurirating that once again Tony George and his band of ‘lil Merry men (TA; Terry “Muskrat Luv” Angstadt, Joey “Look Ma! NO Hands!” Chitwood, Brian Braveheart, etc.) SNUBBED Portland, Oregon...
SHAME ON YOU INDYCAR!!!
And while I really DON’T wanna get into the whole Oval Track vs. Road Course hoopla, or my new favourite word learned in Germany; BULL SHEISA!!! Unfortunately the Red Flag has been waved in front of my face once again, as some of the Blogosphere is chanting Ole, Ole! In hopes of having an ALL Oval Indy Car calendar, but as Don Henley once sang; GET OVER IT!
Thus I was surprised to learn that Portland International Raceway went ahead with its previously scheduled 2008 Champ Car event date and hosted the Mazda Grand Prix of Portland after all, this past July 27th, while the majority of Open Wheel Racing’s attention was focused upon The Thrill from West Hill Up North Eh? And all of ‘dem FREE Subway Sandwiches...
The Portland event was a sign of just how far things have sunk in the Northwest racing scene, as the event’s headliner was the Star Mazda series, albeit a double header race outing, with the Jetta TDI Cup, Mazda MX5 Cup and “Starzs ‘O Karting cast as supporting races... Aye Karumba!
Did somme-body say Maz-Duh MX5 Cup? Why this gives me flashbacks of ‘Ol Timer USAC Midget piloto Robin Miller gleefully recapping the 2007 Chump Carzs event for The Speed Report with the Nat-like screeching of “Me Tooze” (Miata’s) droning on behind him...
As I was actually one of the few Diehard’s to sit thru the Me-Tooze racing session, well actually I watched the start but they were so FLIPPIN’ SLOW that I couldn’t bear to watch them any further and sauntered back to my hotel instead. But the long winded point is...
Although Indy Car’s hands may have been tied by various tracks having existing contracts and kissing the ARSES of others. (Can you say Bruton Smith?) I’m still quite befuddled how Portland could be left outta the mix... Although crowd attendance has been down the past few years largely due to the PATHETIC WATERED DOWN Racing Series formerly known as CCWS, Mr. Miller claims that there wasn’t even 20,000 spectators at the 2007 event...
And I could see this being true, since I was there for ALL 3 Days ‘O Action, as in Friday, Saturday and Sunday... And a few thoughts come to mind upon this miniscule crowd figure, as the Portland Champ Car race used to be the cities largest single day event with 65,000+. (And that’s REAL Attendance, NOT “Juan ‘O ‘dem” Kentucky sell-outs!)
First of all it RAINED the entire day Saturday, as I sat frigidly motionless the entire day at my metal grandstand watching the cars hydroplaning down the front straightaway into the Festival Curves. (Where cars actually OVERTAKE one another) And I recall leaving the track after ALL of the competitors had splish splashed they’re way thru their respective sessions being so cold that my teeth wouldn’t stop chattering!
Secondly, in an ignoramus attempt to “bundle” the Champ Car weekend, the city of Portland lumped the event with the 100th Anniversary of the Rose Festival with the Rose Festival Parade being held on race morning... So with the threat of another day’s precipitation, 17 cars on the grid and The Hamburgular (S. Bourdais) running roughshod over the entire grid, its NOT hard to understand why the attendance was down...
Yet, I ask... Is Portland LESS DESERVING than Homestead? As I’ve seen numerous reports claiming that it too only draws 20,000 spectators *to an Oval NO less!) and that its Fans don’t give a SHIT ‘bout the event, which I can tell you, the majority of PIR attendee’s do, as I’m constantly amazed at how many have been going for nearly two decades! Perhaps it’s just that the fellow Northwest racing enthusiast can smell a RAT! And ultimately tired of such a sad product? I mean just think if there was one unified racing series... Ta-Duh?
Of course Portland wasn’t the only ex-Champ Car race to end up on Terry Angstadt’s cutting room floor, as Cleveland and Houston also got cut, which is entertaining since they’re both Mike Lanigan events, although I don’t see Houston ever going back into play while they’re some blowhard named Eddie “The Goose” Gossage shootin’ off his trap...
And supposedly Loudon and Las Vegas were looked at, but didn’t make the cut for extraneous reasons, like the Los Wage$ amphitheater having way too MANY seats, i.e.; 120,000+
So, it appears for the time being my closest Champ, Err Indy Car World Series events will be the two Californications; Long Beach and everyone’s favourite road course... You know the “Juan” up in sleepy ‘lil SNORE-HOMA... Which I’ve been to twice and is a great little track with massive elevation change, just extremely hard to pass upon and it’s a wee bit out in the booney’s...
But hey! Give me Portland ANY day! As we do truly appreciate our road racing up here and it seems obvious that Attendance is NOT the core reason for certain venues being selected to ‘lil Napoleon’s schedule... I mean if Iowa can swing a date on 35,000 then give Portland International Raceway a chance!
