Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to The Pit Lane. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Jean Alesi in stock cars; anone heard aboutthis?
Topic Started: Feb 28 2007, 11:29 AM (236 Views)
theghostofnuvolari
Member Avatar
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
Picked up on grandprix.com

Alesi to race in new stock car series

Former F1 and DTM racer Jean Alesi is the first big name drivers to sign up to race in the Speedcar Series, a series which will take place on tracks in Asia and the Middle East for 24 identical cars. Speedcar Series Ltd says it is planning 18 races over nine weekends. The cars will be specifically-built for the series with tubular, fiberglass 'silhouette' chassis coupled with engines built in North Carolina. The first races will be held in November 2007 and will run through the winter months.

It is not clear who is behind the idea but it is interesting to note that Bernie Ecclestone was quoted in the press release.

Anyone know anything about this new series ??
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The STIG
Unregistered

I heard that NASCAR was looking to move to having European races... but nothing like this - which sounds for all the world like V8 Star or Eurocars. again.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
theghostofnuvolari
Member Avatar
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
The STIG,Feb 28 2007
11:43 AM
I heard that NASCAR was looking to move to having European races... but nothing like this - which sounds for all the world like V8 Star or Eurocars. again.

Yup, yawn...<sleep>

Sounds like a cheap championship with a veneer of glamour in the form of Alesi. He should know better, though I'm sure he's been heavily incentivised.

Plastic, tube framed american V8's is soooo 20th century.

Someone should do a kevlar bodied, space framed car with 5 litre BMW, Jag and Mercedes engines with a restrictor plate so the power stays around 650hp... and 1,000kgs - that I'd go and watch ! Oh but then that sounds a little like DTM...

Do you remember the stillborn Procars... F1 motors under standard 90's bodies...

Now THAT should have been done !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQigN057dMw

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/pic.php?ima...m=4&carnum=1205
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Red Andy
Member Avatar

Moderator
theghostofnuvolari,Feb 28 2007
11:29 AM
It is not clear who is behind the idea

I'll put money on Sheikh Maktoum having something to do with it!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Saint
Unregistered

Maybe to spice the series up they could have suicide bombers in certain cars….

I’m sorry that was in bad taste!
Quote Post Goto Top
 
gillesno27
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
Did I read something about Jochen Mass trying to establish NASCAR in Europe? I think any initiative into trying to promote racing in Asia can only be a good thing! Especially if it gives young drivers the chance to race against an established winner like Alesi. I can understand the criticisms but something like this ought to be supported and encouraged! The technology may not be cutting edge but for somewhere with a less advanced motor racing scene and motorsport-related engineering background probably couldn't dive in with a series like the DTM; the culture isn't there. A1GP, Bahrain, Dubai, etc are all helping raise the profile out there and this new series looks like a great plan, it has my full support!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
theghostofnuvolari
Member Avatar
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
well now i feel bad !

you're right, of course, just wish it could be something a bit fresher...

but then maybe we should be checking the state of our own gardens instead of sniggering at the guy next door laying grass for the first time...

gilles,

listened to your band. nice. you make limp bizkit sound like the backstreet boys !
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
gillesno27
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
Haha! I didn't want to make anyone feel bad, of course the reason we're all here is to debate these topics! I suppose I'm eternally optimisic and try not to be cynical about anything; I just love all forms of motorsport and think anyone investing time and effort into opening up new markets is positive! Imagine if Japan had been shunned, we might have no Suzuka, no Japan GT, Formula Nippon, etc.

Asia is such a rapidly growing market in the global economy as a whole so it must be embraced as far as I can see. Bernie is a very astute worker and I'm sure he's agreed to Grand Prix in Bahrain and Dubai because he sees a market there. The problem is a grand prix is at the top of the pyramid and a pyramid needs support from the ground up so it's imperative that these series exist. They will encourage drivers, engineers, organising bodies and fans. If I lived somewhere remote, I'd be delighted at the prospect of seeing a genuine star like Alesi racing against local upstarts!

Starting such a series with well-known technology is (relatively) unambitious but it will give the area's teams the chance to develop quicker and help create a motor racing culture which will have its own identity. The Antipodes, Japan, Europe and North America all have distinct approaches to motor sport which have been established over generations - I'm sure ideas will germinate and a positive identity will come given time!

Thank you so much for checking out the band! We have just come back off a 9-date tour of the UK which was amazing fun! We have achieved more than I ever imagined, playing such a marginalised type of music. We will never achieve commercial success but if we can make a few ppl nod their heads along the way then I'm happy!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
theghostofnuvolari
Member Avatar
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
i tell you, the way you write and think, you're heading for a nobel peace prize... i can hear we are the world, we are the children in the background !! :D

what you say is right on the money, they are building a real motorsport base, and that can only be to the good.

a friend of mine was involved in shipping karts out to dubai in containers every year and running a 24 hour event, and he always came back saying how much the locals raved about it.

there's probably a good business shipping out some seasoned saloon cars for grass roots racing... anyone ?

as for the band, i think you could find a pretty strong cult following out in the u.s., just need someone to promote you there, or a band that let you warm up the crowd beforehand. i've never been involved, utterly tuneless, but it sounds like you had a blast.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
gillesno27
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
Haha! Cheers dude! I often believe I'm a little naive but I'd rather be positive than negative in any given situation, especially motorsport-wise. I'm really interested by your friends' karting experience, I know a lot of the the wealthy sector in the middle east is very interested in cars already. I'm sure it would be an appealing market for high-end manufacturers like Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley, etc. They need to showcase their technology to their important clients. From what I gather, there would be no Aston Martin were it not for men like the Sultan of Brunei buying so many cars, especially bespoke models, one-offs, etc. during the 1980s.

Of course this is a long way from the man on the street but an inherent respect and love for fast cars will have a positive knock-on effect to everyone in the region. I also think that Rally Raid-style events and rallies have potential, given the often barren landscape in the Middle East. I will observe the results with interest!

With regards the band, we have sold some records to the US and we'd love to get out there but it's hard! We will probably try and play some dates in Europe next year but it has to be treated as an extended holiday - there's no money to be made in stoner rock/doom when you're as talentless as us haha!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
gillesno27
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
Just thought I'd add some news to this thread...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57054

It's looking like quite an exciting series...better driver line-up than Grand Prix Masters haha!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
theghostofnuvolari
Member Avatar
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
gillesno27,Mar 5 2007
05:57 PM
Just thought I'd add some news to this thread...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57054

It's looking like quite an exciting series...better driver line-up than Grand Prix Masters haha!

600hp is pretty healthy, excellent, and the boys they're signing up sound like the sort of guys happy to rub shoulders every once in a while. nice winter championship to keep away the withdrawal symptoms.

i've a friend who had a small band in ny, maybe he knows how people get gigs that pay money there. i'll ask, though i'm not sure if he'll have any clue ...!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
theghostofnuvolari
Member Avatar
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
Well here's the car and the feedback from the drivers.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_new...es_art_id=30668

i guess we'll be needing a new forum.

is it just a badly angled shot, or does the car look a bit playskool compared to NASCAR ? too high ground clearance ?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
gillesno27
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
May just be the suspension is unloaded...I know what you mean though!

Looks like a fun series. I read an interesting piece in F1 Racing magazine t'other day about the development of motor sport in the middle east. It's growing very very quickly. This is the right thing for them to be doing. I'm looking forward to seeing how the championship progresses this winter!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
theghostofnuvolari
Member Avatar
Engineer
[ *  *  *  * ]
if the field is going to have 24 cars, seems to me having the no.27 on the side of the car might be more than coincidence... a homage to gilles maybe ??
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create a free forum in seconds.
Learn More · Sign-up for Free
« Previous Topic · Formula 1 · Next Topic »
Add Reply