Potential Indy Car Race in Calgary

[Madman]

Cool idea, but doubt there'd be enough support to bring an event like this to Calgary.

With the loss of the annual stop for American open-wheel cars in Vancouver in 2004, a staple of the series for 14 years, and the abrupt end to Edmonton's IndyCar event in 2012, Western Canada has been out of the professional and international racing loop for a few years.

Motorsport.com has learned that an appointment has been set up with the City of Calgary and Calgary Business owner Ric Peterson, co-owner of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports concerning holding an IndyCar race in the Alberta city.

"The main problem is having a location to run the race. We are meeting with the City of Calgary next week about the topic of holding a race here," said Peterson.

http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/ne...-next-new-stop

[Hemi-Cuda]

Aside from using part of Memorial for a track, where would they drive that would be interesting? Having a grid layout for a city is fantastic for getting around in general, but doesn't provide a great backdrop for a racing course

[OldDutch]

A downtown street course akin to Vancouver would be awesome. I used to go when it was in Vancouver and he event was amazing. Calgary has a very nice skyline and I think it would be one of the cooler events to attend in North America.

That said, I don't think there is anyway they could chart a street course here that is near/through downtown sans 9th Ave. Also our poor road conditions it would cost a fortune to repair them each year for the race.

So it would probably be a track similar to Edmonton. In that event no thanks. I'm not driving up to Balzac or wherever to watch the guys do loops surrounded by canola fields.

[calgarygeologist]

I would love to have a road circuit race in Calgary. I've always been a big fan of open wheel racing and I've been to the race in Vancouver in the past and it was a great experience. I was hoping to go for the race in Edmonton sometime.

I would think that they could set up a decent circuit downtown although I would prefer something through Inglewood, past the Shamrock and around the Farmer's market. Another good option would be Memorial, past the Zoo/Science Centre and Edmonton Trail but I think this would require going down residential streets in Bridgeland which wouldn't be acceptable.

[BlackArcher101]

I don't see it happening in calgary. This has been a rumor far before Edmonton had to stop. The main issue is we don't have the roads. No one wants 90 degree turns over and over again and memorial is actually not curvy enough. They'd be going flat out on it. Add on top of that the noise and residents, that leaves us with a course in a commercial/industrial area.

Would be awesome to see one though.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I don't see it happening in calgary. This has been a rumor far before Edmonton had to stop. The main issue is we don't have the roads. No one wants 90 degree turns over and over again and memorial is actually not curvy enough. They'd be going flat out on it. Add on top of that the noise and residents, that leaves us with a course in a commercial/industrial area.

Would be awesome to see one though.

Crowchild, Glenmore and Richard Road would make for a pretty sweet circuit.

[btimbit]

I wish! This would only happen in my dreams, can you imagine the whining from people if this happened. Too many NIMBY's would whine about noise and crowds

[calgarygeologist]

A circuit around and through UofC would actually be perfect. 24th onto Campus Gate and down Campus Drive to 32nd. 32 is a good straight away onto Collegiate Blvd followed by Collegiate Road back onto 24. Lot 10 would be good for a pit area. That circuit would only disturb a small population and wouldn't shut down any major roads. It is easily accessible and the various parking lots at the UofC would be great for grandstands and festival areas.

Another plus is that it would be walking distance for me to check out the race.

Make it happen folks!

[Ben_in_Canada]

This would be awesome!
Could you imagine them coming down Memorial on to the 4th Ave flyover and then through downtown

I used to go the Indy races on the Gold Coast every year. So much fun.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I don't see it happening in calgary. This has been a rumor far before Edmonton had to stop. The main issue is we don't have the roads. No one wants 90 degree turns over and over again and memorial is actually not curvy enough. They'd be going flat out on it. Add on top of that the noise and residents, that leaves us with a course in a commercial/industrial area.

Would be awesome to see one though.

Ignoring the NIMBYs for a moment, if you added Princeton Way and Parclay Parade, could you make a satisfactory route?

[craigwd]

Definitely hope this happens.
I loved attending the Edmonton Indy races.

[Dan02]

No thanks

[DoubleF]

What about something that somehow connects Stony trail south bound on the west end, 16th east bound to Sarcee south bound?

Would have:

COP
A bridge
Potential Rockies shot and Downtown angles
Downhill/uphill
Turn/ramp
"Straights"
Tree/river/ridge

Could potentially use Country Hills ramp as a turn around and on the other side... Bow Trail or 17th?


Affects less houses directly. Doesn't affect too many major arteries (although 16th might be a problem one especially if Stony is used up as well. But seems like the most areas for spectators.


Another one could potentially be circling Nose Hill... but would that be too boring?

A box in the SE could be 52, Peigan, Stony and Glenmore?

I have no idea what an Indy race track looks like.

[T@T]

Wasn't this tried and turned down about 10 or so years ago?

Might be just my opinion but Indycar is crap nowadays anyway, I use to love it when it was CART but Tony George's greedy fingers ruined the whole series.

[Methanolic]

Originally Posted by T@T

Tony George's greedy fingers ruined the whole series.

Couldn't agree more!

Pure garbage compared to CART/ChampCar. Circuits, Power plants, Chassis, Talent...Even the sound is brutal since George squashed the best open wheel racing on the planet.

[chalms04]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

What about something that somehow connects Stony trail south bound on the west end, 16th east bound to Sarcee south bound?

Or we wait for a few years, and then we have a complete circuit:

[KelVarnsen]

I like them to use the Peace Bridge.

[FlamesAddiction]

I was living in Vancouver back when they had their Indy and the event was unbearable for residents in the area. It was noisy, smelled bad and caused all types of problems with commuting. In the end, it just wasn't good for anyone.

Maybe it made money (I really don't know), but I was glad when it was gone.

[Jackpot_Smooth]

Originally Posted by Ben_in_Canada

This would be awesome!
Could you imagine them coming down Memorial on to the 4th Ave flyover and then through downtown

I used to go the Indy races on the Gold Coast every year. So much fun.

Dru Ferrell will love this.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Dan02

No thanks

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I was living in Vancouver back when they had their Indy and the event was unbearable for residents in the area. It was noisy, smelled bad and caused all types of problems with commuting. In the end, it just wasn't good for anyone.

Maybe it made money (I really don't know), but I was glad when it was gone.

Both of you are the reason this city doesn't get anything interesting. I'm sure you two hate Stampede too right?

WAAAAH it's loud and smells bad. It's a weekend. 1 weekend of the year where instead of bitching and moaning about traffic and noise you could go and enjoy the festivities.

The best part is, people like this then turn around and complain about how Calgary is "dead" and has no culture.

####ing drives me up the wall. Why can't we all collectively suck it up for a few days and enjoy an awesome spectacle? You know how crazy it'd be to see these impressive machines fly down Memorial or Glenmore? It would be amazing.

Sure happy the people of Paris know better and allow the Tour De France to shut down most of the city or the people of Monaco allowing F1 to take over for a weekend or we'd be missing out on some of the greatest spectacles in sport.

God forbid you can't go to Wal-Mart for a day.