Calgary area Rockyview Motorsports Park design revealed

[Bunk]

Their FAQ has a lot of answers about the tracks, professional racing circuit potential, etc.

http://www.rockyviewmotorsports.com/project/

Is formula 1 coming to RMP?

No. We will not be bringing Formula 1 to Alberta.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Here's hoping for open track days. Or at the very least track time rentals...

Personally, I'd love to see some advanced driving/racing school classes offered. I would forever have an answer to the question "What do you want for Christmas/your birthday".

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Personally, I'd love to see some advanced driving/racing school classes offered. I would forever have an answer to the question "What do you want for Christmas/your birthday".

Also good!

[polak]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Doubt it. Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is too classy and popular a facility to drop from the F1 calendar...

Might see some more proper racing though, perhaps the ALMS series or Grand Am Rolex. Who knows, maybe even Indycar.

Bernie Eccelstone considers the Montreal Gran Prix to be one of the "Grandslams" of the F1 calender, as in one of the most prestigious races on the circuit. Canada won't ever see another F1 race while Montreal is still on the calender and if it does, it's extremely doubtful to be in Calgary.

Imagine if it was possible though and they held it during the Stampede? This city would turn into an absolute gong show.

[SebC]

If this facility is intended to address street racing, shouldn't a drag strip be one of the first things built?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by SebC

If this facility is intended to address street racing, shouldn't a drag strip be one of the first things built?

Let's be honest, addressing street racing is a nice side effect, but it's never going to be the primary (or secondary) reason for such a facility.

[homestand]

Originally Posted by polak

Bernie Eccelstone considers the Montreal Gran Prix to be one of the "Grandslams" of the F1 calender, as in one of the most prestigious races on the circuit. Canada won't ever see another F1 race while Montreal is still on the calender and if it does, it's extremely doubtful to be in Calgary.

Imagine if it was possible though and they held it during the Stampede? This city would turn into an absolute gong show.

I think it would be extremely unlikely that Calgary would be scheduled on the F1 calendar around the Stampede. The global entertainment schedule is planned so the world jetset make the best use of their time. The calendar year starts off with the Aussie Open Tennis Final followed by the Super Bowl. Other key events are March Madness (Final Four) followed by the Masters. Cannes Film Festival with the French Open and the Monaco F1 Gran Prix followed by the Montreal Gran Prix. Next is Wimbledon with the British Gran Prix. Calgary just does not fit in.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by SebC

If this facility is intended to address street racing, shouldn't a drag strip be one of the first things built?

I don't fall for that. The racing community was crying foul with the forthcoming closure of Race City at that time, and using the threat of street racing increasing as a reason to keep it open. Has there been an increase of street racing since the closure? I don't think so, but I can't find hard facts. I always think the street racing angle is purely a PR move, as the street racers wouldn't be attending a track typically, it's just a different breed of people.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Personally, I'd love to see some advanced driving/racing school classes offered. I would forever have an answer to the question "What do you want for Christmas/your birthday".

Failing this, I think it may be time for a trip down to Laguna Seca

[Northendzone]

Looks like a great place to hold a bicycle race

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Personally, I'd love to see some advanced driving/racing school classes offered. I would forever have an answer to the question "What do you want for Christmas/your birthday".

Didn't the Allen Berg Racing School offer courses at Race City? As they still off karting courses, I think it's quite possible they will offer more if provided the opportunity.

[Bunk]

Planning application submitted to the County of Rockyview:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...059/story.html

[BlackArcher101]

Badlands Motorsport Resort has them beat so far. They've already completed the approval and zoning process which is the most difficult part of the process. Final design is taking place and construction is due to begin this year.

http://www.badlandsmotorsportsresort.com/

With some damn nice elevation changes, Badlands appears to be the better/more exciting track.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Badlands Motorsport Resort has them beat so far. They've already completed the approval and zoning process which is the most difficult part of the process. Final design is taking place and construction is due to begin this year.

http://www.badlandsmotorsportsresort.com/

With some damn nice elevation changes, Badlands appears to be the better/more exciting track.

The only problem I have with Badlands is that the location is just too far from Calgary. The Crossiron entertainment resort/racetrack or the Rockyview Motorsports Park are much closer to the main population centres and should attract more attention from the residents and motorsports enthusiasts.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Badlands Motorsport Resort has them beat so far. They've already completed the approval and zoning process which is the most difficult part of the process. Final design is taking place and construction is due to begin this year.

http://www.badlandsmotorsportsresort.com/

With some damn nice elevation changes, Badlands appears to be the better/more exciting track.

Yeah, they've since tweaked their design from 3 courses that could connect to each other, to 2 totally independent courses.

The south course will have the most elevation changes of any track in NA - should be awesome.

NSFW!

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

The only problem I have with Badlands is that the location is just too far from Calgary. The Crossiron entertainment resort/racetrack or the Rockyview Motorsports Park are much closer to the main population centres and should attract more attention from the residents and motorsports enthusiasts.

As a person that travels to rally events which are at least 2 hours away, I don't see how a travel time of 1.5 hours is going to keep anyone that cares enough about racing from going. Dedicated racers are already going to Castrol near Edmonton and other tracks throughout the NW. You'll get more fans showing up at Rockyview, but I don't believe the idea that being that close will net you more track users. If it does, they won't be the constant the users, but the "I'll give it a shot and see what it's like". I believe cost will eventually mean more than location.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Badlands Motorsport Resort has them beat so far. They've already completed the approval and zoning process which is the most difficult part of the process. Final design is taking place and construction is due to begin this year.

http://www.badlandsmotorsportsresort.com/

With some damn nice elevation changes, Badlands appears to be the better/more exciting track.

I think by far the biggest challenge will be financing. We'll see who has the wherewithal to actually make it happen.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

As a person that travels to rally events which are at least 2 hours away, I don't see how a travel time of 1.5 hours is going to keep anyone that cares enough about racing from going. Dedicated racers are already going to Castrol near Edmonton and other tracks throughout the NW. You'll get more fans showing up at Rockyview, but I don't believe the idea that being that close will net you more track users.

For dedicated racers distance is no big deal. But a track closer to Airdrie/Calgary will certainly net more users than Badlands. Accessibility to Badlands is pretty weak as well. Traffic on highway 9 sucks currently.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Madman

The south course will have the most elevation changes of any track in NA - should be awesome.

Great to hear, I think elevation changes make things a lot more interesting for both the driver and the spectators. I was a little afraid that being east of Airdrie it would be pretty flat.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Great to hear, I think elevation changes make things a lot more interesting for both the driver and the spectators. I was a little afraid that being east of Airdrie it would be pretty flat.

Sorry, I was referencing the Badlands track - not Balzac.