Potential Indy Car Race in Calgary

[homestand]

Originally Posted by Kavvy

Goes with out saying, but needs to happen during a "empty" month in Calgary. I.e. a couple weeks after the stampede crowd clears out and Calgary is dead.

Unsure how that works with the Indy schedule .

Some events piggyback off each other,

May 22 - 24, 2015 Monaco F1
May 13 - 24, 2015 Cannes Film Festival

June 29 - July 12, 2015 Wimbledon Tennis
July 3 - 5, 2015 British F1

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by 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

Given the large amount of government subsidies that typically go into these events, its less Druh Farrell and more Rick "taaaaaxpayerz" Bell that you should be worried about.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I would think there would be some physical barriers to a race track in the downtown area. Any of the CP underpasses would be a no go, except perhaps 4th Street SE, I would guess because the vertical radiuses would be much too small (I doubt they want cars flying). I doubt race cars want to go over in ground rails, so that cuts out crossing 7th Ave, 9th Street, etc.

To cross the river, and use Memorial Drive, you can't really use centre street bridge, because it doesnt connect to Memorial Drive. There's no other connection between Edmonton Trail and 10th Street W.

I'm guessing the lower deck is too narrow? I really know nothing about course design. What are the parameters? It's seems to me that you want about a 4 km loop with about 13 different curves, but what else?

[speede5]

I remember going downtown in Vancouver during the Indy one year. It was a nightmare of blocked off streets. Also they erect huge plywood walls to impair the view of non ticket buyers. It was extremely intrusive and the set-up time and downtime is huge. I have to agree it is doubtful something like that would fly in our busy world. I am a huge racing fan, but these event's don't mesh well. All the more reason to approve purpose built facilities.

[polak]

Crowchild over the river?

[SebC]

Elbow Drive, Mission Road, Macleod Trail, 42nd Avenue

Time for the playground zone nimbys to give back!

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by speede5

I remember going downtown in Vancouver during the Indy one year. It was a nightmare of blocked off streets. Also they erect huge plywood walls to impair the view of non ticket buyers. It was extremely intrusive and the set-up time and downtime is huge. I have to agree it is doubtful something like that would fly in our busy world. I am a huge racing fan, but these event's don't mesh well. All the more reason to approve purpose built facilities.

Yeah, I remember that. If I was a tourist in Vancouver at that time and wasn't race fan, I would have been kind of put off. It's a very intrusive event.

It would be much better to have a specific facility for it, or have it in a smaller city close to Calgary. Townies would probably love the attention, and race fans from Calgary could still go see it.

[polak]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Yeah, I remember that. If I was a tourist in Vancouver at that time and wasn't race fan, I would have been kind of put off. It's a very intrusive event.

It would be much better to have a specific facility for it, or have it in a smaller city close to Calgary. Townies would probably love the attention, and race fans from Calgary could still go see it.

The appeal of a city circuit is the effect of these cars racing on normally packed streets you recognize. It wouldn't work in a small town.

A dedicated track is exactly what Calgary needs but apparently the city doesn't care for it and would rather force the kids to race on public roads. Guys are going to race their cars. Always and forever. Not giving them an outlet to do so is stupid.

[Kavvy]

Across the peace bridge, over the shaganappi bridge, through the airport tunnel and through the blue circle art to finish the race.

[DoubleK]

Please stop with using Monaco to support a DT Calgary race.

Let's start with a 0.5 mile paved oval and work up from there.

Any track that could support any legit form of racing would be woefully inadequate compared to races held in Montreal or Toronto.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Please stop with using Monaco to support a DT Calgary race.

Let's start with a 0.5 mile paved oval and work up from there.

Any track that could support any legit form of racing would be woefully inadequate compared to races held in Montreal or Toronto.

Having been a part of the Toronto Indy for 3 years I can safely say you could make up a track in Calgary just as good as Toronto's with ease. There's nothing special about it it, It's only jersey barriers and fencing.

5 minutes of track design:

Start - 4th ave at Macleod tr. SE westbound to 3rd st SW, north to eau claire's sweeping turns on Barclay Parade to south 2nd st SW to 2nd ave SW,eastbound to Riverfront ave to south 3rd st SE. back to 4th ave westbound to start/finish.

10 turn approximately 3 km track.

[taffeyb]

Gawd...we couldn't even close off half of Memorial Drive for a half day for the "Flow on the Bow" street festival without some City Councillors pontificating how bad that this was. Ain't gonna happen in this city anytime soon.

Very short sighted...the best cities in the world are always closing off streets for festivals and stuff as it attracts crowds and make the cities very livable. In Calgary, you'll have complaints about not being able to drive 5 blocks to the mall.

[Barnes]

The only venue that could support this type of race would be the Stampede grounds with a number of changes to the streets. You need around 10 corners and our downtown grid doesn't suit corners like hairpins etc. and it would choke off downtown by interfering with transit. There simply isn't the space for a pit and paddocks either.

Stampede would never make changes to the park. It doesn't support their mandate of furthering western culture by teaching kids to play the tuba.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Barnes

The only venue that could support this type of race would be the Stampede grounds with a number of changes to the streets. You need around 10 corners and our downtown grid doesn't suit corners like hairpins etc. and it would choke off downtown by interfering with transit. There simply isn't the space for a pit and paddocks either.

Stampede would never make changes to the park. It doesn't support their mandate of furthering western culture by teaching kids to play the tuba.

The route I provided earlier around the UofC would be pretty ideal. It would be about 13 turns with some tight turns and some quicker sweeping turns. Lot 10 by the Olympic Oval has lots of room for pits and paddocks.