Grand Prix Of Houston

RallyGuy2k · 10-09-2001, 11:49 AM

Just thought I'd post one of the pics...I'll post the url when I upload them all...
It's Bryan Herta with Patrick Carpentier behind...
Tre'

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Fred Zaplitny · 10-09-2001, 02:03 PM

CART! I love CART cars and CART racing. I'm going to miss seeing them on Belle Isle, and I will miss them when CART is gone altogether. When is Joe Hietzler going to realize that if you keep shooting yourself in the foot, you'll eventually bleed to death?! Now that CART has pissed of Toyota and frustrated Honda and Ford so that all of them are leaving, maybe they can get Briggs and Stratton to provide engines for the 2003 season

If somebody stalls on the track, they can just get out and pull start it! They'll probably just go with IRL spec engines, whatever the case the CART the I know and love is over after next season. They might as well just go kiss Tony George's butt and join the IRL.

RIP CART
1979-2002

Sorry for my cynical post. Excellent picture! How did you get so close? Everytime I take pictures at a race I get that damn fence in my way. Did you have photographer's access cridentials?

Fred

RallyGuy2k · 10-09-2001, 02:49 PM

Fred,

Yeah...I'm a SCCA Race Official...and I'm also the Houston region SCCA photographer, so I had all the credentials...

I gotta agree with ya...I'm sure they're gonna go with the IRL spec engines...3.5l N/As....bummer, I'm gonna miss the turbos...

Funny story...
During the Trans-Am race, they put out the blue flag...a car got so close to the corner that the rear wing grabed the flag out of the worker's hand?!...it went around for a lap attached to the wing, then as the car was passed it was passed on from one car to the other.....went around for two laps until the black flagged him...

The flag is all torn up and quite the sight to see...it's in the hands of SCCA Pro and will be on display somewhere...

Tre'

Axiochus · 10-09-2001, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fred Zaplitny
CART! I love CART cars and CART racing. I'm going to miss seeing them on Belle Isle, and I will miss them when CART is gone altogether. When is Joe Hietzler going to realize that if you keep shooting yourself in the foot, you'll eventually bleed to death?! Now that CART has pissed of Toyota and frustrated Honda and Ford so that all of them are leaving, maybe they can get Briggs and Stratton to provide engines for the 2003 season If somebody stalls on the track, they can just get out and pull start it! They'll probably just go with IRL spec engines, whatever the case the CART the I know and love is over after next season. They might as well just go kiss Tony George's butt and join the IRL.

RIP CART
1979-2002

Sorry for my cynical post. Excellent picture! How did you get so close? Everytime I take pictures at a race I get that damn fence in my way. Did you have photographer's access cridentials?

Fred

Are you out of your head? I read your post, and I can't help but think of how off base you are! CART isn't dead because they completely mis-handled this engine thing! No, no, no, my friend. CART is dead because it can no longer ensure fans that scheduled events will take place (Brazil, Texas), that traditional venues will continue to be on the schedule (Michigan is gone... what's next, Milwaukee?), that races will run in anything less than completely ideal conditions (Road America), or that young drivers in cars that DON'T have red bull's eyes on the side will be promoted (Oriol who?). Get your facts straight, would ya?

Matt... Now THAT, was cynical.

OnTheGas · 10-10-2001, 02:15 AM

RallyGuy2k - Very nice shot, thanks for sharing it. Looks like both Herta and Carpentier were blistering their left fronts pretty well at that point.

I'll miss CART, also. Been to Long Beach for many seasons. I've been able to see some world class drivers running hard just a feet away from me, Nigel, Mario, Michael, JV, Zanardi, Montoya... I wonder if this means the best talent will overlook CART, and will stay in Europe, and Japan now?

I'm hoping for a miracle... Like maybe they'll stop shooting themselves in the foot. Didja notice that when the took over Formula Atlantic, they did away with their historical (and highly anticipated) standing starts on the road courses?
POW! "AAHHhh, my foot hurts!"

At the same time, with F1 back in the states, and the current quality of the American Le Mans series, I don't think I'll miss it as much. If only we could have another US GP West again out here in California, then I'd hardly notice CART, and their over-weight methanol bathtub cars, full course yellows, and rolling road course starts are gone!

Not too cynical... just mostly disappointed. :monkey:

Fred Zaplitny · 10-10-2001, 09:56 AM

Axiochus,
I don't think I was off base. I'm not saying CART is dead just because they mishandled the engine specification, just that it was the shot in the foot that finally hit a major artery and I don't think Dr. Trammell and his amazing staff can stop this bleeding. CART has done just about everything wrong this year, all those things you've mentioned, and ailienated a LOT of fans in the process. I don't have a CART race in Michigan next year!!! I went from two to ZERO, zip....nada!! Bastards! I don't necessarily totally blame CART for that though. Detroit could have kept the Belle Isle race if they would have spent some money on improvements and did a little more advertisement. MIS could have kept the Michigan 500 if they could get more people to come so they could cover the sactioning fee CART wants. There is very little promotion of that race around here, it's amazing they got 25,000 people there this year! But now that CART has not only pissed off fans, but now ailenated it's engine manufacturers.....well what's next are they going to screw up the tire contract? They still don't have one with Firestone for next year. Maybe they can just run with off the shelf RE-92's!!

So get your facts straight pal!

Fred

Axiochus · 10-10-2001, 06:33 PM

Hey Fred,

Before you go slamming me, maybe you ought to read the post again... it was all in jest. I completely agree with you.

I went to my first CART race in '84. I've been to CART races at (going from east to west) Nazareth, Cleveland, Mid-Ohio, Detroit, MIS, Chicago, Milwaukee, Road America, Gateway, and Vancouver. As far as I'm concerned, the series is at an all time low. Among those things already listed, management has been poor for the last few years, Oval races have SUCKED since they went to the speedway wing package, you can no longer count on the fact that traditional venues will be on the schedule from year to year, and every time I see a new race, I've got to take a cautious "wait and see" attitude (can you say "Hawaii Super-Prix"?).

We're on the same page here.

Matt.

P.S.- Please don't call me "pal" again. I don't even know ya.

Fred Zaplitny · 10-11-2001, 04:08 AM

Axiochus,
I wasn't slamming you. Where in my post did you feel I was slamming you? I was just defending what I said and also (if you read my second post) backing up what you said as well. It is like I mentoined the last cylinder in the gun Joe is using ( to shoot CART in the foot ) and you mentioned the first 5 cylinders!! We agree the man (or the orginization) is an idiot and is killing the greatest open wheel series in North America.

Like you said we are on the same page!

Peace bro!

P.S. you're a pal

Hehe!

10-09-2001, 11:49 AM	#1
RallyGuy2k Scooby Specialist Member#: 1146 Join Date: Mar 2000 Chapter/Region: International Location: Houston/LA/NYC	Grand Prix Of Houston Just thought I'd post one of the pics...I'll post the url when I upload them all... It's Bryan Herta with Patrick Carpentier behind... Tre' * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

10-10-2001, 02:15 AM	#5
OnTheGas Scooby Specialist Member#: 3807 Join Date: Jan 2001 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Orange, CA, USA Vehicle: 2002 WRX Sedan Silver, tinted	Blistered! RallyGuy2k - Very nice shot, thanks for sharing it. Looks like both Herta and Carpentier were blistering their left fronts pretty well at that point. I'll miss CART, also. Been to Long Beach for many seasons. I've been able to see some world class drivers running hard just a feet away from me, Nigel, Mario, Michael, JV, Zanardi, Montoya... I wonder if this means the best talent will overlook CART, and will stay in Europe, and Japan now? I'm hoping for a miracle... Like maybe they'll stop shooting themselves in the foot. Didja notice that when the took over Formula Atlantic, they did away with their historical (and highly anticipated) standing starts on the road courses? POW! "AAHHhh, my foot hurts!" At the same time, with F1 back in the states, and the current quality of the American Le Mans series, I don't think I'll miss it as much. If only we could have another US GP West again out here in California, then I'd hardly notice CART, and their over-weight methanol bathtub cars, full course yellows, and rolling road course starts are gone! Not too cynical... just mostly disappointed. :monkey:

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Review of the 2006 Grand Prix of Houston by Fred P. Phillips	Hotrodguru	Texas Impreza Club Forum -- TXIC	3	05-15-2006 12:38 PM
One Free VIP parking pass to Grand Prix of Houston to 1st TXIC to stop by	shoracer	Texas Impreza Club Forum -- TXIC	19	05-11-2006 11:21 PM
TXIC List: Grand Prix of Houston.	Hotrodguru	Texas Impreza Club Forum -- TXIC	60	05-11-2006 02:48 PM
Grand Prix Of Houston Tickets	FriedIceCream	Texas Impreza Club Forum -- TXIC	25	04-11-2006 11:56 AM
ALMS Grand Prix of Houston May 11-13	Tanj!	Texas Impreza Club Forum -- TXIC	15	03-23-2006 12:23 AM

10-09-2001, 02:03 PM	#2
Fred Zaplitny Gone... But not forgotten Member#: 92 Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: East Detroit, Michigan Vehicle: 1999 2.5RS Coupe Blueish Kind of	CART! I love CART cars and CART racing. I'm going to miss seeing them on Belle Isle, and I will miss them when CART is gone altogether. When is Joe Hietzler going to realize that if you keep shooting yourself in the foot, you'll eventually bleed to death?! Now that CART has pissed of Toyota and frustrated Honda and Ford so that all of them are leaving, maybe they can get Briggs and Stratton to provide engines for the 2003 season If somebody stalls on the track, they can just get out and pull start it! They'll probably just go with IRL spec engines, whatever the case the CART the I know and love is over after next season. They might as well just go kiss Tony George's butt and join the IRL. RIP CART 1979-2002 Sorry for my cynical post. Excellent picture! How did you get so close? Everytime I take pictures at a race I get that damn fence in my way. Did you have photographer's access cridentials? Fred

10-09-2001, 02:49 PM	#3
RallyGuy2k Scooby Specialist Member#: 1146 Join Date: Mar 2000 Chapter/Region: International Location: Houston/LA/NYC	Fred, Yeah...I'm a SCCA Race Official...and I'm also the Houston region SCCA photographer, so I had all the credentials... I gotta agree with ya...I'm sure they're gonna go with the IRL spec engines...3.5l N/As....bummer, I'm gonna miss the turbos... Funny story... During the Trans-Am race, they put out the blue flag...a car got so close to the corner that the rear wing grabed the flag out of the worker's hand?!...it went around for a lap attached to the wing, then as the car was passed it was passed on from one car to the other.....went around for two laps until the black flagged him... The flag is all torn up and quite the sight to see...it's in the hands of SCCA Pro and will be on display somewhere... Tre'

10-10-2001, 09:56 AM	#6
Fred Zaplitny Gone... But not forgotten Member#: 92 Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: East Detroit, Michigan Vehicle: 1999 2.5RS Coupe Blueish Kind of	Axiochus, I don't think I was off base. I'm not saying CART is dead just because they mishandled the engine specification, just that it was the shot in the foot that finally hit a major artery and I don't think Dr. Trammell and his amazing staff can stop this bleeding. CART has done just about everything wrong this year, all those things you've mentioned, and ailienated a LOT of fans in the process. I don't have a CART race in Michigan next year!!! I went from two to ZERO, zip....nada!! Bastards! I don't necessarily totally blame CART for that though. Detroit could have kept the Belle Isle race if they would have spent some money on improvements and did a little more advertisement. MIS could have kept the Michigan 500 if they could get more people to come so they could cover the sactioning fee CART wants. There is very little promotion of that race around here, it's amazing they got 25,000 people there this year! But now that CART has not only pissed off fans, but now ailenated it's engine manufacturers.....well what's next are they going to screw up the tire contract? They still don't have one with Firestone for next year. Maybe they can just run with off the shelf RE-92's!! So get your facts straight pal! Fred

10-10-2001, 06:33 PM	#7
Axiochus * Banned * Member#: 7847 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Sideways Fool Vehicle: Most Exciting Driver '91, '95, '97, '00, '02	Hey Fred, Before you go slamming me, maybe you ought to read the post again... it was all in jest. I completely agree with you. I went to my first CART race in '84. I've been to CART races at (going from east to west) Nazareth, Cleveland, Mid-Ohio, Detroit, MIS, Chicago, Milwaukee, Road America, Gateway, and Vancouver. As far as I'm concerned, the series is at an all time low. Among those things already listed, management has been poor for the last few years, Oval races have SUCKED since they went to the speedway wing package, you can no longer count on the fact that traditional venues will be on the schedule from year to year, and every time I see a new race, I've got to take a cautious "wait and see" attitude (can you say "Hawaii Super-Prix"?). We're on the same page here. Matt. P.S.- Please don't call me "pal" again. I don't even know ya.

10-11-2001, 04:08 AM	#8
Fred Zaplitny Gone... But not forgotten Member#: 92 Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: East Detroit, Michigan Vehicle: 1999 2.5RS Coupe Blueish Kind of	Axiochus, I wasn't slamming you. Where in my post did you feel I was slamming you? I was just defending what I said and also (if you read my second post) backing up what you said as well. It is like I mentoined the last cylinder in the gun Joe is using ( to shoot CART in the foot ) and you mentioned the first 5 cylinders!! We agree the man (or the orginization) is an idiot and is killing the greatest open wheel series in North America. Like you said we are on the same page! Peace bro! P.S. you're a pal Hehe!