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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ San Jose Grand Prix
Posted by: sjhowitson Jul 29 2005, 07:59 AM
Hey any of the other SF Bay area guys or gals going to the races? Could be a fun event? Wish I could go, I was hoping for tickets from Fed Ex. If youare going take lots of pictures.
Posted by: Dave_Darling Jul 29 2005, 10:19 AM
Going on Sunday only.
--DD
Posted by: Brent Jul 29 2005, 10:24 AM
Just got my free General ticket for all three days, today. Will be taking the boys today at least. Sister n law working one of the events.
Posted by: Brent Jul 29 2005, 11:37 AM
Here's a pic from walking the course with my boys last night.
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Posted by: grantsfo Jul 29 2005, 11:41 AM
Dont miss that Trans Am race
Posted by: Brent Jul 29 2005, 11:43 AM
PLUS I saw they gave drifting 15 minutes today.
Posted by: neo914-6 Jul 29 2005, 02:02 PM
I'd like to go on Sun, but not without some cheap or free tix. 
Anyone?
Posted by: jkeyzer Jul 29 2005, 02:19 PM
I'm going tomorrow for a few hours. I was there yesterday and there were open wheel cars parked at parking meters. I kid you not.
Posted by: Mueller Jul 29 2005, 02:21 PM
not going to make the race, got to go to a wedding on Sunday in SJ, not looking forward to it at all......traffic is going to be hellish....
Posted by: carreraguy Jul 30 2005, 12:05 AM
Went today, going tomorrow and Sunday. Aside for the late start (big lip on Lightrail tracks that the drivers were complaining about) had a blast today. The action is closer than Laguna and the sound of the Champ cars rowing thru the gears and resulting reverberation off the office buildings is something definitely never heard in San Jose before! I expect a lot of office workers will be "working" tomorrow to watch the race form their air conditioned offices overlooking the track. The track is fairly narrow in places with reduced passing possibilities but its still way cool to see. Looking forward to what Derek Daly and the guys at Speed say about the race on Sunday - they're covering it live. Highly recommend you take Lightrail/mass transit.
Posted by: Brent Jul 30 2005, 12:36 AM
OMG, what a blast!
The highlight was definetly the DRIFTING! The drivers put on a show. Its amazing how in control the drivers are of their "out of control" tires. My 7 year old thought the cars were headed straight for us, but I reminded him they were professionals. What a blast. I know I have to show up at IHOP, but I think the wife will take the kids and the camcorder to the 9:30 drifting tomorrow.
MY SON MADE the ABC 7 news broadcast (4 year old CJ). Not much of an interview (says cool twice) but he made it. ( I'm in there will my facial hair too). To bad I don't have an 914club hat yet!
-Brent
Posted by: Brent Jul 30 2005, 01:50 AM
Felix, will be out of town on Sunday and willing to lend you my General ticket, which is transferable. All I ask is it be returned for sentimental reasons. See you at IHOP.
Posted by: neo914-6 Jul 30 2005, 01:54 AM
| QUOTE (Brent @ Jul 29 2005, 11:50 PM) |
| Felix, will be out of town on Sunday and willing to lend you my General ticket, which is transferable. All I ask is it be returned for sentimental reasons. See you at IHOP. |
it is wishfull thinking on my part. I forgot I'm going out of town Sun too. How early does it open, I'll talk to you tomorrow. You a night owl too?
Posted by: Brent Jul 30 2005, 02:00 AM
Yes I am a night owl too. I think my avg. post time is 2:30 am. The kids and wife are usually asleep, and time to get some serious browsing in. My boys only sleep about 6 hours a day, always have. If child energy could be harvested and sold for profit, I'd have one hell of a fleet of 914's.
Posted by: Mrs. K Jul 30 2005, 09:39 AM
| QUOTE (Brent @ Jul 29 2005, 11:36 PM) |
| OMG, what a blast! The highlight was definetly the DRIFTING! The drivers put on a show. Its amazing how in control the drivers are of their "out of control" tires. My 7 year old thought the cars were headed straight for us, but I reminded him they were professionals. What a blast. I know I have to show up at IHOP, but I think the wife will take the kids and the camcorder to the 9:30 drifting tomorrow. MY SON MADE the ABC 7 news broadcast (4 year old CJ). Not much of an interview (says cool twice) but he made it. ( I'm in there will my facial hair too). To bad I don't have an 914club hat yet! -Brent |
Isn't that drifting a trip? They demo'd it at this years Long Beach Grand Prix and it was really fun to watch....especially on the straights...if they are in tandom...they do like a little drifting dance between cars...very cool!
Wish I could go tomorrow...I love the Champ car series
Lisa
Posted by: Brent Jul 30 2005, 01:23 PM
| QUOTE (Mrs. K @ Jul 30 2005, 08:39 AM) |
| Isn't that drifting a trip? They demo'd it at this years Long Beach Grand Prix and it was really fun to watch. |
They didn't really drift in tandem, it was kinda open class. You had up to 4 cars drifting into a corner, one right after another, then some hoping on the accel and blowing by the others. Its was pure demonstration, and the best crowd reaction of three events I saw.
Posted by: Mrs. K Jul 30 2005, 07:25 PM
That's what they did in Long Beach too, but maybe the track here is wider at certain points because they did the tandem thing and it was awesome!
Also a BIG crowd response!
Lisa 
Posted by: Brent Jul 30 2005, 09:18 PM
Lisa,
I can't believe we are not hearing more people chime in on this. I know there was no 914 presence at the GP, and very few Porsche (did see one 968 racing against Mini Coopers and loosing).
-Brent
Posted by: carreraguy Jul 31 2005, 12:13 AM
I can't believe it either Brent; I would have liked to have made the breakfast this am but at that time I was walking down pit row. Anyone in the San Jose area even half way interested in CART should come out tomorrow - you have no idea what you are missing!
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Posted by: carreraguy Jul 31 2005, 12:19 AM
Grandstands are very impressive! Look like they're about 3-4 stories tall.
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Posted by: carreraguy Jul 31 2005, 12:21 AM
Saw this guy there too. My wife likes him for some reason; I think he was on Seinfeld.
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Posted by: neo914-6 Jul 31 2005, 12:22 AM
Jason was there with friends, Britain may have scored some tickets, and Dave is going tomorrow...
Seems everyone is going with their non-club friends and family...
Posted by: carreraguy Jul 31 2005, 12:22 AM
It was really cool to get Bruno to park my VW.
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Posted by: carreraguy Jul 31 2005, 12:24 AM
The folks at Ernst & Young had good seats! Slightly souped-up VR6 GTI going by.
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Posted by: carreraguy Jul 31 2005, 12:30 AM
Jimmy Vasser's ride in the paddock. He's the local favorite.
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Posted by: carreraguy Jul 31 2005, 12:38 AM
The Convention Center was packed with vendors and car displays. Good music and food too. The food was not exactly cheap, but what is in Sillycon Valley? About the same prices as Laguna Seca though.
Really looking forward to tomorrow. I think Sebastian Bourdais on the pole is an unbeatable combination considering his record to date and the fact that it's fairly hard to pass on this course. I'll be wearing my Club hat tomorrow, so all you folks watch out for the old guy with the s**t-eating grin on his face. I am SO glad I don't have to drive to Monterey or Sonoma for this great show!
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Posted by: Mrs. K Jul 31 2005, 05:13 PM
Just finished watching the race on Speed Vision...WOW...looks like next year they have some real work to do to make the course more smooth! So many cars had to replace their push rods and had suspension trouble....some even had cracks in the chasis!
Again, Sebasian Bourdais won....he is cool...met him at Long Beach. However I wish my favorite Champ car driver could have won...the local favorite...Jimmy Vasser!
Hope all who attended had a good time...looked like it was a beautiful day for racing!
Post more pix, please!
Lisa
Posted by: dan10101 Jul 31 2005, 10:24 PM
I saw the Speed Channel race as well.
The jump was insane. Watching the cars in the first lap from a head on view was like nothing I've ever seen in an auto race. Pogo Sticks come to mind. You could see where they tried to patch the road prior to the jump (tracks) to make it less of a launch. Didn't work.
Turn 4 (I think) also took out several cars.
Still I'm glad they got thru the whole race with more than half the field in one piece. I didn't think they would.
Posted by: grantsfo Jul 31 2005, 11:57 PM
| QUOTE (Mrs. K @ Jul 31 2005, 03:13 PM) |
| Just finished watching the race on Speed Vision...WOW...looks like next year they have some real work to do to make the course more smooth! So many cars had to replace their push rods and had suspension trouble....some even had cracks in the chasis! Again, Sebasian Bourdais won....he is cool...met him at Long Beach. However I wish my favorite Champ car driver could have won...the local favorite...Jimmy Vasser! Hope all who attended had a good time...looked like it was a beautiful day for racing! Post more pix, please! Lisa |
Yeah I thought I had switched on WRC!
Posted by: dan10101 Aug 1 2005, 12:06 AM
Here's some excellent pictures from another group.
http://imagenode.com/fh
http://imagenode.com/gh
http://imagenode.com/hh
http://imagenode.com/ih
http://imagenode.com/jh
http://imagenode.com/kh
http://imagenode.com/lh
http://imagenode.com/mh
http://imagenode.com/dh
(no jump picts...)
Posted by: carreraguy Aug 1 2005, 12:07 AM
Yep - those shots of the cars going at full tilt airborne(!) over the lightrail tracks were incredible! I don't know how the cars could possibly be set up to take such a beating! Only half of the field of 18 finished; five dropped out for contact and four for mechanical.
However, considering that the three day race weekend attracted over 152,000+ (62,000+ on Sunday alone, more than the MotoGP at Laguna); it has to be considered a success by any definition and will definitely be back again in 2006 according to one of the main CART guys/team owners, Kevin Kalkoven. By then, San Jose and the race organizers should have all the "kinks" out, including re-routing or fixing the "pogo stick jump" and adding another (and hopefully) wider pedestrian bridge!
Posted by: carreraguy Aug 1 2005, 12:24 AM
| QUOTE (dan10101 @ Jul 31 2005, 10:06 PM) |
| Here's some excellent pictures from another group. http://imagenode.com/fh http://imagenode.com/gh http://imagenode.com/hh http://imagenode.com/ih http://imagenode.com/jh http://imagenode.com/kh http://imagenode.com/lh http://imagenode.com/mh http://imagenode.com/dh (no jump picts...) |
Nice shots! Great wallpaper! Thanks!
Posted by: Brent Aug 1 2005, 03:26 AM
Tom, great pics. You captured alot of the entire flavor of the event. I managed to get the wife out today. SHe had a blast. Since my camera is on the fritz, will be doing some screen captures from video I took during the day.
Carrera GT was in front of the Hilton.
Civic Center was the padock area for many race cars including the drifters. Did anyone else see all the tires that were being signed and given away to fans. Many slicks and even some with tread.
I also had a front row for the drifters salute of three cars doing donuts in synchronization, to the left.
Again, screen capture tomorrow.
-Brent
Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:40 PM
Here are my pics. Those CHAMP cars are fast motherf***ers, which makes 'em hard to photograph. Several of my OK pics were from yellow-flag laps--boy were there a lot of those!!
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:41 PM
Second pic...
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:42 PM
Third pic...
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:42 PM
Pic four...
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:43 PM
Pic five...
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:43 PM
Pic six...
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:45 PM
Crowd shot, looking down-track along the back straight, after one of the chicanes...
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:45 PM
Same spot, looking up-track...
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:47 PM
Pic nine--blurry, but an interesting effect I think...
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:48 PM
Pic ten...
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:48 PM
Eleven...
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:49 PM
Twelve...
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:50 PM
Lucky thirteen! A shot down into the "fair" in the infield. Or whatever the heck that was.
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:51 PM
The only pic that even sort-of turned out from the chicane itself.
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:52 PM
And finally, a pic of my new ride. (Don't I wish!) It was parked in front of the Convention Center, and for some dumb reason never got on the track that I know of.
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Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 1 2005, 06:58 PM
Finally, impressions of the event:
It was very crowded, and not very well organized. They desparately needed to have at least one or two more pedestrian bridges, because the infield was just about the only place you could see anything! Getting a grandstand seat would have been nice for the view, but most of them were right out in the somewhat-brutal sun. I didn't really envy all of those people.
Viewing was tough, because it is difficult to get above ground level to look down onto the track. You wind up behind the Armco, and behind the second safety fence, and it's not easy to get a half-decent view of the cars. You also really only get to see one small section of the track at any given time, which makes it even tougher.
But the actual experience of being there, having all of those sounds wash through you, was pretty darned neat! The Champ cars are loud, but not as loud as the vintage NASCARs! The sounds and smells were at least as good as the sights, frankly. We were right by the braking zone for one corner for a while, and you could definitely smell "green fade" from some of the brakes! I wish we had gotten over to the light-rail tracks so we could see the cars jumping and hopping around--it looked pretty scary (but cool!) on the tube.
It was fun. I might even go back next year, if they have it again! Maybe...
--DD
Posted by: Mrs. K Aug 1 2005, 08:02 PM
http://www.champcarworldseries.com/FrontPage.asp
From what I read, they will be back to San Jose next year....gotta few kinks to work out though!
Come to Long Beach next year....it's always beautiful....nice road course and they have been racing here since 1974! Had plenty of time to work out the kinks 
I'll even buy a round of 
for the 914 club members who attend
Lisa 
Posted by: smrz914 Aug 1 2005, 08:24 PM
My impression was that the event needs a lot of organizational help. There was a line all day at one ped. bridge and looked like it was a one way bridge that switched directions. They needed at least 2 more on that stretch. The view from the ground sucked. I never made it to the hairpin b/c of the bridge line, but on the outside of the corners were where the cameras were placed. And because the cameras were placed on the outside of the turn the inside of the turn was covered in ads blocking the views of people that payed for tickets. The inside of the course was double fenced which didn't help at all either for viewing. The outside had a single fence (this seems backwards). The barrier around the track was so tall when you were on the ground you could only see the camera on the champ cars.
The best view i think was on TV, then next in line was in one of the buildings around the track. A friend of mine had a room on the 17 floor at the Hilton that I got to watch from. That was cool. The AC was on an there was a window that you could open slightly to hear the engines sing. A big sign that there were people probelms was that 1/3 of the people that came to the event were inside the convention center during the main event. I feel like they will make lots of changes for next year and not that many people will come.
Posted by: Brent Aug 2 2005, 12:47 AM
| QUOTE (Dave_Darling @ Aug 1 2005, 05:52 PM) |
| and for some dumb reason never got on the track that I know of. |
I heard for some reason, he has a clutch problem, it is currently on order from Germany at a cost of $9k. Don't know what type would cost that much but then, this car is worth, what....$450k????
Don't know much about this car, haven't read up on it, so don't blast me if I'm way off target on the pricing.
My Brother in law had access to it (his wife was managing the booty pagent). He has pics of the interior and close ups of the engine bay.
Posted by: carreraguy Aug 2 2005, 01:03 AM
I can't believe all the negativity here! Give it a chance; Long Beach has had a long time to set up a perfect venue! Yes the views aren't all the best and the bridges were a real bitch and the cars sure did bounce a lot and it was a little hot in the grandstands but all these things can be worked on. The grandstands at the hairpin looked like a good location for next year and also the grandstand looking at turns 4-6 looked like a great place too. You can't beat being that close to the action without the traffic/parking hassles you routinely deal with at Laguna and Infineon. Hell, the pit row walks alone were worth the price of admission. I just heard today that the downtown businesses pulled in $20 million in revenue for the 3 day period - not too shabby! I'll be back for sure in 2006.
Here's a pic of the front straight - imagine the cars coming at you at about 160.
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Posted by: carreraguy Aug 2 2005, 01:06 AM
Here's a pic looking the opposite direction towards the "new" chicane; note the braking markers.
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Posted by: Britain Smith Aug 2 2005, 01:23 AM
I thought the best part of the whole weekend was the drifting cars...talk about badass!
-Britain
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