Anyone going to the Grand Prix this weekend?

**Switchmanjim** · May-31-12, 12:59 PM

I've never been to a race, anyone have any feedback on previous races? Thanks.

**stromberg2** · May-31-12, 02:26 PM

I may go tomorrow for the free day. I went to the race itself the last year it was here. I thought it was real cool!

Stromberg2

**EastsideAl** · May-31-12, 02:37 PM

Oh yes, I always go. I was a course worker for several years when they ran Formula 1 here.

I may have philosophical objections to using Belle Isle to hold the race, and to the aesthetic damage done to the park for a once-a-year [[if we're lucky) event, but having a major auto race that I can actually walk to from my home is also wonderful on several levels. Saturday promises to be a great day, with 3 races on tap including my favorite, the highly-competitive multi-class Rolex sports cars. Then the big Indy event on Sunday, which is a blast, and breathtakingly fast. My only real problem is the tightness of the circuit, which can make passing extremely difficult, and can create a lot of yellow flags for rather small incidents.

After sitting in the grandstands for a couple of years, I have gone with general admission tickets, so I can walk around and occasionally perch in the 'free' grandstands they put up on the back side of the circuit. This is particularly good on Saturday when it's a little less crowded. I have, however, also sprung for a paddock pass a couple of times so I can get in to see the cars and mechanics close up.

**black gold man** · May-31-12, 09:55 PM

I will be there fri and sat. Hot rod power tour has a car coral car show
Friday at the grand prix i am not in the tour but i did get my datsun
in the show. And i think we will be taking a parade lap on the track.

BGM

**pkbroch** · June-01-12, 09:23 AM

As I sit and write this, my husband and son are down on Belle Isle, in the rain.

They plan on parking on Cobo roof and talking the shuttle bus to Belle Isle. Will probably come home soaked.

The best races for spectators were the ones run on downtown streets, but I hear it was brutal on the cars and drivers.

**guito13** · June-01-12, 09:30 AM

No, I will not be going. I am sorry but any venue that does not allow me to protect myself will not get my business/money.

http://www.detroitgp.com/tickets/index.cfm?cid=17682

The following items are NOT permitted through admission gates:
Ladders, scaffolding or other structures, umbrellas, lawn chairs, firearms or other weapons, bicycles, roller blades, strollers and wagons.

**Gistok** · June-01-12, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by guito13

No, I will not be going. I am sorry but any venue that does not allow me to protect myself will not get my business/money.

http://www.detroitgp.com/tickets/index.cfm?cid=17682

Protect you from what??

That lady with the menacing looking $1,030 Louis Vuitton handbag sitting on the bleachers next to you??

If you're that paranoid... it's best you avoid ALL cities...

**guito13** · June-01-12, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

Protect you from what??

That lady with the menacing looking $1,030 Louis Vuitton handbag sitting on the bleachers next to you??

If you're that paranoid... it's best you avoid ALL cities...

Not paranoid, a realist.

I have been to many events downtown where I had no isses whatsoever. I have been to a couple where I did feel a bit threatened. When I am with my kids in an area that unfortunately has higher odds of something bad happening, I error on the side of caution.

For what its worth, I do much prefer rural areas but work does not allow me to spend much of my time in those settings

**Wintersmommy** · June-01-12, 09:39 AM

the child and I will be there tomorrow. Went several years ago and she really wanted to go back!

**TexasT** · June-01-12, 12:30 PM

My husband, brother and I will be there!

**Downriviera** · June-01-12, 01:48 PM

Great event but does not compare to the days of F1 on the streets of downtown Detroit.

**Sandhouse** · June-01-12, 02:06 PM

Even the wife liked this when we went a few years ago, and that's saying something. We parked at the Renaissance Center. I don't recall anything about the shuttle bus ride, which means it must have worked well. I'm tempted to go this year just to try out the ferry. My Free Press map says there's a bicycle parking area, and that could be a good way to get there, too.

I prefer walking around the course to sitting in a grandstand. The view was frequently limited, but still okay. As I recall, some of the better viewing sites were given over to corporate enclaves. I don't think the Belle Isle course is inferior to the downtown one in views by spectators, maybe better. It is less dramatic than downtown, but prettier [[except for the big concrete lake).

**black gold man** · June-01-12, 07:49 PM

I was there today got to park right there on the car coral 50 yards from the track. The rain let up by 12 or so. I had a great time and was out of there by
4.
Got to shake Mario's hand asked for a autograph and he singed my shirt.
I think he liked the shirt is why he came up to me.
Mario took Paul Newman out on a race track for the first time maybe 1967
in a pace car.
Anyway here is a pic of my shirt and Mario.

**black gold man** · June-01-12, 07:57 PM

The Japanese guy on the bike is Takuma Sato. Races for Bobby Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lannigan Racing. Yes, that Letterman, as in David. Taku is a former F1 driver and crashed out on the last lap of the Indy 500 this year while trying to pass Dario Frnachitti for the win on the final lap.

**black gold man** · June-01-12, 08:03 PM

Paul Newman became lead driver for the Bob Sharp Racing Team
Scott Sharp, son of Bob Sharp and Datsun fame, is part of the Patron team with the Ferrari 458 Scott also raced Datsuns as well as IndyCars.

**black gold man** · June-01-12, 08:11 PM

Here is another MARIO

**black gold man** · June-01-12, 08:48 PM

Katherine Legge you go girl!

**One Shot** · June-01-12, 08:52 PM

My Dad used to take me to the free day when it was downtown. I was probably there for a formula 1 race. Wish I remembered it! To think we had F1 cars in Detroit!

**Downriviera** · June-03-12, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by One Shot

My Dad used to take me to the free day when it was downtown. I was probably there for a formula 1 race. Wish I remembered it! To think we had F1 cars in Detroit!

Yessir, F1 cars on the streets of Detroit. Great times. I was lucky to have worked for a few F1 teams in those days. The main reasons F1 left is that the city refused to build permanent garages in the pit lane. It was very hard to move all the equipment from the temporary garages inside Cobo all the way to the pit lane east of the Rencen. Had they built the garages they could have been used for vendors the rest of the year. Also was a money issue. You can run Indy Car a lot cheaper than F1, but with F1 you get a lot of bang for the buck. Huge worldwide TV ratings and people coming here from all over the world. Who can forget all the Brazilians doing the samba in the streets of downtown.

muskie1 · June-03-12, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Downriviera

Yessir, F1 cars on the streets of Detroit. Great times. I was lucky to have worked for a few F1 teams in those days. The main reasons F1 left is that the city refused to build permanent garages in the pit lane. It was very hard to move all the equipment from the temporary garages inside Cobo all the way to the pit lane east of the Rencen. Had they built the garages they could have been used for vendors the rest of the year. Also was a money issue. You can run Indy Car a lot cheaper than F1, but with F1 you get a lot of bang for the buck. Huge worldwide TV ratings and people coming here from all over the world. Who can forget all the Brazilians doing the samba in the streets of downtown.

Yes those were the days. I found many great spots to hang out in Detroit during the F1 days. I would get a room at the Ren-Cen Thursday thru Monday. I had a great time exploring the city and visited the bars and restaurants many times during the year.

We made it a truly international event back then and I remember the Brazilians well! I still went when they switched to Indy cars but am sad to say the move to the island was horrible. I hate being stuck in a venue. After F 1 left hereI still had a lot of fun in Montreal.

Even if F1 returned I would not waste my money to see the race on Belle Isle. No where to explore and enjoy the racing vibes.

**Switchmanjim** · June-02-12, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Switchmanjim

I've never been to a race, anyone have any feedback on previous races? Thanks.

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About a half hour after my original post, I was asked to go Indianapolis and pick up a Track-dryer. Brought it to Belle Isle on Friday afternoon and enjoyed the sights. I'm looking forward to Sunday!

**mikeg19** · June-02-12, 01:46 PM

I remember going down with my dad and brother to the free day back in the 90's. We were never big race fans, but it was still cool to go check out for a few hours.

Can somebody tell me why the city moved the race to Belle Isle? I'm not a big race fan, but watching a race going through city streets is pretty cool when you see it on tv. Was it poor road conditions that prompted the move?

**Cincinnati_Kid** · June-03-12, 02:27 AM

Originally Posted by mikeg19

I remember going down with my dad and brother to the free day back in the 90's. We were never big race fans, but it was still cool to go check out for a few hours.

Can somebody tell me why the city moved the race to Belle Isle? I'm not a big race fan, but watching a race going through city streets is pretty cool when you see it on tv. Was it poor road conditions that prompted the move?

Yes, too many potholes, uneven pavement, and sunken manhole covers.

**Gannon** · June-03-12, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by mikeg19

I remember going down with my dad and brother to the free day back in the 90's. We were never big race fans, but it was still cool to go check out for a few hours.

Can somebody tell me why the city moved the race to Belle Isle? I'm not a big race fan, but watching a race going through city streets is pretty cool when you see it on tv. Was it poor road conditions that prompted the move?

The Formula One drivers were never satisfied with the road conditions here, even the road stripes caused problems with traction and odd tire wear. I remember one news report showing a pedestrian crossing stripe with an accumulation of tire rubber glommed over an inch thick.

I think the death of the downtown run, though, was the little issue of basically closing off the core of the Central Business district...including the building of the paddock and pit areas, removing the sub-levels of parking in the RenCen from use for a month.

It was a total blast, though. There remains nothing in my aural memory that tickles the adrenals more than the musical sounds those F1 cars made roaring through the buildings, taking on the concrete canyons on the way to the river...that little chicane, and then the hated hairpin.

Wow. Forgot how much fun that was...thanks for tickling that memory.

Cheers

**Kathleen** · June-03-12, 08:35 AM

Great memories of the race both downtown and on Belle Isle!! I feel blessed to have shared some of the Free Prix day events in both places with our boys who are now grown up.

Belle Isle is a beautiful setting for this race...great for sharing the D with race lovers around the world.

But the memories of the race on the streets of downtown Detroit are priceless! The echoes of the car engines bouncing from building to building are unforgettable!!

I do remember how disruptive the race was for people working downtown. Sounds like neither course is optimal for the cars, and if the race can't be held on streets of the D, then Belle Isle is the next best choice!