Philly to get a champ car race??

[eHoward]

I think Philadelphia could use an international sporting event.


-----Original Message-----
From: phax@yahoogroups.com [mailto:phax@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
kenklin
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 9:27 AM
To: phax@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [phax] Auto-racing meeting set for City Hall

from http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/l ... 287716.htm ...

Posted on Wed, Aug. 03, 2005

Auto-racing meeting set for City Hall

By Anthony S. Twyman
Inquirer Staff Writer

Actor Paul Newman and representatives from Champ Car World Series
are scheduled to meet with city officials this afternoon to discuss
holding an Indianapolis Speedway-style motorcar race on the streets
of Philadelphia, according to city officials.

Among the sites under consideration are the Benjamin Franklin
Parkway and Fairmount Park, as well as the South Philadelphia sports
complex, according to Larry Needle, executive director of the
Philadelphia Sports Congress, a division of the Philadelphia
Convention and Visitors Bureau.

City Councilman Frank Rizzo, who has led the effort to bring a Champ
Car race to the city, will be at the City Hall meeting and confirmed
that Newman would be attending.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," Rizzo said of the possibility of the
event coming to Philadelphia.

Newman and Carl Haas, a longtime racer, own Newman/Haas Racing, the
most successful team participating in the Champ Car World Series,
according to Champ Car's Web site.

Needle said today's meeting would be to "identify what the needs
would be of hosting something of this magnitude."

Champ Car draws international media coverage and an average of
150,000 fans per event, Needle said. Hosting a race, he said, could
bring the city $25 million to $50 million in revenue, including
10,000 room nights at area hotels.

The race also would require the city to close some streets, which is
why the city streets commissioner is expected to attend the meeting.

But having successfully handled the thousands of fans who flocked to
the recent Live 8 benefit for Africa and having hosted the
Republican National Convention, ESPN's X Games, and the National
Basketball Association's All-Star Game, Needle said, the city has
what it takes.

"We've proven we have the expertise," he said.

Officials at Champ Car could not be reached for comment yesterday.

According to Champ Car's Web site, it has 14 races scheduled for
this year. Seven of those races are in the United States at Long
Beach, Calif.; Milwaukee; Portland, Ore.; Cleveland; San Jose,
Calif.; Denver; and Las Vegas.

"I think they would love to be in the Northeast," Needle said.

Rizzo said that while he would be happy to have the city host such
an event, the logistics of holding a race must be worked out to the
satisfaction of city officials and neighborhood residents.

[The Dark Side of Will]

A city streets race on the east coast would FUCKING ROCK.

Good news for CART, as well... might be adding another race.

[Kohburn]

that would rock - if they pull it off I may have to take some vacation to go watch in person

[The Dark Side of Will]

I'd go to that before I went to the USGP!

[allWorkNoPlay]

Yeah, michelin isn't a supplier for CART so they could go more then 6 laps without a blow out.

I'd go to that before I went to the USGP!