USCC (leave your axe outside)

[Ephaeton]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Lastly, as juvenile as it sounds I think my answer to making my own voice heard will be to make some personalized T-shirts to wear to Sebring next year. Things along the lines of DP Sucks, DPs are only good in porn, and the classic Calvin peeing on a DP. I'm up for other suggestions.

Don't forget to share your shirt designs! I'd wear it at VIR.. (although up to now I only considered the classic "I'm a winner because Ed Bennet says so" shirt..)

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by Dodge_Swinger

I'm also going to Petit. I've been to every one except 1999. It'll be the last time to see a P1 car outside of WEC, but mainly I'm going to see friends that I only see there and to have a wake for ALMS. It was great while it lasted.

This.

[dangerousdave79]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Lastly, as juvenile as it sounds I think my answer to making my own voice heard will be to make some personalized T-shirts to wear to Sebring next year. Things along the lines of DP Sucks, DPs are only good in porn, and the classic Calvin peeing on a DP. I'm up for other suggestions.

I want a shirt.

[gregtummer]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Lastly, as juvenile as it sounds I think my answer to making my own voice heard will be to make some personalized T-shirts to wear to Sebring next year. Things along the lines of DP Sucks, DPs are only good in porn, and the classic Calvin peeing on a DP. I'm up for other suggestions.

Say no to racing socialism!

[Ephaeton]

I know to US-americans this is a generic insult, but socialism actually refers to something quite different, and I wouldn't insult socialism by equating it to USCR (and stopping the OT riiiight <-- here.)

[BrentJackson]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Lastly, as juvenile as it sounds I think my answer to making my own voice heard will be to make some personalized T-shirts to wear to Sebring next year. Things along the lines of DP Sucks, DPs are only good in porn, and the classic Calvin peeing on a DP. I'm up for other suggestions.

Originally Posted by gregtummer

Say no to racing socialism!

Originally Posted by dangerousdave79

I want a shirt.

Originally Posted by HJJ

This.

Originally Posted by Ephaeton

Don't forget to share your shirt designs! I'd wear it at VIR.. (although up to now I only considered the classic "I'm a winner because Ed Bennet says so" shirt..)

Real classy, guys. Just wonderful. Calvin peeing on a DP isn't gonna get you anything except make you look like a complete fool. Racing Socialism will make you look godawful stupid when the BoP is rather weakened next year.

[Ephaeton]

It's harder for the reality denying GA mgmt/fans to come up with other reasons why there's gaps on the fences / stands in 2014 where in 2013 all these calvins were seen peeing on DPs. Not that it's changing anything except for a tiny bit of satisfaction.

[BrentJackson]

Originally Posted by Ephaeton

It's harder for the reality denying GA mgmt/fans to come up with other reasons why there's gaps on the fences / stands in 2014 where in 2013 all these calvins were seen peeing on DPs. Not that it's changing anything except for a tiny bit of satisfaction.

And if the fans turn out in considerable numbers (and I don't think that'll change too much because of the DPs, frankly), then what are you going to say? The diehards here who clearly hate everything about Grand Am do not represent all of the sports car nuts in America, and you would do yourselves well to remember that.

[Maelochs]

Actually, Calvion peeing on a DP would get one a lot of laughs as well ... I worked at an autoparts store for a while, and they sold a whiole bunch of window stickers of Calvin peeing on some NASCAR driver's number. Not all fans are wearing their tuxedos a top hats all the time.

Yeah, it's low-class humor, but oh, well. Not all humor needs to be highbrow, and here I'd say BrentJackson is irritated only because it is a precious, gift-from-heaven DP that is the butt of the joke.

Not everyone knew what those "Andy Evans Sucks" t-shirts were all about, but I bet almost everyone who did, laughed.

"USCR: Enforced mediocrity at its finest." Highbrow enough?

[Ephaeton]

Originally Posted by BrentJackson

And if the fans turn out in considerable numbers (and I don't think that'll change too much because of the DPs, frankly), then what are you going to say? The diehards here who clearly hate everything about Grand Am do not represent all of the sports car nuts in America, and you would do yourselves well to remember that.

I'm not trying to represent all of the sports car nuts in America. I'm not trying to speak for you either. I'm voicing MY opinion. One that I won't voice next year because I won't be visiting USCR races. Simple as that. If there's gonna be crowds at USCR races, I'll know about it just as much as I know about the crowds at NASCAR races, or the turnout at wrestling matches. I.e., I won't, and I won't care.

NASCAR and wrestling do prove to me (based on my preferences, experiences and opinions, naturally) that USCR could, no, even should thrive in the US, but it's not gonna be something I'm going to be interested in, based on the information we gained in the past 12 months it's all looking like it's going to be disgusting.

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by Ephaeton

based on the information we gained in the past 12 months it's all looking like it's going to be disgusting.

What information is that?

Chris

[Ephaeton]

That's a tough question to ask. Let me ask you something else: in the past 12 months, have you learned anything about what USCR is supposed to be like? No? Well, can't educate you then (waste of time, you don't seem to be interested). Or: Yes? Well, duh, THAT information.

[Dodge_Swinger]

What do we actually know? Grand-Am bought ALMS. DPs are going to be the top category of car. Adjustments will be made to LMP2 to slow them down and adjustments are PROBABLY going to be made to DPs to speed them up. Daytona, Sebring, and Road Atlanta (hard for me to call it Petit in 2014) will now be under one great big shiny happy umbrella. More than one DP team owner wants to stick to the status quo because GA bought the series and DPs are the most bestest, according to the same team owners. Someone named France is going to wave a flag at Le Mans this year and GA/USCR fans believe it indicates some sort of homage to the Le Mans "way", just like when another France waved a flag at Le Mans. (Other than a couple of NASCAR cars that raced that year, what exactly did that flag wave demostrate or produce?)

What is it we don't know? Regulations for 2014, which some non-GA team owners are getting impatient to get. (I wonder if putting off the 2014 regulations as long as possible will make getting aboard the DP bandwagon just a little more hassle-free? Just wondering.) Tires. (spec, free?) Schedule. Whether GTLM will actually be left alone or if there will be "minor" tweaks to "maintain the show". Race management doctrine. (Crash derby, NASCAR/Grand-Am/WWE style with mystery yellow flags and multiple wave-arounds or "insert homosexual slur here" ALMS style?)

What are we supposed to take on faith? That a management team composed of one or two people who mis-managed ALMS and another bunch of guys who have shown that they only know one way to run a "show" (NASCAR-style) are going to suddenly have an epiphany and get it anywhere close to right.

Sebring and Petit will now be regional races. I know, the last couple of years haven't been the greatest, but with USCR running the show, they MUST be regional races at best because the finest sports cars in the world are no longer allowed, even if the economy takes off and even if the 2014 P1 regulations cause a renaissance of top line sports car racing. If WEC and ACO regulated racing were to really take off, we're going to be stuck with the same USCR BS. It'll be the same song and dance from management: "A lot of teams have invested in DP Gen 12 cars (generic "Talledega" V8 required by all cars, but factories are free to put their name on the valve cover, bodywork like a Legends car.), so we can't change. But hey, look at this new paint job! And Dale, Jr. and Tony Stewart just got in a fist fight in the pits! This is THE FUTURE!"

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by Ephaeton

That's a tough question to ask. Let me ask you something else: in the past 12 months, have you learned anything about what USCR is supposed to be like? No? Well, can't educate you then (waste of time, you don't seem to be interested). Or: Yes? Well, duh, THAT information.

In the last 12 months (or 10-ish) we learned that Jim France was buying IMSA, the ALMS, Road Atlanta and the lease to Sebring. We then learned that the plan was to merge the ALMS and RSCS under IMSA sanction. All Grand-Am and IMSA support series would continue on under the IMSA banner. We learned the makeup of the new series' board of directors and technical staff, then the officiating staff. We then learned that 2014 and 2015 would feature an integration of ALMS and RSCS classes ahead of new prototype regulations and likely new GT regulations (as a result of the GT3-GTE integration talks) in 2016. We then learned the names and composition of the classes next year (P: DP, P2, DW, PC, GTLM, GTD: GAGT and GTC, and possibly GX). Then we learned the new series name is USCR. That's about where it stands.

In the more nebulous world of rumor and speculation we hear that the regulations aren't coming very fast and that IMSA's simulation work may have been yielding incorrect data (via Starworks' Sebring test three weeks ago). From that downer we also learned that the DP effectively has to be sped up, but the task won't be as hard as many people feared.

You can see why one would assume it is EXCLUSIVELY the fact that current DP chassis will be in the P category next year has people so twisted up about the merger, right?

Chris

Edit: Dodge, we haven't heard from the series that P2 will be slowed down. Pure negative conjecture. We have heard that P2 may have adjustments made to it, but both classes will be adjusted. Like I mentioned, RSCS driver Ryan Dalziel believes the DP will be required to change most to affect the other classes least. Also, will GTLM be tweaked to maintain the show? Isn't that what GTE has had done to it for years?

[gregtummer]

You know its not a legitimate race when after 24 Hours, the top 4 cars are running nose to tail for position.

[Maelochs]

Can be, but not when one of those cars made up a dozen lost laps without ever passing the other three ...

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Jonerz

In the last 12 months (or 10-ish) we learned that Jim France was buying IMSA, the ALMS, Road Atlanta and the lease to Sebring. We then learned that the plan was to merge the ALMS and RSCS under IMSA sanction. All Grand-Am and IMSA support series would continue on under the IMSA banner. We learned the makeup of the new series' board of directors and technical staff, then the officiating staff. We then learned that 2014 and 2015 would feature an integration of ALMS and RSCS classes ahead of new prototype regulations and likely new GT regulations (as a result of the GT3-GTE integration talks) in 2016. We then learned the names and composition of the classes next year (P: DP, P2, DW, PC, GTLM, GTD: GAGT and GTC, and possibly GX). Then we learned the new series name is USCR. That's about where it stands.

In the more nebulous world of rumor and speculation we hear that the regulations aren't coming very fast and that IMSA's simulation work may have been yielding incorrect data (via Starworks' Sebring test three weeks ago). From that downer we also learned that the DP effectively has to be sped up, but the task won't be as hard as many people feared.

You can see why one would assume it is EXCLUSIVELY the fact that current DP chassis will be in the P category next year has people so twisted up about the merger, right?

Chris

Thanks for that post Chris, that pretty much sums up what we know on USCR.

People have their opinions on what USCR will be, mostly based on what ALMS and GA were, but truth is we are still short of facts. This thread is has been the most posted in since it started in March (103 pages worth), so it seems people do care about the topic - even if they just post to say they won't care next year.

There hasn't been a single race yet, so I personally am not ready to write this thing off. Who knows, the USCR might turn out to be great for North America's sportscar fans in a few years.

[gregtummer]

Originally Posted by gregtummer

You know its not a legitimate race when after 24 Hours, the top 4 cars are running nose to tail for position.

Originally Posted by Maelochs

Can be, but not when one of those cars made up a dozen lost laps without ever passing the other three ...

Not really. Its either too many cautions, too many wave-arounds, too spec, too performance-balanced, or all of the above.

[Lanky Turtle]

Personally, I plan on boycotting the entire USCR series due to the inclusion of DPs in one of the classes. Even in 2016 if the DPs are built to the exact specifications of the current ACO P1 cars, and are run by every factory in the world, I will still not watch, Because they are DPs.

Furthermore, I plan to boycott all tracks which cater to DP racing, regardless of which event is racing there, and I will no longer watch any driver who has ever driven a DP for the rest of that drivers career, regardless of what series they are currently racing.

Additionally I will no longer tune into any television or radio broadcast stations which have ever showed or commented on a DP in anyway other than to insult it.

Moreover, I will spend the next several years poring over images of sportscar racing on the internet in search of DP photos, purchasing the rights to said images, and then erasing the DPs and reposting the photos.

Lastly, I will cease speaking with any friends or acquaintances who watch a race with a DP in it, and will include in this list those who have the initials D.P. such as my friend Dave Phillips, and my wife's OBGYN, Dr. Peterson.

[gregtummer]

Originally Posted by Lanky Turtle

Lastly, I will cease speaking with any friends or acquaintances who watch a race with a DP in it

Don't worry, you'll still have the same number of friends and acquaintances.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Jonerz

In the last 12 months (or 10-ish) we learned that ... All Grand-Am and IMSA support series would continue on under the IMSA banner.

Didn´t know that, adding the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge to the package will almost guarantee a packed schedule. Definitely a plus in my book.

[Dodge_Swinger]

Originally Posted by joeb

Thanks for that post Chris, that pretty much sums up what we know on USCR.

People have their opinions on what USCR will be, mostly based on what ALMS and GA were, but truth is we are still short of facts. This thread is has been the most posted in since it started in March (103 pages worth), so it seems people do care about the topic - even if they just post to say they won't care next year.

There hasn't been a single race yet, so I personally am not ready to write this thing off. Who knows, the USCR might turn out to be great for North America's sportscar fans in a few years.

Might be? Ed Bennett has already declared victory. If the Grand Poobah of Grand-Am already thinks they've won, why do they need to do anything other than the status quo?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Dodge_Swinger

Might be? Ed Bennett has already declared victory. If the Grand Poobah of Grand-Am already thinks they've won, why do they need to do anything other than the status quo?

Declared victory? Not sure what you are referring to there.


Victory for manufacturers who now only have to play on 1 field instead of 2 in N. America? Victory for sponsors and teams who can focus on one series? Victory for all sportscar fans?

[Maelochs]

As for the declared victory ... at one of the big press events, at Daytona I think, Ed Bennett explained that the fans were already the winners in the whole merger/buyout, because ... well that part wasn't clear.

For myself, I was feeling pretty nervous and a little lostm, until Lank Turtle made that post. Now everything is clear and I am going to fllow the path he outlined there.

Bravo, tall thin terrapin!

[Lanky Turtle]

Ah, very good then. I was worried people on here were going to start to get too serious.