The Return of the Molson Indy?

[jlousa]

Wouldn't that interfer with the Nascar Truck series that occurs in Surrey?
I'd love to see Indy return to Vancouver, but don't think it's possible to do in the urban setting that would make our city shine on tv. Not sure having the race out in Surrey would be as benefical but I'd be fine with it around the Surrey Central area.

[Coldrsx]

Indy in surrey? haha...

Auto racing is about speed, sex, allure, money, entertainment...

[Nutterbug]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Wouldn't that interfer with the Nascar Truck series that occurs in Surrey?

How about the '75 Mustangs that they leave rusting on their front yard? Do they ever take them out for a drag?

[cornholio]

There are lots of options still available, one I would think would be to loop it around the stadiums and then take it down Cambie street bridge and loop it back across it back to the stadiums. Would have to close Expo boulevard, Cambie street bridge and 2nd street in the Cambie bridge area but it would be long enough with minimal disruptions to residents and plenty of straight ways with Cambie street bridge being wide enough I think to handle a track in each direction.

The viaducts could also be made use of but that would likely result in more disruptions to residents and require the closer of Main street and pretty much Cambie bridge and cut of the Spectrum towers which would be a no go.

Another option is to make use of false creek by using linked up barges to create a track but that might be too difficult to do(can even use barges for grandstands which would be relatively simple).

Also as Jlousa mentioned BC Place can be used for a loop inside though the entrances might be a bit narrow for two tracks and running it straight through would screw up the straight way along Expo which should be made good use off.

Good thing is that they can make this a yearly event and still design and build the developments in such a way as to allow the event to take place after the area builds up...though im not sure what the developers would say about that(doubt it would benefit their marketing strategy) and im sure there would be some future residents complaining regardless of what they sign off on as far as noise and events in the area go.

Edit: The one that would use Cambie Bridge would be 5.5km in length if it looped around the Stadiums and looped down Quebec with a turn around infront of Science world. On Cambie bridge the track can take the south off ramp across 2nd and loop back up on to the bridge. Lots of locations for grandstands and maybe they can build one up to the bridge height on the city owned land by the Olympic village(next to the bridge).

[hollywoodnorth]

another great location IMO would be the Pitt Meadows, Boundary Bay or Abbotsford Airports ... but transit would be a major issue

[Nutterbug]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

another great location IMO would be the Pitt Meadows, Boundary Bay or Abbotsford Airports ... but transit would be a major issue

Could event organizers rent shuttle buses?

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Indy in surrey? haha...

Auto racing is about speed, sex, allure, money, entertainment...

I bet a race in Surrey would look better on tv than Edmonton's does. Isnt it on an abandoned landing strip?

[logan5]

If we built a permanent track somewhere in the suburbs, we would certainly attract some major races. Certainly an Indy Car race, maybe F1, who knows? And there are plenty of other racing series that we could host.

I would gladly give up some farm land for a raceway, although that would never fly. But I'm sure there are plenty of possible sites.

[Vancity]

Surrey is a possible location for Indy. What about New West? Richmond? Burnaby?

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by Nutterbug

Could event organizers rent shuttle buses?

yes but from experience I can tell you shuttle buses are always dicey. having the race run by 2 skytrain stations like it could in Downtown Surrey and it did in Downtown Vancouver is a much much better situation.

thinking about it more .... Burnaby in the Lake City area could be a viable location as well with plenty of transit (2xskytrain stations) and wide open streets that could easily be blocked off for a week without causing a headache for too many people.

[red-paladin]

Originally Posted by Vancity

Surrey is a possible location for Indy. What about New West? Richmond? Burnaby?

New West?! New West is barely fit to drive through already, I don't think it could support an Indy. In any case, the NIMBYs don' shoot down traffic projects they'll even benefit from so I doubt they'd allow that.

[Denscity]

How does super dense Singapore have a F1 race right amongst its towerscape, at night no less, and there's no room in Vancouver?

[jlousa]

It's F1, and it's Singapore. Could Vancouver hold a Indy race downtown, sure it's physically possible, but it doesn't make it any more likely to occur.

[go_leafs_go02]

Surrey City Centre makes the most sense if you ask me.

[CPE]

I know it would never happen, but I always thought it would be sweet if the city properly paved the roads around Stanley Park and used them as a racecourse. There's some real nice turns on that road.

[ckkelley]

Originally Posted by CPE

I know it would never happen, but I always thought it would be sweet if the city properly paved the roads around Stanley Park and used them as a racecourse. There's some real nice turns on that road.

Cool idea. One that would surely send any number of groups into an apoplectic fit.

[proudcanuck]

Originally Posted by Denscity

I bet a race in Surrey would look better on tv than Edmonton's does. Isnt it on an abandoned landing strip?

Have you watched the Edmonton Indy race? Edmonton has a great location for their race. They race on the City Centre airport. In 2010 they closed 1 of the 2 runways. The indy race was moved to a new layout onto this closed runway in 2011 and it made for better racing and the fans are closer to the track.

I have been to this race in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and they put on a great event. I attended every Molson Indy Vancouver from 1993 through the last race in 2004. I watch every IndyCar race and follow the series in great detail. A race in Surrey has no cosmopolitan appeal... there is no great scenery. The Edmonton event has more than enough run off area so the drivers are pushing the cars to the limits and beyond. You don't get that on the closed confined street courses. The sightlines are amazing... being able to see 75% of a lap from your seat rather than a few seconds live and then the rest on the big screens... I'd make that trip to Edmonton any day!

And what promotor is going to step up and promote an IndyCar race in Surrey. The sanctioning fee alone that IndyCar would demand, not a small amount. I would love to see it happen, but I'm a little more nailed down to reality than some I guess. The only way the Vancouver area will see another IndyCar race in its future is in the downtown core. Anything else is sure failure.

And in case anyone is wondering, I was born in Surrey and I live in Surrey, and as far as I am concerned the Edmonton Indy is the only worthwhile reason to go to Edmonton!

[physicist1028]

If anyone's interested, I added a few new proposals to my earlier link.

Lower Mainland Indy Proposals

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Denscity

I bet a race in Surrey would look better on tv than Edmonton's does. Isnt it on an abandoned landing strip?

You tell me(all my photos)






all photos of my time there here:

http://www.connect2edmonton.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=21404&highlight=indy

[proudcanuck]

The idea of of the Indy moving to the PNE grounds and Whalley was floated in 1997 for the 1998 race and it was heavily opposed by local residents in both instances.