motorsport travel news - 2003

Here's some motorsport venue news that I've collected in my research for grand prix cities over the years. From here you can go back in the history of this fine website and you'll find tidbits of travel information, exciting changes to motorsport schedules especially venues and other website news that might be of interest for the sports traveler, a kind of blog of thoughts and ambitions. Of interest might be if some of my predictions are true. Not many consultants want their chrystal balls out in the open, but here goes. Knock your self out. If you've got some news that you'd like me to add to the current news page, let me know via the contact link in the left column.
As always, Godspeed on your motorsport adventures! Cvetko Ostroznik.

This is an Archive News page: Find current Motorsport Travel News

2003 Menu: News appears in reverse chronological order - last news first.
January-June 2003
July-August 2003
September-October 2003
October 2003-December 2003 (this page)

2003 motorsport travel news


December 2007 ******: I'll take the opportunity to wish all of you the best possible holiday season. May God bless you and keep you and prepare you for another great year of racing adventures in 2004. Thank you for your support and continued interest in grandprixcities™ during the enourmous success of its first year. Here's a picture of me at the Youth Ski Championships in Slovenia. Start your new year off with a great travel experience. Find a hotel in Ljubljana Slovenia

> * 122003: Still a last minute posibility that Magny-Cours could hold a French F1GP in 2004. We'll know for sure come January, 2004.

> * 122003: Added a stuff to do in Barcelona Spain, for when you're visiting the Circuit de Catalunya during one of it's many 1st Class events. This augments my regular Barcelona Travel guide

> * 121803: F1 powerboat Union Internationale Motonautic (UIM) racing comes to Gateway of India, Mumbai, on March 5-6, 2004. Source: Keralanext

> * 121703: NOTE: Recent Changes to the 2004 MOTOGP SCHEDULE affecting dates of the Brazilian (RIO) and British (DONINGTON PARK) Rounds of the premier motorbike racing series.

> * 121103: If there's a CART series next year, and if there's a Grand Prix of Denver, it may be moved from it's usual Labor Day weekend to August 15, so as not to clash with so many other motorsport events usually held on this American Long weekend. Source: Rocky Mountain News. Find Denver Colorado Hotels

> * 121103: You won't need to pay for a visa if you're holding an F1 ticket as you enter Bahrain this coming April, reports Home of F1. But note that other restrictions to your travel to this Arab State may apply. I advise you check your local Bahraini Embassy / Consulate for full details regarding your admissability / admitability. For Grand Prix time Hotels in Bahrain check my guide via the link here.

> * 121103: Taupo Circuit in New Zealand will be given an international standard make over, extending the length of the track and making space for major events. Source: NZ Herald find New Zealand Hotels

> Dates are now available for the NASCAR, Busch and Craftsman Trucks Pre-Season Thunderfest in Daytona.

> * 120303: Michigan's Allegan County, near Grand Rapids may be the home of a oval race track. The area hopes to invite NASCAR craftsman Truck racing to the proposed facility. Find Michigan Short Tracks

> * 120303: A new NASCAR track is being proposed for North Stonington, Connecticut (near Stanford). The track is said to be modeled on the Dover Speedway. Read the WTNH Channel 8 News Story

> * 120303: The Brazilian F1GP at Interlagos in Sao Paulo is safe again after a local judge lifted an injunction. Note this year's date change.

> * 120303: News on the street in Bahrain ahead of their inaugural F1GP is that the government has been asking citizens of the tiny Island Kingdom to offer spare rooms for bed and breakfast style accommodations for the influx of tourists expected for the race. The Island, only 45 kilometers long and 20+ KMs wide has considered various ways to deal with the hotel shortage. The suggested asking price for a room in someone's home and some hospitality for the weekend is said to be around 50 Bahraini Dinars (approximately $130 USD per person per night), which is still a tenth of what you'll pay for the right to sit on on someone's balcony in Monaco during racing sessions. Bahraini residents are I'll have more news on how to organize such accommodation when it comes to me.
Reminds me of the old days in Adelaide when the city residents opened their doors. I remember too watching TV ads there reminding residents to be nice to race tourists so as to make the city proud.

> * 120203: The 2004 Champ Car CART Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, sheduled for February 22, 2004 has been cancelled, perhaps to be rescheduled later next year. Perhaps. This makes the Grand Prix of Long Beach, first on the 2004 champ car schedule.

NOVEMBER 2003
> * 112203: Updated my Charlotte / Concord, N.C. and Las Vegas, NV pages with mounds of great travel / entertainment tips submitted by ace grandprixcities™ California correspondent Rossana Seitter. Some of you may already have benefited from her meaty contributions to my Infineon Racetrack travel page. If you have personal experience at any race track in any part of the world, feel free to write me an email with tips that will help fans enjoy thier race travel. Anything from best viewing locations, to tailgating recipes, to parking lots to avoid is welcome. Just drop me an and you'll see your name in lights (well, at least in the SERIOUS THANKS section of each page you help with). This off season is the time to add to the huge data base this website is becoming. Help consolidate grandprixcities' position as the world's foremost resource for sports leisure travelers!

> Porsche will release a special edition Boxter model at the NAIAS auto show in Detroit, Michigan this winter

> * 112103: Added 2004 Indianapolis 500-mile race 2004 events schedule (page removed). See also my Indianapolis, Indiana travel guide if you're going to either of the 3 HUGE racing weekends held there in 2004. Find Indianapolis Tickets

>* 112103: French Formula One Grand Prix scheduled for 11 July 2004 at Magny-Cours has been provisioinally cancelled and dropped from the 2004 race calendar. The promoter could not come up with the amount of money required to hold the race in time for the primary deadline. No news yet if the French GP will be moved to one of the Le Mans Circuits as I reported a month or so ago, and if so, whether that move might occur in time for this year's event date. There is some talk that the event could be saved if the promoter/circuit comes up with several more million dollars before a December 12, 2003 meeting of the series' governing body. In the mean time, who wants to buy a slightly used (and obviously overpriced) race date? . Some writers have suggested that should the event disappear, it will allow the British Grand Prix at Silverstone to move out of it's 4th July spot, meaning it will not have to compete with Wimbeldon and another big British Sporting event that also occurs around that time. As always, everything is provisional until early in the new year. Watch this page

> * 112003: With the Bathurst 24-hour race in Australia running this coming weekend, Motorsport.com have published a weekend armchair guide to the race. Those in the U.S. who will be able to see the race, will have a good look at the GM Monaro Supercar, which is soon to be released stateside, and which may be used as the basis for a new NASCAR vehicle shell/brand for Chevy. Vroom.

> * 112003: Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky remind interested parties that season ticket renewal deadline is Friday, Dec. 12. 2003. Seats not renewed by the deadline date will be made available for sale to new season ticket members. You can renew your current tickets by phone at 859-578-2300 or by mailing your invoice and payment to: Kentucky Speedway, P.O. Box 176248, Covington, Ky. 41017. Speedway fans wishing to open new season ticket accounts can now do so online, 24 hours a day, at www.kentuckyspeedway.com.

> * 112003: A camping site big enough to accommodate many thousands of people will be constructed nearby the Bahrain International Circuit to accommodate international travelers to the F1GP set Sakhir, Bahrain for April 4, 2004. Tickets for the campsite will be made available through travel agents and race ticket sellers ahead of the event. You will even be able to buy a Gulf Air package of ticket / camping / airfare to make life easier. It's better than staying in Quatar and commuting a few hours every day to the race. No more word about the 2 luxury liners I'd heard would be parked out in the Gulf to accommodate international race travelers.

> * 112003: Al Unser, Four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 race has donated a parcel of land in Albuquerque, N.M., on which he hopes to build a Children's Discovery Museum. At an auction mainly of all of Speedway Hall of Famer Andy Granatelli 's equiment recently held in Phoenix, Unser acquired a 1991 Lola that Arie Luyendyk drove to third place in the 1991 Indianapolis 500. The car also won at Nazareth, Pa., and finished second at Michigan. This prime catch will be added to the 30 + that Unser, and his son Al Unser Jr., three-time winner at Indy, have collected for his proposed Museum. Amongst the collection is a freshly restored 1971 Johnny Lightning race car. Amongst other things Unser hopes the racecars, which will form an integral part of the Museum's exhibits, will inspire an interest in motorsports in Albuquerque kids.

> * 112003: The 2004 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Brochure & Visitor Information Guide is now available to the public at a variety of locations in Indiana and at www.indianapolisspeedway.com in PDF version. The 2004 IMS ticket and visitor information brochure is full of information on the Speedway's three major racing events, plus the Hall of Fame Museum, the Speedway's championship-caliber Brickyard Crossing Golf Course and IMS' two Brickyard Authentics locations. Brickyard Authentics is the name of the official retail stores of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located at the Indianapolis International Airport and the Circle Centre Mall. New for this year's brochure is a list of stands where tickets remain available for each event, including ticket prices, and a circuit map for each event. See also my Indianapolis, Indiana motorsport travel guide.

> * 111903: Added ALMS (American Le Mans Series) dates to my motorsport events pages. This adds another international class racing series to my list.

> * 111803: The 2004 Canadian Formula One™ Grand Prix in Montreal, Quebec on again after teams are promised many millions of dollars (hope that's Canadian Millions, and NOT Tax payer Millions) for appearing without their tobacc0 sponsor logos? So says this article from cbc.ca. But then, canada.com reports on the not so welcome reception of Canadian Tax Payers to the "deal".

> * 111803: Infineon Raceway in Sears Point / Sonoma, California open their box office for 2004 season tickets on Friday 112103. Fans will get a NASCAR Nextel Cup pit pass with their season ticket, which allows them to see several events. Included in the season are the following events: AMA Kawasaki Showdown, Wine Country Classic Vintage Car Races, Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, presented by Snap-On Tools, Team Superstores NHRA Summernationals Division 7 Drag Races, Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma American Le Mans Series, presented by Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa and the NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals. Find Infineon Raceway Tickets

> * 111703: The dates clash between the European Formula One™ Grand Prix and the Rock Am Ring Concert at the famous Nurburgring has been resolved with the race taking the weekend of May 30, 2004, and the mega concert (it really is fun) taking the June 4-6, 2004 weekend.

> * 111703: Mexico looks at a Formula One™ event in 2005 in glorious Cancun (to replace the Melbourne, Austrlia event?). New York won't say if it is seriously entertaining the notion of stealing back the event Melbourne outbid it on almost a decade ago. Oh, and now Singapore wants one too, in it's Marina South Area. Goodness, the only places that DON'T want the event are those who have had the "pleasure" of paying for it in the past. I hope all of my Montreal readers have been saving up their frequent flier miles! Find Cancun Mexico Hotels

> * 111503: Finally some Champ Car dates news. The 2nd Grand Prix of Denver around the Pepsi Can is now scheduled to run on August 15, 2004. This is a week ahead of the IndyCar event scheduled for Pikes Peak Raceway, also in Colorado. See my tenative Champ Car event dates for 2004, but note that event dates for Miami, Florida, Mexico City, Seoul, South Korea, Brands Hatch, UK, and California Speedway, Fontana are still to be confirmed and / or announced. Further California Speedway, Fontana, the Speedway President, Bill Miller says he isn't too happy about the location being added as a possible venue for a Champ Car event in 2004 pending legal action about the cancelation of the Fontana event a few weeks ago. Read his comments at Motorsport.com
For the story on the date change for the Denver event, which was originally contracted for Labor Day weekend for the next 10 years. Find Hotels near the Pepsi Center, Denver

> * 111403: Did you know? More people attended the 2003 Melbourne Cup horse race in Melbourne, one of the world's most famous races, held just last week, than the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in February. And the city didn't pay a dime to have the horse race, but tickets were just as expensive... makes you wonder about the future of the motorsport event which loses local tax payers millions of dollars a year. Point is if you've always dreamed of visiting Melbourne, Australia for a race, do it soon, or develop a facination for thoroughbred ponies. From many years of personal experience I can tell you the annual Cup celebrations beat the horse power race weekend dullness hands down for a great party. The city gets behind it (not an official public holiday but the Tuesday race date is often an excuse for a very loooooong weekend) and while its just as much a "free ticket fest" for local well-connected professionals, it makes the 19-hour trip across the pacific actually worthwhile. Not a sour face or protestor to be seen. For the full figures, see the my world Motorsports Attendances page

> * 111303: Planning a visit to Atlanta for the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup event? Check out news of the $59 Three-Day Thriller Ticket for March 12-14 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP Golden Corral 500. Or, heck, just buy your Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets from me! :)

> * 111303: Added information about 2004 tickets, camping and parking at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth Texas. Find Hotels near Texas Motor Speedway

> * 111203: More (see 110903 below) news about the posibility of a new NASCAR venue in Kitsap County, in the Puget Sound area, near Seattle, Washington. As organizers look for a Pacific North West destination for the 800 pound gorilla of world motorsport. Souce: Kitsap Sun

> * 111203: The City of Montreal is not out of the woods yet. It may have lost the F1™ Grand Prix due to bickering over the enourmous losses such an event brings in its wake. If CART colapses it won't have a Champ Car Race, and now Sports Business News reports that it will lose it's right to host the 2006 Gay Games as the FGG (Federation of Gay Games) withdraws after a funding row. I hear too that their Expos are up for sale too. Mon dieux! Montrealers may soon have to travel to be entertained. Where's the nearest NASCAR track?

> * 111203: People who ought to know about the future of the Brazilian F1™ Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, Brazil assure me that the race should go ahead at the famous Interlagos Circuit as per schedule. Despite recent news to the contrary. (see below). Don't commit to any discount airline tickets yet, though. The event isn't until October, and in Brazil, anything can happen - litteraly!!!
By the way, 2004 Carnival dates for Sao Paulo are February 21-24. See the official Brazilian Tourism website for more and news of travel discounts for this fabulous party! For those of you who don't know what Carnivale is, it's the PARTY people had before rave parties were invented, only with costumes (and much more fun).

> * 111203: A display of Dirt Racing Photographs will be on display at the University of Mississippi's Center for the Study of Southern Culture in Ripley, Mississippi from until January 15, 2004 at Ole Miss Source: Clarion Ledger. Find hotels near Ole Miss Football Stadium (SEC) .

> * 111203: In CART Champ Car News. Those of you desperately waiting for the 2004 event schedule (if it happens) may have to wait until after December 18, 2003. Which is when the owner teams will find out if they can buy remaining stock in the ailing race series. Again, the minute I know I'll publish dates on my ChampCar events page. Stay tuned.

> * 111003: Added contributed stories and pics of Brno, Czech Republic MotoGP and pics from last weekend's 2003 Valenciana MotoGP events. See my full index of grandprixcities™ race fan travel pics

> * 110903: International Speedway Corp. (ISC) considers the construction of a one-mile NASCAR-ready racetrack in the Puget Sound area, near Seattle, Washington. Source: Seattle Times

> * 110903: A brazilian court ruled today that the Brazilian F1 Grand Prix could not be held in Sao Paulo in October 2004 because the organization was in too much debt. Talk is that the event may be moved to Rio de Janeiro and its Jacarepagua Nelson Piquet circuit, where the country's MotoGP event is currently held. But there's a few hitches with that idea too. Here's the original story from GrandPrix.com. While we're on the topic of F1 events costing more than their hosts can afford, FoxSports reports about the incredible $40 Million losses sustained by Melbourne, Australia over the past 9 years of F1 pandering. Stay tuned for more. P.S. If Michael Schumacher donated 10% cut of his salary, Melbourne's woes could be fixed. If Mr. Ecclestone took a 1% cut in Salary, all cities hosting races could do so for free. Is it almost time for the guests to stop freeloading and start bringing at least a bottle of wine to their glamorous parties? Stay tuned for more on this...

> * 110703: The Texas Motorsport Hall of Fame the main building of the Texas Motor speedway in Dallas/Fort Worth announces it's inaugural induction ceremony for January 27, 2004. Looking forward to getting my tux out for that one!

> * 110703: The good folks at Altanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, the fastest racetrack in the United States, announce that tickets for their 2004 NASCAR Nextel Series NBNA Bass Pro Shops 500 event in the fall of 2004 are available and that the weekend will feature ASA racing action after Saturday qualifying. Excellent exposure for this tough racing series! Going? Find Hotels near Atlanta Motor Speedway

> * 110703: I know many of you are keen to know (no more emails please) but there's still no word about CART's 2004 schedule. Word is that British chatter box and all round nice guy Darren Manning is moving to Chip Gannasi's TARGET IRL IndyCar Series for 2004. And I remember that Sebastien Bourdais was testing a car for a Newman-Haas entry to the 2004 Indy 500... might it be more for than that? While tickets have gone on sale for the Long Beach Event and Sebring announced a Spring Training date, it seems that if the sale of CART to the team owners that are willing to buy it for pennies on the dollar falls through... there will be no Champ Car in 2004... making even more sad and sorry Canadians! Watch here - I'll post anything I learn the minute I learn it.

* 110503: Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday released information about special 2004 "500 club" opportunities including VIP pit passes for the famous Indy500 IRL IndyCar weekend. Find Indianapolis 500 tickets

* 110503: Still no news about the 2004 Champ Car Schedule after the end of year banquet held in Palm Springs last night. Any time now though. Hopefully I'll have details up by noon Wednesday EST. Check back. If you hear earlier, let me know via my contact link (left column).

* 110403: Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, KY, will host its fall "Drive The Track Sale" on Sat., Nov. 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the speedway. Guests who purchase a minimum of $40 in merchandise at the speedway Fan Center Gift Shop in Turn 3 will be able to turn three paced laps in their own vehicle on our 1.5-mile tri-oval. The sale will feature specials on Kentucky Speedway event merchandise in addition to a wide selection of speedway shirts, jackets, caps and novelties. The gift shop also offers a wide range of NASCAR driver merchandise.

* 110403: Home of F1 today reports that rumors regarding a second F1GP in the United States in the near fuutre. And this hot on the heals of the failure of Montreal to get up the cash to save their 2004 race. Where might Americans be able to get their high octane fix? The Big Apple, NYC! Few will remember that New York City had already chased a Grand Prix Date in the past. In fact it was a major contender when Melbourne outbid it to steal the race from the city of Adelaide. Anyone who remembers way back then also remembers the joys of visiting Adelaide for their events from 85-95. No other grandprixcity EVER did as good a job providing for international travelers for a great celebration of street racing. (sigh!) Those really were the days. Find an Adelaide or Melbourne Australia Hotels

* 110303: Those of you waiting desperately for news of the CART Champ Car World Series 2004 Schedule, should only have 2 days more to wait. The calendar should be announced at the series award dinner to be held Tuesday night 110403 in Palm Springs, California. The moment it is available the full provisional schedule (remember that CART is still potentially in trouble) will appear on my Champ Car Page.

* 110103: Montreal's Le Press announces that the deadline for saving the city's F1GP was reached and passed. Molson, the beer giant who was expected to put up tons of cash to pay the drivers to come (without Tobacc0 sponsorship) to entertain the ego's of local hoteliers, passed on the opportunity as of the midnight Friday deadline. I can't understand how, but hope seems to reign eternal in Montreal, says the article. More shortly. Someone will buckle soon. If there is a race, find a Hotel near Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal or is that a chambre de hotes?

* 110103: CART's Bobby Rahal, NASCAR's Bill France Jr. and Charles "Red" Farmer, Top Fuel Nationals Champion Shirley Muldowney, & Gold Cup Racing's Bill Muncey are to be inducted into the International Hall of Fame in Talladega, Alabama in a ceremony to be held on April 22, 2004 ahead of the first of two NASCAR event weekends held at the nearby Superspeedway. Source: AP/Myrtle Beach Online

OCTOBER 2003
> * 103003: The FIM today announced 2004's official MotoGP Schedule

> * 103003: The horrible wildfires currently raging in Southern California have caused the Champ Car CART King Taco 500 at the California Speedway due to be held this coming weekend 110203 in Fontana, California to be cancelled, effectively ending the CART Champ Car 2003 season early. official CART press release
Sister track of the California Speedway, Phoenix International Speedway in Phoenix, Arizona has announced that it will allow CART fans to use their California tickets in a one for one exchange at this weekend's NASCAR event. Those interested in exchanging tickets for any of the four races at PIR this weekend must do so at the Gate 3 Ticket Office the day of the race. Tickets can be exchanged for the Cruise America 125 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series race on Thursday, the Chevy Silverado 150 NASCAR Craftsman Truck race on Friday, the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Busch Series race on Saturday, and the Checker Auto Parts 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race on Sunday. Contact the Phoenix Raceway at 602-252-2227 for more details and/or visit the official website. Other options available to cancelled California event ticket holders are available at Cart-racing.com. Find Hotels near Phoenix International Raceway PIR and Phoenix Raceway Tickets

> * 103003: While on the Topic of PIR, tickets still remain for this weekend's NASCAR events and Hotel rooms aren't as full as usual ahead of the Checker Auto Parts 500 in Phoenix, Arizona. A number of reasons are cited: the Fires, the almost certain NASCAR champ in Matt Kenseth, and Halloween. This comes just a day after local politicians went on record as wanting a second NASCAR date for the PIR... (see below). A story of empty nearby hotel rooms appeared at azcentral.com

> * 103003: Dubai, UAE, today announced plans to build a theme park that will rival anything Disney has to offer. The huge facility to be called Dubailand, will include a Formula One Standard Race track amongst other amazing attractions. The story appeared on AllAfrica.com

> * 103003: AutoWeek reports atht CART Champ Car has fired Jamie Rose, who headed the MOTOROCK concept after hearing of the "disappointments" of the Kid Rock/Elton John Concert during the Miami Champ Car event. Read the AutoWeek Article. See the 092903 news note for more.

> * 102903: Don't forget to consider being involved with the Indian Motorcycles "Ride On" America-wide event on November 1, 2003. Special events will be held in various locations across the U.S.

> * 102903: Local politicians in Phoenix, Arizona are deperately seeking a second NASCAR Nextel Cup race for their Phoenix International Raceway(PIR). With the cost of licencing an event a steal at only $5 Million USD and the economic impact to the region estimated at 100+ Million USD, is there any doubt why? Source: AZcentral.com

> * 102903: Now Pakistan is seeking a place on the Formula One™ calendar. Hermann Tilke's racetrack architecural firm has already made a presentation to a delegation from the country looking to raise it's international tourism profile along side other contenders such as India, Russia (which still hopes to make a bid) and the most recently knighted Middle East Kingdom of Bahrian and Shanghai, China. Source: Home of F1. In the case that any of this codswallop eventuates, here's a list of hotels in Pakistan

> * 102703: A memorial Service will be held for Tony Renna at 2 p.m. (local time) TODAY, Monday, Oct. 27, 2003, at St. John's Catholic Church 126 W. Georgia St. Indianapolis, IN 46225. The service is open to the public. In lieu of flowers, the family of Tony Renna requests that contributions be made to the Tony Renna Memorial Fund. Contributions are tax-deductible and can be sent to: Tony Renna Memorial Fund c/o The Prappas Company 9201 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 204 Beverly Hills, CA 90210 For further information, call (310) 278-1160, ext. 108 or send an e-mail to rennafund@prappascompany.com.

> * 102703: You can buy your tickets for Texas Motor Speedway events in Fort Worth, TX online as of NOW! Texas Motor Speedway Tickets

> * 102703: What's wrong with (amongst other things) Malaysian Motorsports? Tales of intrigue, incompetence, & nepotism (well at least "rich-pal-o-tism". An interesting story appeared on the Times Straits website

> * 102503: UK Teletext today flashed that there would be no European CART Champ Car events held in 2004. Other news on the street around Brands Hatch is that the land is looking awful juicy to housing developers in the region. Pity and after all that speculation that with a few million pounds investment it might be a new home for a British F1™ Grand Prix. Find Hotels near Brands Hatch Circuit in Kent.

> * 102503: Indian opposition party says feed the poor and help the farmers, who are suicidal after a horrible crop yeild this year, before spending zillions on tempting a Formula One™ Grand Prix to Hyberbad. They may just have a point. Read the analysis at New India Press

> * 102503: Regular grandprixcities™ contributor Stephen Pells was lucky enough to be on one of the final flights of the British Airways Concorde yesterday. He chronicles the journey in pictures on his handy website to and from the airport

> * 102403: Indian Motorcycles announce their "Ride On" America wide event to be held November 1, 2003 in various locations across the U.S.

> * 102403: Seems Premier1 Racing Series will, in deed, get a guernsey in 2005, reports Sportsbusiness.com. Premier 1 Racing matches racing teams with big brand Soccer / Football brands.

> * 102403: The NEW Homestead-Miami Speedway with its re-designed 20-degree, variable banking debuts tomorrow, Saturday, October 25, 2003, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Fans First Weekend where Ford Championship NASCAR finale Weekend ticketholders (to be held November 16, 2003) will have the opportunity to drive their own personal vehicles on the new Speedway. Keep your eye on their official website for more details.

> * 102403: Quebec, Canada loses it's Grand Prix de Trois Rivieres due to lack of funding. Quelle Demage! If you've got another reason for visiting, find a Trois Rivieres Quebec Hotel

> * 102403: Would someone please buy the historic North Wilksboro Speedway in North Carolina and restore it so that racing can return to one of the oldest tracks used in NASCAR? The track was decomissioned after it's last NASCAR event in 1996.

> * 102303: Take a slow lap of Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia (walking with WC Drivers) on Saturday ahead of this weekend's NASCAR Busch event. The special oportunity will raise money for Charity. Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution . See you there!

> * 102303: No ALMS Race for 2004 Grand Prix of Miami race weekend. Source: Miami Today

> * 102303: A dual NASCAR Track planned for Lumpkin County, Northern Georgia? Source: Dahlonega Nugget

> * 102203: In another awful accident in IRL IndyCar Series, Target Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver, and proposed 2004 partner for 2003 champion Scott Dixon, Tony Renna lost his life today in testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis Indiana. Tony lost control of his car on the track and was transported to Methodist Hospital but pronounced dead on arrival. May his soul rest in peace.

> * 102203: NASCAR sanctions 2 Canadian speedways, Delaware Speedway in Ontario and St. Eustache Speedway in Quebec, for their weekly series in 2004. Source: Lexington Herald-Leader

> * 102203: Work on Houston Speedway delayed. Money and timeing problems. The Facts Brezoria County, TX. Find a Hotels in Texas

> * 102203: A Date clash may occur with the moved 2004 provisional date for the European F1 Grand Prix in Nurburg (May 30, to make room for a possible Canadian Grand Prix) and a previously scheduled Rock am Ring concert set for that day. Seems every day on the calendar had to be left completely free should the noisy ones decide to come to town. Bernie not being keen on their being a concert at the same time as a race, at least not if he's not profiting from it. . Source: planet-f1.com.

> * 102203: Montreal, Canada held to ransom for it's wish to regain F1 race. It must pay teams $2 Million dollars each for them to run without tobacc0 sponsorship if the event is to go on. This of course is over and above the multi-million dollar licencing fee that is paid for each event, which I imagine will need to be paid as per contract, whether or not the government has decided that it's cheaper to stop tobacc0 related illness than to continue raking in the tax money and paying for the concenquences. Maybe the city could use the money it gets from selling it's Expo's franchise to pay for one more race? Hmmm....
If the event continues, of course, it's not any brewery that will face the cost, although they'll take the credit. It's race fans that will have to foot the extra costs, making a trip to the French Canadian city still more expensive than usual, meaning price gouging by local businesses / hotels will go even deeper, under cover of the "cost" of profiting from an international event. Maybe this might encourage the city to look for ways of giving the trip some value. It's a long way to go for a 2 hour show with little/no general admission oportunities and the chance to be royally ripped off. But then Glamor costs, doesn't it, mon ami? We're all going to learn a, lesson I think. Hey, maybe Ernie Becklestone should just buy Montreal a race, wouldn't that be something? He'll already have the circus over on this side of the Atlantic for the USGP. What would it cost him to throw those poor Montreal hoteliers a bone? Or maybe he could give a race to Toronto, where fans from the U.S. could reach much more easily, and which is much more accommodating to tourists? The place could do with a break after it's horrible 2003. Going to Toronto or Montreal for a sports event? Find Hotels in Canada

> * 102203: Renault F1 did demonstration laps on a temporary street circuit at the University of Moscow last saturday. Russia (Nagatino Island in Moscow) remains optimistic of holding it's first ever F1GP in 2004. Source: F1.racing-live.com

> * 102103: HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY grandprixcities™

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