  Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6483 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125 |
BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Roger Penske plans to bring open-wheel racing back to Belle Isle, and he's hoping to get it on next year's Indy Racing League schedule. Penske, sitting in a black leather chair in his motor coach before Sunday's IRL Firestone Indy 400, said he has had informal discussions with Detroit officials http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=2006607310373 | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1209 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 198.208.159.18 |
awesome! the motor city without motor-racing (well, the wheeled kind anyways) is blasphemy! | ||
Tiorted Member Username: Tiorted Post Number: 6 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 141.217.53.62 |
I'd rather have Formula 1 back on the streets of downtown myself. The last time I went to a CART race on Belle Isle it rain and the whole infield turned into a mud bog. | ||
Paulj Member Username: Paulj Post Number: 453 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.248.75.129 |
I'm excited to know that belle isle will possibly be used for racing again. This likely means the road surface will be repaired and I will be able to enjoy a couple more curves to their fullest potential on the bike without having to worry about being chucked off the outside by a pothole. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1943 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 71.144.117.26 |
^^^That is true. It was designed by the same man who did Central Park, but it is hardly looking like it. I wouldn't go criticizing the people who use the island, although the litter situation can suck and people should take responsibility. Good for Penske! What a cool track that is, and nice media exposure for a beautiful park on the water in the central city. I remember how cool the media coverage was. This just falls into line with the fact that we need more big events here, so why not bring back something we used to have. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 7630 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.19 |
Does that go for my wife and I that were there yesterday? | ||
Kiplinger Member Username: Kiplinger Post Number: 6 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 208.44.60.32 |
I am there everyday to drop/pickup my kids from camp and am always pleasantly surprised on how the trash is being picked up and the bathrooms kept relatively clean. We were driving through Rouge Park and Hines over the weekend and the most remarkable thing was the difference in the way the parks are maintained. Rouge's bathrooms and picnic areas are an eyesore. The grass isn't cut and it looks quite scary. Hines and Belle Isle are by far much better taken care of. Now if we can only get the Giant Slide open. | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 137 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
Great news, any big ticket events that can bring people into the city will be welcome. Just read in todays paper how Detroit will double their downtown hotels by 2008, and we need to fill them. It would be good if we got a 10 or more year commitment like Penske wants. Now if only they can figure out how to expand Cobo to lure more big ticket conventions from other cities. This also proves that to get things done we need more business leaders like Penske and rely less on political leaders. Penske has proven yet again that he truly cares for his addopted hometown. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1950 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 71.144.117.26 |
?!? | ||
Digitaldom Member Username: Digitaldom Post Number: 450 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 24.192.148.150 |
Wow Uncle tom.. That's rather interesting.. considering he used the race card big time in the election.. hmm... | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 6204 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 70.236.198.22 |
We're not talking THAT kind of race here. Who but Penske to drive this thing? Pretty cool, I'd say. EVERY time I see those red and white striped curbs on the island I wax nostalgic...then run home to view again that Sly Stallone racing movie that showed aerial shots of Belle Isle during one of the races there. What was the name of that?! Oh yeah, Driven. Another modern classic...heh. | ||
Digitaldom Member Username: Digitaldom Post Number: 453 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 24.192.148.150 |
Yeah I know.. But that's what uncle tom refers too.. Too bad someone had to take it there.. Though I would love to see it come back.. Sounds like a good plan.. Upgrade Belle Isle and get the races on top of it! Excellent! | ||
Pacypacy_ Member Username: Pacypacy_ Post Number: 260 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 69.14.237.82 |
Yeah, racing on Belle Isle, gotta pay to see that though, just like if you want to see any of the other few remaining cultural attractions there. Of course still it's free if you just want to drink your 40's, smoke your blunts, and annoy the others with loud "music"..... | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1365 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.63 |
Funny, when I posted this:
https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/10041/75859.html?1152202 554 Nobody was interested in it. | ||
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 1056 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.142.86.133 |
Roger Penske for Mayor! | ||
Michigansheik Member Username: Michigansheik Post Number: 160 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 68.60.139.11 |
start ur engines, but watch out for the flooded streets and geese! | ||
Susanarosa Member Username: Susanarosa Post Number: 1020 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 208.39.170.78 |
Hornwrecker, that's because every two weeks someone else comes up with a Detroit Grand Prix coming back to Belle Isle thread and I think lots of us have exhausted our opinions on the topic. (Personally, I think it's a ironic departure for the IRL who was formed as the next great "American" racing league to race on ovals ala NASCAR to now be adding all of these road courses and street circuits... If there has to be a race on Belle Isle I'd most certainly rather it not be the IRL but I digress...) That thread was more about F1 anyway. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 2823 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.167.211.167 |
Car racing on Belle Isle? Nooooooooo We love ya Roger Penske, but not that much. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1367 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.69 |
I too hate the Crapwagons, as Paul Tracy called them; he might take that back if he loses his ride. For a race to be successful on BI, they'd have to make the circuit and facilities more like the Montreal one in Isle Notre Dame, which I think would entail too much permanent change to the isle. Almost forgot,...but I was correct. | ||
Susanarosa Member Username: Susanarosa Post Number: 1026 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 208.39.170.78 |
*patting Hornwrecker on head* Yes, yes you were. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 2825 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.167.211.167 |
This anonymous but interesting note just came in from the e-mail bag: BTW, I liked the downtown Grand Prix but always felt a part of it should have gone on the expressways to let them open up and pass. Passing on the downtown course was next to impossible. If you got the pole and your car didn't break down, you won. Remembering late great Ayrton Senna... | ||
Machoken Member Username: Machoken Post Number: 1425 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 207.145.38.104 |
Looks like someone hasn't been there lately -> the road surface is smooth all around the isle. | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1254 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 136.2.1.103 |
I'm not a huge fan of racing, but I have to admit that Belle Isle is not a bad place for something like this. A race on Belle Isle is a lot less disruptive to non-race fans than a downtown race. And if it means more money for improvements to the island, I'm all for that. (although I wouldn't want to see major changes to the roadway layout) | ||
Fjw718 Member Username: Fjw718 Post Number: 26 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 38.117.242.163 |
is penske going around the country trying to revive racing in major cities? We just had a similar story pop up in the news here in brooklyn that he was looking to bring open-wheel racing to floyd bennet field, a long abandoned airport in brooklyn. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2528 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.26 |
I remember watching the Belle Isle Grand Prix on TV many years ago. I was amazed at how stunningly beatiful the helicopter shots were of the race and surrounding area. It really made the island and Detroit (in the distance) look like a water wonderland paradise. | ||
Susanarosa Member Username: Susanarosa Post Number: 1029 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 208.39.170.78 |
Unfortunately the view from on the island was never as beautiful. I think I still have mud in my converse sneakers from the 1995 DGP. | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 102 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 35.8.144.6 |
What was the course like when the race was run at Belle Isle? All I know is the location of the pits and the lower section of the course. I'm too young to remember. I just remember it being blazing hot when we went down there for a couple of them. | ||
Susanarosa Member Username: Susanarosa Post Number: 1030 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 208.39.170.78 |
{belleisle}  |
