Rumours About Trans Am Demise and Speed WC Being Sold
11-28-05, 10:53 AM
#1
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
Rumours About Trans Am Demise and Speed WC Being Sold
Just got this info from a freind of mine:
Hi Ron. We are hearing rumors that you may have put together money for the
Trans-Am name for GTA! Any truth to these? Any solid info yet on what will
happen to GTA next year?
Thanks.
Betsy Dreier
Guy Dreier Racing #13
Hi Betsy,
Over the past two weeks life has been very hectic. Especially from 10th
through the 15th of November.
On Nov. 10 evening I was informed that the proposed Trans Am cosponsorship
for 2006 of
GNC and Cytomax (Greg Pickett's company) had fallen apart in the 11th hour.
Seems someone at GNC pulled the plug on the entire program after T/A spent 3
months working out the details.
Nov. 11th, Friday T/A called to inform me that Champ Car needed $1,000,000.00
in order for the Trans Am to remain in business. CC had been backing this
money loosing series for a few years and had enough. $1 million was rumored to
be about 1/2 of what it costs to run the series with the existing TV package.
Requests for support were sent to key people, Rahul, Bill, Norm, Lee and John
C., on Friday.
By Saturday evening it appeared that the GTA group could indeed have a letter
of intent and possibly a letter of credit in Champ Cars hands within a week.
Monday Nov. 14th I was informed by T/A that Champ Car wanted a letter of
credit in hand or a letter of intent by closing on Monday evening! Yes, the 14th!
Well, there is simply no way that we could have either by closing on Monday
evening. But I informed both the T/A and CC that we could have it as early
as Wed the 16th.
However, there would be a restriction on the money. If GTA was to submit the
$1M then the rules of the Trans Am would change to those of ONLY the GTA.
i.e. The T/A would no longer be a race of T/A cars and GTA cars, but one of GTA
cars only.
A multitude of telephone calls and e-mails raced back and forth between John
Claggett of Trans Am, Steve Johnson CEO of Champ Car, Rahul Pinto, Bill
Hussain, Lee Schwartz, Norm at Pro Formance, Mitch at SCCA Pro Formance, Tom Martin
in Texas and myself in attempt to save the Trans Am and to begin a new era in
T/A with GTA cars and rules.
Trans Am informed me that it was Champ Car's decision, CC informed me that I
had to talk with SCCA Pro Racing, SCCA Pro Racing informed me that they only
had two things to lease and that was the rights to the T/A name for
$100,.000.00 per year and we could
Lease a complete race staff, including registration people, race directors,
tech inspectors, the T/A tech trailer/truck. In other words the entire Pro
Race staff for one or all races.
But, I was informed that SCCA Pro Racing had nothing to do with scheduling
the race dates with Champ Car and that I would have to speak to Champ Car!
So, back to Steve Johnson of CC who responded that we needed to talk with
Trans Am. So, back to John Clagett of Trans Am who informed me that it was CC's
decision. See a bit
of a run-around here?
By Monday evening the Trans Am was no longer in business. It was in fact
dead.
John Claggett out of a job.
Tuesday was spent in attempting to convince Champ Car and Mr. Steve Johnson
that Champ Car should replace the Trans Am program with the GTA program. Keep
the same race events, TV package, etc and simply use GTA rules and cars. We
would guarantee a minimum of 20 cars at each venue and most probably would have
30+ at key race events such as Long Beach and San Jose.
But, Champ Car wasn't listening. No matter how politically correct Steve
Johnson was in his responses nor how much he continued to dangle the carrot of
hope in front of us someone at CC had decided they simply didn't want to accept
our offer.
As of Thursday the 17th Mitch Wright of SCCA PRO RACING was out of a job.
Also, the rumors began that the SCCA PRO RACING department would be closed.
Now, SCCA PR only has one series, that of Speed World Challenge GT and
Touring. So, if they are planning on closing the SCCA PR one has to wonder what
will happen to the Speed World Challenge Series? I would guess that Champ Car
has purchased Speed GT and Touring from SCCA PR and will place this series on
their race programs. Thus filling the
'Sedan series' void left by the demise of Trans Am. This however is simply a
rumor at this point.
SO WHERE ARE WE NOW?
We are basically at the point of attempting to gain acceptance into several
prime events such as the LBGP, SJGP, Denver GP, etc.
Tom Martin has contacted the Denver GP and they WANT STOCK CARS running on
the Champ Car weekend. Edmonton enthusiastically want's the GTA cars to come up
and there is rumored to be an opening at the Cleveland Grand Prix as well.
Other venues are asking from $40,000.00 to $100,000.00 for a time slot on
their race weekend! The Formula groups such as Formula BMW and Formula Mazda
seem to have budgets to afford buying their way onto the prime events.
To make it all work we NEED A TV PACKAGE. However, no one within the GTA
ranks seems to have a contact within SPEED, ESPN, SPIKE, NBC, FOX etc. IF anyone
does let's get hot on finding out what it will take to nail down a TV package
for GTA.
With a TV package in had the cost of getting onto the prime venues will drop
dramatically or event evaporate. This due to the TV camera's picking up the
track signage during our event.
Thus, making the track/venue very happy.
Also, if anyone has a contact with San Jose or Long Beach we could use the
help in getting a door open there.
Please understand that every series in the USA is making the same telephone
calls and pitches to the event managers!
If we could simply have 4-5 high profile events plus a couple of lesser event
for 2006 we could use '06 as a building year.
Available semipro events for GTA are to name a few:
August - Seattle Washington / Pacific Raceways: All stock car event.
Now in it's 3rd year and they've requested that the GTA cars come up and play.
November - Road Atlanta Raceway the ARCC year-end championships. in 2005
some 50 stock cars participated. A group of GTA, Busch, Late Model and Ex-Cup
cars make up the field.
Oct. - A possible opening at the ALMS event at Laguna Seca.
Oct / Nov.. - A proposed stock car challenge (like Seattle and Road Atlanta)
at Thunderhill Raceway.
Other optional venues:
March - California Speedway - early spring with NASA and their ASC cars.
Reno-Fernley in late June (hot?)
Prior to setting a schedule of the lesser races we need to work toward
securing the
high profile events.
Needless to say I am in need of any assistance whatsoever in contacting the
events at Long Beach, San Jose, Cleveland, Edmonton in an effort to get the GTA
cars on these venues.
As well as finding who to talk to at SPEED TV, ESPN, FOX, etc.
Thanks to all of the GTA competitors!
Sincerely,
Ron Cortez
Maybe Jason can add some info to this.
Hi Ron. We are hearing rumors that you may have put together money for the
Trans-Am name for GTA! Any truth to these? Any solid info yet on what will
happen to GTA next year?
Thanks.
Betsy Dreier
Guy Dreier Racing #13
Hi Betsy,
Over the past two weeks life has been very hectic. Especially from 10th
through the 15th of November.
On Nov. 10 evening I was informed that the proposed Trans Am cosponsorship
for 2006 of
GNC and Cytomax (Greg Pickett's company) had fallen apart in the 11th hour.
Seems someone at GNC pulled the plug on the entire program after T/A spent 3
months working out the details.
Nov. 11th, Friday T/A called to inform me that Champ Car needed $1,000,000.00
in order for the Trans Am to remain in business. CC had been backing this
money loosing series for a few years and had enough. $1 million was rumored to
be about 1/2 of what it costs to run the series with the existing TV package.
Requests for support were sent to key people, Rahul, Bill, Norm, Lee and John
C., on Friday.
By Saturday evening it appeared that the GTA group could indeed have a letter
of intent and possibly a letter of credit in Champ Cars hands within a week.
Monday Nov. 14th I was informed by T/A that Champ Car wanted a letter of
credit in hand or a letter of intent by closing on Monday evening! Yes, the 14th!
Well, there is simply no way that we could have either by closing on Monday
evening. But I informed both the T/A and CC that we could have it as early
as Wed the 16th.
However, there would be a restriction on the money. If GTA was to submit the
$1M then the rules of the Trans Am would change to those of ONLY the GTA.
i.e. The T/A would no longer be a race of T/A cars and GTA cars, but one of GTA
cars only.
A multitude of telephone calls and e-mails raced back and forth between John
Claggett of Trans Am, Steve Johnson CEO of Champ Car, Rahul Pinto, Bill
Hussain, Lee Schwartz, Norm at Pro Formance, Mitch at SCCA Pro Formance, Tom Martin
in Texas and myself in attempt to save the Trans Am and to begin a new era in
T/A with GTA cars and rules.
Trans Am informed me that it was Champ Car's decision, CC informed me that I
had to talk with SCCA Pro Racing, SCCA Pro Racing informed me that they only
had two things to lease and that was the rights to the T/A name for
$100,.000.00 per year and we could
Lease a complete race staff, including registration people, race directors,
tech inspectors, the T/A tech trailer/truck. In other words the entire Pro
Race staff for one or all races.
But, I was informed that SCCA Pro Racing had nothing to do with scheduling
the race dates with Champ Car and that I would have to speak to Champ Car!
So, back to Steve Johnson of CC who responded that we needed to talk with
Trans Am. So, back to John Clagett of Trans Am who informed me that it was CC's
decision. See a bit
of a run-around here?
By Monday evening the Trans Am was no longer in business. It was in fact
dead.
John Claggett out of a job.
Tuesday was spent in attempting to convince Champ Car and Mr. Steve Johnson
that Champ Car should replace the Trans Am program with the GTA program. Keep
the same race events, TV package, etc and simply use GTA rules and cars. We
would guarantee a minimum of 20 cars at each venue and most probably would have
30+ at key race events such as Long Beach and San Jose.
But, Champ Car wasn't listening. No matter how politically correct Steve
Johnson was in his responses nor how much he continued to dangle the carrot of
hope in front of us someone at CC had decided they simply didn't want to accept
our offer.
As of Thursday the 17th Mitch Wright of SCCA PRO RACING was out of a job.
Also, the rumors began that the SCCA PRO RACING department would be closed.
Now, SCCA PR only has one series, that of Speed World Challenge GT and
Touring. So, if they are planning on closing the SCCA PR one has to wonder what
will happen to the Speed World Challenge Series? I would guess that Champ Car
has purchased Speed GT and Touring from SCCA PR and will place this series on
their race programs. Thus filling the
'Sedan series' void left by the demise of Trans Am. This however is simply a
rumor at this point.
SO WHERE ARE WE NOW?
We are basically at the point of attempting to gain acceptance into several
prime events such as the LBGP, SJGP, Denver GP, etc.
Tom Martin has contacted the Denver GP and they WANT STOCK CARS running on
the Champ Car weekend. Edmonton enthusiastically want's the GTA cars to come up
and there is rumored to be an opening at the Cleveland Grand Prix as well.
Other venues are asking from $40,000.00 to $100,000.00 for a time slot on
their race weekend! The Formula groups such as Formula BMW and Formula Mazda
seem to have budgets to afford buying their way onto the prime events.
To make it all work we NEED A TV PACKAGE. However, no one within the GTA
ranks seems to have a contact within SPEED, ESPN, SPIKE, NBC, FOX etc. IF anyone
does let's get hot on finding out what it will take to nail down a TV package
for GTA.
With a TV package in had the cost of getting onto the prime venues will drop
dramatically or event evaporate. This due to the TV camera's picking up the
track signage during our event.
Thus, making the track/venue very happy.
Also, if anyone has a contact with San Jose or Long Beach we could use the
help in getting a door open there.
Please understand that every series in the USA is making the same telephone
calls and pitches to the event managers!
If we could simply have 4-5 high profile events plus a couple of lesser event
for 2006 we could use '06 as a building year.
Available semipro events for GTA are to name a few:
August - Seattle Washington / Pacific Raceways: All stock car event.
Now in it's 3rd year and they've requested that the GTA cars come up and play.
November - Road Atlanta Raceway the ARCC year-end championships. in 2005
some 50 stock cars participated. A group of GTA, Busch, Late Model and Ex-Cup
cars make up the field.
Oct. - A possible opening at the ALMS event at Laguna Seca.
Oct / Nov.. - A proposed stock car challenge (like Seattle and Road Atlanta)
at Thunderhill Raceway.
Other optional venues:
March - California Speedway - early spring with NASA and their ASC cars.
Reno-Fernley in late June (hot?)
Prior to setting a schedule of the lesser races we need to work toward
securing the
high profile events.
Needless to say I am in need of any assistance whatsoever in contacting the
events at Long Beach, San Jose, Cleveland, Edmonton in an effort to get the GTA
cars on these venues.
As well as finding who to talk to at SPEED TV, ESPN, FOX, etc.
Thanks to all of the GTA competitors!
Sincerely,
Ron Cortez
Maybe Jason can add some info to this.
11-28-05, 11:15 AM
#2
I am not at liberty to discuss some rumors but what I know is true is...
Mitch resigned on his own accord.
The Trans Am name is up for grabs via lease from SCCA Pro Jan. 1, 2006.
SCCA Pro also staffs the Miata Cup.
I have a firm schedule for 2006 under the SCCA Pro banner but...
I'm wondering who Steve wants ChampCar to be in bed with. DP's at Long beach? I'd hoped he would have considered us (World Challenge) firstly. I'm sure the France family threw some bucks at ChampCar on that one. We are all over the place as far as whom we're supporting this year. Still largely ALMS, but a sprinkling of ChampCar, one IRL, and one NASCAR (Infineon).
Trans Am as we know it is likely over with aside from the occasional AGT organized race.
Mitch resigned on his own accord.
The Trans Am name is up for grabs via lease from SCCA Pro Jan. 1, 2006.
SCCA Pro also staffs the Miata Cup.
I have a firm schedule for 2006 under the SCCA Pro banner but...
I'm wondering who Steve wants ChampCar to be in bed with. DP's at Long beach? I'd hoped he would have considered us (World Challenge) firstly. I'm sure the France family threw some bucks at ChampCar on that one. We are all over the place as far as whom we're supporting this year. Still largely ALMS, but a sprinkling of ChampCar, one IRL, and one NASCAR (Infineon).
Trans Am as we know it is likely over with aside from the occasional AGT organized race.
02-15-06, 01:15 PM
#3
I'm off to the US this weekend to discuss the upcoming World Challenge season in our annual winter meeting. Doesn't look like we're dead in the water... Check out the number and types of cars registered for the series... Aston Martin, Nissan Skyline... on and on...
GT: http://www.world-challenge.com/2006/entrylist-gt.html
Touring: http://www.world-challenge.com/2006/entrylist-tc.html
Hope some of you can make it out to Mosport or some of other venues. It's going to be a hell of a season...
GT: http://www.world-challenge.com/2006/entrylist-gt.html
Touring: http://www.world-challenge.com/2006/entrylist-tc.html
Hope some of you can make it out to Mosport or some of other venues. It's going to be a hell of a season...
02-15-06, 05:47 PM
#4
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Since all Speed seems to care about is NASCRAP, I can believe that they'll screw up the World Challenge series. I'm already pissed that they stop covering the WRC so I refuse to watch them anymore.
02-15-06, 11:32 PM
#6
Originally Posted by racerjason
umm they still cover WRC.
They tell you who won on Speed News, but they don't show the events anymore. Eurosport is the only channel covering it this year.
Good thing is that they will be showing all the Atlantic races this year - and the cars are all Mazda powered! (not rotary though). I guess having ties to ford can be a good thing!
Have fun at the meeting!
02-16-06, 08:59 AM
#7
My apologies, I do seem to recall watching the usual Sunday 11pm coverage recently. Perhaps they repeated the 2005 season over the winter.
Atlantics is shaping up to be the finest open wheel racing series in the world except possibly for the venues. Large fields, talented drivers, standing starts, I can't wait.
Atlantics is shaping up to be the finest open wheel racing series in the world except possibly for the venues. Large fields, talented drivers, standing starts, I can't wait.
