Elegance, Speed And Danger
Grand Prix. The very name evokes visions of elegance, speed and danger. The San Diego Grand Prix will make its debut Nov. 5 to 7 at the former Naval Training Center on San Diego Bay. The arrival of a Le Mans-style auto race, full of exotic race cars and exotic people, and set against a backdrop of palm trees, the bay and Downtown, should be an image-building event for San Diego. It will be nationally televised on CNBC at a time when the bleak chill of winter begins to descend on the rest of the country. Tony Allison has been writing about the business of sports for five years. Golf remains both a passion and an eternal mystery.
The race will be the season-ending championship in the 1999 American Le Mans Series, and will feature top racing teams from Porsche, Ferrari, Riley & Scott, and Lola. A variety of support races, in conjunction with the Grand Prix, are scheduled, including the Women's Global GT Championship.
The organizers of the event are especially excited about the location. "The NTC is an outstanding event area," says Bruce Watkins, managing director of the San Diego Grand Prix. "It will allow for an efficient setup prior, and a variety of event benefits, such as pit row suites."
The site became available on an interim basis under the city's agreement with the Navy. The base closing is expected to be finalized by the end of 1999. The city of San Diego is selecting a private developer to help formulate plans for the NTC property. "There is no provision for a long-term relationship at this site," adds Watkins. "We are looking for a permanent site in San Diego, but for now, we have a great location at NTC."
Watkins stresses that he will work with local community groups to minimize traffic and noise. "We are working to implement an off-site shuttle plan to keep event traffic off Rosecrans St.," says Watkins. "There won’t even be an event entrance on Rosecrans."
The race itself will feature three different classes of race cars. "The types of cars are basically the evolution of the cars that ran in the Del Mar Grand Prix in the late '80s and early '90s," says Brian Turner, general manager of the San Diego Grand Prix. "The race will include the GTS, GT and the Prototype classes." The GTS class features GT2 cars such as Porsche 911s and Corvettes. The GT class is for GT3 cars like the BMW M3 and the Porsche 911 RSR. The prototype sports cars are 700-plus horsepower beasts, similar to those raced in the 24 hours of Le Mans in France.
The 1.53-mile track will be surrounded by 2,000 concrete blocks, each weighing 9,000 pounds, topped off with an 11-foot debris fence with a two-foot overlay. "The race track has a great space on the former parade ground for pit row, pit row suites and grandstands for 10,000 to 11,000 people," adds Turner.
San Diegan Roger Ward, a two-time Indy 500 winner, is also enthusiastic about the race. "When I heard this new Grand Prix was going to be at NTC instead of Downtown, I felt it would be the perfect location. This group is going about things the right way. The location is a lot better than the Long Beach Grand Prix. This will be one hell of an event."
Deputy Mayor Byron Wear also is in full race mode. "The base reuse program has provided us an opportunity to promote the San Diego Grand Prix throughout the United States and the world. Our sleepy little Navy town is growing up."
Ticket prices will be 15 percent to 20 percent less than the Long Beach Grand Prix, reports Watkins, and will range from around $15 for general admission up to $85 for VIP seating. Attendance is estimated at 70,000 for the three-day event. Parking and shuttle service will be free.
"There also is a wide range of corporate packages out there," says Watkins, "ranging from an official position with exclusive product rights, to corporate hospitality, or just a nice block of tickets.
"If we can be around for awhile, this race has the potential to become a Monaco Grand Prix of North America. All the factors are here in terms of water, natural beauty, tourism, hotels and San Diego’s appeal to the rest of the country. This race can become a real jewel of motor sports in North America."
It is always the job of the organizers to beat the drums for an event, especially one in its first year. But the combination of a glamorous, high-profile sporting event hooking up with a vibrant city seeking upscale image enhancement seems to be a perfect match.
Home | Features | Info | Cover Story | About Us | Back Issues
