Baltimore Grand Prix

[Schumikonen 2]

City Green Lights Baltimore Grand Prix

BALTIMORE -- Grand Prix racing looks to be on its way to the Charm City.

The city's Board of Estimates has approved a 5-year agreement with Baltimore Racing Development, with the first race to be held in August 2011.

Drivers would race in a loop around downtown, passing by the Inner Harbor and Oriole Park at Camden Yards at speeds up to 185 mph.

The Indy Racing League is expected to sign a sanctioning agreement in the next two weeks.

City officials said the events could generate $11 million in tax revenue during the five-year period. It could also create nearly 2,000 jobs, and generate $250 million in spending.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the street race will "change the way the world sees Baltimore," as a result of global exposure to millions of Indy Racing League fans.

As part of the agreement, Baltimore Racing Development (BRD) will share event revenues with the city and pay an annual event fee, along with spending $12 to $14 million on race preparations.

The idea that was backroom chatter just a year ago has become a reality thanks, in part, to City Councilman Bill Cole, D-11th District, who was first contacted by BRD. Cole said he didn't move forward until he had full support from all of the neighborhoods affected in his district.

"We're going to include the neighborhoods every step of the way, and we're going to make sure they benefit from this race in a very significant way," he said.

BRD and city officials are developing an event management plan to address construction, public safety, traffic and other issues.

"The Indy Race is a huge event for Baltimore," said Visit Baltimore President and CEO Tom Noonan. "People travel from around the world to attend and spend money in our hotels, restaurants, and attractions while they are here. The national media coverage alone is worth millions of dollars in free advertising for the city that will generate new awareness of Baltimore with convention planners and leisure travelers."

"With an estimate 150,000 fans over the course of three days, it's safe to say that at some point during the race, they will probably be hungry," said Melvin Thompson of the Restaurant Association of Maryland.

Professional track designer Martyn Thake said that the track layout is one of the best he's seen in his 20-year career.

"The first turn is going to be in the Inner Harbor. It's going to look so sexy on TV. And then to go to (Camden) Yards, which is the history -- this is an A-plus," he said.

Under terms of the agreement, the city must modify and improve certain streets and sidewalks and other transportation-related infrastructure to comply with the standards of the Indy Racing League.

The total estimated cost of improvements is about $7.75 million in state grants that the city will have six years to pay back, city officials said.

Yes, I am excited about it because this could be my fisrt race attendance in USA and the fact that this will take place just a couple of miles from my home makes it even better, I guess my wife will have a hard time to see me on that weekend, the only thing I didn't like about this news is that I still have to wait more than a year for this event, I must also say that this was a surprise for me, this morning my wife asked me "did you see this news?" and there it was the news of a future grand prix were I only have to invest in tickets and food and I didn't have the slightest idea of this negotiation to bring that race to this city.

Can't wait for my kids to come from the school to let know about this.

[Persevere 0]

Tommy, I hope this all comes true. It would be great if Baltimore could shed some of the dark image it has accrued: series such as Homicide: Life on the Street and The Wire were excellent but didn't generate much positive PR in their wake. Keep us posted.

[Schumikonen 2]

Tommy, I hope this all comes true. It would be great if Baltimore could shed some of the dark image it has accrued: series such as Homicide: Life on the Street and The Wire were excellent but didn't generate much positive PR in their wake. Keep us posted.

That's the whole idea behind this, to change people's image of Baltimore and couldn't think of a better way, who knows, if this is not enough maybe they will try a F1 race in a couple of years

[Autumnpuma 0]

Any F1 race in America is a Good Thing, but honestly, that proposed track sucks. The turns are much too tight to provide anything but a bric-a-brac of F1 car parts and a lot of mid-race driver interviews.

[Schumikonen 2]

Any F1 race in America is a Good Thing, but honestly, that proposed track sucks. The turns are much too tight to provide anything but a bric-a-brac of F1 car parts and a lot of mid-race driver interviews.

yeah you are right about that but in that case they can always change the track, we have planty of wide streets to choose from and that can include other place of interest like the aquarium.

[Persevere 0]

yeah you are right about that but in that case they can always change the track, we have planty of wide streets to choose from and that can include other place of interest like the aquarium.

Good, since wet races are providing most of the excitement in F1 these days. I'll bet Pucky the Whale will show up.

[Schumikonen 2]

Good, since wet races are providing most of the excitement in F1 these days. I'll bet Pucky the Whale will show up.

I am already planning to go and take some pictures of the streets were the track is going to be but I don't know when I'll be able to do that, if I do it I will probably post the pics here.

[Schumikonen 2]

Any F1 race in America is a Good Thing, but honestly, that proposed track sucks. The turns are much too tight to provide anything but a bric-a-brac of F1 car parts and a lot of mid-race driver interviews.

I think that's why they change it to this one which is the final one: http://baltimoregrandprix.com/pdf/track_map.pdf

[Schumikonen 2]

I am already planning to go and take some pictures of the streets were the track is going to be but I don't know when I'll be able to do that, if I do it I will probably post the pics here.

Right now I am not so sure that I'll be able to go to this race, the thing is that right in this weekend will be my 15 wedding anniversary and my wife doesn't want anything to do with races, she says this is an occasion to celebrate but I want to celebrate the race, today is Wednesday and I'm still unsure if I am going to be able to watch in person my first race in USA, for things like this is that I don't like celebrating this weekend

Anyway I'll post some pictures of the work on the track tonight

[HandyNZL 1]

If she loved you, she would let you go....

...like a little birdy...if you love something, set it free...if it comes back to you, it was meant to be...if it doesn't it just goes to prove you are an arsehole

[Schumikonen 2]

If she loved you, she would let you go....

...like a little birdy...if you love something, set it free...if it comes back to you, it was meant to be...if it doesn't it just goes to prove you are an arsehole

Do you really think there is chance she would let me go? even if it is in the way you say I'd still be free to go to the race anyway but I am not that lucky, she would force me to celebrate the 15th anniversary and then she would let me go, she is too proud about reaching that milestone, after that, anything can happen.

[Schumikonen 2]

This is the main straight and the grand stand, the rest of the main straight can be seen on the previous post.

[Schumikonen 2]

Turn 12

Turn 11

Turn 10

[Schumikonen 2]

Part of the straight between Turn 9 and 10

Turn 9

[Schumikonen 2]

The next part of the track have a turn with no number according to the map pf the track available at the circuit, that part is between Turn 9 and 8

[Schumikonen 2]

This will be the pits area, that building to the left is the famous Camden Yard(Orioles Park) warehouse

the pits straight

and Turn 8 at the end of the pits straight

[Schumikonen 2]

A nice warning the drivers in the pits

That's Turn 7

Somewhere in that zone is suppose to be turn 6 which is going to be like a chicane and it was'n there yet because there were traffic still going through that part of the track.

[Schumikonen 2]

Between Turn 6 and 7 cars will have to go over the railways, I think it will feel pretty bumpy in that part.

This is Turn 5, here they will make an S, going form right way to wrong way in the same street

Straight between Turn 4 and 5

[Schumikonen 2]

Another view of Turn 5, cars will be coming form my POV and heading towards were that guys is crossing.

Turn 4 here cars will be coming my way and turning in the part of the street closer to my POV.

Straight between Turn 3 and 4

[Schumikonen 2]

Turn 3 is a hairpin

Straight between Turn 3 and 2

[Schumikonen 2]

I couldn't get the pictures of Turn 1 and 2 but I have some pictures of that part of the track before they started to work of the circuit, tomorrow I'll try to get those pictures but if I can't get them I will post the ones I have.

Federal Hill, many people will flood that hill to watch the race for free.

Official Map I would say, this is the one on the track as you can see there's a turn between 9-8 and have no numbering and that map doesn't do any justice to the real track.

[Schumikonen 2]

I almost forgot, my kids were with me walking around the track.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Do you really think there is chance she would let me go?

Put your foot down and just go! Make plans for the following week and come up with a too full booking excuse, or somethin like that.

Sweet kids u have

[HandyNZL 1]

Interesting that they are crossing the rail tracks. Will they have to stop if the bells start ringing?

What you need to do, is celebrate the 15yr anniversary by buying your wife some tickets to some wonderful entertainment for the day. Just because it is four seats at turn 9, shouldn't have anything to do with anything...

[Schumikonen 2]

Put your foot down and just go! Make plans for the following week and come up with a too full booking excuse, or somethin like that.

Sweet kids u have

Thanks Brad, I'll have to come up with something, I don't want to miss the ALMS race on Saturday nor the Indycar race on Sunday so there cannot be any compromise to the weekend, I know I can't stay for the whole day on Friday because I have to pick up my kids from school but I think it will be better to celebrate 15 years and a week than just 15 years

Interesting that they are crossing the rail tracks. Will they have to stop if the bells start ringing?

What you need to do, is celebrate the 15yr anniversary by buying your wife some tickets to some wonderful entertainment for the day. Just because it is four seats at turn 9, shouldn't have anything to do with anything...

I would like to take with me but she doesn't want to go and between us I need her with me in the race so if my kids need to go to restroom or to buy some food she can go with them and I don't miss anything but she came out with a very good excuse to miss the race just because she in her 8th month of a high risk pregnancy but like her former boss says "she is just pregnant not sick".