Is that a purpose built race track in Miami?
When'd they do that?

It was nice to NOT have a Russian or Chinese F1 race this year. Those countries need to be off the calendar forever, along with all the Arab countries. They have zero history of car building, and only have a track and a race because of massive billions in petro dollars.

The European countries with real race tracks are what I am waiting to see again. Spa should be like Monaco, just a given race place. Same for Italy, Germany and Spain.

It is cool as an American to see three races in the USA this year. The celebrity and BS of the Miami race is just silly over the top. I suspect other races will try to mimic it. LL Cool J did do a good job with the driver's names, it was obvious he practiced it a bit, and he did great. The orchestra was complete BS.

Now we have another era of Red Bull domination, like the Vettle era. We had 8 years of Mercedes total domination. Any decent driver in Hamilton's car had a winning ride. It never broke, and was clearly way faster than the rest of the field. One thing I have to admit about Hammy, he just does not crash into the wall or make bonehead moves.

I still like the racing but not the politics/big money, commentators, drama and more street courses.

Try vintage racing.

Saw some brits calling Miami GP "Festival of greed" (vs goodwood's festival of speed)
Menu from a track eatery (for 4 but still)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1683822067.jpg

heard from a friend Team Tshirts were 3x the price of F1 website too. Clearly it was for the rich and famous, and Vegas promises to be even worse...

Wow. I would expect those prices at Monaco, but Miami? No fricking way would I pay anything close to that for food when I can eat in a few hours at normal prices.

That is pretty obscene pricing.

Can I get a hotdog and a Coke please?

I saw someone post a video on Instagram attending the race, I believe she lives in Miami. They were in the cabanas. Literally all of the women were in no where near the railing to see the race and just standing in clusters talking to each other. Guys were not much better. Looked like no one was watching the race.

Then another photo posted by same person of a car in that turn. Caption read: "go team". Clearly no idea which team's car nor driver.

So yes, it is a social event much like going to a South Beach club where you get bottle service and try to look important.

*** also saw today that most of the drivers were unhappy about the orchestra intro of drivers pre-race. Hot, wearing our stuff, would prefer to prep with engineer, bla bla bla. The only driver that liked it was, wait for it and try to be surprised: Hamilton.

Sure, for 4, $350

You shouldn't even have that thought. The F1 series left Long Beach after the '83 race. They were even at that time asking for way more than was economically feasible. The LB city council in agreement with the LBGP Assoc. told them to not let the door hit them in a the ass on the way out.

The first Champ Car race (Indy Car) the next year actually had a couple of cars arrive on an open car trailer. Just for the record, I think these were Dale Coyne and Dick Simon. IIRC, there was on car that didn't qualify owned by some local businessmen and a couple cops. Ironically the entrant was PIG Racing.

Anyway, it was a lowbrow affair that was widely accepted and popular and has been ever since. Mario won the first 2 years and Michael got his first win in the 3rd year. It has been said that Mario was responsible (more or less) for the success.

Now for the real irony: LBGP reported this year one of the best crowds ever at 192,000 over 3 days. (I honestly don't know the count method). The Miami crowd was estimated at 243,000. That's insane given how crowded and sold out all of LB is on GP weekend.

Yes, the LBPG has gotten more expensive over the years, but it's still a bargain:

General admission · Friday: $38. · Saturday: $77. · Sunday: $82. · Three-day package: $112.

Parking can be tough but it costs way more to park at a Dodgers or Angels game. Many people park uptown (free) and take the train or bus to the front gate for a little over a dollar.

One can go full luxury for just under $1200. You get it all including catering for breakfast and lunch in a suite with passes to anywhere you want to go. Alcohol extra.

Or you can buy a photo pass that just lets you into some cool view spots and the pits at select times for $265.

No that would be a ground Kobe beef bratwurst on a bun made from hand milled flower from a stock of wheat from a private island served with a tea made from tea leaves from a mountain side in Borneo. Limited availability for just $900.

My first race was Hockenheim 2001. Tickets on start / finish across from Ferrari paddock were just a hair over $300. That INCLUDED Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I did same at Nurburgring in 2004, same cost and 3 day coverage. Parking was FREE

In 2005, we went to the infamous Tire debacle race at Indy. $350ish bones for ONE day. Extra charge for other days, even for support races. Even more money for parking, a lot more.

Went to Canada in 2006 and 2007. IIRC, tickets were 3 day. Took my very young kids for just a little on Saturday and it was pretty cheap.

I know its been a while since I've been but my experience is that Europe races were cheaper and all inclusive. Looks like now even European races are like US in price. 3 day Silverstone starts at 4,500 euro. Sunday only Monaco is over 600 euros, if you have to ask about 3 day tickets there you can't afford (13,739 euro).
BUT 3 day ticket in Hungary is only 495 euros, score. Ditto at Red Bull Ring, 3 day 480 euro.

Dang, I need to win the lottery.

I did Spa in 2001 while working a contract in Germany. I think the weekend GA ticket was around $125. Parking was free.....or perhaps I pulled into the field through an exit not knowing the lay of the land or the language........:eek:

A litre of Stella and an oversize brautwurst were roughly $10 bucks after conversion. The engines were LOUD....the RPM's were STRATOSPHERIC......the track was AMAZING.
Not a hybrid engine, nor DRS system to be found. What F1 was meant to be. No tire management strategies either!!

Miami is everything that is wrong with today's F1 IMO.

Now Get Off My Lawn!! :D

Yeah I'm sure those prices were only in the snooty boxes where the rich accumulated to be seen--hot dogs were available outside I bet.

And not surprised with Hamilton--he seems to really like stuff for fans and was the only one happy to see LL Cool J. The introduction was cringy but way less cringy than I expected it to be.

I read that Hulkenburg admitted he got some goosebumps during the introductions, so Hamilton wasn't the only guy to enjoy the unique format. Cringey nonetheless. Thank goodness only Americans have bad enough taste to do something like that.

I bet the it is copied by some other tracks with bad taste. Some track with lots of government money thrown at it will try to top it or replicate it. Just my prediction. Just imagine the big show Las Vegas will try to put on to top it. That is my prediction. I offer a double your money back guarantee!

Even with the insane prices, to have over 250,000 people show up over the weekend shows the draw of F1.

C’mon you can’t get more posh than classical instruments.

Just think it could have been far worse, they could have used EDM or a rapper.

Will.i.am actually wrote a Formula One rap, which goes without saying is terrible, and I was terrified that they were going to be playing that during the introductions.

Strange to feel relief to see Will.i.am conducting an orchestra, but that's life now I guess.

Well, Vegas will of course try to top the Miami show. But at least they have showgirls. ;)

Yea, and when I think of high class, Vegas is not what I think of.