Grand-Am, ALMS, IMSA... Nope!

The new name is "United SportsCar". Anti-climatic is the nicest thing I can say...

I was hoping for 'Grand-ALMSA'.

The name IMSA will be used for the sanctioning body. This article also provides the class structure:

http://www.racer.com/alms-grand-am-reveal-united-sportscar-racing-identity-for-2014-unified-series/article/284450/

Dropping the LMP-1 cars is a huge disappointment, but I understand why they did it.

...just Chuck Testa

Javelin wrote: The new name is "United SportsCar". Anti-climatic is the nicest thing I can say...

I like it. While old school race fans like one acronym over another for various reasons, using a simple worded name makes sense to the casual observer (and potential sponsors).

The people who's money makes or breaks this world.

Combined resources should make for deeper class fields as well, and better resources for organization.

While I'm happy the series combined and hopefully leading to larger fields with lots of competition; I'm sad, it means less racing to watch throughout the year with only one series :(. As long as they keep the Conti Tire Challenge series around I'm happy. That's the best racing on TV right der.

Not to be confused with USAC... but it probably will be.

Spoolpigeon wrote: I was hoping for 'Grand-ALMSA'.

A little re-arrangement and you have Grand SLAMA. Done.

I'm so happy they didn't use one bit of the old names (yes, I know the suggestions above were jokes ). Any use or continuation of one name or another would just leave people to complain that one side "won" or "lost", something open wheel "fans" can't even get over today.

I'm sad there will be less racing but, if the series thrives, the schedule grows, and everyone's happy again

Jamesc2123 wrote: Any use or continuation of one name or another would just leave people to complain that one side "won" or "lost", something open wheel "fans" can't even get over today.

Don't worry, it'll still exist. Grand Am definitely won in this case...

United Sportscar Racing series....

That's one dyslexic moment away from an acronym fail.

Maroon92 wrote:

Jamesc2123 wrote: Any use or continuation of one name or another would just leave people to complain that one side "won" or "lost", something open wheel "fans" can't even get over today.

Don't worry, it'll still exist. Grand Am definitely won in this case...

Yeah, you're right. They should at least put Don Panoz and Scott Atherton on the BoD! Or at LEAST include every ALMS car except for 2 in the class structure! Or....hmm.. Seriously though, even though yes ALMS was technically bought by NASCAR, things seem pretty equal in terms of what's being merged.

Jamesc2123 wrote: things seem pretty equal in terms of what's being merged.

Wanna bet? Let's see how things shake out next year when all the mergers are supposed to be in their final forms.

I watched the Q&A..sure sounds like their plan is to slow down the P2 cars instead of speed up the DPs. There was talk of '..allowing teams to change to ACO configuration..' for LeMans. That might be a mistake.

One of the reasons prototype racing is so popular with its fans is simply because of how blindingly quick the cars are. IMO, that's the reason ALMS races were better attended than Grand Am, even though the GA has much more passing and consistently closer finishes. I'll admit that Grand Am has better racing in the top class than ALMS..but the LMPs are just so amazing to watch that I (and many others) don't care that it's a stinking 'parade'. Seeing them in person, I wonder how they still observe the laws of physics.

It's not all bad news though..at least they're leaving the ALMS GT alone. Still..I wish I could get to Sebring this one last time for P1. I may still go to Petit this year, job or no job. Especially if Audi decides to come play.

Oh, and add me to the "uninspired" list on the name & logo. Eh, at least they changed the IMSA logo back to black. I never quite got used to the blue.

EDIT: I meant slowing down the cars would be a mistake, not making sure P2 teams could go to Le Mans.

carguy123 wrote:

Jamesc2123 wrote: things seem pretty equal in terms of what's being merged.

Wanna bet? Let's see how things shake out next year when all the mergers are supposed to be in their final forms.

I'm not sure what we'd be betting on. Are you thinking they're going to boot out the ALMS leadership? The cars? I guess I just don't see it..

I'm betting we'll all be the losers with the merger.

Can't wait to see what else pops up to fill the void, tho!

Maroon92 wrote:

Jamesc2123 wrote: Any use or continuation of one name or another would just leave people to complain that one side "won" or "lost", something open wheel "fans" can't even get over today.

Don't worry, it'll still exist. Grand Am definitely won in this case...

I was going to say the same. GrandAm has everything to gain and alms everything to lose in this buy-out. Until we see how they manage combining the P2 and DP cars we will not truly know how this series will shape up. From what we know so far, I am less than hopeful.

I find GA series too simple and unimaginative. It insults my intelligence and bores me. In the new name, it's the "United" part that is killing it for me, too short sited, too literal, and cheesy. But the general population likes to be spoon fed cheese, they eat it up. So maybe it is appropriate. The GrandAm crowd probably loves it.

The new management continues to insult our intelligence & panders to the lowest common denominator ensuring this series will never progress beyond mediocrity.

This would have been an acceptable structure in my opinion:

NASCS - North American Sports Car Series

P2, (DP if u must) GT1, GT2, X(experimental) (No challenge, No DP, No tube frame GT) open tire, areo allotments, variety of power plants, variety of chassis encourage innovation, not a spec series

After Sebring, sports car racing in America is dead.

that helmet logo and boring lettering looks like some kind of PC clip-art...

This logo makes me say "wow, that looks like a boring series"

Argo1 wrote: After Sebring, sports car racing in America is dead.

I think that's a bit melodramatic...

A lot of people on here have no clue who J C France is.

The way I look at it, I'd MUCH rather have the boys in Daytona running things than the FIA. The FIA is so out of touch...

I was originally a big ALMS fan, and shunned Grand Am because of the NASCAR tie. But then the big boys (teams and sponsors) started leaving ALMS, and Grand Am redesigned their ugly cars and they suddenly were beautiful to my eyes. So I gave them a shot. IMO, Grand Am runs a better show and racing, so if they "won", I guess I'm pleased. That surprises me.

Kevin; while I agree with you somewhat, the fact is that it's a business and they are going to do whatever appeals to the masses so they can profit and thrive.

I love the innovation and technology in the ALMS but the small prototype fields made the races boring to watch unless they only focused on the GT field. I found myself more entertained in the Grand Am races because their was actually racing. There isn't much ooh and ahh of the more technologically advanced LMP cars when they areracing by themselves.

I have a feeling this will go about just like the split did years ago. A mix-match field of different cars from both series until they come to a resolve for a new set of rules and regs for teams to build their cars into.

And the ALMS still has a whole season left after Sebring.

I am so upset, 2 years in a row i've missed it :(. Saving up for VIR, Petit, and I'll try to make it to a Grand-Am race. Mid-Ohio looks like the closest place to VirGINA

Kevin; while I agree with you somewhat, the fact is that it's a business and they are going to do whatever appeals to the masses so they can profit and thrive.

I love the innovation and technology in the ALMS but the small prototype fields made the races boring to watch unless they only focused on the GT field. I found myself more entertained in the Grand Am races because their was actually racing. There isn't much ooh and ahh of the more technologically advanced LMP cars when they areracing by themselves.

I have a feeling this will go about just like the split did years ago. A mix-match field of different cars from both series until they come to a resolve for a new set of rules and regs for teams to build their cars into.

And the ALMS still has a whole season left after Sebring.

I am so upset, 2 years in a row i've missed it :(. Saving up for VIR, Petit, and I'll try to make it to a Grand-Am race. Mid-Ohio looks like the closest place to VirGINA