Re: Grand Prix Of Baltimore
Posted by:
40 Year Race Fan
()
Date: August 26, 2013 03:30PM
I've been to every major race track on the planet in the last 40 years for nearly every kind of discipline out there except drag racing or motorcycles. Indy for both the 400 and 500...Daytona...LeMans...Monaco...Spa...The Nurburgring...Watkins Glen...Monza...you name it, I've been there.
Street road courses (as opposed to purpose built circuits) suck. They suck for fans and they suck for the drivers. Even Monaco now has been overpowered by modern racing technology for the better part of 20 years. Street road courses are not smooth enough to provide a reliable racing surface. Oh sure, the Baltimore DPW will be out there patching shit up this week preparing for the race, but the surface is not smooth enough for race cars and you'll see this cause the cars to hop around a lot particularly under hard breaking approaching a corner. Some say this unpredictability makes street road courses exciting but, it's just dumb and unsafe.
For the spectators...you will NOT be able to see the entire circuit unless you are watching the race from an airborne vehicle like a chopper, blimp, hot air balloon, etc. Yes, the promoters put up video screens but you won't catch all the action. Try to purchase a seat that's in one of the aforementioned braking zones coming off a long straight approaching a sharp corner. This is where most of the passing and action will take place. Sitting on the start/finish line is nice if you're looking to plow some cougar but, the cars are coming by you under full throttle and that shit gets old after 2 laps because nothing is really happening. I recommend renting a scanner and noise cancelling headphones so you can follow the action. The scanner lets you listen to each car/team's communications and there's also a channel with the radio play-by-play. If you do not rent a scanner and headphones be sure to take and wear at least ear plugs. Even at a race without buildings around it reflecting the noise, I wear ear plugs so I can't imagine the levels in downtown Baltimore.
If you have never been to a race and you can get over the ridiculous traffic and the crowds of smelly fans then you may enjoy yourself but, I wouldn't let your experience at the Baltimore GP color your overall opinion of attending a live auto-race.