Amid all the talk about reviving the United States Grand Prix in Texas – or anyplace else – many people like to reminisce about the 20 years Formula 1 enjoyed at Watkins Glen. It’s a classic road course of course, with plenty of fast corners, located in a beautiful setting in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, and many fans have fond memories of the blazing fall colours providing a marvellous backdrop to the F1 races there. Quite a few Motor Sport readers have asked ‘why not return to The Glen?’
The answer is that the International Speedway Corporation – NASCAR’s separate, publicly traded, track-owning company – now owns the circuit. ISC owns a dozen circuits – Daytona, Talladega, Darlington, the Michigan and California Speedways, Chicago, Homestead-Miami, Kansas, Martinsville, Phoenix, Richmond and Watkins Glen – which stage 19 of the 36 Sprint Cup races. NASCAR has raced regularly at The Glen since 1986 and the Sprint Cup event is the track’s major event, drawing close to 100,000 fans.
NASCAR races on the 2.4-mile short circuit rather than the full 3.4-mile Grand Prix layout, but since ISC bought The Glen they’ve spent money cleaning up the place, building a new media centre and making improvements to the run-off areas in a few places. But most of The Glen remains much as it was in 1980 when F1 last raced there, including rows of pale blue guardrail surrounding almost the entire track.
To make Watkins Glen safe and acceptable for modern F1 many miles of guardrail would have to be replaced with walls, additional run-off areas would be required, plus a new pit and garage complex and expanded media centre. So it would cost millions to bring The Glen up to Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA’s standards – and to what end?
Watkins Glen makes plenty of money from its Sprint Cup race but all those profits would have to be ploughed back into the track to make an F1 race happen. Why would NASCAR, or ISC, gamble the success of their own brand of racing to provide F1 with a renewed foothold at the place once known as ‘The home of American road racing’? Particularly when the chances of making a profit on an F1 race are small, if not zero, and neither NASCAR nor ISC want anything but the Sprint Cup race to be The Glen’s major event each year. So there’s little, if any, reason for F1 to return to upstate New York. And yet…
ISC is facing tough times with ticket sales flagging at all its tracks. Profits are down substantially and earlier this month it cut its staff by 10 per cent. Belt-tightening rather than expansion is the order of the day, and the prospects are not good for returning to the glory days of a few years ago.
In times like these radical thinking is often required. Imagine if ISC was to turn its hand to properly promoting and marketing the return of F1 to Watkins Glen? It would be a big job, requiring huge investment, but ISC’s people might surprise themselves with the response from both old and new race fans across the north-eastern US. There are a lot of them out there, thirsting for F1 at a proper and attractive venue.
But NASCAR and ISC are conservative companies and this scenario is unlikely. Plus it’s difficult to imagine ISC doing business with Ecclestone. So, sorry to say, it’s Austin or bust for F1 in America.
It’ll be Austin, & shortly thereafter, BUST, a la, in no particular order, Detroit, Phoenix, Vegas, Long Beach, Indy, etc. F1 would have to make an investment THEMSELVES (aint gonna happen) for F1 to stick in the U.S. But you just explained what even NASCAR has had to do to get and maintain a foothold in the country of it’s own birth! Invest in and own racetracks. The American consumer entertainment $ has a helluva lot of competition. The business model for F1 (if there is any) is broke. I hear Qatar is in the plans, ahem…! Sooner or later F1 is gonna run out of places that are willing to be suckered just so they can get put on the map. Where’s the French GP, the origin of Grand Prix racing? Spa has been shaky for years for political/financial reasons. F1, fan-base wise, is in danger of becoming “a mile wide and an inch deep”. As I’ve stated before, I want F1 in the U.S. But I don’t want it if it’s gonna flame-out in a few short years. The way F1 is trying to conduct business in America is becoming “mickeymouse”. People elsewhere may put up with Bernie’s antics, it but over here it’s getting a chuckle (when it’s even noticed). As I’ve stated before, I want F1 in the U.S. but I want it to “stick”.
So how about formula 1 at…Laguna Seca?
Nothing in it for The Goblin Prince (BE)?
Circuit not dull enough?
I believe that everyone connected with F1 will be blown away by Austin the reception they will receive in Austin. Just keep the USGP in the spring/early summer to avoid the heat and football.
Yes James, there will be quite and elevation change. Tavo is indicating 130 ft. (39.6 meters) to 140 ft. (42.7 meters) should be expected. (This compares well to Lugna Seca where the Corkscrew is 138 ft. (42.1 meters).
Bernie’s sanitized and high end formula doesn’t deserve a circuit like Watkins, nor Road America nor any of the very few world class road courses remaining. Where would he put the chicanes?
I don’t recall the sheiks having any trouble finding amusement during the Williams/Saudi years, but other high rollers might not appreciate the “Glen Eden.”
ISC has ruined the place, as they have many others, installing miles of “fan” fences and paths to follow.
Texas will be fine I beleive, but ultimately if F1 wants a second race in the states, it needs to be in the state of California. No where are there more educated F1 fans. Laguna Seca blew it when they upgraded for Moto GP 4 years ago and didn’t make the step to full size garages and FIA F1 requirements. Now, it will never happen.
‘Particularly when the chances of making a profit on an F1 race are small, if not zero’ – exactly.
BE plays the same game that the NFL or any of the other major pro sports do. So long as there are fewer teams than there are towns who want a team then he can extract big money for a race. Here in Baltimore we lured our football team from Cleveland by building a stadium and granting parking revenues worth something like $400mm. F1 doesn’t look so bad by comparison. I don’t like what BE or the NFL do to line their pockets but as long as there is someone willing to pay then this will continue. The sponsors of F1 are fools to accept this since these race venues obviously don’t serve their own interests, but accept it they do. Malaysian GP, anyone?
As much as I written here about my love for them good ol’ days at the Glen, I know and have known for decades that they are long gone.
Laguna Seca is a great track, like Road America or even Mid-Ohio, but it’s way too much of a trip for a lot of people to go. Call it the California GP. The latter two tracks are much more attainable for a larger base of fans, i.e. 40 or so of the other 49 states (CA excluded).
and like MR states, I want an event that I can count on going to for years on end, like the Indy 500.
My question though is what will happen when BE passes on, which might not be in the too distant future being that he is practically an octogenarian now? That may be the bigger question that nobody is talking about. Is he gonna run the show until he’s 100? Who’s gonna collect the fees when he’s gone?
All this discussion about Laguna Seca! Have any of these people attended a professional race or driven any laps there lately??!!
The circuit is waaay to short and Mickey Mouse for F1 cars, and the management made their bed with the bikers and the endless sandtraps. Every race I have attended recently was completely spoiled by excessive full course yellows while they un-beached hapless cars!! Amenities such as garages aside the place is a nice bike and sportscar track day circuit. Too bad, but true.
But they have . . .
http://www.historicgrandprix.com/races/2008WatkinsGlen-1.htm
Gordon, how quickly 30 years have passed us by, and how i miss the glen, i never got the opportunity to go and sad that i haven’t been- my abiding memory is of course 1967 with the great loti 49′s wandering off after chris – what did i do wrong- amon had problems, returning to the glen would be a dream but perhaps a fantasy, after all F1 does not appear to have a nostalgic streak in its profits, sorry, bones- which, given the popularity of historic events may encourage a re-think – probably not-
but like nigel i am over the moon that F1 returns to you guys over the pond, good luck austin i hope it goes well for you
Chris
Why not The Glen? There is sure to be a sellout! Of course the problem is Nascar and Bernie who wpould shun the chance for teams/fans/drivers to enjoy one of the most beautiful areas in the country. And by the way, plenty of “high-end” wine and cuisine for the boys to enjoy!
I understand why the Glen is not realistic. However, my question is this. If things change or Mr. Ecclestone and F1′s onerous requirements were marginalized would ISC reconsider and let the Grand Prix come back?
I love road racing, F1 and the Glen – but I hope F1 never returns there. The additional fences put up for the IRL ruined spectating at some of the best spots at the Glen and I know F1 would take it a whole lot further. So while I would love to see F1 at the Glen again on one hand, I don’t think it’s worth ruining the great track. Bernie can keep F1!