Here goes...
----- Original Message -----
>
> How do race teams turn a profit on events like this?
Since when does racing = profit? How many major manufacturers have pulled
out of various types of racine because it is too expensive? It's an
opportunity to
have an incredible rolling lab, and build a "brand image".
> Is the prize and
> appearance money from Rolex that great?
Nope.
> Are there really sponsors
> out there
> who think their exposure to Speed Channel viewers and the walk-in
> race crowd
> will justify the hideous expense of developing and running a
> prototype car?
No. But there are rich people with companies that like to expense advertising.
> Or are there dozens of modern-day Cunninghams and Casners willing to
> bankroll the teams just for sport?
Well, not quite, but this is more like it. There are very few professional
sports car
racers in North America. Do you remember a fellow that drove at Daytona/Sebring
a few years back named Charles Morgan? He's CEO of a rather successful company
in my home state. He never made money off of it, it's a sport, just like us
with old
MGs or whatever, but with far more powerful/rich men (in general) playing.
I don't know about dozens, but look at Don Panoz.
>
> And am I the last man alive who thinks that real "sports cars"
> should be
> open-cockpit cars --
If I'm going to risk shunting out at 180 I think I'd rather be in a GT. :)
>... with two seats and enough ground clearance
> that they
> could (at least theoretically) be driven on public roads?
>
I believe most of the prototypes have two seats. For many years even the
prototypes (at
Sebring at least) had to have room for a suitcase! But let's be honest, even
Lola T70s, GT40s
and 917s weren't streetable.
The problem today is just too much tech...and not enough who are interested in
sports cars.
I think some of the best modern road-course racing is Speed's own series based
on
street cars (I don't get Speed anymore so I don't know if they are still
running that!)
Take care,
-Keith Wheeler
"Team Sanctuary"
ClubRally MGB-GT #644
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