Tony G Goes Where NASCAR Was Vanquished
We are all very familiar with NASCAR’s attempt to turn a portion of Staten Island into another cash cow and provide area fans a venue with shorter travel times than a trek north to Watkins Glen or the Pocono Mtns.
That effort was shot down by disingenuous politicians, anti-south bias, anti-racing bias (OMG they will be “tailgating” one worried) and concerns of what would follow any successful construction of the track. (things like a Redneck Mecca top that list)
Into that “void” steps Indy Racing League CEO Tony George. He has a plan to take a bite of New York’s Apple.
Tony G has commenced “informal discussions” with unnamed NYC officials on plans to hold an Indycar event on of all places, an island. (haven’t we heard this before?)
The island he purposes is the 172 acre Governors Island just south of lower Manhattan in the East River. The island is only accessible via a ferry service (heard that before also) and is described by the National Park Service as “a silent sentinel in New York Harbor.”
Maybe Tony G has future plans for IRL cars to be equipped with mufflers for this “event.”
“Everybody’s trying to crack the New York market, so that’s kind of an ambition of ours, a project that we work on in our spare time,” George said.
(NOTE to Tony G, “everybody” [a.k.a. the 900lb gorilla NASCAR] was unceremoniously evicted from Staten Island.)
But as stated, Tony G has a “plan” and readily admits the “plan” may take two years, and if it ever came to fruition “it would have to be done ‘creatively.’”
Well, that has to be the understatement of the week. One would have to be mighty “creative” to hold an IRL event that is co-located with a National Park. On an island. With the only transportation via ferry.
The Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation, who operates the island for the City, has previously turned down offers for construction projects ranging from a “Nickelodeon-themed amusement park to a giant CUNY campus.”
That doesn’t sound very promising, if they turned down Nickelodeon what are the odds a “Danica theme park” an IndyCar race can be approved? And anecdotal evidence seems to suggest Tony G has an uphill battle on his hands.
Never let it be said the Half-Vast Staff
Maybe Trump & his show the apprentice could build, manage & promote the island track for TG.
…..ahhhhhh…sometimes I crack myself up.
Me to!
Anyway, consdering Trump is now appearing on the WWE’s Wrestlemania (with the potential to have his head shaved) I’ll believe anything.
IRL is more likely to get a vroom than FranceCar up in the Big Apple…
I reside in NY State although a native of Mich I have lived here since 1978. The idea of a track of any sort in the surrounding NYC metro area is absurd. I live 3 hours north and the land between here and the city is vast, or there is neighboring New Jersey with plenty of open acreage and then there is Conn. There are many options for this within a short distance of the Big A. Lets not forget New Hampshire.. which is only 3 to 4 hours from NYC and lucky for me only 2 1/2 hours to the east from my driveway. Another track close to the Metro areas of NY would do very well.. but I doubt an IRL is the way to go Tony G…
What is up with your blog links?
They look oh so “beautiful” don’t they?
The latest upgrade to WP changed some of the tags and how they operate. One was calling up the blogroll, specifically displaying it, yet doing so separately so the headings can be styled like this theme is designed.
At this point the arguments for that tag offered to do what I want don’t work and I have not gotten much response from the WP forum to solve the problem.
well at least my flag is correct, but I had no idea you were a francophile Marc?