Name that racing venue - SOLVED! '02 Washington DC ALMS

Stephen M · December 23, 2006, 12:03:54 AM

Time to play name that racing venue.

This one could be tricky. You kinda had to be there. If someone else was there, maybe it won't be so tricky.

SeaLion · December 23, 2006, 01:14:15 AM

They race with Porsches in the first picture, but the second picture shows that this is in USA somewhere. One of the commersials posters is for United States Mint, not something you would see outside USA. In the second picture there is a prominent hill visible behind the track. Where it is and what happens? I have no idea.

MG · December 23, 2006, 06:57:42 AM

Someplace in Maryland? A road course associated with Dover perhaps?

Or maybe it is fully contained within your garage?

Stephen M · December 23, 2006, 09:13:21 AM

The photos were taken in the US, but not in Maryland or Delaware.

Otto Puzzell · December 23, 2006, 12:37:13 PM

Wisconsin?

Tifosi · December 23, 2006, 02:02:15 PM

Brainerd, Minnesota ?

Dan

Stephen M · December 23, 2006, 02:54:14 PM

Not Minnesota or Wisconsin.

This is a temporary circuit (as the chain link + Jersey wall construction might have led you to believe) and was used for a major racing series, though not for long.

Tifosi · December 23, 2006, 09:35:56 PM

Topeka?

Dan

Stephen M · December 23, 2006, 11:00:53 PM

Not in Kansas

Otto Puzzell · December 24, 2006, 02:04:01 AM

Belle Isle in Detroit?

MG · December 24, 2006, 08:09:50 AM

though not for long.

Formula One track in Harrah's parking lot in Vegas?

THAT didn't last very long.......

Stephen M · December 24, 2006, 09:51:09 AM

Not in Michigan or Nevada, and not an F1 track.

Eliminating all the states one by one might take a while....

MG · December 24, 2006, 01:46:42 PM

Not at THIS rate.........

Dan Speed · December 25, 2006, 09:04:46 PM

The cars are from SWC GT, a few years ago. They generally run as a support race to ALMS, which I believe ran a street race or two in Washington DC, with sponsorship from Cadillac, so that's my guess.

Stephen M · December 25, 2006, 10:51:38 PM

Quote from: Dan Speed on December 25, 2006, 09:04:46 PM
The cars are from SWC GT, a few years ago. They generally run as a support race to ALMS, which I believe ran a street race or two in Washington DC, with sponsorship from Cadillac, so that's my guess.

Well Done!

This is indeed the "National Grand Prix" ALMS race held in Washington DC in July '02. Sadly it was one-and-done for this track. I helped out in the SCCA booth and got a free weekend pass (including pit access) for my trouble. Despite some expected teething pains with the new setpup, the race weekend as a whole came off really well. More photos and details to come.

MG · December 26, 2006, 07:56:37 AM

Ummmm......kinda sir, starting us out with a track that was in existence for ONE race weekend is a bit naughty of you, dontcha think? Jeeze, sorta like asking folks to name an ad campaign from the 40's that ran once in The Saturday Evening Post.

(The answer to that of course is the legendary electric fork!

)

Odd how you had exactly THREE pix of this erstwhile track........Found then in the garage, did you?

Do another!
Do another!
Do another!

Stephen M · December 26, 2006, 09:33:38 AM

Quote from: MG on December 26, 2006, 07:56:37 AM
Ummmm......kinda sir, starting us out with a track that was in existence for ONE race weekend is a bit naughty of you, dontcha think?

I did think about it for a bit...I figured it was unlikely that someone would immediately recognize the circuit. However, I felt there was enough clues in the pic for a clever sleuth to get to the bottom fairly quickly. To wit:

You can google all the sponsor names and guess that it's in the US;
You can guess the weather by the dress of the crowd, which gives you rough region/season ranges;
You can guess temporary / street circuit by the safety measures;
You can guess that it's a mid-major race series by the crowd size (IE, obviously not an F1/Nascar type venue);
You can establish that it's within 10 years by the look of the Porsches;
And with muskrat eyes, you can read the "Long Fence" sign and determine it's in the DC region

And also, you can put on your KU clue-deciphering cap and read this...

Quote from: A Fair and Honest Puzzler
Eliminating all the states one by one..

...to mean I was indeed planning to eliminate all the STATES one-by-one, leaving us with DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam as the only "in the US" but not "in a state" locations possible.

In other words, future puzzles will be no less trying.

MG · December 26, 2006, 10:25:40 AM

Eliminating all the states one by one..

Ye Gads! You are ALMOST as diabolical as KU his own self!

Plus too and also, I believe it may be time for my annual visit to the opthamologist. Perhaps it is ALSO time to upgrade from my present 15" monitor!

Does anyone know where they sell those lighted magnifying glasses for the elderly? $:-\$

Tifosi · December 26, 2006, 06:00:41 PM

I hope that setpup's teeth are okay...

Dan

Otto Puzzell · December 27, 2006, 03:04:00 AM

Quote from: A Fair and Honest Puzzler
Eliminating all the states one by one..

...to mean I was indeed planning to eliminate all the STATES one-by-one, leaving us with DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam as the only "in the US" but not "in a state" locations possible.

In other words, future puzzles will be no less trying.

Quote

Huzzah!

Stephen M · January 15, 2007, 08:20:34 AM

As promised, more thoughts and photos on the event can be found here:

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=848.0

Enjoy!

MG · January 15, 2007, 01:41:42 PM

I didn't care about the details before. Why on earth would I care about them now?

News:

Name that racing venue - SOLVED! '02 Washington DC ALMS