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IRL coming to my hometown, AT LAST!!!

Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:57 pm
by RedRacer
Open wheeled racing is finally coming to Birmingham! Already inquired about my tickets for next year's event. The track is about a 12 minute drive from my front door. Jealous much, Spiffy? :wink:

And Spiff, you would die I think, at the motorcycle museum on site at the track. It's the track owner's PERSONAL collection. Over 1200 cars and vintage and current motorcycles. Largest collection like it in the whole world. And the largest collection of Lotus cars in the world, according to Lotus. It's huge, and beautiful. WAY COOL PLACE! http://www.barbermuseum.org/

The motorcycle museum : How freakin cool, eh?
(don't forget to click on the image, it gets bigger)
BVMM Website-Gallery3 RO.jpg

The OFFICIAL statement:

Birmingham, Ala. (July 27,2009) – Barber Motorsports Park and the IndyCar Series have announced a three-year partnership today that will bring the much coveted series to Birmingham, AL beginning in April 2010.

The “Indy Grand Prix of Alabama,” will be contested the weekend of April 9-11, 2010 and will feature the most dominate names in the IndyCar Series including 3-time Indy 500 Winner Helio Castroneves, 2008 Series Champion and Indy 500 Winner Scott Dixon, 2007 Series Champion and Indy 500 Winner Dario Franchitti and the first female-winning driver Danica Patrick.

“The Barber Motorsports Park is the finest road track in North America and deserves an event of this caliber and prestige. We were fortunate to have the assistance of both Governor Riley and Mayor Langford, both of whom understand the benefits the IndyCar Series bring to our city and state. This will be the only IndyCar Series race in the deep-south meaning it is a great tourist draw for the region. Plus, having the automotive world focus on our state enables us to highlight our growing automotive industry,” explained Gene Hallman, President of Zoom Motorsports, the Track’s exclusive promoter.

Representatives from Zoom Motorsports, Barber Motorsports Park and the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights, began discussing a partnership in 2007. Intense lobbying efforts by the State of Alabama, City of Birmingham, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau and Zoom Motorsports resulted in Birmingham’s addition to the 2010 season schedule.

“We are thrilled to bring the speed and excitement of the IndyCar Series to Barber Motorsports Park, the greater Birmingham area and the state of Alabama,” said Terry Angstadt, president, commercial division for the Indy Racing League. “Zoom Motorsports and Barber Motorsports Park have already been outstanding hosts of two previous IndyCar Series tests. The nearly two year pursuit to bring IndyCar Series racing to Birmingham only reinforces the professionalism and planning put into this by our newest scheduling partner.”

The Barber Motorsports Park opened in 2003; it is the largest philanthropic project in the history of the state of Alabama with more than $70 million private funds contributed. The track features 17 turns and 80 feet of elevation changes over the 2.38 mile circuit. The IRL has hosted two practice sessions at the Barber Motorsports Park, the most recent in March 2009 – an estimated 20,000 spectators attended the test session.

Tickets to the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama will be available in September 2009; daily capacity at the track will be limited to 30,000 individuals to enable all spectators the opportunity to experience the race up close. Individuals interested in purchasing tickets can pre-register for them by visiting http://www.barbermotorsports.com; pre-registration will be available for both grand-stand and general admission seating.

Sponsorship packages are now available for companies large and small. Each package will be customized to meet the specific company’s need and may include on-site exposure, hospitality tickets, VIP parking and more. For additional information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Anna Lacy Hale at 205-262-2818 or Clark Virden at 205-262-2823.


About the IndyCar Series:
The IndyCar Series is the premier open-wheel series in the United States, competing on a challenging combination of superspeedways, short ovals, scenic road courses and temporary street circuits. In 2009 the IndyCar Series will conduct 14 race in the U.S., two in Canada and one in Japan, all available worldwide through comprehensive, long-term agreements with ABC and VERSUS, with all races broadcast in High-Definition. A leader in motorsports technology,
the IndyCar Series is the first racing series to power its Honda engines on 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol, a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel. The IndyCar Series continues to the be the fastest, most competitive and innovative racing series, attracting a diverse lineup of drivers including Scott Dixon, Danica Patrick, Graham Rahal, Marco Andretti, Dan Wheldon, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan and Ryan Briscoe. For more information on the IndyCar Series, please visit http://www.indycar.com.

About Barber Motorsports Park and Zoom Motorsports:
Barber Motorsports Park opened in the spring of 2003. Since its inception, Zoom Motorsports, LLC has been the exclusive event promoter for the events at the Park. The 2.38 mile racing circuit is 45 feet wide, with 17 turns and elevation changes of more than 80 feet. The Barber Motorsports Park has been considered one of North America’s finest road courses for car and motorcycle racing, and has served as the venue for several international product launches. The Barber Motorsports Park also features the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. This 144,000 square-foot facility houses more than 1,000 vintage and modern motorcycles from 17 different nations and more than 125 manufacturers. For more information, please visit http://www.barbermotorsports.com

Re: IRL coming to my hometown, AT LAST!!!

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:56 am
by spiffyguido
That is really sweet! Great photo too.

I'm certainly jealous that you have a sweet race course so close to home. Closest IRL race is 300kms from my place.

Take some pictures when you go. Races at that level are so awesome. When I want to the F1 Grand Prix in Montreal in 2004 I had the time of my life.