Monza 10k - An Appreciation

Monza - An Appreciation I spoke too soon! Yes, of course, the *proper* Monza (cum oval) was tops on everybody's list of must-have tracks. During GPL's beta phase, I begged Papy to include this historically indispensible track. I was rebuffed on 2 counts: it wasn't period-correct ("But what abt. Rouen?" I sputtered) and in any case, it wasn't technically feasible. Not quite...altho there are still some quirks. Since Bubba Jones' Milano was released 3 years ago, we've had a kinda-sorta full Monza, but anyway Bubba never laid claim to pin-point historical accuracy (it was more of a 1920s theme). John Basara's magnificent "Monza 10k"--the approx. length of the combined circuit--is the real deal. Grab it at http://www.dixierunners.speedgeezers.com/monza10k/. It looks as good as any Papy track--actually better than any of the originals--and it drives just like the cars from the movie "Grand Prix" (plenty of bumps on the banking...and glamorous pulchritude in the pits). The cars from the 1965 GPL mod should be even better. When I talked to John Frankenheimer about doing a book about "Grand Prix," he was enthused about the idea of a Special Edition of GPL that would have backdated the cars (Yamura, Manetta, etc.), and included the tracks in the movie (i.e., Clermont-Ferrand and the full version of Monza) and drivers (Aron, Sarti, Stoddard, et al.). He also promised to go to bat with the studio to get "Grand Prix" released on DVD. Sadly, he died before I could depose his treasure trove of anecdotes, and the book died with him. John Basara's Monza 10k lives, however, and in a fitting tribute to "Grand Prix," its poster is the program cover. Well done, John!

Steve Smith wrote:

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> Monza - An Appreciation > > I spoke too soon! Yes, of course, the *proper* Monza (cum oval) was tops on > everybody's list of must-have tracks. During GPL's beta phase, I begged > Papy to include this historically indispensible track. I was rebuffed on 2 > counts: it wasn't period-correct ("But what abt. Rouen?" I sputtered) and in > any case, it wasn't technically feasible. Not quite...altho there are still > some quirks. > > Since Bubba Jones' Milano was released 3 years ago, we've had a kinda-sorta > full Monza, but anyway Bubba never laid claim to pin-point historical > accuracy (it was more of a 1920s theme). John Basara's magnificent "Monza > 10k"--the approx. length of the combined circuit--is the real deal. Grab it > at http://www.dixierunners.speedgeezers.com/monza10k/. > > It looks as good as any Papy track--actually better than any of the > originals--and it drives just like the cars from the movie "Grand Prix" > (plenty of bumps on the banking...and glamorous pulchritude in the pits). > The cars from the 1965 GPL mod should be even better. > > When I talked to John Frankenheimer about doing a book about "Grand Prix," > he was enthused about the idea of a Special Edition of GPL that would have > backdated the cars (Yamura, Manetta, etc.), and included the tracks in the > movie (i.e., Clermont-Ferrand and the full version of Monza) and drivers > (Aron, Sarti, Stoddard, et al.). He also promised to go to bat with the > studio to get "Grand Prix" released on DVD. Sadly, he died before I could > depose his treasure trove of anecdotes, and the book died with him. > > John Basara's Monza 10k lives, however, and in a fitting tribute to "Grand > Prix," its poster is the program cover. > > Well done, John! > >

GPL is STILL king!

I thought you just told us now that Tripoli was out, all the track builders could pack up and go home?? :) Seriously, I have been waiting and waiting for this masterpiece. GPL for me is all about the old, wonderful, never to happen again type of tracks. Bravo to all involved! Marc "Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:rkU5d.85694$[email hidden]...

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> Monza - An Appreciation > > I spoke too soon! Yes, of course, the *proper* Monza (cum oval) was tops > on > everybody's list of must-have tracks. During GPL's beta phase, I begged > Papy to include this historically indispensible track. I was rebuffed on > 2 > counts: it wasn't period-correct ("But what abt. Rouen?" I sputtered) and > in > any case, it wasn't technically feasible. Not quite...altho there are > still > some quirks. > > Since Bubba Jones' Milano was released 3 years ago, we've had a > kinda-sorta > full Monza, but anyway Bubba never laid claim to pin-point historical > accuracy (it was more of a 1920s theme). John Basara's magnificent "Monza > 10k"--the approx. length of the combined circuit--is the real deal. Grab > it > at http://www.dixierunners.speedgeezers.com/monza10k/. > > It looks as good as any Papy track--actually better than any of the > originals--and it drives just like the cars from the movie "Grand Prix" > (plenty of bumps on the banking...and glamorous pulchritude in the pits). > The cars from the 1965 GPL mod should be even better. > > When I talked to John Frankenheimer about doing a book about "Grand Prix," > he was enthused about the idea of a Special Edition of GPL that would have > backdated the cars (Yamura, Manetta, etc.), and included the tracks in the > movie (i.e., Clermont-Ferrand and the full version of Monza) and drivers > (Aron, Sarti, Stoddard, et al.). He also promised to go to bat with the > studio to get "Grand Prix" released on DVD. Sadly, he died before I could > depose his treasure trove of anecdotes, and the book died with him. > > John Basara's Monza 10k lives, however, and in a fitting tribute to "Grand > Prix," its poster is the program cover. > > Well done, John! > >

That's why I began my appreciation with: "I spoke too soon!" ;o) "Marc Collins" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:6T36d.4862$[email hidden]... > I thought you just told us now that Tripoli was out, all the trackbuilders > could pack up and go home?? :) > > Seriously, I have been waiting and waiting for this masterpiece. GPL forme

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> is all about the old, wonderful, never to happen again type of tracks. > > Bravo to all involved! > > Marc > > "Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:rkU5d.85694$[email hidden]... > > Monza - An Appreciation > > > > I spoke too soon! Yes, of course, the *proper* Monza (cum oval) was

tops > > on > > everybody's list of must-have tracks. During GPL's beta phase, I begged > > Papy to include this historically indispensible track. I was rebuffedon > > 2 > > counts: it wasn't period-correct ("But what abt. Rouen?" I sputtered)and

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> > in > > any case, it wasn't technically feasible. Not quite...altho there are > > still > > some quirks. > > > > Since Bubba Jones' Milano was released 3 years ago, we've had a > > kinda-sorta > > full Monza, but anyway Bubba never laid claim to pin-point historical > > accuracy (it was more of a 1920s theme). John Basara's magnificent

"Monza > > 10k"--the approx. length of the combined circuit--is the real deal.Grab > > it > > at http://www.dixierunners.speedgeezers.com/monza10k/. > > > > It looks as good as any Papy track--actually better than any of the > > originals--and it drives just like the cars from the movie "Grand Prix" > > (plenty of bumps on the banking...and glamorous pulchritude in thepits). > > The cars from the 1965 GPL mod should be even better. > > > > When I talked to John Frankenheimer about doing a book about "GrandPrix," > > he was enthused about the idea of a Special Edition of GPL that wouldhave > > backdated the cars (Yamura, Manetta, etc.), and included the tracks inthe > > movie (i.e., Clermont-Ferrand and the full version of Monza) and drivers > > (Aron, Sarti, Stoddard, et al.). He also promised to go to bat with the > > studio to get "Grand Prix" released on DVD. Sadly, he died before Icould > > depose his treasure trove of anecdotes, and the book died with him. > > > > John Basara's Monza 10k lives, however, and in a fitting tribute to"Grand

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> > Prix," its poster is the program cover. > > > > Well done, John! > > > > > >

Now that I have tried it I can say that I love it except for the "pulchritude" in the pits...a bit overdone in a few ways. Too bad about the CATS ferry, eh (I'm at the other side of it). Marc "Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:2wb6d.24615$[email hidden]...

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> That's why I began my appreciation with: > > "I spoke too soon!" > > ;o) > > "Marc Collins" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:6T36d.4862$[email hidden]... >> I thought you just told us now that Tripoli was out, all the track > builders >> could pack up and go home?? :) >> >> Seriously, I have been waiting and waiting for this masterpiece. GPL for > me >> is all about the old, wonderful, never to happen again type of tracks. >> >> Bravo to all involved! >> >> Marc >> >> "Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >> news:rkU5d.85694$[email hidden]... >> > Monza - An Appreciation >> > >> > I spoke too soon! Yes, of course, the *proper* Monza (cum oval) was > tops >> > on >> > everybody's list of must-have tracks. During GPL's beta phase, I >> > begged >> > Papy to include this historically indispensible track. I was rebuffed > on >> > 2 >> > counts: it wasn't period-correct ("But what abt. Rouen?" I sputtered) > and >> > in >> > any case, it wasn't technically feasible. Not quite...altho there are >> > still >> > some quirks. >> > >> > Since Bubba Jones' Milano was released 3 years ago, we've had a >> > kinda-sorta >> > full Monza, but anyway Bubba never laid claim to pin-point historical >> > accuracy (it was more of a 1920s theme). John Basara's magnificent > "Monza >> > 10k"--the approx. length of the combined circuit--is the real deal. > Grab >> > it >> > at http://www.dixierunners.speedgeezers.com/monza10k/. >> > >> > It looks as good as any Papy track--actually better than any of the >> > originals--and it drives just like the cars from the movie "Grand Prix" >> > (plenty of bumps on the banking...and glamorous pulchritude in the > pits). >> > The cars from the 1965 GPL mod should be even better. >> > >> > When I talked to John Frankenheimer about doing a book about "Grand > Prix," >> > he was enthused about the idea of a Special Edition of GPL that would > have >> > backdated the cars (Yamura, Manetta, etc.), and included the tracks in > the >> > movie (i.e., Clermont-Ferrand and the full version of Monza) and >> > drivers >> > (Aron, Sarti, Stoddard, et al.). He also promised to go to bat with >> > the >> > studio to get "Grand Prix" released on DVD. Sadly, he died before I > could >> > depose his treasure trove of anecdotes, and the book died with him. >> > >> > John Basara's Monza 10k lives, however, and in a fitting tribute to > "Grand >> > Prix," its poster is the program cover. >> > >> > Well done, John! >> > >> > >> >> > >

The new Monza with the oval is really great! It looks great, it feels great, but what is most important, it is very interesting track to race! In my first try of the track, I just intended to drive a lap or two. I was in the single race mode, though. But it was so fun that I drove all the qualification time. Well, then I thought, I just start the race, and then save the qualification. But driving and racing there was so fun that I raced all the (short) race. The result was something like 12th or so. But fun it was! :-) Many thanks to John Basara and all others involved! Arto --