Approximately one month ago, Baltimore City, held the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix. It was a double-header weekend featuring the American Le Mans series on Saturday, and IndyCar on Sunday. Despite the fact I was quite literally in the process of moving from New York to Baltimore, there was no way I was missing the ALMS on the streets of my hometown.
Open wheelers, let alone spec open wheelers, have never really done it for me, so I opted to finish moving on Sunday, but with the full blessing of the best wife in the world to go and enjoy myself, I was able to make it down on Friday and Saturday for the main event, the ALMS. And what a weekend it was.
I'd never been to a street circuit before, so I was quite curious how it would compare to Lime Rock, Sebring, Watkins, and the other 'proper' full time race tracks I'm more familiar with. In a word, it's different. The cars are remarkably close at many points on the track...
...but viewing is basically a lot more limited. Whether for safety, 'VIP' areas and whatever other reason, you're behind lots of fencing and there's not exactly easy access to a lot of corners. It makes for a lot of shots like this.
The best wife ever, pictured with GT class winners Bryan Sellers and Wolf Henzler.
Still, the electricity and excitement that was shooting through the crowd and echoing off the buildings, not unlike the boom from the Pratt and Miller Corvettes, was unlike anything else I've seen or felt. The crowd was into it.
Full on, no holds barred, acting like kids in a candy store stuff. Strangers were talking to strangers, some who had never seen or felt anything like it, some hardcore fans, but all completely stoked that these cars were tearing down Pratt Street. It was amazing.
The race was an exceptional one, for teams, drivers and spectators alike, and it was certainly one for the record books. I don't think I've ever seen this sort of crowd for a post-race tech inspection.
With a little luck, the Baltimore Grand Prix could end up as a modern day classic. Let's hope it does.
View the full gallery here.
_WRS
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