Why No Grand-Am (Daytona 24hrs) Models?

I imagine that the organizers of the ALMS are just about bursting at the seams to try and get the name of their series (not sponsors...:nono: ) out there to the racing fans. Given this, I wonder why Tamiya or anyone else has tried to do a model of any one of them? Are they (the racing series) dumb enough to keep the prices so high so as to keep Tamiya, etc., away from trying?

Personally, I'd be more interested if I could build a model and see the inner workings of the cars themselves (it happened to me w/F1, MotoGP, etc...).

Just like to hear anyone/everyone's thoughts...

Daniel

Are they (the racing series) dumb enough to keep the prices so high so as to keep Tamiya, etc., away from trying?


Probably not. It's the licensing from car manufacturers and sponsors that does that- combined with ALMS's relative obscurity, even in the States. LeMans kits these days are rare enough, and there's a vastly larger global marked for LeMans than ALMS

I am not sure what this has to do with Grand-Am and the 24 hours of Daytona as the ALMS is a completely separate entity, but there have been 2 ALMS models released, both by Revell. The Audi R10 TDI, and Corvette C6.R. Granted they are marketed as 24 Heures de Mans kits, there are ALMS decals available, plus the same exact cars run in the ALMS. Unfortunately Tamiya have all but stopped producing racing cars save for JGTC Toyota's and Honda's. A Porsche RS Spyder would probably be their best bet given Tamiya's history of producing Porsches. As for Grand-Am, the following just isn't there based on the fact that it's nearly a domestic series with very minor manufacturer support. It wouldn't be in Tamiya or even Revell's best interest to produce a Grand-Am kit. but I wouldn't hold my breath for a new racing car kit from Tamiya other than a JGTC...

I have one of these

http://www.resilientresins.com/cars/RR24-RILEY-DP-7-500.jpg

Its a resin Riley Mark XI Daytona Prototype body from Resilient Resins (http://www.resilientresins.com/ResinBodies.cfm?S=1&G=4) . Its 1/24 scale, and it looks decent. The biggest issue is its a slot car body, so therefore sized to fit a standard 1/24 scale slot car chassis, so unfortunately its not proportioned 100% accurately, but its close enough to make a decent model.

A good friend of mine works for Riley Technologies, so Im going to be building mine to represent teh #91 Riley Lowes car run at the 2006 24 hours of Daytona. Im hoping to get it signed by all 4 drivers once I get it finished. Dont have any idea when it'll be done, as Im not sure at the moment what Im going to be using for a chassis. Also not sure what Im going to try doing for an interior or engine compartment. Im not sure if my friend cant get me any real decent chassis pics, as Riley is pretty protective about pictures being taken of their stuff. I did have the pleasure of going to their new shop in Mooresville, NC last year, and it was pretty cool to see. They had a car w/ all of the body work removed, so got to see the entire rear drivetrain and suspension, and the front suspension areas. Unfortunately I wasnt allowed to take pictures of the car since the body work was removed.

Here are some pics of the car Im doing.

http://www.endurance-info.com/2007_Grand-Am/00_24H_Daytona_Preview_RileyPontiac91.JPG

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/grandam/2007/dt/grandam-2007-dt-ga-0007.jpg

Probably not. It's the licensing from car manufacturers and sponsors that does that- combined with ALMS's relative obscurity, even in the States. LeMans kits these days are rare enough, and there's a vastly larger global marked for LeMans than ALMS

The ALMS has a pretty decent following outside of the Unites States, probably just behind the LMS. All the races are broadcast on Motors TV plus the series has major international manufacturers and drivers, such as Audi, Porsche, Honda, Ferrari. I would say the ALMS is the 5th most popular series in the US, trailing only NASCAR, F1, Champ Car, and Indycar.

Hopefully Tamiya will kit the Acura/Honda LMP prototypes (the key being they are a major japanese manufacturer) should they be successful in the future, especially at the 2009 24 Heures du Mans when they move up to LMP1.

Fwiw, just thought I would point it out. The race being run today, is part of the Rolex Grand Am Series, which is different from the American Le Man Series.

Fwiw, just thought I would point it out. The race being run today, is part of the Rolex Grand Am Series, which is different from the American Le Man Series.

Oops, my bad on that. I was specifically referring to the Daytona Prototypes (RGAS). I really like that closed-in look vs the open cockpit. It harkens back to my childhood with the old Group C...:iceslolan

Daniel

Oops, my bad on that. I was specifically referring to the Daytona Prototypes (RGAS). I really like that closed-in look vs the open cockpit. It harkens back to my childhood with the old Group C...:iceslolan

Daniel

This is what a closed prototype should look like, IMO

http://www.volan.ro/wp-content/uploads/Peugeot_908_HDi.jpg
http://www.speedtv.com/_assets/library/img/medium/194859_lola02asm.jpg

No Daytona prototype cars probably because the series is a lot more obscure than ALMS, which is a series that packs the racetracks with fans, unlike this series. Daytona used to be packed before the split in sports car series. It's sad to see how little fan support is there in the series, and how few people are in the stands at Daytona. In March at the 12 hours of Sebring it's an entirely different scene. The place is packed to the gills with race fans. The ALMS is not obscure in this country! It's only problem is filling out the grid w/enough cars. The fans certainly support them.

Also, many people find the design of the DP car to be atrocious, particularly the turret-like cockpit design and width. ALMS/LeMans prototypes are by far better looking designs. There simply aren't enough fans of DP cars for a company to make them in mass quantity. Resin is about all you'll get.

Daytona Prototypes are one of the 2 divisions within the Rolex Grand Am series. The Riley Mark XI is a Daytona Prototype car.

I have to agree with Zubert82, I think the Daytona Prototypes are some of the ugliest protypes ever raced. They are pretty slow too, the first year they raced at Daytona they were out paced by a GTX(basically a Trans-Am car) class Mustang. They then outlawed the class the Mustang was in. What do you expect when NASCAR is running a sports car series. Even the Porsches don't look as good as the ALMS GT2 cars because of their stupid rules.I like the turret description given by ZoomZoomMX-5, I never thought of that.

HUH?!?!?!?! Where did you get that? Nascar has absolutely nothing to do w/ the Rolex Grand Am Series.

What do you expect when NASCAR is running a sports car series.

HUH?!?!?!?! Where did you get that? Nascar has absolutely nothing to do w/ the Rolex Grand Am Series.


You're right. Grand-Am is sanctioned by GARRA, not NASCAR. The only connection lies in the fact that GARRA was founded by Jim France, whose father Bill helped finance IMSA back in the 70's. Lets put this to rest and not start another ALMS vs Grand-AM thread. It get's old, especially if you're a member of some of the more popular sportscar forums.

Ok, what my original question was concerning was *NOT* ALMS vs Rolex, etc. I was just curious as to why no more prototype (I don't give a rat's a$$ who they run with) models have been made by plastic model companies, as they (across the world) are popular among fans...

Daniel

Arent the Corvette's that Dale Jr & Dale Sr drove in 2001 Rolex Grand Am cars? I know they dont run 'vettes now, but Im pretty sure those cars were Rolex cars.

And I think that there could be some porsche kits floating around to make some various Grand Am cars.

Arent the Corvette's that Dale Jr & Dale Sr drove in 2001 Rolex Grand Am cars? I know they dont run 'vettes now, but Im pretty sure those cars were Rolex cars.

And I think that there could be some porsche kits floating around to make some various Grand Am cars.

Those were Corvette C5.R's, which ran in the ALMS too. Back then many of the same cars competed in both series until GARRA introduced the 2 class DP and GT rules in 2003 while the ALMS continued with ACO rules.

Action Performance (now Motorsports Authentics) made a 1:18 diecast of a Daytona prototype, but thats as close as your gonna get. and they havent been made in a few years. and they only did cars driven by big name drivers. like this one which was driven by Dale Jr, Tony Stewart, and Andy Wallace in 2004 (which they almost won)

http://i15.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/d4/39/de7d_1.JPG

I think the reason is twofold. Tons of licensing issues and very limited market, that and they're fugly.

http://www.provenceminiatures.fr/Site%20pma/J5circuitgrandam.html

http://www.provenceminiatures.fr/Site%20pma/0_imagesmodeles/image101a150/107_1.jpg
http://www.provenceminiatures.fr/Site%20pma/0_imagesmodeles/image101a150/106_4.jpg

the ugliest cars known to man, but this is Nascar's road course series and we all know how the Nascar cars look

Oh wow, I like those. Wish they were in 1/24 and not 1/43. And those bodies look a lot more accurate than the resin body that I have.

And I dont know about anyone else, but I like how those cars look.

http://www.provenceminiatures.fr/Site%20pma/J5circuitgrandam.html

http://www.provenceminiatures.fr/Site%20pma/0_imagesmodeles/image101a150/107_1.jpg
http://www.provenceminiatures.fr/Site%20pma/0_imagesmodeles/image101a150/106_4.jpg

the ugliest cars known to man, but this is Nascar's road course series and we all know how the Nascar cars look

its been posted before in this thread. this series has NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH NASCAR. it is not run by NASCAR, it is not affiliated with NASCAR. just because some NASCAR drivers are running in todays race (Jimmie Johnson, Juan Montoya, Dario Franchitti, AJ Allmindinger) and they race at a NASCAR track does'nt mean that NASCAR is running it, it is run by Grand Am. here's there website.

http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/

I like the Grand Am cars, but I am primarily a NASCAR fan

Regardless of affiliation these car are the sports prototype equivalent of NASCAR. These "prototypes" are arcane, meaningless technology trudging around trying hard to look interesting for those that still care. Most of the world gave this technology up in the late 60's, Porsche made it work into the early 80's but come on it's 2008!

:runaround: :screwy: :runaround: :screwy::runaround:

Boy, the reason for this thread sure went to hell in a hand basket. :shakehead

Boy, the reason for this thread sure went to hell in a hand basket. :shakehead
It sure looks that way.:disappoin

And I think that there could be some porsche kits floating around to make some various Grand Am cars.

Right. Start with a 914, double the width, add a turret top from a Cayman, and you're half-way home. :smokin:

Ddms

Right. Start with a 914, double the width, add a turret top from a Cayman, and you're half-way home. :smokin:

Ddms

:rofl: :rofl:

Kurzheck, exactly what technology showcased on Daytona Prototypes is it that "the world gave up"?

You see, I'd really like to know, because having actual knowledge of the Daytona Prototypes, I know that they share most of their construction technology with cars like the Group44 Jaguar XJR-5 and Riley & Scott MkIII, which is to say restrained, but certainly not archaic.

On top of that, last I checked, a car doesn't necessarily have to be pretty (which is relative, I like the looks of the Doran JE4, hate the looks of the Riley MkXI, and on the other side of the coin love the Radical SR9, and hate the Pilbeam MP93) or fast (which isn't true of DP's, considering that this year the Lista/Doran Dallara-Judd SP1's pole record lap was broken by several DP's) in order for the car to have fans who'd like to build a model of it - which is the topic of this thread in the first place.

In reality, the fact of the matter is that modern racing prototype kits are not big sellers (regardless of series of origin) and really never have been (reference: Aurora Chapparal 2A). Usually this is because it's ultra-difficult to tool up a current kit of the current hot prototype, not to mention securing the licensing to do so.

Case in point: Revell has released the Audi R10 in 1:24th scale, a monumentally important race car regardless of sanction. However, the kit is missing details in the engine bay that Audi more than likely just doesn't want to show off, and isn't really accurate because of all the little aerodynamic changes made during the season in search of more downforce, less drag, and better cooling.

So you have an expensive to produce kit of a car that is hot for the moment, but as soon as something else starts winning races will not be in as much demand. Let's face it, now we all want Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 kits, right?

That's the crux of sports car kits. The market is too much of a moving target for the big plastic companies. Hasegawa and Fujimi have got it figured out by focusing on vintage subjects whose popularity is proven and whose licensing costs are far cheaper than modern examples.

its been posted before in this thread. this series has NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH NASCAR. it is not run by NASCAR, it is not affiliated with NASCAR. just because some NASCAR drivers are running in todays race (Jimmie Johnson, Juan Montoya, Dario Franchitti, AJ Allmindinger) and they race at a NASCAR track does'nt mean that NASCAR is running it, it is run by Grand Am. here's there website.

http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/

I like the Grand Am cars, but I am primarily a NASCAR fan

That's interesting, because this ran in Autosport about a week ago:

Paraphrased:

GRAND-AM COULD GET NASCAR NAME
The US Grand-Am series could take the NASCAR name in the future.
Roger Edmondson, boss of GARRA, has refused to deny growing speculation (that) the series will be rebranded as NASCAR Sportscars at an unspecified point. 40% of G-A is controlled by the France family, which wholly owns NASCAR. Edmondson said: There is a lot of speculation about, even on this campus (where G-A and NASCAR offices are based in Daytona). It is clear NASCAR has international aspirations and it is clear they are not going to be successful around the world on ovals with American sedans.
"It is obvious that road racing would be the most likely vehicle that would allow NASCAR to go international. Either they could buy
content or build content. G-A is right here and we have content."
He stated that a G-A element to a NASCAR expansion outside of North America would be "only natural should it (NASCAR) decide to
pull the trigger."
NASCAR appears set to have a greater involvement in G-A. Many team owners believe that a change of name would benefit G-A.

Let's face it, now we all want Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 kits, right?

of course, don't we all :D