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

[Zurbert82]

Originally Posted by Adam Baker

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.

[gasman03]

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)

[Kurzheck]

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

[Spike2933]

http://www.provenceminiatures.fr/Sit...itgrandam.html




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

[Adam Baker]

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.

[gasman03]

Originally Posted by Spike2933

http://www.provenceminiatures.fr/Sit...itgrandam.html




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

[Kurzheck]

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!

[Adam Baker]

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

[tonioseven]

Originally Posted by Adam Baker

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

It sure looks that way.

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by Adam Baker

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.

Ddms

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by Didymus

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

Ddms

[Layla's Keeper]

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.

[mulsannemike]

Originally Posted by gasman03

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.

[Spike2933]

Originally Posted by Layla's Keeper

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

of course, don't we all