San Jose Grand Prix

[John Place]

Held Friday - Sunday (29-31 Jul)

I believe the event was planned around the major hotels and making money, with too little planning for the actual race.

I had tickets in the 4C stand with the Shelby group also with Paddock entry, on the maps as located next to the track facing pit row and a straight, the chicane and follow on straight - should have been great. The stand however was pushed back with a stand on either side like the bottom of a U. The extensive wire/concrete barrier systems then had advertising on all the way and we could not see the cars, only hear them passing.

We then found a standing position where we could see a short section of straight and the start of the chicane. Well, the City had the chicane straddling the rail lines (!!??), cars hit the raised sections, became airborne for about 40ft with two massive "pops" from the engine. Surely transmission problems or crashes would result. We eventually located the Paddock way back down side roads.

I will be staggered if spectators tolerate this event for the price.
Also with parking at $35 per car.

We left at 11am. Such a pity as the cars were great.

John