It's Not Exactly the Return of the '84 Dallas Grand Prix. But Close. Only, Much Smaller Cars.

It's Not Exactly the Return of the '84 Dallas Grand Prix. But Close. Only, Much Smaller Cars.

By Robert Wilonsky Fri., Nov. 18 2011 at 12:00 PM

A couple of days back a Friend of Unfair Park shot me a note: "Thought you might want a look at this, seems pretty exciting!" Below was this link, which takes you to something called the Texas Lone Star Grand Prix scheduled to take place March 17-18 at Fair Park -- which some of you may recall was the site of the brutally hot, awfully crashy Dallas Grand Prix in 1984. (And I can't believe this CG re-enactment still exists three years later.)

Alas: This won't mark the return of Formula One to Fair Park -- if only. Instead, says the site, the field will consist of kart racers. Still: "Much of the course will follow the course formerly used for Formula One racers in the Dallas Grand Prix." And it'll be in March, when it probably won't be 139 degrees. Found the accompanying video on Vimeo -- at least someone's enjoying the hell out of Fair Park. Registration opens today. Vroom.

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Rmiller

Racers from 17 states and 4 countries have now officially entered The Texas Lone Star Grand Prix. The future stars of automobile racing will race these purpose built race karts at over 100 mph inches apart. For the price of a movie you can watch a full day of racing.

Jacob

Hey cool, you posted it! I'll definitely be there, it's only $10 a ticket. Another good use of Fair Park!

Speedracer

"....if only"? That F1 boondoggle in Austin, if it ever gets going, will be lubricated with $25 million of Texas taxpayer dollars each year for ten years, a tribute fee to that creepy goon Bernie Ecclestone. Me for some tax-free Go-Kart action.

Robert Wilonsky

The "if only" wasn't a reference to the bulsh down in Austin, just the cars. Because as hot as that '84 F1 event was -- I just recovered from the heat stroke, like, two years ago -- it was also extraordinarily cool.

Gangstead

Looks like fun. I'd love to go watch.

At the risk of sounding like a go-kart ignoramus. Do you have to have your own kart to race? I don't know anything about those categories or how much go karts cost.