New Jersey F1 Back On Track??

[Willy]

According to Pitpass, Bernie may pony up and buy a race promotion company to see the race comes together.
http://www.pitpass.com/49086-Ecclestone-ready-to-buy-New-Jersey-race-promoter-to-get-race-off-the-ground
Would be nice to see a another North American race and a road race at that.
No more Herman T tracks please.

[lkjohnson1950]

How many times has Bernie said he would pony up only to fail to follow through? I know he wants a race with the NY skyline in the background, but I don't think he will actually pry open the old wallet to get it.

[Jericoke]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Bernie put his money where his mouth is.  I suspect he'll discover he takes more money if he cuts out a middle man.

If NJ works out, before long, he'll be bankrolling the London, Paris and Rome races, and taking the profits.

[cosworth151]

Like Lonny says, Bernie follows the Two Rules from Max Bialystock in the film The Producers

Rule #1: Never use your own money.

Rule #2: NEVER USE YOUR OWN MONEY!

[lkjohnson1950]

  Exactly!

[F1fanaticBD]

I think it is a some sort of advertisement by Bernie, so that there are people who will get interested in starting a company for the race. Good try Bernie 

[John S]

I seem to recall Bernie taking on financial responsibilities by becoming the promoter of the Turkish GP, so It's not out of the question for him to take a role in getting the New Jersey race started.

I agree though it's more likely a PR stunt to get others onboard to do the heavy lifting.

 

[cosworth151]

BTW, it isn't a road course. It's a Tilke street circuit around a sewage treatment plant surrounded by chemical plants.

[Jericoke]

Like Lonny says, Bernie follows the Two Rules from Max Bialystock in the film The Producers

Rule #1: Never use your own money.

Rule #2: NEVER USE YOUR OWN MONEY!

I would generally agree.

But

• Very little F1 money is actually Bernie's, except for the vast amount he somehow ends up with.  Even if he's the promoter, I'd guess it's not really his money.
• Maybe he's interested in some gambling.  Surely cards isn't interesting enough for him.  Getting the best of Chris Christie, future President of the USA would be.

[cosworth151]

Chris Christie, future President of the USA

  

[Alianora La Canta]

Last time Bernie did this, it was with Turkey in 2008. It dropped the F1 contract 3 years later due to dramatically reduced audiences and lack of local interest.

The time before that was Belgium in 2000. It dropped the F1 contract 2 years later - admittedly due to tobacco disputes, but sales figures were substantially down and the subsequent promoter struggled to remedy the situation, causing another skipped race in 2006.

Bernie taking an interest in New Jersey is a seriously bad sign

[Irisado]

I'll be surprised if anything comes of this.  It doesn't sound like a particularly serious proposal on his part to me.