Gold Crown car Spy Photos
 

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For those who wonder where this design came from? This is a post from Ashmore asking IOW's posters opinions of what nose and body changes you wanted to see ! The car above came from GM and input from IOW posters.
It is the same new generation silver crown car that ran, with the new body on it getting ready for the Indy show.

Here is what they are considering. What do you think?
I like cars #1 and #6 for their old school roadster look.
I also like the #14 for it's modern look.
Your opinions?
David.

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Now this is some positive news and it looks great. When these hit the track we will have a great thing going.

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Now that has some potential. I would like to see the back of the cage up a little and the front down. Looks like it has reverse rake at the top of the cage which throws the balance of the look off. Probably just the angle of the picture, but if they would angle it a little more forward it would look a lot more swoopy and be just as safe.

Actually kinda looking forward to seeing some completed.

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looks like the last train wreck they tried to me. What am I missing? feel free to educate me on the differences of the pavement silver crowns and these gold crowns.

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They do have some rake in them already the rear of the cage is higher than the front.

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I'm lost too...

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I think the difference between these and traditional cars would be that the gold crown car should be stable at high speed. Purely a guess tho so don't quote me on it...

I agree on the cage needing to be a little different to make it look "right" and not so much like a yard cart.

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Last time I saw something like this the car was stuffed full of clowns and there were two additional rings of "entertainment" going on.

I love the fact that this has a Bow Tie in the center of the nose. Nice to see my tax money at work.

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The grill emblem was ALLLL Wrong. I made a change.

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Just another USAC disaster. A huge waste of money.

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Russ that's a great comment except USAC doesn't own this series or make the rules. This complete deal has been taken over by Bruce Ashmore who redesigned the car and is building this first car with the new body.

Ashmore for those who don't know has worked for Lola, Reynard, as the desigener of their sports cars and Indy 500 winning cars.

Bruce Ashmore (born c. 1959 in Cambridge, England) is a race car designer who designed and developed 11 championship winning IndyCars with two different race car manufacturers, first with Lola Cars and then with Reynard Motorsports.

After graduating from Cambridge Technical University he started working for Lola Cars in Huntingdon, England. During his seventeen years with Lola he worked his way up from intern to chief designer. Bruce was a member of the design team for many race car projects and was the chief designer on the T8800, T8900, T9000, T9100, & T9200 Lola IndyCars.

Then, in 1993 Ashmore joined Reynard Motorsports to begin work on their first Indycar. Within two years Reynard overtook Lola to become the leading Indycar chassis manufacturer.

Bruce's role with Reynard Motorsport took him to the United States where he setup Reynard North America (RNA) and later built the Auto Research Center (ARC) in Indianapolis, Indiana. ARC became the Reynard North American Headquarters. Between 1993 and 1998, he served as Technical Director for RNA and later also for ARC and then in 1999 became president of RNA.

Ashmore joined Forysthe Championship Racing CART team in 2001. After two successful years with the team where he planned the Championship title bid in 2003 he left at the end of 2002 to start Ashmore Design. Ashmore Design has had contracts with Menard Competition Technologies, Menard Engineering, RuSPORT Champ Car team, Conquest Racing and more recently with C&R Racing Incorporated. Ashmore helped Chris Paulsen design the C&R Racing United States Auto Club (USAC) Silver Crown race car.

It's Bruce's deal and money doing this.

There are 23 of these cars owned by somebody, a couple of the owners are here on IOW and they like what is their future.

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One HUGE problem with this so-called series:

Open Wheel fans sure the hell aren't going to support this gawd ugly piece of junk no more than the current fiasco of a car. That means this series needs to capture the attention of racing fans from outside the open wheel community. Lets be real here. Take a hard look at this ugly thing and ask yourself:

"Are there really going to be racing fans in any reasonable numbers to latch onto this series?"

I highly doubt it! :15:

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Good for him then. Some people have more money than sense I guess.

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Well this is a pretty positive post...

I would say that in the current state of the world economy, US economy, and the lack of any excitement in open wheel pavement racing any new series is a fairly big risk.

But I love racing just as much as the next IOW'er. Just not so sure of how exciting a feeder/development series for NASCAR and/or the IRL can be. Correct me if that is not the goal of these. I am all for rich people/parents infusing money into racing. It doesn't help the journeyman racers, or allow someone to follow the career of kid who runs sprints/midgets for a year moves to ARCA, and his folks run out of money before the big time arrives.

This thing looks way too similar to the new generation Silver Crown car. I think the old car may have a negative effect on any future vehicle that slightly reflects that appearance.

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I like how their trying to "NASCRAP" it.....lol Did anyone else notice the body work off another car hanging on the wall in the background, Menard yellow 91 with Dodge headlights and so on.... The last attempt at this was a disaster. Now it looks like he's going for a NASCAR support series and right now NASCAR trucks are not drawing crowds and have issues with car count, Nationwide is hit or miss with huge numbers of start and park teams and even CUP is down and dropping. I'm pretty sure NASCAR, it's owners and even drivers have more than enough on their hands right now trying to keep things going without taking on yet another series with cars COMPLETELY different than anything else they race....

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so are you saying this is a stand alone series that does not run under usac's banner? if so then then good luck to them with there series and i wont have to see them at a usac event.

It simply amazes me how people get on this site and ***** and moan about the current situation that open wheel racing is in, not enough cars, not enough money for the teams,etc. Then when someone tries to do something positive for racing there is nothing but negative replies, even before the seroes has run a single race. Why not have an open mind and not be so negative. Just my 2 cents worth, best of luck.
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Why don't they just go ahead and put a roof on them and get it over with. I just see another series of ugly race cars that run on a thursday afternoon in front of a couple of hundred retired geezers in the stands.

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It looks like part Indy Car, part Silver Crown car, and part stock car. That nose looks like an Eagle from the late 60's.:6:

I like it.:6: So shoot me. I went to the new style SC races and I will go to the new Gold Crown races.

One other thing - do we even know if the photos represent the final on track product? Can somebody fill me in, please?

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It is a :21: Box do not like them and will not be nice to the package.it sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I don't understand why there are so many people that are saying "fans won't support such an ugly car" or "fans won't line up to see this ugly series race." Gee, I wonder what people said when non-wing sprint cars started running roll cages...several of those cars were far more "ugly" than these Gold Crown cars....and guess what, sprint cars are still going strong! Same deal with wings....the first wing sprints were down right ugly...so if no fans would support ugly race cars, why does the WoO and ASCS exist????


It's all about innovation...and without that, I don't think our beloved sprint cars and midgets would have made it out of the 1940s.


A true racefan would watch anything with wheels race. And I would sure as hell drive anything, ugly or not! :23:

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This is what I envision Indy cars looking like if the rear engine car had been banned.

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I really like the comment about only rich guys can afford these cars I own 3 of them and ovalmeister can back me up on this one I AM NOT RICH. Hears the deal USAC is losing Quality pavement tracks very quickly they are focusing on .25,and offroad trucks and dirt tracks if that is your thing then go for it. The Goldcrown series is built to run 1 mile 1.5 mile and larger tracks. They have also been tested on road courses with very good results. USAC is NOT involved in this project!!!! If people cant see the where the SilverCrown pavement series is headed get your head out of your A$$ they have lost Richmond And Phoenix in one year. And if they do replace those 2 tracks it will not be with venues of their quality. The goldcrown series is designed to take our local drivers and give them the experience they must have to have any hope of moving up to the next level. I do not care who you are or how good you are NO BODY IS GOING TO SIGN YOU WITHOUT YOU HAVING PAVEMENT EXPERIENCE.

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then do not go and dont ***** when your favorite driver never gets a chance at the next level!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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As a huge sprint car fan, both wing and non wing...and my favorite series being the dirt champ cars; I am so hoping the best for this new series!

The IRL has been a total let down. NASCAR is follow the leader boring.

When's the first race!?

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It's what I call road racing bias. In other words if a dollar part will get the job done and there is a similar part that isn't as good but cost $5, road racers will pick the $5 part.

I used to be involved with the TROC (Texas Race of Champions) at TWS and the short track cars would run on the road course. A fairly well known road racer would show up with a SCCA legal Trans Am car which cost as much or more than the short track cars. Yet it was so much slower than the short track cars.

Ashmore has credentials as a car designer, but like Riley before him those cars cost a lot more than the current SC cars and look very similar. I think we could eventually get used to the look if they had enough cars, but that remains to be seen.

I am not sure I fully understand the goal of this new car. Paul White was experiencing rear end lift above 150mph. That would be easy and cheap to fix. nascar had a problem decades ago with rear end lift and they solved it with a simple spoiler on the deck lid. No redesign of the cars was considered.

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Wasn't this already tried a couple of years ago. They look just like the Silver Crown cars that USAC tried running on the NASCAR tracks....I don't see any differences. They were boring then and look about the same now. I just don't understand it.

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Resembles a 60 Indy Car/Supermodified combo...........UGGG.....

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As far as the looks go, I'd like to see more rake in the top of the cage to resemble a sprint or dirt champ car (or the previously mentioned roll bar). I never understood why they kept making these new gen cars with cages that had no rake at all (they appeared to have backwards rake)-ugly. I wish the fairings/fenders in front of the front tires weren't there, or at least a lot less overall width. I don't know that there's room in the racing world for another destination series-especially if they're going to pay like USAC does for the silver crown cars. If they're trying to make a home for all the short track drivers, it needs to pay accordingly-like $25,000 to win & $2500 to start, with about 20-25 races. That's how I see it...
I wish them luck.

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I can indeed attest to the fact the sc96 is not rich. In fact, if you go to the silver crown classifieds section of this website, you will see all of his silver crown operation for sale. (see photo below). This is to be able to afford the gold crown deal. So here's your chance to put YOUR money where your mouth is, buy a great car, go racing!

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So where is this "next level" supposed to be? NASCAR? What happened to USAC being "the destination" instead of somebodies minor league.

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Yes, there are LOTS of problems with the GC/SC formula. Most of the problems, to my knowlege, have not even been fully addressed yet (fan appeal, who they will run with, how they will get a purse, who the buyers will be...)

But there are also a lot of things being done right, I think. It seems as if some important lessons have (finally) been learned.

We are starting with a design that - at least - can't be called some of the things the original design was. Some of those concepts were pretty darn cool. So thats step one. I say we give this project a chance.

And how about a new generation engine to go with the new genration body? Just sayin'....

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I would pay to watch them run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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Bring 30+ to TMS twice a year and I'll be there both times with friends. Bring even 20+ and some hope that the series is growing and I'll be there. But a pathetic 20 or less and shrinking field like the IRL has been putting out lately and I'll pass.

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It's basicly putting lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig.

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Bruce is setting up his own series for the cars. I would bet that many of the old NASCAR engines end up here. Remember new Toyota's, New Fords, new Dodges and Chevy for the cup series where does all the old engines go? 360 western state sprints?, Gold crown and everywhere.

This car will be on display at the Indy show with a chevy engine from Earnhardt/Ganassi.

Only at this moment IOW is the only place the latest picture of this project are. Thanks to Bruce Ashmore for the first look.
:35:

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If NASCAR which right now is the number one sanctioning body in this country has taken a pass on basically the same thing what makes you think they or anyone else will want it? The cars are not attractive, the racing before was poor at best, there was little to no crowds and almost zero fan support and base. PLUS now you're going to run them on road courses which should NEVER happen, should be an oval track only series. I'm all for growing and supporting the Champ Cars but this THING in not a champ car anymore than those things CART/etc tried to pass off as one. A pig is till a pig, a joke it still a joke and this thing is both, and this from someone who saw his first USAC dirt champ race in 1969, if your longtime fan base and car owners don't embrace it at least at a 90% level it won't work and right now I doubt you're close to 50% support. Change is one thing, to totally and completely alter the concept and history to unrecognizable is another......

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Old engines go to lower funded teams, ARCA, Nationwide, Trucks. And some teams, builders, TRD etc. are VERY picky about who gets their engines/secrets and several do not sell motors to just anyone and a large amount DO NOT sell motors at all...... PLUS who believes that most car owners are going to pay for a used engine (500 miles anyone) over a new fresh engine.......

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If this is Bruce's deal and money and not affiliated with USAC, what are all those mentions and logos for USAC? And if he has 23 of them sold, he should be at least approaching getting his money back. Looks a lot like a pretty standard sprint/midget/SC chassis with some extra body work.

While I don't disagree with those that say the car is ugly, I can get around that if they get a bunch of them and run regularly. I like short track modifieds too and not many people will say they are pretty cars.

Since most of the people that are going to be interested in a series like this are pretty much opposed to road courses, why even mention road courses before they have an oval race? A large percentage of what is left of the Indycar fan base thinks the current Indycar is ugly and slow. Does anyone entertain a notion that this series will attract any of them?

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The last race for the USAC sanctioned New Generation Silver Crown car was Phoenix 2007: Car count 23
Phoenix USAC Silver Crown race last week: Car count 23

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I don't understand why engines are even any sort of issue here. There is a more than adequate supply of engine builders in place now that can build engines. The problem was never one of engines. The problem was rear end lift.

But since engines have been brought up. If they just use small block Chevys things will be fine. And probably if they use Chevys, Fords and Mopars things will be fine as well. But when you bring Toyota into the mix, the ballgame changes. Toyota doesn't make any vehicle that uses their push rod V8s. So you get 30+ cars and 28 of them a Chevys and two of them are Toyotas. Immediately you have a bunch of Gaerte's and Wesmars competing against a global giant with almost unlimited funds. Does Chevy step in to help? What happens to that car count when 28 cars don't stand a chance? Does Toyota stop at engines? What is their track record in cases like this? Shock Dynos and wind tunnels?

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Good luck in this new series. USAC tried this a few years ago (something simular). Silver crown has been around a long time and have decent car counts. USAC tried to update this series with the new car. It might of worked if they could of filled the stands and made the 90,000 investment pay off. Sprinter are hurting on pavement and midgets are a little better, crowd at Salem and PIR were small. Talk of doing away with pavement sprinters and fewer races on the big tracks for midgets realy makes a person think about a new series and start up funds and car count. larger tracks brings more seats and bigger prize money, if the seats are filled. USAC fell back to the old SC cars on pavement becase the owners did not see a advantage to the new car and new cost, do we see it different now? The big car series went well due to car count and they ran close to home.
Just my thoughts on a new series, cost vers advancement to a higher better paying series. Why dont the people starting this series offer a updated body for their current SC cars and phase the new chassie in a little at a time, just makes sense.
If you think going to NASCAR or the IRL is not about money please tell me why JJ, Levie, B. East, Coons, Kuhn, Dave Darland and lots more have not moved on? If drivers made lots of money they all would move on.
New Team 165,000 for truck 125,000 for trailer 35,00 for a motor must have 4 two dirt two pavement, four wheeler 7500, pit cart tools 45,000 this includes starter packs, now tires 32 rims and tires 50 or so for stager and compound. How about mechanics 6 to start, one truck driver, one chief for the cars one tire man and two wrenches for each car. Now lets pay 40% to 50% to the driver he is the one trusting your car and mechanics with his life. Travel hotels pit passes and eats are a major cost in addition to these others.
I love racing and go watch as much as possible and help if I can and I wish all owners, drivers, and promoters good luck in these times.