Pro Racing: Trans-Am series vs. Grand-Am series

[TheMonkey]

I'm pretty unfamiliar with the current state of American road racing. Although, I do know that Trans-Am was some big stuff with big drivers at one point. What happened?

So, it seems that now, Trans-Am is hanging on by a thread, was revived last year after a couple years off, but really does not have a following. The cars are very cool, and racing on some of the best tracks, but nobody seems to care.

Grand-Am, looks like it was started 10 years ago, but has more of a following? What's the difference?

I'd be interested in any comments or knowledge about why things are the way they are now.

[JEFFTATE]

The Original Trans- Am series from the 60's , early '70s , and 80's used factory production sedans.
The factories and big sponsors jumped on the original series because of the sales it generated.
They offered big money and attracted big name drivers.
Later ( 80's and 90's) the cars were tube chassis replicas of production sedans.
I think the relativity to the public and the factories went away. So the series died.
The New Trans-Am uses GT1 rules for the cars. They are tube chassis , purpose built race cars.
I went to the inaugural race at Road Atlanta last year.
The racing was extremely good !!

The Grand Am Series has 3 levels of competition.

GS -Modified factory production cars.
GT- Tube chassis replicas of factory production cars.
Daytona Prototype - Purpose built mid engine prototype.( Very fast )

The Grand Am series is awesome too .
I'm going to the race at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama in April..

[TheMonkey]

Thanks Jeff, that clears a bit up about the different cars.

The racing definitely looks excellent... would be great if road racing could get the attention it had in the hey day.

[JEFFTATE]

Thanks Jeff, that clears a bit up about the different cars.

The racing definitely looks excellent... would be great if road racing could get the attention it had in the hey day.

I agree .

The current Grand Am series has a lot of the stars and family names from days gone by ..
Alex Gurney ( Dan Gurney's Son) , David Donohue ( Mark Donohues Son ) , Hurley Haywood , and many other famous racers race in the series..

Plus , the GS series IS factory production cars that have been modified for racing..
So , this really lets us see what factory cars have the goods ..