Montreal Grand Prix Cancelled!

[maxrpm]

A sad day in Canadian Motorsports....but a boost for CART if they survive.....

Click for Story (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1060250600838&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154)

[roooo]

So which other countries have a ban on tobacco sponsorship ...
England , .... ?

[Chris P]

Most places F1 races.........

[BrentW]

Hopefully our fantastic..... Gov't wakes up and does a quick reversal on it's decision to ban ALL tobaco sponsership.

I think Toronto even lost the big fire works display by Benson and Hedges last year because of this(I know a little off topic, but there are a lot of great events being effected by this decision)

and for the record I'm not a smoker, never was and never will be

:D

[slick]

This seems a way for Bernie Ecclestone to put some pressure on countries with tobacco bans.

Last I heard, it was on next year's schedule already (June 4 or something) even though the schedule has not been firmed up or released yet.

I would hope the government will soon step in with an exclusion for this event given the international exposure for Canada. With SARS in TO and MadCow in Alberta, Canada needs these big events to bring Canada back into tourists' minds. This would bring much more exposure world-wide than SARStock did.

Let's wait a few weeks to see how it all shakes out.

[tanney]

This would bring much more exposure world-wide than SARStock did

From what I understand, there wasn't much coverage outside of the GTA.

CNN was only hear because they expected problems. And we all know that CNN is a respectable tabloid news network with NO american propoganda. CNN is unbiased and just covers the news (yeah right).

CNN Head line.......Canadian Grand Prix cancelled.....mob riots protesting the lack of beer and smokes! US President calls for the erratication of all whiner Canadian protestors, because they make fun of American beer and smokes!:D

[ctenche]

Here's another take on the cancellation...

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Motorsports/F1/2003/08/08/156434.html

[tanney]

Here's one that Bernie says he doesn't know where that false rumour came from

BBC Reports Cancellation (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3133815.stm)

[roooo]

Publicity-wise, SARSfest was a joke.

C'mon .. there were probably more people at Pride Parade.
Also, there is that Love Parade festival in Europe that gets way over a million people each year and it's not like that gets publicity either. So why would anyone outside of Toronto actually care that less than 1/2 a million people got together to watch some out-dated rock bands on stage? bah.

Would have got better publicity had they gone for hosting an international motorsports event ;) Or at least a high-profile soccer match. hehehe

[J.C.]

Originally posted by tanney
From what I understand, there wasn't much coverage outside of the GTA.

CNN was only hear because they expected problems. And we all know that CNN is a respectable tabloid news network with NO american propoganda. CNN is unbiased and just covers the news (yeah right).

CNN Head line.......Canadian Grand Prix cancelled.....mob riots protesting the lack of beer and smokes! US President calls for the erratication of all whiner Canadian protestors, because they make fun of American beer and smokes!:D

You are so right on the money its not even funny. When SARS hit here I happened to be watching CNN for the war coverage. SARS had been announced for only a few days here. There was a small interuption in the war coverage as there was a small report on the SARS situation in the US. Hundreds of cases of SARS existed throughout the United States and they had highlighted the areas of the country wich had the most cases. The west coast was the most affected and California being the worst. Somehow this was broadcasted one more time that day and then never to be seen again after that day. The following week coverage of the war died down and coverage of SARS began. However no mention of the existing SARS problem in the US. (I guess they did not want the bad press)



I have heard several arguements about tobacco sponsorship in racing. It all comes down to money and health. It is obvious money is needed but find it somewhere else. As for health people say "well I have seen there adds on cars for years and it has not caused me to smoke". To that I say do you really think they would spends millions of dollars on advertising if it did not work? Get a clue tobacco companies are ruthless and they know how to promote and sell.

"But with the notable exception of BMW Williams, who have a policy not to have cigarette advertising, F1 teams have been reluctant to wean themselves of tobacco advertising. "
Toronto Sun

Well up until now I did not have a specific team that I would support in F1, I just enjoyed the racing. I can now say I am a BMW supporter.