HOW GRAND WAS THE GRAND PRIX
Story by David Madrid

This past weekend San Jose held its first Inaugural Grand Prix Race, and all I have been hearing from the media is how it was a resounding success. According to the Taylor Woodrow Grand Prix of San Jose website, they gave thanks to the more than 150,000 fans who came out to the event.   Now, as a downtown resident who lives just blocks away from where the race took place, I feel that the media is over exaggerating with the numbers. From a community perspective, the race was anything but a success.  

Now, I know what over 150,000 people looks like in our small downtown area. If you have ever been to a Cinco De Mayo celebration in San Jose in the early 90's you know what I'm talking about. The numbers they give do not even come close to the amount of people I seen out and about this past weekend.   There has even been word that a lot of local merchants and restaurants complained about the low turn out, because they over stocked product expecting bigger crowds. And on the day of the final race, a friend of mine who works at a local shop, told me she sold a disposable camera to some guy who was excited because they were giving free tickets away at the door. Now is that a great marketing scheme or a desperate way to fill empty seats? Ultimately, the San Jose Grand prix was not for San Jose.

The race was not targeted for the local everyday “colored” folks of Silicon Valley but to the white consuming tourist race fan, in an attempt to gain some national exposure and bring some business to the downtown area. They might have reached the numbers that they claimed if they did not totally neglect or underestimate the people of San Jose.   It's true there may not be a lot of race fans here in the Bay Area, but who is to say that they couldn't be?  

I personally was surprised at how many people that live and work here that were not even aware of the Grand Prix until the weekend of.   There were many who told me that they would have gone just to par take in San Jose history, not to mention the thrill of the race, if only they knew. But in retrospect, maybe that's what the city and the grand prix intended. There is no doubt about the fact that the Nascar and racing circuit is a predominantly white sport.   And maybe those outside a particular tax bracket or race are not so welcome.   You would of thought San Jose would have showed some city pride for having the Grand Prix here in our city. You know, billboards around town or maybe even some checkered flags hanging from light poles promoting this historical event. I didn't see any signs or decorations and if there were any, there sure were not any on the east side of town.  

Overall, maybe it was a success, some corporate big wigs made some extra cash and there were plenty of photo opportunities for local politicians. Why should we care, hell at least a couple of streets got fixed.

Also Read:

Low and Slow vs. The Fast and Furious
San Jose Hosts a Grand Prix in Downtown, But for Whom?
Story by Troy Curtis // Art by Fernando Amaro Jr.
May 2, 2005