Le Grand Prix
Today I drove past the local Malibu Grand Prix and it reminded me of the heady days of youth. Yes, those were the days when we would eagerly hand over our hard earned cash (or our parent’s) so we could wait in line for 30 minutes to indulge in a few minutes of driving a souped up lawnmower in circles. Did I mention this was in the middle of some bleak semi-abandoned part of Redwood City? The droning of the faux formula one cars is complemented perfectly by the constant whooshing of the freeway traffic on the other side of the fence. Oh yes, Malibu Grand Prix has charm oozing from the exhaust pipes of their mini race cars.
The minds behind this place are probably some of the brightest business people ever. You think I’m being sarcastic? Normally you’d be right. But today I am not, so you’re wrong. Better luck next time.
Why do I think the Malibu Grand Prix folks are so smart? Well, let’s take a look at how this system works. You don’t buy time in the car, you buy laps. This seems reasonable enough. But then the objective is to race, which means finishing the lap as quickly as possible. That means you’re trying to spend your money as fast as humanly possible. Is there any other business where people are being deluded into trying to spend their cash as fast as they can? Even Vegas hasn’t come up with a business scheme THAT good.
I think they have a sense of humor about it as well. Grand Prix translated literally means “big price”.
June 16th, 2005 at 12:56 am
Or “Big Prize”…it actually translates as both but more often than not it is assumed to mean prize rather than price in this context.
June 16th, 2005 at 1:22 pm
It is strangely difficult to find a picture of it online, but the NASCAR Speedpark (http://www.myrtlebeachmarket.com/urls/nascar/nascar.html) is totally sweet - like Malibu on steroids.
Follow the link and look at the picture to the right, the cars are raced around an oval, you are inside the cars and you bump into the other cars, it’s very sweet.
June 16th, 2005 at 1:53 pm
John, I know my translation is technically wrong, but isn’t it a little more funny if I translate “prix” as price rather than prize?
June 17th, 2005 at 8:44 am
Wait just a minute.
Eli, I don’t think the practice of car racing can successfully be paired with the attribute of “charm.” Isn’t car racing the ultimate trailer trash pastime — commonly associated with super-mullets, sizzling farmer tans, tube-tops bursting with imbalanced breast implants, and platinum dyed bangs teased high over the brow?
June 17th, 2005 at 9:20 am
Apparently my sarcasm is too deadpan. I hoped the bit about “charm oozing from the exhaust pipes” would trigger people’s sarcasm sensors. Just to be clear — I find Malibu Grand Prix to be the opposite of charming.