United States Grand Prix East at Detroit, Michigan

When Henry Ford decides to throw a party, even the FIA can't say no to an invitation. The Detroit Renaissance Group, as part of a campaign to rejuvenate the downtown area, got the Formula One gang to bring the world to their door in 1982 to help restore the city's image.

The original tight, twisty circuit that was designed for the event had seventeen corners in 2.493 miles, including two very tricky hairpins and a tunnel that enclosed a gentle right-hand bend next to the river. (The first and most problematic of the hairpins was designed out of the course in 1983.) The bumpy course was extremely hard on gearboxes and brakes, and made tire selection a key element of success.

The organizers did themselves no favors for the first race, as when the roads were blocked off for a special practice on Thursday, the circuit was still hours from being ready! When the drivers were able to take the track, they found the course even slower than Monaco.

After the difficulties of the first year's race, some doubted that the event would remain on the calendar for a second try, but it endured for seven years as the organizers consistently created a colorful, happy atmosphere with the sponsor tents surrounding the Renaissance Center and pleasure boats bobbing on the river. Like Long Beach, however, it was eventually decided that the CART series was a better investment, and 1988 marked the end of the USGP East.