United States Grand Prix - Formula One (F1) - Austin

[KBScobravert]

If I am home for the race I would like to go. I will however be in Barcelona for the Canalonia F1 GP coming up in May. That is going to be a blast too bad my wife can't stay that extra day to see the race. I sure will miss her. lol

[hotrod66stang]

I have a pretty good idea of what they're looking at since I grew up about a mile from the site, and I now live about 5 miles from TMS and get to work there regularly. Unless they come up with a new plan, people WILL be running out of gas waiting to get out of there.


First of all, I think the people of Austin don't want F1 there because they're smarter than people in Arlington or Dallas (Cowboys/Laura Miller reference). They see who the seedy investors are and know they're being screwed over. Red McCombs is dirty money, period. The $25MM taxpayer money to bring them even shittier traffic? Lastly, the people who live in that area, even though it's RIGHT outside of Austin, are mostly hicks and poor mexicans. They don't give a shit about F1 and damn sure don't want them making traffic worse. Unless they take the toll road, which Austinites voted AGAINST and somehow still came to fruition (more crooked politics), and is hardly even used, their only other option to avoid traffic is to take the backroads about 10 minutes to I-35 for more....horrible traffic. If the claims were true in those articles, it might be a different story. However, it sure as shit isn't 5 miles to downtown. The straightest shot at downtown you have isn't going to be fast, either.

I'm all for F1, but not with the current players, the mis-allocation of funds, and without more infrastructure. When I was in HS, Austin was the #2 fastest-growing city behind Las Vegas, and was in the top 5 for years. I suspect it's still pretty high 10 years later. The roads and infrastructure haven't had a chance to catch up. I would say it's a clusterfuck waiting to happen, but it's really just a clusterfuck that's unfolding as we "type."

[Slowhand]

Most of the people that I know that live in Austin (no, they're not students) are all for it or neutral on it. Traffic is always awful and the whole traffic thing hasn't put an end to things like ACL and SXSW; F1 traffic won't be any worse than the traffic related to those two events. I just don't see how it's a big issue in the face of the current state of affairs in Austin.

[YALE]

Most of the people that I know that live in Austin (no, they're not students) are all for it or neutral on it. Traffic is always awful and the whole traffic thing hasn't put an end to things like ACL and SXSW; F1 traffic won't be any worse than the traffic related to those two events. I just don't see how it's a big issue in the face of the current state of affairs in Austin.

Sheeit! Traffic is bad because it's Tuesday. I doubt anyone can tell there's an event when there's an event, based on increased traffic alone.

[Slowhand]

Sheeit! Traffic is bad because it's Tuesday. I doubt anyone can tell there's an event when there's an event, based on increased traffic alone.

I've been able to tell a difference, but most of the difference has been up and down 35 and not in Austin itself. Certainly not a noticeable enough difference to sweep aside a 10+ million dollar infusion of activity into the local economy. If there's opposition to the race it's on principle, and that's stupid.

[Slowhand]

Update:

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/44985.html?CMP=chrome

The promoters of the United States Grand Prix say that construction on the new circuit is on schedule, despite clearing work only just being completed.

The track outside Austin is due to host its first grand prix next year and the new circuits in the US and India are being closely monitored following the late completion of the Korean International Circuit for its 2010 race. In Texas, the track outline has already been marked out, and will feature the third greatest change in elevation on the Formula One calendar as the circuit makes use of the contours of the original land.

Despite a lack of any further visible progress, spokesman Jeff Hahn says that all targets have so far been met.

"Right now as it stands, all of our construction milestones are on track," Hahn said. "It's an aggressive schedule. We are planning on a June 2012 opening day. Now it's not unusual. A lot of other tracks like this have been built in the same amount of time."

[momo]

Update:

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/s...tml?CMP=chrome

cool.

I know the F1 2012 calendar won't be released till August but I sure hope June 2012 is no where near the actual date of the F1 race.

a. it would be a good idea to iron out issues and rubber in a green track.
b. unleashing an austin summer event upon the international world would be the worst idea anyone has ever had, ever.

[breedlove]

Update:

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/s...tml?CMP=chrome

June 2012 did they not learn from the Ft worth track melting underneath the cars that summer in texas might just be too fucking hot to have a race. Regardless, I shall be there.

[momo]

June 2012 did they not learn from the Ft worth track melting underneath the cars that summer in texas might just be too fucking hot to have a race. Regardless, I shall be there.

i would almost say with certainty it wont be near june or summer. my guess it will be one of the later races, probably before or after brazil (sept-oct)

i would hope these austin native investors understand their own climate and f1
has probably learned from the korea incident that it's better to schedule much later than expectations.

[Slowhand]

cool.

I know the F1 2012 calendar won't be released till August but I sure hope June 2012 is no where near the actual date of the F1 race.

a. it would be a good idea to iron out issues and rubber in a green track.
b. unleashing an austin summer event upon the international world would be the worst idea anyone has ever had, ever.

Couldn't be more correct. A spring race would be great, a fall race could be hit or miss.

June 2012 did they not learn from the Ft worth track melting underneath the cars that summer in texas might just be too fucking hot to have a race. Regardless, I shall be there.

I guess I should have looked at the date, that picture looked familiar. I've got to wonder why that was listed under 'latest news' on my feed, lol.

[RWhite]

.....I know the F1 2012 calendar won't be released till August but I sure hope June 2012 is no where near the actual date of the F1 race.....

Remember the Dallas F1 race in July 1984! Can you say Hotter than Hell! Bet some of the old farts of F1 remember that one at Fair Park! An interesting read on the event is found on

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Dallas_Grand_Prix

I was here then, but could not go because of family commitments, but I remember one of my friends going and telling of the heat. Much like when we had a late date for the spring NHRA race down at Ennis.

I still would like go anyway if I could manage it.

[TX_92_Notch]

You work there? My stepdad started out there.

Yes, though I'm not working on the F1 project. The guy sitting next to me does, so I look over his shoulder at the drawings from time to time. Good stuff.

[naynay]

Yes, though I'm not working on the F1 project. The guy sitting next to me does, so I look over his shoulder at the drawings from time to time. Good stuff.

you know Mike Preston(i know he's over seas now)? my gf works for his wife at the lauck group. we are very close with that family

[Slowhand]

Current update:

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/45175.html?CMP=chrome

Organisers of the US Grand Prix insist construction work at the all-new Austin race track is on target to meet their June 2012 deadline.

New footage broadcast on local network KVUE shows heavy machinery working on the site, which has now been cleared in preparation for building work. The public relations company hired by the race promoters insists all of its employers goals have been met so far.

"Right now as it stands, all of our construction milestones are on track," spokesman Jeff Hahn told KVUE. "It's an aggressive schedule. We are planning on a June 2012 opening day. It [the timeframe] is not unusual; a lot of other tracks like this have been built in the same amount of time."

The circuit, which was designed by Hermann Tilke with a number of classic race track corners in mind, features several elevation changes that are already visible.

"The neat part about the construction site right now is that you can actually see the contours of where the race track is going to be," added Hahn. "The difficult story to tell about the site is the scale of this project. The track itself is 3.4 miles from a loop standpoint, but the property and how it fills up that space is just astonishing."

[Darren M]

From the link above.
If that is true landscape rise and fall it should prove for some interesting overtaking. In regular cars anyway. (Just my 2¢.)