If you're aon facebook, they have a pretty good page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/F1-Austin/149408615098207 Considering what Korea got accomplished I'm much more optimistic of this happening.
http://www.statesman.com/business/formula-one-race-organizers-track-designers-setting-up-1001353.html Formula One race organizers, track designers setting up shop in downtown Austin Downtown Austin is getting two new high-profile tenants: the organizers of the planned Austin Formula One race and Tilke GmbH, the German engineering firm that's designing the F1 track scheduled to open in 2012. Both tenants will occupy space in 301 Congress, a 22-story building owned by Houston-based Hines and the California Public Employees Retirement System pension fund. The local Formula One group has signed a lease for 3,010 square feet on the second floor, where local promoter Tavo Hellmund has moved in. Peter Wahl, managing partner of Tilke, said last week that Tilke's office would be down the hall from Hellmund's group. Wahl said he didn't know exactly how many people perhaps six to eight would be working at the Tilke office. Tilke is leasing 1,000 square feet. Travis Dunaway with Endeavor Real Estate Group represented the tenants in the lease transactions. Chad Barrett with Aquila Commercial LLC represented the landlord.
I thought this was posted recently - guess not.... Cowboys Stadium architects to design Austin's Formula One complex By John Maher AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Updated: 5:05*a.m.*Monday,*Nov.*22,*2010 Published: 11:07*p.m.*Sunday,*Nov.*21,*2010 Promoters of the U.S. Grand Prix are going to Cowboy up. Dallas-based architectural firm HKS Inc. has been hired to design much of the proposed $250 million Formula One complex on a 900-acre tract southeast of Austin, although not the circuit itself. HKS is perhaps best known for its work on the Dallas Cowboys' futuristic, $1.2 billion stadium that debuted this year. German engineering firm Tilke GmbH is designing the 3.4-mile circuit at the site. Mark Williams, principal with HKS, said in a statement: "We are honored to work with Tilke, a global leader in racetrack construction, and the entire Formula 1 United States team. Our design expertise, coupled with this world entity, will result in a destination environment that will elevate the face of Formula 1 United States on a global scale and further enhance one of America's great cities." Tilke has done most of the recent design or redesign of the tracks used in F1 racing. Although sometimes criticized by F1 fans for producing predictable races, the Tilke tracks are usually dazzling. So are the new digs for the Dallas Cowboys, featuring a 160-foot long, 600-ton video board as the showstopper. Internationally, HKS is known for, among other things, its work on the English Premier League's Liverpool Football Stadium and Estadio Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. HKS was founded 71 years ago and now has 23 offices worldwide. The firm has designed everything from health care facilities to vacation getaways such as Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort. In sports, HKS projects include the $720 million Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and the renovation of Dodger Stadium. In Texas, the firm's projects include Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, the American Airlines Center in Dallas and Dell Diamond in Round Rock, as well as the Whole Foods Market headquarters and flagship store on North Lamar Boulevard. The firm is known for its innovative, themed work with baseball parks, including Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi. The first U.S. Grand Prix in the Austin area is slated for 2012 and is scheduled to be held there through at least 2021. Construction has not begun at the race site, but promoter Tavo Hellmund has said that December is a target date for breaking ground. Tilke representatives have said they are not worried about missing the 2012 deadline. Recently, the project has been getting the needed approvals from various city commissions. Other Texas and Austin-based firms associated with the project include Carlson, Brigance & Doering; Kimley-Horn and Associates; Terracon Consultants Inc.; Rocket Red; Miro Rivera Architects; 3 Point Partners; Horizon Environmental Services; Michael E. James & Associates Inc.; Walter P Moore; Kaminski Interests Inc.; MBC Consultants Inc.; Haynes-Eaglin-Waters; and Armbrust & Brown. Of the pairing of HKS and Tilke, Hellmund said in a statement: "Having industry leaders in sports facility architecture and design raises the bar for future motorsports facilities in this country and around the world. We are pleased that a collaboration of this caliber will take place in Texas." [email protected]; 445-3956 Sound like it's still moving forward to me....
You'd think he's the only guy on the planet capable of designing a race course (not that his are so good, in my opinion). I have no doubt that there's some financial tie back to Bernie. Speaking of terrain, the best tracks in history have been sympathetic to their environment....Nurbergring, Spa, Laguna Seca, Zandvoort, Suzuka, Watkins Glen, Brands Hatch, to name just a few. Let's hope that Tilke lets the terrain help him his design the track.
Agreed about the terrarin; here's a good comparison F1 Austin Elevation change, Nurburgring Nordschleife (not F1): 984ft (300m) Mazda Laguna Seca: 300ft (91.4m) Road America:..........171ft (52.1m) Infineon Sears Point: 160ft (48.8m) Watkins Glenn (full):..141ft (42.9m) Suzuka:....................131ft (39.9m) Silverstone:..............16ft (5m) Austin, Texas: 133ft (40.5m) Some say it is similar to how much elevation change Brazil's Interlagos has, but less than Spa or Turkey. Does anybody know who much elevation change these tracks have?
The variance for "fill" (adding dirt) is around 25', IIRC...so it's "natural terrain" plus or minus that....LOL! I'll take a food order into 301 Congress next time I'm in town and see who I can find to sign for it.....Stubb's will get us in the door.......
I hate the title to this thread. Seriously I get so pissed off everytime I see it. Such negativity, It's almost like you guys don't want it to happen. Just thought I should say something. I hope it happens, and when it does I'll be there.
I don't think anyone is hoping it doesn't happen,... Some of us just don't see a viable profitable project here and are skeptical. Tavo has admitted he can't meet deadlines before a teaspoon of dirt has been moved. I would love to see F1 return to the US. But another unprepared dreamer failing at an F1 venture in the US in 1 or 2 years is not good for the sport return.
The blurb says December 'target date' for breaking ground...better hurry, Santa's on his way...and, is that 'December 2010' ?? No year mentioned Fine w/me if'n I'm wrong on this one, but I still have a hard time believing this is gonna happen. I wouldn't count too much on the State of Texas, as Gov. Perry advertised during the recent election about how he has Texas on a 'Balanced Budget'. Only problem is, the State's about $20B short, depending upon which news article one reads/sees.
Santa's reindeer will dig up some dirt as they cruise by. maybe a unicorn or two will stop by and help. can Bigfoot operate heavy machinery?
See ya at the race Simon and bring your F40 because I get too drive it lol! Hey just throwing some fertilizer ontop of your fertilizer, all in good fun.
Preliminary site clearing is done according to our resident dirt boy Redcar1 So "technically" they have broken ground.
I wonder if that was "Bernie escape clause #1"?...... But hey, if they can do it in Korea surely Texas can get 'er done? We now know of course that the requirement to hold a couple of meetings prior to the GP is BS, as is the 90 day inspection.... I can see 'em laying the track on Thursday afternoon if it suits the pygmy Cheers, Ian
Hauling some equipment out and doing a little clearing to meet contractual requirements for job start is a standard ploy with some contractors. Then they park the equipment and come back when they are ready to get going, only they know when. In this case, let's hope it's just for the holidays, so we can see real progress in January.
