Fun place. Might be a bit much. Driskoll was revamped about ten years ago. Have never stayed there but always heard good things. Don't forget to look into bed and breakfast homes too.
There is also an Austin based company that facilitates renting of private homes, might look into that: http://www.homeaway.com/ Panoramas of the site! http://racingready.com/2011/06/12/austin-f1-usgp-cota-wild-bubba-visit-1-of-3/ online petition up to 500 signatures http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-the-austin-city-council-to-vote-yes-on-formula-1
Would you have preferred april fool's day? Personally, I think Father's day is a great day... the race could become a present to dad.
Weather would likely be nice... of course the 90 day inspection deadline date would be ~ 11/29... (not that it likely to make much difference)
Actually April 1 in Austin sounds great. It is not a present to dad when the kids are no where near. NASCAR finally figured out that a race on Valentine's was stupid, so I hope Bernie gets over his issues and realizes that a race on Father's Day is not good, unless you live in Austin.
The idea about Feb 29 is, that the race organizers would have to endure the loss only every 4 years giving them 3 years to save money for the 4th...
Silly me... I thought it would be so US fans would only have their dreams of a USGP smashed once ever 4 years...
Nothing wrong with dreaming. Did you know, trying is the first step towards failure? Besides, this deal doesn't pan out, I don't see anybody stepping up to the plate anytime soon to make it happen elsewhere
Ever watch the opening show of American Idol? Dreams are good... but some dreams should be kept private. And one should use good judgement before getting emotionally or financially invested in someone else's dream. I'd love to see F1 in the US. Austin wouldn't be my 1st choice, but it's not a bad choice and has a lot to offer. From the day this project was announced I questioned why the the men who have built successful tracks in the US weren't involved. Instead we get Tavo... Add to that in that in the first 8 months. NOTHING was done. In the next 4... NOTHING was done. Now, with 277 days to go (until the FIA's required completion date)... can anyone be happy with the progress? Were you interested in F1 during Pintsize Wiener's USF1 farce? Do you see any similarities? Lot's of talk,... Lot's more talk,... but no action. To speak Texan, Tavo seems to be all hat and no cattle.
panoramic pictures. posted earlier but nobody noticed them: http://racingready.com/2011/06/12/austin-f1-usgp-cota-wild-bubba-visit-1-of-3/ Look at that and tell me they've done nothing........ Image Unavailable, Please Login
You seriously think that's impressive for 13 months progress with 9 months to go? 2 guys with a skid loader could accomplish that working weekends for 3 months. Have you ever seen what the dirt bike guys can do to tract of land in a week?
No reason to take a hyperbolic position here, it doesn't help win the argument. Never said it was impressive, just that it wasn't 'nothing' and where is the 13 month figure?? They haven't even owned the land for that long......
Take a deep breath... no hyperbolic arguement here. just common sense, logic, and things one would learn in a high school business course... (and an elementary school calander )... Project announced may 2010. that is 13-14 months ago depending how you count. Do you really believe Bernie would sign a contract with Tavo without knowing where the track was to be located? They had the land under contact before this was announced. No one announces a project of this magnitude and then goes out looking for land... By Tavo's own words, construction had to begin in 2010 to make the deadline... no real work was done until late april / may 2012... And I never said it was nothing. They made no progress after 8 or after 12 months... we are now at 13/14... In fact I said the opposite: that it would take 2 guys 13 weekends to do that!
Give or take a couple guys,... yes. now would they do it with precision, no. Point is, its not hard or time consuming to grade land. Considering this project was announced 5/10,... it's 6/11,... and work is required to be completed 3/12... how would you grade the progress? Are you seriously optomistic based on all they have accomplished? You never answered whether you followed USF1 debacle...
I did not follow it, but its come up before, just many many posts ago. The two aren't related at all. A few guys setting renting out some warehouse space vs. having to deal with the government on many, many levels to get a construction project through are no more related than astro turf and say, Michael Vick. Grade....I don't know, B- If August rolls around and they still haven't started putting up buildings, my confidence drops off sharply. Yes, I am optimistic.
Personally I think they're moving dirt at a slow pace until the State funding comes through. If they don't get the state funding, no petition will save the race. Here's why: There was major damage done at the city council meeting Thursday. It is no longer an issue of should we/ shouldn't we. There were giant, gaping holes in the comptroller's estimate that were revealed by the council members and a speaker. 1. The hotels were estimated at 90,000 single occupied. That means a family of 4 would each have their own hotel room. There are approx 30,000 hotels in the greater Austin area. This will greatly reduce the hotel tax estimated. 2. The city does not collect sales tax through e-commerce or in the ETJ. Subtract from the estimate any sales of tickets, hats, shirts, whatever is sold at the venue or online. 3. City does not collect alcohol taxes in the ETJ. Subtract from the estimate alcohol sales at the venue. 4. The estimate only counts out of state visitors. The estimate was 90,000 OOS visitors. With Montreal as the closest model, there were approx 30,000 US and 12,000 overseas visitors. That is 42,000 visitors not counting Canadians. How many Canadians will come to Austin 1 week after Montreal? Judging from the singer of Rush this weekend, he said "Man, its hot in here. We Canadians aren't used to this heat". It was 100 degrees outside and about 80 degrees inside the Erwin Center. On a side note, when Rush played Red Barchetta I couldn't help but think about the race... 5. The item $20 million in "other" spending on the estimate will be removed. They will only count tangible items. 6. The city council is asking the hard question: What will the costs to hold the race be? That will be subtracted from the economic impact. The higher the costs, the lower the impact will be. Why does the estimate matter? Because if the event is not estimated to bring in at least $15 million in state tax revenue, the event is no longer eligible for the Major Events Trust Fund. They could apply to the Events Trust Fund, but that would not get them the money up front. Statesman reported Montreal's tourism for F1 brought in $90 million. 90 Mill * .0625 = $5,625,000 in estimated taxes Let's say they get an estimate of $150 million. 150 Mill * .0625 = $12,500,000; still not enough to qualify for METF They have to get it up to $240,000,000 to get to the $15 mill in estimated taxes. So a petition to "save the race" is futile. Just as futile as the opposition making a silly petition to kill the race. If there was a petition based in reality, it would say "City Council, please estimate the race above $240 million". That's the only issue right now as far as the council is concerned.
Sounds like what alot of folks here have imagined. This project was never fully funded unless the state came through. Now will the backers of this who do have money come through if the posted scenario is accurate. Hanging by a thread as it sounds. Will be interesting. Bernie has nothing to lose and much to gain from Tavo if this fails. Still from the press Bernie's preference has always been a city race in and around NYC. Its got the elements he feels the show should have. Large city, glamour and a large international population. Austin is nice from what I see but the city alone cannot support this and make it profitable. Hopefully the allure of a purpose built facility will make this work. Better that than some city track in NYC with no passing etc.
