US GP in Austin Discussion and Speculation...

I talked to an aquaintence who was doing welding for the gas line rerouting. He said the new lines are done and tied in. A couple of interesting tidbits. The dirt guys are moving 3,000,000 cubic yards of earth. And the lead contractor expects to have 800 to 1,000 workers on site from the day the dirt moving is complete, to the day of the race. So, theres a report from a guy who was actually doing work. Now feel free to interpret however you wish.

 

Glad to hear. Exciting times coming up soon it sounds like. How many pipes did they end up moving?

 

Definitely sounds like the project is doable now, but it's too early to tell. At the beginning of the year we'll have a much better idea. Being in the construction business myself, there're delays you just can't predict nor prevent. Crossing my fingers though. I definitely plan to buy tickets as soon as they become available.

 

The nice folks from COTA was kind enough to give us these during the F1 watching party today.

One way or another, they'll be collectible.
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Goes right next to the USF1 toaster on the shelf

 

Let them know we're here, and will come to Austin.

http://austinf1facts.com/?utm_source=CotA%252B&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Non-Austin%252BEmail%252BJune%252B25

 

This begs the question... if they have 800-1000 people waiting in the wings to jump into this project, why would they not have 10x the number of pieces of equipment and personnel on-site doing the earth moving?

I mean, if they are "fully funded" (which they have now admitted they aren't), and have everything in place to start, why not put boots on the ground and get to gettin?

 

Considering how much hardware is currently there your comment doesn't make any sense - in this case more doesn't mean faster, just a big traffic jam!

 

Found this out today - The CLOMR (a letter of map revision required by the county from FEMA) is still not in place. The county has issued a stop work order in the flood plain areas of the track. The work in the flood plain (which includes the pit and team buildings) can not continue until the CLOMR is in place. The date for the bond put up for the variance has expired (June 14). If they don't get the CLOMR soon, they will be back in CCourt begging for an extension or they just might forfit the million dollar bond. Yikes.

Sourced from Travis County Natural Resources, flood plain management

 

However, a 1$MM bond would seem to be the least of their worries right now......

I still hope it happens, but...........

Cheers,
Ian

 

Every time somebody posts a cheerful message about the project there are instantly several new facts to the contrary.

Not a good sign. Way too many red flags.

 

i thought the purpose of the bond was to pay for putting it back to the way it was before if they didn't get the CLOMR approved....

At least a month past when it should have been approved by. Any idea what is holding them up?

 

Right on point 1. Thats what I meant by "forfit", the money will be used to put it back the way it was.

What's holding them up? Good ole American red tape, I'd assume.

 

If the CLOMR was due a month ago, and they're just now getting to this, I think a reasonable assumption to draw would be Council Member Tovo has something to do with this? Or mere coincedence that it is becoming an issue a week after her taking her seat on City council, and just before the issue comes to vote (again)?

Where did you hear this information? I checked the building permits (as I do everyday) and none of them have changed in status.

 

I don't think the city council has anything to do with it. Its a county issue. A friend of mine works at the county. He said he knows people at the county who deal with flood plain. I don't think this will have any effect on the vote at city council- its a side issue. We'll know for sure if it goes before the commissioners court in the next couple weeks.

 

You're probably right on whether this WILL be an issue for the City Council or the State Comptroller but I think it SHOULD be.

The deal is so far down the line and many here think it's not too late to make a March 2012 deadline for an inspection, it seems that anyone putting any money into this should be asking "what happens if they miss or fail the inspection?"

Some here (not me) had insisted that the race date would be November. So far they're proven wrong. While the date could be changed from June to November at the December WMSC meeting, if it's your money at risk, would you be willing to bet a few hundred million dollars on that? Would you accept the opinion of anyone other than Jean Todt that the race date will be changed? Would you accept the opinion of anyone other than Jean Todt that the March inspection date will be extended ala Korea last year? I sure wouldn't.

So if these delays and stop-work orders are enough to put the construction further behind and making the inspection very doubtful, the City and the State should really raise questions like: "What happens if Hellmund and gang miss the inspection date? Will the FIA or Bernie kill the race? If either does, do we get our $25 million back?" My answers are: "No one really knows" and, for me, that's enough to say "I aint puttin MY money at risk for 'No one really knows'".

 

I don't buy that at all. They are months and months behind schedule. There has been precious little hardware there. It has most definitely not been a "no expense spared" operation thus far.


The bottleneck has been funding. As in, lack thereof.

 

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/cityhall/entries/2011/06/28/city_f1_agrees_to_landmark_env.html

On a side note. Recent Austin Commercial project in town (W) hotel got closed down today due to glass falling off (third time in less than a month) I hope they build the track a little better

 

What a bunch of political grandstanding. Riley - the 3 million dollar bicycle guy. Glad I don't live in Austin. We just sit out here in the county and laugh, and laugh, and laugh. See yall at the races (in November).

 

then what is the announcment yesterday that willie nelson and lyle lovett are going to play there, just plain old grand standing??

 

Interesting statement by Riley and finally some good news: If politicians support this project for whatever wacky reason then it might actually happen.

I have seen greater folies built just to satisfy some egomaniacs needs

 

You got it Andreas. This sounds like a classic example of high-level "greenwashing", but that's fine with me. Let all the politicos and environmental honchos jostle to see who receives credit and gets to present the trophies on the podium before a worldwide audience. I couldn't care less as long as they provide me a good viewing seat, plenty to eat and drink, and they don't get in the way of the racing.

 

+1

...and hold the event in the fall please.

 

Watching the Austin city council meeting. Some of the city council members are a bunch of freaking idiots and are talking out of both sides of their mouths. The concerns they had have been removed and they are still trying to come up with arguments. Are they trying to justify to the people of Austin their existence, or, are they really that arrogant and self important? Instead of listening to and trusting their own legal people, they wish to listen to some loud mouthed peroxide blonde. There are already other developers purchasing property around the f1 track for additional retail development, don't these idiots that want to bring growth to east Austin realize that if the track doesn't occur the other developments will surely fall though as well.

 

Now the same idiot that argued against a downtown hotel this morning, is now arguing against the robber barrons, what an idiot and jerk. God I hate hippies.