US GP in Austin Discussion and Speculation...

Based on the date change, I have no officially answered the poll with "yes, it will happen." I had even answered the poll because I wanted to believe it would be done for the June date but always had reservations. Now I feel it's on track.

Mark

 

By the looks of those photos... they've spent WAY too much on this to walk away from it now.

I'll purchase tickets the DAY they go on sale.

 

I supervised several major commercial construction projects in a previous life, mostly in Texas and Oklahoma. I've been living in the immediate area of the track for nearly 40 years now as well. I am personally acquainted with a number of Austin Commercial business associates and I have even met Red McCombs on several occasions. I am a huge F1 fan and I would love nothing more than attending races of all kinds at the COTA track.

But do I believe the touted facilities can be completed by June 2012? Sorry, not a chance.

 

Thanks for comments - Good to hear some (further) local knowledge.

How about by Nov?.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

Good Q!....

From the little I've read, those that did make reservations were told cancelling was ok. Surely the hotels wouldn't hold you to it, would they? Particularly as you're probably rescheduling....

If anyone gets ****ed, please let us know!

Cheers,
Ian

 

So now they have a reprieve on the construction deadline but what do they do about the Major Funds money? They can't request it earlier than 1 year before the date. So they're no longer eligible for it now and you can believe the folks who files one lawsuit will be chomping at the bit to refile. And if they don't pay Bernie by Monday they're in default. It sure has all the earmarks of a set up: give a fake June date solely for the purpose of getting state funding then change the date. I'm still not a believer.

 

I'm going to assume that Bernie had the November date in mind all along, and gave the June date to help the COTA people file with the comptroller.....

 

That's exactly the point. Bernie and the COTA people contrived a date to get money by July 31 that the Fund says they can't get more than 1 year before the event. I can't imagine that the folks who filed the lawsuit won't be back in court on Monday and this time they'll probably get their injunction because for a November date the statutory requirements clear are NOT met. If a November date had been announced while that lawsuit was going on, there's no way that the Controller gets any court backing to write a check in violation of the statutory mandate.

 

Or test the legislatory waters. Don't think it'd be too hard to get a bridge loan to cover the 4 months needed before the State would release the money (Bet even Red McCombs would cover it). I would be shocked if Susan Comb's cut a check to Bernie in July. All they accomplished was pushing it through the city council agenda was minimize the public's opportunity to question it.

And the fact that Bernie possibly had this planned from the beginning is a big +1 in COTA's camp.

 

Sounds like a good chance a championship could be decided in Austin if the date is moved to November.

Also a good chance the date change totally messes up the entire thing and theres an equal chance for no F1 at all.

I finally agree with the naysayers on something.

 

Exactly. They always seem so eager to show us their progress but until I see buildings going up and the track getting paved I frankly do not give a damn.

 

Thanks buddy but pls read Daryl's response to my post: He is an accomplished architect and I take his comments seriously.

 

Uh-oh;

Cheers,
Ian
The full story; http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93546

 

I may have 3 rental opportunities available about 90 miles from the track (west of college station). Stay tuned.....I am wrapping up remodels on all and they will be used as bed and breakfasts, with great views of the Brazos River and surrounded by exotic endangered species, like Addax and Scimitar, as well as European red deer, with huge pecan trees & lots of porches.

One house is a duplex with 3 BR 3 bath upstairs and 2 bedroom 2 bath downstairs, both with full kitchens and decks surrounding both floors. The other is a Texas Dog Run house with 2 BR, 2 baths, and formal dining and living rooms, 12' ceilings, pretty charming place set in the woods just off the Brazos River.

Without traffic, it is about a 90 minute drive to Austin's airport from here, which is right next to the track.

 

I've made my reservations at The Reserve at Lake Travis. It's a Red McCombs development 30 miles outside of Austin with a helipad for shuttles to the track. Can't get any better than that.
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Very nice. Reservations for which month?

 

The airport and track are no more than 15-20 min apart.

 

Fixed it for you

Seriously, I hope you can cancel "at any time" - The dates they're banding around at the moment are a long way from fixed.

Having said that, my buddy's place (wherein I have a floating reservation) is also on Lake Travis - I've sent him the pic & asked how far that's from his place - Could possibly go over in his boat and hop the chopper if needed...... [I have a feeling access is gonna be a nightmare in year #1]

Cheers,
Ian

 

LOL

I was actually thinking that while typing my line. But with the recent developments I'm more optimistic/hopeful this might actually happen.

Absolutely.

 

As per the race on Speed today, the teams aren't liking the idea of 3 sets of back to back races to close out the season. Hopefully they'll change the earlier pairs around?? .

Oh well, they also said, the day the schedule is finalized, COTA is going to start selling tickets

 

I can understand getting a hotel as far south as San Marcos. That's about 30 miles to the track. I can understand getting a hotel as far north as Georgetown, its about 30 miles to the track on sh130. But this talk about San Antonio, Houston, or Dallas (you have got to be kidding) is crazy talk. The bottom line is there needs to be more hotels in the immediate area, because the driving to and fro all these outlying cities is not going to bring people back.

San Antonio is talking about people from F1 going down to the river walk and seeing the Alamo in between race days. They are trying to sell on the F1 brand, and they don't care what fantasy they have to tell to get in on the action. Do your math out of staters- this article is a con job!

San Antonio Tourism Wants To Attract Formula 1 Tourists
http://www.easydestination.net/blog/?itemid=2050

 

Not a bad idea. If you are coming from overseas for the race, why not take a couple of days to enjoy the area. If I attended one of the races in the far east, I would add a few days to the trip to venture out and see the sights. For example, if I went to China for that Grand Prix, then Hong Kong would be on the schedule.