concrete! http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.303023729712179.90897.157330087614878&type=1 Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The press box in the tower is fully functional, and has been for several years. There is no broken glass. You may be talking about the VIP section of the grandstands, which is under the press box, and was never finished. Glass was never installed.
Ok, so if she's not speaking for CoTA or USGP, what the hell are we watching her for then? It seems nothing may be taken at face value in this deal. BHW
Various sources close to the situation, Bob, including the management and others that were interested in the asking price prior to the sale and could provide some information. Obviously, the schedule is public: http://www.texasworldspeedway.com/the-track/track-schedule.html My statement that they are making money on it was not wholly accurate. What I was actually trying to state is that it has paying participants, various auto and motorcycle track days, and their own driving and track day programs, and is not dormant. How this income compares to the cost of capital is likely another thing. The track is being run much more professionally than in the recent past. I was out there all day today participating in a motorcycle track day, and the differences are obvious....a bunch of us old timers remarked about the condition of the facilities slowly improving and the maintenance, too. The management has been present at several events in the past and made themselves available for comments and discussion of the track and opportunities, which was refreshing. The value of real estate along the Hwy 6 corridor has certainly been on a significant rise, although the current financial landscape for real estate is quite bumpy. Do you have information that is in conflict with my statements? I am always interested in additional data points.
How should Austin feel about this. How can anyone think Austin will be profitable even in the short term. Hopefully the additional use of the facility posted here(Moto-GP etc) will help out. Very interesting link below. http://planetf1.com/driver/18227/7249023/Korea-seeks-co-operation-from-Bernie
I cannot imagine anyone actually thinking that a $400,000,000 racing facility in the US or elsewhere has a prayer of actually turning a profit under the relationship with F1 and the cutting of racing budgets in most road racing programs. Funny that various regulating bodies are cutting racing costs/creating 'parity' by restricting testing, which likely has a further negative effect on the very facilities that hold the races. Look at the pi55ing match that occurred between the AMA and Miller Motorsports over facility costs to bring the AMA series to the track. And that is a flea in comparison to F1. I think that a track that costs over about $50,000,000 in the US is an owner's hobby and few illusions of profitability exist among those building the tracks like Barber and Miller. JMHO.
I have been out of this loop for a while. Like the rumor about Disney building in the greater Houston area, I used to hear ever so often that Risi was going to buy TWS, which is silly seeing how it is far cheaper for him to rent when he needs it. But last I heard was one deal breaker were the mineral rights. Regardless, I hope the current owners keep fixing the place up. It is my favorite track in Texas. I don't think the track needs paving so much as the run off areas need cleaning. A simple get off can completely ruin a car. Dale
Seems not as much going on as some believe... http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2011/10/18/circuit_organizers_still_await.html?cxntfid=blogs_formula_austin
Talk about unbiased reporting on the statesman part . Their open records request is silly; the building permits will probably be issued by they time they get an answer...plenty of permitted work to be done until then though
foundation parts: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.306078832740002.91533.157330087614878&type=1 Image Unavailable, Please Login
More work on pit foundation. lots of workers. (friends of formula 1 FB page estimated 300 there last saturday http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.307170572630828.91834.157330087614878&type=3 http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111019/F1/111019854#ixzz1bSNtqGM4 Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
It was years ago, my recollection. Probably faulty (the broken windows) on my part... Thank you for joining into our discussion with the clarification!!!
Opponents of the USGP in Austin got some ammo today... http://www.statesman.com/sports/formula1/comptroller-second-u-s-f1-race-would-not-1932031.html The wording of the METF rules will be the issue... So is the USGP the event,... or is an F1 race the event?
That's the same guy that was bringing up questions about the timing of the application earlier in the year....obviously they consider the 'usgp' to be the event. oh well, I seriously doubt they're going to meet the tax revenue requirements after the first year, to even apply the second year around anyways
