Austin USGP Hints, Tips, Lessons Learned for Sunday

Great idea for a thread. Will come in handy in the future

 

I was curious so I drove by the track yesterday, traffic wasn't too bad. It's been about the same as the construction traffic lately, although now it is a bunch of food and race related semis instead of construction trucks.

This morning the local news started reporting on traffic at COTA, and so far people are still moving at 80mph on hwy 130, but there supposedly is some increased RV traffic right by the track.

I might drive by again today and let you know. For Friday practice, I'm not sure if I'm going to try the shuttle or drive with a friend who has a parking pass.

 

Because the TRAFFIC PLAN Is not yet in effect, it slams in 4AM tomorrow....let me see if I can address your other items in order...brb.

Expect ROAD CLOSURES, TONS of cops, cones, barrels, turned traffic flow...I have a chart...

You had better follow the BEST info you have associated with your Lot Pass, as Ticketmaster ^%$%^ed them all up, and COTA has worked around the clock since, to line it all out.

If you have a Pass, follow it, IF you got an email update, follow THAT instead....you might want to head out at 4AM, as I have to do!! LOL!

Or say &^%(*& it and take the shuttle from the Expo Center, not far away.
There's also a special lot for bicycles!!!

 

Great thread idea.


I have to miss Friday practice, but I'm planning on being at the track as early as possible on Saturday. Does anyone know how early I can be at the track on Saturday morning? If I get there at 5:00 am, for example, will they let me in to park? (I have an onsite parking permit.) By getting there crazy early I'm hoping that I can miss much of the traffic and I can always get a little sleep in my truck. (I'll be driving from Dallas.)

 

Road congestion will be bad, follow the police directive at all times.
Parking off site is the Expo Center, and downtown, you can also heli shuttle from Lost Pines, $550/day
There are "enough' shuttles, just allow the time to park, and ride in on one, they will get waived right on it, taxis are also "ok" IF you can get one....Limo's of course, ride with Bernie and Tamara!!

It's 3/4 mile from the drop off TO the Gate, and then Trams circle the track or it may be shorter to walk over bridges and tunnels.

Bag check only, (no metal detectors, not sure if that makes me feel better!) follow the Rules on prohibited items, only bottled water can come in.
there are GREAT concessions, Salt Lick and others....

GA has special hills to sit on at various areas of the track.

Bathrooms and water should be like any major event, really.

I have the list of all the food vendors, and it's long....it won't be cheap....

Grand Plaza is all the displays and team driver signing schedule is on the COTA site, printed on one of the maps.
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Yes, Gates at 7AM , parking opens at 6AM and you'll be first in!

I'm at Gate 1, by the helicopter pads.....

 

See that "No Walking Zone" all around the track??

Pedestrians are NOT allowed in....period.

All that stuff is from City of Austin......grabbed from links I have, in COTA Employee Private Facebook Group.

 

Good layout of Track, but MY job is to give you one of these, at the gate!!!

Me and 600 Track Wayfarers....Bring it ON!!!!

I'm getting excited...
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Parking lot F baby! Let's see if I ever get in...

 

Thanks, BigTex! I'll have to swing by Gate 1 -- I'll bring a pen so that you can autograph my track map!

 

This might help, Austin TxDOT's camera page:

http://ausits.dot.state.tx.us/its-cameras/

-F

 

Oh gosh.....flatterer!!!

Where's my silver Sharpie???

Your coming by the house later??
We have a bar/live music picked for every evening...

Cannot let a little 12 hour shift standing on my feet slow down the dancing!
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The track is located right OFF the bottom of that map, at Hwy 183 and Hwy 71, but they actually are using the Toll Road 130 for the maximum flow rate, 85MPH.

First fatality on it, last weekend.....

 

It will be "all lanes in" for the morning, "all lanes out" to exit....should be fine.

 

Crap. I really wanted to camp this weekend, but all of the campgrounds near Austin have been full. I broke down today and got a room in Bastrop at a Days In. Not 5 minutes later, I checked Bastrop State Park and a freaking campsite had opened up! Of course I can't cancel the hotel room. So, if anyone is looking for a campsite, google Bastrop State Park and check their availability.


I saw on the COTA schedule that various teams will be having autograph sessions. The sessions are relatively short. Does one typically have to get in line way in advance of the session beginning? Can you bring items to be autographed, or do you have to purchase one of their photos?

BigTex, will you have to work the gate for the entire race, or will you have a chance to walk around and watch part of it?

 

In in lot H. I wanted to drive the Mondial, but it's on jack stands. (Believe it or not, I'm chasing down an electrical issue...) I'm going to drive the Hummer instead -- I hope that they don't try to charge me for an extra parking space.
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It was a brief announcement, in the "massive thread" but 'barnyard' has 300 acres along the Colorado River in Bastrop..he's open to anyone.

Sorry to hear how your shook out....he's right across the highway from Lost Pines Resort!!!

They won't let you out of the hotel??

You can camp in the front yard downtown.....pecan trees, we have a stump that needs to burn...

 

I work three days, 12 hour shift, with Lunch and two breaks, then when EVERYONE is seated for the F1 start, they said we are "General Admission" and can go watch it...

I'm hoping to be drinking with Tamara, by then....!!!!

I DO get to keep all the uniform shirts.....

 

You'll have to ask her about that $1.5 million bathtub! (Or better yet, give us a first hand report.)
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My plan for sunday: start out in turn 1, and then hurry back up to the grand plaza. Really nice view of turns 20, 19, 18, 1 and 2

Also, they say you are assigned shuttle bus locations with your ticket, but they have no way of checking. can't speak about the downtown setup, but at the Expo center; I left my house at 6:15, I was in the line to get into parking by 6:40. I was on the bus by 7:10 and at the track by 7:50. Going home after practice 2 was even quicker

 

My sister has general admission tickets - how does the shuttle work for those?

 

Two shuttle locations; one downtown, and one in the expo center. Traffic is a lot better at the expo center than downtown. The packet that came with the tickets said you were assigned a shuttle location, but they didn't check tickets or anything until you were at the track entrance gate, so you could take either one if you wanted to. I'd recommend the expo center. Total time from when i got into the line for parking at the shuttle until i was at the race track: hour and 10 minutes

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/transportation

 

The Expo center parking was very easy. I came in from Dallas via I35 to Temple, 95S to 290, and 290 from the east to 3177. It looked like traffic from the west was heavier.

Nobody was checking tickets until the gates @ the track. Long walk on unpaved paths from the shuttle drop off points, so be aware of that. My pedometer showed 8 miles today in total.

You'll end up at the turn 12 entrance coming from the shuttles. If you're over on 1/2 side you really should take the tram around the outside. The pedestrian bridges that you have to take to 13 and then to 3/2/1 were JAMMED. Hope you're not claustrophobic.

As mentioned, take cash. Lots of places couldn't take cards. Long lines for food.

On the positive side, lots of great general admission locations, great track layout, good sight lines everywhere.