Youre right in that we're all selling all the time. I am selling the fact that Texas is a can do state that is pro business and pro common sense. That the comptroller and city council and governor and judges and one of the largest building contractors in the world are all behind this, causes me to have faith this thing is going to happen. Until it's not. Texans have an attitude of independence with an understanding that we are all interdependent. I am sorry you live in a place (physically, mentally?) where that's not the case. Serious question. Are you planning to boycott the race if it happens? Or do you plan to consume it? And
I have gone from doubting this is possible to now thinking the odds are over 66% that it will happen, but probably not in June. Eleven months construction: Doesn't matter if it is the biggest contractor in the world, material, weather, and inspectors will do their best to delay things. Having built office buildings in Florida and Arizona, I just do not see this happening. Fourteen months construction: This is getting a bit more reasonable. I doubt if Bernie wants to cancel this event in March or April because of the potential that the track may not done. He looks bad. Teams have already made 75% of their 2012 travel plans, includiing the concept that cars, equipment can go direct to Austin from Montreal, so waiting until 90 days out is costly for all involved. I have heard that the promoters are already lobbying Bernie for a date after Brazil so this would be the last race. Brazil will not like that, so I am thinking the USGP in Austin will be the week before Brazil. Fine by me. I will be living in El Paso, and that part of Texas in October is much much nicer.
Damn BigTex, just noticed that poster of Leon Russell in one of your photos. Didn't realize he was still alive, but he was on TV recently.
I'm not saying that I believe or dont believe the june date. What I am saying is, if the state puts up the money for a 2012 race, it will happen in 2012. Maybe I misunderstand the nancies who claim it's june 2012 or bust.
COTA hired a new director of sales and marketing, awaybfrom the Dallas Stars. He did a good job there, selling a "foreign" sport in Texas.
And ACL is in September/October, depending on the organizer's scheduling. The ROT Rally is in early June. Oh! hahahaha. The only event I've heard of happening in July is BBB, which is a weekend long party on Lake Travis for couples only with nights spent partying on 6th St and local downtown hotels. A few years ago, there were approximately 4000 rooms booked with many hotels booked solid for months.
Even with the amount of rain we've been having.....? +1 If there was any reasonable reason to doubt the financial backing of this. It would have been raised by the city council in the past few weeks.....
One would hope..., but history shows us that this is not always the case (and I'm probably being kind with that characterization...). And considering that the vote costed no money from Austin's accounts, why would we expect any due diligence from the city council?
Because no one likes to be made a fool of?? I was thinking more along the lines that the those opposed to the measure on the council would have brought it up for discussion for the argument against it. I don't know if you ever saw it, but I posted up the transcipt from the council session referencing what you had seen their attorney say about the financing. No one asked about it, they voluntered the information. Perhaps someone with construction experience can answer this: Would the financing of the project had been vetted by the City of Austin before they bid out the Water Utilities construction. Seems the city wouldn't want to be stuck with the tab for that (3.7MM) if Tavo & Co. wouldn't be able to pay....?
Delivered a car for a client yesterday in Austin, and stopped by to see the progress. Can't wait to come back next year for the race! Image Unavailable, Please Login
[iamthesimpleone] "Because no one likes to be made a fool of?? I was thinking more along the lines that the those opposed to the measure on the council would have brought it up for discussion for the argument against it. I don't know if you ever saw it, but I posted up the transcipt from the council session referencing what you had seen their attorney say about the financing. No one asked about it, they voluntered the information." RESPONSE: It just seems that the Council is as infected with the wishful thinking bug as COTA is. To me nothing that COTA says has a shred of credibility. Others here have posted the early claims that all the financing was in place. Subsequent admissions by COTA and its lawyer show that those claims were simple lies. There's no kind way to gloss it over. They lied and the Council bought into it. As this link (http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/07-11-11-austin-formula-one-plan-revs-forward-with-a-fake-race-date-think-november-2012-instead/) from "culturemap Houston" shows, "The truth is Formula One pushers still don't have permission to start construction on any of the actual buildings needed to house a spectacle such as F1, all they can do is start pouring the track, build a couple of tunnels and keep pushing dirt around. They only received permission to start actual track construction, by the way, at the end of June, despite claiming construction was "under way" long before that." This would explain the obvious lack of progress on site. [iamthesimpleone] "Perhaps someone with construction experience can answer this: Would the financing of the project had been vetted by the City of Austin before they bid out the Water Utilities construction. Seems the city wouldn't want to be stuck with the tab for that (3.7MM) if Tavo & Co. wouldn't be able to pay....?" RESPONSE: Generally, (well maybe not in Texas but at least in states out here in the west) the powers that be don't bother to look into financing. They just make the contractor post separate performance and maintenance bonds to assure completion and functioning of whatever work is done. If Austin does the same it won't get stuck when Tavo & Co. fall short on their promises.
No, most large works are Bonded, if there is a default during the construction the Bonding Agency finishes it, usually....bidding "Balance to Complete....with the same or possibly different players.
Unbelievable how this forum is ahead of the game. Everything here confirmed and backup up: http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/07-11-11-austin-formula-one-plan-revs-forward-with-a-fake-race-date-think-november-2012-instead/ http://twitpic.com/5m58u5 Now I'm on board with the "No race in 2012". Sheeesh. At least the ac is good in my house for weekend viewing.
You guys (and that article from the CultureMap brain trust...you need to investigate who owns that website) are missing the bleacher issues I have previously posted. You RENT the bleacher systems, they are portable and modular. So all the COTA really needs is flat slabs, cured, at the bleacher areas. Focus on Mr. Bernie's VIP Suites and the rest is a piece cake.....
They don't have the CLOMR still. The pit and team buildings sit in the arm of the flood plain. So no matter how quick they can get them up, they can't start until that sucker is in place. A month ago they said it would be by the end of the week. I just can't buy into that much longer. I am officially in the "not in June" camp. I will pull down my tent once the clomr is in place.
I've been in the not in June camp (In November) for a long time.........it makes a lot more sense. Any word on the CLMOR yet? I've tried getting information from FEMA, but they don't make it very easy to find..... As to the article in 'houston culture' or whatever it was called.......He said they didn't start track construction until June of this year....How does he define 'construction'?? Because I would think with a project like this, the bulk of the work would be in the site prep. Recall reading somewhere that of their original budget of $250MM $150MM of that was going to be for the construction of the track itself....Expensive concrete, i guess
It IS specialized paving, not the standard "hot mix" they spread on FM2222. CultureMap is owned by a bunch of River Oaks hotties, their husbands gave them some money and told the to 'run along" while they played golf or whatever! They gave me my own little "square" (iphone thingie) as an Art Car last year, that was cool. The picture is of Lady Valeria, tho......
Ah.....fourSquare? I refuse to buy a smart phone.... Are those the hooligans that make them bury power lines instead of running poles through their neighboorhoods...? On a side note though, I think there were a few pipelines under the property that are still unaccounted for in the building permits.....They can't be leaving some in, you think??
There's going to be an easy way to know if owners think deadline will be met: WHEN TICKETS GO ON SALE!!! . And that brings my question: How long in advance do F1 tickets usually sell? Thx.
