US GP in Austin Discussion and Speculation...

You can't say that: it is meaningless at this point

Once the site starts selling them for all races (like in December) we will see. However by then we won't need ticket sales to tell us the picture. If there is no track and infra by then it is dead.

 

Thats different because it was an existing race. New tracks don't do that for their first year.

 

From the Daily Texas, UT's paper.

I got a kick out of that....

 

Bernie Ecclestone a Texan?? I never would have known.......

 

So I guess not EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas....

 

If Bernie Ecclestone "grew up" in Austin, I'll eat my hat!

 

If Ali Putnam is actually a spokesperson for COTA and the quote attributed to her is accurate, it just shows that COTA is populated by idiots who have no business pretending that they know what they're doing or that they know anything at all about F1. From the beginning this was all about a minor league promoter and a major league user trying to con the world. Seems that they're still trying. The sad part is that some people are actually buying.

 

Betcha his bank account is bigger than yours!

 

You don't really think too highly of Tavo & Co., do you? pretty sure it's just an error by the reporter.

 

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/f1-developers-may-get-ok-today-to-start-1603845.html

woo hooo!!!!

 

Interesting and good news. They are still pushing for a June race? Thought that was too hot a timeframe and would be pushed out? More to follow Im sure.

 

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/f1-construction-permits-approved


F1 construction permits approved
Foundation construction to move ahead on track

Updated: Wednesday, 13 Jul 2011, 1:21 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 13 Jul 2011, 12:42 PM CDT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Travis County officials will issue new permits by the end of the day Wednesday for construction on the Formula One racetrack site.

F1 developers met with various Travis County departments for a progress update.

The next phase of the project, the foundations for four buildings on the site, were discussed and approved Wednesday morning.

Anna Bowlin, director of Development Services for Travis County Anna Bowlin said the meeting is not unusual for any large project.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” she said, “It’s just more efficient to get everyone together to talk about any issues.”

Steve Sexton, president of Circuit of the Americas, which is developing the facily, said the project is "moving forward as scheduled."

"Our meeting today with the county was a regular update regarding construction progress at the site that concluded with the county issuing the next round of permits," he said.

Members of EMS and the fire marshall’s office attended the Wednesday meeting. Representatives for the county's transportation and natural resources department were also in attendance.

The first race is scheduled for June 17, 2012.

 

Sounds promising. Lets keep an eye on the sight itself over the next weeks.

 

The pics I posted of the site were from Tuesday July 5th. They might be a good reference to measure progress and action.

 

For the 5 minutes I was there yesterday, there where probably 20 to 30 heavy duty semi trucks coming and going. I assume in anticipation of today's approval.

 

"Game On" for above ground construction.....

 

lol well played

 

8 months until construction is due to be complete and they have obtained permits to build foundations???? Good grief...

 

Just because you have nine women in the room, doesn't mean you can have a baby in one month.

Still, 5 months in 2011 and 6 months in 2012.

I dunno, man...I'm on the outside looking in on this one!

 

No I think they have had a Foundation Only or maybe just a Pavement and Grading unitl now...

You can't go above ground with that, this is mosy likely full building permits for the four structures.....

 

They vast majority of the work I would think is in the site prep, and grading, they aren't building that many permenant structures. A grand stand for around 12k people, team buildings, and what not.........Most of the seating is going to be temporary Even some of the parking spots are gonna be on grass....

Just went through the first 100 images (out of almost 400) of this permit https://www.ci.austin.tx.us/devreview/b_showpublicpermitfolderdetails.jsp?FolderRSN=10550209
trying to answer my question about if they're moving all the pipelines. Best I can figure, they're going to leave one 20inch one that goes over the 'circuit of the americas bulevard' in........Not too important, I'm just curious.

Of interest though, there is going to be a 'spectator bridge' that goes over the track.....sounds fun

 

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I'm sorry but the team building sketches looks like my nephew's chicken scratch.

COTA has been saying for a while they don't have to have the entire facility ready for the first race. I think that's what we can expect, the basics will be in, but not the full scope of the master plan. That's ok, but it'll be weird to have guests at a half built facility. If the drought continues through the year, they just might be able to pull this off.

 

I don't see how anyone can now dispute that this track is getting built. Between the money spent already, the contracts bid and awarded, and the other racing series committed to coming, I don't see how you can believe otherwise.

The only debate I see now is when the F1 race will be held, and I think everyone knows that a fall date would be better for weather in Texas, and I think Bernie will award them a later date.

Will the first race be a logistics nightmare? Probably, but so was Texas Motor Speedway when they opened, and that was to 220,000 people. After the first year, they figured out what roads to make one way in and out, and it works well now.

I am proud that Gov Rick and the State Comptroller have the foresight to see that this race, and all the other races and activities at this track will bring in more than the $25mil they are putting out there. I think the track will bring in a ton of associated businesses, some of which have already spoken up, and that it will change that side of Austin for decades to come.

That's my 2c , now flame on.

 

I think that pretty well sums it up. I'm putting in a bid for thread title change......