F1 COMING TO AUSTIN!!

Wow! Read this thru a couple times looking for the punchline but i guess the announcement is for real. Hope it actually happens!

 

Hmph.....Texas has had an NBA All Star game,a Superbowl next year,and recently announced a McLaren dealer will be in Dallas. And now add this!

AWESOME!!!!

 

This is awesome news!!! I believe that race weekend will be quite something.
Saturday night in town after qualifying may resemble N'Orleans !! Fchatters will take up all the seats in at least two blocks worth of bars !!!

The social possibilities for race week are mind bending

Cheers, Hank

 

Think he means Hwy 71

 

Haha,that would probably be true,but count me out. Im not gonna be old enough to drink when 2012 rolls around.

 

So how is this build project going to be funded? A bit of both public & private like Jonestown stadium in Arlington?

 

Life's been good to me so far

 

Great news to hear! Count me in to go!

 

GR8 News! I for one will make the drive to DFW, stay with family and maybe borrow the RV if i can find a way to haul the Fcar behind it. Or better yet just drive the 12 hours there. Woohoo!

Best of Luck with this Austin.

So where is the F chat gathering going to be held Rob?

Dave

 

You make an interesting point. Personally, I think it'll fair well. From what I've heard, MSR Houston receives quite a bit of activity not only from its own residents but Austin & other locals too as well as few racing events.

I'd be willing to bet everyone of those folks who spends time at MSR Houston will gladly drive to Austin for Formula 1. Noting that they can't support the entire cost of the race themselves, but I imagine many of them will hold more than just a basic ticket to the bleachers.

 

This is great news, and just think of all the colorful names the track sections can get:

-Armadillo chicane
-Catfish corner
-Jackrabbit straight
-AJ Foyt 'beat the hell out of the car' garage

But seriously, with the growth of South X Southwest, the tech industry, and the great personality of Austin it does seem to make sense that it can host this type of an international event.

 

Being the Capital city of Texas, it's about time we get something here for entertainment on a professional level.

 

I have lived and worked in the central Texas area for nearly 40 years. I have a fair understanding of the politics, the players, the movers and the shakers in this area and statewide. Coincidentally, I worked for some years in large commercial construction so I have a fair understanding of what it takes to build a modern Formula 1 facility. The Austin/San Antonio area is a wonderful place to live and I would love nothing more than to see F1 come to the U.S. and to this area in particular.

In light of all that, it is crystal clear there is not the slightest hint of any chance there will be an F1 race near Austin in 2012 or any other year. As others have pointed out, these announcements may portend an F1 race somewhere in the U.S. during the next few years (most likely Indy), but certainly not in Austin.

If I am proven wrong, I will gladly submit to any public or private humiliation deemed appropriate by anyone whatsoever.

 

Do you care to share any reasons for your opinion?

 

Impressive! I still remember watching the GTP prototypes (similar to the FIA Group C) cars race around in the San Antonio Grand Prix during the IMSA GT Championship of the late 80's (1987-90). Nothing like seeing & hearing those turbo Porsche 962's, Jaguar XJR-9 & Nissan, Toyota and yes Ferrari cars run threw the streets of San Antonio!

With ALMS GT2 class now being where all the action is these days what would that do to Houston as we used to host the ALMS a few years back in the streets around Reliant Stadium? I guess if a purpose built track for F1 would be built in Austin then us here in Houston would not get any more races as organizers would utilize the new track in Austin? Not so good news for us here in Houston but, then again Austin is only 2 hours away?

As for F1 in Austin it seems to make since as the city is know for its cutting edge technology and those that work in this type of industry and or live in this type of lifestyle would most likely choose F1 over any other type of auto racing. At lease I think so? If your city is high tech then you want a sport that reflects it and I think F1 could be that fix? Not to mention it could then become a larger tourist hub as those that travel from other states or countries for the F1 race can now jump to San Antonio or Houston or as far south as South Padre Island during there stay?

A lot can happen in 2 years so, let's see what unfolds over time.

Ciao,

SRR

 

The volume of details to be considered and coordinated in a project like this is staggering. It requires a full time staff of many hundreds of experienced professionals burning through many hundreds of millions of dollars to pull it off. Then add a few hundred million more to make it happen from scratch in 2-3 years. There are also many thorny sociopolitical issues to deal with like acquisition of land & easements, building code variances, surface & mineral rights, placating the tree huggers, etc. Certainly major projects like this happen all the time but advance planning and architectural work alone (i.e., before a speck of dirt is turned) typically takes several years after financing is solidly in place.

I haven't seen anything even suggesting the existence of an economic, architectural and political infrastructure capable of supporting this kind of project, and certainly nothing capable of doing it in less than 2 years. Call me a party pooper, but I just can't see it happening.

 

You're probably right.

But, the "Austin Business Journal" (hardly the #1 paper I suspect?) said;

It's not hundreds of MM$, but NYC & Monticello etc didn't offer up anything - Add in some Bernie $, a team "discount", and we're getting close..... (?)

Cheers,
Ian
Link: http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2010/05/24/daily39.html

 

According to this, they already have 800 acres of land purchased & they have gotten permissions for the amenities.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100526/F1/100529817

 

I was thinking about all the open land east of 35 on 183 around the 71 area. That would be the area I would be looking into.

 

The new 45/130 toll road is virtually empty most days. Very near the airport. Great access from 290/71, both east and west, and 183/35 north and south. If that's where they've bought land, it's about as good as you can get around here. Probably got it for a steal, too, which is what makes Texas so attractive compared to NY etc. Our land is still relatively cheap...good dirt in that area too, nice sandy loam and not rocky!

 

Yep!!!

 

So basically money and time like everyone else is saying. I also agree with you.

 

I am already saving up and making plans. I went to the US GP in 2004 and had a blast! It will be nice to have a purpose built track instead of a retrofit on an existing one. Lets just hope they pick the right area (hill country), the right layout (challenging sections with some high speed sections), and the right marketing (i.e. let someone who KNOWS how to sell a product sell the product. Say no to cheesy NASCAR-esque ads)

 

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/05/25/formula-coming-austin-texas

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=285405