That depends on whether they are racing in a country that currently or formerly used to be part of the British Empire. So in Silverstone*, Montreal, New Delhi, Melbourne and Austin they run on the left; in the other GPs on the right. They are allowed one change of side per straight. *I might be forgetting a few in here
The new construction photos are definitely looking encouraging, I'm going to have to head down there & take a look for myself. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Formula-1-Austin-Texas/157330087614878
I am not encouraged. Not at all. The deadline to start was 3 months ago. They say June of 2012 (we had thought maybe later in the year). If this is going to be a serious effort, they need about 100 times that equipment on site. Sorry, but a few front end loaders, a couple of dump trucks and a couple of trailers would spell trouble for a 20,000sq-ft industrial building if it had to be done in a year. For a racetrack covering hundreds/thousand+ acres and all the requisite utilities? It's terminal. Dead as a dodo.
if the track can't get finished in time, you think bernie will make the teams put on off road tires and race as is?
Here's a site with some aerial photography. http://www.theaustingrandprix.com/gallery/descending-upon-the-austin-grand-prix-site-visit-part-i/
I hope so. I would love for this to happen but excuse me for being skeptical. One thing for sure...if it happens, I'll be there.
The site isn't that large..... BUT as I mentioned earlier in the thread, a contractor would be ill advised to sign on to a project like this with such large penalties for "late finish".... Just a wild guess Austin Commericail my be short of qualified, Bondable bidders...... You can find unqualified ones all day long, of course...
There you are, I was hoping you'd post... IF they need some bid numbers on the site electrical or the building package, send me via PM the Austin Commercial contact info. We had to send 200 men home to sit on the couch, and that always is painful.
Dirtwork usually does not require a bond, as there is not city acceptance as there is for paving and utilities, but there are plenty of bondable contractors in the area to get the work done. Austin Industries is no small potatoes outfit, and performs projects from Highway work, building construction, and large plant jobs. I have full confidence in them performing if the other parties paying the bills and getting the engineering and architectural items approved in time do their jobs. On the potential late finish penalties, we really don't know how their contract is structured. I highly doubt they are on the hook for the $10million late fee Bernie has imposed. I called the Austin office, and David Yeagy is the project manager. They should be looking for qualified contractors like you guys. I stand by my previous comments that building the track won't be the timing issue, the grandstands and other buildings may be. Now that the sitework is ramping up, I don't understand where the naysayers are coming from on this.
The site is 900 acres: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/7/11082.html There is supposed to be a pre-race inspection 90 days before race-day, which means the track and facilities are supposed to be finished exactly 1 year from right now. We were told they would need 18 months to get it done, but that there was "Texas money!" behind it, and all was well. We've got 12 months, 14 if they pull a Korea and let the inspection slide. A construction project of that magnitude would require a not-so-small army of equipment, men, machines, logistical planning. They have a small handful of dozers and front end loaders. It's so reminiscent of USF1 that I'm surprised more don't see it. Remember when USF1 showed off their CNC machines... and when they bought Brawn GP's old trucks (only to get them repo'ed)... and when they showed off the super-strong USA carbon fiber nose in their autoclave? I'd say USF1 looked to be a lot more legit than F1 Austin is looking. 12 months... a track... grandstands... all the landscaping... facilities, garages, hospitality, bathrooms, electrical, plumbing, traffic plans, road widening, helipads, parking, concessions, etc, etc. In 12 months. No way
Hey! All portable electronice devices should have been turned off by that point in the approach. I am calling Southwest to warn them to be on the look out for similar scofflaws on approach to AUS. Offenders can be recognized by their vibrant racing attire as well as an unusually intense interest in an open field with a few pieces of big yellow equipment on it... Not unlike an innocent little boy and his Tonka toys. Wait, I just described myself! I better not wear my Ferrari socks on my next trip Seriously, I hope this is going to come together but there is a lot of work to get done in just 16 months - assuming the FIA gives Austin the same breaks it gave Korea...
Mike As we learned from Korea, the 90 day inspection means nothing. 1 year to pave a 4 mile road? Done deal The infrastructure might not be done; but this thing is happening in 2012. The fully completed, shiny version will be in 2013 though
It's standard form for the contract to hold SOMEONE liable for late finish and you know that old saying the plumbers use!!! LOL! There's other firms as large as ours in Texas, but I can count them on one hand. Our bonding capacity is basically "infinity"..... And we have pretty tight credit and legal language review, from our Owners in Chicago, (who also own a huge concrete/forming company)...... It would just be an interesting project to do, after that Lab at Rice where they make carbon nanoscale buckyballs, a grandstand and pits is a piece of cake!! We actually have worked with Austin Commercial in the past, in Austin. Guest Quarters Hotel, downtown...IIRC
If they can race in the sands of the ME, then the cow patties of Bastrop should be 'no problem"..... Party on the Patio! Everybody PM me for the secret location on Downtown South Congress!!!!
Building an F1 track is as simple as paving a 4-mile road in the same way that building an F1 car is as simple as ordering and building a Factory-Five Cobra. When you consider that this baby needs to be DONE in 12 moths (14 if the inspection is allowed to slip), I don't see it happening. No way, no how. Just considering the utilities alone... you realize the scale of effort that will be required to bring power, water, sewer to the location? Without those, there is no racetrack and there is no race. It ain't 220V service over buried cable... it's orders of magnitude more. Not to mention constructing the entire rest of the facility. You can run an F1 race without the shrubs being filled in, but you can't run without power or without garages or without facilities for everything else. Ain't happenning. Not in 2012, maybe not ever. But definitely not in 2012.
As much as I'd love to see it happening I share your concerns. My question is if its obvious to everyone why perpetuate the charade? Are they really just bumbling along in a state of denial hoping for the best?
Well Mike I ain't going to try and change your mind, but I disagree with you. There's alot to do, alot underway, but I have seen many construction projects (firsthand; including one I worked on) meet hard dEadlines. I dont share your pessimism.... Kevin
In 12 months, we'll know which of us was right. Believe me, I would love to see it happen, I just know it won't. I don't know much about construction, but I know enough about electrical infrastructure to know that even that part of the project is impossible to do in the time allotted. The fact that the money isn't even in place is just icing on the cake I'll be happy to gobble down a pound of crow, though... got alot of friends in Texas, and would love to go to the GP.
