US GP in Austin Discussion and Speculation...

You know why

If Tavo makes it happen, there is $$$$$$$$$$$ to be made. Just like Windsor and USF1. Those closest and most emotionally attached to the project are usually the last to see it (not referring to anyone on here, but Tavo and gang).

They need to keep up the appearance of progress. That Red whateverhisnameis guy signed on for a cherry deal, but they need others to sign on as well. Just like a prospectus for a new oil well in Texas. By the time the prospectus makes its way to the pigeons, it's set up so that everyone (at the top) gets paid before any work gets done. If they ever get the actual investment in place, Tavo and Red walk away with $$$$.

It was a 2 year project though... and when they got the deal in May of '10, there was enough time to make it plausible. Now that we've burned through almost half of the available time, I think anyone whose being realistic realizes this is the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs and 2 strikes and you're down by 10. Sure, it's possible. It's possible I will get accosted by a roving herd of supermodels on my way home from work who abduct me and force me to live a life of luxury as their kept man.

Anything is possible. Almost anything... not F1 in Austin in 2012, but almost anything else


Just my .02

 

Are you accusing me of being disingenuous and provocative?

Mais non. Mais non.

 

No, just smart and insightful, but I apologize profusely and retract my words most humbly

 

You are certainly right about that. Even USF1 had a carbon fibre tub at some point.

The difference is however in the timeline: By the time USF1 presented the tub they were already ridiculously behind any realistic timeline to have a car for the season start. Whereas Tavo's team are moving earth now and I don't see that as a problem at all to make the 2012 GP.

I guess we'll see by mid summer whether this too was just a giant bluff or not.

I might be wrong on this, but I believe the Austin GP has now accomplished more than the Donington team. So there is hope. And I really, really, really want this GP to happen.

 

You may kiss the ring and rise my liege.

 

Mike
Were you ripped off by Bernie Madoff at some point?
You think they're going through all this to get a quick payoff? Not only tavo, but also a billionaire? And the other investor?
I get your concerns about the construction timeline, but for someone as smart as you, that's a pretty big stretch.

 

I never implied it was a scam or get-rich quick scheme. If Bernie came to you and offered you the race, would you take it? I would. Because I would know what I stand to gain if I make it happen. Same reason there are so many business plans out there - no shortage of people looking to get rich. Nothing wrong with looking to get rich.

Red is a smart guy. I don't believe he is financing all or even much of the project. He probably lent his name and some operating capital to the deal in exchange for a big cut of the result. Very Branson-esque... never risk your own money if you can risk someone else's. Now, with Red's name attached, Tavo and crew go sell the deal to other investors.

I don't think that last part has happened. If money were unlimited, there would be an army of construction crews there making it happen. There is a singular reason that hasn't happened - money.

Consider the vast resources it takes to make it in F1. For teams, you have the worlds biggest companies - Mercedes, Honda, Toyota - it takes that level of capital to make it as a new F1 team.

To be an F1 venue, it takes even more. Think about the tracks added in the past 5-10 years. I believe ALL of them were through government entities. Because it takes not only massive capital resources, but vast political resources too. It takes Kings and Sultans or heads of state to apply the requisite level of grease to the wheels to make F1 tracks happen. What was the last privately owned F1 track constructed specifically to hold an F1 race, that wasn't spearheaded or funded by a national-level government? I can't think of any...you could count Valencia, but that's a street circuit, and it was still the gov't being the willing party, so they made it happen. Not so with Austin.

If F1 Austin was announced as a street circuit, I can maybe see it happening. As a road course? On a track that isn't built yet? In a facility that doesn't exist yet? And isn't fully funded? And doesn't have full planning permission? That is without adequate power, water, sewer? That doesn't even have roads that can even theoretically support the crowd? All made in a timeline that is shorter than ANY other F1 track made in recent history? Headed by a guy whose resume includes promotion of a couple of unsuccessful NASCAR type races?

I am amazed anyone thinks this is actually going to happen. It makes USF1 look like the Manhattan Project in terms of resources, skill and determination to succeed.

 

You realize that there isn't even the road capacity to get the # of people there (and out)... nor is there the power infrastructure.

They aren't just talking about building an access road, we're talking major construction of infrastructure (and major cost) to build entirely new roads.

Same with utilities... last I heard, they would need to build an entirely new substation to be able to service the site. It takes months just to get the parts you need to do those things, forget about actually doing the construction and providing the actual service.

I think we are *vastly* underestimating what is required to make this happen. If it were fully funded with full approval from all agencies, I think it would take a couple of years to get done.

They have a handful of front end loaders and dozers on site. That's akin to a handyman showing up at your dirt lot with a hand saw and hammer and saying your new 20,000sq-ft mansion will be done in 6 weeks.

 

People love a good fairy tale. Go blame Walt Disney.
Besides every once in a while they come true.

 

some here are forgetting one very important factor, we have lots of these amazing worker bees from the south. You set those guys to wrk and you could build the entire east coast in the south in a year.

 

Nothing to be concerned about. If my fellow Greeks could get the Olympics ready on time, the Texans should easily be able to build a race track.

 

lol!!!

 

I'd put a group of out friends from south of the border up against any group of chinese or koreans any day of the week.

 

Or union construction. They NEED the money, that is a rare type of motivation.

 

+1 what is going on is just enough....maybe to get the business plan sold. This has always been about a plan to sell a plan...for a profit. I for one see this happening. If its on time it will be a miracle. The weather is getting better so maybe that will help. NO matter though, F1 in the states is not a big money maker.

 

http://www.theaustingrandprix.com/news/

 

Very telling and troubling.

A handful of pieces of equipment for a 900-acre lot that needs done in 12 months?

This race is toast.

 

I hear you, yet I'm not convinced. Which might have something to do with my lack of insight when it comes to construction.

However I still don't see what the big deal is in building a track, which is in essence a 3 mile long road with some grandstands and garages. They build skyscrapers in less time than that and I consider those a lot more complex than a road.

I can see that getting permits etc can take forever, but apparently that hurdle has been taken.

Maybe it is that I just want to believe in this project.

 

Those T shirts may be quite collectable.

 

Excellent, I just ordered mine in Texas orange. Also planning a road trip down there to see the progress for myself.

 

I'll be going by in probably the next 2 weeks

 

Bring a seeing-eye dog and some rose colored glasses

 

Wear them for an early F1 GP morning on Speed while you are making yourself some toast in the USF1 toaster.

 

If I get an X-Large can I use it for sleep-over jammies too?