F1 Austin

[dbk]

The track looks really, really spectacular. Awesome layout that appears very funny fun to drive, and should provide a lot of action tomorrow. I have to say, they definitely should have had a whole heap of track days to lay down some rubber because it looks like a real oil slick out there so far. Should make turn 1 on lap 1 interesting. Looks like one hell of a facility as well. $400 million well spent.

Really bummed we couldn't be there! What are the odds of getting a baby with a due date on the day of the only US F1 race! :biggrin

 

[GTJack]

Wishing you and family the best tomorrow if the little one decides to make an appearance then. So, will RALLY VIII be at this track or some date in the future?

 

[RALPHIE]

Turn 19 is providing quite a few thrills...

 

[RADGT]

Will the race be televised?

 

[Fracman]

Impressed with the event so far, impressive facility, good managent of getting people into the facility, and the Ferrari Challenge cars putting on a NASCAR worthy show.

 

[roketman]

Is the track available for a Texas Ford GT rally??
Just thinking out loud.But how cool would it be to drive on a new F1 track????

 

[THamonGT]

Speed TV at 12:30 central time.

 

[RADGT]

Thx.

 

[dbk]

I originally read that the track would not be used for public rentals, but that may have changed.

I wouldn't mind just piggybacking a Rally off the race event itself. I know Formula 1 has caught a lot of grief over the last couple years, but this has been a great season and the sheer technical superiority of the cars makes it such a phenomenal in-person event.

 

[Specracer]

If it was available, could you even begin to fathom what the rental costs would be???? Yikes....

 

[Mullet]

I read somewhere they have open dates next year for $50k a day.

We NEED to do this.

 

[dbk]

If it's $50k a day for track rental, count on $60k after corner workers, fire and safety, and insurance. My guess is they probably require $10 mil general liability.

It would be extremely cool, but you're talking about ~$1000 per person per day to use that facility unless you bring hundreds of cars, which is not fun on a 3 mile course. Something like Laguna Seca, which people consider extremely expensive, is $15k a day.

 

[SteveA]

. Something like Laguna Seca, which people consider extremely expensive, is $15k a day.[/QUOTE]


You're either "the most informed man in the world" or you've been doing research.:wink

 

[BlackICE]

. Something like Laguna Seca, which people consider extremely expensive, is $15k a day.


You're either "the most informed man in the world" or you've been doing research.:wink

Researching what? :biggrin

 

[dbk]

Unfortunately for us, at $15,000 a day for the Laguna track rental fee, everyone would have to weld turn downs on even a stock GT to avoid blowing the db limit. That's what SVT had to do at FGT events before the car launched.

It's $27,500 per day for a sound unlimited day, but those are reserved for race team testing only. No dice!

Bummer!

 

[DanQ]

What did you guys think of the race? I thought it was great! A bunch of passing through out the whole field!

I was very worried when I first saw the layout. Every long straight ends in a very tight corner of more than 90*. I figured they would never be able to pull off a pass if the inside line was protected. I guess since the entry is SO wide there are many ways to get thru the corner and not get blocked.

Fun race, I watched other in car video on the computer while I watched the Speed coverage. Live timing and scoring in another window.

 

[Mullet]

If it's $50k a day for track rental, count on $60k after corner workers, fire and safety, and insurance. My guess is they probably require $10 mil general liability.

It would be extremely cool, but you're talking about ~$1000 per person per day to use that facility unless you bring hundreds of cars, which is not fun on a 3 mile course. Something like Laguna Seca, which people consider extremely expensive, is $15k a day.

Do a poll and see if people would pay $1000 a day for COTA. I would and I'm not a big track guy.

 

[2112]

If it's $50k a day for track rental, count on $60k after corner workers, fire and safety, and insurance.

Does that include the Ecclestone Licensing fee?

 

[digman1]

I went all three days, and COTA did an amazing job all the way around. We had Lot H Parking through the Ferrari Club, and came in and out from the north. You exited the new 85mph toll road about 3 miles north of the main track entrance, so we never slowed down coming or going. Took 35 minutes from Northwest Austin.

We were in turn 12 at the end of the longest straight, right where they went from 190mph to about 30. Lots of passing in that turn. We were on the top row, 37, and had a 360 view of downtown Austin as well as over half the turns. Hope to get these seats again.

Only issues we heard, were long shuttle lines, (but lines moved quickly with 40 buses waiting in a lint), and too long a waits to get food and merchandise.
I'm sure those issues will be addressed for next year.

Came home and watched the race on TV to see and hear what people thought about the track, and heard no negatives to speak of.

Best part of weekend, was mooching of a buddies coattails to get in the Aventador Roadster unveiling at the 4 Seasons ( great bar scenery after), and the saturday night Ferrari party at a ranch outside of town. They auctioned off the first F12 to hit the states for $1.125million, all going to the Sandy Superstorm victims. Met Marco the USA Ferrari President, and had a conversation and photo with Governor Rick. (friend of mine's daughter married his son, and I fly fish with the kids). They had and F40, Daytona, 275GTB and Jacky Ickx's F1 car on the lawn as you drove up. Then back to the 4 Season for more scenery.

Best racing weekend I ever had ! You guys need to go next year !!!!!

 

[beckertb]

I was there. We sat Grandstand section 4b just past the start finish line. Could see the final turn and straight and turn 1. Directly across from Vettles and WEbbers pit. FANTASTIC track. The grounds have a ways to go, but I presume they just ran out of time. Transit from the W downtown was less then stellar but we had a limo service take us back and forth, so was tolerable. Looks like helicopter is the way to approach it next year. Went to Ballet with the myf1yachtclub. They had the several lambos there--new aventador, some gallardos and a neat 66 or 67 GT350.

I have heard from fairly knowledgeable sources that the $50k/day track fee is accurate--that does include corner workers, ambulance/fire and insurance. Sounds quite pricey to me, but I'd go $1k for sure as part of a group to drive around it.

I had more fun in abu dhabi 2 weekends ago at the GP there but this was pretty great.

ben