Ducati Monster Forum

a couple weeks ago there was a tweet about some 'very reliable source' telling dennis noyes that there would for sure be MotoGP in austin texas next year.

now this: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Apr/110405austin.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Apr/110405austin.htm)

well....how long is the contract for Laguna and I think the Indy contract was only renewed for this year with contigencies for next year on 1st option based on attendance and so forth....

As badly as Laguna is managed, I suspect they'd dump Indy first. I think I'd actually consider traveling to Austin for a race ;D

Laguna Seca is locked in until 2014.  I don't think they would take it out of the calendar.  This is one of the most unique track on the circuit with lots of memorable history.

Indy, is a different story.  Although it's a world famous track, but a lot of riders does not like it.  It has different surfaces from concrete to tarmac.  Remember Nicky Hayden's knee slider last year?  It was completely ripped off from being caught on the track.

The proposed track in Austin would be built from the ground up to accommodate F1 and MotoGP.  And we all know how they build new stuffs in Texas (new Cowboy Stadium) [thumbsup]
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/162867/1/kevin_schwantz_advising_austin_f1_track_on_bikes.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/162867/1/kevin_schwantz_advising_austin_f1_track_on_bikes.html)

Austin is a great town to host a race! Great food, night life, music, scenery (for TX...) and cool stuff to do. But the traffic does kinda suck. It was bad in the 70s when I lived there and when I had to travel there a lot for business during the 80s and early 90s. I'm sure it's a 100 times worse now. But still, a cool place for a track. Glad I have some friends that still live there with guest bedrooms. [thumbsup] I'd put up with the shitty traffic to see a MotoGP race three hours away!

Weird...I was just telling my wife they should shit can the Indy race and move it to Austin once the F1 track opens up.

I can't wait to see this track. If the F1 race goes next year I'm there.  [beer]

austin doesn't know what bad traffic is.

reference: I-405 through the los angeles west side.

(no, I-35 through downtown austin doesn't even come close to comparing.)

fwiw, I'd like to see them expand/improve Barber....just too many good views there and a real nice (and nasty) track  [coffee]

Personally I'd rather go to Austin than Indy.

And as others have said, as badly mismanaged (and it's a hell-hole) as Laguna Seca is, it's kind of iconic.

I'm already looking forward to driving down from Dallas for F1.  MotoGP would be icing on the cake.

Are the local 'riding' roads in Austin half as good as they're reputed to be?

If so, maybe a candidate for the US TT  ;D

IN austin? no.... the surrounding texas hillcounty? you betcha.  [thumbsup]

Can Indy!! Austin or Barber would be my choice. Barber is just too small, but the facilities are gorgeous. The other problem is the infratructure i.e. airport and hotels. Austin would be a better destination for the fans.

could be a USGP triple threat...

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Apr/110407texas2.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Apr/110407texas2.htm)

which, if DORNA is truly looking to save some travel expenses, they could line up the 3 GP's in a row working their way across the continent, like they were alledged trying to do with the 2 of them as it were already in the rescheduling ideas that were/are bouncing around.

;D ;D ;D ;D

I would rather they move Indy down to Barber. Maybe they could expand the track like someone mentioned above.

George Barber has hinted at expanding his track a year or so ago for to meet FIM standards for an event, but honestly, I'd much rather see WSBK there than MotoGP...and there has been no expansion work done yet...

that would be a whole lot of expansion to get Barber homologated for MotoGP

I think Austin probably has better infrastructure, lodging, and nightlife as well. I just worry that 3 US rounds would result in dwindling attendance at each race.

Right now people outside of California that go to Laguna will still go there for the experience to see them riding down the corkscrew. Those that go to Indy really don't have a choice. The actual track is awful. The venue is great simply because you have access to similar infrastructure, lodging, and nightlife as Austin. If Austin can provide a better track, then it would be a no brainer for people to go to Austin instead of Indy. Especially, for those of us that live in the south.

I think the #1 reason Texas is coming up is more the result of having some goofy Texan's having raced in that class and do well or something...like that goofy Schwantz or Spies or Edwards or something...

Whether it's F1 or MotoGP I just hope they schedule the races during the right time of the year. Like other venues around the world Austin can be pretty hot AND humid during the summer. I lived there during the 1970s and for three years I lived in a garage apartment with no AC. [bang] It was murder... but then again I was young and stupid. ;D And it gave me a great reason to constantly drink cold beer! [thumbsup] [drink] [beer]

My Citation's parked in the hangar for the time being, can't afford the gas....

I think just the opposite would happen....fans in subsequent US locales would get excited by the preceeding race(s)....everyone still gets up when the circus comest to town....trick is to make it affordable (no gouging, please).

...says the guy with the Citation parked in the hangar. What...no Gulfstream? Proles... ;D

WHAT?!   :o

Hmm..might want to move back Austin now!   [thumbsup]


agreed

I read an article last year which listed Austin in America's top 5 for bad traffic.   Yes, there are a few areas that slow down but you can still get to work without leaving 5 hours early.  Beecaves Hwy into Westlake is slow too but manageable.  I'd be snapping like Michael Douglas if I had to drive in your LA traffic.  I-5 in Kirkland was bad enough!

Austin was not built to handle it's current population and traffic. It was make the beast with two backsed up in the 70s when they were building the double decker I-35 corridor through town and trying to build the MOPAC highway system. For the record, I snuck onto the MOPAC roadway before it was open to the public and topped out my 850 Guzzi LeMans. ;D Have I passed the statute of limitations? [laugh] Good question for ducatiz!! [cheeky]

All my Austin friends constantly complain about the traffic snarls. I guess if you live in any town over 100,00 in population you've got a legit pregnant dog. :P

What would need to be done?  Didn't they do a lot of work a few years ago?

2.2 mile track may be a little short - they could run some more road through the woods  ;D

according to the announcers during the F1 race yesterday, official announcements are forthcoming this Tuesday evening and SpeedTV will be letting folks know as well on the 7pm EST show...

the whole place would need to be magnified.  it's a '3rd gear track' even for sbks.

Jordan Suzuki Rider Brett McCormick at Barber Motorsports Park- HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nytMeMRU2aY#normal)

I love that track.

was this in support of or an argument against what i said? 

"3rd gear track" is what racers call it, not me.. however this video supports that.

Jennings is a 3rd gear track for sure.

That would be in support of......as Jake will show also.


Jake Zemke at Barber Motorsports Park - HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7uQtMJVhx8&NR=1&feature=fvwp#normal)

I've only been to Barber once, but it didn't seem like it had enough garages for big-time racing either.  Super-fun track to ride, though.

Also, Bass Pro Shop is right next door :P.

IRL, Grand-Am and AMA race there. They race more vehicles in each of those series than in MotoGP.

terraced lot above the paddock is usually where the big trailers and hospitality units are usually parked for those events and it seemed to me, as long as you know what you are parking, you can use the space well....

and yes, great track to ride IMHO, although I could never get "Museum Turn" correct....could be that I was on a strange bike or that I never got a good feel for the surface there due to that big square patch in the racing line...

Done deal!  [clap] 10 years, beginning in 2013.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/Texas+GP+announced+for+2013 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/Texas+GP+announced+for+2013)

Very cool. Does this mean Indy is done?

No, it just puts a lot of pressure on IMS to come to terms with Dorna.

I doubt IMS will since the road course was Tony George's vision and the rest of the IMS leadership booted him out partly over the cost of the road course construction.  GrandAm tested there in 2009, but there has been no mention of the findings nor any follow up scheduled race as was hinted at the time; not even piggy backed on the Nascrap race weekend, which would be the lowest cost option.  No, I'd say they'll be all too happy to just concentrate on the two merry go round races a year and let the road course fall into disrepair or bulldoze it to make room for infield trailer parking.

As cool as this is I am surprised DORNA would sign a ten year deal with a track that is just now under construction. How the hell do they know how it will turn out? What about future financing of the project in these screwed up economic times? How do they know how well it will be run? I just would think F1 and MotoGP would like to see the finished product and how it is going to be managed and how the facility will deal with all the problems that come with an international motorsports event. Just sayin... ;)

Interestingly, they pointed out that Austin will be attractive to fans from Central and South America.....I can't buy that; perhaps if it was in Miami.....

1) you don't think the lawyers wrote in enough language to provide an escape chute/clause?....c'mon....they live for that kind of shit...

2) When WSBK raced on Portimao for the 1st time in 08, that track had ONLY JUST been barely completed and they were still sodding and seeding the grass all around the facility and getting things buttoned up in terms of the structures when they had that race event...so it wouldn't be the 1st time a good track has an event when they are completed but not...

3) in terms of financing or backing, the great state of Texas has put forth the initiative publicly that they are going to be contributing to the course over the next bunch of years in no small part for to make sure international events like this and F1 bring in the money that they surely will and do at other locale's .

It's easier to get to Texas than Miami when traveling from South America. Dallas has just as many flights and access to Mexico and Central America is not even close.

Good point about Portimao. I do remember that race and finishing touches still being done on race weekend. And as nice as it is that Texas is putting up money to help the track and all that it will surely piss off a lot of non race fans in the state given how much they have recently cut funding in education. Every single day and night the news is filled with lead stories about how many deep teacher and staff cuts are being made in all the districts in the state due to funding shortages. Teacher/student ratios are really going to suck, class sizes will get huge and our education system in TX isn't exactly blue ribbon to start with. I do LOVE racing but I'm just saying there will be some serious pregnant doging in Texas if the state pumps too much money into the track and race promotion. Oh well... can't make everyone happy. And I will be digging the races! [thumbsup]

i think the major event trust fund is being used towards the sanctioning fee, not the track itself.

either way, if the $25M the state pays out bring in more money into the state, it's a win for everybody.

Miami (and much of South Florida) is the business, economic, & cultural doorway to South America (has nothing to do with the number of flights to Dallas)....

Back to the thread....

not that I care...

but Mexico is not in South America...it's in North America.

just sayin'

SXSW, ACL, F1 and GP!!   [clap] [clap] [clap] 



Start with high school football and other sports.  Lake Travis High School has a small army of football coaches, a heated/cooled indoor practice field, a weightroom with 28 squat racks and benches and that's only a quarter of the gym.   

http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2008/12/17/your-weight-room-sucks/   (http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2008/12/17/your-weight-room-sucks/)

or Cy-Fair's $75 mil facilities in the Houston area . . .

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/5193-cy-fairs-berry-stadium/ (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/5193-cy-fairs-berry-stadium/)


Lots of money being spent on education in this country, yet the outcomes aren't exactly tracking spending.

(http://simplecomplexity.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/cato-476x400.jpg)

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/168353/1/schwantz_thrilled_with_texas_motogp_deal.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/168353/1/schwantz_thrilled_with_texas_motogp_deal.html)

Circuit of the Americas Teaser Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DImp-oJmsfQ#normal)

I am not sure how the 25M infusion per year is going to be used, but I view it more as an investment because it will surely get a return between F1, GP and then you'll surely get Rolex/Grand-Am and maybe Indy cars and who knows what other racing series that brings in more of a purse...it will all end up being good amounts of revenue for the track,state and supporting businesses...

Well, considering that I live in South Florida and I actually worked in all of Latin America for years, I can tell you that Miami is a better hub for the Caribbean and South America. Texas is much better for Mexico and Central America.

Anyway, Austin will most likely be better than Monterey when it comes to places to stay and hang out. Laguna is a cool track, but the venue leaves a lot to be desired for the fans. Indy is the complete opposite. I'm hoping that Austin has the best of both worlds. I'm also hoping that everything is also cheaper than Monterey. Indy was ok on the wallet.

Isn't Mexico technically in Central America? Not that anyone still lives there... [laugh]

derby you are making too much sense for the average Texan to acknowledge and understand. And yes I live in TX. ;D Of course if we get the big dog races it will be millions well spent by the state. But try explaining that to pissed off parents of school age kids and fired teachers. [bang] Then again, the masses would have to read about it or hear it on the evening news to know about the expenditure so I guess I'm making a fuss about nothing. They'll never know. [laugh] Ignorance is bliss. [thumbsup]

North America.

must be an echo in here

echo in here echo in here echo in here echo in here

Back on topic:

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Austin_Formula_One_circuit.svg/539px-Austin_Formula_One_circuit.svg.png)

I wonder how long that straight will actually be...

Now that is a track.

I don't know anything other than the pic I Googled up, But I already know I'll be outside turn 12 in 2013.

Doesn't look like a T-Rex to me.  Think Spies will do well there?

[clap]

That's gotta be a negative-space drawing KS drew on the bottom of a bar napkin....Turns 11 & 12 make little sense  ;D

looks more like a bunny rabbit....

You can see the elevation profile for the track here. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/9/11198.html (http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/9/11198.html)


And a large full page here...
http://www.formula1.com/assets/pdf/F1%20USGP%20BasicTrack%20LayoutwElevation.pdf (http://www.formula1.com/assets/pdf/F1%20USGP%20BasicTrack%20LayoutwElevation.pdf)

Schwantz on Wind Tunnel tonite - took full credit for the entire project....
Wonder if he's made good yet with the refunds for all those cancelled schools at Road Atlanta....  [evil]

Casey's not gonna like Turn 1 if he still needs two pins to restart his bike....but at 3+ miles this is the F1 track. no?

Their master plan is a few months old, but I only see two cut throughs to make a North and South loop and they're not really something a top tier race series would use.  From that I'd venture to say that MotoGP will be running the full layout.

(http://f1newsaustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/2010-09-21-Conceptual-Master-Plan-FINAL-640x664.jpg)

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/168605/1/kevin_schwantz_-_qa_part_1_austin_motogp.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/168605/1/kevin_schwantz_-_qa_part_1_austin_motogp.html)

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/AU741379.jpg)

Re the ovals/radii in the plan, I wonder if that shows the aliens where to land..... [coffee]

The aliens know exactly where to land:
(http://photos.motogp.com/2011/03/20/podium01_slideshow_169.jpg)

(much) larger version of the same image:

(http://www.austinchronicle.com/binary/1cb8/pols_feature1-3.jpg)

open image in new window to zoom in.

holy crap that back straight

I was thinking the same thing - very long, almost completely straight and, unless I'm misreading the 3D diagram, mostly downhill.  :o

The more I look at it the more I agree that it's a nice F1/car course.  Turns 11, 12, and 20 mimic what those drivers experience on street courses.

But I can't see their value for MC racing - gonna create single-file, no-pass groupings...perhaps they'll 'cut off' their tips and add some curvature for the bikers....

they've said their preference is to have cars/bikes run the same course instead of building separate turns/routes for each.

don't really know that until you see how wide it is.  i'm gonna guess that what you just described is not what KS helped create.

Perhaps, but turn 12 looks like it's just gonna reward the fastest bike that gets there first, but I guess that's OK once in a while on a track.

I'm not KS, so obviously I'll be enlightened in 20XX...

you kinda have to do that with a straight, no?  :)

The elevation "hump" in the middle of the back straight looks fun. Probably not enough to get the sort of air you do on English circuits, but still more exciting than flat.

well......that's OK. but this turn, especially, takes away any passing-on-the-brakes options --- other than those presented by breaking-too-soon (amateurish) mistakes.  Whatever, I don't like it and the rest of you do...

Interesting video.  Someone's already modeled the track for rFactor, which is a racing simulator.  Keep in mind that is is some dude in his underwear in France with too much time on his hands that created a digital version of the track from only the interwebs information.

F1_Austin_2012.mpg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPAsQJrMFPw&feature=related#normal)

Up until about 1:35, the music in that video had me expecting Russian subs to fire ballistic missiles at any minute, to be followed by jet scrambles. Then an abrupt change of pace.

Also, do you figure Austin will have ENI adverts plastered all over everything? [cheeky]

Not a bad job with the info available.

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/ (http://circuitoftheamericas.com/)

Not really. That seemed like the world's most boring track (that involves turns in both directions)

Hopefully there's a bit more in the way of elevation changes and kinks in the real thing.

First lap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tEHQJn_hxo&feature=player_embedded# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tEHQJn_hxo&feature=player_embedded#)!

Kinda hokey, but watching the smoke just pouring off the tires at the 3 minute mark makes up for the crappy premise.

The tire-smoking in front of the capital building was fun.

The rest was a bit silly, but the slow-motion makes it neat to watch regardless.

An F1 car in the dirt just looks awkward. It twitched, skittered, and stumbled around. Like an animal that can't quite negotiate itself outside its natural environment.

Woot! V8 Supercars too! It's like NASCAR...only with talent...and skill...and an ability to turn right!

http://superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111115cic.htm (http://superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111115cic.htm)

Sucks...

but you can't blame them.

I was wondering why they haven't given details for ticket purchase for the F1 race yet. I hope they get this figured out...I really want to go to the F1 race in November!

Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking.
Remain calm, pay no attention to the fire belching out of that engine.
Do not worry about the horrendous vibration throughout the aircraft.
Flight attendants will be distributing free double tequila shooters for all passengers.

I was hopeful this would happen without issues but was worried that something deep in the basement would rear it's ugly head. This could be it. Again, hopefully not and the train will get back on track. Lived in Austin for years, it would be a great venue town for this stuff.

sigh...

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-bernie-ecclestone-austin-race-set-to-be-called-off/ (http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-bernie-ecclestone-austin-race-set-to-be-called-off/)

That sucks

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-susan-combs-letter-promised-advance-payment-for-austin-race/ (http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-susan-combs-letter-promised-advance-payment-for-austin-race/)

Well shit.

you can have your fee in advance.

no you can't.

my position on that has not changed.

 [bang]

And soon we shall all be subjected to the War of the Press Releases.

when in the end, this is a simple matter of Bernie being an asshole and wanting to show the world how people bend to his will when he threatens things...

It looks to me like the controller made a promise that the rules of the Trust Fund didn't allow and got called out on it by citizens... so rather than get the State sued / lots of State employees and elected officials fired, the State had to back out of the deal.  Does anyone else see it that way, or am I completely off-base here?

Maybe Bernie's a douche for being really demanding, but he's got a scarce product... he can charge a premium.  Shame on the Texas goernment for agreeing to pay it when they couldn't make good.

yeah, but Bernie knows what a media blunder this whole thing is going to be and should have put the F1 attorney's on it from August 1st and found a way to come to a reasonable solution before now....in the meantime, the track has been pouring money into the facility for months seemingly unnecessarily...and it is now all coming to a head...and as far as I can see, no comes out smelling like a peach and looking good...but Bernie being a prominant figurehead will come out looking more disgruntled than the comptroller...she'll just look incompetent while Bernie will look like a "Pay me my money or I am going to take my game away and go home!" kind of spoiled brat/bully...

But that is Bernie's MO and everyone knows it. If the state would have done their homework, then we would not have a half built race track. This whole thing is in writing, Bernie actually has a leg to stand on. He's still a douche, but in this case he's right. I guess no F1 in the US for a while longer.

This take (with excerpts from the opening salvos of the war of press releases) makes it sound more like infighting & collapse within the initial investment group was the proximate cause of this debacle - that F1 (ie., Bernie) found itself negotiating with a new partner for which BE wasn't inclined to offer a one-off sweetheart deal, and that the Texas Comptroller was looking at the prospect of leaving the taxpayers holding the bag for the world's finest mudbogging facility. My guess? There's not one single villain here, nor a single angel.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111116/FREE/111119900 (http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111116/FREE/111119900)

that statement right there is the truest thing about this whole debacle...

there's a whole lot of vagaries about with regard to Tavo and his contract.  maybe he simply bolted once the state promise turned out to be vapor.  bernie said that tavo is 'happy', whatever that means.

effed, regardless.

yeah... without knowing the context of tavo's "breach," it's really hard to know what to think.  the fact that bernie isn't completely throwing him under the bus leads me to think that there's a lot more to the story.

yup.  saying breach and happy in the same paragraph does not sound like Tavo was in control of the problem. 

Tavo discussing this NOW

http://www.statesman.com/multimedia/statesman-live-video-player-1625003.html?cxntcid=breaking_news (http://www.statesman.com/multimedia/statesman-live-video-player-1625003.html?cxntcid=breaking_news)


edit:  NM.  the feed is dead.

btw, i love this:

"It's all very simple — they don't have the money," Ecclestone told The Associated Press on Thursday.

calling out a few billionaires that "can't" get a letter of guarantee for $25-50MM.. hehehe.

I hope some of them thar Texas oil Billionaires get riled up and shove the money down Bernie's gullet in a "chickenshit-do you wanna fight?" fashion whilst fondling the ivory handle of a Colt 6 shooter....

well considering bernie has $4.2 billion of his own...

hell, his 23yr old daughter just paid $85 million for aaron spelling's house.

Why? [roll] I guess because she can. :P

duh: she got married.  so obviously they need a 57,000 sq foot house.

and i'm sure her existing $91 million home in london was cramping her style.

my point is that there's really no good reason the cota guys haven't upheld their contractual obligations. they have the money, they're just dickin' around.

more:

http://www.racer.com/q-a-tavo-hellmund-on-funding-for-austin/article/217058/ (http://www.racer.com/q-a-tavo-hellmund-on-funding-for-austin/article/217058/)

so it sounds like tavo and the cota guys don't exactly agree on how things should be done. he offered to buy out the cota guys, the cota guys said "no" and offered him a buyout which he's accepted pending reaching agreeable terms.

in the meantime, the group hasn't met their contractual obligations, fom has cancelled tavo's (10 year!) contract for the event, the cota guys decided to renegotiate and, as a result, are probably being asked for the "usual" sanctioning fee of $37-50MM+ instead of the buddy-deal $25MM that tavo had. on top of that, the state decided they're not going to pay up front for the event.

amazing...

http://www.racer.com/sexton-2013-a-possibility-for-austin/article/217032/ (http://www.racer.com/sexton-2013-a-possibility-for-austin/article/217032/)

Responding to renewed threats by Formula 1 commercial rights manager Bernie Ecclestone that the United States Grand Prix in Austin is on the brink of cancellation, Circuit of The Americas president Steve Sexton issued a statement saying track organizers now hope the race can be pushed back to 2013.

idiots...  [bang]

gonna make one heck of a mx track

BMW R1200GS's versus KTM 990 Adventure's !!!...throw in a Ducati Multistrada 1200 and a Yamaha Super Tenere for fodder....

Also factor in possibility that TX knows it can't come up with the $250-$500 MM it promised over ten years, for $ and political reasons, so why even bother to fund the first year?

Lots more $ and nightlife in NYC area...and they claim no taxpayer money will be spent.


 

" . . . and they claim no taxpayer money will be spent."    [laugh]  In the initial press release the two politicians were already talking about redistribution of wealth about two paragraphs into text. Race drivers and team owners would rather run on purpose built tracks than crappy surface-oh shit there's a wall street courses.  Normally there is only one line on street courses, so the racing will suck and consequently attendence will suffer.  That venue is already doomed to fail.


COTA is purpose built to the full modern FIA spec, so every race series under the sun has the possibility to run there. ALMS, GrandAm, IndyCar, WSBK, AMA, MotoGP, DTM, V8 Supercar, . . . . .   The scope is larger than F1 and I'm sure the stakeholders realize that.

Sooner or later the track will get finished and races will be run. Just hope all my Austin friends will still be living there when that happens. Nothing like a free place to stay. I'll gladly buy them dinner/drinks for a nice guest bedroom. [thumbsup]

aint gonna happen.  at least not in 2012.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111128/F1/111129932 (http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111128/F1/111129932)

make the beast with two backsin' idiots....  [bang]

seems they're plentiful among those players. ;D

This is how you get shit done. (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111126a.htm)

Find yourself a very rich man with a wife who's into racing. The rest just works itself out, apparently.

i.e. you're better off dealing with a single party interest instead of a group of business "partners."

you're better off being able to finance the deal yourself. if you're depending on somebody else to bring the money, you've got "partners".

yeah, like the guberment.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Dec/111202austin.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Dec/111202austin.htm)

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2011/12/07/austin_race_left_on_2012_calendar.html (http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2011/12/07/austin_race_left_on_2012_calendar.html)

great news, I actually didnt expect that to come through at all

Awesome!!  [thumbsup]

(http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/David-Coulthard-Circuit-of-the-Americas-F1.jpg)



I just love this image....

Made my day!  Thanks Derby!!   [thumbsup]

that is just about shocking.

great news.

MotoGP looking less likely:
http://www.statesman.com/sports/formula1/motogp-series-f1-track-in-holding-pattern-over-2226490.html (http://www.statesman.com/sports/formula1/motogp-series-f1-track-in-holding-pattern-over-2226490.html)

tavo is in the middle of suing cota and it appears he's hoping to remain a part of the f1 project.

the motogp contract is one of the few cards he still holds.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jun/120612oo.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jun/120612oo.htm)

A move from Miller to Austin? Why wouldn't they play ball with Dorna?

who said move?  there's 2 american GP rounds, why not 2 wsbk?

and i'm sure a wsbk contract is significantly more affordable than a motoGP contract.

that lawsuit was reported settled three days ago and i'd assumed that he was holding onto the motogp contract as leverage to get the go-away money he was promised.

the track just put tickets on sale last week/end and the only only other "recent" update was american le mans for next year.

so... i wouldn't count out a 2013 austin motogp round just yet.

<~~~ just bought season tickets in the turn 15 grandstands

^
|
I hate you

WELL...part of this may be the Flammini brothers as they just scored a WSBK round in India before DORNA could put anything together...maybe this is a part of their master plan to put GP into the ground and make WSBK the top dog in 2 wheeled racing...who knows...

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jun/120613-3ed.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jun/120613-3ed.htm)

 [thumbsup]

Hoping to get a couple tickets for the F1.  Haven't been out to the track for a couple months.  I hear things are already going on out that way.

 

 [evil]

Got my F1 tickets last week. Turn 3.  [thumbsup]

i may have to host a little get-together that week...  [evil]

That would be cool. [thumbsup]

My wife and I are pretty excited. We've wanted to visit Austin for a while...and now we get to watch an F1 race as well.  [drink]

oh.. alright.


=)

I don't really care to go see the F1 race (interested but just can't afford it) but a F1 fan friend said the tickets were outrageously expensive. Since I'm not going I have not looked into ticket prices... nor have I watched this thread regarding that. Just curious, what did your turn 3 tickets cost you? If you don't mind saying... ;)

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/tickets (http://circuitoftheamericas.com/tickets)

turn 11 - $269

turns 2-3-4-5 $299

turn 12 - $399-499

general admission is $159

premium seating varies by location/section/row:

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/tickets-psl (http://circuitoftheamericas.com/tickets-psl)

these are all 3-day passes.

is that for the whole event, or just race day?

Turn 3 was $299 + fees for a 3-day pass (all they are selling). $318 total.

You can get a 3-day pass for $159 + fees. So I don't think they're too bad. Plane and hotel are the big $$ for us.

All of their initial reserved seating Sold Out, but they just released two more lots for stands along the back hairpin.

You'll want to move down here once you visit J!!

I'm looking at picking up a ticket today. The baby is too young to take so the s/o will have to sit this out. 

We'll all have to meet up when you two are down. As you know..Derby, FactorPlayer and a few others are around the area.

http://www.statesman.com/sports/rights-holder-of-motogp-in-talks-2447183.html (http://www.statesman.com/sports/rights-holder-of-motogp-in-talks-2447183.html)

 [thumbsup]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120908.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120908.htm)
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120910a.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120910a.htm)

yup, i apparently overlooked the fact that it was dorna (vs kevin) negotiating w/ the track in my previous post.

that said, i did make the comment that he was now in the same position as tavo was and now the circuit is now apparently doing the same thing to him.

suckage.

Is it the track, or his buddy Carmelo?

Kev, sit down and stfu, you are yelling at the clouds again

iirc, tavo hellmund held rights to both the f1 and motogp events. when tavo's lawsuit with cota (for them forcing him out of the austin f1 race) was settled, tavo reportedly transferred the rights for the motogp race to schwantz.

from kevin's perspective, he isn't "yelling at clouds" at all.

to anybody that followed the tavo/cota issue (the track first tried to renegotiate directly with formula one management but were referred back to contract-holder tavo, then withheld the $25MM sanctioning fee until f1 cancelled tavo's contract, then subsequently renegotiated a deal w/ f1 directly), kevin's position doesn't seem that far-fetched.

this is starting to seem like a pattern for the track-owners.

YEAH...didn't VIR kinda do the same thing with AMA for Big Kahuna and tried to circumvent M1 Entertainment doing the same shit?....where did that leave them now?...COTA...are you listening?

ya think?

i'm just waiting to find out that one of them is actually Edmondson.

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2012/09/12/dorna_statement_on_cota_vs_schwantz_aust.html (http://www.motomatters.com/news/2012/09/12/dorna_statement_on_cota_vs_schwantz_aust.html)

the plot thickens as DORNA makes a statement...

Kev is up a creek

unless he can show data/conversations where he has been trying to do exactly as DORNA required and getting a lack of response/resistance from COTA...that kind of documentation ( like EMails and certified mail ) does in fact carry weight in a court of law!

He has to prove that COTA actually gave him the rights to promote the race. From what we have read so far 3four was saying that they got the rights from DORNA, which leads me to believe that they never received anything from either.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/09/13/50247.htm (http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/09/13/50247.htm)

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120914cw.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Sep/120914cw.htm)

Carmelo appears to be a douche too... [bang]

I kinda figured.

yeah.. bernie at least sent cota back to tavo the first time they tried to end run around him.

Ummmm...

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/provvisional+calendar+2013 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/provvisional+calendar+2013)

Looks like COTA is sucking blueberries

Well, i know that at least one of those should be in Argentina

i really, really hope it ends up being the 2nd tbc weekend. i already have plans for the prior weekend.

Does it make economic and logistical sense to come here twice?

Nope. Wasn't there a few races between Indy and Laguna a few years ago? Isn't that exactly the reason they switched it to having the break?

agreed, though i think you could probably justify it the further apart the races are.

furthermore, i'd argue that having the races closer together (laguna / indy) cannibalizes the audience ("why fly cross country to laguna this weekend if i can drive to indy two weeks from now?").

fwiw, i'd find it harder to justify three united states rounds.

austin may/may not happen for 2013, but with laguna losing motogp for worldsbk (i'm actually kinda happy about this), i expect 2014 to fall into place.

That sickly feeling in the pit of one's stomach when the hot chick you brought to the party leaves with someone else... [laugh]

http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/formula-one/circuit-of-the-americas-declared-race-ready/ (http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/formula-one/circuit-of-the-americas-declared-race-ready/)

 [thumbsup]

Sold Out....sorta

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/tickets (http://circuitoftheamericas.com/tickets)

they just announced "more" turn 12 seats on their facebook page.

"Formula Run" 5K around the track Nov 3.  I'm taking the family.  Anyone else in the area going?

http://austinraceevents.com/formula-run-the-race-before-f1/ (http://austinraceevents.com/formula-run-the-race-before-f1/)

http://www.circuitoftheamericas.com/moto-gp (http://www.circuitoftheamericas.com/moto-gp)

APRIL 19-21ST 2013

Thanks D!!

Quick!  What are the recommendations for ticket packages, best places to watch from (other than my recliner), etc.....  [bow_down]

you do realize that nobody has raced there yet, right?   ;D

all i can say is that i've toured the track twice and put my money in the turn 15 grandstands for the f1 race.

Of course, I should have asked for opinions, instead of recommendations.   [thumbsup]

Based on all the chatter here, I just knew that at least one of "us" would be familiar enuf with the place to make an educated guess.   Thank you!

...and you figured derby knew any way.

not really...but at least one of the Austin-centric fellows; otherwise I would have PM'd derby and not bothered everyone else....  ;D

My son and I went out to the track yesterday. Looks like it will be done but its not going to be pretty.  Give the area a few years though and it be a lot better. Right now, it's in the not-so-nice area of Austin.  :-X

I bought a pass for parking lot Q. Supposedly a 10-15 min ride to COTA. I'm sure it'll turn out to be a few min longer. I wonder how long it will take to get there from my place (approx 20 miles away)?

Turn one (general admission) looks like it might be a good place to hang out since its at the top of the hill. Only a few more weeks!!  [thumbsup]

Btw..a red Monster was out there yesterday and rode right past me. Anyone on here? S2R/S4R I believe.

it'll be all hotels and entertainment within the next two years.

they've got a good year-round schedule of events for 2013 and on.

I'm sure!  Not too much out that way except shacks..literally.  You've seen the area D.  :-\  Hopefully, those folks made bank on their properties!

Shouldn't be long for all that to go up around the track!

I wanted my wife to apply since they are/were hiring HR but she never did.  Back stage passes would've been nice!   :'(

Bernie's hotel dev holding company..

Some believable explanation of the Soap Opera:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/10/19/wild-ride/1 (http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/10/19/wild-ride/1)

Old saying, "The only ship that won't sail is a partnership."

Very interesting, thanks!  [thumbsup]

Several vids of F1-car rides around the track on Youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YBjZrOcMPhY# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YBjZrOcMPhY#)!

that thumbnail is the section of track right in front of my seats.

 [drool]

Just realized that the race is scheduled the same weekend as the BP MS150  :-X  There'll be 10,000+ bicyclists converging on Austin from Houston that Sat and Sun.

RUMBLE!
(http://cdn-images.hollywood.com/site/rumble-fish_still_apr12.jpg)

so...does this mean the bicycles should be running through the city with playing cards clipped to the frame for to make noise on the spokes?

the track is kinda in nowheresville, no?

16 miles (https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Austin,+TX&daddr=Circuit+of+the+Americas,+Texas&hl=en&ll=30.202114,-97.685966&spn=0.318972,0.32959&sll=30.134757,-97.634624&sspn=0.039899,0.041199&geocode=FRHXzQEdK48s-ikvA8ygmbVEhjF61WnUS0abXQ%3BFeXRywEdwDYu-ikVAeRDPbBEhjG1IN2HwAxIVg&oq=austin&mra=ls&t=m&z=12) from downtown, just southeast of the airport.

Should put the infrastructure to the acid test. ;D

The MS150 route into Austin for Sunday takes it from Bastrop into downtown; 9 miles North of the track.  It effectively forces anyone coming from Houston to use 290 or I10 since the scenic route will be clogged with bicycles and all of the support vehicles.  Plus anyone with notions of staying in Bastrop instead of Austin will have a hell of a time getting out of there Sunday morning.

The main impact will be everyone trying to get out of Austin Sunday afternoon/evening.

Just a heads up.

Ugh..thats going to make for an even bigger headache!  I'm looking for an alternate route to get to lot Q from SW Austin. Any suggestions?

Still...that's probably better than trying to get out of Monterey after the GP race.

I'm sure that's comparable to Mugello. It seems like it took us 3 days to get out of there!

Yeah, but in that case you're in *Mugello*...just grab a bottle of wine and hang out.

Unfortunately, I missed the fun run around COTA yesterday.  My friend got to go with his son though.  I can't post the pic he sent since Im on my phone but that elevation coming into turn one is a lot higher than it looks when youre actually on the track and looking back down at the start/finish line.

Seems like I blew thru Austin using the 290/I-35 route and experienced no traffic.

100,000+ people in town this week for the F1. 

Foresee a big mess I do!!

I'll be contributing to the mess in about 13 hours from now.

Leaving home in about 4 hours!  Gates open at 7:30.

Mercedes pace cars ripping it up!! Turn one to begin but working down to Turn 11.

I'm about halfway thru the race. The track is really nice. I hope they make the grandstands and other things nicer. The place looks a little flat compared to some other tracks.

...for example?

come out here and walk the thing (like i have for the last four days) and you'll likely feel different.

Right.  She definitely ain't flat!!

Sorry I wasn't referring to the elevation changes. What I meant was that the rest of the facility wasn't all that exiting to look at. For example the tower. I like the idea of the tower but it doesn't look all that great and it's one of the better features.

They just raced at Yas Marina and that place looks terrific. That being said, I do think the track at Austin is one of, if not the best track on the F1 circuit.

well..while it may be a great venue for F1, this may not be a great venue for GP...but it will be interesting to see to say the least...I am just not enamoured with the long straight for bikes...but I guess we have run into this with other F1 tracks that bikes run at in the past...

There's an easy answer for that...just give Johnny Rock Page a one-off ride on a CRT bike :)

Just wait..I don't believe all the features o the track have been completed yet. It's out in the middle of nowhere right now but that will change too. I didn't go up into the tower but the glass bottom is a cool feature.

In regards to the GP..this track will way better than that sh*t track in Indy!!

The dirt track my kids made for their bicycles in my backyard is better than the Indy infield track.

Parking lots, permanent stands, permanent vendor stands, toilets, carting track, general landscaping, . . . .

It'll probably take about two more years before the track is "completed" as intended.

i bet it'll all be done before the 2013 formula 1 race.

I thought the new F1 track was awesome, and what they accomplished in such a short time was amazing. Looking forward to the Moto GP race next year  [thumbsup]

Maybe.  It is still a lot of work to be done in effectively 7 months time due to the four races scheduled before then and not accounting for weather delays.

i figure if they've built ~90% of the track and facilities in 1.5 years, they shouldn't have a problem polishing it up in half that.

the amphitheater is supposed to be done prior to the spring festival/concert season, and i'm assuming they'd aim to have it completed before their next "big event" (motogp in april).