United States Grand Prix - Formula One (F1) - Austin

[SVT Lurch]

Oh wow, I need to get on that. I thought $2,000 was the going rate.

[Shorty]

If $2,100 is expensive for a track day, what's a normal fee? It looks like over half the dates are already booked/unavailable.

Usually <$300 for the tracks around here.

[SVT Lurch]

If $2,100 is expensive for a track day, what's a normal fee? It looks like over half the dates are already booked/unavailable.

[Mike]

well, it's public and official.... $50k per day limited to 24 cars.

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/visit/track-rental

Don't see too many takers for that unless it's a ton of stock brokers with Vipers and exotics.

Pattymely just bought two tickets.

CPA money!!!

[momo]

well, it's public and official.... $50k per day limited to 24 cars.

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/visit/track-rental

Don't see too many takers for that unless it's a ton of stock brokers with Vipers and exotics.

fuck.

[aggie97]

They will HAVE to lease out the track on a regular basis just to cover costs... There is simply no other way, even by hosting a concert per night at the amphitheater once it is done, they still have to keep revenue coming in regularly just to stay afloat. Now, I am not saying it will be cost effective for most people to drive/ride there as it will very likely be $500/day (or more) cost for a track day or more for the first 5 years at least, and likely even more for the schools that will operate there. Now I won't be doing track days there regularly at that cost, but I damn sure will make it for at least one a year even at $500/day...

well, it's public and official.... $50k per day limited to 24 cars.

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/visit/track-rental

Don't see too many takers for that unless it's a ton of stock brokers with Vipers and exotics.

[Bputacoma]

I went to the Montreal GP, i felt like it was alot more lively and fun. Not to mention really really really packed. Austin's fan fest crowd/atmosphere was 1/4 of Monteal's.

[b1ake]

i'm just going to assume this was most people's first formula 1 event, and many people are speaking on zero experience when it comes to visiting other tracks. What they did in the amount of time they did it in is absolutely phenomenal. Yes there are absolutely still odds and ends that need to be attended to, but the overall product and quality of that place is outstanding. When the grass grows in and they get all the finishing details done on that track and the surrounding area it is going to be absolutely beautiful. All three days were fantastic, only hiccup I saw was not opening the gate at the expo early on friday morning. They fixed that saturday. I don't know how many of y'all attended TMS's first race but that was a fucking disaster, Indianapolis did a fair job of handling the F1 event but they have an insane amount of experience. In the history of the US grand prix, with the exception of Watkins Glen this will end up being the greatest F1 event this country will see. You have to remember the absolutely disasters that have happened in this country when it comes to F1. These guys nailed it, and it's only going to improve.

Given the time frame they worked in, they far exceeded expectations. They did a perfect job of finishing the necessities and finding ways to fill the gaps on the items that were not 100% done.

I attended TMS first event and remember what a disaster it was. COTA and the surrounding cities did such a bang up job on the traffic, parking, etc.

I've been to 4 Grand Prix (Singapore x 2, Malaysia, and COTA) and hope that in future years we will be able to attract better support races (GP2/GP3) and provide a more full on track schedule. The Singapore GP has more of a festival feel to it and I think the US GP can get there with a little more planning effort and completed facilities.

I have been to most of the major road course racing facilities in the US and none hold a candle to this place.

Blake

[breedlove]

i'm just going to assume this was most people's first formula 1 event, and many people are speaking on zero experience when it comes to visiting other tracks. What they did in the amount of time they did it in is absolutely phenomenal. Yes there are absolutely still odds and ends that need to be attended to, but the overall product and quality of that place is outstanding. When the grass grows in and they get all the finishing details done on that track and the surrounding area it is going to be absolutely beautiful. All three days were fantastic, only hiccup I saw was not opening the gate at the expo early on friday morning. They fixed that saturday. I don't know how many of y'all attended TMS's first race but that was a fucking disaster, Indianapolis did a fair job of handling the F1 event but they have an insane amount of experience. In the history of the US grand prix, with the exception of Watkins Glen this will end up being the greatest F1 event this country will see. You have to remember the absolutely disasters that have happened in this country when it comes to F1. These guys nailed it, and it's only going to improve.

[b1ake]

It looks like the majority of the grandstands are going to stay temporary from the seating maps I've seen for MotoGP and V8 Supercars. That is a bummer because that was one of the only complains I had. When everyone was standing for the flyover and there was a huge gust of wind, you could feel the scaffold pipe grandstands swaying back and forth, not a great feeling when you are so high in the air.

[Slowhand]

overall, i will say this was a success but the whole thing could have been ruined if there was rain (see korea 2011). there was too much that could have been turned to mud and slop this year that just isn't paved yet. surely by next year the facility should get most of the lose ends worked out.

And this. It could have been bad in that respect, but given the timetable, totally forgivable. Get that situation ironed out and there aren't many complaints to be had. It will be a lot more attractive circuit when it's greener and less rocky as well.

[Slowhand]

-Helicopter landing permits were $10,000 PER DAY. Did you guys see all the helicopters coming and going all day?

No shit, those fuckers were coming and going like it was Vietnam. Price I heard was $1500 per passenger for roundtrip to and from the track for Saturday/Sunday.

-I was impressed how friendly everyone was at the facility. They did a great job putting on the event, but you could tell this was the trial run.

Yup. As good as you can expect for a track that wasn't completely finished around the edges, but the people were friendly and the foreigners I talked to seemed very caught off guard by that. I mean, come on motherfuckers, it's Texas.

-Traffic/Bus stuff was done so much better than I ever imagined.

Absolutely. I thought it was going to be a mess (the only mess was the dipshits at the Expo center taking forever to open up a second gate into the center to park in the morning), but they really nailed it. Only took us an hour to get home on Sunday. Way better than either of the times I've been to a Race at TMS.

[Slowhand]

I've heard the food complaints several times, and I saw some of the long lines, but I didn't experience any of that. We avoided the food over by the main concourse and main entrance and just hit up the stuff around the edges of the track; same food, shorter lines. And plenty of beer.

[Slowhand]

Sounds like spending was rediculous and I wonder how TX will collect sales tax from the McLaren store! I did hear the nightmare about the CC transactions. Still don't understand why people pay those prices for shirts and hats....hell, you can buy all that stuff for 1/4 of that. Seems like the "F1 Frenzy of Spending" is like oxygen in the casinos.

Was RV parking really $15,000 per day? Hard to imagine that is real.

I believe the RV is set up like a PSL and the PSL for the year is $15k, but I could be wrong. Either way, most of the RVs I saw had to have pricetags that matched the absurdity of the cost.

Merch was individualized, but it seemed to be run under one umbrella of management and most sales I saw were via CC; pretty tough to skirt sales tax on that.

I don't understand the crazy purchases either (I bought a ticket holder so it wouldn't get all crinkled up in my pocket...for 20 fucking dollars), but I also didn't have near the money invested in my trip that a foreigner would have; I figure that for a lot of them, once you've already spent so much just to get to the race, what's another $200 for a Ferrari sweatshirt or $50 for a McLaren hat?

I, on the other hand, will wait until after the season to purchase any gear I want from F1.com's clearance sale. They generally do cheap shipping to the US and 50% off of everything after the season ends.

[b1ake]

Sounds like spending was rediculous and I wonder how TX will collect sales tax from the McLaren store! I did hear the nightmare about the CC transactions. Still don't understand why people pay those prices for shirts and hats....hell, you can buy all that stuff for 1/4 of that. Seems like the "F1 Frenzy of Spending" is like oxygen in the casinos.

Not really, the prices you pay there are the same kind of prices you would pay from any of the F1 vendors for authentic merchandise. I have been to F1 races in three countries and its pretty much the same anywhere, and most of the vendors are the same.

I checked a few things I bought at www.speedgear.com and I actually paid less at the track on one item.

Blake