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Belmont31R
06-07-10, 14:13
They are going to build a track for this....:D


http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/5/10824.html (http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/5/10824.html)

TehLlama
06-07-10, 14:55
God I hope they build a track where passing is actually possible. I'll need to take the wifey to this.

WEC
06-07-10, 15:32
As you can see from the date of the article, the news has already been out for a couple of weeks. As much as I want this to happen there are still many hurdles that need to be cleared before this can come to fruition.

1. It's still unsure where the money will come from to build this facility. My initial thoughts were confirmed that many Austinites are very much against using public funding to finance this thing. As much oil and gas money the state has, Texas is (from what I've read) still operating on a relative deficit. Thoughts are that this event could pump a good deal of money into the state economy (as much as $1 billion annually), but the main problem is fronting the initial build-out cost, which has been estimated as $250 million.

2. Tavo Hellmund, CEO of Full Throttle Promotions, L.P., the front-running U.S. firm in charge of this event, has been known to blow smoke up peoples' asses before. I'm afraid that this could be all smoke and mirrors and once the true-to-life figures get ironed out, his house of cards will tumble.

3. Bernie Ecclestone is one hard-nosed SOB and the revenue generated from this event is primarily the property of Formula 1. This includes licensing and signage. The only revenue the track/facility will take home are admissions and concessions. This is NOT negotiable.

4. Herman Tilke has been given the reigns to design the track. Though this might stick in the craw of many F1 fans who believe his most recent designs are uninteresting and have very little passing zones, I believe his track design is fantastic given his limitations. It is no secret that the drivers love the tracks he has designed but the "boring" action, where there are very few passes (e.g. Bahrain, Valencia, Sepang and in some regards Istanbul), in my opinion, are because of the new safety regulations that have been put into place.

Regardless, being a HUGE Formula 1 fan, I was overjoyed to see the news that it will be coming to Texas and only a scant 2 hours drive from where I live. I will be on the edge of my seat to follow the news about how these negotiations progress.

No.6
06-07-10, 15:46
I'm with you WEC.
I really don't want to throw a "wet blanket" over this, but how many times has a track been "envisioned" only to see it fall apart at some point in the process? Anyone remember Donnington Park? My fear is that it might play out the same way. Blue sky and blown smoke.
Will I attend, absolutely! I'd love to see a USGP on the calendar, especially one so close to home.
Regarding Tilke and his fondness for designing tracks that reflect the local heritage, my guess it'll look like a cowboy boot when all is said and done.... ;)

WEC
07-27-10, 14:46
Tavo Hellmund stated today that the principle investor for the endeavor will be Red McCombs. 90% of the money to build the structure is supposed to be private and not public, so I was concerned that it wasn't going to happen. The news that McCombs, who has a ton of money, is stepping forward has made this thing about 10x more likely in my book. Great news, IMHO. I'm still waiting for the bottom to drop out, but things like this make me more confident.

The site has also been announced to be Wandering Creek, an area only about 10 miles southeast of downtown Austin and only 5 miles southeast of Bergstrom International Airport.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85604

MTechnik
07-27-10, 15:28
That's great!

As someone who went to the F1 race in Indy after 9/11, it was a GREAT experience.

Then again, the pit and paddock access courtesy of HP (due to some high profile guests from Europe cancelling their trips post-9/11) made the experience all the more enjoyable.




4. Herman Tilke has been given the reigns to design the track. Though this might stick in the craw of many F1 fans who believe his most recent designs are uninteresting and have very little passing zones, I believe his track design is fantastic given his limitations. It is no secret that the drivers love the tracks he has designed but the "boring" action, where there are very few passes (e.g. Bahrain, Valencia, Sepang and in some regards Istanbul), in my opinion, are because of the new safety regulations that have been put into place.

Great point there. He IS given some strange limitations. It would be nice if they gave him a complete blank slate and let him do what he really wants to.

I can't wait.

markdh720
07-27-10, 19:35
Good for you guys in TX, but this is BS for me. ;)

By the time I was old enough and able to afford to go to the USGP, the Michelin tire fiasco happened. I figured I lucked out and would make it the next year. BAM! Cancelled! Indianapolis would have been a 90 minute drive for me. TX? Out of my budget once again!

On the other hand, I have friends around Austin, so if this actually happens, I would probably fork over the dough to be at the return of the USGP.

austinN4
07-27-10, 21:02
The site has also been announced to be Wandering Creek, an area only about 10 miles southeast of downtown Austin and only 5 miles southeast of Bergstrom International Airport.
I agree that it is good news that McCombs money is behind it, but I wonder how the teams and fans will feel when they find out that our "international" airport has so few nonstop flights into it. When I fly out of Austin I almost always have to connect somewhere (houston, dallas, atlanta, salt lake, newark) else to get anywhere in the US. Delta doesn't even bring full size jets into AUS anymore, and Continental only about half the time.

austinN4
07-27-10, 21:11
Indianapolis would have been a 90 minute drive for me. TX?
The Indy track sucked for F1, IMO. I long for the days that the USGP was held at Watkins Glen (long live the bog!) and the Canadian GP was at Mosport. Too bad they didn't have the money or backing to make the necessary improvements to keep F1.

WEC
07-27-10, 21:54
The Indy track sucked for F1, IMO. I long for the days that the USGP was held at Watkins Glen (long live the bog!) and the Canadian GP was at Mosport. Too bad they didn't have the money or backing to make the necessary improvements to keep F1.

The dream is still alive! There's some discussion, though only preliminary at first, that if the USGP in Austin gets a decent following, Ecclestone is all for a second grand prix in the US. He is eying the New York area so Watkins Glen has to be in the conversation... but Ecclestone has some grand mental image of a course which has the NYC skyline in the background as cameras following the cars whizzing by on a long straight.

I'd like to think that Austin would step up its game for such global events as a Formula 1 race, possibly allowing more direct flights for that week or so span. This would probably take some very creative logistics , but I am not affiliated with any airline nor do I pretend to know anything at all about flight planning and airport management.

I'm glad that at least on a niche forum like this, there is still some enthusiasm. I really hope this can draw a great following, possibly to the end result of a US based F1 team (waaaaaaayyyy down the road) or at least fielding a worthy US driver (not Scott Speed).

96 SS
07-27-10, 22:34
F1 = Yawn


BUT - having been withing spitting distance of Alonso's Renault as he ran up and down the streets in Spain after winning his championship was life changing.



This is good news as I have been in the process of applying to UT McCombs for a couple months now - and this should fit my dates nicely.

Mjolnir
07-27-10, 22:41
I've been quietly following this development for some time. Hopefully, "Bernie and the Zombies" won't make ridiculous demands and kill it leaving Austin with huge debts.

The best cars and best drivers not far from me; of course, when I was in Detroit I had free tickets...

Hopefully, the track will be superb with several places to pass and no oval-with-an-infield. :nono:

Now if McLaren can get their diffuser working with their exhausts Hamilton can become a two-time WDC. Button is doing very well against him, though. Red Bull driver will win it.

austinN4
07-28-10, 04:01
I'd like to think that Austin would step up its game for such global events as a Formula 1 race, possibly allowing more direct flights for that week or so span.
Austin isn't stopping nonstop flights. The major US airlines run everything thru thier hubs and Austin is not a hub.

As someone who flies frequently from AIB, I am not even sure how ABI justifies the word "international" in their name. I think at one time there were a couple of flights directly from Mexico.

Alex V
07-28-10, 08:19
Good for you guys in TX, but this is BS for me. ;)

By the time I was old enough and able to afford to go to the USGP, the Michelin tire fiasco happened. I figured I lucked out and would make it the next year. BAM! Cancelled! Indianapolis would have been a 90 minute drive for me. TX? Out of my budget once again!

On the other hand, I have friends around Austin, so if this actually happens, I would probably fork over the dough to be at the return of the USGP.

LOL

I was there in 2005 when the all the Michellin runners went into the pits after the instalation lap, I got to see a 6 car race! 2 Ferraris, 2 Jordans and 2 Minardis. Imagine who won?

We were sitting right on the start finish line. Get to see Michael and Rubens go by in the 2 Ferraris. Wait about 45 seconds and see the other 4 cars. I have video of a riot about to break out with people holding signs saying "BLACK FLAGTHE RACE"

Went back in 2006 because they gave us free tickets. Got to see Michael win again, but this time for real. Took this photo of him at the turn 7-8-9 complex in Friday afternoon practice:

http://avoronoff.hypermart.net/2006_USGP/USGP_001.jpg

Went again in 2007, I was not fortunate enough to see Kimi get a win for Ferrari, but that was the year he won the championship and I got to take this photo of him, once again at the turn 7-8-9. Its the only place that someone without a press pass can get a clean photo withough the safety fence being in the way.

http://avoronoff.hypermart.net/2007_USGP/USGP_008.jpg

http://avoronoff.hypermart.net/2007_USGP/USGP_009.jpg

Then they has their stage show, was late to it, but was able to get a photo as well:

http://avoronoff.hypermart.net/2007_USGP/USGP_003.jpg

Last year, turns out my mom if "friendly" with a woman who knows his wife very well, and who's husband works for Ferrari SpA. Send them a copy of the photo which returned to me about 5 weeks later with a personal messege signed by Kimi!

Needless to say I am a Tufoso. Crazy Tufoso for that matter. Had Ferrari badges on my face in 2006 and 2007, have a section of my closet dedicated for Ferrari team gear lol.

I can't wait for the USPG again, but living in NJ, Canada might be faster and cheaper to get to. Can't wait to see how the track develops. Indy was boring, but it was close and CHEAP! Canada is over $300/person for okay seats for Fri/Sat/Sun We has awesome seats at trun 1, about 20 rows back for $110 and $20 for Fri/Sat at Indy. Thursdays were free for anyone with a race ticket. I doubt any USGP will be that cheap ever again.

WEC
07-28-10, 08:55
Great pics, Alex!

Alex V
07-28-10, 12:01
Great pics, Alex!

Thank you sir!

Can't wait till I finaly go to another GP. Will give me reason to dust off the camera gear once again.

My parents are going to Belgium at the end of the month, and guess what, not going to Spa to see the Belgian Grand Prix... I was like WTF!

Urabus23
07-28-10, 13:13
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85604

Hopefully I can make it to the race.

ForTehNguyen
07-28-10, 14:03
I would definately go if this deal takes off. Would be fun to do some recreational driving on the track too.

Belmont31R
08-26-10, 02:40
I would definately go if this deal takes off. Would be fun to do some recreational driving on the track too.



Id love to take my 350Z around a GP track.



Also hope Moto GP comes here at some point. Laguna was nice but doesn't really do well for a bike. I rode a Gixxer for 4 years, and would LOVE to see a Moto race in person....

WEC
08-26-10, 19:19
More good news as the plans progress:

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2010/08/23/austin_f1_circuit_plans_finish.html

Gents, it sure looks like it's going to happen! :dance3:

Mark71
08-27-10, 00:00
More good news as the plans progress:

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2010/08/23/austin_f1_circuit_plans_finish.html

Gents, it sure looks like it's going to happen! :dance3:

Excellent news! I am definitely flying down for this race in 2012. Someone please post up some track layout pics/plans once they are available.

CleverNickname
08-27-10, 18:34
As someone who flies frequently from AIB, I am not even sure how ABI justifies the word "international" in their name. I think at one time there were a couple of flights directly from Mexico.

IIRC all "international" specifies in an airport's name is that it can accept international flights because there's customs personnel stationed there.

Mark71
09-01-10, 07:55
Austin Texas track layout has been revealed....


Promoter unveils F1 track layout
Design pays homage to some of word's most famous circuits.

Austin's Formula One race track will be fast, have a signature start, pay homage to some of the world's best Grand Prix circuits and offer plenty of good sight lines for fans, according to race promoter Tavo Hellmund.

"It should be nice," Hellmund said Tuesday as he looked at plans for the track. "I think drivers and fans should really like it."

Since May, when the race was announced, fans have been eager to see drawings of the track.

Hellmund, head of Full Throttle Productions, unveiled the track layout Tuesday in a meeting with the American-Statesman.

The 3.4-mile track has 20 turns, a maximum elevation change of 133 feet, a back straightaway that is three-quarters of a mile long and a width that will vary between 39 and 52 feet.

Hellmund said the F1 cars should be able to reach a top speed of 200 mph on the track.

He also estimated the cars might be roaring by the grandstand at 180 mph on their way to a tight, uphill corner at Turn 1, one of the highest points on the track. Hellmund said Turn 1 could be the circuit's signature corner and that it would also be one of the four designed spots to give drivers their best chance for passing, or overtaking as it's called in F1.

http://www.statesman.com/sports/formula1/promoter-unveils-f1-track-layout-890582.html?srcTrk=RTR_781143

http://www.statesman.com/multimedia/dynamic/00530/20057573_622158_530233c.jpg

WEC
09-01-10, 16:36
The computer-generated model makes it look almost like a tomahawk!

Looks absolutely awesome. That long straight is going to be phenomenal.

I love the combination of turns 16-18. As the article states, very reminiscent of the continuous turn at Turkey.

I can't wait! :help:

austinN4
09-22-10, 16:15
Study: Road work can't be finished before F1 race
Promoters more optimistic than officials about improvements to help fans exit quickly.

http://www.statesman.com/sports/formula1/study-road-work-cant-be-finished-before-f1-930349.html

austinN4
11-18-10, 14:33
Bump with a new article:

How Do You Formulate a Grand Prix?

Distilling the Volatile Chemistry of High-Speed Development, Austin, and Formula One Racing

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A1115650

Mark71
06-05-11, 01:37
The date has been announced for the United States Grand Prix......

June 17, 2012

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-fia-unveils-12-calendar-austin-gp-set-for-june-17

austinN4
06-10-11, 07:38
Contentious debate about F1 in Austin:

Formula One race supporters, opponents unleash opinions at City Council hearing
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/formula-one-race-supporters-opponents-unleash-opinions-at-1530228.html

Indy5000
06-10-11, 16:50
Circuit of the Americas website here:
http://circuitoftheamericas.com/

MotoGP is schedule for 2013 with a 10 year commitment.

austinN4
06-23-11, 05:15
The controversy continues:

Lawsuit filed against state Formula One subsidy
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/lawsuit-filed-against-state-formula-one-subsidy-1556360.html

Tovo, fresh off victory, calls for delaying F1 vote until she's seated
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/tovo-fresh-off-victory-calls-for-delaying-f1-1556208.html

Army Chief
06-23-11, 05:54
I certainly hope they get all of this figured out, and by extension, find some way to get North Americans back into the sport. Folks in the US seem to have an inherent disdain for F1 because it isn't "our kind of racing," but I think it really boils down to the fact that Americans love a winner, and we've had very little to be excited about over the years when it comes to US drivers, teams and technologies competing successfully abroad.

We can say anything we wish to about Indy/Champ or any other format we've played with over the past 20 years, but the fact is that F1 is the world's preeminent open wheel venue, and our lamentations don't really change the fact that we simply aren't contenders. (This is probably the same reason we take such little interest in FIFA World Cup action, come to think of it.) Naturally, it doesn't help when most races are on another continent and/or several time zones away, but I think anyone who has ever actually seen a F1 race comes away suitably impressed with the spectacle, and more than a little reflective about how our own open wheel efforts stand up by way of comparison.

F1 in Texas?
Bring it on.

AC

WEC
06-23-11, 07:06
The controversy continues:

Lawsuit filed against state Formula One subsidy
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/lawsuit-filed-against-state-formula-one-subsidy-1556360.html

Tovo, fresh off victory, calls for delaying F1 vote until she's seated
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/tovo-fresh-off-victory-calls-for-delaying-f1-1556208.html

The NIMBY's in Austin are so short-sighted and just can't see the magnitude that an event of this proportion may be, in fact, benefiting their fair city.

Hosting a Formula 1 race is the third most prestigious sporting event that a city could host, behind the Olympics and the World Cup. Forget your back yard, we're talking global.

austinN4
06-23-11, 07:27
The NIMBY's in Austin are so short-sighted and just can't see the magnitude that an event of this proportion may be, in fact, benefiting their fair city.
Hey, this is Austin - what did you expect?

Actually, I believe the majority of the locals are for it as long as no public money goes to the fat cats of F1 while school bugets are being cut. Some people are having trouble understanding why Bernie Ecclestone, Red McCombs and other uber rich need $25 million a year for 10 years from the State.

What is really interesting locally is to see how much money the local organizers are spending on incessent TV ads promoting the "benefits" to the area. The Washington lobbyists have nothing on these boys. I think it is starting to turn people off.

austinN4
07-13-11, 10:37
F1 developers may get OK today to start building
By Dave Doolittle AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Updated: 9:48 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Published: 9:41 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2011

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/f1-developers-may-get-ok-today-to-start-1603845.html

WEC
07-13-11, 16:49
It's about time.

Still waiting for them to finalize the date before I start making travel arrangements. But you can bet I'll be there. Maybe we should have a M4C-F1 meet and greet!

austinN4
07-14-11, 09:24
Central Texas hotels already planning for run on rooms during F1 race by Gary Dinges and Shonda Novak, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Updated: 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Published: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2011

http://www.statesman.com/business/central-texas-hotels-already-planning-for-run-on-1606801.html

Belmont31R
07-14-11, 10:23
The NIMBY's in Austin are so short-sighted and just can't see the magnitude that an event of this proportion may be, in fact, benefiting their fair city.

Hosting a Formula 1 race is the third most prestigious sporting event that a city could host, behind the Olympics and the World Cup. Forget your back yard, we're talking global.




They are liberals, and liberals will slash their own throats when it comes to economics to push their agenda...



Just what requirements might Riley have? Well, for starters (the bullet points are all direct quotes from the Op-Ed):
As a starting point, we should expect the Formula One race to be carbon neutral. The organizers of many large sporting events, including the Super Bowl, World Cup and even Formula One have offset emissions associated with those events by implementing carbon reduction programs or purchasing carbon offsets.
As a starting point, we should expect the Formula One race to be carbon neutral. The organizers of many large sporting events, including the Super Bowl, World Cup and even Formula One have offset emissions associated with those events by implementing carbon reduction programs or purchasing carbon offsets.
Many of those emissions will come from vehicles traveling to and from the event, and that’s where careful planning can have the biggest impact. Parking for the event should occur mainly at satellite locations served by transit, and dedicated transit and bike lanes should be provided to the site.
We can also ensure that energy and water needs are minimized through built-in efficiency. The site should earn at least four stars from the city’s green building program; all parking areas should comply with the city’s commercial landscaping ordinance; and other areas should feature xeriscaping and restoration of the blackland prairie and the creek on-site.
The organizers should also be asked to commit to ongoing collaboration with the city to ensure that the Circuit of the Americas is green in practice as well as in design.


http://www.formula1blog.com/2011/06/21/another-usgp-hurdle-austins-green-cred/



As much as I want to have F1 and MotoGP + other racing in my back yard it would be great for F1 to tell Austin to shove it. With limiting parking on purpose it would be a nightmare, and I aint taking their green buses leaving my car probably in the city all day to get broken into or stolen. They are so stupid. F1 is a huge event, and the track would bring tons of tax money + commerce to the area. Id rather they go somewhere that doesn't try to impose a bunch of green mantra BS into the event and track.

austinN4
07-30-11, 05:45
November makes so much more sense.

Reports say new provisional 2012 F1 calendar moves Austin race from June to November:
"A November date would have more pleasant temperatures for fans and teams than a June date and would give organizers more time to complete the circuit, which is under construction in southeastern Travis County."
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/reports-say-new-provisional-2012-f1-calendar-moves-1672200.html

austinN4
08-31-11, 11:59
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2011/08/31/fia_confirms_inaugural_austin.html

Belmont31R
09-29-11, 18:05
http://youtu.be/4WRpB1utQXQ

SOWT
09-29-11, 20:35
I hope tickets don't cost an arm and a leg.
I would love to go to this.
UT can re-do their schedule if needed.:D

WEC
09-29-11, 22:09
I hope tickets don't cost an arm and a leg.
I would love to go to this.
UT can re-do their schedule if needed.:D

It's completely relative, in my opinion. Early speculation is that tickets will run somewhere between $250-475 for a three-day pass for general admission up to $4500 for complete VIP access.

Regardless, experiencing the inaugural race as well as everything that comes along with it (various events at the racing complex, nightlife, pageantry) is something that I would not dare put a price on. I am definitely going come hell or high water.

ForTehNguyen
09-29-11, 22:15
higher quality link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YibMYIBRc6I

austinN4
09-30-11, 07:53
Slowdown raises questions about future of F1

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/slowdown-raises-questions-about-future-of-f1-1887471.html

Alex V
06-08-12, 06:49
Tickets are available for pre-sale and I want to get them but I have a question for the guys living in and around Austin.

Hotels in Austin, just like any other major city, are pretty expensive. I don't know the first thing about the area, would someone be able to recommend an area within a 30 minute drive of the track where a hotel/motel may have decent rates?

Last F1 experience was Indy in '07 and the prices have gone up many fold lol.

Thanks guys!

austinN4
06-08-12, 07:36
Hotels in Austin, just like any other major city, are pretty expensive.
Expensive doesn't even start to describe hotel prices on the F1 weekend: http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/morning_call/2012/02/austin-hotel-prices-jump-for-f1-weekend.html

Get the actual address for the track, then Google the term "hotels closest to (plug in address)", and you should be able to find a list in low to high distance order.

Keep in mind that the farther you are willing to drive each day the less you will likely have to pay. Good luck!

I plan to watch it on SPEED and stay out of the traffic madness. I just hope they don't do a local blackout, but if they do I will catch it on the rerun.

Edited to add: Thanks for posting this and reminding me of that weekend. After posting the above, I have come to the conclusion that I need to get the heck out of Dodge that weekend and am thinking that would be a great time to go hiking and see some Fall color in McKittrick Canyon at Guadalupe NP, or hike the Chisos Basin again at Big Bend NP. Since that is the weekend before Thanksgiving, so I need to make some reservations now.

WEC
06-08-12, 07:44
There are people also offering short-term leases for apartments and homes for that weekend. There will be some new rules to be implemented and some more hoops to jump though. If you're interested I have a friend who is renting out a house and I can ask him how he heard about it.

Alex V
06-08-12, 11:12
Problem is that the Track address is not showing up on Google maps lol. Otherwise I would have searched int he vicinity. Can't even see it if you set maps to satellite view either.

Ill keep looking!

Thanks!

austinN4
06-08-12, 11:51
Problem is that the Track address is not showing up on Google maps lol. Otherwise I would have searched int he vicinity. Can't even see it if you set maps to satellite view either.
Try this; although, I don't know how comprehensive it is:
http://www.austinracehotels.com/hotels-by-distance

Here is a map that shows the track location relative to the surrounding area:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&cp=9&gs_id=y&xhr=t&q=circuit+of+the+americas&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1008&bih=538&wrapid=tljp1339173987355016&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=YizST_7TEqmw2wXOt7SvDw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CFAQ_AUoAg

The airport (AUS) hotels are most likely the closest, so try this:
http://hotelguides.com/texas/austin-tx-airport-hotels.html

Univibe
06-08-12, 14:04
And there are four brand new stadiums in Houston, built at a cost to the taxpayers of well over a billion dollars, co-existing close by third-world conditions. We never learn.

Bread and Circuses.

ForTehNguyen
06-08-12, 14:51
might want to look at hotels in new braunfels or san marcos too

BTW see you on Turn 12 upper rows :D

Alex V
09-12-12, 11:08
Hotel and flight booked... tickets coming in the main soon!

Had to get a flight to Houston tho... 190 miles away. The flight was $249 instead of $610 from NJ. Using the $300 vouchers we had from United our flight is free!

Now I can rent a slightly better car and enjoy the ride!

Can't wait to visit Texas!

austinN4
09-27-12, 06:49
The flight was $249 instead of $610 from NJ.
Most excellent shopping! It is not a bad drive, just not real scenic until you get west of Austin. I assume you are flying into IAH, no? The most direct route from IAH is US 290 West. Safe travels!

Alex V
10-02-12, 10:52
Most excellent shopping! It is not a bad drive, just not real scenic until you get west of Austin. I assume you are flying into IAH, no? The most direct route from IAH is US 290 West. Safe travels!

Flying into George Bush Airport...

Renter a convertible Mustang :-D

Should be a fun drive with the fiance...

austinN4
11-13-12, 11:09
For those of you coming to town for the race, here is a map with the traffic routes and road closures as published by our local daily:

Maps of traffic routes, road closures for F1
http://www.statesman.com/gallery/sports/racing/maps-traffic-routes-road-closures-f1/g6NY/#2868908

Good luck with the traffic and enjoy the race. I will be home with SPEED Channel.

Alex V
11-14-12, 14:45
What upsets me is that I have to drive past the track to the expo center just to be drive back to the track.

Oh well.

Can't wait to get to Tx!

JJay03
11-14-12, 18:50
Wish I could go to the race its going to be epic! Whoever is going will have to post some pictures and maybe some vid.

ForTehNguyen
11-15-12, 23:03
sitting at turn 12, six of us going. Be sure to go check out Austin Fan Fest too, big party downtown

http://austinfanfest.com/

ForTehNguyen
11-15-12, 23:14
Im sitting at Turn 12 Section 7 in the upper rows. I will be able to see them screaming in at 200mph, brake, and the next couple turns

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/PreludePowerR/fce3d670.jpg

from their facebook

http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/615307_552388031454208_974878380_o.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/176953_552330054793339_1369718549_o.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/178235_552353884790956_1752316400_o.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/664665_552280318131646_299993087_o.jpg

http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/175907_552025728157105_2101735495_o.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/135461_552401901452821_928885739_o.jpg

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/185b663lkn40zjpg/original.jpg

xjustintimex
11-16-12, 00:04
I'm so pumped for tomorrow!

xjustintimex
11-22-12, 01:55
The racing was awesome! I also noticed someone with a e.a.g hat