Hey Austin, Tx - Status on F1 Track

[stromgal]

I don't need anything. Some of these Texans are hide-bound conservatives, however.  

[Roadhound]

I can't see MOTOGP lasting over 3 years in Austin. I've been riding out to Laguna Seca for races ever since I rode out for the last 500 CC GP races in 94. I've ridden out for World Superbike and for MOTOGP. I just can't see what Austin Texas has that can compare with What Laguna Seca offers. The PCH, the whole Monterey scene, Big Sur, San Fransisco with Fishermans Wharf, roads that have to be ridden to believe . This whole thing seems to me to be a big waste of $$ or a big tax write off for somebody. I look for it to be a gigantic white elephant. I hope I'm wrong for the sake of the sport, but I just don't think so.

[Orson]

Even the PCH and Monterrey couldn't save the USGP

the Laguna Seca USGP of the late 1980s and early 1990s saw a steady decline in attendance.

I think it was a case of "been there, done that"

Only the truly hardcore were attending near the end of its run. I read that when Kenny Roberts promoted the 1993 USGP, he ended up losing a lotta money.

[Blunder]

The story goes that Kenny lost over a million of his own money.

That era of GPs at Laguna slowly died away, IMO, because the track facilities and access for the spectators were still very primitive. Getting in and out of the place was very un-organized and the parking situation was a shambles. The seating accommodations (grandstands, a concept that eludes me at a place like Laguna) were few; there was smaller main straight seating than exists now and the benches on the outside of 4 were far fewer. If you weren't a die-hard fan it was too much to suffer more than once or twice.

All that has changed because of Mazda and Yamaha money infusions and a much more professional track organization that puts in the effort to improve things.

I hope Austin succeeds. MotoGP is a hell of a show. People from all over the world attend (you tell them apart because they talk different and wear funny shoes, and I'm not talkin' 'bout the yankees) and bring their own special fervor to the races.

[nnjhawk02]

I hope Austin succeeds. MotoGP is a hell of a show. People from all over the world attend (you tell them apart because they talk different and wear funny shoes, and I'm not talkin' 'bout the yankees) and bring their own special fervor to the races.

I've never been to Laguna race, but I rode out to Indy in '08.  As a race fan of F1 & MotoGP, SBK & AMA.  I want to keep my streak alive

Went to 1st F1 @ Indy in 2000, 1st MotoGP @ Indy (Hi to Hurricane Ike).

I plan to ride to both F1 & GP in Austin - anybody got a couch?

All I can think about is all those sweet roads between here (Eastern Pa)  & Texas

[steve.m]

I can't see MOTOGP lasting over 3 years in Austin. I've been riding out to Laguna Seca for races ever since I rode out for the last 500 CC GP races in 94. I've ridden out for World Superbike and for MOTOGP. I just can't see what Austin Texas has that can compare with What Laguna Seca offers. The PCH, the whole Monterey scene, Big Sur, San Fransisco with Fishermans Wharf, roads that have to be ridden to believe . This whole thing seems to me to be a big waste of $$ or a big tax write off for somebody. I look for it to be a gigantic white elephant. I hope I'm wrong for the sake of the sport, but I just don't think so.

You sir, must have never travelled to austin.  while it's a landlocked city, it certainly has more than it's fair share of natural spectacle, and the roads in and around austin are up there with some of the best i've ridden.  not as long, but just as challenging.  I've ridden most of this country, including all of the CA coastline and some of the roads around austin are hilly and winding to the point they'll make you nauseous.  

also bear in mind that they're building a track in a part of the country where folks will pay to see races of any sort, having F1 and GP so close by is a guaranteed draw for folks from houston and dallas, both cities have a large expat population who i'm sure would LOVE to see their favorite drivers/riders tear up the hill country.

[Kneescrubber]

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/f1-funding-process-worked-in-reverse-1525354.html

[stromgal]

I would expect that, after some righteous squabbling, the Austin council will get behind it even if it wasn't 'their' idea. Good for tourism- hotels/restaurants/saloons.

[DangerMoney]

As a big Formula One fan, I wish the organizers the best of luck. Having been to F1 races in Phoenix and Indy and the short time they were hosted there, I think they're going to have a tough time financially given that they've signed a contract to host F1 for ten years.  I understand having the race adjacent to Canada on the calendar is great logistically for the F1 operation but the heat in June will be tough on all.

F1 2012 Calendar

11 March Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
18 March Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
1 April Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang
8 April Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai
22 April Korean Grand Prix, Yeongam
6 May Turkish Grand Prix, Istanbul *
20 May Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona
27 May Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo
10 June Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal
17 June United States Grand Prix, Austin
1 July European Grand Prix, Valencia
15 July British Grand Prix, Silverstone
29 July German Grand Prix, Hockenheim
5 August Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungaroring
2 September Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps
9 September Italian Grand Prix, Monza
30 September Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay
14 October Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
28 October Indian Grand Prix, Greater Noida
11 November Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina
25 November Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos

[miles]

 I understand having the race adjacent to Canada

Dude- look at a map.  Austin, TX, is not adjacent to Canada at all.

[DangerMoney]

Dude- look at a map.  Austin, TX, is not adjacent to Canada at all.

Dude:
Read the whole sentence:

having the race adjacent to Canada on the calendar

[Kneescrubber]

Dude- look at a map.  Austin, TX, is not adjacent to Canada at all.

Well they are on the same continent.  

[miles]

Dude:
Read the whole sentence:


 

 

[FJRmgm]

just saw on Sundays F1 race where the date for the F1 race in Austin is June 12th 2012..

[DangerMoney]

I doubt it.    June 12, 2012 is a Tuesday.


June 12, 2011 was last Sunday - the day the F1 race was run in Montreal.

The FIA 2012 Calendar ( go back a few posts) says the Austin race is June 17, 2012 which is a Sunday. All F1 races are held on Sundays.

[Kneescrubber]

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

A new obstacle.

[magus]

Even the PCH and Monterrey couldn't save the USGP

the Laguna Seca USGP of the late 1980s and early 1990s saw a steady decline in attendance.

I think it was a case of "been there, done that"

Only the truly hardcore were attending near the end of its run. I read that when Kenny Roberts promoted the 1993 USGP, he ended up losing a lotta money.

Yea, Austin really blows as a city. No music scene, no cute coeds, no Hill Country to ride in... and I thought Indianapolis was a boring site for motoGP.

[Orson]

My sister lives in Austin and I've visited regularly since the late 1970s  

My comments were related to the viability of MotoGP as a commercial venture in the USA.

In some other countries like Portugal and South Africa, GP events receive government subsidies. That's not the case in the USA.

[soonerstan56]

My sister lives in Austin and I've visited regularly since the late 1970s  

My comments were related to the viability of MotoGP as a commercial venture in the USA.

In some other countries like Portugal and South Africa, GP events receive government subsidies. That's not the case in the USA.

That is magnified in "Texas USA", the governator,who happens to be a POTUS candidate was the one who mentioned succession because of the government overfunding, (or mandating depending on your political views) social programs.

Stan

[DangerMoney]

The F1 race date has been moved to Nov 18, 2012.

From http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/7140889/End-Of-The-Road-For-Turkey

The FIA has confirmed a 20-race calendar for the 2012 Formula One with the Turkish Grand Prix falling away.

The Turkish GP at Istanbul Park Circuit, which has always been very popular with drivers, has been part of the F1 calendar since 2005 but the future of the race was thrown into doubt earlier this year when local organisers voiced their unhappiness over the high hosting fees.

Turkey was included in the provisional 2012 calendar subject to confirmation, but then left off the updated schedule in early August. Its axing was made official on Wednesday evening when the FIA confirmed that "a fax vote by its members, the World Motor Sport Council has ratified, by unanimous decision" the new calendar.

The Bahrain GP, which was cancelled earlier this year due to unrest in the country, returns and will take place on April 22.

2012 F1 calendar
18 March - Australia
25 March - Malaysia
15 April - China
22 April - Bahrain
13 May - Spain
27 May - Monaco
10 June - Canada
24 June - Europe
08 July - Great Britain
22 July - Germany
29 July - Hungary
02 September - Belgium
09 September - Italy
23 September - Singapore
07 October - Japan
14 October - Korea
28 October - India
04 November - Abu Dhabi
18 November - United States
25 November - Brazil

.