Thanks! TBH, I prefer these kind of "crowd" shots to ones thru the fencing - Sutton Images et al capture the cars, I want to see the "atmosphere". Anyway, the first shot in post 5024 highlights why some folk complained about the time to get over the track - You cannot have *any* openings on those bridges or the steps as folk *will* stop and watch/shoot. And the bridge gets narrower. And the crowd backs up. I'm sure they'll be closed next year. Cheers, Ian
Greg I am so happy for you and somewhat sad simultaneously! Overall you were at the big show and thats all that matters. Thanks for the great pics of the track and the crowd. Completely agree with Ian about the photos and showing atmosphere vs the normal cars and paddock stuff! I hope you are sending more reports next year!! Many thanks to Hookem for handling the logistics of the tickets for eventual delivery. You look like you were having a good time. Nice report. The next time I hit a race I will try to bring out more atmosphere as well. Big Tex looked happy!
Only weird sensation was when the P48, two P51's an the F15 flew over and set off an oscillation. But it was only slight but did instantly remind me of that famous video we all saw in physics class of the Takoma Bridge collapse.
I was in T12 and felt it more than once. Section 3, row 28 to be exact. When the planes when overhead calling it "slight" is a gross understatement. Everyone in the area around me all sort of gasped, checked their balance, and then looked at one another. That was the worst of it for sure. Then in the opening laps as the cars went by again everybody would stand up and you could feel "something" a little odd. I'm not acrophobe by any stretch and it had me a little taken aback.
Hi fellas....I tryly enjoyed the event also. I would like to watch the race as captured by the TV cameras, but my old brain forgot to set up the DRV, with all the excitement of the trip to Austin, so I don't have it. Other a DVR recording I can't find any way of watching the race. YouTube doesn't seem to have anything yet. Any sugestions? thanks.
Big Tex looked TIRED!! He always looks happy....LOL! That's a picture of the Broken Spoke, I took there to hang in "my room" upstairs. It was actually built for me by my friend, recently killed in a crash.....the new wife LOVED it so much, (without knowing the back story) that she took it from 'upstairs" and hung it prominently in the Main Dining Room! I told her the story last weekend, reviewing each of the details, Estate Sale "found frame", the common burlap backing, even the cardboard in it is recycled and wrinkled (unseen)....it actually fell apart, and I took it, added some matting and staple gunned the ^%$^%& out of it, but deep inside (or on the back, I don't remember) is the hand written message from my dear friend, Larry Joe Miggins. She lost a long time friend this year, too, and got all emotional when she finally understood....but there it hangs!!
Autoweek summed it up best, IMO...it was a "wading pool filled with gasoline" the whole time, rampant egos that were very dangerous in combination.. Let's beat the swords into plowshares and there's room for everyone ELSE next year, hell, the parties didn't even reach south of the River much this year, actually..... But as I knew, there are tons of Private ones, that you know....'those people" throw...
You know, I had a hunch that some modes might beat the "travel time" of the choppers. You walked right past me at Gate 1...... the blades were blowing my info brochures all off the table at the Guest Services tent... The Salt Lick was in that main concession there, at gate 1, but agree they need to get someof the great SOUTH Austin places involved......
David I could not be happier and even our host were sursprised at my calm demeanor but what else could I do, we are all getting the ticket holders that hang around your neck next time. Yes Ian hit the nail on the head because it was my intent to capture more of the general atmosphere than just ontrack and car pics and I do have more I am going to add. Ian there are still several uncompleted bridges but everyone took it in stride so it was really not that bad. The real troopers of the weekend were BigTex and Miss Valery as they were up every morning at 5-5:30am because they were volunteers and they did not miss a beat. Considering the amount of eating and drinking we did once back at the house we all survived with barely 5hrs sleep each night. Lets see if I can add a few more pics without reposting lol! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
We had to be out near the Track, at Shuttle Pick Up at 5:30AM, to board at 6:00 FOR SURE. So the alarm clock actually went off at 4:00AM to get up and dressed.....that was a little rough the first night after closing down the Broken Spoke and running people home...I even had to run to the ATM. But, we'll sleep when we're dead! The first day was to pick up all our gear, after that, our Crew Leader was cool and we just met at Gate 1, wasting no time at the EC Lot. We were definitely the first thing they saw coming in Gate 1. "Hello, and WELCOME to the Circuit of the Americas!!!"
This info is for those planning on attending next years race. If you have allergies make damn sure you are prepared!! I have never had them my entire life but the the wind and location of the track makes it a huge dust/pollen bowl. Tuesday I started feeling alittle under the weather and by wendsday morning was coughing along with having a huge sinus headache. I laid in bed both days and did not even eat on Thanksgiving but I located three antibiotic pills and took them. This morning I am feeling quite abit better but I am still congested in my chest and sinus's. Just friendly food for thought. Gregg ps, Oh and DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT forget sunblock. I had blisters on my forehead and on my nose and those bled. I'm still peeling.
Yeah, I remember that night all too well, good times. Thanks again for the beer, Lee ann & I had a lot of fun. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Got a chance to get my picture taken with Big Tex during the race. Nice guy. Had a great time at the race. Will go again next year. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Anyone want to pick up Sebastian's boots for him? http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2012/11/21/red-bull-leaves-austin-bootmaker-with.html?ana=handmark&goback=%2Egde_91286_member_188680194 Must be nice boots for $2150.
I'd skip town too if it meant avoiding those. I'm sure that the work is first rate but the RB logo is a bit much.
In Texas, one simply does not tuck one's pants inside one's boots... The tops are only visible if one's pant legs are raised or if one is seated while wearing pants or jeans that are too short. These days, it's a challenge to even find boots that don't have uppers ostentatious and downright ugly colors of stitching and stitching patterns. In Texas, it's a foregone conclusion that an owner, or player, or financial backer of a championship sports team to have silly looking boots made. And 2150 dollars sounds too cheap, that has to be Euros.
This is intriguing. http://www.kxan.com//dpp/news/local/austin/kxan-comptroller-issues-payment-for-f1-race VideoPhoto F1-related reimbursements CoTA and Formula 1 F1 numbers show economic boon and bust Hotels in the Austin area were the big winners according to the Austin not affected by F1 lineup change The governing body of Formula One racing on Wednesday tweaked Disabled fans faced F1 shuttle trouble Circuit of The Americas said about a quarter of its 500 2013 F1 race same weekend as UT-OSU College football's Big 12 Conference announced that the More Stories » Advertisement Combs issues $29 million payment for F1 race Study suggests economic impact forecast too rosy Updated: Tuesday, 11 Dec 2012, 8:09 PM CST Published : Tuesday, 11 Dec 2012, 5:59 PM CST Brian Sanders AUSTIN (KXAN) - Texas Comptroller Susan Combs has issued $29.3 million from the state's Major Event Trust Fund for the Formula One race in Austin. The payment was made on Friday to Circuit Events Local Organizing Committee , or CELOC, as reimbursement for expenses of bringing the U.S. Grand Prix to Texas. The state of Texas was responsible for $25.3 million, and the city of Austin matched $4 million. The complete distribution of funds. Combs committed to that amount on Aug.12 based on economic impact projections made during CELOC's application process. Don Hoyte of TexasEconomicImpact.com presented the estimate numbers. However, new indicators suggest the projections may have been exaggerated. F1's finance arm, FormulaMoney, published a report comparing the Austin estimates to the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis from 2000 through 2007. The report showed that Austin's numbers were ambitious compared to the Indianapolis actuals in every category, which included airfare, hotels, food & beverage, rental car and related enterprises. In addition, a report by Smith Travel Research showed Austin metro hotel revenue from Formula One week. During a five-day stretch (Nov. 14-18, 2012) leading up to the F1 race, hotel revenue was $32.7 million. That's about 3 times the revenue from the same stretch the previous year (Nov. 16-20, 2011), when hotels brought in $10.4 million. The Texas Major Event Trust Fund is based on incremental tax gain from an event, which would be taxes from about $22.3 million for hotels in this case. The same measurements are taken for categories like shopping & entertainment, rental cars, and mixed beverages. Some Austin businesses did not see the same incremental gain. "It just was not happening," said Gina McClelland of Guero's Taco Bar. "Our business went down, kind of significantly." The $22.3 million incremental hotel revenue is on par with the Indianapolis average of $22.7, but TexasEconomicImpact.com estimated the incremental gain to be $49.8 million. "I think in promoting the event, and also promoting the event to produce the yield out of the Major Event Trust Fund, they just hyped [economic projections] into a zone of unreality," said Richard Viktorin, a CPA for Audits in the Public Interest. "And, that's where the dashed expectations have now come from." The Comptroller's Office says they will conduct a post-race study within 18 months of the 2012 U.S. Grand Prix as part of the Major Event Trust Fund statute. They will use the findings to more accurately release funds in future Formula One events. Opinions that are derogatory, attack other users or are offensive in nature may be removed. KXAN is not responsible for the content posted in this comment section. We reserve the right to remove any offensive or off-topic remark or thread. To mark a comment for review by a moderator, click "Report Abuse."
