737 replies to this topic

[cASe SenSiTive]

N/A 7.0L V8's with a 10,000 RPM rev limit, anything else goes...

C6R engines without the ALMS restrictions.

[Redliner]

I signed a petition to bring F1 to Austin, and here's the response for any interested parties...

Dear Concerned Citizen,

Thank you for your email regarding the City of Austin's impending vote to endorse the use of the State of Texas' Major Events Trust Fund to secure the Formula One United States Grand Prix. My office has received hundreds of phone calls and thousands of emails over the past month, with large numbers of opponents and proponents voicing their thoughts on the matter. This is an important decision and I want to let you know the main reasons for my decision to conditionally support the endorsement request.

1. There must be no financial risk for the City of Austin or its taxpayers. Over the last several weeks, I negotiated with representatives from the Austin-based Circuit Events Local Organizing Committee (CELOC) to get them to hold the City financially-harmless in this deal. The event promoters have agreed to pay out of their own pockets the entire amount of money needed to seed the Major Events Trust Fund (METF). We call this the Local Increment. The way this works is that the State Comptroller's Office will determine how much additional tax revenue is generated by the running of the US Grand Prix and will inform CELOC what the maximum amount of money they can contribute to the METF can be. Through a contract with the organizers and the Comptroller's Office, CELOC has agreed to pay this Local Increment from their profits. Additionally, the City of Austin will receive ALL TAX REVENUES generated during race week. This provision is specified in the contracts with the organizers and the Comptroller's Office. Moreover, there is nothing in the State of Texas laws that would allow the State to either withhold our race week tax revenues or to obligate the City of Austin to put money into the METF.

Allow me to be very clear: as of today our contracts with the Comptroller and CELOC clearly state that the City of Austin will not put one dollar into the METF and that we will collect all tax revenues generated locally due to the event.

2. The City of Austin must be able to terminate all contracts due to non-performance. Since this is a ten-year long deal, we need to ensure that the City of Austin can terminate any and all contracts related to the F1 event in case CELOC, the owners of the race track or the Comptroller do not live up to their end of the deal. The current drafts of all three contracts clearly state that we can terminate the contracts due to non-performance, and each contract has a trigger that allows us to terminate one contract if another has already been terminated. Some examples of performance expectations are:
CELOC must contribute the Local Increment each year
CELOC must conduct annual economic audits and revise prospective impact studies each year
CELOC must report progress on sustainability initiatives each year
Race track owners must comply with the sustainability initiatives
3. Circuit of the Americas must meet the sustainability expectations. We strive to be a sustainable city and major construction projects, auto racing, and throngs of spectators driving in cars don't inherently fit within that image. The owners of the race track, Circuit of the Americas (COTA), must work hard to defend our local environment from significant impact and ensure that folks from all walks of life have an opportunity to benefit economically from this deal. Council Member Chris Riley has taken the lead on negotiating an environmental term sheet to which COTA and CELOC will be expected to adhere. Measures include: planting trees, developing satellite parking and dedicated transit lanes, following the City of Austin's Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise guidelines, working with local educational institutions to provide young people with the opportunity to learn and work at the track, and integrating with our high-tech industry to help develop research opportunities for our local universities.

We are still waiting on the final negotiated sustainability term sheet and I look forward to reading through it closely.

Circuit of the Americas could be economically fruitful for the City of Austin and nearby communities. It could offer opportunities to merge our high tech and environmental sectors with the automotive industry. It could serve as a focal point for significant economic development in southeast Austin. But we have to safeguard against the financial, environmental, and social risks that come with a project of this magnitude. Assuming the finalized sustainability term sheet is consistent with my expectations and the current contracts with CELOC and the Comptroller's Office meet the current legal and financial scrutiny, I intend to vote in support of the items at the Special Called City Council Meeting on June 29, 2011.

Thank you again for contacting my office. I hope you will remain engaged with all the City of Austin does and will let my office know your thoughts.

Best wishes,

Bill Spelman
Austin City Council Member, Place 5

512.974.2256 (office)
512.974.7655 (fax)
http://www.ci.austin...cil/spelman.htm

[cASe SenSiTive]

Link to petition?

[Redliner]

Link to petition?

Here's one of them...http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/supportusgpracing/

my petition was actually an email that I sent to them, championed by some Austin F1 folks. All I did was copy & pasted from a pre-written letter with my signature.

[cASe SenSiTive]

Here's one of them...http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/supportusgpracing/

my petition was actually an email that I sent to them, championed by some Austin F1 folks. All I did was copy & pasted from a pre-written letter with my signature.

Thanks.

[vietlol]

[Redliner]

Alonso sure does drive the living piss out of that car...that's for sure.

[DrDickAction]

what a perfect comic

[MrBucket]

http://www.perthnow....l-1226085114066

Ricciardo taking over for Karthikayen at Silverstone.

[Redliner]

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/92728

Ground work at the Circuit of the Americas is in its advance stages and organisers are confident that the track will be ready in time.

However, questions have been raised over the June 17 date that the race has been allocated for next year. Temperatures can climb above 40 degrees Celsius in June, which has led some to call for a switch of date.

AUTOSPORT understands that discussions are under way to switch the date to later in the season. This means that the United States Grand Prix could run as a back-to-back event twinned with Brazil in November.

Coool! No pun intended

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92728



Coool! No pun intended

Which smart ass thought it would be a good idea to run F1 cars in Texas during mid-summer?

[Nacho]

Which smart ass thought it would be a good idea to run F1 cars in Texas during mid-summer?

Logistics. The USGP has always been right around the Canadian GP.

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Logistics. The USGP has always been right around the Canadian GP.

Summer is ~92F in Indiana, ~110F in Texas. Anyway, Bernie was also the guy who wanted to run the Bahrain GP in August, when its averaging 38C (100.4F). Easy to make those decisions when you're sitting in a nice and comfy air-conditioned VIP box, but drivers have to wear all that nomex for 2hrs without a cool suit and with a helmet on. IMO it would be borderline unsafe to race in those conditions even with the amazing physical endurance the F1 drivers have.

[cASe SenSiTive]

Summer is ~92F in Indiana, ~110F in Texas. Anyway, Bernie was also the guy who wanted to run the Bahrain GP in August, when its averaging 38C (100.4F). Easy to make those decisions when you're sitting in a nice and comfy air-conditioned VIP box, but drivers have to wear all that nomex for 2hrs without a cool suit and with a helmet on. IMO it would be borderline unsafe to race in those conditions even with the amazing physical endurance the F1 drivers have.

Not to mention that fans don't want to sit in a grandstand for a few hours in that 100F sun.

Although the drink vendors would probably love it.

[Redliner]

I'm really excited about this track, regardless. T1 supposedly will over-see 90% of the track! Holy cow! that's awesome!

[Nacho]

Summer is ~92F in Indiana, ~110F in Texas. Anyway, Bernie was also the guy who wanted to run the Bahrain GP in August, when its averaging 38C (100.4F). Easy to make those decisions when you're sitting in a nice and comfy air-conditioned VIP box, but drivers have to wear all that nomex for 2hrs without a cool suit and with a helmet on. IMO it would be borderline unsafe to race in those conditions even with the amazing physical endurance the F1 drivers have.

I realize that, but having it be hot is something that's a bit easier to handle than making all of the F1 circus appear on the far side of the world twice on opposite ends of the calendar.

It wouldn't be any worse than Malaysia or any of the other traditionally hot races, especially when they factor in humidity.

[Redliner]

I realize that, but having it be hot is something that's a bit easier to handle than making all of the F1 circus appear on the far side of the world twice on opposite ends of the calendar.

It wouldn't be any worse than Malaysia or any of the other traditionally hot races, especially when they factor in humidity.

To me, it just seems like a lack of foresight by planners. Brazil has always been in the picture, and it just makes sense to swing up from Brazil because of the heat. Honestly, Malaysia is always hot. TX (albeit briefly) does have a cooler fall, why not take advantage of it for the spectators. Honestly, I don't care about the drivers. They get to drive the most baddest ass cars ever and get paid very well for it. For me, it's about the comfort of the spectators and their enjoyment...100'F is not fun.

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

I realize that, but having it be hot is something that's a bit easier to handle than making all of the F1 circus appear on the far side of the world twice on opposite ends of the calendar.

It wouldn't be any worse than Malaysia or any of the other traditionally hot races, especially when they factor in humidity.

What they need to do is Montreal -> Indy, then later in the season do Austin -> Sao Paulo.

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/92737

[Nacho]

To me, it just seems like a lack of foresight by planners. Brazil has always been in the picture, and it just makes sense to swing up from Brazil because of the heat. Honestly, Malaysia is always hot. TX (albeit briefly) does have a cooler fall, why not take advantage of it for the spectators. Honestly, I don't care about the drivers. They get to drive the most baddest ass cars ever and get paid very well for it. For me, it's about the comfort of the spectators and their enjoyment...100'F is not fun.

By late October, early November there's no promise that even Texas will be terribly warm. Remember that it snowed in Dallas more than a few times last year.

[Nacho]

What they need to do is Montreal -> Indy, then later in the season do Austin -> Sao Paulo.

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/92737

Except that the bosses want 2 races; one on each coast. Putting two in the midwest likely doesn't appeal to them terribly much.

You're more likely to see a race somewhere in NY (Watkins Glen? New course in NY State?) then another in Vegas. Cali real estate is too much $, but Vegas is close enough to draw that SoCal crowd, and provide the glitz that F1 wants.

[MrBucket]

What they need to do is Montreal -> Indy, then later in the season do Austin -> Sao Paulo.

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/92737

They should have had it at Monticello Motor Club like they were talking about before Austin came out of nowhere. The track is amazing, they would just need to work in grandstands, a pit lane, and suitable parking.



I've driven almost the entire track, just broken up into 2 tracks instead of all at once. There's a ton of elevation changes and it would be close to NYC.

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Except that the bosses want 2 races; one on each coast. Putting two in the midwest likely doesn't appeal to them terribly much.

You're more likely to see a race somewhere in NY (Watkins Glen? New course in NY State?) then another in Vegas. Cali real estate is too much $, but Vegas is close enough to draw that SoCal crowd, and provide the glitz that F1 wants.

Would the Glen cannibalize on Montreal due to the proximity?

[Redliner]

Any NYC event would detract from the Montreal race. Hell, I'm pretty sure most of us are now heading to Austin rather than Montreal simply because it's a ton cheaper...putting a race next to NYC would hurt Montreal a lot IMO.

2 races are great - but it's more than just having a race or two here. The entire culture needs to be developed...we need an American driver that can win. Having said that, Americans aren't very excited about Ben or Collin or Hayden in MotoGP And they have 2 races here as well...

[Nacho]

Would the Glen cannibalize on Montreal due to the proximity?

Likely, but EVERY time F1 is discussed in America, NYC is mentioned. Anything close enough to the big population center of the north east is going to take some of the attention away from Montreal.

That said, how close is Spa to the Ring? Valencia to Barcelona?

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Any NYC event would detract from the Montreal race. Hell, I'm pretty sure most of us are now heading to Austin rather than Montreal simply because it's a ton cheaper...putting a race next to NYC would hurt Montreal a lot IMO.

2 races are great - but it's more than just having a race or two here. The entire culture needs to be developed...we need an American driver that can win. Having said that, Americans aren't very excited about Ben or Collin or Hayden in MotoGP And they have 2 races here as well...

I don't think a national driver is necessary. How many Malaysian, Singaporean or Chinese drivers do you see in F1? All they need to do is market it properly, sell it like a giant party and line up a bunch of concerts alongside (like Singapore does with "F1 Rocks").

I can't believe the lack of F1 interest in the US is solely down to a lack of an American driver. Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti and Juan "Big-boy" Montoya are pretty damn popular, and neither of those guys are American. Granted they race for American teams, so perhaps that is what would really get the interest up. I bet Corvette's involvement in 24h du mans has also sparked up a lot more interest from US viewers, not too long ago you barely got any TV coverage of the event here...

Like you said, MotoGP has three American riders, two in top-tier teams, and still nobody seems to give a shit beyond people that would already be MotoGP fans anyway.