49 replies to this topic

[vietlol]

hopefully no tilke

[HighTachPres]

So I bought http://www.texasformula1.com
now what?

[vietlol]

now you get sued like those dudes who bought itunes.com

[MrHahn]

Really this whole deal sounds a bit iffy. I hope they pull it off though. No announced location or design but they already have an agreement with the FIA to host the race in 2 years from now.

In for a loop-de-loop and water splash

[Redliner]

I have growing concerns about this entire thing, like Kero stated.

So this thing will be wholly privatized with no gov't backing, they will have to pay for the annual fees of bringing F1 there, and they kept this totally private from the public? Doesn't this have to go through some kind of voting process? Well I guess not if it's 100% private...Plus, I don't know if you guys know this, but outside of California, Austin is probably one of the most liberal cities in the country. On top of that, Austin doesn't really have a very strong car culture and doesn't fit the image of F1...

IBColumbianDrugLordConnectionIn1.5yrsAnnoucned

[DrDickAction]

So I bought http://www.texasformula1.com
now what?

Start a new version of GP tours

[DrDickAction]

I have growing concerns about this entire thing, like Kero stated.

So this thing will be wholly privatized with no gov't backing, they will have to pay for the annual fees of bringing F1 there, and they kept this totally private from the public? Doesn't this have to go through some kind of voting process? Well I guess not if it's 100% private...Plus, I don't know if you guys know this, but outside of California, Austin is probably one of the most liberal cities in the country. On top of that, Austin doesn't really have a very strong car culture and doesn't fit the image of F1...

IBColumbianDrugLordConnectionIn1.5yrsAnnoucned

Land is dirt cheap in Texas, zoning and environmental laws are more lax than on the coasts. If Austin doesn't have to foot the bill, I can imagine the general public getting behind it.

That being said, what, 9 figures to build the track? Another 20 million or so each year to have the right to have a race. It's gonna be damn near impossible to make a profit doing this.

[Redliner]

Start a new version of GP tours

Experience F1 from behind the wheel with your instructors Redliner 7 & Kngrsll! Learn about F1 cars engineering from Kerozen! Get your picture taken with Hightach? Anyways...I smell a bidness venture!

[kngrsll]

Experience F1 from behind the wheel with your instructors Redliner 7 & Kngrsll! Learn about F1 cars engineering from Kerozen! Get your picture taken with Hightach? Anyways...I smell a bidness venture!

its too early to be negative guys

[Nacho]

Land is dirt cheap in Texas, zoning and environmental laws are more lax than on the coasts. If Austin doesn't have to foot the bill, I can imagine the general public getting behind it.

That being said, what, 9 figures to build the track? Another 20 million or so each year to have the right to have a race. It's gonna be damn near impossible to make a profit doing this.

To be fair, Indy had the highest attendance of ANY F1 race every year. So they've got a better chance of making a profit than most other venues that still pay out the ass for these tracks and events.

And, as long as they're not stupid, they can rent the track out the other 364 days out of the year.

[Nacho]

its too early to be negative guys

It's never too late to be negative on the internet!

[doublemeat]

This announcement was like manna from heaven. Since I live in San Antonio this thing is literally less than an hour away from me. I've never been to a Formula 1 race, now I have the chance to go to 10 if it all pans out. I'm a bit skeptical too but hey, as of now I can have the belief that it's happening.

If it indeed does happen, my only wish is for Kimi to come back so I can hopefully run into him on 6th Street and show him that while he may be King Alcoholic of the F1 world, he's still a pansy when it comes to Texans.

[Redliner]

This announcement was like manna from heaven. Since I live in San Antonio this thing is literally less than an hour away from me. I've never been to a Formula 1 race, now I have the chance to go to 10 if it all pans out. I'm a bit skeptical too but hey, as of now I can have the belief that it's happening.

If it indeed does happen, my only wish is for Kimi to come back so I can hopefully run into him on 6th Street and show him that while he may be King Alcoholic of the F1 world, he's still a pansy when it comes to Texans.

You'd probably drink me under the table then I maybe Texan, but that is pretty damn scary shit right there!

[yonson]

You'd probably drink me under the table then I maybe Texan, but that is pretty damn scary shit right there!

I bet I could hang with Kimi, I mean I'm no hardcore alcoholic, but I do put away at least a bottle of wine a day

[Redliner]

I bet I could hang with Kimi, I mean I'm no hardcore alcoholic, but I do put away at least a bottle of wine a day

I can put away a bottle of wine if I wanted to and still be sober

[yonson]

I can put away a bottle of wine if I wanted to and still be sober

:duh:

That's what I meant...

[chiuey]

I'm the bearer of bad news!

Tilke to design new Austin circuit

By Jonathan Noble
Thursday, May 27th 2010, 07:55 GMT

The new Austin Formula 1 track, which will host the American Grand Prix from 2012, is to be designed by Hermann Tilke, race organisers have announced.

Shortly after revealing its 10-year deal to hold the US event, Austin race promoters Full Throttle Productions have now earmarked a site for the circuit and confirmed that Tilke will be involved.

The exact location of the venue has not been disclosed, but Tavo Hellmund, managing partner of Full Throttle Productions, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press that its was 'more than 700 acres.'

Hellmund also ended speculation about who would design the track by confirming that F1 regular Tilke, the man behind track designs at Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Shanghai, and Sepang, will be involved.

Race promoters said the track would be "one of the finest permanent road course facilities in the world. Fans should expect the craftsmanship Tilke is famous for, with a priority placed on green building and a track similar to the great grand prix tracks of previous generations."

[More&Faster]

[vietlol]

WELL EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT TILKE MUST BE GOOD

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

How can someone who used to race at the Nurburgring be so terrible at designing an race track?

[DrDickAction]

I'm the bearer of bad news!

I'm gonna go ahead and hold you personally responsible for this.

Asshole.

[DrDickAction]

How can someone who used to race at the Nurburgring be so terrible at designing an race track?

[Redliner]

Tilke designing Austin track, site already purchased

Veteran circuit designer Hermann Tilke will be responsible for the Austin F1 track, promoter Tavo Hellmund has confirmed to this writer. Hellmund also says the project is also much further along than has been assumed, and the track has already been drawn.

“This has been long in the works,” he told this blog. “Everything is in place.”

Although the former racer told local media yesterday that three possible venues were still under consideration, that suggestion was apparently a smokescreen.

While several alternatives were under consideration, one site was settled on some time ago, and the land – over 800 acres – has already been purchased. Not only that but initial permissions for amenities such as water and waste, which are usually time consuming affairs, have already been granted.

Although Hellmund has yet to divulge details of what he calls a “killer location”, he confirmed that the site is to the east of the city, a few miles from the airport. It is said to be in hilly countryside that has provided Tilke with a good starting point for a design.

The German has been asked to create a fast circuit with challenging corners that resemble those of classic established circuits such as Silverstone, Hockenheim and Spa. It will be over 3-miles in length.

Tilke first sent a representative of his company to Austin around two years ago, and has made personal many visits since. He is currently looking for office space in the city in which to base the project.

Hellmund is adamant that Austin is an ideal location: “Other than New York or LA, which already have 10m people, where are you going to find a place that within 150-mile radius you have three of the top 10 largest markets in the United States? That is the wonderful thing. Our position between Canada and the United States, North, South and Central America, is unbelievable.

“You take that into account, you take into account the draw that Austin is, it’s the state capital, it’s in the hill country, it’s got a huge, huge vibe and tag of being the coolest place.”

As reported previously, the race is set to benefit from the ‘Texas Major Events Trust Fund,’ which is intended to reimburse cities for costs they face when hosting big sporting events.

However, that relates only to specific events and does not have an impact on the cost of building the facility, which is apparently budgeted at $200m. The track build is being financed by private investors, and when completed the venue is likely to be named after either Texas or Austin.

One of the key elements that has helped to generate funding is that aside from F1, the circuit will be used to help develop alternative fuels.

Tavo has known Bernie Ecclestone since he was a teenager. His father was involved in promoting Indycar and TransAm races in Mexico City, and also helped to bring F1 back to the country in 1988. Hellmund Sr was also involved in the 1986 soccer World Cup and in organising music events.

While the Austin project was greeted with some scepticism, Hellmund’s enthusiasm for it is infectious and he certainly makes a credible case for it. It will be fascinating to see what happens next.

Cliff notes:
Site already purchased - east of the city, in hilly terrain
Water/sewer permits already in hand
Tilke already has design drawn up
Tilke was asked to design a fast, challenging course like Silverstone, Hockenheim and Spa
Tilke will be setting up an office in Austin to work the construction phase
Private funding reaffirmed (we'll see)

[DrDickAction]

Cliff notes:
Site already purchased - east of the city, in hilly terrain
Water/sewer permits already in hand
Tilke already has design drawn up
Tilke was asked to design a fast, challenging course like Silverstone, Hockenheim and Spa
Tilke will be setting up an office in Austin to work the construction phase
Private funding reaffirmed (we'll see)

I'm actually a little blown away that they seem be so far along in the process already.

[shallow777]

Cliff notes:
Site already purchased - east of the city, in hilly terrain
Water/sewer permits already in hand
Tilke already has design drawn up
Tilke was asked to design a fast, challenging course like Silverstone, Hockenheim and Spa
Tilke will be setting up an office in Austin to work the construction phase
Private funding reaffirmed (we'll see)

You forgot one of the most important :

Tavo has known Bernie Ecclestone since he was a teenager.


Now it all makes more sense, seems lie this might actually happen for real.