Circuit of the Americas Development Updates

[turn1]

The next most expensive F1 weekend parking passes we could find were at Monaco & Silverstone ($100), and Spa ($70)....and 4-day parking passes for the Indy 500 and USGPs at Indy were $50. RVs park there for $120.

[turn1]

Originally Posted by Spaceman

Not available as of yesterday..Any idea as to when these go on sale?

COTA sent out an email a little while ago correcting their bad link from yesterday.

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=...d&e=0b18e4db26

[pato79]

Originally Posted by turn1

The next most expensive F1 weekend parking passes we could find were at Monaco & Silverstone ($100), and Spa ($70)....and 4-day parking passes for the Indy 500 and USGPs at Indy were $50. RVs park there for $120.

Dont quote me on this, but I think the parking passes that were offered to PSL holders were for all events throughout the year at the track. Not sure if the passes they are selling to the public would allow the same type of access.

[hookem]

COTA has posted a new video where the current drivers talk about the track, Texas, USA, etc. Hope we can live up to their expectations!

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/arti...ers-talk-texas

[turn1]

Originally Posted by pato79

Dont quote me on this, but I think the parking passes that were offered to PSL holders were for all events throughout the year at the track. Not sure if the passes they are selling to the public would allow the same type of access.

I think you're right.

[turn1]

Top F1 Drivers Talk Texas...

Enjoy!

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/arti...ers-talk-texas

[turn1]

It's like deja vu all over again:

Autoweek: Kevin Schwantz sues Circuit of the Americas over Moto GP agreement

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120907/F1/120909873

...the suit says, “Defendants COTA and Steve Sexton [COTA's President] wanted the MotoGP race, but did not want to have to pay 3four as the promoter. So, while purportedly negotiating with 3four, COTA was actually scheming to side-step 3four and deal directly with Dorna so it could pay less by cutting 3four out of the picture. Through tortious interference and fraud, COTA and Sexton encouraged Dorna to breach and purportedly terminate 3four's agreement to avoid the obligation to pay 3four. 3four sues for what it is owed as the exclusive promoter of MotoGP in Texas.”

...

Schwantz's spokesperson attributed this statement to Schwantz: “I have devoted over 25 years of my life to MotoGP, the premier motorcycle road racing world championship. I spent four of those years bringing MotoGP to Texas, my home state. As a result, MotoGP agreed in 2011 to host an annual race at Austin's Circuit of the Americas [COTA] track. I'm sorry to say that COTA is now attempting to unlawfully force me out of this project. I believe COTA has committed fraud in doing so. Earlier today, I took legal action against COTA. I was forced to file this lawsuit in order to protect my rights, my reputation, and MotoGP itself. I want to see MotoGP come to Texas, but I cannot allow COTA to take advantage of me. More important, I will not sit idly by while a newcomer to racing discredits the sport I love.”

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/...1-2453167.html

28 blocks downtown likely to close during F1

By Ben Wear
Published: 9:13 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, 2012

Circuit of the Americas organizers have said the November race here will bring visitors and international exposure on par with South by Southwest. But it also will probably bring downtown street closures — and traffic snarls — akin to those during the March festival.

The extent of those closures is now coming into focus as the city considers three applications for closing roads, including seven blocks of Congress Avenue, for up to a week in the days before, during and just after the Nov. 18 Formula One race.

Two of the applications are related to festivals surrounding F1, and the other is for shuttle bus loading and unloading of up to 30,000 race fans near state parking garages on Trinity Street.

By comparison, at this year's SXSW Music Festival, 36 downtown blocks were fully closed, most for four days. Those closures did not include Congress Avenue.

[turn1]

More on the Schwantz lawsuit against COTA:

http://www.statesman.com/news/former...s-2453119.html

[turn1]

COTA is denying there was ever a contract:

http://www.formula1blog.com/2012/09/...comment-157370

“It makes no sense for Mr. Schwantz to pursue legal action in this matter. We were informed by DORNA, the organization that holds the rights for the MotoGP racing series, that Mr. Schwantz has no contract to promote a MotoGP race in Texas,” Circuit spokesperson Julie Loignon said. “To be clear, Mr. Schwantz never had an agreement to conduct a MotoGP race at Circuit of The Americas, and to our knowledge, he has no agreement to conduct an event at any Texas racetrack. Perhaps, that is why he is reacting this way, out of embarrassment, and is making false claims to the court and media.
“We know race fans would love to see a MotoGP event at the Circuit, and it is good to know that the door is open to make that happen at our new world-class venue in Austin.”

Strangely, though, Dorna seemed to think there was one back in Apr2011. Here's Moto GP.com's announcement from back then:

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/t...unced+for+2013

"Mr. Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, S.L. said: “We are delighted to be adding the Circuit of the Americas™ to the MotoGP calendar. It’s an honour to expand our Championship to Texas, which has a rich history of producing World Championship riders. We have had a wonderful and special relationship with Kevin (Schwantz) for 20 years and often talked about a mutual dream of increasing the popularity of MotoGP in the U.S. and raising our already successful worldwide profile. Now, with what Tavo Hellmund (Managing Partner of Full Throttle Productions) is doing in Austin, we have realised that situation and are looking forward to this new venture together. The ten-year agreement is a sign of our confidence and commitment to the future success of MotoGP racing in Austin.”

I was at the press conference for the announcement. The COTA boys were all smiles. Seemed like they thought there was a contract too.

[BevoLJ]

If they originally thought he did, but he didn't, then perhaps that is one of the reasons they cut ties with him?

[Spaceman]

We went to the track today to take some pictures.Sorry but I have no idea on how to put then on this site..what was cool was that we went EVERWHERE but on the actual track..Contruction workers just waved and I saw no official security..We went down Elroy road, past the fire station, and turned left into a planned parking lot..That lead to the building being built high on the hill above turn one. From there we followed the track past the far hair pin to the long back stretch. After that we turned around and went to our seats on the turn three bleachers. I got out and stood on the plastic crash barriers at the top of turn one. Even then no security showed. Lots of progress but HWY 812 is a joke, a bad joke. I nearly saw two wrecks at the intersection by the closed "concert arena" with the horseshoe entranceway.

[hookem]

Originally Posted by Spaceman

We went to the track today to take some pictures.Sorry but I have no idea on how to put then on this site..what was cool was that we went EVERWHERE but on the actual track..Contruction workers just waved and I saw no official security..We went down Elroy road, past the fire station, and turned left into a planned parking lot..That lead to the building being built high on the hill above turn one. From there we followed the track past the far hair pin to the long back stretch. After that we turned around and went to our seats on the turn three bleachers. I got out and stood on the plastic crash barriers at the top of turn one. Even then no security showed. Lots of progress but HWY 812 is a joke, a bad joke. I nearly saw two wrecks at the intersection by the closed "concert arena" with the horseshoe entranceway.

Wow, that's wild because I've always heard they are pretty tight with security... They must be putting in the new parking areas/entrances so fast they haven't really had a chance to secure all the new access points.

Anyway, I'm dying to know, you having seen it so close... What was your opinion of the place? Will it be ready? How does it look? Is it too big too walk around? Anything the photos don't really convey?

[turn1]

New aerial. Enjoy.

[Spaceman]

Originally Posted by hookem

Wow, that's wild because I've always heard they are pretty tight with security... They must be putting in the new parking areas/entrances so fast they haven't really had a chance to secure all the new access points.

Anyway, I'm dying to know, you having seen it so close... What was your opinion of the place? Will it be ready? How does it look? Is it too big too walk around? Anything the photos don't really convey?

The track and racing facilities are coming along nicely..it's the non-racing areas that look to be behind schedule..The hillsides are covered with the grass mesh cover but even with water trucks going around nothing appeared to have sprouted..The air was filled with dust..It will take until next year for COTA to have a parklike feel to it.It is no Spa or Monza..
Unless there are barriers designed to keep fans in certain areas walking the perimenter should't be hard..
Standing at the top of the hairpin, turn 11 I think, one word came to mind.
That word is VAST. This thing is amazing..

[KevinFromTexas]

Now this, THIS is what Rick Perry does best and is one of the things a governor should do.

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-...e-2455150.html

Perry in Italy promoting Texas' F1 race

By Laylan Copelin

As Texas' salesman-in-chief, Gov. Rick Perry is accustomed to making his business pitch for Texas at major sporting events, whether it's the NBA Finals or a Super Bowl.

On Sunday, Perry attended the Italian Grand Prix, touting Austin's inaugural Formula One race in November as he rubbed shoulders with automotive executives, racing officials, business leaders and the glitterati who follow the spectacle of Formula One.

As only a Texan could, Perry offered his thoughts on how Texas would improve upon Sunday's race: The design of the Austin track will allow spectators to actually see more of the cars, more of the time.

Perry and his wife, Anita, are on a weeklong trip to Italy to encourage foreign companies to invest in Texas and European countries to consider greater trade with the Lone Star State. Their schedule included meetings with government and business leaders and a speech on economic development at the Ambrosetti Forum.

[turn1]

Here are some tighter aerials from a few days ago:

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by Spaceman

The track and racing facilities are coming along nicely..it's the non-racing areas that look to be behind schedule..The hillsides are covered with the grass mesh cover but even with water trucks going around nothing appeared to have sprouted..The air was filled with dust..It will take until next year for COTA to have a parklike feel to it.It is no Spa or Monza..

There is still time for it to green up and while it may not seem like it now, expect more rain as we get later into the fall. Normally id agree that the week up through Nov 18th would be perfect but it may not be all clear and fair weather. Our atmosphere was sucked dry by Isaac but this week moisture will finally return and with a high likelihood of an El Niño, could be a damp and cool race week.

[The ATX]

The Villa Muse movie studios would have been built near COTA. If that project had worked out, that area would have been a pretty big entertainment destination. If the first race is a success that area is going to explode.

[JoninATX]

I heard from someone not excaty who said a developer has been scouting out near the track to built some type of resort.