Circuit of the Americas Development Updates - Page 85

turn1 · #**1681** Posted **Oct 22, 2013, 2:16 PM**

COTA has finally released its schedule of events for the 2013 USGP:

http://www.circuitoftheamericas.com/f1/schedule

Quality is up to their usual impeccable standards.

Quote:

Sunday, November 13

8:20am
MEDICAL INSPECTION
8:30am
TRACK INSPECTION AND TRACK TEST
9:00am
FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
11:00am
PRACTICE SESSION
11:30am
PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
12:30pm
TRACK INSPECTION
1:00pm
SECOND PRACTICE SESSION
3:00pm
PRESS CONFERENCE – PRESS ROOM
4:00pm
PRACTICE SESSION DRIVERS' MEETING
5:00pm
MARSHAL PIT LANE WALK

Monday, November 13

7:30am
TEAM PIT STOP PRACTICE PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
8:20am
MEDICAL INSPECTION
8:30am
TRACK INSPECTION AND TRACK TEST
9:00am
THIRD PRACTICE SESSION
10:30am
QUALIFYING SESSION
11:05am
PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
11:30am
TRACK INSPECTION
12:00pm
QUALIFYING SESSION
2:00pm
FIRST RACE (10 LAPS OR 25 MINS)

Tuesday, November 13

10:00am
DRIVERS MEETING (IF NECESSARY)
10:30am
SECOND RACE (10 LAPS OR 25 MINS)
11:05am
PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
11:15am
MARSHALING SYSTEM TRACK TEST
11:30am
FORMULA ONE DRIVERS PARADE
11:45am
STARTING GRID PRESENTATION
12:00pm
MEDICAL INSPECTION
12:10pm
TRACK INSPECTION
12:30pm
PIT LANE OPEN
12:45pm
PIT LANE CLOSED GRID FORMATION
12:46pm
NATIONAL ANTHEM
1:00pm
GRAND PRIX ( 56 LAPS OR 120 MINS)

USGP Race Day Schedule 2013Nov 13, 2016-Nov 13, 2018
Venues
FERRARI CHALLENGE
Formula One
TRACK ACTIVITY
Popular

turn1 · #**1682** Posted **Oct 22, 2013, 2:27 PM**

Looks like only one support series.

So, between Ferrari Challenge & F1, only 4 hot-lapping sessions Friday, 4 Saturday, & 2 Sunday. Pretty sparse on the action.

With only 3 weeks to go, it's possible they could announce another series, but it's pretty damn late. Now I guess we know why they put off this announcement for so long.

turn1 · #**1683** Posted **Oct 22, 2013, 10:44 PM**

Wow.

After telling people yesterday that tickets would be FedExed tomorrow, apparently COTA is now saying they'll be sent "in the next week or two".

Also, responding to complaints about the lack of support races, they're telling people to "expect more soon". So with 3 weeks to go they're still trying to line up support races and are saying they'll mail tickets in the next week or two?

Oh my.

electricron · #**1684** Posted **Oct 22, 2013, 11:17 PM**

Here's a better schedule of events for this year's F1 weekend...

Friday, November 15
8:20am MEDICAL INSPECTION
8:30am TRACK INSPECTION AND TRACK TEST
9:00am FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
11:00am FC PRACTICE SESSION
11:30am PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
12:30pm TRACK INSPECTION
1:00pm SECOND PRACTICE SESSION
3:00pm PRESS CONFERENCE – PRESS ROOM
4:00pm FCPRACTICE SESSION
4:00pm DRIVERS' MEETING
5:00pm MARSHAL PIT LANE WALK

Saturday, November 16
7:30am TEAM PIT STOP PRACTICE PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
8:20am MEDICAL INSPECTION
8:30am TRACK INSPECTION AND TRACK TEST
9:00am THIRD PRACTICE SESSION
10:30am FC QUALIFYING SESSION
11:05am PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
11:30am TRACK INSPECTION
12:00pm QUALIFYING SESSION
2:00pm FC FIRST RACE (10 LAPS OR 25 MINS)

Sunday, November 17
10:00am DRIVERS MEETING (IF NECESSARY)
10:30am FC SECOND RACE (10 LAPS OR 25 MINS)
11:05am PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
11:15am MARSHALING SYSTEM TRACK TEST
11:30am FORMULA ONE DRIVERS PARADE
11:45am STARTING GRID PRESENTATION
12:00pm MEDICAL INSPECTION
12:10pm TRACK INSPECTION
12:30pm PIT LANE OPEN
12:45pm PIT LANE CLOSED GRID FORMATION
12:46pm NATIONAL ANTHEM
1:00pm GRAND PRIX ( 56 LAPS OR 120 MINS)

Looks like there will be cars running on the track:
Friday: 0900 to 1105, 1300 to 1500, 1600 to 1700 = total 5 hours
Saturday: 0900 to 1105, 1200 to 1430 = total 4.5 hours
Sunday: 1030 to 1100, 1300 to 1500 = total 2.5 hours

turn1 · #**1685** Posted **Oct 23, 2013, 10:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricron

Looks like there will be cars running on the track:
Friday: 0900 to 1105, 1300 to 1500, 1600 to 1700 = total 5 hours
Saturday: 0900 to 1105, 1200 to 1430 = total 4.5 hours
Sunday: 1030 to 1100, 1300 to 1500 = total 2.5 hours

Thanks...just FYI, it's more like this:

Fri: F1 0900-1030, FC 1100-1130, F1 1300-1430, FC 1600-1630 = Total ~4 hrs.

Sat: F1 0900-1000, FC 1030-1100, F1 1200-~1330, FC 1400-1425 = Total ~3.5 hrs.

Sun: FC 1030-1055, F1 1300-1500 = Total ~2.5 hrs

10 hours over 3 days? Wow. They say they're going to be adding more series to the schedule. Crazy that they don't have it solidified with three weeks to go.

turn1 · #**1686** Posted **Oct 23, 2013, 2:53 PM**

As we suspected, looks like they might be planning to charge for shuttle lots. Tickets not yet on sale:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/f1-grand...minorcatid=103

ETA: Hmm...looks like the TicketMaster pages for these lots have been removed.

FM 812 Yellow Lot:

Moore Rd Orange Lot:

turn1 · #**1687** Posted **Oct 24, 2013, 5:44 PM**

I might have more info on the lots above and one more soon. Looks like prices might actually be reasonable this time around.

turn1 · #**1688** Posted **Oct 24, 2013, 10:26 PM**

Shuttle Lot purchase & other transportation info:

http://www.statesman.com/news/sports...release/nbXrq/

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/f1/tickets

Much better deal than they've offered for parking in their lots before, assuming the prices are per car and not per person. Doesn't say either way to my knowledge. The track shuttle plan seems a little lacking if you wanna get from the Main GS or Turn 1 to Turn 11.

turn1 · #**1689** Posted **Oct 26, 2013, 2:39 AM**

Pretty thorough article here regarding the new transportation plan, by Ben Wear, the Statesman's transportation columnist:

The Link

ETA: Sorry, didn't know that was behind the stupid paywall...Here's one that's just as good:

http://globenewswire.com/news-releas...RAND-PRIX.html

pato79 · #**1690** Posted **Oct 26, 2013, 10:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by turn1

Wow.

After telling people yesterday that tickets would be FedExed tomorrow, apparently COTA is now saying they'll be sent "in the next week or two".

Also, responding to complaints about the lack of support races, they're telling people to "expect more soon". So with 3 weeks to go they're still trying to line up support races and are saying they'll mail tickets in the next week or two?

Oh my.

Got my psl tickets yesterday the 25th.

turn1 · #**1691** Posted **Oct 26, 2013, 2:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pato79

Got my psl tickets yesterday the 25th.

Yeah they just tweeted that some went out this week & some more will go out next week.

turn1 · #**1692** Posted **Oct 26, 2013, 2:53 PM**

Damn COTA.

Their own website says if you wanna use their pay shuttle lots "You can purchase in advance here or pay cash at the lot". An hour ago they tweeted this:

Circuit of Americas @circuitamericas
@markwimmer Hey Mark, we won't be offering cash parking at our Red and Yellow lots. You'll need to purchase passes in advance.

...and get this. As of 0930, their back gate on Elroy Road was closed with cars trying to get in. SVRA Vintage racing started at 0800. Reminds me of when they still had the gate locked between the bridges an hour into V8 Supercars until a guy tweeted about it.

The SVRA event this weekend at COTA is incredible. Went out yesterday & was blown away by the cars. Was not blown away at all by being locked out of 3/4 of the track. The fans can only access T15-18 and the Main GS to T1. Unreal.

e_james · #**1693** Posted **Oct 29, 2013, 4:05 AM**

What is the deal with the PSL pit walk?

turn1 · #**1694** Posted **Oct 31, 2013, 12:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by e_james

What is the deal with the PSL pit walk?

What do you need to know?

turn1 · #**1695** Posted **Oct 31, 2013, 1:12 AM**

COTA not on SCCA 2014 schedule:

Quote:

“It is obviously disappointing that we could not reach an agreement with COTA for a Majors event in 2014,” SCCA Interim President & CEO Lisa Noble said. “With such a substantial investment required to hold an event at the facility, there was no way around a massive increase to the entry fee for the drivers, thus making the event unfeasible."

http://www.racer.com/additional-date...rticle/318711/

turn1 · #**1696** Posted **Oct 31, 2013, 8:15 AM**

So I took my boys out to COTA for the SVRA Vintage Racecar National Championships. I ended up with an album 2x as big as even my typically large albums, but there were so many amazing cars and so much racing this weekend, I just couldn't keep it down to a reasonable size.

There were some truly historic racing machines there. See how many cars you can identify. Fans were restricted to T15-18 & the Main GS - T1, which took away many of the best photo shooting areas. I got the best angles I could with what was available.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...7614878&type=1

There was a little bit of everything running out there. F1, IndyCar (even one from 1911), LMP, DP, NASCAR, Can Am, Sportscars, Muscle Cars, small sedans, Minis, & more you can't see in the samples:

GoldenBoot · #**1697** Posted **Nov 2, 2013, 9:29 PM**

Great pics, Turn1. Do you know if COTA is adding or subtracting "seats" to this year's F1?

turn1 · #**1698** Posted **Nov 4, 2013, 9:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Great pics, Turn1. Do you know if COTA is adding or subtracting "seats" to this year's F1?

Thanks! They have deleted the Turn 2 and Turn 6 Grandstands. However, they have not announced that they are cutting off general admission sales at 40k like they did last year. Sales do not seem to be going very well though.

turn1 · #**1699** Posted **Nov 4, 2013, 9:04 PM**

Have you rented an RV space from COTA? Hope you have an onboard generator.

This was just posted on another forum. Oy.

Quote:

"FYI to anyone who bought the onsite RV parking/4 GA tickets for $1k. They are saying now that you are not allowed to run a generator unless it was a standard piece of enclosed equipment on your RV, and that you have to buy power from them for $400.

Not a single mention of this when tickets were sold."

...

My buddy was hounding them for weeks trying to determine when the gates would open and the exact time we would be allowed to enter. They blew him off him for a while and finally passed him on to a women who is running the RV site. She gave him that info.

Incidentally, the tickets just arrived Thursday and there was no mention of this in the enclosed info there, either.

I think they are going to have a tough time enforcing this when you get a few hundred people showing up with generators and them all being told, "Sorry, we forgot to mention, you still owe us $400 more dollars that we never told you about and allowed you to budget for".

Those spots went on sale on July 2 iirc. Turns out on September 30 they sent out an email that included notification of the change. So they waited almost 3 months to tell people about this requirement. Nicely done, COTA.

ETA: So it looks like COTA has reacted & has sent out a clarification email. Funny how that always seems to work with them. LMAO. The problem there is, as with the Sep 30 email, the info seems to only be available to people who have already purchased spots. Might affect sales to let everyone know. :/

turn1 · #**1700** Posted **Nov 4, 2013, 9:04 PM**

Also with only 11 days left until FP1, many people still haven't received their tickets and are getting antsy.

We just got a message on our page from a follower who is also still waiting. He says he called cota & it took forever to get thru. He also says they're telling people if tickets aren't at your house by Friday, then to pick them up at will call. The problem there is that many ppl are also waiting for parking passes. So how do you pick up your tix at will call when u can't park anywhere?