New Track In Austin, TX ???

[Mark J. Schoonover]

New track to be built for Formula 1.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/83873

[Juan D Gomez]

AWESOME!!!

[Sheldon Birmingham]

Speed tv isreporting that the site isn't selected.

[Peter Zambos]

The specific site, yes, has not yet been selected.
"the Austin track and grandstand would be built "within 10 miles" of the Austin airport." So pull out Google map and take a look. Though there is a lot of open space, there sure are a good number of residential developments along with at least one high school. I can't imagine that Austin residents are looking to have such a facility in their backyard, either, as their unemployment rate is lower than the U.S. average, but heck, what do I know?
I'm surprised that FOM (Bernie) agreed to this deal, as, "the facility would be privately financed and will not use public money," and Bernie typically likes a government-backed guarantee of his share resulting from the event regardless of profitability. I can't imagine that a title sponsor has locked in support until 2021, so where Bernie's getting his guarantee is a mystery.
Anyway, I've got a couple years to save up for the air fare if this actually happens.

sources:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CAR_F1_AUSTIN?SITE=AZMES&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=usunemployment&met=unemployment_rate&idim=county:CN480150&dl=en&hl=en&q=unemployment+in+austin,+tx
http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=usunemployment&met=unemployment_rate&tdim=true&dl=en&hl=en&q=unemployment+in+USA

[Sheldon Birmingham]

The same Speed report stated taht TX has a govt. fund for promotion of major sporting events. F1 was recently approved for that list. A gvt. official also was excited that this event would have the economic impact of a Superbowl every year.

[Peter Zambos]

Ah, I see that now. The facility will be privately funded, but paired with public funding for, well, anything that the city agrees to pay for.
I would think that Austin could handle the size and type of crowd that the event will pose, with the examples of the SXSW music and tech festivals, and their film festival being larger and, then arguably, more successful with each passing year.
The Super Bowl comparison isn't off the mark. The last SB had under 71K, and the last USGP had more than that for quali, and 100K for race day.

sources:
http://football.about.com/od/histo2/a/SBattendance.htm
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/columns/story?seriesId=6&columnist=blount_terry&id=2906439

[kelly Read]

Only ONE BIG PROBLEM for karting, HINT - $$$$$$$$$$

Someone want to step up to be sure ALL the bills get paid if a kart race was able to be scheduled here??

Tracks in Texas are not cheap to rent.

[Sheldon Birmingham]

Yeah but I don't think we have any other Tilke tracks to run. I don't think he designed Lake Garnett. (though I suggest he study it.)

[Peter Zambos]

Kelly, I never once actually thought that we'd have a realistic chance to run on it. A guy can dream, though. The closest I probably will ever come to running on the same surface as the folks in F1 was when I took the bus tour of IRP.
I'm jealous of my dad. He's actually stood on the streets of Monaco. Not when the race was running, of course, but still...

[Bob Baldwin jr]

Kelly : It will be interesting to see how the PROPOSED facility would be used the other 51 weeks of the year.. You are correct as far as MEGA $$$$ goes for track rental fee's go. That MAY take Karting out of the REALM of AFFORDABILITY. One of the reasons being Karting has TOOOO many classes and Who would want to JOINT-VENTURE with karts . Not sure their are many Club types that could afford the place with-in a 1 days drive of AUSTIN
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Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out, shouting, "Holy **** what a ride!!!".

[Jeffory Mott]

Government funding? So you are saying Obama is building a race track in Texas that I will never be able to run on with my tax dollars? Such a deal.

[kelly Read]

Peter,

Since I have dealt with some BIG name facilities over the years, I was very disapointed once when a track I was going to promote told me that I either paid the same as everyone or no contract. He told me that when they have a BIG event (NHRA, NASCAR, etc) that they make enough off that event that they don't need to worry about the rest of the year. Guess when I become a MILLIONAIRE, I can build a track and only have one MAJOR event a year and pay people to mow my grass all year. WHAT A WASTE!!!

You figure what they make off the participants, vendors, spectators, sponsors, etc, the owner probably does real well!!!!!!!

[Mark J. Schoonover]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85604

[Mark J. Schoonover]

New Video. just kinda okay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WRpB1utQXQ&feature=player_embedded

[Sam Zavaglia]

google maps....if you want to know exactly where is.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=30.12902,-97.641213&num=1&t=h&vpsrc=0&sll=30.12798,-97.631078&sspn=0.02936,0.038581&ie=UTF8&z=15&iwloc=A
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www.samzavaglia.com