Mrkim Report This Comment
Date: August 22, 2011 11:53AM

Geez, I can't believe I haddn heard a peep about this in the local news here, unlike the massive publicity the damned Nascar track got several years ahead of the track having been built!

F-1 in Texas, Yeehaaa! Here's a CG vid of a lap around the circuit [www.youtube.com]

This layout looks saweeet with a set of serious S curves section obviously designed to be reminiscent of Monaco ++!

I sure hope they can get a date for the races before or after our usual 3-4 months of hell starts. If the race date were to be set in June, July or August the crowds would be smaller and the drivers would whine like little bitches as they did when they built and ran a temporary circuit outside downtown Dallas years back.

The track was laid out throughout the Texas State fairgrounds and having used temporary asphalt for some of the sections was an absolute "fail" decision as the cars were literally ripping the asphalt up in some of the turns from the intense 100+ degree heat. I also remember then world champion contender Senna heard whining incessantly about the track temps and overall hellish conditions, claiming he would NEVER return for another race here

Personally, I really miss the Dallas Grand Prix series we used to host here for close to 10yrs. Those were a blast to see. I even volunteered to work the event one year and on the day of the finals after having strolled through the gates with my Staff T shirt, slipped into a bathroom, swapped that shirt for my favorite Lamborghini shirt tucked away in my fanny pack and found myself a great seat for the day





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 22/08/2011 11:59AM by Mrkim.

pulse Report This Comment
Date: August 22, 2011 12:55PM

Provisional calendar for next season has Texas June 15-17 (the week after Canada), as the teams & drivers have pointed out it won't be any worse weather wise than they get in Melbourne, Abu Dhabi or Bahrain.

There's a chance of it moving though, presently Bahrain is scheduled to be the first race, Melbourne 2nd, but it looks like Bahrain might be moved to November at their request. If that happens, Melbourne will be shifted to first race and Texas to November 16-18 (2nd last, before Brasil) to accomodate the changes to the calendar. Turkey would be dropped.

The Austin track looks pretty cool. Not as good as Melbourne, obviously

Doesn't surprise me there's not much coverage in US media about F1, but you'd think there'd be a bit more in Texas, since they're coughing up the dough to build a track & host the races.. You'd think somebody would notice they've dug out a huge race track near Austin...

Also according to the website, [circuitoftheamericas.com], it looks like you're getting a round of the Aussie V8 Supercars there too. Didn't know that.

Mrkim Report This Comment
Date: August 22, 2011 01:47PM

Early to mid June wouldn't be too bad but November would be much better with temps more likely to be in the 60s-80s range.

F-1 cars, GP bikes and your V-8 series cars all sound great to me! I've been so outta touch with racin in the past 5yrs or so I dunno if there even still is a Trans-Am series anymore but they were kinda similar to your V-8 series and a blast to watch!

When they ran the Trans-Am series here they had Formula V, Formula Ford, 2 different classes of race carts as well as a catch all series that pretty much all forms of 4,6 and 8 cylinder cars ran in.

The last similar series I attended was a LeMans series event held at the Texas Motor Speedway here outside DFW. They had taken the Nascar track and made a decent chicane set in the infield so it was actually a road course with about 1/2 - 2/3s of the oval track to allow for top end fun

I was still amazed at the lack of interest in this series. Dunno exactly what the attendance figures were but they were waaaay under what the knucklehead Nascar (BOOOOORING!) events muster

woberto Report This Comment
Date: August 22, 2011 10:01PM

Well I'm looking forward to it.
The last F1 race in the USA has been erased from my memory.

pulse Report This Comment
Date: August 23, 2011 05:42AM

All 6 drivers?

pulse Report This Comment
Date: September 01, 2011 01:41AM

November 18, 2012 confirmed for US Grand Prix in Texas on the final calendar. Turkey has been dropped for next season, and Melbourne is now the opener with Bahrain moved further down the list.

[en.espnf1.com]