grand prix- televised? where? (Dallas, Austin: appointed, price, dangerous)

[hoffdano]

Practice is streaming right now:

SPEED Streaming

Choose one of four onboard cameras. Very cool.

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by OpenD

That's the place that's normally $49.99/night on weekends, right? Yeah, I can see the high-rollers snapping those rooms up.

The number of high rollers that attend F1 races has been greatly exaggerated. They are there, but they are a small percentage.

The idea that tens of thousands of people with unlimited disposal income would come to Austin and spend huge amounts of money was silly.

The majority of the F1 race attendees are fairly ordinary middle and upper middle class folks who might even have to make a financial sacrifice to attend.

[Trainwreck20]

Practice is streaming right now:

Just checked it out, very cool indeed. 320 km/hr! ouch! That is what, 200 mph? Saw a few test out the grass, too .

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Just checked it out, very cool indeed. 320 km/hr! ouch! That is what, 200 mph? Saw a few test out the grass, too .

320 kmh = 199 mph.

Go into turn 1 at 301 (187 mph), downshift five gears and exit at 67 (41 mph)!

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by karlsch

The number of high rollers that attend F1 races has been greatly exaggerated. They are there, but they are a small percentage.

The idea that tens of thousands of people with unlimited disposal income would come to Austin and spend huge amounts of money was silly.

The majority of the F1 race attendees are fairly ordinary middle and upper middle class folks who might even have to make a financial sacrifice to attend.

Every person that attends a UT football game these days has to make a financial sacrifice to attend. F1 costs much more on race day. Practice not so much.

[CptnRn]

The Statesman website is promising regular updates. Formula One, MotoGP, Australian V8 Supercars, American Le Mans... | www.statesman.com

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Komeht

where are you hearing that? Every decent hotel in Austin has been basically sold out for months. Unless you're willing to fork out up to a $1,000 to get a room off a last minute cancellation - good luck.

The Statesman said that hurricane Sandy resulted in numerous cancellations, which are now available.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Komeht

where are you hearing that? Every decent hotel in Austin has been basically sold out for months. Unless you're willing to fork out up to a $1,000 to get a room off a last minute cancellation - good luck.

and this...

Texas Billionaires Bet on Austin F1 Track Backed by Taxpayers - SFGate
Friday, Nov. 16

Subsides for the Austin race, backed by Governor Rick Perry and Comproller Susan Combs, will depend partly on the effect the first event has on tax receipts. With just days to go before the start, more than 115 hotels in Austin had vacancies. Priceline.com and ohter travel websites show. That may signal that forecasts or a Super Bowl-caliber boost won't pan out.

"The economic studies said every hotel would be completely filled all the way down to San Antonio," a 90-minute drive from Austin, said Danielle Crespo, who runs two websites that link Forumula One visitors to lodging. "That isn't the case."

Fewer fans are coming to Austin from Europe and Canada then hoteliers expected, and they're booking three nights instead of the projected five or sex, said Randy McCaslin, a vice president of PKF Consulting who tracks the Texas hotel market from Houston.

Expedia.com lists 213 hotels with rooms available for the 3 day weekend for as low as $61 per night. Search results

[transatlantic]

The practice runs are on TV right now.. but I'm in the UK. Brits aren't familiar with Austin. On the news when they get to the sports news bit they mention the race will be on a new track in "Austin which is in Texas". Apparently, Brit Lewis Hamilton loves the new course but Sebastian Vettel is withholding judgment.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by transatlantic

The practice runs are on TV right now.. but I'm in the UK. Brits aren't familiar with Austin. On the news when they get to the sports news bit they mention the race will be on a new track in "Austin which is in Texas". Apparently, Brit Lewis Hamilton loves the new course but Sebastian Vettel is withholding judgment.

From what I read Vettel had not even walked the track when he made those comments. So it makes sense that he can't offer an opinion until he actually sees, then drives, the circuit.