COTA Austin - construction and infrastructure

[strad]

Got their Expo thing goin this weekend..

A taste of Formula 1 is heading to Austin this weekend.

The convention center downtown has been filled with race cars from decades ago to new models for this weekend's public expo. These historic cars race for one year before being retired. Some are driven in the Grand Prix.

The expo will also include simulators and hands-on activities for racing fans. It gives the crowd a glimpse of what's to come in November, when these cars race for the first time at the new track in Elroy.

F1 driver Bud Moeller brought his Ferrari to put on display. (who?

"I think Formula 1 is something that is a little bit foreign to the average American and I think giving the chance to have the public be exposed to the technology, get an idea of seeing how cool these cars are and the fantastic history behind them, like with the historic Grand Prix, ought to get people a little more excited than just reading about it in the newspaper," Moeller said.

The expo is open to the public Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center.

[mx_tifoso]

...
I won tickets. I'll be there tomorrow. Ian's a good guy.

[xpensive]

...
F1 driver Bud Moeller brought his Ferrari to put on display. (who?
...

Bud Moeller of Virginia, obviously south of the Mason-Dixon line btw, apparently owns a 1980 Ferrari 312T5, incidentally the Ferrari with the worst track-record in F1 ever. But I'm not so sure that he drove it in F1 though?

http://www.historicgrandprix.com/Driver ... oeller.htm

[Mr Alcatraz]

...
F1 driver Bud Moeller brought his Ferrari to put on display. (who?
...

Bud Moeller of Virginia, obviously south of the Mason-Dixon line btw, apparently owns a 1980 Ferrari 312T5, incidentally the Ferrari with the worst track-record in F1 ever. But I'm not so sure that he drove it in F1 though?

http://www.historicgrandprix.com/Driver ... oeller.htm

In 1984, Moeller's wife, Carol, gave him a class at the Bondurant School at Sears Point for a birthday present -- it hooked him on open wheel cars. He went to the Russell school in '87 and has been racing with their series on and off ever since

I think it is safe to say this freakin' guy from Dixie who went to Harvard and currenty works in "The City" was no freakin' F1 driver

[xpensive]

A wild guess is that any Harvard-dixie who happens to own a historic Ferrari Formula One car, no matter with how rotten history, per definition becomes an F1 driver with the cheer-leaders? I must notify my friends in the Hamptons about that fact.

But seriously, there should be several Ferrari F1 owners in the US with more interesting samples than that to display?

[hairy_scotsman]

BTW, COTA put up a few new photos earlier today:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 693&type=1

Also, there's been some question about the proximity of the sign supports along the straights before 11 & 12. Some are saying they look awfully close & low for such high-speed areas. What do y'all think?

They labelled this one as T10, but it's 9. Check out the elevation difference between 9 & 7:



From above 10 looking to 11, with Mr. Haywood's land on the right:



They finally used this shot from 11:



From the top of the berm at 11:



The view from the spot of the T1 GS:

[bhallg2k]

I still have no idea what this race is going to look like from a fan's perspective, but it's becoming more and more clear that the drivers are going to simply love this place.

[Pup]

I think Mario may be the first driver to actually get some rubber laid down on the track...

http://vimeo.com/43735352

[mx_tifoso]

Took the off topic trash, I mean posts, to the respective section.

Austin GP off topic rants

[hairy_scotsman]

FB/F1 in America has posted some new construction photos from yesterday's tour:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 483&type=1

Highlights:

[Pup]

This is an interesting mock-up of the catch fencing. I'm surprised that is stops above grade. I would have thought that the bottom would be buried to prevent a car from submarining under. Though I suppose it will have armco in front.

[Pup]

They've also given us a tiny glimpse of the team suites going up. CotA has been pretty stingy with pics of these...

[Pup]

On the other pics - the armco, curbs and catch fencing going up really makes it start looking like a proper track. I even see that the start/finish lights are up.

I don't see how the cantilever supports are any closer than any other track. In the one photo, I think it looks like the column is right at the edge of the asphalt, but it's really several feet away.

[Mr Alcatraz]

On the other pics - the armco, curbs and catch fencing going up really makes it start looking like a proper track. I even see that the start/finish lights are up.

I don't see how the cantilever supports are any closer than any other track. In the one photo, I think it looks like the column is right at the edge of the asphalt, but it's really several feet away.

What about that hideous retaining wall?

[sknguy]

Also, there's been some question about the proximity of the sign supports along the straights before 11 & 12. Some are saying they look awfully close & low for such high-speed areas. What do y'all think?

They are a wee bit tight. They'll just need barriers. But they should make sure the one going into T12 is placed before the braking zones for whichever series is racing. From this photo the T12 support looks like it might be within an F1 braking zone for that corner though. But again, they'll probably put fencing or barriers there I guess.