COTA Austin - construction and infrastructure

[hairy_scotsman]

Construction update:

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/ ... and_a.html

Includes an update on the critically injured team member. Great news!

[munudeges]

Pup's just doing what seems to be a routine where he hunts around on a few web pages, thinks he's joined a few dots to try and discredit someone and pats himself on the back for it, but alas, it has little if anything to do with what's being discussed.

Everything I have seen hasn't made me any less sure that there will be less than twenty races this season. Sadly, I can only see Austin getting a large hole in the ground with some unfinished structures in it. The ticketing is an even bigger joke than I thought.

[strad]

Oh there will be a race

[xpensive]

Oh there will be a race

Yeah right, now that the Cota braintrust is back from Oz and actually seen a Formula One race and learned how to handle those huge 5 grand a head PSL-crowds, I'm sure things will be just fine come November.

Unless they they carried on to Sepang just for good measure?

[FW17]

Pup's just doing what seems to be a routine where he hunts around on a few web pages, thinks he's joined a few dots to try and discredit someone and pats himself on the back for it, but alas, it has little if anything to do with what's being discussed.

Everything I have seen hasn't made me any less sure that there will be less than twenty races this season. Sadly, I can only see Austin getting a large hole in the ground with some unfinished structures in it. The ticketing is an even bigger joke than I thought.

Why is there any nutral view from Pup and me laughed off?

I just dont understand this doom gloom fever here.

[Mr.S]

I will be very surprised if this race happens. Seeing the pictures the place is a complete mess. By this time in the Indian GP the main grandstand's basic structure was completely completeled along with the track. I saw videos of ordinary cars driving the track after the first round of tarmac was beind laid.

Apart from the dust the Indian GP had brilliant infrastructure & was fantastically managed. Now look at this. This is a mess. How are they going to get this ready in under 6 months??? I dont know.... The Homologation & checking will be postponed maybe,but how far. I mean 1-2 months before they have to prepare the track completely along with pits & main grandstands with all infrastructure including lodging & stuff AT THE VERY LEAST.

Does not look good to me.

[hairy_scotsman]

BTW guys, a Speed TV F1 forum poster posted this aerial, shot yesterday. It's a bit closer & more detailed than the one posted by COTA. He took it on a flight out from ABIA in Austin.

[godlameroso]

Don't underestimate U.S. construction methods. I've worked on high rises here in Miami, it's amazing how fast they can work. From breaking ground to a 40 floor condo building with parking garage, etc in approximately eight months.

[Pup]

I will be very surprised if this race happens. Seeing the pictures the place is a complete mess. By this time in the Indian GP the main grandstand's basic structure was completely completeled along with the track. I saw videos of ordinary cars driving the track after the first round of tarmac was beind laid.

Apart from the dust the Indian GP had brilliant infrastructure & was fantastically managed. Now look at this. This is a mess. How are they going to get this ready in under 6 months??? I dont know.... The Homologation & checking will be postponed maybe,but how far. I mean 1-2 months before they have to prepare the track completely along with pits & main grandstands with all infrastructure including lodging & stuff AT THE VERY LEAST.

Does not look good to me.

Uh, no.

Just to join a few dots for the one who is not segedunum - here is India, exif data says Feb 28, 2011, almost to the day the same distance out from the race as Austin...

I hope there's enough rebar up top there...


No paving here...


Looks like their soil conditions were a ton better than Austin is dealing with...


Nice job site organization, btw...


Here I believe you can even see the inspiration for Austin's infamous wall...



I think the Austin construction schedule calls for track paving to begin in August, so they're not behind on that. The paving and curbing are actually the easiest part of the project. India may have put down their base paving earlier, but then they let it sit while they finished everything else.

Also, as for the grandstand, the one in India is concrete, which means that they had to begin construction on it much, much earlier. Plus it seats 20,000 vs Austin's 9, so it's an impressive beast, to be sure.

Here's the "completely completeled" grandstand, about the same height as Austin's...


But much, much, longer...


BTW, when our own WB posted some of these photos on Atlas last year, he captioned them with this...

The way it looks they could finish this project in three or four months.

So, there you have it.

[Pup]

I just dont understand this doom gloom fever here.

I do.

[xpensive]

...
BTW, when our own WB posted some of these photos on Atlas last year, he captioned them with this...

The way it looks they could finish this project in three or four months.

So, there you have it.

I always suspected you held a secret admiration for WB Pup, strong of you to come out like this.

[Pup]

I yield to his xpertise. At least now we can put this argument behind us, since we know that the circuit will be completed in June. July at the latest.

[strad]

Pup...I have no doubt the circuit will be finished in time..It's all the ancillary stuff that has me concerned..that and the fact there are those who will rip us a new one if everything isn't perfect....to their standards.

[Pup]

Meh. Those standards have an adjustable scale, just in case the CotA guys come close to meeting them.

My only disappointment so far is that they scaled back the main grandstand. I'd have much preferred the original.

And that damned wall, of course.

[xpensive]

I yield to his xpertise. At least now we can put this argument behind us, since we know that the circuit will be completed in June. July at the latest.

Right, why not an inauguration parade on 4th of July this year, hell, ask Tony George to have an xtra IRL race to celebrate?