COTA Austin - construction and infrastructure

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What do you think of the prospect of a USGP 2012 at Austin Texas

Good thinking. Place has good infra structure and nice climate in winter.
126
47%
Not good as it has no motor sport tradition in the US.
23
9%
I will wait to see how it will shape up.
97
36%
I don't care.
23
9%
 
Total votes: 269

Pup
Pup
50
Joined: 08 May 2008, 17:45

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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I remember a section drawing from earlier this year of the way they are layering the soil for the track - does anyone have a link to that?

User avatar
FW17
170
Joined: 06 Jan 2010, 10:56

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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Pup that section has been removed from COTA site


HS

The county was holding on to the permits for 6 pedestrian bridges, any idea if they have been issued to COTA?

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hairy_scotsman
hairy_scotsman
15
Joined: 13 Nov 2010, 22:47

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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WilliamsF1 wrote:HS

The county was holding on to the permits for 6 pedestrian bridges, any idea if they have been issued to COTA?
No idea. Sorry. I haven't been following construction permitting for a while. It would be great if they build even half that many bridges across the track. Fingers crossed.

Were those permits referring strictly to track pedestrian bridges, or could they have included bridges over the creek?
Follow me on twitter @Austin_F1 ...

Pup
Pup
50
Joined: 08 May 2008, 17:45

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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Maybe an NHRA drag strip in the future...
Alexis DeJoria visited Circuit of the Americas on Monday, saying she will be back as a spectator for the track's inaugural Formula One race in November, which falls a week after her drag racing season will be finished.

There's also a chance that, in a few years, she could return as a competitor. She said her father — hair care billionaire John Paul DeJoria, one of the track's investors — is serious about putting a drag strip on the site.

"He's been talking to the heads of the NHRA (the sport's governing body)," DeJoria said. "He's a big fan of the sport."

John Paul DeJoria, an Austin resident, was recently announced as an investor in the $300 million project. At an April "topping off" ceremony at the circuit, he told the American-Statesman that he would like to see drag racing held at the track.

There are some race tracks, including Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., that have a road course and a drag strip. But that wasn't the initial business model chosen for the 3.4-mile circuit under construction in southeastern Travis County.

NHRA officials could not be reached for comment Monday.

Pup
Pup
50
Joined: 08 May 2008, 17:45

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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WilliamsF1 wrote:Pup that section has been removed from COTA site
:twisted:

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So they really are almost ready for asphalt. I was thinking that there were two surface treatment layers, one being before any limestone went down.

User avatar
FW17
170
Joined: 06 Jan 2010, 10:56

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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Pup wrote:Maybe an NHRA drag strip in the future...
Alexis DeJoria visited Circuit of the Americas on Monday, saying she will be back as a spectator for the track's inaugural Formula One race in November, which falls a week after her drag racing season will be finished.

There's also a chance that, in a few years, she could return as a competitor. She said her father — hair care billionaire John Paul DeJoria, one of the track's investors — is serious about putting a drag strip on the site.

"He's been talking to the heads of the NHRA (the sport's governing body)," DeJoria said. "He's a big fan of the sport."

John Paul DeJoria, an Austin resident, was recently announced as an investor in the $300 million project. At an April "topping off" ceremony at the circuit, he told the American-Statesman that he would like to see drag racing held at the track.

There are some race tracks, including Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., that have a road course and a drag strip. But that wasn't the initial business model chosen for the 3.4-mile circuit under construction in southeastern Travis County.

NHRA officials could not be reached for comment Monday.
Is it mandatory for a NHRA drag strip to be flat or can the main straight be used?

Pup
Pup
50
Joined: 08 May 2008, 17:45

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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Less than 1% per NHRA. Strad would know more.

thearmofbarlow
thearmofbarlow
0
Joined: 23 Feb 2012, 06:43

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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WilliamsF1 wrote:
Pup wrote:Maybe an NHRA drag strip in the future...
Alexis DeJoria visited Circuit of the Americas on Monday, saying she will be back as a spectator for the track's inaugural Formula One race in November, which falls a week after her drag racing season will be finished.

There's also a chance that, in a few years, she could return as a competitor. She said her father — hair care billionaire John Paul DeJoria, one of the track's investors — is serious about putting a drag strip on the site.

"He's been talking to the heads of the NHRA (the sport's governing body)," DeJoria said. "He's a big fan of the sport."

John Paul DeJoria, an Austin resident, was recently announced as an investor in the $300 million project. At an April "topping off" ceremony at the circuit, he told the American-Statesman that he would like to see drag racing held at the track.

There are some race tracks, including Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., that have a road course and a drag strip. But that wasn't the initial business model chosen for the 3.4-mile circuit under construction in southeastern Travis County.

NHRA officials could not be reached for comment Monday.
Is it mandatory for a NHRA drag strip to be flat or can the main straight be used?
It's a sub 1% grade change for the racing surface itself. The braking zone can be uphill so as long as the front straight is flat up until the big left hander it should be usable.

Crucial_Xtreme
Crucial_Xtreme
404
Joined: 16 Oct 2011, 00:13
Location: Charlotte

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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Pavement!!! First layer of asphalt going down right now on T19-T20


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hairy_scotsman
hairy_scotsman
15
Joined: 13 Nov 2010, 22:47

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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Crucial_Xtreme wrote:Pavement!!! First layer of asphalt going down right now on T19-T20
Here are some more photos we shot today, some from up above T1.

http://s1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... 05-1-2012/

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 878&type=1

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Last edited by hairy_scotsman on 02 May 2012, 04:40, edited 1 time in total.
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Pup
Pup
50
Joined: 08 May 2008, 17:45

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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And here are some cool panoramas of the grandstands and paving work...

http://photosynth.net/view/a4e9ca0d-d26 ... 9aece3275c

http://photosynth.net/view/ffa8d417-a5e ... ee221a57b0

bhall
bhall
244
Joined: 28 Feb 2006, 21:26

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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Goodness, those seats are close to the track. Damn shame they cost thousands of dollars.

Ferrari is selling all-access passes to the race in which the bearers are considered guests of the Scuderia. They go for five large. If I was going to spend as much as CotA requires for the PSL and season tickets required for such good seats, I'd just as soon give 1/3 of that money to Ferrari and then enjoy the race from right above their garage.

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FW17
170
Joined: 06 Jan 2010, 10:56

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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thearmofbarlow wrote:

It's a sub 1% grade change for the racing surface itself. The braking zone can be uphill so as long as the front straight is flat up until the big left hander it should be usable.
Image

Pup
Pup
50
Joined: 08 May 2008, 17:45

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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Some additional paving photos, plus a nice write up on the paving process here...

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/article ... e-americas

Core sample...
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thearmofbarlow
thearmofbarlow
0
Joined: 23 Feb 2012, 06:43

Re: 2012 US GP to be held in Austin

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WilliamsF1 wrote:
thearmofbarlow wrote:

It's a sub 1% grade change for the racing surface itself. The braking zone can be uphill so as long as the front straight is flat up until the big left hander it should be usable.
[img]PICTURE%20WAS%20HERE[/img]
Something like that. It probably wouldn't add too much to the cost and the long term return would be worth it. That's just one more group of racers to attract.