The US GP in Texas will see the Carrera Supercup boys, the "A-Team" so to speak of Porsche's one make race series, come over from Europe. Their cars neatly packed in pairs minus their enormous rear wings.
NJGP Pit complex construction in Weehacken. Photo by Freep
Many are not surprised the NJ GP effort fell apart, at least for next year, there had been management shakeup and though there has been work done on the pit complex in Weehacken, you really have not heard that much about it here in NY since the announcement.
Yes, Red Bull had their big PR stunt and yes Bernie will do whatever possible (short of losing money of course, you can't out-Tony Soprano Bernie!) to make what effectively be a NY Grand Prix happen but not in 2013 at least. The stories about paving not being behind schedule are a smoke screen of course, surely it's money and politics. NJ would inevitably make an investment if private investors cannot come up with the funds and there is a "Fiscal Conservative" running for re-election in 2013...
On a positive note, Austin GP organizers have responded to public outcry and reversed their policy barring SLR cameras and lenses longer than 10 inches. Great news for fans and nice sign organizers are listening to their concerns. Our friend Jamey Price wrote a "How to" guide to taking better motorsport photos, something Jamey is...quite adept at!
Planning on attending the inaugural US Grand Prix in Austin? You can bring your point and shoots or your iPhone but don't even think of trying to use an SLR or a camera with detachable lenses "of any kind". Forget video cameras, "no video recording will be allowed".
If you don't realize you have a "banned item", there will be no place to leave it at the entrance, and you will be banned yourself if you are found trying to get in with any such items.
Really Austin?
good camera/bad camera
"The following items will not be permitted inside the gates of the circuit. In addition to items specifically listed here, other items that may be deemed to present a potential hindrance or threat may also be prohibited. Alcoholic Beverages Animals (exception for certified service animals) Bags or parcels larger than 12X12X20 inches Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, skates, segways, golf carts or other unauthorized means of transportation Coolers, thermoses or ice chests Distribution of unauthorized promotional or commercial material
banned!
Food and Beverage (Note: sealed, individual, plastic bottles of water are allowed) Fireworks, explosives or other incendiary devices Glass or metal containers of any style Illegal substances Items that may be deemed a safety hazard or annoyance to participants or guests (balls, Frisbees, balloons, projectiles, horns, radios, bells, whistles, musical instruments, laser pointers, etc.) Large, golf-type umbrellas Non-collapsible chairs Tents or canopies Video cameras, still cameras with lenses exceeding 10 inches in length or detachable lenses of any kind, audio recording devices and tripods; no video recording will be allowed Weapons of any kind, including guns, knives, pepper spray, handcuffs, nightsticks or other items
Evil!
The following items will be permitted inside the circuit gates. Blankets Umbrellas (small, hand-held style) Baby strollers Portable, collapsible chairs Personal camera equipment (e.g. digital cameras, point-and-click digital cameras or film cameras) Binoculars “All bags, purses, backpacks and persons are subject to screening by security personnel. Fans entering Circuit of The Americas should prepare accordingly. “Smoking will only be allowed in authorized areas. All security measures are subject to change without notice. “Ticketholders should be aware that there are no provisions for returning banned items to them when such items are left at the race entrances. Patrons are encouraged to leave all banned items at home or in their vehicles before entering the venue or boarding any of the complimentary shuttle buses transporting ticketholders to Circuit of The Americas. “Individuals who deliberately attempt to bring banned items through security checkpoints are subject to removal from the facility.” (Via Adam Cooper) Here are some nice pictures I shot in Monaco...
UPDATE:
In response to fan feedback, (I'd say, outrage) Circuit of The Americas has updated the list of prohibited items for the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX, Nov. 16-18, 2012.
Patrons with still cameras featuring detachable lenses smaller than 10 inches in length WILL BE permitted on site during the Grand Prix event. However, detachable camera lenses longer than 10 inches will be prohibited.
Two articles today shed light on Bernie's recent comments casting the 2012 US grand Prix in Austin in doubt and raising the possibility that the Circuit of the Americas might end up as a Texas sized hole in the ground.
Essentially it boils down to FOM not getting paid agreed to fees yet and an intramural fight between Tavo Hellmund, the original promoter and signer of the 10 year contract with Formula 1 and the land owner and principal financial investor. Part of the deal was $25 million per year for the event fee to be paid by Texas state funds, these taxpayer monies have not moved yet and more worryingly, paperwork has not been filed.
It all comes to a head in early December when Formula 1 has to finalize the 2012 calendar.
Read more in detail on Steven Cole Smith on Autoweek and Pitpass
I'm serious, somewhere past that plastic lawn chair...
Austin's The Statesman reports:
Organizers of the proposed Austin Formula One auto race plan to build the track on about 900 acres near Elroy in southeastern Travis County, according to one of the major land owners involved....
...The location of the track has been a topic of intense speculation since May, when Formula One Group CEO Bernie Ecclestone announced plans for a race in Austin.
Wandering Creek has about 650 acres, and organizers have recently secured adjacent acreage, including land with more frontage on FM 812 and small parcels with additional access to Elroy Road, according to a source close to the event who could not be identified because he was not authorized to speak ahead of today's press conference.
Organizers kept the site secret, even from local officials, until the land was secured and private investors were lined up.
Cathy Olive, president of the Elroy Preservation Association, a neighborhood group, said she and other board members were scheduled to meet Monday night with a representative of the race organizers, presumably to provide a heads-up before this morning's conference.
She and some other local resident s opposed the original Wandering Creek plans, which called for 1,800 homes on small lots. She said she and "every single solitary person I have talked to" don't want the track in their area, but all feel it would be preferable to dense residential development.
"We all feel like it would be the lesser of two evils," Olive said. "Are we excited about it? No. But it's better than 2,000 teeny-tiny tract houses."...
...Hellmund faces a tight schedule to get the track built. Wandering Creek's owners already have submitted applications to extend water and wastewater treatment services to the land.
Austin and Travis County have set up a joint task force to handle permit requests, once the site is disclosed.
Promoters hope to have permits in place from the city and county to start grading work on the site in December and remain confident they can have a track open in time....
Additionally on of the major financial backers of the projects was named, it's Billy Joe "Red" McCombs (what a perfect name for a Texan promoter) of car dealership and Clear- Channel Entertainment wealth and a frustrated passion for grand entertainment venues.
