(live) Austin Texas City Counsel discusses F1 Facility

DubyaStep

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That is a bunch of bullshit, money for the track is coming from two different areas, the same one where they got money for the Superbowl and all those events.
 
I seriously doubt Texas is short on money... but I don't know that much about it so I won't say anything else.
The only thing I do know for sure is that if F1 "fails in US" again it's not because of US anymore. I mean even in Indianapolis they basicly constructed the infield track for F1 cars in mind. It's a shame F1 failed in Indianapolis so bad. It's one of the most historic motorsport locations in the entire world and it's not like there are no fans in the US that follow F1. There will be more fans there watching the race than there are at Turkey or China for example. Pirelli better manufacture tyres that last 3laps without exploding. yeah, this is a big F U to Michelin.
 
Money from the Special Events Fund that funds the Super Bowls, F1 races, and other like events wasn't going to go to teachers' salaries anyway. It's specifically earmarked for big events. If it doesn't go to F1, it'll probably end up being used for some other big event.

This argument for "the money would be better spent on education, etc." might have some ground to stand on if they were going after the Special Events Fund as a whole. Then it WOULD be free in the budget to use for more vital services. Oh, and there's no way I can take this call for conservative spending seriously when it's being led by a guy who took home a whole lot of pork from the same fund for Houston to host the Final Four. I guaran-damn-tee that if COTA was in his district, he'd have probably been the guy helping them get funding.

Do I think the COTA guys need that $25m/year to stay here? No, but taking it back after it's already been promised is a bunghole move that sends a clear message to other businesses/events/film productions/etc. that typically would take state incentives to avoid Texas because you can't take our word on anything. It's been promised, so we shouldn't touch it. Spend the remaining money wisely (surely Gov. Goodhair can cut out some mousse) and do what's possible to get more businesses/events/etc. to come here and open up some jobs.

Haysoos...do I need to run this state? Coco for Governor! I have frizzy hair and I'm not an aggie. Vote for me.
 
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Money from the Special Events Fund that funds the Super Bowls, F1 races, and other like events wasn't going to go to teachers' salaries anyway. It's specifically earmarked for big events. If it doesn't go to F1, it'll probably end up being used for some other big event.

This argument for "the money would be better spent on education, etc." might have some ground to stand on if they were going after the Special Events Fund as a whole. Then it WOULD be free in the budget to use for more vital services. Oh, and there's no way I can take this call for conservative spending seriously when it's being led by a guy who took home a whole lot of pork from the same fund for Houston to host the Final Four. I guaran-damn-tee that if COTA was in his district, he'd have probably been the guy helping them get funding.
So much this. If it shouldn't be going to F1, it shouldn't be going to any sport/major event. The people who are anti-F1 are people who are either idiot environmentalists (mostly not actually from Texas/the Austin area) or are anti-F1 because it's a rich-people-foreign-thing. Because bringing wealthy people to the state to spend money is somehow a bad thing?

Haysoos...do I need to run this state? Coco for Governor! I have frizzy hair and I'm not an aggie. Vote for me.
*plans to write in ninjacoco*
 
Just a heads up, there is an Final Gear Meet Thread 2012 Austin F1 Race in the Off Topic Forum. Why it is not in the FG Meets or here in the Forumla 1 Forums, I dunno. :lol:

EDIT: Moved by Viper to the Final Gear Meets Forum.
 
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final approval of Austin Grand Prix race

final approval of Austin Grand Prix race

The Austin City council is at this moment hearing from the public regarding its approval of the F1 race and the local sponsorship. Local sponsorship is necessary for the organizers to get the $250,000,000 state funding.

Here's the live feed....sorry for the late notice.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/channel6/

EDIT LATER: Should anyone desire to rewatch it (I can't imagine why) the meeting can be seen at: http://austintx.swagit.com/player.php?refid=06292011-21 (click on items 1, 2 and 4)
 
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I seriously doubt Texas is short on money... but I don't know that much about it so I won't say anything else.

I know this is six weeks old, but just for the record....

The Texas Legislature just got through cutting $25 billion dollars from the next two year budget, mostly from education and health care, in an effort to make the books balance which they must, by the state constitution. Texas is unable by law, to run deficit financing.

So yes...Texas is hurting for money.
 
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I know this is six weeks old, but just for the record....

The Texas Legislature just got through cutting $25 billion dollars from the next two year budget, mostly from education and health care, in an effort to make the books balance which they must, by the state constitution. Texas is unable by law, to run deficit financing.

So yes...Texas is hurting for money.

The city of Helsinki is planning to build a Guggenheim museum...
It costs nearly 3million just to study if it is viable project. Where to place it etc. And it will cost millions more to build.
Compare Finland to Texas and I think Finland has less money. Finland is one of the most successful countries in Formula 1.... and the assholes are building a friggen museum. :|
It costs less but I bet a F1 track will bring more global attention and money to Texas than what a stupid museum will ever bring to Finland. :|
No excitement for Finland, just a place where the snobs of this country (and our neighbours) can feel good about themselves while smelling their own farts.

Ofcourse I get your point. All countries are struggling for money right now. Are there other states in the US wich would even like to host a F1 GP nevermind afford to build the track?
I have been keeping an eye on the Austin GP project. From what I can see it will be a very nice track, it will host many other racing series and the track and its surroundings will have multiple functions.
It's looking good IMO and personally I cannot wait to see the first GP. :p

The Guggenheim in Helsinki... if I ever go there it's to torch it to the ground.
 
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This whole affair is pretty ridiculous. The argument that the money should go somewhere else is obviously wrong because that money has been set aside a long time ago to entice big events going to Texas. This of coruse produces economic benefits for the area. I read somewhere that the grand prix is projected to generate something like $300million for Texas in the first race alone, more than any other events that have taken place in Texas including the Super Bowl. That covers the 10 year fees of $250million for staging a Formula 1 race, anything after that is basicaly profit for texas and it is a lot of profit. Also if Texas was sturggling for cash surely they'd welcome a compay coming in and hiring people to build a race track, hotels etc. In addition an F1 track is likely to make the sorrounding areas much more attractive to engineering and automotive firms boosting r & d in green technologies.
However even if the money were to be taken directly out of the Texas budget, which it is not, the argument that the money would be more suitable to build schools or hospitals is simply wrong. This is because in order to stage an F1 race local Hospitals must be specialists in dealing with trauma victims and have fast reliable transportation in case of emergencies i.e. medical helicopters. When an F1 race comes into town the race organizers in order to ensure the safety requirements set by the FIA are met are forced to invest in things such as helicopters and more doctors, which of course after the F1 race are available to the public.

I think it would be a shame if this race didn't come into fruition as I think it seems far more interesting than some of the new races we have been going to like Valencia. From what I've seen of the plans the tracks looks impressive with both challenging high speed corners and long straight leading to a slow hairpin capable of producing good overtaking. In addition it seems to have huge elevation changes throughout making the circuit more interesting. If we compare two of the best tracks in F1 atm Spa and Suzuka to the proposed Texas track they share many features including as I said elevation change, high and low speed corners, thus I think it would be a pretty impressive and challenging track.
 
Like USF1, I see this project failing. Sorry. American and F1 just doesn't mix for some reason.
 
Like USF1, I see this project failing. Sorry. American and F1 just doesn't mix for some reason.

They're already building the track. It's attracted alot of media attention already.
When the 2012 season begins there will be more positive than negative media attention. When that happens more and more people will see the positives and not focus only on the negatives. F1 wants to race in the USA. USA wants to host a GP. Since the track is already being built I don't see how it can possibly fail anymore. :|
FIA only needs to select a date wich is NOT in June/July and I think it will be a-ok.
 
There must be a name for that as a logical fallacy. If not, I'll call it the "x Number of Nurses" fallacy. No matter how rich and well off a nation is, any spending on anything that isn't nurses can be made to look reckless by proclaiming that the money could be used to buy "x Number of Nurses" instead.
 
It seems like the final obstacle that is the $25million fee paid to host the race is gone.
PlanetF1 reports that the City Council has voted in favour of spending the money on the race: "The Austin City Council has endorsed the US Grand Prix and approved plans to address the environmental impact of the event."
Here is the full story
http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7010937/Austin-City-Council-endorses-US-GP
I think this is good news the track looks really promising especially in the mockup shown in the article. Good News.
 
I really like the sound of the track and I often hear from motorsport journalists who's lived in USA, that the interest for F1 there is A LOT higher than us Europeans would like to think.
 
There must be a name for that as a logical fallacy. If not, I'll call it the "x Number of Nurses" fallacy. No matter how rich and well off a nation is, any spending on anything that isn't nurses can be made to look reckless by proclaiming that the money could be used to buy "x Number of Nurses" instead.

Fuck nurses. Spend the money on something fun for once.

I dont think the project will make as much as the organisers are hoping but I'd expect them to make a good return initially. The track looks good, the people seem keen, come on America make this happen!
 
Well folks, you'd have to live here to understand the opposition. Some of it is opposition to motorsports in general, not just F1. If everyone in Austin was transported to the UK, 80% of them would immediately become Guardian readers as, frankly, would I.:lol:

We've just gone through a tough, tough, state legislature session, where the Texas state budget was cut by $25 billion USD. That's not a reduction in growth, that's an actual cut of roughly 15%. That's unheard of here in this state.

We are literally laying off thousands of teachers, cutting health care payments to the indigent, forcing retirees to pay much more for prescription drugs, refusing to pave streets that need it, etc.

This kind of economic climate gives rise to all kinds of arguments that the $250 million ($25 million per year over 10 years) needs to go somewhere else. Given the economic impact on the area, I don't buy that argument, for in the long run F1 can be a huge moneymaker for central Texas if it succeeds.

But you are plunking down the highest-profile car race...in the world...in the only part of Texas that is considered "green" politically. There's bound to be some blowback, especially since the politicians who brought it here (with NO public notice whatsoever) are on the other side of the political fence from the folks who run Austin.

But the deal's done. And I wouldn't miss it ... for the world!:D
 
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Some of it is opposition to motorsports in general, not just F1.
One of the people I talk to keeps saying driving cars in circles is stupid. It was mentioned to him that the track isn't a circle, and he said it's a modified circle and his statement still applies. This is a common attitude. When improvements in technology are mentioned as a not "stupid" impact of driving in "circles", they say the technology is in the wrong direction. Internal combustion is dead. Bring up KERS, and the claim is too little too late, or it still uses an internal combustion engine. Bring up something they don't have an argument against and the thing is dismissed as "silly" or "stupid".

This group is much like a (somewhat extreme) religious group in that their minds are made up and the facts are irrelevant.

What's especially telling is I have yet to meet a native Austinite who is in this "willfully ignorant and against F1" group. These people moved in from elsewhere and then are pissed they haven't managed to turn Austin into San Francisco.
 
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