pjameven

yup...what the hell??

ok, sorry for the delay in more observations from the race. Day 2 (Saturday), we sat in Turn 15. We arrived at the Expo Center about 8 am and were able to get immediately on a shuttle bus to the track. The ride took about 40 minutes with the delay happening as we got closer to the track due to traffic. As the day progressed we could see that the attendance on this day was at least double or more of Friday. The lines at the bathrooms and for food were pretty long but not completely ridiculous. 15 is an excellent place to watch the race from. There is some overtaking in this corner, you can see the end of the long DRS straight that ends with Turn 12 plus many of the other corners of the track, especially with binoculars. It was a little warmer than Friday but there were a few clouds which made it better. Because we had walked so much the first day, we stayed in the area next to Turn 15 and the grand plaza. One little bonus that we didn't realize until I looked at our digital ticket closer was that we had access to the PSL lounge area. It didn't come with any free stuff but it was shaded and there was a bar inside for drinks. you could bring your food in from the outside. We managed to find a table at one point and sat in the shade between events. First F1 event of the day was Sprint Race. I like Sprint weekends and the race was pretty exciting. There were a number of legend and Porsche racing events that occurred through out this day as well. I will post some photos from this day as well. Similar to the Sting concert, we purchased the floor upgrade for the Eminem concert. We lined up about an hour before the show was set to start. There were wayyyy more people for Eminem than Sting. The crowd was estimated at over 100,000 people. I looked up at the hillside above the track and it was mobbed. The floor/pit/track, whatever you want to call it was very crowded. We decided to not get too close to the stage so we could exit earlier. we guessed and left with 2 songs to go. This probably saved at least an hour of getting out of the track area using the buses. The parking lots look like a shit show. Think NFL game times 2. The concert was really good and the crowd was mostly fine. Because we beat most of the crowd out of the area, the ride back to the Expo Center was about the same 40 to 45 minutes. At the end of this day we were tired (we were at the track from about 9am to 10pm).

I didn't spot one Lance Stroll t shirt, hat, jersey etc....LOL...no likes that guy

Ok, Day 1....We flew in late Thursday night, stayed at a hotel (dump) near the airport. Slept in a little because we didn't get to bed until about 1. I picked up a rental car at about 8 am on Friday morning. Back to the hotel to pick up my girlfriend and our 2 sons. I was warned by everyone that had been to the race that parking in the lots near the track is expensive and horrible gridlock on the busier days (Saturday and Sunday). This definitely turned out to be true. I decided to take the shuttle to the track there are 2 options for shuttle...Waterloo Park and Travis County Expo Center. I chose Travis county because parking is free. shuttle is about $30 per day per person. they run continuously. Travis county expo is about 15 minutes from the Airport. We slept Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at my friend's house that is about 30 miles from the track. The ride to the expo center had minimal traffic and parking was easy. You just walk up to the area with the buses and get on (you get a wrist band the first day). The ride to the track was about 20 minutes the first day. Friday is way lower attendance. The bus drops you off at the main gate. Our seats the first day were in the main grandstand and it was about a 15 minute walk to get to them. Until you are at this track, you don't realize how big it is. Sitting in the grandstand was cool to see the pits/paddock but i don't think i would want to sit here to watch the race unless i was in one of the expensive suites...lol! Keep in mind that in addition to the F1 events there are vintage F1 races, Porsche and a couple other things. There are events happening all over the complex. We walked more than 11 miles the first day (we planned on that being the day we would be check everything out). The food is mostly good but expensive. Same goes for the drinks. The lines at things the first day were not bad at all (Saturday and then Sunday were a mob scene). The Friday night concert was Sting. We paid extra $$ to be on the concert floor (the track) to watch and be closer. It was worth it for that concert to be close. After the show ended (about 9:30 but we left a little early to beat the crowd) we got back on the bus to the expo center. There was a little more traffic so it took about 35 minutes to get to the car there.

Ok, where to begin. If you have never attended a race in person, TV does not do it justice. This is the first F1 race I have ever been to. The first time one of those cars goes by on the main straightaway it takes your breath away how fast they are. I have always liked COTA in Austin and I like it more now. I will try to go over everything that we did there, parking, shuttle, concessions, concerts etc. I will post some photos as well. If anyone has any questions, just ask. If it gets too boring, just let me know. I will try to do it by the day. These 2 photos are our seats on Day one (Friday).

I got back late last night and I will share my 3 days later today, it was fun....

super important stuff....

Not a MAGAT...Trump is a buffoon...end of story...the idiot wearing a D on the other side is probably much worse...key word being idiot...but back to you....please get some help my friend.... ob·ses·sion /əbˈseSH(ə)n/ noun the state of being obsessed with someone or something. "she cared for him with a devotion bordering on obsession" an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind. plural noun: obsessions "he was in the grip of an obsession he was powerless to resist"

clearly you should seek help....wow....

wow, some bored motherfuckers on here...doesn't matter the subject...get some help...you aren't being funny...it's just fucking sad...lol

Ricciardo out... https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-ricciardo-to-leave-rb-with-immediate-effect-as-team-get-set-for-mid.1O8CDJ6kYB9VsxpPrbqxX0

I definitely will. It is going to be 3 long days for sure....hopefully a lot of fun. we are sitting in a different location each day. Friday we are sitting in the main grandstand section 119, row 5...Saturday we are in Turn 15, row 12 and Sunday we are in Turn 12, row 30 (recommended by many others to sit up as high as possible to see the furthest). taking a shuttle from Austin to COTA. I was told that getting out of the parking lot is brutal....worse than an NFL game. It is a sprint weekend, so that should be pretty awesome!

I am embarrassed to say how much it cost for 3 days for 4 people including flights to Austin...the only thing that will be cheap is staying with one of my friends for the 5 days we will be there...

definitely....I am going to COTA next month for the F1 race...I have never been to one...I think it is going to be pretty crazy. besides the race, Sting is the concert Friday and Eminem on Saturday night.

wow...very sorry for the loss of your friend Steve...terrible...

There are quite a few folks on here that just love to take the opposite opinion of the people they like to disagree with on any subject. it is amusing to watch. They also like to pretend this forum is just for entertainment, but deep down they are exactly like this in real life....lol! sad existence...hahaha!

Just a complete piece of shit...

Oh Mainecat....you're trying too hard...

if true, that is pretty interesting for a 20 year old, particularly this 20 year old. If they are his, the amounts in them would be even more interesting to know....

Good point , but then the hyena will be running shit for the next 6 months...that's kind of scary too...lol