Advice for an F1 rookie

"TheKingOfBirds" (TheKingOfBirds) 10/22/2013 at 15:57 • Filed to: None

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Going to my first F1 race this year (Austin). Was wondering if anyone had any advice to get the most out of the trip. My traveling companion is more interested in the girls and the parties, which I'm not necessarily opposed to either but I don't have any idea how all that works. Are all the parties in Austin or does a temporary city spring up around the track?

CKeffer > TheKingOfBirds 10/22/2013 at 16:01

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The parties are all in Austin, or at least they were last year when I was there. I tended not to go to many since it's a freaking early morning and I was staying with friends.

EL_ULY > TheKingOfBirds 10/22/2013 at 16:08

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Get their early for parking if you do not have a parking pass. $100. Be ready to walk sooooo much at various elevations. Eat before you go. If you have general admission, turns 7 area is cool, but again, get their early to walk the whole track THEN decide on your spot. Take chairs. Not really a party kinda dude anymore but many many fun time downtown anywhere in Austin :]

dropthatclutch > TheKingOfBirds 10/22/2013 at 16:10

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Ear plugs! You'll be amazed by the sound... for the first 10 laps. Then you'll want ear plugs. It can become painful. In the beginning the cars are bunched up and you hear them all at once. It doesn't take long for them to get spread out and your ears just don't get a break.

I've never been to Austin, though so I can't help with the local scene there.

TheKingOfBirds > EL_ULY 10/22/2013 at 16:15

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We are camping at Chris Taylor Racing, so we'll be close by. Can't wait to get there and walk around. Both of us are used to hiking 14ers so that shouldn't be a problem. Good point about Austin, I'm sure we can find something to do there.

mycarneverruns87 > EL_ULY 10/22/2013 at 16:20

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Everything Uly said. Turn 19 was awesome for me as well as 9 and 11. They were all good but since I had GA I was limited to grass. If the same goes for you be sure to bring a chair and/or squishy pad to sit on. Hopefully they get out the vintage cars like last year as those had the very best sound!

f86sabre > TheKingOfBirds 10/22/2013 at 16:35

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Follow Will Buxton, NBCSN pit announcer on twitter and go to his charity party. Went last year and it was huge fun.

Sunblock, water and ear plugs.

Friday was open seating last year. Spend some time on the front stretch checking out the pits. Reserved seating for the rest if the weekend.

Nice heated bathrooms on the front stretch.

More sunblock.

The guys sitting in front of us were able to get a camelback full of whiskey in. Many whiskey and cokes were had on race day.

You should be able to bring in snacks.

A good reasonably good camera is important.

Don't count on getting cell data at the track.

Lots of stuff down town. There was a closed off block party with lots of F1 stuff.

Bars are full, but weren't that bad when we were there. Football may change that.

TheKingOfBirds > mycarneverruns87 10/22/2013 at 16:38

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Yep GA with the rest of the proletariat. Chairs: check. Earplugs: check. 5 gallon keg of Mirror Pond: check.

TheKingOfBirds > f86sabre 10/22/2013 at 16:43

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Great tips, thanks. Is it still pretty hot down there in November?

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > TheKingOfBirds 10/22/2013 at 16:47

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Parties are all in Austin, the track is literally in the middle of nothing (but not that far from town, oddly enough, you can still see downtown)

Out about 20-30 minutes south of the track is Lockhart, TX, the home of the very best in Texas barbecue, without the wait of the good places in Austin-proper.

Best strategy for getting to the track without dealing with the expense and hassle of on-track parking? Park at the Travis County Convention Center (for free) and ride their shuttles out there. Best piece of advice I have.

Chairman Kaga > TheKingOfBirds 10/22/2013 at 17:12

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Bear in mind the Longhorns also have a home game that weekend, so the city will be absolutely bonkers. Seriously. It's always a madhouse on the weekends, but I think this might set a new standard of doodlewhackery.

The UT folks will occupy Dirty 6th (East 6th St. between I35 and Congress). The F1 folks will probably be more in the Warehouse District, which is more frou-frou Euro-style clubs and such.

I didn't do any of the parties last year other than Will Buxton's karaoke shindig at Fado Irish Pub. Jalopnik hosted a meet and greet at The Draughthouse, but I was too tired. Maybe this year. And maybe the Alfa will be back on the road.

If you want some actual Austin flavor and want to hear some bands play, Red River is the place. Dirty bars with great bands of the smelly, boozy variety.

As for the race, come prepared for any kind of weather at any time. It could be raining and 45 degrees in the morning, and a sunny 90 degrees by 1 pm. More than likely it'll be in the low 70s, but whatever the temperature, be prepared for intense sun. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. Seriously. Use a shovel. And bring a hat or maybe an umbrella as there is NO shade. Something soft-ish to throw on the ground, even if you bring a chair. On race day, you might not be able to find a spot for a chair if you're GA. And comfortable shoes, because son, you will walk. A lot. For fun, get a pedometer installed on your phone. You will be shocked.

I watched the race from Turn 1, on the hill. There's no breeze there. A better spot, if you can get to it, is the hill around turns 7-8-9. That's probably the best GA vantage point. I also liked turn 19. Lots of heavy braking, and cars can be 2 or 3 abreast there. Exciting stuff. But take free practice to walk the track. Lots to see and people to meet.

Last year the food was a big issue. Friday and Saturday everyone ran out. Nevermind you were paying $18 for a BBQ sandwich that would normally be $5. Ugh. Hopefully the supply issues have been worked out. Lots of local vendors, so stay away from the typical corporate stalls and try the local food trucks.

If you don't have a parking pass, the shuttles ran reasonably well last year. Of course the waits grew exponentially each day. After the race it took us almost 4 hours to get from the track to the bus, and another 4 hours sitting in the parking lot at the Travis County Expo Center waiting to leave. Allegedly the Sheriffs Deputies packed up and left because of overtime issues. Whatever the cause, it was a flustercluck.

TheKingOfBirds > Chairman Kaga 10/22/2013 at 17:58

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Forgot about football. Gonna be a madhouse.

f86sabre > TheKingOfBirds 10/22/2013 at 18:32

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I don't remember it being super hot, but the sun will get to you if you are out all day. Also, check the schedule to see if the historics are running. Awesome stuff.