On-Site Reflections on the 2013 UGSP

"Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney" (braddelaparker)
11/18/2013 at 10:21 • Filed to: f1, COTA, USGP

I'll try not to wax poetic about the race experience, because what I have to say can be said concisely, so I'll sum it up with a subdued but impressed "wow".

Last year's race was an interesting case because, like every new track-build in modern F1, it always comes down to the wire. There wasn't a lot of finish out as far as non-essential facilities went, the parking/shuttle system worked but took a while, and the food and beverage and general amenities situation just wasn't particularly polished.

Fast-forward to this year, and almost all of those concerns were alleviated.

I'll start with the parking/shuttles, because they hit a home run this year. Cut the number of buses in half, but moved the remote parking locations way closer to the track. Result? Easy ingress/egress to the parking lots (only $20 for the weekend, no less), a short 5-10 minute bus ride to the track, and most importantly, it only took my crew of 3 about 30 minutes to get back to our car after the end of the race; compared to last year's hour and a half long journey, which seemed reasonable at the time given the number of people leaving all at once, but they just did a superb job this year.

Food: more local trucks (seriously, why last year they felt the need to bring in trucks from Kansas and Oklahoma when the race is held in the food-truck capital of the world is beyond me), no one ran out of food, lines weren't too ridiculous. Still think they could be doing so much more with the food truck situation with the quality that's in Austin, but it's not bad. I really just wish they would bring some real barbecue out to the tracks and stop feeding these Euros and Latin Americans the mediocre crap that they're masquerading as barbecue.

Fan-experience area: seemed like there was a lot more to do this year, although I never really ventured over there much as there was racing to be watched

Support races: no GT3 cup was a downer, and the Ferrari Challenge race on Saturday was a real snoozer, but the Sunday race was a great bloodbath (figuratively). Formula Vintage was an awesome eargasm, even if it involved little-to-no Formula 1 machinery (mostly F2, Formula Atlantic, and other assorted formulae). A little more track action would have been nice for Saturday, though.

Now for the only real critique, and this isn't COTA's fault, but the absence of FanVision was a real downer. Honestly, it sucks to do an F1 race without FanVision. Being able to keep up with the race on radio/audio feeds/video in your hand is so much better than listening to COTA's awful PA announcers and trying to find a good spot to watch the race from that also has a good view of a jumbotron screen. FOM needs to figure shit out and get FanVision back for next year, it's nearly indispensable and absolutely worth every dollar.

In short, while the racing wasn't quite as good this year, the circus going on around it was so much better and made for a great experience. That's just my take, but I've been pretty critical of COTA management in the past, and while this year's race doesn't address a lot of my complaints, they're at least showing a capacity for making improvements.

Also, anyone bitching about the ticket situation really needs to get over that shit at this point, as the track seemed to have everyone taken care of that didn't get their tickets in the mail on time.

DISCUSSION (17)

EL_ULY > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/18/2013 at 10:42

Well put sir. Traffic on the way out and the lack of real chingon Texas BBQ were my only issues but it was overall a kickass weekend. There was plenty of assorted yummies to get by on that record hot day. Also, Pitbull....really?.... that shouting idiot? Not really America or Texas like having that clown play us out lol. That is just my personal opinion, ZZ Top would of made way more sense :]

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/18/2013 at 10:58

You know what my race experience was?

Sitting in the back room at my grandma's house watching it on a 13" tv while simultaneously adjusting the antennae.

Senna_ > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/18/2013 at 11:54

Bernie does not give a $hit about fanvision because:

-They obviously did not pay him a enough money to give one

-The rich, famous and connected in the paddock apparently did not use it- these are the ONLY people at the race Bernie gives a toss about and he BARELY tolerates them

-Bernie would be just as happy if no one was in the stands, he has actually said this, he does not care about the great unwashed except as viewing numbers on TV. He has proposed a race at his track in France, a track with no stands.

-Bernie did not use it, so he does not care

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Senna_
11/18/2013 at 11:56

As usual, it all comes back to Bernie. I try not to wish for anyone's death, but can he at least just find himself in a state that he can't parade around F1 anymore?

PushToStart > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/18/2013 at 11:58

Yeah, I missed the GT3 cup and the vintage F1 race. I thought that the vintage stuff was going to be F1 like it was last year but what was there was still interesting for sure.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > PushToStart
11/18/2013 at 12:02

Probably tough to get a full grid of ex-F1 cars together each year, so no fault there, and the sound was just incredible.

It really is too bad that the GP2/3 season is wrapped up by the time the USGP comes around (plus the cost being a potential issue), as I'd love to see those as support races.

rad_mike > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/18/2013 at 12:26

Regarding fanvision - I had a unit last year and really like it. That said I downloaded the F1 live timing app this year and was really impressed with it. No video feeds, but a decent graphic showing track positions and the timing table is of course key. Not bad for $15 I guess and I can use it for Brasil.

rad_mike > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/18/2013 at 12:26

Gasolinelollipop > EL_ULY
11/18/2013 at 12:39

I chose to sit in traffic over watching pitbull. I guess the only good about pitbull is girls dancing.

Gasolinelollipop > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/18/2013 at 12:40

The support races need some work for next year.

EL_ULY > Gasolinelollipop
11/18/2013 at 12:44

eeeeeeeeexactly sir :]

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Gasolinelollipop
11/18/2013 at 15:05

You guys hit traffic? I parked in the FM 973 lot was back at my brother's place near 183 and MLK by 4:30. Hit a little bit of traffic on 130, but it really wasn't bad.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > EL_ULY
11/18/2013 at 15:05

You guys hit traffic? I parked in the FM 973 lot was back at my brother's place near 183 and MLK by 4:30. Hit a little bit of traffic on 130, but it really wasn't bad.

EL_ULY > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/18/2013 at 15:13

oh ok, did the shuttle drop you off exactly on site? I park across the street from the main grand stand entrance. took a little more than an hour to get on 130 to head back to San Anotnio. Then hit traffic on I-10 near Sealy on the way back to Houston

Gasolinelollipop > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/18/2013 at 15:29

Saturday I was at the 973 lot and took 183 back. There was traffic. Sunday I was at the RV lot and sent north on Pierce and there was heavy traffic. They diverted us towards 71. Once on 130 it was pretty smooth other than the dumbass left lane bandits going 65 in an 80 .

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > EL_ULY
11/18/2013 at 15:31

Damn!

Yes/no, it drops you off maybe 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile from the track, around about where the furthest on-site parking spots are

EL_ULY > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/18/2013 at 16:44

oh ok, that what all those busues where doing