"Jonathon Klein" (jonathon-klein)
11/18/2013 at 20:04 • Filed to: None

What to say about this weekend, it was filled with loud cars, loud people, insane amounts of money and bugs coming out of towels! In other words it was the penultimate race of the 2013 season for Formula 1, and the second year for the Circuit of the America's to host Formula 1. It was, to borrow a song title from one of my favorite new bands, The Church of Noise.

( Full disclosure : COTA and indeed Bernie Eccelstone, wanted me at the race so badly that they made me first marry a girl that loves horsepower as much as I do, and indeed she wanted the safety C63 more than the Formula 1 cars, then made us last a full year, and called her up personally and told her that they wanted me their. So they promptly took her money, and off we went! )

( This is her )

So we got up at the crack of dawn, oh wait that's not right...we got up before dawn on a freezing cold morning in Chicago to grab our flight to Houston. I trying my best to not be a kid on Christmas tried to sleep and promptly overslept, missing my chance to actually go to my computer and email my work that I would be sick because of gastric distress. That turned into a more "heated conversation" in the car with me trying to scramble and remember how to type in my password from my phone since I really don't know my password I just do it off muscle memory. The woman pictured above, always the voice of reason found my bosses email and we got it all straightened out. The next bit is a bit boring so I will glance over it, security checkpoint, blah blah, wait for plane, blah blah, me sleeping and drooling blah blah.

One plane down, one to go.

We arrive in Austin finally and the fanfare starts at the airport. Which just brings my excitement level up to 11.

However, that excitment soon wanes a bit with the arrival at the rental car kiosk.

The Part with a Hateful Rental Car Review but Suprisingly Good Banana cooler: Also known as the Kia Soul

Let me be clear, I like small cars, I like bigger CUV's, I hate this thing. I feel much like Clarkson that rental cars can be the fastest cars on the planet given the right conditions, this however was not one of those times. I hesitate to call this abomination a car, it more a box with some wheels strapped entirely to far away from the body. It is a rolling death trap, and with a bad front left brake that didn't work at all, and torque steer like you would not believe, coupled with the fact that whoever was in charge of building Austin's infrastructure must have been a hot wheels fanatic growing up as a kid.

( Actual Texas road shown)

This car was aiming to kill both me and my wife. The dash was scratching, the gear shifts were abysmal and the side paneling on the doors actually read SOUL.

But enough about this dreadful car or its amazing banana cooling off abilities.

The Weekend

We got to the race just before the second practice. I had no idea what to expect since this was my first F1 race. I knew that it would be loud. I did not expect what I got. The first cars started their engines and every single hair on my body stood up. Plus an added bonus for my wife, the biggest smile that could possibly be on my face was then plastered for the rest of the day. The noise, the power, the everything, I never thought I would feel this about this race, but oh my dear lord was it amazing. It truly was a Church of Noise and Horsepower. When we picked up our tickets before entering they gave us earplugs, and I really wondered if we would need them, come on, how loud could they be? VERY

Although I still didn't because come on, racecar.

We stayed until they pretty much kicked us out that day, and went back to our hotel, where we promptly just dropped our stuff hoping that the hotel would look better maybe after a few drinks downtown. It didn't. It got worse. Bugs coming out of the towel worse. I will spare you the pictures because I just can't handle looking at it again.

Fanfest

Fanfest was super cool, 12 square blocks of Downtown Austin roped off for a sort of F1 festival. Booths with cars, paintings, lots of beer, bands like Los Lonely Boys and Everlast playing, and the Infiniti Redbull area, where I got to do a dyno pull of the new G37 and try to win Seb's boots. That didn't work out so well, but it was a crap ton of fun.

( Imitation Senna Helmet:want but it was like 3g's)

We walked around looked at all the vendors grabbed some great grub from Bar Louie around the block and headed back to the hotel. I slept in full clothes, long sleeves and all the whole night, and the whole night I thought I felt something crawling on me, lets just say I was a bit tired for the second practice and qualifying. However, I did get us the hell out of there and all our money back. So in the end we won, since we only paid for 1 night at the new place!

The parking lot

While most people would think "hey your at a Formula 1 race, wtf are you talking about the parking lot?" Well, the parking lot was just as cool as inside the track. It was a veritable supercar parking lot, and for as much as Texas hates Tesla, I saw probably about 30 of them at the race, also a Lotus Exige S, a million Porsche's, a few Ferrari's, a Bentley, two McLaren's and some awesome other exotica, the only one that I actually took a picture of was a 25k Seat Leon.

( I made the right choice right?)

The race

Like any great gathering of car people, traffic was horrendous. What took us about 15 minutes for Practice and Qualifying, turned into a 2 hour ride from hell in a car from hell. But that did not spoil my day, hell no! We soldiered on and finally got to the race. We saw them warm up and got into position at turn 1. Let me tell you something, for those that say its just as good or better to sit at home and watch the race....you are a bunch of idiots. As a car person, you need to experience this, at least just once, although after the first time, I doubt you will not go the next. ( We already booked our hotel and tickets for next year! ) The race went like all the rest have gone in the last year, Vettel gets out in front and stays there. However, I did not go to see Vettel at all, I already figured, like most people that he was going to win. I went to see the rest of the cars race and they did not disappoint. The race between Webber, Hamilton and Grosjean was epic in my point of view. Grosjean has been killing it and would later blow my mind that day.

Recap

When I first went I didn't really know what to expect, I knew that it would be fun, but I didn't realize how much fun it would be. It wasn't just the race and the cars, and everything that went on at the track, but being with a group of crazy car people, as crazy or crazier than I am and being able to talk about Group B esoterica or how the McLaren MP12 really just doesn't do anything for me, or how we all think Seb is cheating, it was wonderful to just be able to talk and not looked at as a weirdo that I can't stand football! It was just an amazing experience and I highly recommend everyone that has a chance to go to do it. I will definitely be there next year, and hopefully you all will too.

Blown mind

My wife in conjunction with Bernine and COTA somehow pulled off one last awesome surprise, ( she is great isn't she ). While we were boarding our plane to Houston, one of the other group of F1 fans that I had been discussing old Ferrari's, group B rally cars, and the steering placement of the Lancia Stratos and how the 246 Dino was breathtakinly beautiful, they called me over while we were waiting in line, and said, "look thats Grosjean!" I was still far enough away and called BS on it, until I got closer and was like holy shit that IS GROSJEAN!!! Why he was on our plane I have no idea. First question that I know is on everyones minds, did I freak out. YES. I went up to him shaking, and just said "Mr Grosjean you were phenomenal today, I was routing for you to win, you were just awesome!" Which he then promptly took the wind out of my sails and said I was wearing the wrong hat.

In which I immediately said "I know I'm so sorry!" And ran away. All this is what I think I said coherently, but it most likely came out more like a Kimi mumble and "ohmygodyourromangrosjeanyourawesome!"

My wife did then tell me that I had to go get a picture of something and promptly shook so much that I screwed up twice taking the picture and had to go a third time and get the picture. I felt like a complete and utter idiot and such a little boy reaction. But I got it and ended the weekend on the best way possible. Getting a picture with a truly awesome dude.

Thanks Roman you made the weekend just that more special and one that I will truly not forget.

Other photos

( I got pushed out of the way and was the person right behind the last person that got Damon's autograph, I didn't make the cut. NEXT YEAR HILL!!!! NEXT YEAR!!! )

DISCUSSION (100)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Jonathon Klein
11/18/2013 at 20:06

You got Kinja'd hard.

Jonathon Klein > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
11/18/2013 at 20:06

I know man I had to go back in and redo it like 3 times!

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Jonathon Klein
11/18/2013 at 20:07

Were you using the new editor?

Jonathon Klein > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
11/18/2013 at 20:08

Yep, then I switched to the old one and that worked way better.

Jonathon Klein > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
11/18/2013 at 21:18

You think I should have posted this tomorrow morning so more people would have seen it?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Jonathon Klein
11/18/2013 at 21:39

Do a repost for the morning crowd. People will see it.

itsnothere > Jonathon Klein
11/18/2013 at 21:42

Bugs coming out of towels?

I've not experienced this, please explain in more detail.

Jonathon Klein > itsnothere
11/19/2013 at 08:11

So she woke up qualifying morning to take a shower and grabbed one of the towels in the room. When she picked it up, a cockroach fell out of it and scurried across the floor. So not a fun time.

Jonathon Klein > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
11/19/2013 at 08:13

I should know this but how?

Patrick George > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:10

I hear you on the parking lot, it's fun to see what shows up. Near where I parked it was like Porsche, Porsche, old Porsche, Ferrari, Ferrari, Lamborghini, weird Volkswagen not sold in America, Porsche...

DaveStruve > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:16

Similar experience at the Canadian GP. Our so called 4 star hotel was a dump. It was a mess, dated and it appeared house keeping went out of it way to leave excess pubes in the bathroom. This more or less left my wife in tears, who's concession to allowing our vacation take place at a F1 race, requested a nice hotel.

Jonathon Klein > Patrick George
11/19/2013 at 09:19

One of the best ones I saw was a Mexican plate Ford Raptor with Lobo where the Ford usually goes, so it was the WolfRaptor which needs to be made right this instant by Ford.

Maxxuman > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:19

Just be careful with those ears. You only get one pair and if you f*ck them up not wearing earplugs for crazy loud cars or loud music that's it for the rest of your life. You'll be the guy saying "What?..." all the time, and when you think you're whispering the whole room will tell you to shutup (the latter happened to my father in law last week).

E320 > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:20

A SEAT in this side of the pond?! Now, that's something!

J-Tenno > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:21

Sorry, but only idiots and dickheads drive Seat Leons, at least here in Spain.

I prefer Sciroccos to be honest.

Jonathon Klein > DaveStruve
11/19/2013 at 09:22

Oh that sucks, I used to work for a Hotel and I just said ok let me handle this and got us the hell out of there and all of our money back and we got a way nicer place, it was a little bit out of town only about 15 minutes from the track though. I would highly recommend it, Staybridge Suites in the Arboretum area.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:25

Off-site shuttle lots > on-site parking.

Jonathon Klein > Maxxuman
11/19/2013 at 09:25

I already do that!

Jonathon Klein > J-Tenno
11/19/2013 at 09:26

I wish I saw a Scirocco, those lines on that car are freaking tight. And it was more the novelty of seeing something that I never see around here.

J-Tenno > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:30

I completely understand, I get all excited when I see a Dodge Ram here, or anything similar in fact.

You always want what you can't have... Yes, Leon is not a bad looking car, but I'm a bit saturated and the drivers ruin the car for me.

It's Spain's brotruck.

the_wheelerZ > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:30

Great story!

I had the same experience last year in Montreal. We went as a group of 13 for a buddy's bachelor party. Same crap hotel with 5 guys in a room!

Once we were at the track, I had the biggest smile for the entire time! Unreal the sounds!

Jonathon Klein > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/19/2013 at 09:31

Me and the wife calculated how much one of those off site parking farms made from just one small lots of like 5-700cars, and it was like 15k for one day, they are just raking in the cash!

Stef Schrader > Patrick George
11/19/2013 at 09:31

Last year, the Porsche lot was up at T1 for one of the races. Someone even brought their racecar, for Pete's sake.

I spent far too much time wandering around the dadgummed parking lot at T1.

Patrick George > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:40

FUCK YES.

Hooniganitis > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:41

Your wife is awesome. Can I marry her?

ncasolowork2 > J-Tenno
11/19/2013 at 09:42

SEAT doesn't exist in the U.S. that's why it really was a unicorn sighting.

speedkch > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:43

Good Story. Reminds me of my trip to the 1st USGP at Indianapolis. Although I didn't get to meet any drivers, I did sit across from the pits and close to the track.

Back in the V10 days, that sound ripped through your core. It was amazing. I will never forget it.

Patrick George > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:44

Matt and I also saw a Seat Cupra R hatchback downtown. You see Seats from Mexico all the time in Texas, but they're rarely that badass. I wanted to chase him down and ask to review it!

i am kllot duh!! > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:53

lucky you,your wife is so pretty,mine is ugly but I'm desperate so what the heck,btw that seat indeed an exotic,rarer then porsche or lambos or ferraris (in united states)

m.stallion > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:54

my hotel last year was fantastic. my hotel this year was disgusting yet was rated better. BS!! i used their freezer/fridge/microwave to store my possessions to prevent bringing bed bugs back home and went through a sterilization ritual . i will be leaving a negative review on the major sites so people don't suffer my fate.

Monsterajr > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 09:55

My first GP was in 97' at Silverstone. I only attended race day but I was hooked. I've been to various vintage meets at Lime Rock and Watkins Glen and attended a number of ALMS races at Lime Rock and MoSport. None of those races comes close to the on track/off track sights and sounds found at a F1/GP event.

I've been to the inaugural US GP at Indy and went again two years later and stayed track side in a motor home. I've also attended Montreal GP in 06. There is absolutely nothing like the sound of those F1 cars on opening lap screaming past you! At my second visit to Indy I had seats in the grandstands directly across from the pits (right where Ralf ended up after his crash) and the noise in that area was so loud it hurt to not have ear protection. I'm hoping and praying that the GP of NJ/NY comes off because I will be attending with my wife and 7yo (Vettel fan), if not I may have to make my way to Austin.

getchapopcorn > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 10:00

Great post, bud!

sokerdelic > itsnothere
11/19/2013 at 10:02

By chance it wasn't Crestwood Suites Austin was it?

Jonathon Klein > getchapopcorn
11/19/2013 at 10:08

Thanks!

J-Tenno > ncasolowork2
11/19/2013 at 10:09

I knew this.

Jonathon Klein > Patrick George
11/19/2013 at 10:09

That would have been ridiculous, I would have totally car nerded out on the driver!

Jonathon Klein > Patrick George
11/19/2013 at 10:11

Parking lot F was awesome, I was on my way back to the hotel, the buggy one (eww) and stopped and talked with the guy with the Lotus Exige S for like 15 minutes. My wife has a picture somewhere, I will have to try and find it and upload it later.

Jonathon Klein > Monsterajr
11/19/2013 at 10:12

Austin is a riot, and I would highly recommend to go and just experience it once, the people are super cool down there.

jnewman1991 > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/19/2013 at 10:12

That's what I did. I'd rather walk the extra mile than pay 200 bucks for the entire weekend.

Wildstar > E320
11/19/2013 at 10:15

Looks like it had Mexican plates on it. Lots of cars sold in Mexico that we don't get here in the states. Just another reason to love this race!

Jonathon Klein > the_wheelerZ
11/19/2013 at 10:19

It is a smile that stays on for days and days!

Jonathon Klein > speedkch
11/19/2013 at 10:19

Why can't the V10's come back!!!!

Jonathon Klein > Hooniganitis
11/19/2013 at 10:20

HA HA!!! NO SHES MINE!!!!

PushToStart > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 10:20

Wow, that's awesome that you got to meet Grosjean. He's really improved recently and I think he seems like a really cool guy, one of the drivers I know I'd like to meet. But why did he say you were wearing the wrong hat? In all the pics you're wearing a lotus hat...?

Jonathon Klein > PushToStart
11/19/2013 at 10:21

It was Kimi's

moonyock > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 10:21

I stayed at the Best Western Plus right off of 35. Good clean Hotel, recently updated, pool and hot tub, free wifi and breakfast, and the hotel bar had live music every night. Was a $15 cab ride in to town and kept us away from all the traffic on the way to the track. And there was a sweet little bar called the Whip In down the street with over 60 beers on tap.

DaveStruve > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 10:22

I our case we had booked through formula tours, so it complicated things, not to mention that finding a room on a race weekend could be tricky. In the end we avoided the hotel as much as possible and enjoyed the city and race.

skippytheduck2 > J-Tenno
11/19/2013 at 10:24

Here in Texas, only Mexicans drive Seats. That's cause they're not available in the US but lots of Mexican nationals tend to drive them into the States on tours/extended visits/staying here indefinitely cause their economy and crime situation is even worse than ours. For some reason the Outlet Mall parking lots are packed full of Mexican registered Seats down here.

isocuda > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 10:24

Oh that was totally you in front of me at Turn 1, I have work to catch up on before I can get to my article. Had I known better, I would have tried to grab you. I managed to find an actual drivers road and some nifty stuff around town. Did you find out why they released the fans onto the track soooo late into the ceremony?

Mr-PLP > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 10:34

Kinja'd!!!

LordChabelo > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 10:34

The running joke in Austin is that the highway system was designed by Texas A&M grads as cruel punishment for Texas fans....
We saw that Seat as we were driving back to San Antonio, I believe it has plates from Guadalajara, Mexico (where McLaren driver Sergio Perez is from), when I pointed it to my wife she just shrugged. It's rare to see one of those in the U.S. The parking lots are great for looking at cars. Last year I parked my humbly Mustang in front of a Murcielago. This year I found a Maserati Quattroporte had parked in front of me at one of those parking farms. This year the highlights of the parking were the Enzo Ferrari between the bridges inside the track and a '68 GTO in a handicap spot outside the Main Grand Stand.
Last year I accompanied my uncle and his two sons, who came up from Mexico, to the race, it was my first F1 race and I got hooked on F1 again. I lost interest in the sport after Alain Prost retired and Senna died but now I have even gotten my wife and almost three year old daughter to like F1. They were both with me in the sea of people that was Turn 1 and watching the start of a race in person exceeds all expectations.
Great write up!

Alfa-Male > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 10:42

On our way to the track on Sun. morning we were behind 4 Bentleys that all had Michigan plates. Very strange. Never saw a caravan of Bendleys before.

SpeedSix > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 10:49

"fact that whoever was in charge of building Austin's infrastructure must have been a hot wheels fanatic growing up as a kid"

Well, nearly all of us Opponauts were Hot Wheels fanatics growing up as kids, and we still are Hot Wheels fanatics now. :D

ColdsnapBryan > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 10:51

Looks like a great time! That Grosjean story is insane, I can't believe he is flying home on a commercial flight after taking second. What a day for that guy.

Jonathon Klein > LordChabelo
11/19/2013 at 10:51

I saw the Enzo too, and took a picture of it somewhere. I was at Turn 1 for the start to, where were you at? Did you do the track walk?

OneFastPuertoRican > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 10:51

Did you meet any Jalops at COTA?

Jonathon Klein > OneFastPuertoRican
11/19/2013 at 10:52

I am sure I did, but next year, I want to have a t-shirt that says Jalopnik on it so we can better find each other. Matt, Travis, George, get on this!

dapper_otter > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/19/2013 at 10:54

Didn't do the shuttle this year, instead parked "almost" on site at a local racing business across from T1. $50 for the weekend, easy to get to, and we were still able to get in/out of the track fairly quickly considering the level of traffic.

Jonathon Klein > isocuda
11/19/2013 at 10:55

I was wondering that too, we totally missed out on the whole ceremony pretty much. But just getting out of turn 1 after the race and trying to make it to the track was nuts. Mark Cuban stopped his car and signed some autographs while coming up from the Paddock Club, although I just saw him through the window of his car.

Jonathon Klein > DaveStruve
11/19/2013 at 10:56

That seems to be the best plan.

Jonathon Klein > ColdsnapBryan
11/19/2013 at 11:01

I know right, you would think he could snag a ride with someone!

the_wheelerZ > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 11:13

Haha! It still comes back just thinking about it!

Fingers crossed, Im going to try to get to Austin for next years race, we will see if I can make it happen.

Jeb_Hoge > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 11:19

You hit the jackpot, sport. Tell her I said so.

Monsterajr > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 11:22

I've heard that and have a buddy who went to college there and says the same. I think Lewis said it best when he said the whole town just breathes F1 much like Montreal but even better. If that's the case it'll be on my list for sure, but as my 50th is coming up I am bucking for Monaco in 3yrs!

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > dapper_otter
11/19/2013 at 11:36

Shuttle worked WAY better this year than it did last year, although we're considering trying one of the private lots nearby next year.

dapper_otter > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/19/2013 at 11:41

It made a huge difference in the speed of getting out of the track and getting home each day. You can also have snacks 'n shit stowed in your trunk. I don't think it ever took us more than about 60-70 minutes to get home each day (I'm normally about 30-40 minutes from the track.)

Maxxuman > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 11:44

So are you one of those guys whose earbuds are cranked up so loud I can hear them from the other side of a moving subway car, despite having my noise isolation earphones on?

Jonathon Klein > Jeb_Hoge
11/19/2013 at 11:47

Will do!

Jonathon Klein > Monsterajr
11/19/2013 at 11:49

I heard from a few other people that its actually easier to get Monaco tickets than Austin, I would have thought it was opposite!

Jonathon Klein > Maxxuman
11/19/2013 at 11:50

Not really, just a few too many earplugless dyno pulls, a bunch of concerts, and now F1. Most of the time I really don't like to have the music too loud especially with earbuds in.

Jonathon Klein > the_wheelerZ
11/19/2013 at 11:52

It does doesn't it!

isocuda > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 11:52

Yeah, being my first in person F1 event and first time at COTA, I was lucky to think to get to the finish line entrance with 3 laps to go. I was wondering why they released the staff to the walls, then waited to release us. From what I hear, management there is still going through growing pains. I had a blast though....I had posted what is likely the most powerful sentence I've ever written to Facebook after hearing them go by at race pace.

Kinja'd!!!

Jonathon Klein > SpeedSix
11/19/2013 at 11:56

Funny story, one of my wife's kids (she's a teacher) found out that we love Top Gear and so does he and became this cool bound, well she then told him that I had just got my GT86 and so he sent me a Hot Wheels GT86, so I took a picture with both and sent it too him with one of my old Lamborghini Hot Wheels, supposedly he didn't let it go for the entire day. Got to make those young ones Jalop's quickly!

PushToStart > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 11:58

Ohhh alright. Did you get him to sign anything?

Maxxuman > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 12:01

I played in bands for years and had to crank my 600 watt amp up full to compete with guitarists, drums and on stage PA monitors. I'm really glad I discovered these early on and I've since used them photographing concerts right next to PA stacks among other things. One great thing is you can still hear people talking pretty well while wearing them. They now make a Rock n Roll version which may be more comfortable and I expect they'd work for dyno tests as well as for concerts or F1.

Jonathon Klein > isocuda
11/19/2013 at 12:02

LOVE THIS!! And that is totally how it sounds. Like some kind of radiation that is jolted through every aspect and fiber of your being! Did you get to go over one of the bridges when they went under? It was ridiculous, especially on the first day and hearing the cars for the first time in person!

Jonathon Klein > PushToStart
11/19/2013 at 12:03

Nope too nervous about going back up to him for the 4th time and saying pleasecanyousignmyticketsiloveyou! It would not have gone well.

UltrasonicBlueMica > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 12:05

Cool story. I would love to make it to an F1 race. You should check out the American Le Mans/Grand Am races too. Great experiences.

Jonathon Klein > Maxxuman
11/19/2013 at 12:06

I need to get these for next year.

Jonathon Klein > UltrasonicBlueMica
11/19/2013 at 12:08

I am going to try and hit up Road America this year since its not really far from where we live. I would love to go to a WEC race with the LMP cars since they won't be in the Tudor races next year.

isnewton > E320
11/19/2013 at 12:08

I'm so floored seeing a SEAT I had to have a seat...

PushToStart > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 12:09

Haha yeah I could see how that would irritate him a little bit and be potentially embarrassing. Were there a lot of other race fans on the plane with you that were taking pics with him also? Or was it just you?

Jonathon Klein > PushToStart
11/19/2013 at 12:16

The entire plane was F1 fans just coming from the race, so it was a few others taking pictures and getting him to sign stuff too. The flight attendant had to ask us like 4 times how to pronounce his name so she could get it right when she made the announcement to congratulate him!

virtualdanno > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 12:35

Oh my God, the parking. So brutal. About 2 HOURS after the race ended, I somehow got back out to 130 (the 85MPH loop around Austin) and finally got back to I-35 to go back to Dallas. The only upshot is that some insane guy in a MP4-12C who drove his car down from Dallas was in front of me for about 3-4 hours on the highway heading north. He really wanted to open it up, but I-35 between AUS/DFW is literally the worst patch of highway on the planet, so stop/go almost the entire way. Whoever you are, sir, thanks for giving me a nice rear end to look at during my drive home :-)

citizennick > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 12:39

you were already wearing a Kimi Lotus hat and a Hoonigan shirt, how much easier could you of made it to be located by a fellow Jalop? lol

61hp > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 13:13

Kinja'd!!!

We got a Kia Soul as well, but ours was the new 2014 with the 2.0L and was a pretty decent car overall. No over the top Soul prints inside, nice quality plastics inside, the car moved well and the auto was pretty quick in manumatic mode. Overall we liked our Soul for a rental car and was great for parking around town, plus for $12 a day, who could complain.

What ticket package/pass did you go with this year?

We had GA and ended up skipping the downtown shuttle and parked in the Red lot, as the cost was the same. Took us just under an hour on Saturday and just over an hour on Sunday to get from our hotel on South Congress to the track, which we both though was pretty good. Leaving on Sunday was a bit longer, but not by much at all. Overall traffic flow was pretty good, but though the cops could have done a better job on 71 of flowing traffic instead of allowing the lights to do so. And Austin, who puts traffic lights on the main highway that goes to your airport?

Jonathon Klein > citizennick
11/19/2013 at 13:15

I should have driven there in my GT86 and it would have been that much more easy! Or shown up in a brown diesel manual miata wagon! If I could've rented it I would have. I say next year we should all have a sticker or banner or something so we can all rally around each other!

Jonathon Klein > virtualdanno
11/19/2013 at 13:18

Oh yeah a tour bus actually broke down about 15 cars in front of us while trying to get to the airport right before the Turn onto Elroy Rd by the track, it did give me the chance to ogle the 430, 929, and Boss Laguna Seca that were all in a row.

Jonathon Klein > 61hp
11/19/2013 at 13:22

Yeah yours looks way nicer than ours was, it was a dreadful car, but seriously the front left brake was shot to hell and it kept pulling to the right anytime I went near the brake.

I'm still not sure what package my wife got, she refuses to tell me how much it actually all cost which frightens me a bit. But we got GA too, and it was a blast just to walk the track everyday and switch up spots through the races.

Those traffic lights were ridiculous weren't they, they just popped out of nowhere and so did all the on and off ramps, like you had to guess when you exit was coming and then go 5 seconds sooner.

Mikey > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 13:30

We found a scorpion hanging out in our tent, could have been worse!

Jonathon Klein > Mikey
11/19/2013 at 14:00

That definitely would have been worse.

Mikey > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 14:22

He was a pretty chill guy though, someone braver than me scooped him out of the tent and we hung out with him for a while and then tossed him back into the brush so he could return to his family.

Also, consider camping for the race next year. It's not as glamorous, but Chris Taylor Racing is across the street from the Lot T entrance, and charges $50/vehicle/night to camp there. No need to deal with traffic!

PedalHead > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 14:24

If you're that close, you should really go to Road America for the Can-Am reunion historic races in July. I used to work on vintage race cars and this was one of my favorite events. You won't be disappointed. You can get up close to many of the machines and you can talk to the mechanics/ owners/ drivers and many of them are more than happy to show you some of the coolest machines ever to terrorize a track. RA is known as one of the most challenging circuits from a mechanical perspective because IIRC it is the track where cars spend the longest time at WOT. F-ing awesome screaming engines. It gets me all tingly just remembering it. Go. No, really, GO.

Jonathon Klein > Mikey
11/19/2013 at 14:41

How big was it, usually the smaller ones are the more dangerous ones and will definitely consider it!

Jonathon Klein > PedalHead
11/19/2013 at 14:45

I've already left and halfway there doing a buck 20 down 94!

Fernando Guerrero > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 15:02

Kinja'd!!!

Guanajuato, Mexico

LordChabelo > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/19/2013 at 15:18

Lot Q was horrible, about 3 miles east, past the track, so you still had to go through all the traffic. Then you had to take a 20 min shuttle that only dropped you off at Turn 11. Last year I parked in Lot F, but it was too expensive. Next year, I'm giving my parking money to an Elroy, TX resident who owns land near the track.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > LordChabelo
11/19/2013 at 15:36

I did the FM 973 lot, came in from the north down 130 and it was an absolute breeze. Less than an hour post-race from the shuttle-pick up at the track to where we were staying near 130/MLK

BadLag > Jonathon Klein
11/19/2013 at 15:38

I was at the 87 Indianapolis 500, it was quite the experience. If I was to do it again, I would fly down on Saturday, get a nice place to stay, watch the race from the main grandstand and fly back on Sunday. We drove down on Thursday in a motor home, partied for 3 days and race day was hot and sunny, we had vodka and orange juice, I was burnt out from the previous days...still had fun.

I would like to do it for a Daytona 500 and the Montreal Grand Prix...my bucket list.

Jonathon Klein > BadLag
11/19/2013 at 15:43

My bucket races would be Dakar, Monaco, a Nurburgring Enduro, and Le Mans, it's a bit on the nose...but come on they would be ridiculous!