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20 Jan 2014, 21:25 (Ref:3356401) | #1 | ||
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Austin WEC in doubt
I wanna book my tickets to go watch this race...but I hear there's some sort of issue between the Organisers and the Circuit owners!
Suggest you Sportscar fans Stateside put some pressure on to get this sorted! |
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20 Jan 2014, 21:34 (Ref:3356404) | #2 | |
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20 Jan 2014, 22:21 (Ref:3356421) | #3 | |||
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20 Jan 2014, 22:34 (Ref:3356424) | #4 | ||
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They picked a stupid time of year to hold the race there going up against the University of Texas's football team. That is kind of like scheduling a street race in Manchester when Chelsea is in town. There are quite a few circuits that consistently draw 60k plus.
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20 Jan 2014, 23:08 (Ref:3356437) | #5 | |||
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Tim "Travel makes a wise man better, and a fool worse." Thomas Fuller |
21 Jan 2014, 11:39 (Ref:3356629) | #6 | ||
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21 Jan 2014, 12:04 (Ref:3356640) | #7 | |
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Daytona and Sebring are both pretty far south.
I'd say WEC isn't that popular in the U.S. Surprising, considering the enormous promo program and the readily available TV broadcasts ... |
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22 Jan 2014, 01:56 (Ref:3356913) | #8 | ||
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22 Jan 2014, 02:46 (Ref:3356921) | #9 | ||
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22 Jan 2014, 07:42 (Ref:3356959) | #10 | |||
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From what I've heard from chatting to some of my mates in America, it's things like Nascar and 'football' that are big in the Texas area and surrounding states. It was reported that a large number (something like 40%-50% IIRC) fans at the F1 were from Mexico. All things combined it seems to me that there might not be a large enough 'local' fanbase and with the other sports they watch maybe the casual fan isn't as likely to go and watch on a 'whim'. |
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22 Jan 2014, 07:43 (Ref:3356960) | #11 | ||
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Surely they are all top 5 ... Le Mans is obviously top and the only other sportscar race that comes close would be Nurburgring.
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20 Jan 2014, 23:08 (Ref:3356438) | #12 | ||
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Certainly Le Mans is of higher priority for endurance racing fans (especially if you live in Europe)... but I still suggest you come down to Austin. Even if the WEC race gets cancelled (which I strongly doubt), there's still a massive United SportsCar race that'll have over 60 cars. It's a doubleheader weekend... it'll be awesome fun, c'mon!
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20 Jan 2014, 23:15 (Ref:3356442) | #13 | |||
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20 Jan 2014, 23:34 (Ref:3356450) | #14 | ||
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It's a fabulous city, indeed... 6th St. has become a bit dodgy over the years, though, and food can be just the same. My personal favorite neighborhood is right around the Austin City Hall. Clean, modern, and safe.
I'd recommend the W Hotel (adjacent from the City Hall), the Hyatt Place Austin Downtown (adjacent to the Convention Center), or the Omni Hotel Downtown. The W Hotel is very chic to the point of avant-garde, but very nice; a lot of the drivers stay there. Hope I can help bring you to Austin! |
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21 Jan 2014, 00:37 (Ref:3356475) | #15 | ||
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I'd love to see a sportscar race in the US. Sebring, Daytona, Petit, or whatever the WEC round is...it's an ambition of mine.
But given that I can't even make the Silverstone WEC race which is a 40 minute drive away without sponging off my parents, I think Austin may be out of the picture in 2014. |
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21 Jan 2014, 00:55 (Ref:3356478) | #16 | |||
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21 Jan 2014, 01:09 (Ref:3356484) | #17 | |
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Nothing wrong with sponging off the parents when racing is involved.
And I don't know much about England, but I'd be more tempted to hitchhike than walk--and I live in America, where all the bad things happen. . |
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21 Jan 2014, 01:18 (Ref:3356488) | #18 | ||
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Should make it in time if I set off now!
Always wanted to give hitchhiking a go, but it kind of doesn't count in any journey when you can ring up a mate to help you out... |
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21 Jan 2014, 12:36 (Ref:3356659) | #19 | ||
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21 Jan 2014, 12:45 (Ref:3356663) | #20 | |
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Sebring is a great experience even if it's just a NASCAR race now.
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21 Jan 2014, 13:00 (Ref:3356674) | #21 | |
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Yeah dude. I can see you know a lot about Sebring, and NASCAR.
When I am there this March I will be sure to enjoy all the NASCAR racing. First, I have to enjoy the 24-hour NASCAR race at Daytona this weekend. And I will. |
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21 Jan 2014, 20:13 (Ref:3356829) | #22 | |
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Do we really need that here? Its already in the daytona thread and both tusc threads.
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21 Jan 2014, 20:45 (Ref:3356847) | #23 | ||
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If the WEC Austin race is in doubt, why not Laguna Seca?
Yes I know this will pose a few "what the hell are you talking about" questions but let me explain myself. - Laguna is, in my opinion, one of the top tracks in the US, in terms of facilities and overall track condition/upkeep, behind of COTA of course. - Yes I understand it is one of the shortest tracks that the WEC would race on but lets be honest, it would add yet another unique venue to the calendar. - Pit space would not be a problem since the ALMS and Grand-Am have been running with 30-35+ cars there for years. Track size (width) would not be a problem either. - A strong sports car tradition surrounds Laguna Seca and I would hopefully expect the WEC to receive a strong attendance rating at the track if in fact they were to establish a date. - MotoGP used to run there, why not the WEC? - The WEC would run separately to the USCC at a different time of year, as a combined weekend would be utterly impossible due to the sheer number of feature race entries and support series entries. - Laguna has proper pit side garage stalls (I think it was for MotoGP) for any WEC team that cannot set up a transporter tent. Now a strong counter-argument against running the WEC at Laguna would have to be that the track itself is not FIA Grade 1 approved, however Sebring wasn't either. Well, that is about all I can think of for a sports car racing fan that lives on the other side of the country from Laguna. What do you think? |
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21 Jan 2014, 23:53 (Ref:3356892) | #24 | ||
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+1
Laguna would be a great choice for a WEC event. They have a history of holding intl events...FIA GT in the late 1990's etc -- more recently Moto GP The long format ALMS races were a big draw at Laguna. Sadly fans won't get that with TUSC this year. Additionally, Laguna Seca as a track is "down" 2 events in 2014 losing Moto GP and the Grand-Am weekends. Quote:
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24 Jan 2014, 04:07 (Ref:3357787) | #25 | ||
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