Did COTA do enough to secure the contract for next year?
***** Formula 1 - 2021 Season *****
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Richard Zane
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Not the outcome my cousin and I were hoping for, but a super fun time! Glad I made the day trip.
Constructors race tightening up!
Mercedes hold strong in the Constructors' battle 💪
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 24, 2021
And, the McLaren and Ferrari battle continues to deliver 👀#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1 pic.twitter.com/9eOfL4uBwm
150k attendance for Sunday, 400k overall
They ain't going no where with those numbers
They ain't going no where with those numbers
Biggest GP weekend of all time. They just need to sign a long contract. 5 years at least.
I parked off-site and got home in about 35 mins after the podium ceremony ended, so I guess I am never bothering with the on site parking.
Hopefully Miami prices aren't too crazy. Hoping to score one this week. Don't expect to go every year there but I'd like to be at the inaugural race.
I parked off-site and got home in about 35 mins after the podium ceremony ended, so I guess I am never bothering with the on site parking.
Hopefully Miami prices aren't too crazy. Hoping to score one this week. Don't expect to go every year there but I'd like to be at the inaugural race.
We had a good time today. Got there early enough to secure a spot along turn 1 opposite the hill which was pretty cool since we were within 50' or so of the action. The first turn from the start was awesome. Definitely would go again, but will try and purchase seats in one of the grandstands if money allows. Being GA all weekend is a beating lol.
Where did you park off-site? We parked at the airport and waited in line for a few hours to get on the bus back.
FM road. Found the guy on craiglist. Paid $90 for SAT/SUN. There were a lot of lots on FM-812 going from $25 (long walk) to $50-60 for the ones literally in front of the entrance closest to lot A. The people that live by the track always have parking to sell, it's their backyard but no different than parking at one of the unpaved lots at cota
Great race. Glad to see Max win.
Barton creek mall shuttle was ok. For the amount of people it ran smoothly but traffic made it slow.
I won't do GA again. Nothing could handle that many people. Using the shuttles to get around the track was useless especially as since we needed to go all the way around. There were way too many people to fight for spaceb and food.
Barton creek mall shuttle was ok. For the amount of people it ran smoothly but traffic made it slow.
I won't do GA again. Nothing could handle that many people. Using the shuttles to get around the track was useless especially as since we needed to go all the way around. There were way too many people to fight for spaceb and food.
Funny that 86 degrees and high humidity is considered hot for those guys. I know it's got to be hot in the car either way, but I always found it odd that they look like they went for a Sunday cruise when they get out of the car every week. Almost all of them looked sweaty and had towels today post race.
Shuttles to lot Q became a meltdown. Crazy traffic, were only turning 10 buses per hour when we got in line at 4pm, then apparently one bus got in a wreck, so most of the drivers just quit on the spot, down to like 5 buses totalby the time we got on the bus at 5:45. Didn't get to the lot until after 6:30.
The police directing traffic totally ****ed that situation up.
Unless I'm staying in an rv, I don't think I'll ever go back to an F1 race at COTA.
The police directing traffic totally ****ed that situation up.
Unless I'm staying in an rv, I don't think I'll ever go back to an F1 race at COTA.
Bernie (Guppy) meets RIcky @Tower Tent Did we just become best friends??
That was a really fun race.
Max did a great job conserving his stuff and holding Lewis off.
If Lewis had managed to get side by side with Max it would've been an instant classic.
We successfully ran to our car in Lot T and were among the first out and headed back home on FM 812.
Max did a great job conserving his stuff and holding Lewis off.
If Lewis had managed to get side by side with Max it would've been an instant classic.
We successfully ran to our car in Lot T and were among the first out and headed back home on FM 812.
Am I reading this right: it took you 2.5 hours to get back to your car?
Vernada said:
Am I reading this right: it took you 2.5 hours to get back to your car?
Yes, and we got in line pretty much instantly after the race. When we got on the bus there were many thousands behind us and they were moving only a couple hundred per hour on the buses.
I wouldn't be surprised if there's still a wait.
Goodness. I'd really like to go to a race but stories like this really give me pause. Watching on F1 TV is just so easy.
Vernada said:
Goodness. I'd really like to go to a race but stories like this really give me pause. Watching on F1 TV is just so easy.
Sounds like at 630 they had waited for hours for more buses and none came so they were instructed to just walk to lot q. When they got to lot q, all buses, cones, etc. gone. They just up and left.
Here's one tweet out of plenty.
#COTA a complete disaster. Thousands of people waited 3 hours in line for parking shuttles just to be told to walk over an hour to their cars on a road with no sidewalks and heavy traffic. Everyone who paid $250 for this BS should get a #Refund
— Diablo Rojo (@DaMumf) October 24, 2021
Vernada said:
Goodness. I'd really like to go to a race but stories like this really give me pause. Watching on F1 TV is just so easy.
Go to Montreal, assuming it isn't canceled next year. Getting to/from the track is smooth and doesn't take long.
Esteban du Plantier said:Vernada said:
Goodness. I'd really like to go to a race but stories like this really give me pause. Watching on F1 TV is just so easy.
Sounds like at 630 they had waited for hours for more buses and none came so they were instructed to just walk to lot q. When they got to lot q, all buses, cones, etc. gone. They just up and left.
Here's one tweet out of plenty.#COTA a complete disaster. Thousands of people waited 3 hours in line for parking shuttles just to be told to walk over an hour to their cars on a road with no sidewalks and heavy traffic. Everyone who paid $250 for this BS should get a #Refund
— Diablo Rojo (@DaMumf) October 24, 2021
I'm grumpy, sent my first tweet.
@COTA Traffic management was a disaster. Call the Aggies, somehow they can get 106k people in the stands and another 50k at tailgates off of campus smoothly.
— EstebanDuPlantier (@PlantierEsteban) October 25, 2021
Contraflow, all traffic flows away, and left turns get a protected lane. How could you be this bad?
Even on Friday, my family and I got back in our car at around 5:00 pm and were not out of the surrounding area until after 7:00 pm.
The Good:
Man, what a great weekend. The race today was awesome. Had a ton of fun with my son and one of my best friends, WC87. I hope we can make this an annual event for many years to come. Met lots of cool people from all over the country and a few international folks. Being in GA, 99% of folks were courteous and respectful of space and wanting to make sure they aren't crowding you. Watching the F4 and W races were a lot of fun too.
The Bad:
Holy f-/@, the traffic management was an utter disaster today. We parked in Lot L all 3 days. Friday and Saturday we got in and out very easily. Today was a different story. We left very soon after the race ended (I regret that now). We got to my truck by 3:45 and were backing out of our spot by 3:50. We didn't get out of the lot until nearly 6pm. There was no one directing traffic out of the lot, so some fans took it upon themselves to direct traffic at one of the exits. Absolute **** show. I have to assume it is like this each year. Because how the f-// does this happen after 10 years? I know one of the **** roads by the track was closed for construction. But my gosh.
Like, Esteban said, they need to get TTI involved to help with the traffic.
Man, what a great weekend. The race today was awesome. Had a ton of fun with my son and one of my best friends, WC87. I hope we can make this an annual event for many years to come. Met lots of cool people from all over the country and a few international folks. Being in GA, 99% of folks were courteous and respectful of space and wanting to make sure they aren't crowding you. Watching the F4 and W races were a lot of fun too.
The Bad:
Holy f-/@, the traffic management was an utter disaster today. We parked in Lot L all 3 days. Friday and Saturday we got in and out very easily. Today was a different story. We left very soon after the race ended (I regret that now). We got to my truck by 3:45 and were backing out of our spot by 3:50. We didn't get out of the lot until nearly 6pm. There was no one directing traffic out of the lot, so some fans took it upon themselves to direct traffic at one of the exits. Absolute **** show. I have to assume it is like this each year. Because how the f-// does this happen after 10 years? I know one of the **** roads by the track was closed for construction. But my gosh.
Like, Esteban said, they need to get TTI involved to help with the traffic.
fantasma said:
Turn 12 bleachers are said to be one of the best seats for F1 in the world.
Parking parking access access traffic traffic…it's a big big mess. Get there early.
Told you guys. It's that bad and sadly, it's been that bad for years and years. Expect the same mess next year, so plan accordingly.
It's not all that bad if you like to drink a few.
I took a nap in my truck before getting out of the parking lot. It was much needed to reduce the intoxication, and I knew I'd be stuck for hours on the way out. After a 2 hour nap, the mind felt right and I drove off the parking lot. It took me 15 minutes to hit hwy 71 towards Bastrop. Traffic was a non issue then.
My advice for future years: Buy prepaid parking on COTA lot. Fill up tank of gas before approaching COTA. Get there as soon as parking lot gate opens. Walk to COTA. Do not use shuttles.
Anyone know where to find the info for renting a travel trailer that is delivered to the RV lot and you just have to show up?
CharlieBrown17 said:
Ha impressed the Dutch still managed to get some smoke in to COTA
I'm not sure what the scanners at the gates are scanning for, but it isn't hard to smuggle "contraband" into the the track.
I see other folks had the same experience as me. This was simultaneously one of my best and worst experiences ever.
Glad to hear from folks about the parking situation. I tried rideshare on Friday and shuttles Saturday and Sunday. Both were the absolute worst. Looks like it's RV or nothing, I guess.
Glad to hear from folks about the parking situation. I tried rideshare on Friday and shuttles Saturday and Sunday. Both were the absolute worst. Looks like it's RV or nothing, I guess.
Security was so bad at this event. I could have gotten in with anything and sat anywhere I wanted.La Fours said:CharlieBrown17 said:
Ha impressed the Dutch still managed to get some smoke in to COTA
I'm not sure what the scanners at the gates are scanning for, but it isn't hard to smuggle "contraband" into the the track.
La Fours said:CharlieBrown17 said:
Ha impressed the Dutch still managed to get some smoke in to COTA
I'm not sure what the scanners at the gates are scanning for, but it isn't hard to smuggle "contraband" into the the track.
Security was hilarious. If you carried in a chair and the metal detector went off, they just waved you through. I think they checked our back pack once.
Esteban du Plantier said:Vernada said:
Goodness. I'd really like to go to a race but stories like this really give me pause. Watching on F1 TV is just so easy.
Sounds like at 630 they had waited for hours for more buses and none came so they were instructed to just walk to lot q. When they got to lot q, all buses, cones, etc. gone. They just up and left.
Here's one tweet out of plenty.#COTA a complete disaster. Thousands of people waited 3 hours in line for parking shuttles just to be told to walk over an hour to their cars on a road with no sidewalks and heavy traffic. Everyone who paid $250 for this BS should get a #Refund
— Diablo Rojo (@DaMumf) October 24, 2021
We drove past lot Q each day from Lot T on the way to our hotel. Q was about 2.5 miles from the Turn 1 gate and every day there were guys who were jogging along that road to get their cars.
What we have done for years is leave our grandstand seats at Turn 1 with about 3 laps to go, watch the final lap from on top of the hill and then run like hell to our car which is parked pretty close in Lot T since we get there early. We have a 5 hour trip home so the last thing I need is to be stuck in the parking lot for an hour (or more) like we were on Friday.
Sunday's race was so close almost everybody stayed until the bitter end. That and the record crowd didn't help traffic any.
EDIT: And parking close allows you to go back to your car and hang when it's blazingly hot like it was on Sunday. Yesterday I took a 2 hour break from the heat after the W Series race and got back to my seats 10 minutes before the green flag dropped.
COTA weather has run the gamut with heat, floods and bitter cold. It's nice to have the car within walking distance and an RV close would be amazing. Hopefully they expand RV lots since they can't handle the traffic.
Sunday's race was so close almost everybody stayed until the bitter end. That and the record crowd didn't help traffic any.
EDIT: And parking close allows you to go back to your car and hang when it's blazingly hot like it was on Sunday. Yesterday I took a 2 hour break from the heat after the W Series race and got back to my seats 10 minutes before the green flag dropped.
COTA weather has run the gamut with heat, floods and bitter cold. It's nice to have the car within walking distance and an RV close would be amazing. Hopefully they expand RV lots since they can't handle the traffic.
I got the card of the guy that let me park at his spot. Next year I can post the info here for anyone that goes (assuming 2022 is a given).
I keep reading about all these traffic woes, and I'm like, I guess I will park off-site for the Rolling Stones next month :P
Wanting to attend this race so I'll keep an eye out.
These traffic nightmares suck, but don't surprise me in the least. That area is terrible on a normal day, can't imagine after a large event. True story, when they were in the thick of construction near the airport, we were driving along 71 when a car is all of a sudden coming straight at me. I had to drive on the shoulder/grass to avoid him. Ass hat was driving the wrong way and never once ventured out of "his lane." Even with the dozens of cars honking at him.
These traffic nightmares suck, but don't surprise me in the least. That area is terrible on a normal day, can't imagine after a large event. True story, when they were in the thick of construction near the airport, we were driving along 71 when a car is all of a sudden coming straight at me. I had to drive on the shoulder/grass to avoid him. Ass hat was driving the wrong way and never once ventured out of "his lane." Even with the dozens of cars honking at him.
Traffic was definitely a cluster. Waited in the stands walked around the track / grounds until 7 PM and Lot L still had a line to get out. Luckily some nice people were directing cars out of the lot or we would have never made it because the side streets were solid. Luckily once we got onto the streets it was fairly quick to 71.
No idea why they don't contra the lanes nor why they create choke points with traffic from both sides of the track converging.
Security was a joke (nice because we got to bring in food) / only had 2 metal detectors for thousands of fans, they messed up Turn 9 bleachers on Friday by reversing the numbering, and lines for food were miles long.
It was a ton of fun, but was a terribly run event from a logistics perspective.
No idea why they don't contra the lanes nor why they create choke points with traffic from both sides of the track converging.
Security was a joke (nice because we got to bring in food) / only had 2 metal detectors for thousands of fans, they messed up Turn 9 bleachers on Friday by reversing the numbering, and lines for food were miles long.
It was a ton of fun, but was a terribly run event from a logistics perspective.
As a traffic engineering consultant, attending my first race at COTA.... all I have to say is Good. Lord. I know who has done the traffic control plan since its inception, and frankly I was shocked at how bad it all was. Infrastructure is woefully inadequate. Event staff is woefully inadequate. Concessions supply versus the demand... woefully inadequate.
Going to try and gauge the interest from stakeholders in opening the traffic control contract back up.
Going to try and gauge the interest from stakeholders in opening the traffic control contract back up.
PJYoung said:
What we have done for years is leave our grandstand seats at Turn 1 with about 3 laps to go, watch the final lap from on top of the hill and then run like hell to our car which is parked pretty close in Lot T since we get there early. We have a 5 hour trip home so the last thing I need is to be stuck in the parking lot for an hour (or more) like we were on Friday.
Sunday's race was so close almost everybody stayed until the bitter end. That and the record crowd didn't help traffic any.
EDIT: And parking close allows you to go back to your car and hang when it's blazingly hot like it was on Sunday. Yesterday I took a 2 hour break from the heat after the W Series race and got back to my seats 10 minutes before the green flag dropped.
COTA weather has run the gamut with heat, floods and bitter cold. It's nice to have the car within walking distance and an RV close would be amazing. Hopefully they expand RV lots since they can't handle the traffic.
FIFY…
On the RV thing, I saw that you have to bring an RV that is less than 5 years old. I get that they want it to look nice on TV, but come on. Does anyone know how strict they are on this?
Saturday morning, we waited 1:30 for a bus at Bastrop Stadium. As mentioned, there was a shortage of drivers (but not buses).
Saturday night we hustled to the shuttle line the minute the checkered flag dropped and were on a bus back to Bastrop Stadium as soon as we got to pickup. Google maps showed a 15minute trip with traffic.
We got halfway back to the stadium lot before we approached an intersection that was being controlled by LEOs. I generally appreciate law enforcement but these guys halted our lane of travel for 20min at a time, then would give our side 30sec. Our 15min trip took 1:45.
I knew Sunday was going to be a cluster.
Saturday night we hustled to the shuttle line the minute the checkered flag dropped and were on a bus back to Bastrop Stadium as soon as we got to pickup. Google maps showed a 15minute trip with traffic.
We got halfway back to the stadium lot before we approached an intersection that was being controlled by LEOs. I generally appreciate law enforcement but these guys halted our lane of travel for 20min at a time, then would give our side 30sec. Our 15min trip took 1:45.
I knew Sunday was going to be a cluster.
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