25 replies to this topic

[eibyyz]

Was listening to KTRH 740AM, the blowtorch clear-channel News/Talk station in Houston.  Heard a commercial for "F1 At COTA", which is nice...

 

This is an iHeart station and I was listening using the app, so it may appear on more than local radio.

 

[K20a]

Kewl

[AustinF1]

Radio is COTA's go-to, along with a few billboards around Austin and sometimes a couple in Houston & Dallas. That's about it. I Heart Radio is (or at least was at some point) owned by Red McCombs, one of the original COTA major investors.

 

I just finished looking at the 2021 USGP ticket page. Wondering why they chose to get rid of yet another set of bleachers, this time one of the best ones, at Turn 4. No more grandstands left between T1 and T9. Five have been eliminated just on that stretch of the esses.

Edited by AustinF1, 28 April 2021 - 14:49.

[paulb]

I'm going this year. My first F1 race since the final F1 LBGP in 1983.

[jonpollak]

Whoa... you old.
Jp

[paulb]

Whoa... you old.
Jp

Thanks buddy! 

[pacificquay]

Does the ad pronounce it “Coda”?
 

[loki]

Radio is COTA's go-to, along with a few billboards around Austin and sometimes a couple in Houston & Dallas. That's about it. I Heart Radio is (or at least was at some point) owned by Red McCombs, one of the original COTA major investors.

 

I just finished looking at the 2021 USGP ticket page. Wondering why they chose to get rid of yet another set of bleachers, this time one of the best ones, at Turn 4. No more grandstands left between T1 and T9. Five have been eliminated just on that stretch of the esses.

The only time you remove seats is when you can’t sell ‘em.  Bummer.  I hope the run doesn’t come to an end.

 

Looks like old BIlly Joe divested his stakes in his Clear Channel holdings.  He was the founder Clear Channel which was spun off as iHeart and Live Nation and several others.   Both are publicly traded now and he’s not listed as a major shareholder.

[loki]

Does the ad pronounce it “Coda”?
 

The Zep album we could have done without.  There was a reason those tracks didn’t make it on to the albums of their time.

[AustinF1]

The only time you remove seats is when you can’t sell ‘em.  Bummer.  I hope the run doesn’t come to an end.

 

Looks like old BIlly Joe divested his stakes in his Clear Channel holdings.  He was the founder Clear Channel which was spun off as iHeart and Live Nation and several others.   Both are publicly traded now and he’s not listed as a major shareholder.

Yeah I gotta admit the T4 grandstand thing really has me scratching my head. So, you remove the only remaining grandstand along what is arguably the best section of track there, a very popular grandstand at that, and then put two small ones at one of the worst spots out there - T18 and 19.

 

It's pretty weird.

 

Re: Red, yeah I thought maybe I had seen something like that somewhere. Funny, when I first read "Billy Joe" I read it as "Billy Joel", probably since COTA just announced Billy Joel as the USGP Saturday concert headliner. Announcement's kinda falling flat.

[red stick]

That's because he has been on a greatest hits tour for a generation now. Joel hasn't released new material during my college-aged daughter's lifetime. Ho. Hum.

Edited by red stick, 29 April 2021 - 18:56.

[AustinF1]

That's because he been on a greatest hits tour for a generation now. Joel hasn't released new material during my daughter's lifetime. Ho. Hum.

Yeah I'm reading lots of comments even from people in their 50s who really like his music (like me), basically saying "Seriously?".

[red stick]

I'm going this year. My first F1 race since the final F1 LBGP in 1983.

I went in 2012, the first at COTA, and 2017, the last year before the halo.  It's a great event, with an international audience, but removing grandstands means there's even less shade.  Fall in Austin isn't too bad for warmth, but bring your sunscreen and wide-brimmed hat.

 

And even if you have a grandstand seat, watching the start from Turn One is worth it.  

[Dan333SP]

I went in 2012, the first at COTA, and 2017, the last year before the halo.  It's a great event, with an international audience, but removing grandstands means there's even less shade.  Fall in Austin isn't too bad for warmth, but bring your sunscreen and wide-brimmed hat.

 

And even if you have a grandstand seat, watching the start from Turn One is worth it.  

 

I went in 2012 as well, I sat in a grandstand at T11 that was already gone by the following year despite being mostly full in 2012. I do remember thinking they had a ton of great GA viewing hills around the track, so if I went back I wouldn't even bother with a grandstand, just a blanket and a folding chair. 

[AustinF1]

I went in 2012 as well, I sat in a grandstand at T11 that was already gone by the following year despite being mostly full in 2012. I do remember thinking they had a ton of great GA viewing hills around the track, so if I went back I wouldn't even bother with a grandstand, just a blanket and a folding chair. 

Yep, they had three big grandstands out there at 11. Seated something like 13,000 people. None there now for years, but it remains a popular GA spot. Re: the GA seating, it's by far the best value at COTA and just keeps getting better the more view-blocking grandstands they remove. I never bother with a reserved seat there. 

[Albertino]

Yep, they had three big grandstands out there at 11. Seated something like 13,000 people. None there now for years, but it remains a popular GA spot. Re: the GA seating, it's by far the best value at COTA and just keeps getting better the more view-blocking grandstands they remove. I never bother with a reserved seat there. 

 

I want to go to COTA this year, but convincing anyone not as crazy about F1 as me to pay >$400 USD for a ticket can be a challenge   Still, advertising for the GP is pretty poor. I follow all kinds of F1 pages on Instagram and never seen one for the race yet F1 pumps out highlights daily.

 

I did GA at Montreal years ago, is it pretty solid? Suppose chairs are overrated.

[Dan333SP]

I want to go to COTA this year, but convincing anyone not as crazy about F1 as me to pay >$400 USD for a ticket can be a challenge   Still, advertising for the GP is pretty poor. I follow all kinds of F1 pages on Instagram and never seen one for the race yet F1 pumps out highlights daily.

 

I did GA at Montreal years ago, is it pretty solid? Suppose chairs are overrated.

 

GA at COTA is much better than in Montreal, there are very few places you can even see the cars for a second in Canada, and those places fill up very quickly on raceday. See my post in the thread on the Canadian GP cancellation for more info. 

[jonpollak]

Thanks buddy!

The shame I feel when I say I was as at the 1979 F1 LBGP should make up for it.

Jp

[red stick]

GA at COTA is the way to go. I've never paid for a seat and spend the race moving from T1, past the esses, down to T11. The braking before the hairpin is a sight.

[AustinF1]

The braking before the hairpin is a sight.

Yep, and at T12 as well. You're watching them when you get there on Friday and you think there's just no way they can leave it that late ... and then they make the corner easily.

[dannyricsshoe]

I'm going this year. My first F1 race since the final F1 LBGP in 1983.

You can leave the ear plugs at home this time.

[jonpollak]

Oh dear... that’s just not right.
Jp

[loki]

Oh dear... that’s just not right.
Jp

 

WHAT!!?...

[jonpollak]

I SAID... THATS JUST NOT RIGHT.
JP

[loki]

On a serious note noise induced hearing loss is a big deal.  Over a weekend worst case if you’re in the stands is a temporary threshold shift.  If you are already well into it you may lose a few more cilia.  Every weekend you’d be in a bad way relatively soon.  

 

Take some plugs guys...

[dannyricsshoe]

On a serious note noise induced hearing loss is a big deal. Over a weekend worst case if you’re in the stands is a temporary threshold shift. If you are already well into it you may lose a few more cilia. Every weekend you’d be in a bad way relatively soon.

Take some plugs guys...

It's definitely still an issue but to use my own experience (V8 vs V6 hybrid)the noise no longer hurts like it used to, but it's still uncomfortable and damaging for a full session.

Compared to bigger engine's of the past though these modern cars will be a whisper.

Edited by dannyricsshoe, 01 May 2021 - 06:17.