Austin F1

[gecc]

I'm thinking about going to the F1 race in Oct. I would be flying to Phoenix, Az
to pick up a car that I bought and driving back to Georgia. Can anyone give me any
advise (sunday race only).

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by gecc

I'm thinking about going to the F1 race in Oct. I would be flying to Phoenix, Az
to pick up a car that I bought and driving back to Georgia. Can anyone give me any
advise (sunday race only).

Yes! Be VERY patient when you leave after the race. Put food, drinks, and snacks in the car...take a Zanax and use the restroom right before you leave.

We rented a house in Austin for the weekend last year. It was 18 miles from COTA. It took us over three hours to go that 18 miles. Two hours to go the first 5 miles!!!

[Craig T]

Also, book a room at least an hour out of Austin. Most hotels in town will already be booked by now, and even the Holiday Inn in Austin if $350 per night for the weekend of the race.

Oh, and General Admission tickets are all you need. COTA a great places to set up on the grass. No reason to spend the extra money on grandstand seats.

[dennis in se pa]

The "leave process" after any large event is always a pain. I leave 15 minutes before the race is over and don't have to deal with it. "Back in the day" we'd sleep over and party Sunday nights at the Glen. No camping for me anymore.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

The "leave process" after any large event is always a pain. I leave 15 minutes before the race is over and don't have to deal with it. "Back in the day" we'd sleep over and party Sunday nights at the Glen. No camping for me anymore.

I agree the "leave process" is bad after any Formula 1 even...But I've also been to Spa, Monza, and Monaco, and COTA was BY FAR the worst track egress I've ever experienced.

[petrolhead611]

The British GP has live music(and class acts at that) after the event in the hope of staggering the crowd departing. It works.

[David]

Originally Posted by Craig T

Yes! Be VERY patient when you leave after the race. Put food, drinks, and snacks in the car...take a Zanax and use the restroom right before you leave.

We rented a house in Austin for the weekend last year. It was 18 miles from COTA. It took us over three hours to go that 18 miles. Two hours to go the first 5 miles!!!

Last year was not usual. We're usually out of the area in 15 minutes.

It does not help that they have a big name concert after the race because 95% of the race fans are leaving and a bunch of concert fans are coming in.

[gecc]

Thanks for the information. I had planned to stay about an hour from Austin.
Now to figure out the logistics for the rest of the trip! Anyone know anything Rt 66 between Flagstaff
and ????

[mattdavis11]

You do not want to enter and leave the track on the west side. The best entry/exit would be the southeast, Hwy 21, to FM 812. I bet you could get a pretty good deal on a hotel in La Grange. It's about 65 miles southeast on Texas 71 and not far from IH10.

[David]

We really need to have a proper Pelican meeting time(s) and location this year.

I'll be in turn 12 grandstands as usual.

[mattdavis11]

yes

[mattdavis11]

We have ride shares, just not Uber and Lyft. If you go south and west from the track to get to downtown, you might be able to pull it off.

If it were me, I'd walk south on Burklund Farms Rd to Moore Rd, and get picked up there by a cab or ride share. But, make damned sure the driver knows to not drive north on 183 or the toll road, instead, head west to 35.

Maybe you can skip going downtown after the race? Maybe the hotel has a service to get your bags to the airport?

[A930Rocket]

All these posts and nobody asked what car he's bringing back?

[mattdavis11]

Might check flights out of SAT, it's only 80 miles down the road.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

We need to get back downtown and then to the airport for my 7:55pm flight back to Denver. If we leave after the race (4pm), will I be completely screwed? I'm thinking I might be... (I do have TSA-pre)

Agreed with above, don't go downtown and you can easily get to the airport directly from the track. I don't think there is any change in hell that you can go downtown after the race with your current schedule.

[David]

Except for the first year when I took the shuttle and last year in the mud fest, I've gotten out of the track pretty fast. I think it may be doable to get downtown and back to the airport in 3 hours.

[glewis80SC]

Taking the whole family this year we fly out tonight, doing the AIRBNB thing found a great duplex not far from the airport our flight leaves at 8:30pm on Sunday...crossing my fingers that it all goes well.

[Noah930]

[mattdavis11]

The weather just turned perfect. First beautiful weekend for the event, and best so far this year for the locals.

Have fun!

[Craig T]

Sounds like the shuttle was a good call. I wish I'd had down that. I'm glad you had a good time.