Summary of my trip to the U.S. Grand Prix, Austin, Texas

[stargazer14]

If you are an F1 fan, or even just a racing fan, the Grand Prix in Austin is worth a visit.

I have been to many F1 events around the globe but never to Austin (for anything for that matter) so I wanted to post a few tidbits about my trip to Texas with a few pics.

You can do this event for not to much money, which is saying alot as F1 is expensive. We got flights from Phily to Dallas for $49 each way (start adding bags to that...) Love the drive thru the country from Dallas to Austin, stopping in little towns along the way. Tickets for the race were $300 ($500 if bought from F1) for each seat for the weekend in great seats, BUT you can get General Admission, which is really the way to go, for $30 on craigslist.

The viewing from GA is the best I have seen for a Grand Prix, and much of the time we spent in the German BierGarten that is on a great corner and if you dont mind spending $10 for (good) beer, its a deal.

The track is big - I walked all day saturday for qualifying and only walked 1/2 the track - but saw all of it. The sightlines are very good. The people were wonderful.

The track tried to get you pay $100 to park but you can park at private spots across the street for $20 or take the bus from austin for $5 (tho the walk from the bus to track is very long)

Austin itself was fun, tons of bars and the highlight of our trip was heading out for dinner, finding a small tapas restaurant in south Austin, and being seated next to Alonso.

Really.

Dinner was awesome the mencia wine was great, and Fernando was happy to sign my honey's menu and take a pic. Fabulous nite.

One big problem with F1 is it is so hard to get close to these drivers but we lucked out with one of the most popular.

Check it out if you ever want to see a Grand Prix.

All photos taken by myself in Austin.

[ckearns]

Wow, a great experience there all around. Austin has been on my to do list for a bit and an F1 race would be a great way to do it. Thanks for the write up.

[oliverdst]

Great pictures.

[winelover]

Wow can't believe you guys were hob-nobbing with Alonso! Great write up and pics. How was the tapas?

[Hypersomniac]

That is awesome. Super cool meeting Alonso.

[Lotusguy]

On my list for next year... Great pictures!

[stargazer14]

Graham, the tapas was very very good, a place called Barlatta on south Lamar.

Wine was mencia, a grape I have been enjoying the last two years.

If you like taking photos at races, Austin gives you lots of nice vantage points as you can see.

I had tickets for Fri, Sat, sunday but the place is so big two days is enough.

If you want to just go see an F1 car in action you can surely find Friday tickets being given away somewhere.

[Bartolomeo]

Pic and meeting Alonso is pretty special, very cool pics, will be there next there, thanks for sharing

Jealous

Bart

[PaulP]

Sounds like a great trip. Thanks for sharing.

[TM-US]

Sounds Luke you did it right. I don't know how you got a flight for $50, that's insane.

His expensive was the hotel?

[stargazer14]

I neglected to mention hotels - that is the tough part of staying in Austin, prices are jacked up at least double everywhere. A hotel room in the middle of town starts at $550 a night. We searched on Craigslist and Virbo for a cottage or room rental, found nothing less than $300/nt. with a 3 night min., most in South Austin, to far to walk into town. Then we got lucky and found a realtor renting her condo smack in the middle of all the action, overlooking the lake for $250. Even had secure parking spot. Was an amazing find and I'd get it next year if I could.