[Cloud9...68]

Yes, just being at the Friday practice was a blast. I've never considered myself a rabid F1 fan, largely because in recent years (decades?), the series hasn't been very competitive, but watching the cars in person was a completely different experience. Dan, the seats were fantastic! We walked around the whole track during the second F1 practice session, and I have to say, the ones you got were the best seats in the house, even better than the uber-expensive grandstand seats. We got to see the first two sets of collisions at COTA - both in the Ferrari Challenge session. Jeez, guys, it was just a practice - no need to bang your $700K machines (or whatever they cost) into each other! To me, the most amazing fact was that in the GT3 Cup series (the cars of which are certainly no slouches, and I believe were posting comparable times as the Ferrari's), the best lap times were in the 2:15 range, while the fastest F1 cars were getting down around 1:35! Incredible! Those cars are just insanely fast.



I'm just sorry we weren't able to meet up. I definitely plan to go next year, for all three days this time. Hopefully we, and any other forum member who may catch the bug, can meet up then.



MB,



Yes, it's amazing to have so many tracks near my house. If I ever finish my car, hopefully I'll be able to drive on them! And for anyone who knows anything about Austin, it's about the last place you'd expect to see a lot of racing - it's a very laid-back, live-music-supporting, ultra-environmentally active city (OK, let me call it what it really is, a very left-wing city in one of the reddest of the states). I'm still astounded F1 happened here. But I hear COTA is planning to charge $50K a day to rent out the track, with a maximum of 24 cars, so over $2K a person! You can include me right out of that. But hopefully they'll someday have amateur racing there for a reasonable prices, which may be the push I need to try my hand at it.

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[ds968]

After hearing the new and piss poor sound ( IMHO ) of the F1 cars running around the Melbourne track , I think I'll skip this year's race in Austin, in spite of how much I enjoy the venue .. I'm real curious to see what next year's attendance will be like on the circuit, after everyone gets a close up taste of this years races ; the new cars may be just as fast but sound as if they've been castrated ( again, IMHO )

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[Cloud9...68]

Hmmm... Interesting about the big change in sound. Hopefully the Australia race will be televised on a channel I get, because now I'm curious. I would have expected an even more frenetic, higher-pitched sound out of a 1.6 liter V6, but maybe the turbo, and the fact that it's output gases are somehow used to drive one of the electric motors, mutes some of the sound.

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[ds968]

yup, its very muted, and a much lower tone

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[Tom030]

I've heard better sounding UPS trucks. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/glare.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

~tom

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[Cloud9...68]

OK, I've listened to a few sound clips, and I agree, the sound is more muted and lower in tone - the characteristic shriek is pretty much gone. But I wouldn't say it's a bad sound, and the clips were all of single cars - the real test will come when all the cars are on the track at the same time. One the plus side, Red Bull seems to be struggling a bit, so it should be a lot more competitive this year, at least initially.

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[MB968]

The new engines/sound may make attending a race a little more enjoyable (at least for me). Previously, its been ear plugs, and no ability to talk to anyone else throughout most of the race especially once the cars get spread out.

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[ds968]

Well for those who like even quieter cars the.4 cyl hybrid engines are next, followed by the F1 Electric . Not sure how excited I can get watching a bunch of really fast cars going by and sounding as if their engines have been replaced with sewing machines.

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[Bulti]

Each year I attend a classic bike weekend. The circuit is a closed loop on narrow streets, and filled with very old Beemers, Norton's, BSA's and what not. Sidecars and everything. The sound of the two-strokes (and smell) truely makes people watch it with a big grin on their faces.



The contrast with electric F1 cars can't be any bigger.



A little less speed, a lot more drama. That's what people really want. IMO

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[ds968]

This is HUGE !   If it were to happen... 

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ferrari-mulls...00217.html

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[J.Elenbaas]

They always threaten to leave F1, but it never happens unfortunatly.

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[ds968]

Yeah, it may be just a game, Ferrari is always trying to huff and puff and push to get what they want.. and then remain content with whatever little they end up with...  until the next opportunity to threaten something once again 

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