stujelly

Thanks mark. What a shame. hang in there buddy. I hope they owe you more than just you fee. They broke the contract so lets hope they have to pay a cancellation fee.

Streetking

Exactly. I have spent quite a bit of money there on a RV spot $15k for 9 years, PSL granstand seats 10k, 20 tickets per race ect. I spoke with my rep last night and this was all news to her. This really sucks. I'm a sponsor of a ESPN Pod Cast show on Saturdays at 10:00 am. SpeedCity.com. It's a show about all the racing going on around the world, F1, Moto GP ect. I talked to them about this and they are going to mention this on todays show..

I just think COTA is coming off of all the hype of F1, being the "new track". Let's see where they are in a year or so...

tasman

Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Won't be a next year from me for them from where I sit.

Izzone

As much as I hate it, when they do open up for DE im there.......

If they can get $50k a day thats good for them

My fingers are crossed that David Murray will still be on since they are during the week

CKit

The number of $50k track rentals isn't sustainable in the long term, I think. It'll be more of a novelty thing up front, but I can't imagine too many of those people will be repeat customers. Hopefully with enough external pressure they'll have a Netflix-Qwikster / Apple Maps-Google Maps mea culpa moment.

himself

http://m.jalopnik.com/5970719/austin...ans-everywhere

Rovman

+1, My initial feeling on this is, SCREW COTA. If this is how they are going to treat fans, customers, enthusiasts, the very folks that they rely on to keep their facility running. Then to me the track doesn't exist.

Bad business ethics like this is what will ruin that great place. So you can have a signed contract with them and still be worried that what you have is the equivalent of toilet paper, should one manager decide we can gouge folks more because of why and who we are. Not good , not good at all. So what happens to the folks that decide to rent there amazing facility for 50k/day and they decide that we can make 75k/day, lets start over.

I don't know about you but when I go to the track, I don't go there for the suites or a fancy pit stall, or a huge tower that allows you to see a 10 miles radius of the track, or a stage for bands to play, etc. etc. I go there for the TRACK. They are trying to capitalize on all the extras that exist over there that may have intrinsic value to a F1 event, but not DE folks.

Clearly they are not in touch with the DE demoprachics. I think F1 has ruined them in thinking that all motorsports enthusiast and track enthusiasts participate in track events and can't wait to spend $50,000 a weekend 4 to 5 times a year. Whew! That's sad...

Moooooossssaaaaaaaa.

OK all better now.

tasman

Make sure you get some of this.

Rovman

Ha ha ha, too funny but very true.

GT3DE

Here is a hard copy of the article (in case the link dies, I wanted a permanent record of this):

Austin’s Circuit Of The Americas Cancels Track Days, Screws Over Racing Fans Everywhere

by Patrick George

If you were fortunate enough to go to the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix at Austin's Circuit of the Americas last month, you may have started counting the days until you got a chance to drive on it too. After all, the track opened to rave reviews from both fans and Formula One drivers.

That's not going to happen now. Apparently, officials at the circuit have canceled all rentals, club races, driver's education events and other track days for 2013.

Jalopnik was forwarded this email from Rick Schwalenberg, owner of The Driver's Edge, an HPDE school based out of Texas:

Dear Drivers Edge Drivers,

I just recieved a phone call from CoTA's Manager of Track Operations, it wasn't the one I wanted to get.

In short CoTA's executives have decided to cancel all "YES ALL" track rentals. They have decided NOT to rent the track, they plan to go in a diffrent direction.

The worst part is, our tipster says Schwalenberg paid in full and signed a contract for the event, which is supposed to happen in less than 20 days. On their Facebook page, The Driver's Edge said "We really don't know exactly what was behind the decision, but we were told they are canceling all rentals other than major races."

Similarly, MVP Track Time of Missouri had a track day set for Feb. 1-3. Participants received this notice last night:

Good Evening:

As many of you have heard or read, Circuit of The Americas has informed MVP Track Time, and other organizations, the track event we contracted for February 1-3, 2013 is not being honored.* This was a complete shock as we've already paid the entire rental fee (and yes the check was cashed by COTA) for February 1-3, 2013.*

I do not want add fuel to the fire until we have all the facts and have taken every possible action to secure the COTA date we have already paid (in full) for.* As soon as we have all the facts, I will send an e-mail to all attendees.

Thank you for your patience while we quickly work through this.

Circuit of the Americas' Facebook page is already brimming with angry comments from enthusiasts who feel like they've been screwed over.

Earlier this morning I sent an email to the circuit's media people, asking to confirm if this is true and if so, why it's happening. I have not heard back yet but I'll update this post if I do.

Hat tip to David!

mikymu

Thanks for making the effort to let everyone know what COTA is up to. This facility used public money to build the track then deny the general public from using it .... poor act!

Good, the word is out. I notify jalopnik last night and glad they acknowledge COTA's classless action

+100000

GT3DE

FWIW - COTA has NOT cancelled the DMTD on March 13-14. You can still sign up for the DMTD event here: http://davidmurry.com/2013-eventsreg...f-the-americas

If, in the end, the event is cancelled, David Murry will refund 100% of your fee.

mikymu

from COTA face book ....

Rob P

You have all just betrayed every gearhead and motorsport fan that have supported this venue from day one. You took payments, you gave dates, you had people working hard to make these events happen and then you yanked the carpet out from everyone. You disgust me. If there is anything I can do, any word that I can spread, it will say that no one should work with you, that advertisers and local county and city officials should shun you. I encourage all local motorsports fans in Austin write their local government officials and point out how you've treated the fans whose tax dollars you undoubtedly leveraged in the creation of this track. You should be ashamed and I hope you fail utterly. I don't give a damn if they bulldoze the entire track and move F1 to Jersey, you are simply not deserving of existing in this state.

paver

It would be great if some big name racers got on their face book page saying what a crock it is to screw over the true enthusiasts like us

GT3DE

don't hold your breath. pro racers need sponsors and mouthing off is not going to get them any. look at Kurt Bush these days.