San Antonio F1 Club

It is with mixed feelings that I announce this.  I will no longer organize & facilitate this race watch party group I nurtured & grew to be known as the San Antonio F1 Club.  The 2012 Formula 1 season was full of action and 2013 promises to continue with the same momentum, with broadcast duties to be driven by NBC Sports instead of SPEED… Unfortunately I cannot.

I’d be very happy if one of you fans wanted to continue to “carry the torch”.  Heck, I’d even offer to transfer the blog & SanAntonoF1Club.com domain to you (let’s talk)!  The 2013 F1 race season begins 1 month from this past Sunday, March 17th, 2013, in Melbourne, Australia.  In addition, I’d connect you with Scott Brown, Infiniti Sales Manager, to coordinate the San Antonio Infiniti Dealership sponsorship he offered.  So, there is plenty of time to organize this; if your desire is there, contact me!  It’s no longer up to me. 

In the meantime, I found a fellow F1 race party enthusiast who resides in Charlotte, NC.  We got in touch over a month ago to discuss the challenges of organizing a race watch party group.  His name is Bojan Held & he has organized F1Charlotte.com – Formula 1 Fan Club.  He has been releasing multiple, F1-targeted blog posts & recently landed a venue for their race watch parties.  I mention this as Bojan is a very involved fan.  His blog promises to keep us up to date frequently during the upcoming Formula season (since you will no longer receive any F1 updates via the San Antonio F1 Club blog).  Therefore, I strongly suggest bookmarking F1Charlotte.com as one of your F1-related browser links to visit regularly.

Thank you all, SAF1C.  Going, but not forgotten.  It was a good F1 ride!

Dan Scanlon
dan@racingready.com
RacingReady.com – “…wannabe to real racer!”

GO RACE!

The Infiniti premium automobile brand will be the title sponsor of the Red Bull Racing Team in Formula 1, this year.  For the last 3 years this team has been dominated by driver’s championship winner Sebastien Vettel.  I felt it appropriate to approach the local Infinti dealership to inquire if they would like to become an influential part of our race watch party experience.

I sat down with Gunn Infiniti Dealership General Manager Scott Brown last week.  We came to an initial agreement that he would like  his dealership to participate with the San Antonio Formula 1 Club this 2013 race season.  We agreed we will still have the same logistical challenges as last year.  These are:

• a venue that is F1 fan friendly & hopefully has some prior F1 knowledge
• the ability record & later playback 2+ hours of F1 racing broadcast at that venue

I know we had both of these covered at the Lion & Rose Pub in Alamo Heights last year.  But I feel we can do better & also step up our level of F1 fan participation this year.

Scott is willing to promote these events via their Gunn Infiniti Dealership Facebook page & to their customer base.  He will also be contacting other parties of influence within the Gunn dealership family.  In addition, he wants to bring along an Infinti vehicle to display, some Infiniti product literature & select Infiniti giveaway swag.

The San Antonio Gunn Infiniti Dealership location logistics could be better.  Scott has no issue with our group meeting there (thinking corporate would have no problem), as they are closed on Sundays.  But the viewing space they have includes a relatively small 36″ flat screen mounted very high on the wall, with no premium channels access & no recording capability.  Scott & I agreed that having the F1 race watch experience at a 3rd party location would be best (unless somebody has a spare big screen & available DVR, anybody?).

So, as a SAF1C participant (past & future), here’s where you come in.  We have all been able to visit different local eating and/or sports entertainment venues.  I NEED for you help/share/research a new venue location for us.  You’ve seen where we were last year & the logistics of what is necessary.  The major challenge is to find a venue that has NBC Sports Channel broadcast  recording capability.  So, please help us have a better SAF1C this year!

As you progress in finding a suitable location, feel free to e-mail me at: dan@racingready.  Also, please share your location ideas, questions & suggestions with all of us in the Comments section.

Thank you & GO RACE!  We’ve only about 2 months to get ready.  The first Formula 1 race of 2013 is 63 days away, on St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17th, in Melbourne, Australia.

Dan

P.S. – A few days ago I spoke with Bojan Held from Charlotte, NC.  He is starting a race watch party group in his city.  I have added his blog (Charlotte Formula 1 Fan Club) to the Blogroll in the upper right of this page.  Feel free to see what he’s posted thus far…

First off, Formula 1 fan or not, I want to wish each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I give great thanks that the 2012 F1 USGP of Austin came off as a resounding success, this past weekend.  I was able to not only witness practice, qualifying & the actual Formula 1 race in person, but in addition, I was able to look under the hood of Formula 1 worldwide operations.  This will have to be blogged about at another time & place, in the near future.  I’m still digesting all that I experienced last week up in Austin, Texas!

This coming Sunday, November 25th, 2012 will be the last Formula 1 race of the season.  Whether you are a fan or not, it was good to see Lewis Hamilton, of Team McLaren, take the win away from points leader Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull at last week’s F1 race at Circuit of The Americas (CoTA).  That result sets up this last race of the Formula 1 season to be the deciding contest between Vettel & Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

This last Grand Prix of the 2012 Formula 1 season will take place in Brazil at the famed & well-regarded Interlagos Circuit, at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace.  Here in San Antonio, we will have our last Race Watch Party of the Formula 1 season a bit earlier this Sunday.  We will be able to watch it LIVE, with the race starting at 10:00am!  For once there will be no need to be concerned about avoiding Facebook, Twitter or other methods of social media communication to not know the final outcome.  We will know the race winner & the season champion at the same time that the rest of the world does.

So, this will be our last SAF1C get-together of the year.  We will see you at the Lion & Rose Pub (Alamo Heights) at 10:00am, if not earlier to watch some of the PreRace Show on Speed (which starts at 9:30am)!  Just as an FYI, The Lion & Rose Pub (at Alamo Heights) will be open for a significant soccer match at 7:30AM that morning!  In addition, I was able to score a bunch of CoTA & other F1 swag that I will distribute (give away) – all without F1 trivia questions…

After the completion of the Formula 1 race festivities, I would like to spend just a few minutes discussing tentative plans for the 2013 Formula 1 calendar & what we may be planning for the San Antonio F1 Club next year.  I am REALLY looking forward to seeing all of you there, this coming Sunday!

RACE ON!

Dan

If you’re interested (or at least curious) as to what’s going on schedule-wise at Circuit of The Americas (CoTA) in less than a week, here’s their USGP Race Day(s) Schedule:

Race Day Schedule
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS TIMETABLE IS TENTATIVE AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Thursday – November 15, 2012
10:00am – 04:00pm Formula One INITIAL SCRUTINEERING
11:00am – Formula One PRESS CONFERENCE – PRESS ROOM
01:00pm – 03:00pm Formula One TRACK FAMILIARIZATION AND SYSTEM CHECKS – SAFETY CAR – TRACK CLOSED
03:00pm – Formula One TEAM MANAGERS’ MEETING

Friday – November 16, 2012
08:20am – Formula One MEDICAL INSPECTION
08:30am – 08:45am Formula One TRACK INSPECTION AND TRACK TEST
09:00am – 10:30am Formula One FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
11:00am – 11:30am HGP PRACTICE SESSION
11:30am – 12:30pm Formula One PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
12:30pm – 12:40pm Formula One TRACK INSPECTION
01:00pm – 02:30pm Formula One SECOND PRACTICE SESSION
03:00pm – 03:45pm FERRARI CHALLENGE PRACTICE SESSION
03:00pm – PIRELLI GT3 CUP TROPHY USA WEST DRIVERS MEETING
03:00pm – 04:00pm Formula One PRESS CONFERENCE – PRESS ROOM
04:00pm – Formula One DRIVERS’ MEETING
04:15pm – 04:45pm PIRELLI GT3 CUP TROPHY USA WEST PRACTICE SESSION
05:00pm – TRACK ACTIVITY MARSHAL PIT LANE WALK

Saturday – November 17, 2012
07:00am – 07:40am Formula One TEAM PIT STOP PRACTICE
07:00am – 07:40am Formula One PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
07:45am – 08:15am FERRARI CHALLENGE QUALIFYING SESSION
08:20am – Formula One MEDICAL INSPECTION
08:30am – 08:45am Formula One TRACK INSPECTION AND TRACK TEST
09:00am – 10:00am Formula One THIRD PRACTICE SESSION
10:30am – 11:00am HGP QUALIFYING SESSION
11:05am – 11:40am Formula One PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
11:30am – 11:40am Formula One TRACK INSPECTION
12:00pm – 01:00pm Formula One QUALIFYING SESSION
01:30pm – 02:00pm FERRARI CHALLENGE FIRST RACE (10 LAPS OR 25 MINS)
02:30pm – 02:50pm PIRELLI GT3 CUP TROPHY USA WEST QUALIFYING SESSION
03:20pm – 03:55pm HGP RACE (11 LAPS OR 30 MINS)

Sunday – November 18, 2012
09:30am – 10:00am PIRELLI GT3 CUP TROPHY USA WEST RACE (10 LAPS OR 25 MINS)
10:00am – Formula One DRIVERS MEETING (IF NECESSARY)
10:30am – 11:00am FERRARI CHALLENGE SECOND RACE (10 LAPS OR 25 MINS)
11:05am – 12:15pm Formula One PADDOCK CLUB PIT LANE WALK
11:15am – 11:30am Formula One MARSHALING SYSTEM TRACK TEST
11:30am – Formula One FORMULA ONE DRIVERS PARADE
11:45am – 12:15pm Formula One STARTING GRID PRESENTATION
12:00pm – Formula One MEDICAL INSPECTION
12:10pm – 12:20pm Formula One TRACK INSPECTION
12:30pm – Formula One PIT LANE OPEN
12:45pm – Formula One PIT LANE CLOSED GRID FORMATION
12:46pm – Formula One NATIONAL ANTHEM
01:00pm – 03:00pm Formula One GRAND PRIX ( 56 LAPS OR 120 MINS)

Also, to keep track of all other social (public & invitation-only) events, at both CoTA, & in and around downtown Austin, you will want to follow Austin Race Events – The Unofficial Grand Prix Social Calendar.  Note: they’ve got a nice mobile app to help you: 2012 Austin Race Events

In addition, for up-to-date CoTA, Austin Formula 1 happenings & the track development history, be sure to follow the well-documented site: The Austin Grand Prix.

With all this activity less than a week away, it sure is a challenge to concentrate on the mundane day-to-day tasks.  All this will be here soon enough!

Dan

The Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, comes up this weekend (November 2 thru 4), at the Yas Marina Circuit around the Yas Marina – hard to believe it’s in the desert!

Of course, we will have our involved SAF1C Race Watch Party at the Lion & Rose Pub (in Alamo Heights, off Broadway).  Our event will take place at 3:30pm, in their non-smoking room they affectionately call the Dungeon (really, it’s actually nice).

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix runs around the man-made Yas Marina Marina.  It was birthed out of the raw desert only just 3 years ago, to debut as a new Formula 1 circuit in 2009.  This is a “twilight race”, from late afternoon light to early evening dark.  It circulates around the distinctly changing lighting of the five-star, 500-room Yas Marina Hotel.  This track was designed by renowned F1 circuit architect Hermann Tilke, as was “our” new Circuit of The Americas (CoTA, just south of Austin, Texas)!  This circuit also goes in a counter-clockwise direction, like CoTA…

Featuring Tilke trademark turns & straights, the Yas Marina Circuit has the longest straight of all the F1 circuits, along with twisty sections that are not unlike a street circuit.  There’s even a tunnel under the track, as part of the the pit exit!  In addition, we’ll be able to enjoy double-DRS action with 2 zones for overtaking opportunities.

Okay then, we look forward to seeing you at the last Formula 1 race & SAF1C Race Watch Party before the Austin F1 USGP (2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX), coming up in only 2 weeks!!!  Again, for the Abu Dhabi GP, we will meet this Sunday at 3:30pm at the Lion & Rose Pub, in Alamo Heights.

RACE ON !

Dan

This coming Sunday, October 28th, 2012, the F1 Circus continues its racing prowess with the running of the 2012 Indian Grand Prix.  This is being held, in only its second year, at the Buddh International Circuit, in New Delhi.

The race will be run through laps 60, each being 3.19 miles (5.13 km) in length.  There are 11 corners, 7 to the left & 9 to the.right, driven in a clockwise direction.  It’s good to see another F1 race with 2 DRS zones; the first on the front straight through the start-finish line & the second on the even longer straight between Turns 3 & 4!  This new circuit debuted in 2011.  Many note that the track surface undulation are a major striking characteristic.

The Buddh International Circuit features a thorough mix of slow speed turns and high-speed straights, with severe braking at the end of these same straights.  Pirelli has chosen their PZero Silver Hard and PZero Yellow Soft tires to help deal with the heat & subsequent traction/wear issues.

Earlier this afternoon I had a brief visit with management at the Lion & Rose Pub (Alamo Heights).  We will be watching the previously captured 2012 Indian Grand Prix, starting at 3:30PM, this Sunday.  Besides the F1 action, I will be sharing Circuit of The America (CoTA) updates & the variety of F1 Fan activities  These will be taking place in the environs of Austin, Texas from November 14th thru the 18th.  There’s SO much more to a Formula 1 weekend than just practice, qualifying & the actual race.  Check out Austin Race Events for a comprehensive calendar of many events you may not yet be aware of…

The SAF1C Race Watch Party will be a good time.  In addition, there will be a new variety of F1 Fan swag to win in the F1 Trivia Contest!  I look forward to a good turnout & sharing our Formula 1 racing passion.  See you Sunday at 3:30PM !

GO RACE !

Dan

P.S. – For those attending the 2012 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix just south of Austin, TX & are looking for a practical overnight stay solution, consider camping.  Review this informative article about the F1Nightly.com Campgrounds.  That’s my solution for F1 weekend overnight lodging & transportation!

This Sunday will be the 2012 Korean GP, but first I will confirm our next SAF1C Race Watch Party at the Lion & Rose Pub.  There was pitifully little feedback from fans of SAF1C, but there was just enough response for me to continue this series of parties. 

Therefore, the SAF1C Korean Grand Prix Race Watch Party is scheduled for this Sunday (10/14) at 3:00PM at the Lion & Rose Pub (in Alamo Heights).  I confirmed this yesterday with the L+R management.  Although I am sending this out last minute, I would hope for you to consider watching this F1 race with me & other like-minded F1 race fans.

Watching the practice & qualifying sessions for the Korean GP, I cannot understand why this track is never used for any other racing events throughout the year.  As such, it was a dusty, slippery challenge for all the Formula 1 drivers – traction was at a premium!

This is only the third year of competition at this Tilke-designed track called the Korea International Circuit, at Yeongam, South Korea.  Its design was created with passing opportunities in mind.  Multiple long straights, with slow, wide but tight turns should help to keep the competitors’ running order in a constant state of flux.

Qualifying spoiler alert:  With the Red Bull Team front row, we saw Webber pull off the pole position in the last few seconds of Q3, snatching it away from Vettel!

Other news:  The SPEED staff found out, just late yesterday, that Formula 1 will not renew broadcasting in the USA with them.  This starts next year, after 17 fulfilling years.  F1 plans to switch over to NBC.  It was somewhat emotional reading through Will Buxton’s Tweets about the heart wrenching roller-coaster he was experiencing!  Here are his most recent thoughts about his passing SPEED opportunity.  This is a GOOD read…

Formula 1 continues to be a dynamic sport, always surprising us at every turn.  The San Antonio F1 Club hopes to see you at the Lion & Rose Pub (Alamo Heights) before 3:00PM, tomorrow afternoon (Sunday, 1o/14/2012)!  I don’t want to be surprised by a lack of turnout…

GO RACE !

Dan