Spectator info for April COTA

Planning a last minute trip to the race in Austin for my birthday. looking for info about best viewing locations at the track, and any other insider info from someone who's been there. Any hookups for upgraded tickets, events, etc. (never hurts to ask)

Will be flying in and renting a car. Any sketchy areas near the track to stay away from?

 

No sketchy areas.

T1 is great viewing area, with Jumbotron and eating/restrooms very close by. Though it is furthest from vendor and infield area.

Infield complex has many many great viewing areas close together, plus food and vendor access just short walks. 1st few years we got grandstand tickets, but last few have been GA and haven’t really regretted it.

It’s a 20 minute drive from Austin to rack, and there’s nothing in between. Spend evenings downtown or just west of town, S Congress etc.

 

We go for the turn 15 area as high as we can get ( can see turns 12-17), there is a jumbo tron across the track to see the rest of the action.

 

I like the hill on Turn 2. When we went in 2017, there was a jumbotron in front of us and you could also see them winding through the esses (if your eyes are good). Our area was close to the cross over bridge as well.

 

I prefer the grandstands at turn 9. Very fast/flowing section of track and and nice jumbotron right in front of you.

 

Was there a bad place at COTA? Went last year and moved around a lot on Friday and Sat, but went to turn 15 GS for the races. Enjoyed the concessions and all the booths.

 

Has anyone here volunteered as a flagger or marshal at the race? You can volunteer on their website and sounds like a ton of fun compared to watching as a fan.

 

Looooong days. On duty before 7 AM and at the corner all day, every day. Great experience and a good seat, altho' it is only a single view. Just be prepared for the commitment and singular aspect.

Good viewing from a lot of different locations per the above. However, after several years, I like T15, high and far left (facing track).

Cheers,

Dave

 

Thank you! Good to know!

 

I helped with air fence a couple of years and one year as a grid marshal and those were fun long days, but I could not see working a turn. They have the longest days besides the control people.

 

A group of four of us was planning to go to the race from all over the country (and Canada), but our ringleader and ticket supplier was seriously injured in a skiing accident last week. Thankfully he'll be okay, but has a long recovery ahead. It's likely we'll cancel our trip as a result. If anyone needs a really nice Airbnb rental for that long weekend, I can probably get you a very good deal on this place: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5423999?guests=1&adults=1

 

Looks like I just got roped into some meetings in Austin from 4/8-12th....think it will be a bitch to try and find tickets etc this close to the race weekend?

Haven’t had a chance to sit down and start looking yet.

 

You should be able to buy the GP tickets no problem, they've had the ticket booth open every year that Ive been for will-call and day of tickets.

 

Will PM you a contact # I have... tix definitely still available

You should be able to make the AF1 party too

 

Thanks I do appreciate that.

So need a bit of advice here, looking to book my departing flight out of Austin on Sunday evening. The last 2 flights United has available leave at 6pm and 7:16pm. The Sunday schedule says the last race is MotoAmerica Superbike which ends about 4pm. I know the airport is literally right next to the track. Is getting from the stands over to the car park and then to the airport to make a 6pm flight feasible or is it a nightmare trying to leave the track around then?

I could either push it back to the 7:15pm flight which kind of sucks because its a red-eye with a stopover in Denver, or I could just leave a little early and miss the finish of MotoA race.

Thoughts?

 

my buddy tried to fly to newark sunday eve...it was $1800 1 way. It will probably be a mad house leaving...

 

Lots of peeps leave after the motogp race. However. That 15 min drive to the airport can easily become an hour. Better hitch a ride on a bike

 

Well, an hour I can easily deal with. Even if that means skipping the MotoA race and just watching until the end of the GP, that would leave me ~2 1/2 hours until my flight.....assuming they stick relatively close to the posted schedule.

http://www.circuitoftheamericas.com/motogp/schedule

 

2 years ago with the camper in tow, we hd everything locked and loaded to head out in the victory lap. But we had the truck running next to us in the esses T4-6. That got us out in a breeze. So, if you’re quick and got good parking, i’d say it’s doable.

 

I'm thinking of doing the T15 grandstand and it says for that spot to park in Lot F which looks like you can take the back exit out and stay off the highway initially to go straight to the airport. From the brief stuff I've read it said this is slightly less busy than the other road out ??? Not sure if that's the case or not, as long as it's not taking like 2 hours to make that drive as I'm not going all the way back to Downtown or nothing.