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Thread: Lone Star Le Mans at COTA

  1. #1
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    Lone Star Le Mans at COTA

    Took a trip to Texas last weekend to see the combined weekend of Tudor United Sports Car and FIA World Endurance Championship. Being my first visit to that track I was pretty impressed with the facility and of course the cars. This being the first experience seeing the new P1 Hybrid cars. Its a nice break shooting some real expensive race cars instead of the usual autocross variety...Most of the pics from from the Turn 15 stand, I also shot from Turn 3 bridge, and the hills next to the Esses. Shooting cars at night in the wet was interesting too. Not too sure on the results. I should've walked to the Turn 12 stand since apparently that was open and would've been the best place for glowing rotor pix....oh well next year...

    A bummer was that I noticed pretty much right away when I started processing pix at home that there are 2 dust spot on the sensor/mirror assembly of my Sony. So all of the pic are marked....:banghead:

    I need a better pre-weekend checking routine...

    TUSCC Friday:
    https://plus.google.com/photos/10410...99051842995729

    TUSCC Race:
    https://plus.google.com/photos/10410...96020666411777

    FIA WEC Friday:
    https://plus.google.com/photos/10410...20786351266561

    FIA WEC Race:
    https://plus.google.com/photos/10410...39397517471633





















    Last edited by RacingManiac; 09-23-2014 at 10:13 AM.
    University of Toronto Formula SAE Alumni 2003-2007
    Formula Student Championship 2003, 2005, 2006
    www.fsae.utoronto.ca

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    University of Toronto Formula SAE Alumni 2003-2007
    Formula Student Championship 2003, 2005, 2006
    www.fsae.utoronto.ca

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    University of Toronto Formula SAE Alumni 2003-2007
    Formula Student Championship 2003, 2005, 2006
    www.fsae.utoronto.ca

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    University of Toronto Formula SAE Alumni 2003-2007
    Formula Student Championship 2003, 2005, 2006
    www.fsae.utoronto.ca

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    University of Toronto Formula SAE Alumni 2003-2007
    Formula Student Championship 2003, 2005, 2006
    www.fsae.utoronto.ca

  6. #6
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    I'm surprised there's a Konica Minolta sponsored car, it's been a dead company for many years now.

  7. #7
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    Not for business and medical imaging I think....they don't make camera anymore...
    University of Toronto Formula SAE Alumni 2003-2007
    Formula Student Championship 2003, 2005, 2006
    www.fsae.utoronto.ca

  8. #8
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    I haven't followed racing much this year. I went to the Honda Indy, but not Mosport once, and have vaguely followed F1, and not TUDOR or WEC at all.

    That is one of the big events in North America though, one I'd have loved to have gone to. How was the overall experience, and races from your POV?

  9. #9
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    Awesome. The price was reasonable for the ticket(though for me it was free, the normal price is just $85 for 2 days, Thursday from what I heard was free). The track is pretty amazing access wise. It is MASSIVE. No trees though like Mosport so really no lush green background. You get a nice view of the track pretty much anywhere. Concession prices is high but thats normal I think for places like that. Lots of track side activities(simulator, concert, vendors...etc) It was a lot of racing on Sat since they got both 2.75 hours Tudor race and the 6 hours WEC race. Access to the track is good too since its 10 mins from the Austin airport, maybe 30min from downtown, if that. I love the fact that they made the WEC race in the evening hours since it really adds to the endurance vibe(though makes for a long day). The weather was a toss, Sept in Texas is supposed to be hot, and it was, but it rained periodically which actually makes it cooler(good), but threat of storm was always looming and when it hit it hit big.

    Only think I feel less than satisfied was the WEC paddock is the main pitlane and was not open to public unless during the mad house that is the Tudor grid walk, or if you have hot pit pass. Tudor paddock is open like any normal ALMS races.

    I'll do this race again, maybe next year, especially since there are plenty of P1 to see next year...
    University of Toronto Formula SAE Alumni 2003-2007
    Formula Student Championship 2003, 2005, 2006
    www.fsae.utoronto.ca

  10. #10
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    I might consider if I had time and cash at that point.

  11. #11
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    I had a room, a car rental and the air fare. With the room and car rental shared with 2 others I ended up spending maybe $650 total, plus food in TX.
    University of Toronto Formula SAE Alumni 2003-2007
    Formula Student Championship 2003, 2005, 2006
    www.fsae.utoronto.ca

  12. #12
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    I should become a thief. It's tough being a poor student again; I was just getting used to being a low-paid hourly worker.

  13. #13
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    Awesome stuff, great pics! Having just moved here and out on my own for the first time, I unfortunately couldn't swing the $80 gate price. I haven't even gone to the track yet (I live in NW Austin and the track is SE) but I plan on going for the SVRA races in Oct. The weather was strange, it didn't rain at my place at all and when we do get rain, it's heavy and hardly moves. How long did it rain at the track?

  14. #14
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    Both days there were light drizzle on and off, never huge and never really that wet. On Friday there was a slightly bigger rainfall for maybe 40 min early afternoon. Then Sat evening that was the big one, lasted maybe 25 min....
    University of Toronto Formula SAE Alumni 2003-2007
    Formula Student Championship 2003, 2005, 2006
    www.fsae.utoronto.ca

  15. #15
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    OT: congrats on the move Cobra! Do you mind me asking what you do for a living? By all acconnts I hear Austin is great and with the weather, track, and music to enjoy, I'm sure you will love it!

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