Much is being made about access, or rather the lack of it, to the proposed Formula One track in Austin.  Concerns abound that the site is currently accessible by 3 two-lane roads, two of which would make John Denver proud.  The County started the bidding at 12 hour delays in post-race departures.  Organizers initially countered with a weak contra-flow blurb and are now floating 3 hour delays after $15 million of somebody’s money goes to road improvements.  In any case, nobody thinks that will happen by the inaugural race in 2012.

Note absence of track

Full Throttle Productions has secured the services of two traffic management teams.  Even though one is British, I’ll have to assume that the plans will ultimately converge around how to shuffle the maximum amount of cars over to TX-130 and surrounding highways.  This is America after all, and Texas by God, so to do otherwise would be foolish.  But what a shame if that’s all this event, and this track, aspire to.

Back in 2004, Dr. Max and I jetted to Europe to live the MotoGP fan’s dream.  The Italian and Catalunyan GP’s covered successive weekends in July, so we packed three countries, two world championship races, and one flight with Mick Doohan into 10 days of awesome.  Both races were manic, jam-packed affairs with thousands of gregarious Mediterraneans pouring in and out of state-of-the-art racing facilities.  And while chaotic, both events seemed to clear out relatively easily within an hour or so.

The Italian GP was particularly notable as a state-of-the-art racing jewel nestled amidst rolling Tuscan hills.  The main highway (A1 Motorway) is at least a few miles off the track, and the linking roads are mostly two-lane.  Dr. Max and I walked 5km to the nearest train stop since there were no discernable shuttles or taxis between the Mugello Circuit and Borgo San Lorenzo.  But what the hell, it was gorgeous countryside and there was hardly any traffic on our route.

Note absence of major roadways

Attendance that day was 85,000 strong, with perhaps 120,000 for the weekend.  How is it possible that a track in the middle of nowhere could accommodate that many screaming Italians, and yet our backroad egress was minimally used?  Granted, we stormed the track to kiss Mugello curbing and bask in Rossi’s home court triumph, so we were an hour or more off the pace.  Nonetheless, I can’t help but think that there are some things Austin can do to mimic the Tuscan experience, and help keep the traffic manageable for 2012.

• Promote Camping: The Italians set up shop on every square inch of the Mugello site, often piling up in the middle of pathways. Americans aren’t quite so good at cramped chaos, but still would benefit from keeping as many people onsite for the weekend.  This not only boosts attendance for qualifying, but makes it likely more people will linger after the racing to tear down before shipping out.  RV’s larger than team trucks should be banned, however.
• Stage an Event: Some venues hold concerts Sunday night. There aren’t many better towns than Austin to accommodate that, but it would be more creative to promote a Kerrville-esque camping jam over some lame has-been classic monsters of crap arena shlock.  I don’t really want to segue from one crowded noisy event to another, but I would love to hang around and see some orchestrated hoot nights or small stage events.  Think ACL Festival, circa 2001 (which means Ryan Adams will careen around the darkened track in a golf cart).
• Welcome Two-Wheeled Attendees: I almost died from exhaust asphyxiation, but the Euros sure did pack a lot of bikes in for those races.  There are a fair number of motorcyclists here who would relish the chance to hold an impromptu ROT rally before the race.  And do you think somebody in Austin might be able to organize a benefit bicycle ride to and from the track?  Lance whatsisname?  Get the two-wheelers in and give them a dedicated lane to get out, move lots more people in the process.
• Make Shuttles Rational: There has yet to be an Austin event with good shuttle service, but surely somebody can figure this out.  Here’s a hint: a lot of people want to leave on shuttles at the same time when the event is over, so have more ready.  Give the buses a dedicated route with access to a limited number of pre-designated lots nearby.  Coordinate with neighbors … it’s Elroy Texas, they have open space.
• Build a Real Rail Line Already: All you need is to lay tracks and make the choo-choo go where lots of people need to be: Race track, Airport, Downtown … done.  But unless this track gets built in Cedar Park and all race attendees live along Mo-Pac, there won’t be useful rail service for this event.  Come to think of it, there won’t be useful rail service anywhere in Austin, ever.
• Limit On-Site Development: Admittedly, this goal has little to do with traffic.  Part of what makes the event special is the location and surroundings.  Mugello has its rolling vineyards.  Laguna Seca has the terrain-inspired corkscrew.  Phillip Island has the ocean and pulverized seagulls.  Austin should have fields and farmhouses, with longhorns and longbow hunters frolicking to a 200 mph symphony.  Red and Tavo can chose to embrace the rural Texas life they are plundering, or they can erect a high-dosh Domain pseudo-community and show the world the true spirit of what Austin has become.

Good luck to Red and Tavo.  I’m excited about the opportunity to see MotoGP and World Superbikes, even if that means having to feign enthusiasm for Formula One tedium.  And in the event that this does turn out to be a huge boondoggle, at least the citizens of Elroy will have access to the world’s largest lawnmower racing R&D facility.