San Antonio race : any info ?

RaceFreak · 30 Jul 2005, 23:18 (Ref:1367835)

As a transplanted Texan I'm thinking of going to San Anton in Feb to see the A1gp race. Information, however, is pretty sparse. Google gives little more than the schedule, and the San Antonio website has nada. Same with the SA Chamber of Commerce web page. With six and a half months to go, this race is a pretty well kept secret.....ESPECIALLY if it's a street race as advertised. Does anybody know anything ?

mountainstar · 31 Jul 2005, 03:45 (Ref:1367925)

I had heard something about the airport but other than that nothing.

RaceFreak · 6 Aug 2005, 21:16 (Ref:1373975)

The saga continues:

Impatient guy that I am, I decide to go "beyond" cyberspace for details. I pick up the phone and call the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Computer menu keeps leading me in circles back to the main menu.

Undaunted I call the San Antonio Convention and visitors bureau. Nobody answers the phone. Leave a voice msg; no call back...

Send the Conv. and Visitors folks an email: no answer. Nothing. Zip.

They must REALLY want to keep the crowd down on this one.

Makes me wonder if it's really gonna happen......

Can you say "Laguna Seca" ??

cos · 6 Aug 2005, 22:44 (Ref:1374030)

Why not try calling A1GP direct...

Kicking-back · 6 Aug 2005, 23:05 (Ref:1374038)

Call the London office - they deal with all enquiries.

RaceFreak · 7 Aug 2005, 05:03 (Ref:1374100)

Good idea. I sent them an email. I'll keep you in the loop if I get anything back.

Don K · 7 Aug 2005, 09:11 (Ref:1374152)

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaceFreak

Good idea. I sent them an email. I'll keep you in the loop if I get anything back.

Emails are not always answered.

If the matter is of any importance to you, it might be a good idea to phone them, and ask them wether they did receive your email, and wether they can already answer your question.

------------

Did you consider sending a letter (by snail mail) to the San Antonio Convention and visitors bureau?

RaceFreak · 7 Aug 2005, 14:33 (Ref:1374314)

The Latest:
These guys work weekends. Recieved an interesting reply this morning at 4:45 am, which I think corresponds to 0845 London time: here it is.

Thank you for your interest in A1 Grand Prix.
Confirmation of the final A1GP race calendar will be published shortly.
We will keep your details on file and notify you as soon as the information you require is made public.
Best regards,

A1 Grand Prix

It was my understanding that the schedule was in place. The words "the final A1gp race calendar" lead me to believe that the published schedule is not written in ink. Maybe disappearing ink.....

Guess I'll have to be patient and go with last minute arrangements (if at all...)

Kicking-back · 7 Aug 2005, 15:04 (Ref:1374326)

They "work weekends" because Saturday and Sunday are working days in the Middle East - Thursday/Friday is the weekend there

RaceFreak · 7 Aug 2005, 18:46 (Ref:1374413)

Yes, I'm familiar with the Islamic culture. I was presuming (perhaps incorrectly) that the email was answered from the London Office, given the reply time (0445 EST).

Kicking-back · 7 Aug 2005, 18:48 (Ref:1374414)

Yes - what I meant is that the London office is staffed "weekends" also.

RaceFreak · 8 Aug 2005, 16:03 (Ref:1375080)

Recieved this today from the SA Conv & Visitors Bureau: It's dated 8/03/05...

Auto racing group is seen as jumping the gun for S.A. event
Web Posted: 08/03/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Laura Jesse
Express-News Staff Writer

As the A1 Grand Prix racks up international teams and sets the course for what's considered the world cup of motor sport, the circuit's announcement of a race through the streets of San Antonio in March is, well, a little short-circuited.

A news release Monday announcing the entrance of a U.S. team in the competition names San Antonio and Monterey, Calif., as the two American events on the 12-race circuit.

That was a surprise to City Manager Rolando Bono.

"I would never say it can't be done," Bono said Tuesday. "But I am a little concerned that we keep hearing about these dates. We have no active negotiation going on. We have no piece of paper to even look at."

It's the second time Bono has learned about a proposed date for a race in San Antonio from the media.

The first questionable announcement made by the auto racing circuit, funded by Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum, nephew of the crown prince of Dubai, was in late May, and it scheduled the event for mid-February.

Bono said at the time that race organizers brought a proposal to city officials, who expressed interest in having such an event downtown, but nothing was completed and that was the last time it was discussed.

"These things involve a lot of coordination with logistics, street closures and property owners that have to be involved," he said. "We would have to answer many, many questions."

A public relations specialist representing A1 Team USA said organizers are negotiating for the San Antonio event. But exactly who they're talking to remains a mystery.

"We did meet with some folks who represented A1," Bono said, referring to a session near the end of former Mayor Ed Garza's term. "But we've had absolutely no commitment to even commit."

The selection of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey also came as a surprise to racetrack officials who in June said they were in an "embryonic" stage of planning with the circuit.

"We are definitely still talking to them," said Reece White, a spokesman with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. "But we still don't have a confirmed date either."

According to the same news release that announced the San Antonio race, the international racing series, which is sanctioned by Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, will begin Sept. 25 at Brands Hatch in England, then hit Germany, Portugal, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa and Mexico before ending in China in March.

As I said previously, it seems the schedule isn't set to any degree......

Kicking-back · 8 Aug 2005, 16:38 (Ref:1375109)

It's a provisional calendar - and that race was always down as such

LongJohnSilver · 1 Sep 2005, 21:29 (Ref:1396801)

The "confirmed" schedule was released today according to F1-live.com

http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...01172858.shtml

The San Antonio event is now gone, and the month of Febuary is occupied by events in Brazil and Mexico. Laguna Seca is still scheduled for March. Its a shame as I was looking at driving out there from Florida.

Making such announcements too soon does not say much for the professionalism of the series.

Kicking-back · 2 Sep 2005, 04:57 (Ref:1397000)

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongJohnSilver

Making such announcements too soon does not say much for the professionalism of the series.

They always said the orginal calendar was provisional.

The professionalism of the series is extremely high and has been illustrated by much of what they've done so far.

shiftup · 2 Sep 2005, 16:36 (Ref:1397436)

found the full schedule here

what I find confusing is the race in South Africa. Will it be a street race or will they go and race at Kyalami after all?

Kicking-back · 2 Sep 2005, 16:41 (Ref:1397439)

South Africa is most likely to be a street race.

A1GP general manager Stephen Watson is also one of the organisers of the proposed race there.

shiftup · 2 Sep 2005, 17:26 (Ref:1397474)

i don't know. to me the idea of a street race in south africa sounds a bit odd.

shiftup

Kicking-back · 2 Sep 2005, 17:43 (Ref:1397484)

Why?

shiftup · 3 Sep 2005, 09:03 (Ref:1397775)

just imagine if they stop at the red light

shiftup

Rob29 · 3 Sep 2005, 09:40 (Ref:1397796)

Must be a joke here somewhere-perhaps someone can explain?

RaceFreak · 5 Sep 2005, 14:10 (Ref:1399539)

Shiftup said ...just imagine if they stop at the red light

Last time I was in SA red lights were optional (or so it seemed). So where's the departure from normal operating proceedure ?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
IRL to San Antonio? (Taken Off-Topic)	Snrub	IRL Indycar Series	13	1 Nov 2005 23:26
IRL to San Antonio?	indycool	IRL Indycar Series	10	28 Oct 2005 20:38
Antonio Perez	Sato san	National & International Single Seaters	9	30 Nov 2002 13:10