By now Y'all are painfully aware of Circuit
Of The Americas (COTA) current financial predicament over its F1 contract,
right? Which was in the news following this
year's Mexican Grand Prix.
Y'all know when
COTA CEO Bobby Epstein uttered those famous words: "To use a Technical
Term, We're SCREWED!"
As apparently current Texas Republican Governor
Gregory Abbott has STUPIDLY decided to throw a spanner in the
works by announcing plans to grossly cut current Special Events Funding to COTA
by slashing $5.5m from this year's funds.
Whilst F1's Gran Pooh-Bah Uncle Bernaughty is being
his merry self, graciously giving COTA some extra time to come up with the
goods! Sheez, how compelling of you Bernie! (Yeah, that was intended to be
sarcasm...)
Although it's a 'lil foggy now, if we wind-back
the clock, recall that COTA's initial Formula 1 race was unwisely penciled in
for June 17, 2012 in order to "Twin" with North America's other race,
the Canadian Grand Prix at Il Notre Dam.
As then Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, most
assuredly under then Republican Governor Rick "Good Hair" Perry's
guidance, signed a contract guaranteeing payment of $25m per year for the
duration of COTA's 10-year contract to host the United States Grand Prix directly
from the Special Events Trust Fund.
As this 25-million per year was solely for
the "Hosting Rights" sanctioning fee, albeit I scribbled 'Wayback in
Twenty-eleven' how Austin had craftily conjured F1 into paying the $4m (plus)
Operations fee, i.e.; actual costs to put-on the race yearly.
A-L-L of which doesn't take into
consideration either inflation or Messer Bernard Charles Ecclestone's traditional
contracts clause of yearly upward spiraling "Cost-plus Appreciation"
Fee!
Wink-Wink, Nudge-Nudge, Y'all know when
Bernie passes the savings onto his beleaguered In debtors! As this year's race
sanctioning fee reportedly rang up to the tune 'O $33m; SHEISA!
Alas, whilst I feel Mr. Epstein's fiscal
pains; Uhm? Note to Bobby Epstein, if your FREAKIN' Concessions weren't so
prohibitively EXPENSIVE!
Then perhaps we meek ticket buying citizens could afford to actually purchase
them, eh?
Psst Mr. Epstein. Guess What? The Indianapolis
Motor Speedway actually allows patrons to not only take food in, but beverages
too, including Adult ones!
And really? You're in a hissy-fit over
attendance being down, even going so far to blame Mexico. Well Duh! I'll hazard
a guess that attendance will continue to do nothing more than keep declining,
which is exactly what should occur in Mexico - after its novelty wears off.
Like just ask the Indianapolis Motor Speedway how the Brickyard 400 and MotoGP
events are working out attendance-wise, eh?
As you should be
pissing yourself silly for only having lost some 5,000+ attendance, especially
with that awesome weather this year!
Obviously COTA's getting a Bum Steer here,
especially if the State's legally bound to paying Formula 1, although surely
there's some little known opt-out clauses, right?
Yet, I've now been to eight American F1 races
with Austin being my third venue following Phoenix and Indianapolis. Surely
Y'all remember Phoenix, right?
Thus, Formula 1 has a nasty habit of coming
'N going in the United States, although this has never been Messer Ecclestone's
concern! As I have NO idea if I'll be attending next year's race? But somehow I
doubt that COTA will be refunding me for the cancellation of Friday's Free
Practice 2 & Saturday's Qualifying sessions, right Mr. Epstein?
And even though my financial contributions to
the state of Texas, and more notably the great city of Austin are
inconsequential. Nonetheless, the past two years I've flown to Austin four
times solely to attend MotoGP and Formula 1 at COTA, otherwise I'd have NO intensions of going there, so perhaps
Y'all will wanna ponder that Mr. Abbott! And don't forget Y'all;
And Hot Damn! I
didn't even get to the part 'bout "Good Hair" Perry's current trial
for alleged abuse 'O power; Huh? A Politician abusing power in Texas; Nah!
Hmm? As know I
scribbled 'bout him and the Misses going to Italy for some 'lil 'Ol F1 race at
Monza, not to mention a personally guided tour of Maranello and a ride around
Fiorano in one of Scuderia Ferrari's automobiles. As it was a "Trade
Mission," yeah that's the ticket!
