Posts Tagged ‘Austin’

Hello readers,

This post concludes at long last the photo documenting of my trip to Austin in November, 2012; my second visit to Texas, my first time in Austin, and my first Grand Prix.

From where the shuttle would drop us off at the end of the day it wasn’t a far walk to check out the State Capitol. Turns out we got there at dramatic light o’clock.

Back at the house we stayed at I thought it was necessary to capture what my morning shower looked like each day.

The shallow depth of field is intentional. I showered without my glasses on of course.

So; yes. Basically there is a shower attached to the outside of the house at the second floor level. It was a very refreshing way to wake up at 6am.

Finally it was Sunday. Race day. We walked out to South Congress and waited for the bus to take us to the shuttle loading place.

Queuing through a maze of fencing to get on the shuttle to the track.

From where the shuttle would unload it was probably a kilometer to walk winding through the desert to enter the grounds. This was nearing the end of the walk.

On race day they had a DJ doing his thing near where we all walked past. I bet that set was really exciting for him.

Some guys looking for a HO I reckon. (They are cheering for Checo.)

Of course I fit right in with my fellow Kimi fans.

As we made our way across the circuit to our seats on race day the Ferrari’s were racing. Here they are behind the safety car.

Ferrari’s through a chainlink fence!

This is the view of the grandstand situated at the end of the back straight (turn 12) as seen from my vantage point at turn 6.

On race day I decided that I was going to watch the race and put the camera away. So I made a couple shots to capture some of the mood around the circuit and then enjoyed an incredible race.

Lewis Hamilton makes his victory lap to the cheers of 117,000 fans in attendance. A fantastic and popular victory, Lewis having tamed the Red Bull on legitimate pace for perhaps the first time in the season and despite no longer being in the hunt for the championship title. As a result, this kept Fernando Alonso’s hopes of winning the title alive for the final race at Sao Paulo. This would be also be Lewis’ final victory driving the McLaren.

The Ferraris came around in formation on the victory lap. I was quite amazed how much support Ferrari had in America. Although they have not had much attention on the team due to lackluster performance in 2012, you wouldn’t know it to be at the track. The passion for Ferrari is quite amazing and it surrounds the team and their drivers even when they are not winning.

Behind the bleachers after the race, the sea of humanity, and dust.

Looking up at the single footbridge across the circuit. It was a bottleneck that turned our movement to molasses.

Looking back from where we came.

Cool?

Yes I still couldn’t get over the cigarette advertising. Smoking cigarettes is sooo cool. Maybe if I smoked cigarettes I would be more popular.

Found all this when I’d gone out for coffee again the next morning.

This cafe has a patio in the back and when you look out there is just a ravine and a lot of leaves.

Just a bit of sunburn.

Now we are at the park near the river, and I had been anticipating this moment since arriving in Austin…

Mostly to pay a visit to this man.

Peaking through the neighborhoods as I walked back towards the home base.

Damn, I saw that poster and realized immediately I would be back under rain clouds in Vancouver.

Warning: dead things on a plate. Hm, I hope that was enough notice.

Not my favourite book, but a fine tribute to a favourite author. That said, I walked inside excited to have a drink and then immediately walked back out again.

Then what happened was receiving a note from a friend who realized I was in town and within a couple hours meeting in time for brunch.

And for observing the wonders of surface tension.

One last look before lift off.

And another last look at the Circuit of the Americas.

I always find it so appropriate to enjoy these surreal moments on either side of travelling.

This blog has been brought to you by an airport terminal cup of Ben & Jerry’s during your layover, and also by the cup of coffee that the guy at JJ Bean offered me today for free because I was the cool guy who walked up at closing time. Up next? I don’t even know. Nothing so interesting. Thanks for stopping by.

Saturday morning free practice session, Daniel Ricciardo winds through turn 17.

Sebastian Vettel through the fence at turn 9.

Turn 9 track marshals.

Paul di Resta, turn 7.

Kimi Raikkonen.

Michael Schumacher.

Fernando Alonso.

Lewis Hamilton.

Kimi Raikkonen at turn 8.

Felipe Massa.

Here’s the view looking back up the hill from down near turn 11.

I dunno who’s that guy.

Or that guy.

 

 

In the morning I went for a walk to explore the neighborhood.

I knew there was a coffee waiting for me somewhere.

They get a lot of mail, okay.

In Texas you have to advertise your cigarettes. In Canada we’re just stupid enough to smoke them anyway.

I think I’ll go in here.

Delicious relief.

Out looking about a bit more.

I found Sebastian Vettel Randall for breakfast.

We are number one at going out for breakfast.

We knew we could do it.

Totally thought that said horses.

Have to give an old girl like this her dues. She’s got so many angles.

Or else.

Peaking through the fence I found this.

Pretty interesting area demographically.

I wanted to see it at night.

Not sure if serious.

Still top of our game. Now with conviction.

Watched this little cat walk all the way up the path of the alley like there was nothing else to do in the day.

Heading downtown.

Encountering a pack of homo photographicus.

So it turns out twitter is good for some thing. After hearing the tip that this new Formula 1 documentary was screening I picked up tickets online, not really knowing what to expect.

We arrive and find the venue is the remarkable 97 year old Paramount Theater and we’re seated across the aisle from Sir Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi… no big deal really. Ran in to Ted Kravitz waiting in line for a beer.

As survivors from a much more dangerous era of Formula 1 racing, Stewart and Fittipaldi spoke about their experiences making the sport safer which the film would chronicle in a humbling way.

I found it quite memorable to see that film in a room filled with Formula 1 faces old and new. Everyone in the theatre was so in to it, difficult not to be when it is the life you live and love. It was a great way to kick off our Grand Prix weekend by getting tapped right in to the culture.

Afterwards we looked around downtown a bit more.

I wonder how many laws that’s breaking if it was in Vancouver.

Superbankmobiles.

Ah yes, homo photographicus is always about.

My focus missed but somehow it doesn’t matter.

Suddenly transported back to the barren streets of SoCo.

A bit of not affordable window shopping.

But that jacket was quite nice, I tried it on later in the week.

So that was what happened on Thursday. Next I’ll get to some shots from the track during Friday Practice. Most of them I have never looked at so hopefully they will be fun to edit.

November 14, 2012 could not have been a better day to leave Vancouver.

Randall and I boarded a plane and we spent the next little while in the sky.

That bag might be necessary if you end up viewing this entire post of substantial art.

It’s quite a time to watch all this go by.

Some of these, particularly this frame, deserve to be viewed at higher resolution. That’s not even full res.

Someone missing a helmet.

After finding our accommodations we managed to find the next important thing. Eating in Texas.

Our server was a good salesman. Also yes that tasted good.

We would decline another round, then he would bring more beers. We drank them anyway. We don’t care.

We were totally out of control. We drank so many beers. And pie.

Also we found out that someone else was totally out of control.

Although many businesses had put on a welcoming message, it was quite clear that most of the locals had left town for fear of the F1 masses.

In the next post there will be some additional very exciting photographs such as more pictures of food, some signs, a vehicle and pieces of paper.