2016: Break from The Bash

Hello Dear Friends,

Thank you all for your messages and inquiries about a 2016 Buxton's BIG TIME Bash. The support that we've received, with enthusiasm, is why we started The Austin Grand Prix on May 25, 2010, when Formula 1 announced that Austin would be the home for Formula 1 in the United States beginning in 2012. We saw an opportunity to connect Formula 1 fans with the great city of Austin, and we knew Austin had a lot to learn about the sport and business of Formula 1. Our initial goal was to bridge the gap between the two, and The Bash has been our culmination and celebration of those efforts, which we have gladly grown with your support.

Since then, it's been nothing short of an extraordinary experience. And we can confidently say that we've accomplished our goal of making Formula 1 good not just for the sport, teams, drivers, media, and businesses that jet set into Austin annually. Since our initial Bash at Fado Irish Pub in 2012, with your overwhelmingly gracious giving and support, Buxton's BIG TIME Bash has raised over $80,000 for charity. This includes over $60,000 directly raised for Meals on Wheels Central Texas and over $20,000 for Justin Wilson's Children's Fund alone in 2015.

Your support has arguably kept us going and The Bash has become THE Grand Prix weekend kick-off event that we never imagined could be possible. Will Buxton somehow gets Formula 1 drivers, past and present, motorsport personalities, legends (Thank you, Mario Andretti, 2014!!!), media, and more to step away from a jam-packed weekend of sponsorship, team, and personal obligations during their short stint in America to join us on stage for candid chats, Q & A, and storytelling that you simply can't get elsewhere. Will obtains the most amazing, unspeakable mementos donated from Formula 1 teams and sponsors, and also manages to wrangle up the entire NBC Sports Formula 1 Broadcast Team to join him on stage for arguably the most accessible, conversational, and social fan-friendly event during the Formula 1 US Grand Prix weekend. We all do this because we believe that Formula 1 has an important role in America, and more importantly, we want it to succeed in Austin.

For 2016, we are taking a break, but we want everyone to know that we are already focusing on coming back with a bang in 2017. While we will not be physically gathering in Austin, we want to share two important fundraising opportunities with you and if you are able to contribute, please know that your giving will go a long way and continue to make an immediate difference in the lives of those who need it the most.

We invite you to support the following (click on the name to follow the link):

Meals on Wheels Central Texas

In Loving Memory of Bill Buxton

Thank you, sincerely, for making this more amazing than we ever could have imagined. We hold your enthusiasm, support, and kind words very near and dear to our hearts. THANK YOU!

-Kerri Olsen and Kevin Olsen

The Austin Grand Prix

“1” Amazing night in Austin

Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi at the red carpet special presenations of "1" at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas on November 15, 2012. CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR THE COMPLETE GALLERY.

The following is by AGP contributor Scooter Womack. Scooter is an active participant in the Austin motorsports scene and attended the premiere of "1" as the kick off to the F1 festivities in Austin, Texas for Grand Prix weekend.  

So there they were standing on stage performing like a seasoned comedy act that had been from city to city performing and entertaining for years. Even though they got plenty of laughs and chuckles from the crowd, they aren’t comedians, though they have plenty of experience with taking their show on the road—or track I might say. I’m referring to Sir Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi. They are racing legends and even more iconic and revered by racing insiders for their roles in shaping the sport we see today.  However on this night they were readying the crowd for an incredibly well done film. They made us laugh, told us we might cry, and reminded us all why we love Formula 1.

It’s an experience I’ll not soon forget. As an existing fan of Formula 1 I must say it was quite surreal to be in the same airspace with men like Bernie Ecclestone, Sir Jackie, Emerson, Damon Hill, Eddie Jordan, and many others—literally sharing the same aisle and after party table with some. But when you clear away all the pomp and circumstance that tags along with Formula 1 they’re just people. In my experience, if you extend a hand, they’ll extend it back. They’ll have a drink with you and partake in some chips and guacamole if you like. The thing I’ll remember most about the night won’t be how revered and how high on a pedestal we all hold these men.  It will be, rather, how grounded, down to earth, and approachable these men are when you greet them as men, not masters.

The 1996 Melbourne Grand Prix is where the film “1” opens with a bang. I sat there watching, knowing what was about to come, and my heart was still pounding. Martin Brundle’s Jordan flies into the air, flips, lands upside down, and slams into the wall. Everyone expects the worst. After all it was only two years before that Ayrton Senna died in an accident that didn’t look nearly this bad. However, because of the sacrifices and stands taken by Brundle’s predecessors to push the pace of safety as well as quicker track times, he runs back to the pits and hops in a spare car. “1” shares the story of how the sport got where we are today. It’s a story that should be known by all F1 fans.

// More About "1"

"1" is a high octane, action documentary that combines never-before-seen archive footage with a rich soundtrack and the most impressive list of Formula 1 interviewees ever assembled, including 12 World Champions past and present. Exclusive Media’s Spitfire Pictures hosted the red carpet special presentation of "1" as the kick off to the F1 festivities in Austin, TX on Thursday November 15th, 2012.

Directed by Paul Crowder and written by Mark Monroe, the film brings the glamour, speed, danger and excitement of Formula One Grand Prix racing to the big screen. "1" tells the story of the golden age of F1, when the sport became terrifyingly dangerous and the drivers were like rock stars with charisma and raw talent, but with many of them paying the ultimate price. “1” follows the story of the drivers who raced on the edge and those who stood up to change the sport forever. It is about the greatest show on earth - Formula 1.

In attendance at the Austin red carpet event were: Bernie Ecclestone, CEO and President of F1 Management & F1 Administration; Brett Lunger, Former F1 Driver; Damon Hill, Former F1 Driver; Emerson Fittipaldi, Former F1 Driver; Eric Boullier, Principal of Lotus F1 and Vice Chairman of the F1 Teams Association; Martin Brundle, Former F1 Driver; Sir Jackie Stewart, Former F1 Driver; Paul Crowder, “1” Director; Mark Monroe, “1” Writer; Michael Shevloff, “1” Producer; Guy East, “1” Executive Producer; and Glen Zipper, “1” Executive Producer.

To keep up to date with the film's release in your area, take a look at their Facebook and Twitter pages.

Behind the Scenes with Ross Bennett, "COTA Girls" Designer

Earlier this week I had the privilege of speaking with Austin-based designer Ross Bennett of The Ross Bennett Collection. Ross was selected to design and style the Circuit of The Americas' COTA Girls - stylish ambassadors who will be part of the color and pageantry during race week festivities. The COTA Girls will be unveiled at the highly anticipated fashion show, Shift Into Style, this Friday night at the Bob Bullock Museum.

In this exclusive interview, Ross discusses the design process, his inspiration and experience as a fashion designer, and even drops a few hints at what we can expect to see on the runway this Friday. Of particular note for visitors, Ross talks about Austin's approach to fashion, how you can plan for your trip and what hot spots he likes to frequent. We also spoke about the most fascinating aspects of F1 and how they distinguish this class of racing from other series.

We hope to see you Friday as Circuit of The Americas presents Austin Fashion Week's Shift Into Style!

// DETAILS

What: Austin Fashion Week Kick-Off Event, Shift Into Style, presented by Circuit of The Americas

When: Friday, August 10, 2012 from 8:00PM - 11:00PM

Where: Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701

Who: Circuit of The Americas, Circuit Events Host Committee, Austin Fashion Week, Alexander Rossi and more TBA

Fashion Lineup: Ross Bennett, Keepers, Ferrari, The Danes Collection and Linda Asaf

Food and Drinks: Parkside, Olive & June, Backspace, Truluck's, Iron Cactus, Siena and Sentelli's

Cost: $85 per ticket

// CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS!

Alexander Rossi To Join Austin Fashion Event

Alexander Rossi (Photo courtesy www.alexanderrossi.com)
American driver Alexander Rossi will be in Austin next week for Austin Fashion Week's kick-off event, "Shift Into Style," which is being presented by Circuit of The Americas and the Circuit Events Host Committee. 

// Alexander Rossi

Most American F1 fans are quite familiar with Alexander Rossi as he is the only American currently with an FIA super license, the license all F1 drivers must hold to participate in F1. With such credentials, he is Test Driver for the Caterham F1 Team and competing for Arden Caterham in the Renault 3.5 series, part of the World Series by Renault, the championship in which he finished third in his rookie season in 2011. In addition to an impressive resume in motorsports, Rossi has earned 136 starts with an extremely impressive 38 wins and 33 pole positions. American fans embrace Rossi as he is the most immediate and promising future American F1 driver - something that we haven't seen since Scott Speed in 2007.

Born in California and currently residing in the UK, Rossi understands the important role fashion plays in international motorsport events. F1 drivers are frequently sought after by corporate sponsors for endorsements and advertising campaigns, and Rossi’s elite status has exposed him to opportunities in the fashion industry through print and runway modeling.

// Shift Into Style

On Friday, August 10, Austin's annual week of fashion will kick off with an exceptional fashion party and fundraiser at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Runway shows will feature Austin designers, gourmet food and live entertainment at this prestigious event. Seizing the opportunity to marry motorsports and style, Circuit of The Americas will welcome more than one-thousand guests to witness VIPs from the fashion and motorsports industries and unveil the outfits to be worn by the COTA Girls at this November's Inaugural Formula 1 race. COTA Girls are stylish ambassadors who will be part of the color and pageantry during the race week festivities. Local fashion talent, of Fashion Star™ fame, Ross Bennett designed the COTA Girls’ collection for the 2012 USGP and will be on hand for the unveiling. Bennett added:

This is one of the most unique design projects and it’s an honor to have been chosen for this special assignment in my hometown. Formula 1 events draw sophisticated fans from around the world. We expect Shift Into Style to highlight the important role fashion plays in international motorsports.

Geoff Moore, CMO at COTA, went on to explain:

Formula 1 Grands Prix are very fashion-focused experiences, and we expect Shift Into Style to get our guests excited for the fall season while providing a preview of what we expect to see at the Circuit this November.

// Beyond Austin

Last month COTA also announced that First Lady of Texas, Anita Perry, will open the AFW festivities by welcoming guests to the Bob Bullock Museum for Shift Into Style. She is also excited to take part in the event:

The U.S. Grand Prix will bring the attention of the entire world to Central Texas, giving people from many nations the chance to see the unique blend of cultures that our state has to offer. From music and history to our vibrant and growing fashion and arts communities, Texas has something for everybody. I am so pleased to take part in this truly special event that adds to the diverse culture that has made the Lone Star State an international attraction.

Offering Texans a unique opportunity to understand the world of F1 up close and personal, F1 cars from Williams F1 Team, Lotus-Pirelli and Michael Schumacher's Ferrari F1 world championship car will be on display at the event. In addition, an F1 timeline photography exhibition by premier F1 international photographers, Sutton Images, will be on display and take guests on a visual journey through the last 60+ years of F1. If you missed it last month, check out our interview with Keith and Mark Sutton from Formula Expo.

// Beyond Fashion

One of the best parts about this unique event is that its impact will go beyond the glossy magazines and red carpet. COTA has chosen Seton Breast Cancer Center and Dell Children's Blood and Cancer Center as beneficiaries for the evening's event. A silent auction will offer guests the opportunity to raise money for local, worthy causes and take home fabulous items, including:

• VIP tickets to the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
• VIP tickets to the race kickoff reception and luncheon
• VIP tickets to a private reception during race week
• Tickets for a track ride in the Circuit’s F1 3-seater
• Tickets to one of the weekend outdoor concerts

Rossi may have summarized it best:

Fashion is something I have grown to appreciate, and it’s great to see Austin’s fashion community embrace F1 style. Central Texas is going to be a fantastic place to host a Grand Prix and all of the fashion-forward guests who attend Formula 1 races. Shift Into Style will be a great way to launch Austin’s Fashion Week and start the official countdown to the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX at Circuit of The Americas this November. I feel privileged to work with Circuit of Americas for this event and I’m also very proud of my affiliation with Caterham F1 Team. I thank Team Principal Tony Fernandes for this and the opportunity he has given me within the team and I will continue to work hard to embrace the American commercial objectives for Caterham F1 Team, Formula 1 as a sport and Circuit of the Americas.

// Details

What: Austin Fashion Week Kick-Off Event, Shift Into Style

When: Friday, August 10, 2012 from 8:00PM - 11:00PM

Where: Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701

Who: Circuit of The Americas, Circuit Events Host Committee, Austin Fashion Week, Alexander Rossi and more TBA

Fashion Lineup: Ross Bennett, Keepers, Ferrari, The Danes Collection and Linda Asaf

Food and Drinks: Parkside, Olive & June, Backspace, Truluck's, Iron Cactus, Siena and Sentelli's

Cost: $85 per ticket

// Click HERE to purchase your tickets!