07
photography
by
dillon
magnuson
(campaigne);
courtesy
of
pete's
dueling
piano
bar
(bar).
opposite
page:
Jean-francois
monier/afp/getty
images
(car);
mark
thompson/getty
images
(hamilton,
ricciardo,
rossi);
dan
istitene/getty
images
(perez);
roslan
rahman/afp/getty
images
(rosberg);
Vladimir
rys/getty
images
(Vettel)
the concierge to call
CALEB CAMPAIGNE
WHERE THE DRIVERS ARE
The drivers generally start arriving the Tuesday and Wednesday before race day. The top-tier teams stay at the
W and Four Seasons, while second-tier teams can be found at the Hyatt or Hilton and other downtown hotels.
Drivers are coming from all over the world, and when they come to Texas, well, they like to find Texas things
to do. Here are a few of their favorite things:
Shopping:
Prices for designer goods are much cheaper in
the US than any of the other Grand Prix
locations around the world, so international
visitors, F1 drivers, and their well-heeled
significant others head to stores like Tiffany &
Co. and Polo Ralph Lauren at The Domain
(11410 Century Oaks Terrace, 512-873-8099;
thedomainaustin.com) and Nordstrom at
Barton Creek Square (2901 S. Capital of Texas
Hwy., 512-327-7040; bartoncreeksquare.com)
for the season's latest. They also get a kick out
of Texas fashions, snatching up luxe cowboy
footwear at Allen's Boots (1522 S. Congress
Ave., 512-447-1413; allensboots.com) or
heritage Boot (1200 S. Congress Ave.,
512-326-8577; heritageboot.com).
Being TouriSTS:
The mechanical bull is in constant rotation at
downtown watering hole rowdy's Saloon (305
W. 5th St., 512-472-5288; rowdyssaloon.com),
and pete's Dueling piano Bar (
shown above,
421 E. 6th St., 512-472-7383; petesdueling
pianobar.com) hosts a competition of a
different sort. Racers get double use out of
their protective ear wear when they migrate to
eagle peak Shooting range (20026 Lindeman
Lane, Leander, 512-267-1400; eaglepeakshooting
range.com) and fire off a few rounds. And this list
wouldn't be complete without mentioning The
Yellow rose (6528 N. Lamar Blvd., 512-458-
2106; yellowroseaustin.com); the infamous
gentlemen's club draws in pleasure-seekers with
its promise of anonymity and Texas beauties.
SAmpling TexAS FlAvorS:
Drivers—like the rest of our city's tourists—often
seek out barbecue to get them through the
weekend. Many will follow their nose on a
30-minute-plus drive from the Circuit of the
Americas track to The Salt lick in the Hill
Country (18300 FM Road 1826, Driftwood,
512-858-4959; saltlickbbq.com), while
reservations at fancy barbecue joint lamberts
(401 W. 2nd St., 512-494-1500; lamberts
austin.com) downtown have been known to fill
up quickly during F1. In previous years, racers
have been spotted grabbing a hearty brunch at
red's porch (3508 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-440-
7337; redsporch.com), Searsucker (415 Colorado
St., 512-394-8000; searsucker.com), and Trace
(W Austin, 200 Lavaca St., 512-542-3660;
traceaustin.com).
With the official title at the W
Austin of "W Insider," Caleb
Campaigne is part of the team
of W concierges whose motto
is "Whatever, Whenever,"
and his job is to arrange
exclusive experiences for
guests. Besides informing
them where to be seen in
Austin during F1 weekend, he
may be called on to pick up F1
drivers, which he finds ironic.
"I'm the worst driver ever,
and then I have to pick up
someone who makes a living
driving well," he jokes. He's
also been known to arrange
private dance parties in the W
Secret Bar for "huge rock
legends." What is he looking
forward to this year? "Fan Fest
has a better lineup than ever:
Joan Jett, Texas Tornados, De
La Soul, and Conjunto Los
Pinkys," he says, adding, "I
am a huge Nile Rodgers fan
and love Duran Duran, so I'm
excited about Duran Duran's
ACL Live at the Moody
Theater show." W Austin, 200
Lavaca St., 512-542-3600;
whotelaustin.com
T H E U L T I M A T E G U I D E T O F 1
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