orton1966
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| posted on 31/10/09 at 08:04 PM |
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Donnington V’s Silverstone and UK F1
Here are my issues with all the fuss over the UK GP:
Firstly I find it totally galling that the likes of Dammon Hill are “NOW” standing up fighting for the UK to retain a place on the GP calendar. Where
was he (and others) when Donnington was fighting for its life trying to raise funding? Truth is like the rest of the blazers whose club own
silverstone they were all way to keen to stick the boot in and about the only comment they’ve made, apart from negativity about donnington’s bid, is
their hand up at the back of the class during every negative story saying “please choose us” if it all goes wrong!
Secondly – Where the hell was the east midlands development agency (or what ever there current name is) been during this process? Motorsport
contributes millions to the uk economy a successful UK GP at donnington could have helped the east midlands develop significant business
opportunities. One of the major UK carbon pre-preg surpliers is just up the road equally one of the companies responsible for manufacturing the
infamous double diffusers. Look at all the motorsport business based near silverstone, the same could have developed in the east midlands!
Finally all news providers seem to have portrayed the whole story from a negative prospective. From the original dismay of “silverstone loosing out”
though “how will the infrastructure cope” and more recently all the will they wont they raise the money. All the time in the background with
“Silverstone is ready”
If Scotland had got a place on the F1 calendar every arena of publicity would have been proudly preclaining that F1 was coming, likewise if London got
a F1 street –race we would have had two years of it being pushed at every opertunity
This whole fiasco has become a self foreseeing prophesy, right from the early news release with TV’s F1 pundits proclaiming shock and surprise and
almost openly derising the decision to the local regions obsessing with environmental logistical impacts.
The whole motoracing fraternity should hang their heads in shame for not providing greater support, likewise local and regional councils and on a
wider scale the national government who are happy to support the London Olympics and other large scale events, strangely they didn’t provide the same
level of support for previous Birmingham and Manchester Olympic bids!! Anyway it should be no shock that when those, that should, don’t support a
project commercial sponsors will obviously stay away
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britishtrident
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| posted on 31/10/09 at 08:31 PM |
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While I would much prefer a British GP at Donnington ISTR Donnington created a bidding war to steal the GP from Silverstone. At that time everybody
including Bernie and Max Mosley knew the Donnington bid wouldn't float before the deal was signed ---- Bernie is now about to collect
multi-million pound compensation for the failed deal.
But there is a lot more to it than that, as a long time Bernie watcher I see it as all really about Bernie's personal fixations.
Bernie is really set on taking all the traditional European GP's away (expect perhaps Monaco) and moving F1 to brand new pristine arena show
circuits designed by his personal circuit architect (wonder who he got that idea from ?)
Bernie is obsessive about the following
(1) Spotless cleanliness & "newness"
(2)Making a deal & always coming out top in a deal no matter how the deal appears to go.
(3) Getting things 100% his way.
(4) Revenge on those who looked down on him
(5) Money
Prediction British GP date will be given by todt to a new French GP run on a certain French circuit owned by Bernie.
[Edited on 31/10/09 by britishtrident]
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Major Stare
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| posted on 31/10/09 at 08:44 PM |
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I wanted Donington, because we need a newer curcuit thats had money thrown at it, i find Silverstone too old now.
Just look at Abu Dhabi, thats what we need. How come they can build that in no time without problems.
Jon "FISH"
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norfolkluego
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| posted on 31/10/09 at 08:57 PM |
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Sorry Orton, couldn't disagree more. Gillet was a fantasist and chancer who did a deal that appeared financially unviable from day one. Some of
his suggestions appear to be from someone who had lost touch with reality
Fans can't drive to the circuit
Lets close East Midlands airport
Let's agree to spend £135 million I haven't got.
There are villains in all this but it's not Damon Hill and the Press, I suggest you chuck your wrotten fruit at Ecclestone and Gillet, neither
of whom care about the British GP, Donington, motor sport generally or anything other than lining their own pockets.
[Edited on 31/10/09 by norfolkluego]
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Hammerhead
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| posted on 31/10/09 at 09:06 PM |
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My personal opinion is that Gillet was not very convincing as a business man or figurehead for the venture. It was interesting to see the MD of
silverstone talking on the f1 qualy. He seemed far more legitimate.
My only worry is what happens to donington (only three N's  ) now it's all dug up? I wanted to do a track day there next year!
[Edited on 31/10/09 by Hammerhead]
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norfolkluego
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| posted on 31/10/09 at 09:08 PM |
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Sorry Major Stare, I'm going to disagree with you too.
I wouldn't want the the kind of 'democracy' and 'freedom' that some countries have regardless of how quickly things get
built. There's plenty wrong with the UK but better too much freedom than not enough. Disagree about the circuit too, sterile, souless, plastic
place that looks like an F1 track built on an out of town business park, give me Silverstone (or Donington) any day.
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morcus
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| posted on 31/10/09 at 09:27 PM |
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I feel the same about some of these new tracks. It does seem that the tracks are chosen based on who has the most money (I mean, how many people live
in Abu Dhabi or can get there easilly). The Classic European venues have soul, provanence and huge populations within easy distance of the track (And
populations that can afford to go.)
I like the Idea of a London Street race but Its never gonna happen.
I personally think they should make the season longer and that they should keep the traditional tracks as well as including some new ones. And they
should rebuild Brooklands and host the GBGP there.
Oh, whilst I'm making wild suggestions, Bring back tobacco advertising.
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iscmatt
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| posted on 31/10/09 at 09:29 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
(4) Revenge on those who looked down on him
[Edited on 31/10/09 by britishtrident]
That'll be everyone then 
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turboben
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| posted on 31/10/09 at 09:33 PM |
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I liked what Bernie said on tv earlier when talking about the deal - "Plenty of things I cant have because I cant afford them". Like
what?!
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DRC INDY 7
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| posted on 31/10/09 at 09:51 PM |
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Bernies a rat faces idiot who is money mad i was looking forward to donnington
https://www.facebook.com/groups/462610273778799/
Puddle Dodgers Club
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jimmyjoebob
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| posted on 31/10/09 at 11:45 PM |
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I don't understand the obsession with Silverstone.
Why did F1 turn its back on Brands Hatch? Was it noise restrictions or F1 politics?
If at first you don't succeed, hide all evidence you ever tried!
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norfolkluego
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| posted on 1/11/09 at 12:40 AM |
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Jimmy,
From what I understand (and I'm no expert) Brands (great circuit though it is) doesn't meet current FIA standards ( tarmac run off instead
of gravel traps etc.) and doesn't have the room to come up to their standards. Idiotic, compare Brands to somewhere like Valencia, Brands is
probably too exciting for Bernie at his age.
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D Beddows
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| posted on 1/11/09 at 02:05 AM |
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F1 at Donington was never going to happen - c'mon seriously you didn't........ oh a lot of you did.......;-( it's just a shame
they've had to mess with one of the best race tracks Britain has for no reason at all aparenty
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orton1966
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| posted on 1/11/09 at 06:10 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by norfolkluego
Sorry Orton, couldn't disagree more. Gillet was a fantasist and chancer who did a deal that appeared financially unviable from day one.
Whilst i agree Gillet does appear to have his faults and that Bernie motivation seems heavily influenced by money on the table I don’t believe they
are the only issues with the failure
The British racing drivers club is by its own admission an elite organisation containing many of the sports British celebrities. My point was this
organisation, seemingly showed very little support for the Donnington bid, seemingly blinkered by their vested interest in Silverstone. According to
their website they consider themselves “The Club takes it responsibility as ‘guardians of British motor sport’ very seriously” If this was really
the case they should have swung full-square behind Donnington and excepted that a British F1 race was a good thing irrespective of which track it ran
on.
I’m not daft enough to believe that the British Racing Drivers Club are the only reason Donnigton’s bid has failed but it must be accepted that the
lack of British racings celebrity support can only have damaged the bids ability to attract sponsors. It also has to be noted that a lot of
Silverstone’s issues have been the relationship between Bernie and the BRDC
There are a whole raft of other issues, as stated in my original post. Like the fact that planning applications became such hurdles amazes me, for
god’s sake its not like the place was a green-field site with the guy wanting to build a new circuit on it, it was already a race track, that already
held major events. The road issues are a disgrace considering the proximity of two motorways but these issues equally need addressing for the airport
next door. The fact regional planners can’t/won’t improve the airport & circuits access to the motorway network is disgraceful and a constant
frustration to many.
My main criticism is that what should have been a good news story never got the positive press it deserved, delusional or not, here was someone
wanting to give the UK a world class motorsport venue. Many factors seem to have led to this failure, some of which were out of Gillet’s control, the
saddest of which I maintain is the lack of support from those who claim to be the ‘guardians of British motor sport’
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Richard Quinn
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| posted on 1/11/09 at 08:06 AM |
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Don't forget that F1 is really no longer about motor racing.
I think that the idea of a London street circuit would be brilliant but I'm not sure how they would go about registering for congestion charge!
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 1/11/09 at 09:39 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Quinn
Don't forget that F1 is really no longer about motor racing.
I think that the idea of a London street circuit would be brilliant but I'm not sure how they would go about registering for congestion charge!
They got no plates so it wouldnt matter
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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scootz
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| posted on 1/11/09 at 10:13 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by orton1966
Whilst i agree Gillet does appear to have his faults and that Bernie motivation seems heavily influenced by money on the table I don’t believe they
are the only issues with the failure
The British racing drivers club is by its own admission an elite organisation containing many of the sports British celebrities. My point was this
organisation, seemingly showed very little support for the Donnington bid, seemingly blinkered by their vested interest in Silverstone. According to
their website they consider themselves “The Club takes it responsibility as ‘guardians of British motor sport’ very seriously” If this was really
the case they should have swung full-square behind Donnington and excepted that a British F1 race was a good thing irrespective of which track it ran
on.
I’m not daft enough to believe that the British Racing Drivers Club are the only reason Donnigton’s bid has failed but it must be accepted that the
lack of British racings celebrity support can only have damaged the bids ability to attract sponsors. It also has to be noted that a lot of
Silverstone’s issues have been the relationship between Bernie and the BRDC
There are a whole raft of other issues, as stated in my original post. Like the fact that planning applications became such hurdles amazes me, for
god’s sake its not like the place was a green-field site with the guy wanting to build a new circuit on it, it was already a race track, that already
held major events. The road issues are a disgrace considering the proximity of two motorways but these issues equally need addressing for the airport
next door. The fact regional planners can’t/won’t improve the airport & circuits access to the motorway network is disgraceful and a constant
frustration to many.
My main criticism is that what should have been a good news story never got the positive press it deserved, delusional or not, here was someone
wanting to give the UK a world class motorsport venue. Many factors seem to have led to this failure, some of which were out of Gillet’s control, the
saddest of which I maintain is the lack of support from those who claim to be the ‘guardians of British motor sport’
My understanding is that they didn't throw their energy behind it because (like everyone else) they knew damn fine it was a complete non-starter
and a complete waste of their time.
It's Evolution Baby!
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