I thought I'd share a little bit of information as regards this weekends issues. First off let me start by saying I have no connection with Silverstone, am not a member of the brdc but I am involved with Motorsport, build and race cars and are trying to make progress in our first season of the Btcc. More importantly (or of more relevance to this post) is that I live 2 miles from the track just off the A43.

I can't comment on the marshalling or sign posting but what I can say is that as regards the weather I am amazed that any car parks or campsites are open at all. Over the last 3 weeks I cannot recall a single day where we haven't had at least some rain and in the last week we have had heavy rain daily and for prolonged periods. Where I live I have a little land of similar type to the land around the circuit (understandably I guess) and to say it is water logged is an understatement, we have had standing water stretching 10 acres for days as the volume of rain we have had is simply unable to drain off. To compound this on Wednesday night we had rain of such proportions that I've never seen in this country before. For those who have perhaps travelled to Asia, imagine the sort of monsoon rain you get late afternoon for 2-3 mins per day (in KL it was 4pm, you could set your watch by it) it's the sort of rain that is nothing short of a waterfall albeit for very short periods.on Wednesday we had this for 45mins straight, I know this because I was caught in the fields unwilling to get back tot he house. In part intrigued of what I was seeing I spent the period watching my fields turn into swimming pools (literally a whole field, 10 acres in size look like a lido) the rainwater coming off the back of our race workshop was such that a 4" drain pipe was shooting water 3m into the air at full blast. I put a pint glass out and it was full by the time the rain had stopped. It was pretty awe inspiring.

That's what the campsites and car parks have had around Silverstone.

Now I'm sure there are issues with all other kinds of things going wrong and I neither know nor profess knowledge about these but I thought a first hand view of what they have had to deal with might at least give people some background.

I'm going to the race tomorrow, nothing fancy just a gen access ticket but I'll be walking there and back I think.

I hope everyone enjoys the weekend.

You have condemned them with your defence.

So for three weeks there has been a lot of rain. Therefore it must have been pretty obvious that problems would be likely if not inevitable. So what have they done for those three weeks to prepare other than sit there with their fingers crossed ? Nothing by the looks of it.

The Public relations woman on radio 5 this morning was the epitome of this. The usual apologetic drivel and the stock response of "all of the information and numbers are on the web-site". Then the radio presenter pointed out that this wasn't much help to the thousands of people stuck in their cars who couldn't get access to the web-site.

Rather sheepish apology by PR woman and a promise to get hold of the numbers so they could be put out on air.
She must have known for several hours that a radio interview was coming up yet hadn't got any information ready at all.


A general note to all and hard as is it might be for some to believe - a lot of people still don't have access to the internet or 3G 'phones.

Sounds lovely, Thorney

You just know it's coming though, don't you... The Poison Dwarf in all his glorious miniature nastiness blaming the wettest spell since records began on lack of investment in the weather on the part of the BRDC and UK government. 'Silverstone and the UK public doesn't deserve the race. The governments in Syria and Zimbabwe have been investing in fabulous facilities and sunshine and have been very welcoming to us. We'll drop this sh!thole and be racing there next year'.

I thought about videoing it it ws so bad, but certainly I stepped out, put a pint glass down (don't ask why we had one on the shed, no idea) and approx 30 mins later it was at the top.

Ecclestone defends Silverstone

Ecclestone defends Silverstone? No GP in the UK next year then!

M.

They know it turns into a mud bath, this is not the first year this has happened.

They knew the forecast, in advance.

WTF have they not had emergency discussions with local coach companies & businesses along M1 & M40 to arrange further Park & Rides?

I agree it's not easy, and the weather is (sort of) extreme. However they can't charge THAT much and allow it to be so bad, I mean by putting your trust in parking on grass fields with our weather, one day you're going to get caught out. Goodwood was the same.

I heard on the radio that all the sponsors would get in. Well fantastic for them, but what about the tens of thousands of fans?

Have you considered applying for the job of organiser?

Or perhaps coming up with a system that can temporarily cover that acreage of farmland for parking without irrecoverable damage and without other traffic issues?

Very true.
Also, I have heard that when some marshals arrived on Tuesday and Wednesday the car parks/camp sites were already mud baths.