RE: New Silverstone Pit Complex Officially Open
Discussion
Zumbruk said:
I have read that the reason for the scaffolding grandstands is to avoid paying business rates on them. I have no idea if this is true or not.
You are absolutely correct and by adding any kind of roof cover requires council building regs permission hence the reason why so much time and cost is spent in building and tearing down grandstands. Bonkers!Hendry said:
Brands got struck off for being "too dangerous", which is a shame as I loved it -- far better to drive and to watch than Silverstone. I haven't been there for years but if you look at aerial pics now you can see there is housing built almost right up to the fence of the GP circuit, so I am not sure it would work anymore.
Not long after JP took over Brands, I was at some book signing thingy at the Kentagon and somebody asked if he had plans to get the GP back at Brands, referring specifically to abortive attempt by Nichola Foulston to do so a few years earlier (which has subsequently been revealed to have been a sham to boost the value of the group prior to selling it off).The essence of the answer was no - but he wouldn't rule it out totally. The main issue is that the layout of the circuit would not be conducive to good modern F1 racing. The circuit is too short and the only real overtaking opportunity would be druids. Anyone who went or watched the Champ Car race, the nearest thing to F1 to have raced there in recent years (in 2003 IIRC) will understand this - not a single overtake the whole race! Such would be the re-development needed, the track would change beyond recognition and the investment needed would likely be way too high. I remember him saying that it would have to be more a case of F1 coming to Brands rather than the other way round.
StevieBee said:
Not long after JP took over Brands, I was at some book signing thingy at the Kentagon and somebody asked if he had plans to get the GP back at Brands, referring specifically to abortive attempt by Nichola Foulston to do so a few years earlier (which has subsequently been revealed to have been a sham to boost the value of the group prior to selling it off).
The essence of the answer was no - but he wouldn't rule it out totally. The main issue is that the layout of the circuit would not be conducive to good modern F1 racing. The circuit is too short and the only real overtaking opportunity would be druids. Anyone who went or watched the Champ Car race, the nearest thing to F1 to have raced there in recent years (in 2003 IIRC) will understand this - not a single overtake the whole race! Such would be the re-development needed, the track would change beyond recognition and the investment needed would likely be way too high. I remember him saying that it would have to be more a case of F1 coming to Brands rather than the other way round.
Bit Like Monaco then !!!The essence of the answer was no - but he wouldn't rule it out totally. The main issue is that the layout of the circuit would not be conducive to good modern F1 racing. The circuit is too short and the only real overtaking opportunity would be druids. Anyone who went or watched the Champ Car race, the nearest thing to F1 to have raced there in recent years (in 2003 IIRC) will understand this - not a single overtake the whole race! Such would be the re-development needed, the track would change beyond recognition and the investment needed would likely be way too high. I remember him saying that it would have to be more a case of F1 coming to Brands rather than the other way round.
MonkeyHanger said:
Silverstone is welcome to the GP. Anyone who thinks an upgrade to FIA Grade 1 status would do any good for the other UK circuits is living in cloud cuckoo land.
Absolutely, the upgrades required would ruin the character and spectating opportunities. If you love your local circuit there is no way you should be wanting an F1 race there. As far as Brands goes, there are at least 10 places I can stand/photograph from on a normal GP circuit raceday that would never be open to spectators for F1. It would be sanitized out of existence.That's why I'm pleased the US GP is going to a new circuit, I'd hate to see many of the suggested circuits get 'F1' upgrades.
Mafioso said:
Looks good. Any real-life photos?
Here's one I took today from the official Silverstone photos.http://www.flickr.com/photos/silverstonecircuit/57...
ukaskew said:
As far as Brands goes, there are at least 10 places I can stand/photograph from on a normal GP circuit raceday
I see we're singing from the same hymn sheet 
The 600 mile round trip means i don't get to Brands as often as i would like, but i'm thoroughly looking forward to the Historic Masters in a couple of weeks. If we could hold off on the extra T-Rex fences until i've got some photos from that meeting, it would be appreciated
As for shooting at Silverstone, it's not a lot of fun from either side of the fence.
"Home of British Motorsport" my a**e!
The true homes(s) of British Motorsport are more likely to be Brooklands or Donington Park, both of which pre-date Silverstone by a good number of years.
And though the track may be good for the drivers and safety, it is a tedious, drab place for spectators, which because of the speeds achieved also combines to be one of the shortest GP's in the calendar. It is one of the few races in the year that I don't mind missing.
I have never understood the enthusiasm for Silverstone.
The true homes(s) of British Motorsport are more likely to be Brooklands or Donington Park, both of which pre-date Silverstone by a good number of years.
And though the track may be good for the drivers and safety, it is a tedious, drab place for spectators, which because of the speeds achieved also combines to be one of the shortest GP's in the calendar. It is one of the few races in the year that I don't mind missing.
I have never understood the enthusiasm for Silverstone.
It's impressive how quickly it's gone up. I took this on 17th April last year:
Silverstone circuit changes for 2010 by david_b, on Flickr
And it was already like this by October (taken while getting very cold and wet at the Britcar 24hr...):
Britcar 24hr 2010 by david_b, on Flickr
Silverstone circuit changes for 2010 by david_b, on Flickr
And it was already like this by October (taken while getting very cold and wet at the Britcar 24hr...):
Britcar 24hr 2010 by david_b, on Flickr
mike80 said:
Here's one I took today from the official Silverstone photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/silverstonecircuit/57...
Incidentally, I saw Stirling Moss and his wife at Marylebone Station on my way home from work this evening, looking at the pictures on this link I guess they must have been on their way back from the opening ceremony.http://www.flickr.com/photos/silverstonecircuit/57...
ukmike2000 said:
"Home of British Motorsport" my a**e!
The true homes(s) of British Motorsport are more likely to be Brooklands or Donington Park, both of which pre-date Silverstone by a good number of years.
And though the track may be good for the drivers and safety, it is a tedious, drab place for spectators, which because of the speeds achieved also combines to be one of the shortest GP's in the calendar. It is one of the few races in the year that I don't mind missing.
I have never understood the enthusiasm for Silverstone.
They should put it back in Crystal Palace Park, that was a cracking GP venue. The streets of London GP was a brilliant idea too.. The true homes(s) of British Motorsport are more likely to be Brooklands or Donington Park, both of which pre-date Silverstone by a good number of years.
And though the track may be good for the drivers and safety, it is a tedious, drab place for spectators, which because of the speeds achieved also combines to be one of the shortest GP's in the calendar. It is one of the few races in the year that I don't mind missing.
I have never understood the enthusiasm for Silverstone.
JohnoVR6 said:
Mafioso said:
Looks good. Any real-life photos?
I got a couple last week, one on a decent camera from the Stowe paddock...the other off my phone as I was leaving:
Have to say, it is mightly impressive.
If you're going to do something like this, IMO it needs integrating into some other pretty impressive surroundings and infrastructure - which, much as I love it, Silverstone hasn't got. Still, if it's what it takes to retain the British GP, so be it, apart from that, a complete waste of money. I watch racing for the racing, not for pretentious architecture.
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