Thursday 27th February 2014

Closed road motorsport back on?

MSA campaigning results in Government-public consultation on road rallies

---

Usually when a Government consultation is mentioned on PH, it's along negative lines like more cameras, lower speed limits, cancelling events and the like. So it's with great pleasure to announce a consultation that will put a smile on the face of PHers nationwide.

Imagine this on your local B-road!

Launched today by Culture, Media and Sport secretary Maria Miller after MSA persuasion, the public are being asked for their opinion on local authorities being empowered to suspend the Road Traffic Act without having to resort to an Act of Parliament. Basically it would make closed road rallies, sprints and hillclimbs a whole lot easier to organise and hopefully more popular. The law is already applicable in Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.

"This is the news that British motorsport has been waiting for" said acting MSA Chief Exec Rob Jones as it "represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the landscape of our sport".

So how can you help? The consultation is here and is open until April 10. It will ask you a series of questions on why the amendment should go ahead. The MSA have a few guidelines here for the most suitable responses. You can probably guess positivity is favoured.

Furthermore, the Twitter hashtag is #ISupportClosedRoads to show your dedication to the cause, but the consultation is the most important thing. Get answering now!

See the consultation here

[Pics: LAT]

 

[SmartVenom]

Be very, very good if it happens, but as we all know consultation is just a way of kicking something into the long grass.

[Aeroscreens]

Well...... an online petition set the ball rolling for a successful re-instatement of Brighton Speed Trials in which the local council managed a u-turn.

So unless you try........

[e21Mark]

It has to be worth a go surely?

[deadmau5]

Done.

Where can I host a document that is accessible to anyone? I've replied using the responses recommended by the MSA. It would save people having to do it all themselves.

[Behemoth]

Every ph'er should respond to this. If you want wonderful events like the French hill climb championship (search "Course de Côte" for many vids), this is the route you need to take to get them on public roads near you.

[MrBrightSi]

Point me to a petition and i'll push it on anyone who'll listen.

So bored of this country slowly turning itself into a stagnant area for the mardy and ludite.

If we could have sprints and hillclimbs on the public roads, the cost of entering might be berable.

[RoverP6B]

Sorry, but no. I value being able to get out of my house. It was bad enough with all the bloody cycle races making me effectively a prisoner in my own home, without any consultation...

[andylaurence]

MrBrightSi said:

Point me to a petition and i'll push it on anyone who'll listen.

So bored of this country slowly turning itself into a stagnant area for the mardy and ludite.

If we could have sprints and hillclimbs on the public roads, the cost of entering might be berable.

The petition is called a consultation and there's a link at the bottom of the article above.

I don't think that public roads will make for cheaper entry fees. There are standards to be met for hillclimb and sprint track licences and most public roads will not meet those standards, so temporary fixtures will be needed to bring the roads up to spec. This will be paid for by your entry fee. The permanent venues benefit from not having to dismantle these temporary fixtures after the event, thus reducing the cost of your entry fees. Having said that, there will be some roads that do not require modification.

Most importantly, if you believe racing on the roads would be a good thing, then I'd urge you to submit a response to the consultation, using the MSA guidance. If it goes through, your local motor club would welcome someone to help them organise an event on a suitable road.

[sideways man]

Done.

I used to go to Jersey in the late 1980's,to help run the Jersey Rally. Although at that time I didn't compete,I belonged to a team that did start/finish time controls,therefore spoke to a lot of people who did. Apparently, the buzz involving competition on public roads was pretty intense,much more so than going round in circles on an old airfield! Everyone please vote for this.

We might even be able to recreate the Mille Miglia

[ChemicalChaos]

Done.

I'm eagerly awaiting to hear BRAKE's view on this, given they are on the list of bodies being consulted

[jamespink]

RoverP6B said:

Sorry, but no. I value being able to get out of my house. It was bad enough with all the bloody cycle races making me effectively a prisoner in my own home, without any consultation...

Surely it's not such a big deal, good grief, I would love some closed road stages past my house! In France and Italy they set up tables in the snow at night to cheer us on when we did the Monte Carlo a few years back.

Edited by jamespink on Thursday 27th February 15:57

[Munter]

Now if PH set up a Poll. Then they could respond on our behalf as well showing how they had collected the result. And while PHers are likely to respond. They are even more likely to click on a poll than send an e-mail. And of course some might do both....

[e21Mark]

MrBrightSi said:

Point me to a petition and i'll push it on anyone who'll listen.

So bored of this country slowly turning itself into a stagnant area for the mardy and ludite.

If we could have sprints and hillclimbs on the public roads, the cost of entering might be berable.

Even having a few more, with a larger choice of venue, would be a step in the right direction.

[Ranger 6]

sideways man said:

Done.

I used to go to Jersey in the late 1980's,to help run the Jersey Rally....

We might even be able to recreate the Mille Miglia

Done - have been marshalling on the Mull Miglia for years and have seen the benefits for the local community first hand.

[RacerMike]

Done. Always wished they'd set up the Birmingham Superprix again. Would be great if they did!

[Quikcurl]

deadmau5 said:

Where can I host a document that is accessible to anyone? I've replied using the responses recommended by the MSA. It would save people having to do it all themselves.

Sounds good to me!

Scribd

[GC8]

RoverP6B said:

Sorry, but no. I value being able to get out of my house. It was bad enough with all the bloody cycle races making me effectively a prisoner in my own home, without any consultation...

Wow.

[deadmau5]

Quikcurl said:

deadmau5 said:

Where can I host a document that is accessible to anyone? I've replied using the responses recommended by the MSA. It would save people having to do it all themselves.

Sounds good to me!

Scribd

Cheers!

Linky:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/209606166/Consultation-Q...

[FourWheelDrift]

There's already Oliver's Mount at Scarbrorough which are public roads closed for racing. Hosted British Superbike twice in the 80s, and F3 in the 50s. Currently running yearly TT races that Guy Martin dominates.

https://www.google.com/maps?q=54%C2%B015%2746.8%22...

2013 racing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9ne0_8aWGQ

Don't tell Brake though.

[zeb]

The price of MK2 escorts would rocket even further.....