Why doesn't Bernie buy Silverstone?
Discussion
He's just bought the Turkish facility and secured the race for the next 15 years, yet he is stated as saying it was not done for money, in fact it was one of his worst financial deals ever - hard to believe that from BE.
So if he's happy to throw money away like that, why doesn't he just buy out Silverstone, put the investment in to make it the best circuit in Europe and then sucure the race for the next 15 years.
England is the heart of motor sport worldwide, so Silverstone must be regarded as the cornerstone of the F1 circuit, afterall, look how many teams are based in the UK, and how many of the top people are British too...
Come on Bernie, stop the slagging off and buy Silverstone, short change for the amount you have and if you think the Turkish purchase was a bit of a turkey in terms of the deal, I'm sure Silverstone can't be worse!
So if he's happy to throw money away like that, why doesn't he just buy out Silverstone, put the investment in to make it the best circuit in Europe and then sucure the race for the next 15 years.
England is the heart of motor sport worldwide, so Silverstone must be regarded as the cornerstone of the F1 circuit, afterall, look how many teams are based in the UK, and how many of the top people are British too...
Come on Bernie, stop the slagging off and buy Silverstone, short change for the amount you have and if you think the Turkish purchase was a bit of a turkey in terms of the deal, I'm sure Silverstone can't be worse!
Edited by TheOriginalGT40 on Tuesday 24th April 11:14
TheOriginalGT40 said:
He's just bought the Turkish facility
For the same reason 1000's of Brit's buy holiday homes in Spain. Silverstone can be freezing cold and windy in the middle of Summer and he's got to think about his age now he's just turned 153.
Besides if he bought Silverstone he'd have to practice what he preaches and spend loads of money turning it into a high quality motorsports facility of the type he's always telling the BRDC to make, but even Bernie doesn't have that much money. So he's bought a flat pack circuit like Istanbul (haggled a bit, offered his daughter in part-ex for a "very good price" ), and probably with a bit of arm twisting (an offer they couldn't refuse) as they were in danger of losing the Grand Prix (so Bernie said) after their faux pas last year of allowing a Turkish Cypriot to give out the trophies.
Edited by FourWheelDrift on Tuesday 24th April 11:22
what bernie's definition of a bad deal and ours is somewhat different !
Historically, if you look at new circuits and the investment needed to get them from a plot of land to financially secure business, you find that I takes 2 or 3 owners to loose money, then someone will step in, pick up the pieces and make the circuit work
Rockingham being a prime example. Bernie of course owns Paul Richard circuit - bought in a similar way
I imagine the the Turkish circuit lost a small fortune, and BE has stepped in with a rescue package with some hefty government tax breaks
MrKipling43 said:
Here's a better idea, why don't the British Government start helping out Silverstone like every other government helps their national circuit?!
Why do people still band this idea around.
F1 is a cash rich business, with billions floating around. If the team owners were truly worried about Silverstone, surely they could all put their corporate greased hands in their deep deep pockets and invest and all have a part share in what should be a fantastic circuit, especially if they tweak the run-off areas to put the curcuit back to it's original and very fast layout
FourWheelDrift said:
...but even Bernie doesn't have that much money...
I'm sorry, what planet are you from, BE is bloody rich beyond most people's dreams. To say he doesn't have much money is like saying Mr Blair told us the truth about Iraq!!!!!!!
Edited by TheOriginalGT40 on Tuesday 24th April 12:08
TheOriginalGT40 said:
FourWheelDrift said:
...but even Bernie doesn't have that much money...
I'm sorry, what planet are you from, BE is bloody rich beyond most people's dreams. To say he doesn't have much money is like saying Mr Blair told us the true about Iraq!!!!!!!
It's called sarcasm. As in the the huge amount of work Bernie wants Silverstone to do to bring it up to his standards but he couldn't afford to spend that much himself if he bought it himself.
Edited by FourWheelDrift on Tuesday 24th April 13:15
Dr JonboyG said:
You assume the BRDC, the owners of the circuit, want to sell. Doesn't seem to me like they do.
Exactly, I think you'll find that at times in the past BE has very much wanted to buy Silverstone.
Thankfully for us who love grass roots motorsport the BRDC have refused to sell to him and long may that continue.
If one were cynical one might suggest that this is entirely the reason that BE has such a "downer" on Silverstone.
TheOriginalGT40 said:
MrKipling43 said:
Here's a better idea, why don't the British Government start helping out Silverstone like every other government helps their national circuit?!
Why do people still band this idea around.
F1 is a cash rich business, with billions floating around. If the team owners were truly worried about Silverstone, surely they could all put their corporate greased hands in their deep deep pockets and invest and all have a part share in what should be a fantastic circuit, especially if they tweak the run-off areas to put the curcuit back to it's original and very fast layout
But Soccer and Athletics are cash rich, yet we have the Olympics, Wembley and a World Cup bid....
I know it's going off at a tangent but I'd much rather have seen Brands hatch developed as the home of the British Grand Prix. It's all together a much more interesting circuit and far better for spectating, plus of course it's close to the Eurotunnel for people coming from Europe and it's right beside a motoroway... but what do I know. 
kevin ritson said:
TheOriginalGT40 said:
MrKipling43 said:
Here's a better idea, why don't the British Government start helping out Silverstone like every other government helps their national circuit?!
Why do people still band this idea around.
F1 is a cash rich business, with billions floating around. If the team owners were truly worried about Silverstone, surely they could all put their corporate greased hands in their deep deep pockets and invest and all have a part share in what should be a fantastic circuit, especially if they tweak the run-off areas to put the curcuit back to it's original and very fast layout
But Soccer and Athletics are cash rich, yet we have the Olympics, Wembley and a World Cup bid....
The teams don't care enough because none of the MANUFACTURERS are from Britain - yes, most of the engineers and teams are either based in the UK or come from here, but the cash comes from places like Japan (for instance) where Honda own Suzuka and Toyota own Fuji - the two circuits on which F1 races are held in that country. There's is no vested interest for the big spenders in keeping a race in the UK. It's up to the government to protect one our greatest industries and traditions.
Edited by MrKipling43 on Tuesday 24th April 14:31
Silverstone is slightly devalued due to the sheer amount of other circuits around the UK. In Turkey there's only one international spec circuit (to my knowledge). In the UK there is Donington, Silverstone, Brands, Rockingham etc etc!
I agree with Kevin - Brands would be neutered if it were to be bought up to F1-spec. Leave it alone
I agree with Kevin - Brands would be neutered if it were to be bought up to F1-spec. Leave it alone
TheOriginalGT40 said:
If the team owners were truly worried about Silverstone, surely they could all put their corporate greased hands in their deep deep pockets and invest and all have a part share in what should be a fantastic circuit, especially if they tweak the run-off areas to put the curcuit back to it's original and very fast layout
Who said the team owners were worried? I'm sure they don't give a flying f!!
richb said:
I know it's going off at a tangent but I'd much rather have seen Brands hatch developed as the home of the British Grand Prix. It's all together a much more interesting circuit and far better for spectating, plus of course it's close to the Eurotunnel for people coming from Europe and it's right beside a motoroway.
Exactly.
Silverstone really isn't that attractive.
2 hours to get off the circuit last time I went.
Flat as an ironing board, with a poxy in field.
Brands has everything.
Gradient, corners, straights, access and prestige.
Last there for the European GP, ?1987
Mansell in a Honda, Prost in a TAG Porsche McLaren, those really were the days.
kevin ritson said:
It's by a motorway but there's no slip road direct to the circuit, just a single carriageway route, it's near the tunnel but most of the UK has to negotiate the M25 to get there and besides, I'd hate to see my local and favourite UK circuit butchered for Bernie's pleasure.
But presumably the cost of building a dedicated slip road for the circuit wouldn't be too great, well in terms of the cost of upgrading the circuit.
However I suspect the real problem is the amount of work that would be needed to the circuit to make it comply with F1 safety standards.
Bernie is actually not that wealthy, his wife owns all of the shares of the Bambino Trust along with his daughters. Turkey does not have the financial infrastructure f the UK so its easier to deal with circuit owners, and Silverstone is owned by the BRDC who don't want to lose their VIP Hospitality. Bernie also owns the circuit in Hungary and has a major stake in Spa. Brands cannot be developed due to council problems and a protected forest on the site of the track....Donnington is off the map due to pilitics between Wheatcroft and Bernie. Can you see the Labour Government ever doing business with Bernie after his '1 Million Pound Offer' back in 1997 when Tony B was new into office!!!
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