Brighton speed trials

[PhilH42]

Entry list for Saturday with a few Tvr's.

http://www.brightonandhovemotorclub.co.uk/files/sp...

Edited by PhilH42 on Tuesday 29th August 21:18

[motco]

Another great event albeit with diminished support from both entrants and spectators. The Greens will have their way if the decline that started with the closure of the Arches terrace and the year long ban after the Roger Hollingshead accident results in the cessation of the event after >100 years.

[PhilH42]

Greens seem hell bent on ruining it. It looks a bloody mess on the upper and middle tiers now...but they probably like the weeds and lack of paint.....the natural look! Are they actually planning on doing anything to the so called necessary strengthening of the middle tier?

No doubt the support is diminishing, the top and middle tier used to be packed as well as the paddock. I reckon its down at least 30% on 10 years ago.

You're right the entry list is looking less year on year. Need more people to get behind this event, its unthinkable for this to finish up.

2018 I'm entering (B) .....need plenty of cars and tiv's for the next one people!!

[motco]

The Greens are no longer in office; it's Labour now, albeit in the minority. Wikipedia
However, Labour is not a huge fan either and Greens are still represented. The whole city is falling into rack and ruin. Every time I go there - at least annually on Speed Trials day - the rot is worse, and the decay more and more advanced. It makes me weep for the beautiful town it once was when I was a lad and the Police wore white helmets in the summer months which gave it a continental flavour. There's a doughnut on a stick bobbing up and down, there's a zip wire, but the Arches, those wonderful Victorian examples of cast iron art, are falling down. It is a tragedy.

[PhilH42]

motco said:

The Greens are no longer in office; it's Labour now, albeit in the minority. Wikipedia
However, Labour is not a huge fan either and Greens are still represented. The whole city is falling into rack and ruin. Every time I go there - at least annually on Speed Trials day - the rot is worse, and the decay more and more advanced. It makes me weep for the beautiful town it once was when I was a lad and the Police wore white helmets in the summer months which gave it a continental flavour. There's a doughnut on a stick bobbing up and down, there's a zip wire, but the Arches, those wonderful Victorian examples of cast iron art, are falling down. It is a tragedy.

I stand corrected.

Like you I grew up there and also go down annually for the trials and family sometimes.....I'm at a loss to explain whats going on but I'm guilty of losing touch to an extent since I moved away over 20 years ago?! They seem to have buggered up the road system around the old stein and St Peters as well in recent times but thats a countrywide trait.

Seeing the west pier's gradual decline over the years was awful and that had grade 1 status, but yes it almost seems like their letting anything with historic value go in the hope they can get rid and build new (unless it makes them money)....lose the arches and railings on the front and it will be unrecognisable! Its pretty concerning to be honest.

Trials were still good but have lost the big occasion feel a little bit...I know theres been a lot of opposition to these trials over the last few years but the decline in numbers still surprises me a bit.

Good to see the Allard "old fella" there again, not sure what happened to the LS tuscan after it had problems? I had to leave around 3.30 so I missed the late stuff....did you stay to the final six? Do you know who won each and times?

Edited by PhilH42 on Sunday 3rd September 20:32

[motco]

I didn't actually grow up there but my father had family connections there so we visited often. I did stay on to the end but I'm sorry to say that I didn't write down the times or details - it was bloody cold towards the last runs and I was none to keen to take my hands out of my pockets! However an unheard of terminal speed by the supercharged Hyabusa which twice exceeded 180mph was staggering. I don't recall any terminals beyond c.160 in the recent past. There were the Good Old Days of the two at a time flying kilometre when Sidney Allard himself and Dante Duce had dragsters there, along with George Brown's Vincent Super Nero and Prince Bira's ERAs. The out and out racing cars aren't allowed now either, of course, and the last 'hairy' machine I remember was a 1000bhp Chrysler PT Cruiser about fifteen years ago. There was a supercharged Honda Type R engined Westfield driven by Gary Bunn that was among the top times this year, and The Old Fella did well in the end despite a few false starts when he jumped the timing light. The results are usually posted on the BHMC website in the fullness of time.

The Bruiser



borrowed from an old thread.

Edited by motco on Monday 4th September 17:50

Edited by motco on Monday 4th September 17:53

[rev-erend]

Hi

I was there .. looks like I was classified 17th in the handicap

http://www.brightonandhovemotorclub.co.uk/files/sp...

Agree the middle tier is a sad sight indeed and it seems a travesty that the local council are letting it deteriate in this way.

It seemed as crowded in the pits as ever but as you say there may have been less spectators on the upper tier.

[PhilH42]

Thanks for that....the bike terminal speeds are outrageous!

Thats true the paddock was busy as usual, but the middle tier used to be rammed and the top as well...plenty of spaces at the top I noticed on walking back to the car. Hate to think what the paddock would have been like had everyone moved to the middle tier

Ah you took the Merc....17th is respectful, I'd be happy with 13.5 seconds in anything with my crap driving.....

Seac next year??!!!

Edited by PhilH42 on Monday 4th September 14:21

Edited by PhilH42 on Monday 4th September 14:30

[rev-erend]

The SEAC was entered but problems on the rolling road meant I had to change entry to the Merc.

Last year's time was much better at 12.72

[Brithunter]

It's a national disgrace how they have let Historic Brighton fall apart. As for the arches and upper tiers I bet if they wanted to use them for a gay pride event the council would find the dosh to restore them then!

[motco]

Brithunter said:

It's a national disgrace how they have let Historic Brighton fall apart. As for the arches and upper tiers I bet if they wanted to use them for a gay pride event the council would find the dosh to restore them then!

If indeed they are really unsafe as is claimed! It is a disgrace, and a prime candidate for lottery funding to restore the city to it's former glory. The Speed Trials were acquiring a status not unlike a min-Monaco GP with a social event feeling over and above the sprinting, but now it has become a rather awkward blot on the pale pink landscape. Pink, of course, due to the rust and dog st everywhere.

[PhilH42]

There's certainly no reason the cast can't be painted, the timber treated and the weeds and dog *hit cleared. Bet the blue perimeter fencing cost a packet.

The 2014 infastructure report is below if anyones interested or not seen before, it takes some reading and I'm not sure you come out the other end with any more confidence than you entered...still I'm sure they wasted plenty of money on tea and biscuits. The i360 borrowing and return figures eye opening....I'm struggling with the return figures over the first 27 years. Investment is one thing but I think their gambling on this and it ain't cheap. Be interested to see the return thus far and the upkeep projection.

I'd like to read the full structural report! A victorian structure is not going to conform to todays standards because were too busy wrapping everyone up in cotton wool. I'm not convinced that its suddenly immediately dangerous for general use....big numbers on race day potentially I suppose, however much of the lower section in question could be given temporary additional support as its fenced off from the public anyway which would allow it to be reopened in the mean time.

15 point plan and 10 year window, I just hope the intentions are to retain the victorian character and not replace with some modern take on replication or worse...stainless and toughened glass.


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