Future of Santa Pod?
Discussion
What do you think the future of Santa pod is going to be with the impact of the brand new facility , Tierp Arena. Will racers prefer to race at the new facility and probably miss out the rounds at Santa Pod or will it actualy be a massive benefit to European Drag Racing ( bring more interest and see new drivers and sponsors get involved in the FIA series ? and bigger entries at Santa Pod ) .... What does everyone think ?
After going to the pod for years i went to brands hatch to see some awesome historic cars gt40,s mclarens,mk 1 tinas and such like on sunday.All i can say is clean toilets, hot running water in toilets,handryers immaculately clean circuit i rest my case.
Its not rocket science to provide a clean toilet and showers i reckon anyone would jump at any new strip and clean facilitys.Provisions for dissabled folk at the pod are horrendous too.
Its not rocket science to provide a clean toilet and showers i reckon anyone would jump at any new strip and clean facilitys.Provisions for dissabled folk at the pod are horrendous too.
MotorPsycho said:
"All i can say is clean toilets, hot running water in toilets, handryers, immaculately clean circuit"
If these factors were as important for everyone as they are for you then nobody would go. The likes of Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds festivals would be going out of business. I don't see that happening.popinoz said:
All i can say is clean toilets, hot running water in toilets,handryers immaculately clean circuit i rest my case.
Its not rocket science to provide a clean toilet and showers i reckon anyone would jump at any new strip and clean facilitys.Provisions for dissabled folk at the pod are horrendous too.
The Santa Pod ladies facilities over the weekend were first class given the weather conditions.Its not rocket science to provide a clean toilet and showers i reckon anyone would jump at any new strip and clean facilitys.Provisions for dissabled folk at the pod are horrendous too.
Just my 2p worth.
Kirst
*KT said:
popinoz said:
All i can say is clean toilets, hot running water in toilets,handryers immaculately clean circuit i rest my case.
Its not rocket science to provide a clean toilet and showers i reckon anyone would jump at any new strip and clean facilitys.Provisions for dissabled folk at the pod are horrendous too.
The Santa Pod ladies facilities over the weekend were first class given the weather conditions.Its not rocket science to provide a clean toilet and showers i reckon anyone would jump at any new strip and clean facilitys.Provisions for dissabled folk at the pod are horrendous too.
Just my 2p worth.
Kirst
Anyway the OP asked about the effect of Tierp. Hopefully this will be positive, but judging by previous posts it is unlikely to replace SPR for UK racers. In Sweden it effectively replaces Mantorp as an FIA venue this year. If Sweden gets an extra FIA round at the expense of SPR in the future that might be not so good but hopefully won't be the case>
I don't see Popinoz's point.
Everytime I went the toilet over the weekend there was an attendant in there cleaning or replacing toilet rolls etc. It was first class I thought considering the weather and the footfall involved.
I have been to Silverstone for the F1 (i know, i know...free ticket though) in similar conditions and they have been a state.
I think the Pod is on par with Silverstone and similar circuits just without the pretense involved.
Everytime I went the toilet over the weekend there was an attendant in there cleaning or replacing toilet rolls etc. It was first class I thought considering the weather and the footfall involved.
I have been to Silverstone for the F1 (i know, i know...free ticket though) in similar conditions and they have been a state.
I think the Pod is on par with Silverstone and similar circuits just without the pretense involved.
I actually don't think the toilets/catering etc is too bad at the Pod these days, it's no worse than at most circuits in the UK. Getting out if you stay to the end is a pain but that is also true at most circuits.Tierp may take over as Europe's premier track if it turns out to be faster than the Pod but lets not forget Hockenheim has been around for a while now and that has got big grandstands and F1 style pits. I am sure there will be pressure to run a 2nd Swedish FIA round but given we only have 5 rounds anyway I'd have thought that could happen without the Pod losing one of theirs.
When I take new people to the Pod they are always gobsmacked by the cars {especially TF} but hardly any have become regular fans and I think the main reason is not smelly toilets but the sort of jumbo downtimes that occur. The last 2 meetings I have been to are the Spring Holiday meetings in 2010 and again last week both times on the Sunday as I organise a classic car run on the Monday. On both meetings the Pro cycle of qualifying started more or less on time at around 11 and the weather was OK but it took more than 5 hours to complete. All the hanging around with nothing happening {especially as nobody seems to be willing to give an estimate of how long it will take} is very tiresome, I'm not sure if anything can be done about it but I'd say that it is the biggest reason these days that the events are not more popular with casual fans.
I noticed also that during the TF warm ups in the pits { a major highlight for me} that several of the teams have stopped doing throttle blips, I noticed this in Gainesville in 2009 and assume that they are not required any more technically but from a spectator point of view it's a real let down.
Bill
When I take new people to the Pod they are always gobsmacked by the cars {especially TF} but hardly any have become regular fans and I think the main reason is not smelly toilets but the sort of jumbo downtimes that occur. The last 2 meetings I have been to are the Spring Holiday meetings in 2010 and again last week both times on the Sunday as I organise a classic car run on the Monday. On both meetings the Pro cycle of qualifying started more or less on time at around 11 and the weather was OK but it took more than 5 hours to complete. All the hanging around with nothing happening {especially as nobody seems to be willing to give an estimate of how long it will take} is very tiresome, I'm not sure if anything can be done about it but I'd say that it is the biggest reason these days that the events are not more popular with casual fans.
I noticed also that during the TF warm ups in the pits { a major highlight for me} that several of the teams have stopped doing throttle blips, I noticed this in Gainesville in 2009 and assume that they are not required any more technically but from a spectator point of view it's a real let down.
Bill
popinoz said:
After going to the pod for years i went to brands hatch to see some awesome historic cars gt40,s mclarens,mk 1 tinas and such like on sunday.All i can say is clean toilets, hot running water in toilets,handryers immaculately clean circuit i rest my case.
Its not rocket science to provide a clean toilet and showers i reckon anyone would jump at any new strip and clean facilitys.Provisions for dissabled folk at the pod are horrendous too.
The toilets all have attendants and regular cleaners, hot water and hand dryers.Its not rocket science to provide a clean toilet and showers i reckon anyone would jump at any new strip and clean facilitys.Provisions for dissabled folk at the pod are horrendous too.
The track is prepped long after the racing ends and long before it starts.
Every visit to the Pod I notice some welcome spectator area improvements (without mentioning the b**n
)Maybe you were last there in the 70s?
I used to head over to the pod for a few events, but since the last PV show I've not bothered. they simply couldnt cope with the numbers nor had the factilities to deal with the campers.
It was muddy and half the show was under water. The next year was just as bad but without the rain.
I've not been there for 2 years but vowed not to go back until they spent money on the place. the toliets were rank, the ground old and runined. All well going for the strip, but the rest of the site was in serious need of cash being spent.
Anyone been in the last few months?
It was muddy and half the show was under water. The next year was just as bad but without the rain.
I've not been there for 2 years but vowed not to go back until they spent money on the place. the toliets were rank, the ground old and runined. All well going for the strip, but the rest of the site was in serious need of cash being spent.
Anyone been in the last few months?
spats said:
I used to head over to the pod for a few events, but since the last PV show I've not bothered. they simply couldnt cope with the numbers nor had the factilities to deal with the campers.
It was muddy and half the show was under water. The next year was just as bad but without the rain.
I've not been there for 2 years but vowed not to go back until they spent money on the place. the toliets were rank, the ground old and runined. All well going for the strip, but the rest of the site was in serious need of cash being spent.
Anyone been in the last few months?
Yes! Camping is as well catered for as can be reasonably expected and is after all - free. Soil (of which mud is a by-product) is useful when putting tent pegs in the ground.It was muddy and half the show was under water. The next year was just as bad but without the rain.
I've not been there for 2 years but vowed not to go back until they spent money on the place. the toliets were rank, the ground old and runined. All well going for the strip, but the rest of the site was in serious need of cash being spent.
Anyone been in the last few months?
Nevermind 2 rounds at Tierp next year get Mantorp back on the calender!. I have to agree with many on here the Pod has come on leaps and bounds over the pass few years real improvements toilets, attractions etc. Think the FIA would be silly to get rid of 2 rounds over here, the attendances at the Pod now must be at a all time high especially the FIA events look at last weekend the weather wasnt too clever but there was still plenty of folk there, plenty of money gets made from the Pod for sure.
Extra rounds good, same number of rounds with changes of venue bad for some and good for others.
and then who is to say SPR would suffer a loss, could be Hockenheim or Alastaro?
I think Santa Pod is streets ahead in impressing and working with the FIA.
There's talk of FIA approved venues in Hungary and Italy too...my optimistic side says these will cater for more rounds and a rapidly growing European field. Bring it on.
and then who is to say SPR would suffer a loss, could be Hockenheim or Alastaro?
I think Santa Pod is streets ahead in impressing and working with the FIA.
There's talk of FIA approved venues in Hungary and Italy too...my optimistic side says these will cater for more rounds and a rapidly growing European field. Bring it on.
Gassing Station | Drag Racing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff