Silverstone a little bit of defence of them
Discussion
I thought I'd share a little bit of information as regards this weekends issues. First off let me start by saying I have no connection with Silverstone, am not a member of the brdc but I am involved with Motorsport, build and race cars and are trying to make progress in our first season of the Btcc. More importantly (or of more relevance to this post) is that I live 2 miles from the track just off the A43.
I can't comment on the marshalling or sign posting but what I can say is that as regards the weather I am amazed that any car parks or campsites are open at all. Over the last 3 weeks I cannot recall a single day where we haven't had at least some rain and in the last week we have had heavy rain daily and for prolonged periods. Where I live I have a little land of similar type to the land around the circuit (understandably I guess) and to say it is water logged is an understatement, we have had standing water stretching 10 acres for days as the volume of rain we have had is simply unable to drain off. To compound this on Wednesday night we had rain of such proportions that I've never seen in this country before. For those who have perhaps travelled to Asia, imagine the sort of monsoon rain you get late afternoon for 2-3 mins per day (in KL it was 4pm, you could set your watch by it) it's the sort of rain that is nothing short of a waterfall albeit for very short periods.on Wednesday we had this for 45mins straight, I know this because I was caught in the fields unwilling to get back tot he house. In part intrigued of what I was seeing I spent the period watching my fields turn into swimming pools (literally a whole field, 10 acres in size look like a lido) the rainwater coming off the back of our race workshop was such that a 4" drain pipe was shooting water 3m into the air at full blast. I put a pint glass out and it was full by the time the rain had stopped. It was pretty awe inspiring.
That's what the campsites and car parks have had around Silverstone.
Now I'm sure there are issues with all other kinds of things going wrong and I neither know nor profess knowledge about these but I thought a first hand view of what they have had to deal with might at least give people some background.
I'm going to the race tomorrow, nothing fancy just a gen access ticket but I'll be walking there and back I think.
I hope everyone enjoys the weekend.
I can't comment on the marshalling or sign posting but what I can say is that as regards the weather I am amazed that any car parks or campsites are open at all. Over the last 3 weeks I cannot recall a single day where we haven't had at least some rain and in the last week we have had heavy rain daily and for prolonged periods. Where I live I have a little land of similar type to the land around the circuit (understandably I guess) and to say it is water logged is an understatement, we have had standing water stretching 10 acres for days as the volume of rain we have had is simply unable to drain off. To compound this on Wednesday night we had rain of such proportions that I've never seen in this country before. For those who have perhaps travelled to Asia, imagine the sort of monsoon rain you get late afternoon for 2-3 mins per day (in KL it was 4pm, you could set your watch by it) it's the sort of rain that is nothing short of a waterfall albeit for very short periods.on Wednesday we had this for 45mins straight, I know this because I was caught in the fields unwilling to get back tot he house. In part intrigued of what I was seeing I spent the period watching my fields turn into swimming pools (literally a whole field, 10 acres in size look like a lido) the rainwater coming off the back of our race workshop was such that a 4" drain pipe was shooting water 3m into the air at full blast. I put a pint glass out and it was full by the time the rain had stopped. It was pretty awe inspiring.
That's what the campsites and car parks have had around Silverstone.
Now I'm sure there are issues with all other kinds of things going wrong and I neither know nor profess knowledge about these but I thought a first hand view of what they have had to deal with might at least give people some background.
I'm going to the race tomorrow, nothing fancy just a gen access ticket but I'll be walking there and back I think.
I hope everyone enjoys the weekend.
You have condemned them with your defence.
So for three weeks there has been a lot of rain. Therefore it must have been pretty obvious that problems would be likely if not inevitable. So what have they done for those three weeks to prepare other than sit there with their fingers crossed ? Nothing by the looks of it.
The Public relations woman on radio 5 this morning was the epitome of this. The usual apologetic drivel and the stock response of "all of the information and numbers are on the web-site". Then the radio presenter pointed out that this wasn't much help to the thousands of people stuck in their cars who couldn't get access to the web-site.
Rather sheepish apology by PR woman and a promise to get hold of the numbers so they could be put out on air.
She must have known for several hours that a radio interview was coming up yet hadn't got any information ready at all.
A general note to all and hard as is it might be for some to believe - a lot of people still don't have access to the internet or 3G 'phones.
So for three weeks there has been a lot of rain. Therefore it must have been pretty obvious that problems would be likely if not inevitable. So what have they done for those three weeks to prepare other than sit there with their fingers crossed ? Nothing by the looks of it.
The Public relations woman on radio 5 this morning was the epitome of this. The usual apologetic drivel and the stock response of "all of the information and numbers are on the web-site". Then the radio presenter pointed out that this wasn't much help to the thousands of people stuck in their cars who couldn't get access to the web-site.
Rather sheepish apology by PR woman and a promise to get hold of the numbers so they could be put out on air.
She must have known for several hours that a radio interview was coming up yet hadn't got any information ready at all.
A general note to all and hard as is it might be for some to believe - a lot of people still don't have access to the internet or 3G 'phones.
Can't quite believe the pint glass story...
Some Northants weather data at this link indicating 22.4mm of rain so far this month (not sure precisely where the weather station is). 382mm so far this year which would fill a pint glass twice over (ignoring evaporation)!
http://www.northantsweather.com/
Some Northants weather data at this link indicating 22.4mm of rain so far this month (not sure precisely where the weather station is). 382mm so far this year which would fill a pint glass twice over (ignoring evaporation)!
http://www.northantsweather.com/
Sounds lovely, Thorney 
You just know it's coming though, don't you... The Poison Dwarf in all his glorious miniature nastiness blaming the wettest spell since records began on lack of investment in the weather on the part of the BRDC and UK government. 'Silverstone and the UK public doesn't deserve the race. The governments in Syria and Zimbabwe have been investing in fabulous facilities and sunshine and have been very welcoming to us. We'll drop this sh!thole and be racing there next year'.
You just know it's coming though, don't you... The Poison Dwarf in all his glorious miniature nastiness blaming the wettest spell since records began on lack of investment in the weather on the part of the BRDC and UK government. 'Silverstone and the UK public doesn't deserve the race. The governments in Syria and Zimbabwe have been investing in fabulous facilities and sunshine and have been very welcoming to us. We'll drop this sh!thole and be racing there next year'.
;);)DaveR said:
Sounds lovely, Thorney
You just know it's coming though, don't you... The Poison Dwarf in all his glorious miniature nastiness blaming the wettest spell since records began on lack of investment in the weather on the part of the BRDC and UK government. 'Silverstone and the UK public doesn't deserve the race. The governments in Syria and Zimbabwe have been investing in fabulous facilities and sunshine and have been very welcoming to us. We'll drop this sh!thole and be racing there next year'.
Ecclestone defends SilverstoneYou just know it's coming though, don't you... The Poison Dwarf in all his glorious miniature nastiness blaming the wettest spell since records began on lack of investment in the weather on the part of the BRDC and UK government. 'Silverstone and the UK public doesn't deserve the race. The governments in Syria and Zimbabwe have been investing in fabulous facilities and sunshine and have been very welcoming to us. We'll drop this sh!thole and be racing there next year'.
Well said OP.
The morons who seem to think that Silverstone should lay acres and acres of tarmac for a 3 day event need to have a serious word with themseleves. Apart from anything else where do they think that the rain water will run off to?
With half the Country subject to flood warnings or already flooded you would think that people would apply a bit more brain power, although I suspect they might already be at capacity...
The morons who seem to think that Silverstone should lay acres and acres of tarmac for a 3 day event need to have a serious word with themseleves. Apart from anything else where do they think that the rain water will run off to?
With half the Country subject to flood warnings or already flooded you would think that people would apply a bit more brain power, although I suspect they might already be at capacity...
I agree with the OP - you've got idiots ranting away about car parks being closed and journeys being wasted despite Silverstone making it clear yesterday that there was a problem and that people with public parking tickets may not be able to park today (they actually said "stay away", basically...
I'm not sure what it is about some people in this country - we clearly don't get enough really bad weather to get it into their thick heads that they cannot just jump in their car and go anywhere they like, anytime they like (and have someone to park their car when they get there of course).
Bloke on the radio was having a go at someone from Silverstone for 'not refunding petrol costs to people who were turned away' - if you drove there DESPITE being told not to, you should have had your car crushed just to see if we can get through to your stupid self...
Same idiots who drive into floods, get stuck in snowdrifts, get caught in storms etc. - can't use their brain at all.
I'm not sure what it is about some people in this country - we clearly don't get enough really bad weather to get it into their thick heads that they cannot just jump in their car and go anywhere they like, anytime they like (and have someone to park their car when they get there of course).
Bloke on the radio was having a go at someone from Silverstone for 'not refunding petrol costs to people who were turned away' - if you drove there DESPITE being told not to, you should have had your car crushed just to see if we can get through to your stupid self...
Same idiots who drive into floods, get stuck in snowdrifts, get caught in storms etc. - can't use their brain at all.
Totaly right OP
There's been a few festivals and lots of car shows cancled over the last weeks, the fact they managed to put it on ay all speaks volumes for the organisers, as for the morons who blame silverstone for the weather
Most of the parking is farmland not belonging to silverstone anyway and if you tarmac all that land the water that cannot soak into the earth will just flood elsewhere FFS.
I'd love to have been there in amongst the hard cor fans
better than listening the limp wristed so called fans/keybourd warriors on here 
says me limp wristedly typing my post
There's been a few festivals and lots of car shows cancled over the last weeks, the fact they managed to put it on ay all speaks volumes for the organisers, as for the morons who blame silverstone for the weather
Most of the parking is farmland not belonging to silverstone anyway and if you tarmac all that land the water that cannot soak into the earth will just flood elsewhere FFS.
I'd love to have been there in amongst the hard cor fans
better than listening the limp wristed so called fans/keybourd warriors on here says me limp wristedly typing my post
I agree it's not easy, and the weather is (sort of) extreme. However they can't charge THAT much and allow it to be so bad, I mean by putting your trust in parking on grass fields with our weather, one day you're going to get caught out. Goodwood was the same.
I heard on the radio that all the sponsors would get in. Well fantastic for them, but what about the tens of thousands of fans?
I heard on the radio that all the sponsors would get in. Well fantastic for them, but what about the tens of thousands of fans?
405dogvan said:
I agree with the OP - you've got idiots ranting away about car parks being closed and journeys being wasted despite Silverstone making it clear yesterday that there was a problem and that people with public parking tickets may not be able to park today (they actually said "stay away", basically...
I'm not sure what it is about some people in this country - we clearly don't get enough really bad weather to get it into their thick heads that they cannot just jump in their car and go anywhere they like, anytime they like (and have someone to park their car when they get there of course).
Bloke on the radio was having a go at someone from Silverstone for 'not refunding petrol costs to people who were turned away' - if you drove there DESPITE being told not to, you should have had your car crushed just to see if we can get through to your stupid self...
Same idiots who drive into floods, get stuck in snowdrifts, get caught in storms etc. - can't use their brain at all.
Whilst I agree with you on the dI'm not sure what it is about some people in this country - we clearly don't get enough really bad weather to get it into their thick heads that they cannot just jump in their car and go anywhere they like, anytime they like (and have someone to park their car when they get there of course).
Bloke on the radio was having a go at someone from Silverstone for 'not refunding petrol costs to people who were turned away' - if you drove there DESPITE being told not to, you should have had your car crushed just to see if we can get through to your stupid self...
Same idiots who drive into floods, get stuck in snowdrifts, get caught in storms etc. - can't use their brain at all.
heads who drive into floods. And I don't envisage Petrol costs being refunded.Silverstone should be able to deal with this recent weather. If I can get in my car and DRIVE the 70 or so miles there without hitch. Why should the last mile be completely impossible to deal with? If you can charge the hundreds of pounds for a ticket and sort out the logistics of that, and a million other things. Why can't you sort getting your customers in safely? I tell you why. It's incompetence on a biblical scale. Even worse that it has happened before!
Rich_W said:
...I tell you why. It's incompetence on a biblical scale. Even worse that it has happened before!
Have you considered applying for the job of organiser?Or perhaps coming up with a system that can temporarily cover that acreage of farmland for parking without irrecoverable damage and without other traffic issues?
S0 What said:
Totaly right OP
There's been a few festivals and lots of car shows cancled over the last weeks, the fact they managed to put it on ay all speaks volumes for the organisers, as for the morons who blame silverstone for the weather
Most of the parking is farmland not belonging to silverstone anyway and if you tarmac all that land the water that cannot soak into the earth will just flood elsewhere FFS.
I'd love to have been there in amongst the hard cor fans better than listening the limp wristed so called fans/keybourd warriors on here
says me limp wristedly typing my post
+ 1 Couldn't agree moreThere's been a few festivals and lots of car shows cancled over the last weeks, the fact they managed to put it on ay all speaks volumes for the organisers, as for the morons who blame silverstone for the weather
Most of the parking is farmland not belonging to silverstone anyway and if you tarmac all that land the water that cannot soak into the earth will just flood elsewhere FFS.
I'd love to have been there in amongst the hard cor fans
better than listening the limp wristed so called fans/keybourd warriors on here says me limp wristedly typing my post
Murph7355 said:
Have you considered applying for the job of organiser?
Or perhaps coming up with a system that can temporarily cover that acreage of farmland for parking without irrecoverable damage and without other traffic issues?
I hadn't, but I will when it becomes available next week!Or perhaps coming up with a system that can temporarily cover that acreage of farmland for parking without irrecoverable damage and without other traffic issues?
They don't have to use the farmland when it is wet tho, they should have contingency plans in place for Park & Rides that are allocated the same way as the fields are, so in cases like this they have alternatives. It's not like there isn't a lot of business parks etc around there with plenty of parking!
Getting to/around SS is always a PITA when the GP is on, not a lot they can do with the roads the way it is, so this could be a possibilty for future events anyway
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