Lydden Gets planning approval

Lydden Gets planning approval

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Original Poster:

3,756 posts

120 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
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So hopefully we will see more and better events there.



https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/news/race-circu...

Reciprocating mass

6,030 posts

241 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
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when It seems all race tracks are being pressured to close that’s great new’s

FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

237 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
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Last time I raced there was about 30 years ago. Good news all round.

Brainpox

4,055 posts

151 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
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Imagine being that person who buys a house next to a race track and then complains about noise...

ceesvdelst

289 posts

55 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
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The thing I don't get is.

They hold nothing whatsoever of note there and never could anyway, they hold hardly any car meetings of note there, nothing big is ever going to be held there as the track is too small and there are not pits to speak of . Perhaps they hope to get WRX back but I doubt it s bridges have been burned already

Fair enough investing, but I can't really see what they hope to achieve, unless of course it is a convenient way to burn off some unwanted cash!

Drumroll

Original Poster:

3,756 posts

120 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
quotequote all
ceesvdelst said:
The thing I don't get is.

They hold nothing whatsoever of note there and never could anyway, they hold hardly any car meetings of note there, nothing big is ever going to be held there as the track is too small and there are not pits to speak of . Perhaps they hope to get WRX back but I doubt it s bridges have been burned already

Fair enough investing, but I can't really see what they hope to achieve, unless of course it is a convenient way to burn off some unwanted cash!
Perhaps with the development they will get more events there.

Kraken

1,710 posts

200 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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ceesvdelst said:
The thing I don't get is.

They hold nothing whatsoever of note there and never could anyway, they hold hardly any car meetings of note there, nothing big is ever going to be held there as the track is too small and there are not pits to speak of . Perhaps they hope to get WRX back but I doubt it s bridges have been burned already

Fair enough investing, but I can't really see what they hope to achieve, unless of course it is a convenient way to burn off some unwanted cash!
There's more to motor racing than headline events you know. Plenty going on there.

ceesvdelst

289 posts

55 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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That was not my point

I have been to Lydden a few times and facilities it is fairly barren, there has been some investment recently, but it is a total clubmans venue, not many race meetings anymore, mainly track days and drifting I think.

I think bikes run there and the odd special event and obviously rallycross.

The building this is replacing are basically POrtakabins so it is needed and Dorans are minted so no shock they can afford it, but I doubt it will attract anything better as what could it really attract? Not BTCC or BSB or even anything mildly on a par. So I simply don't get the benefits other than perhaps having something based there after that isn't now.

FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

237 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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ceesvdelst said:
That was not my point

I have been to Lydden a few times and facilities it is fairly barren, there has been some investment recently, but it is a total clubmans venue, not many race meetings anymore, mainly track days and drifting I think.

I think bikes run there and the odd special event and obviously rallycross.

The building this is replacing are basically POrtakabins so it is needed and Dorans are minted so no shock they can afford it, but I doubt it will attract anything better as what could it really attract? Not BTCC or BSB or even anything mildly on a par. So I simply don't get the benefits other than perhaps having something based there after that isn't now.
It doesn't need to attract BTCC or BSB to be a worthwhile venue or attract investment, as you can see.

We need to get more participation in grass roots motorsports in the UK and Lydden Hill has always been a part of that. Long may it continue.

ceesvdelst

289 posts

55 months

Tuesday 4th February 2020
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Agreed, but Lydden stopped a lot of club racing to pursue WRX rallycross, so the bad blood with clubs is already laid sadly. I hope it can perhaps pick up again.

lickatysplit

470 posts

130 months

Wednesday 5th February 2020
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none of this is is gospel, just from the locker in my head where I store useless information, some gets twisted into something that may not be true, but.....

I'm sure the track can only hold a number of races per year due to noise or something.

this part I really am not sure on, but I heard they may be holding cycle races too in the future, not a huge revenue making scheme but it keeps the track active and close to Zero Noise pollution.

Furyblade_Lee

4,107 posts

224 months

Sunday 16th February 2020
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ceesvdelst said:
Agreed, but Lydden stopped a lot of club racing to pursue WRX rallycross, so the bad blood with clubs is already laid sadly. I hope it can perhaps pick up again.
There is no bad blood whatsoever with local car clubs, we all know the score that Lydden was not allowed to develop. Even when McLaren bought it and put the traffic lights in, they never got used.... Apparently the worst culprit against noise was a local resident who's son had competed there in the past???True they could not hold many international series there but it can be a fantastic club racing venue at many levels.

ceesvdelst

289 posts

55 months

Sunday 16th February 2020
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I am fully aware of the situation there, been there numerous times, the layout would prevent anything big gong there, it is far too short.

My point being, why develop it, but I guess it is to replace the stuff that is there now and perhaps open up some paddock space, as that has hindered them in the past.

And I can tell you for a fact one club was very unhappy they stopped them racing there. As the chairman wrote to me about it!

coppice

8,607 posts

144 months

Monday 17th February 2020
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Reciprocating mass said:
when It seems all race tracks are being pressured to close that’s great new’s
You'd think that sometimes from some of the more paranoid ramblings I've read . But we are a small country and we have - count 'em -
Castle Combe ,Thruxton, Brands . Snetterton , Cadwell, Mallory, Donington, Silverstone, Trac Mon , Oulton , Croft and Knockhill - and now Lydden's back in the foid .

Read about the huge mileage some US racers have to do to their nearest track and we are well served ...

Motor sport would be in a far stronger position if more people actually turned up - I attend a lot of events and the only ones I go to that see serious numbers are Goodwood , Silverstone Classic and BTCC . The rest of the time I assume that some folk are too busy posting about how we are all doomed rather than actually going to events .

Drumroll

Original Poster:

3,756 posts

120 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
coppice said:
You'd think that sometimes from some of the more paranoid ramblings I've read . But we are a small country and we have - count 'em -
Castle Combe ,Thruxton, Brands . Snetterton , Cadwell, Mallory, Donington, Silverstone, Trac Mon , Oulton , Croft and Knockhill - and now Lydden's back in the foid .

Read about the huge mileage some US racers have to do to their nearest track and we are well served ...

Motor sport would be in a far stronger position if more people actually turned up - I attend a lot of events and the only ones I go to that see serious numbers are Goodwood , Silverstone Classic and BTCC . The rest of the time I assume that some folk are too busy posting about how we are all doomed rather than actually going to events .
Very true.

ceesvdelst

289 posts

55 months

Monday 17th February 2020
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To be honest, having attended countless events over 305 odd years I chose the events I attend more carefully.

I have been bored rigid at so many that i tend to only attend things that offer me what I want. And as far as circuits go that is fairly roundly 1 or 2 meetings a year.

And to be honest modern circuit racing does not offer the variety, interest or facilities to allow that.

It is very noble of people to attend meetings all the time, I do try and get to as many as I can, but put bluntly, I usually leave early as they are poorly attended by drivers, the cars there are often very basic and utterly uninteresting to watch, unlike the past, the racing is trash as a result, the viewing is awful and there is nothing to keep me there!

Tell me why I should waste 40 odd quid in petrol and entry to do that when I could either stay at home and watch better on the telly or watch something more entertaining, better, at a better venue elsewhere for more value?

Drumroll

Original Poster:

3,756 posts

120 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
ceesvdelst said:
To be honest, having attended countless events over 305 odd years I chose the events I attend
Wow 305 years attending events. Makes my 45 years look like a drop in the ocean.

I do have to ask though if you aren't actually attending events how can you comment on what they are like?

rallycross

12,790 posts

237 months

Monday 17th February 2020
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I'm glad to see this I love driving @ Lydden, both circuit racing, rallycross and track days, it a great little circuit.

coppice

8,607 posts

144 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
I attend 20 plus events a year and if I didn't enjoy them I wouldn't go. I rarely watch televised motorsport apart from GP highlights as , ultimately it is just watching telly . Someone decides what I see and tries to tells me what is going on , the image is 2D , the sound is crap , I don't get out in the fresh air, nor get to talk to people who share my interest. I've been doing this since 1968 and I look forward to it every year .

Variety and mobility are key.

Variety first - I watch good club stuff like CSCC - huge grids , massive diversity of cars; HSCC - no single seater racing is better than FF1600; modern stuff like BTCC - big grids and crowd , often terrible support package ; big ticket stuff like Goodwood MM and S/stone classic and some speed hillclimbs, drag racing and VSCC events.

Mobility - the way to enjoy a race meeting isn't to turn up at 12 and spend all day in one place . I arrive early (and I might drive 150miles to do so ) and typically cover 10-15,000steps as I like different vantage points and spending time in pits and a paddock. I do this normally for fun , but sometimes because I am writing about it too.

It can be mind numbingly tedious if you pick the wrong meeting - 4 hour Fun Cup and 2 CV races are , I'm sure a hoot to drive but to watch? Not so much ... But the day I am bored by a top fueller, a Lola T70 or a pack of modern GTs - or pre war Bugattis - will be a very sad one. Hasn't happened yet. .

ceesvdelst

289 posts

55 months

Monday 17th February 2020
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We are all different, after 30 odd years of watching I have found the things I like, and I cannot afford to travel as much as some, so am quite happy watching the bigger events on tv or via social media, I have competed myself at a very low level so know that side of things too.

And after trying most things out, i tend to prefer, smaller, niche events or certain forms of racing that are a bit off the grid perhaps Mainly as the safety police are not on your case (something that for me has ruined a lot of mainstream racing) and the racing is pure,fun and compact.

If I lived very close to a venue I would do far more, but my closest venue is 60 miles away so not something I can afford to do 15 or 20 times a year. And other venues like Silverstone Brands, have been utterly ruined for viewing in my opinion or were never that good in the first place lol!
Event he rallycross track at Lydden is not a patch on what it used to be, nearly all asphalt now. Les of a challenge.