Castle Combe Circuit For Sale!
Discussion
Is it a great circuit? I used to like going there because our car's setup meant it was the fastest, but in terms of enjoyment i wouldn't say it is anything special other than the danger factor of little run off combined with high average speed.
The problem is, because of the danger (and teeny pitlane), nothing 'proper' runs there. Mr Palmer would therefore need to put in a sizeable investment.
I'd like to see it happen though; maybe a few changes to the circuit in combination with pits/facilities. I'd hate to see it shutdown as out of all of the UK circuits there is great local support; as a club racer i really appreciate the locals coming down to watch - i get to feel like a proper racing driver!
The problem is, because of the danger (and teeny pitlane), nothing 'proper' runs there. Mr Palmer would therefore need to put in a sizeable investment.
I'd like to see it happen though; maybe a few changes to the circuit in combination with pits/facilities. I'd hate to see it shutdown as out of all of the UK circuits there is great local support; as a club racer i really appreciate the locals coming down to watch - i get to feel like a proper racing driver!
It's my local circuit too, and the only one in quite a wide area. It does need massive investment, and has lost most of the higher profile championship races (British GT, F3). I know that they have major issues with locals and noise, I think they would have a real fight to get any kind of planning permission which lead to increased use, so maybe not that attractive to investors like Mr Palmer. Be a real shame to lose it.
That is a real shame, personally I really like Combe (I even did my ARDS there many years ago). Going flat into avon rise just before the extreme braking for quarry is always one of the highlights of the season for me. I also find it a very nice place to visit, everyone is friendly and the area is very picturesque. I don't think it would be quite the same if it was MSV'd. That said I don't think the grass comes in for too much abuse there so it may score well for them.
I know they have had there problems with the locals and I hope this isn't behind the decision to sell because if it is will it even stay as a circuit.
I know they have had there problems with the locals and I hope this isn't behind the decision to sell because if it is will it even stay as a circuit.
This has me concerned.
CC is one of my local circuits and i still have 2 more track days this year to attend. Yes there have been a few locals who object to the track , what I don't know is if they are objecting to the track noise or if it is the traffic to and from the track. I think we have all seen people who have gone to a track day or seasonal event like Jap Fest and then felt the need to drive like a dick down the lanes back to the A46.
I'd also like to know which idiots thought it would be a good idea to have Jap Fest which is the circuits largest event on the same weekend as Badminton horse trials barely a few miles down the road - that really was a nightmare for locals and people attending the two events. Perhaps if there was some better planning the locals might be a bit more on the track's side.
Edit to add: I think i know one of the people who has complained about the track noise , he is based in a village a couple of miles away and it's ironic because he has a selection of rather beautiful but also rather noisy supercars which I'm sure his neighbours either love or hate.
CC is one of my local circuits and i still have 2 more track days this year to attend. Yes there have been a few locals who object to the track , what I don't know is if they are objecting to the track noise or if it is the traffic to and from the track. I think we have all seen people who have gone to a track day or seasonal event like Jap Fest and then felt the need to drive like a dick down the lanes back to the A46.
I'd also like to know which idiots thought it would be a good idea to have Jap Fest which is the circuits largest event on the same weekend as Badminton horse trials barely a few miles down the road - that really was a nightmare for locals and people attending the two events. Perhaps if there was some better planning the locals might be a bit more on the track's side.
Edit to add: I think i know one of the people who has complained about the track noise , he is based in a village a couple of miles away and it's ironic because he has a selection of rather beautiful but also rather noisy supercars which I'm sure his neighbours either love or hate.
aka_kerrly said:
Edit to add: I think i know one of the people who has complained about the track noise , he is based in a village a couple of miles away and it's ironic because he has a selection of rather beautiful but also rather noisy supercars which I'm sure his neighbours either love or hate.
Yes it's rather disgraceful isn't it? Not entirely surprised that Pat wants to sell it, would be a shame for it to become mega corporate though. They are hugely supportive of the local area and the reality is that it's a tiny minority of people who complain about the noise.
Interestingly the planning permission is quite significantly under-used - they have permission for something like 230 active days per year, at various different noise levels, but have never used much more than 120.
miniman said:
Yes it's rather disgraceful isn't it?
Not entirely surprised that Pat wants to sell it, would be a shame for it to become mega corporate though. They are hugely supportive of the local area and the reality is that it's a tiny minority of people who complain about the noise.
Interestingly the planning permission is quite significantly under-used - they have permission for something like 230 active days per year, at various different noise levels, but have never used much more than 120.
Yes, my understanding is that they have just struggled to commercialise the land sufficiently. It may be that a larger party could extract more revenue from the permissions they have. Not entirely surprised that Pat wants to sell it, would be a shame for it to become mega corporate though. They are hugely supportive of the local area and the reality is that it's a tiny minority of people who complain about the noise.
Interestingly the planning permission is quite significantly under-used - they have permission for something like 230 active days per year, at various different noise levels, but have never used much more than 120.
I've done probably the best part of 200 laps at Combe and I still take that one a little slower than I could (given bigger balls and a lack of self preservation).
I hope whatever its fast that it ends up profitable and sustainable. It's a fun track and gives a really good sense of speed.
I hope whatever its fast that it ends up profitable and sustainable. It's a fun track and gives a really good sense of speed.
In general it all seems like a symptom of the country's industry being wiped out to the point where property development is one of the main industries left.In which case nothing is safe from the clutches and intentions of the property developers at least in most of Southern England.That applies to everything from the local pub to large racing circuits.In most cases the potential development values being too good an offer for the owners to turn down.Brooklands being one of the first victims of the 1930's and post war building rush in Surrey at that time.Its just that now land values seem to be increasing further out across the country for the same reasons.In which case,just like pubs being turned into housing estates or blocks of flats,racing circuits are probably just as at risk of seen as being worth more as potential development land,than for their original purpose.
Until we suddenly reach the point where we look round and find that we've turned the country into one big dormitory with no where left to actually do anything other than commute between work,home and supermarket together with a few golf courses and athletics type sports.
Until we suddenly reach the point where we look round and find that we've turned the country into one big dormitory with no where left to actually do anything other than commute between work,home and supermarket together with a few golf courses and athletics type sports.
Castle Combe was my first ever track day, back in about 1997 before track days really existed - David Hendry hired the whole circuit for the day and invited customers (past, present and future) to it. I was allowed to attend in lieu of my father, who had been invited but couldn't attend.
I've been back to Combe several times over the years, but it really rather lost its magic for me when the chicanes were added.
I've been back to Combe several times over the years, but it really rather lost its magic for me when the chicanes were added.
benedwards64 said:
Do they do general track days at Thruxton? The website seems to only talk about test days, which need ARDS instructors...
There are a handful of track days per year at Thruxton, usually run by GoldTrack and with stupidly low noise limits imposed on them by the Council. Despite it being a working airport. DonkeyApple said:
miniman said:
Yes it's rather disgraceful isn't it?
Not entirely surprised that Pat wants to sell it, would be a shame for it to become mega corporate though. They are hugely supportive of the local area and the reality is that it's a tiny minority of people who complain about the noise.
Interestingly the planning permission is quite significantly under-used - they have permission for something like 230 active days per year, at various different noise levels, but have never used much more than 120.
Yes, my understanding is that they have just struggled to commercialise the land sufficiently. It may be that a larger party could extract more revenue from the permissions they have. Not entirely surprised that Pat wants to sell it, would be a shame for it to become mega corporate though. They are hugely supportive of the local area and the reality is that it's a tiny minority of people who complain about the noise.
Interestingly the planning permission is quite significantly under-used - they have permission for something like 230 active days per year, at various different noise levels, but have never used much more than 120.
miniman said:
DonkeyApple said:
miniman said:
Yes it's rather disgraceful isn't it?
Not entirely surprised that Pat wants to sell it, would be a shame for it to become mega corporate though. They are hugely supportive of the local area and the reality is that it's a tiny minority of people who complain about the noise.
Interestingly the planning permission is quite significantly under-used - they have permission for something like 230 active days per year, at various different noise levels, but have never used much more than 120.
Yes, my understanding is that they have just struggled to commercialise the land sufficiently. It may be that a larger party could extract more revenue from the permissions they have. Not entirely surprised that Pat wants to sell it, would be a shame for it to become mega corporate though. They are hugely supportive of the local area and the reality is that it's a tiny minority of people who complain about the noise.
Interestingly the planning permission is quite significantly under-used - they have permission for something like 230 active days per year, at various different noise levels, but have never used much more than 120.
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