RE: BRDC sacks its chairman
Friday 14th January 2005
BRDC sacks its chairman
Ousted Ray Bellm says the post 'was removed'.
A row has broken out in the British Racing Drivers' Club, which has sacked its chairman, Ray Bellm, after just a year's tenure. According to BRDC president Sir Jackie Stewart, the issue at stake was one of "corporate governance". The surprise move took place at a London meeting on Wednesday. The vote in favour of the move was six to three, with one anonymous abstention.
Among other things, the BRDC runs the Silverstone GP circuit and has ensured that the British GP remains in the F1 calendar for the next five years. Stewart said the move didn't affect the event.
Bellm has since issued a statement, saying that, "I categorically deny the statement from the BRDC dated January 12th stating that I stepped down from my position of Chairman of the Board of the BRDC. At a Board meeting held on January 11th the post of Chairman was removed and through this decision, I no longer hold the position."
Bellm listed the ways in which he tackled the commercial issues facing the BRDC.
He then said, "The underlying issue for removal of my position is a disagreement by some Board members of the terms of the contract with FOM [Formula One Management] for the British Grand Prix. I led the negotiations on this and acted in the interests of the Club to secure the best – and possibly only - deal available to us. I am saddened that, after all the hard work, there is dissent and disillusion within the Board.
"The Club’s action has left it without a Chairman, which I do not believe is correct corporate governance for the effective running of the Club. After a very productive year in which so much has been achieved, the Club has put itself into a vulnerable position and little clear, commercial and success-driven direction. I will remain on the Board at the current time and hope that I can continue to contribute to the Club as successfully as when I was Chairman."
Discussion
It's a disgrace - these people are supposed to be the pinnacle of the sport in Britain, they've pretty well lost us the Grand Prix after years of mis-management, and now they're squabblimg over the scraps. When the RAC ran the Grand Prix they may have has their faults, but I don't recall Dean Delamont being ousted in someone elses bid for power.
Ray Bellm said:
Ousted Ray Bellm says the post 'was removed'.
Damn moderators.
I also posted about it here earlier in the week - www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=148686&f=42&h=0
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Saturday 15th January 13:22
Jasper Gilder said:
It's a disgrace - these people are supposed to be the pinnacle of the sport in Britain, they've pretty well lost us the Grand Prix after years of mis-management, and now they're squabblimg over the scraps. When the RAC ran the Grand Prix they may have has their faults, but I don't recall Dean Delamont being ousted in someone elses bid for power.
I'm sorry mate but frankly you don't know what your talking about.
The BRDC whilst they are the owners of Silverstone circuit have had NOTHING to do with the running of the British GP in recent years.
This has been handled by IPG's Octagon brand after it brought the rights to the British GP from Ecclestone then had to rent the circuit from the BRDC after the FIA wouldn't pass Brands Hatch as safe to host a GP.
Through IPG's failures - who have pulled out of the British GP in 2004 and sold all of the circuits it brought to MSV - the BRDC were left to salvage what it could.
However the problem we have now is that when Asian governments are prepared to use Formula 1 to promote their economies and spend 100's of millions on venues it sets the bar very high.
The British government have not helped, the teams have not been very vocal and so as the BRDC is funded by its 800 members there is obviously a limit to how much they can pay Ecclestone for the GP rights.
Jasper Gilder said:
It's a disgrace - these people are supposed to be the pinnacle of the sport in Britain, they've pretty well lost us the Grand Prix after years of mis-management, and now they're squabblimg over the scraps. When the RAC ran the Grand Prix they may have has their faults, but I don't recall Dean Delamont being ousted in someone elses bid for power.
Hi Jasper!
Hope you are well, did you meet up with Clive at the Racing Car Show?
p490kvp said:
It's a disgrace - these people are supposed to be the pinnacle of the sport in Britain, they've pretty well lost us the Grand Prix after years of mis-management, and now they're squabblimg over the scraps. When the RAC ran the Grand Prix they may have has their faults, but I don't recall Dean Delamont being ousted in someone elses bid for power.
I'm sorry mate but frankly you don't know what your talking about.
The BRDC whilst they are the owners of Silverstone circuit have had NOTHING to do with the running of the British GP in recent years.
This has been handled by IPG's Octagon brand after it brought the rights to the British GP from Ecclestone then had to rent the circuit from the BRDC after the FIA wouldn't pass Brands Hatch as safe to host a GP.
Through IPG's failures - who have pulled out of the British GP in 2004 and sold all of the circuits it brought to MSV - the BRDC were left to salvage what it could.
However the problem we have now is that when Asian governments are prepared to use Formula 1 to promote their economies and spend 100's of millions on venues it sets the bar very high.
The British government have not helped, the teams have not been very vocal and so as the BRDC is funded by its 800 members there is obviously a limit to how much they can pay Ecclestone for the GP rights.
Hmm. Didn't the BRDC recieve a nice wedge of public money, then built themselves a nice massive clubhouse whilst continuing to neglect the rest of the circuit?
Are any other Western countries spending public money? Its alright Asian countries spending millions on a once-a-year circuit, they don't have to worry about maintaing any sort of social infrastructure like we do in the West. At the end of the day the sponsors and advertisers are going to want to showcase their products in front of the millions who can buy them. Marketing to folk who only earn a bowl of rice a week is of no use to them.
This does seem to be another chapter in a long unseemly period for the BRDC, coming after all the battles with Bernie. I noticed a quote from Bernie saying he'll tear up his contract negotiated by Bellm if the BRDC want, but they won't get another one. That makes things awkward, surely?
I find it strange that Bellm should have negotiated the deal with Ecclestone, presumably with the full backing of the rest of the board.
Then, a couple of weeks later Jackie Stewart leads a boardroom revolt on THE BLOKE WHO SAVED THE BRITISH G.P., which after all, could have gone to any number of Middle East or even Far Eastern countries.
Stewart clearly has his eye on Bellm's old job, which means lots more arguments with Ecclestone every time the G.P. contract is up for renewal.
Also, I'm not one of those people who believes that a last-minute deal would have been done to get the British GP - Ecclestone cut out the Belgian GP without a second thought, and would do it to Silverstone too.
2p worth
Then, a couple of weeks later Jackie Stewart leads a boardroom revolt on THE BLOKE WHO SAVED THE BRITISH G.P., which after all, could have gone to any number of Middle East or even Far Eastern countries.
Stewart clearly has his eye on Bellm's old job, which means lots more arguments with Ecclestone every time the G.P. contract is up for renewal.
Also, I'm not one of those people who believes that a last-minute deal would have been done to get the British GP - Ecclestone cut out the Belgian GP without a second thought, and would do it to Silverstone too.
2p worth
Firstly the BRDC had NO public money to build a club house - which just goes to show how it has lost out in the PR stakes.
As for neglect the circuit - where? Go to Spa, go to the Nurburgring, Magny Cours, Monza or Barcelona and what is Silverstone missing?
I the problem with all this "bar-talk" is that actually the general knowledge of the facts is sadly lacking. Most people haven't even been to any other GP circuit - yet they are very happy to spout this rubbish about Silverstone.
As for the backing of the board - one has to assume that given that same board didn't support Bellm in its 6 to 3 vote - perhaps that backing didn't exist?
As for neglect the circuit - where? Go to Spa, go to the Nurburgring, Magny Cours, Monza or Barcelona and what is Silverstone missing?
I the problem with all this "bar-talk" is that actually the general knowledge of the facts is sadly lacking. Most people haven't even been to any other GP circuit - yet they are very happy to spout this rubbish about Silverstone.
As for the backing of the board - one has to assume that given that same board didn't support Bellm in its 6 to 3 vote - perhaps that backing didn't exist?
p490kvp said:
Firstly the BRDC had NO public money to build a club house - which just goes to show how it has lost out in the PR stakes.
As for neglect the circuit - where? Go to Spa, go to the Nurburgring, Magny Cours, Monza or Barcelona and what is Silverstone missing?
I the problem with all this "bar-talk" is that actually the general knowledge of the facts is sadly lacking. Most people haven't even been to any other GP circuit - yet they are very happy to spout this rubbish about Silverstone.
As for the backing of the board - one has to assume that given that same board didn't support Bellm in its 6 to 3 vote - perhaps that backing didn't exist?
In comparison to those circuits, Silverstone is not neglected (try the public toilets at Monza for a new experience) - only in comparison to the newer Tilke-designed stuff. But they're all cr@p circuits anyway!
Bellm *must* have had some backing from at least 50% of the board - he wouldn't have had the power to conduct that deal himself, would he??? Stewart must have been p1ssed-off that Bellm managed to forge a deal where he didn't, why he should decide to lead a revolt against Bellm is anyone's guess.
p490kvp said:
Well said about the new sterile GP circuit.
Re: internal issues what about a situation where the board gave the authority to do a deal within certain limits and those limits were exceeded?
As I understand it, Stewart only wanted the GP for three years as the Concorde Agreement ends in 2007, and assumed that the costs of hosting a GP would reduce after this time. How he came to this conclusion I don't know.
Bellm wanted to lock the GP in for longer in order to ensure that the extra upgrades to the circuit had enough time to pay for themselves, and given that nothing was on the table before Bellm stepped in, to come away with a 5 year deal was significant progress, which the board could have vetoed AT ANY TIME, since Bellm's initial deal with Ecclestone was only verbal anyway.
I assume those are the 'limits' you are referring to are that Stewart and some mebers of the board wanted the GP for 3 years only. Bellm did his absolute best to get the GP, and did so. Irrespective of the current squabbling, the board agreed to the 5 year deal, then a few weeks later voted Bellm off as Chairman because of the deal he had made - the very same deal which they themselves had the power to stop, but didn't.
To the outsider, which I very much am, as I will never be a good enough driver to be a member of the BRDC, it just looks like crass amateurism and petty squabbling. Ecclestone's probably laughing his head off at the debacle the BRDC have managed to get themselves into, and it certainly goes someway to backing up his (unfair) claim that the BRDC was little more than a 'Gentleman's Club'
That's 6p worth now...
GarrettMacD said:
Ecclestone's probably laughing his head off at the debacle the BRDC have managed to get themselves into, and it certainly goes someway to backing up his (unfair) claim that the BRDC was little more than a 'Gentleman's Club'
That's 6p worth now...
You're absolutely right its a joke - all for a Grand Prix that won't really turn a profit and the club only gets a hard time about in the press - dispite its best efforts.
The root of all of this is power and money - when we get back to focusing on the motor racing all will be well again.
What I hope isn't forgotten is that amoungst all this there are still a few members who are out there still racing, still flying the flag.
The root of all of this is power and money
[/quote]
Yes, and Bernie Ecclestone's got lots of both!!! Stewart can't abide either Ecclestone, or it seems, Bellm.
So does the BRDC now appoint a new chairman to appease JYS, or for the benefit of the club. Or maybe just make JYS Chairman *and* President, a kind of Bernie Ecclestone of the BRDC. Then we just sit back & wait for it all to implode...
[/quote]
Yes, and Bernie Ecclestone's got lots of both!!! Stewart can't abide either Ecclestone, or it seems, Bellm.
So does the BRDC now appoint a new chairman to appease JYS, or for the benefit of the club. Or maybe just make JYS Chairman *and* President, a kind of Bernie Ecclestone of the BRDC. Then we just sit back & wait for it all to implode...
Spa and Barcelona are complete dumps compared to Silverstone (and yes, I've been to all three!)
Bernie slags off Silverstone plainly because it produces great column inches in the British national media, plain and simple. That's all he's doing it for!
There will be a British GP, he can't really afford for there not to be, there's too much at stake from the teams for it not to go ahead.
He knows the way the UK media works, all arounsd hype and scandal. He doesn't need to do this at any other country where a GP is held, because they don't have a media quite like ours. The middle/far eastern countries have support from a government.
It's not rocket science, it's just that people take it on board and believe it.
Bernie slags off Silverstone plainly because it produces great column inches in the British national media, plain and simple. That's all he's doing it for!
There will be a British GP, he can't really afford for there not to be, there's too much at stake from the teams for it not to go ahead.
He knows the way the UK media works, all arounsd hype and scandal. He doesn't need to do this at any other country where a GP is held, because they don't have a media quite like ours. The middle/far eastern countries have support from a government.
It's not rocket science, it's just that people take it on board and believe it.
Make no mistake - Bernie needs nobody! Lets be honest it won't be long before he is in the ground so if the whole show does come to a grinding halt in '07 with a GPWC series he'll never go short of anything.
However I very much doubt GPWC will happen as my personal view - for what it is worth - is that motorsport at this level can only sustain one series. Given the manufacturers are all run by big boards whose members are slow to make decisions for fear of loosing their meal tickets who will want to run the show?
So if you assume that Bernie will continue to the forseeable future then what the BRDC have is worthwhile.
What happens with JYS is going to be a bigger issue one feels. You make a very...interesting point when you talk about the whole thing caving in - I think the same thing is on the minds of more than a few of us.
However I very much doubt GPWC will happen as my personal view - for what it is worth - is that motorsport at this level can only sustain one series. Given the manufacturers are all run by big boards whose members are slow to make decisions for fear of loosing their meal tickets who will want to run the show?
So if you assume that Bernie will continue to the forseeable future then what the BRDC have is worthwhile.
What happens with JYS is going to be a bigger issue one feels. You make a very...interesting point when you talk about the whole thing caving in - I think the same thing is on the minds of more than a few of us.
Bernie slags off Silverstone plainly because it produces great column inches in the British national media, plain and simple. That's all he's doing it for!
True, but at least it *gets* Silverstone in the press, regardless of the fact that he's lying. It's exactly what Mansell said a few weeks ago when he claimed his consortium had an agreement to promote the GP. That was utter bo11ocks, but it got him the media attention he was after!!!
There will be a British GP, he can't really afford for there not to be, there's too much at stake from the teams for it not to go ahead.
Bernie would love 17 Malaysian GP's or similar, because he makes so much money from them. It's the teams who need the British GP, because so many of them are based in the UK, and have a considerable amount of sponsorship from UK Companies.
He knows the way the UK media works, all arounsd hype and scandal. He doesn't need to do this at any other country where a GP is held, because they don't have a media quite like ours.
Err, what about Spain, which is where 'Hello' magazine is originally from...
Or Italy, home of the 'Paparazzi', and also home to Gazetto Dello Sport, probably the most critical sports media in the world.
Or USA, home of National Enquirer, etc
Or Germany, whose tabloids are just as 'sensitive' as here in the UK
And France
The middle/far eastern countries have support from a government.
There's also quite a few European GP's that are partially, if not fully subsidised by the Government. How do you think Monza can run a GP with attendance of 60,000 ???
Or Belgium - the shortfall in tobacco advertising on the track has been made up by the local government.
True, but at least it *gets* Silverstone in the press, regardless of the fact that he's lying. It's exactly what Mansell said a few weeks ago when he claimed his consortium had an agreement to promote the GP. That was utter bo11ocks, but it got him the media attention he was after!!!
There will be a British GP, he can't really afford for there not to be, there's too much at stake from the teams for it not to go ahead.
Bernie would love 17 Malaysian GP's or similar, because he makes so much money from them. It's the teams who need the British GP, because so many of them are based in the UK, and have a considerable amount of sponsorship from UK Companies.
He knows the way the UK media works, all arounsd hype and scandal. He doesn't need to do this at any other country where a GP is held, because they don't have a media quite like ours.
Err, what about Spain, which is where 'Hello' magazine is originally from...
Or Italy, home of the 'Paparazzi', and also home to Gazetto Dello Sport, probably the most critical sports media in the world.
Or USA, home of National Enquirer, etc
Or Germany, whose tabloids are just as 'sensitive' as here in the UK
And France
The middle/far eastern countries have support from a government.
There's also quite a few European GP's that are partially, if not fully subsidised by the Government. How do you think Monza can run a GP with attendance of 60,000 ???
Or Belgium - the shortfall in tobacco advertising on the track has been made up by the local government.
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