Question for the Engineers/ Architects.
Question for the Engineers/ Architects.
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BB-Q

Original Poster:

1,697 posts

240 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Having recently returned from a soggy Santa Pod the oft asked questiono was raised in the bar: "why don't they put a roof on the place?"

So- why don't they? I'd imagine because the cost would be horrific, but if such an item was built in a modular fashion then it would be feasible, in my opinion. What we're talking about here is an opne barn, effectively. A roof but no sides. It would need to be about 150 feet wide, at least 50 feet high (dragtsers are very long and occasionally flip/fly) & 3/4 mile long. the strip itself is 1/4 mile, but the shutdown area would need to be dry too, for those who don't use parachutes.

So, is it feasible? What would it cost?

bazh

308 posts

222 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
yes it coud be done, but would cost a hell of alot.

BB-Q

Original Poster:

1,697 posts

240 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
bazh said:
yes it coud be done, but would cost a hell of alot.
Genius- I'd never have worked that out without your help. Thank you.

Olf

11,978 posts

248 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Two major problems with this. Fire (check out some of the fireballs when it all goes wrong) and cars would emerge from the shelter and therefore a dry track onto a damp/slippy track and pear shapes would follow.

BB-Q

Original Poster:

1,697 posts

240 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Olf said:
Two major problems with this. Fire (check out some of the fireballs when it all goes wrong) and cars would emerge from the shelter and therefore a dry track onto a damp/slippy track and pear shapes would follow.
no they wouldn't- not if the shutdown area was covered too.

............as I stated in my original post.

Digga

48,442 posts

313 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
BB-Q said:
Having recently returned from a soggy Santa Pod the oft asked questiono was raised in the bar: "why don't they put a roof on the place?"

So- why don't they? I'd imagine because the cost would be horrific, but if such an item was built in a modular fashion then it would be feasible, in my opinion. What we're talking about here is an opne barn, effectively. A roof but no sides. It would need to be about 150 feet wide, at least 50 feet high (dragtsers are very long and occasionally flip/fly) & 3/4 mile long. the strip itself is 1/4 mile, but the shutdown area would need to be dry too, for those who don't use parachutes.

So, is it feasible? What would it cost?
To give you an idea, the building next door to us - biggest specualtively built warehouse in the UK at the moment is about twice the width you'd need (although you'd need some overhang to stop driving rain from blowing onto the track) and about half the length of a drag strip. The whole thing is 670k sq. ft and will sell for around £60m.

If you bases 'just a roof' on about £70 per sq. ft, I think you'd not be far wrong - go cost.

Edited by Digga on Friday 12th September 13:30


Edited by Digga on Friday 12th September 13:31

captainzep

13,306 posts

222 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
It would definitely cost £27.34 ex vat. No question.

Possibly more for the see-through guttering.




What is Santa-Pod?

Olf

11,978 posts

248 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
Two major problems with this. Fire (check out some of the fireballs when it all goes wrong) and cars would emerge from the shelter and therefore a dry track onto a damp/slippy track and pear shapes would follow.
no they wouldn't- not if the shutdown area was covered too.

............as I stated in my original post.
Did your eyes miss the bit about fire?

mrobertshaw

2,187 posts

260 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
I imagine the noise might become an issue as well, the top fuel cars are pretty loud as it is, imagine the sounds bouncing around in a big tunnel, it would probably wear a bit on spectators after a coupke of runs.

M400 NBL

3,552 posts

242 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
It would be more fun if they had a load of people running on with a plastic sheet whenever it rained, like they do at Wimbledon hehe (yes I laugh at my own jokes)


ZeeTacoe

5,444 posts

252 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
what you could really use at Santa Pod is a temporary roof for the track. Something that could be erected quickly at the first hint of rain and then quickly pulled down when it clears.

BB-Q

Original Poster:

1,697 posts

240 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Olf said:
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
Two major problems with this. Fire (check out some of the fireballs when it all goes wrong) and cars would emerge from the shelter and therefore a dry track onto a damp/slippy track and pear shapes would follow.
no they wouldn't- not if the shutdown area was covered too.

............as I stated in my original post.
Did your eyes miss the bit about fire?
I don't think fire is a major issue as I was just thinking of the roof and not a fully enclosed tunnel. 50ft tall fireballs are not exactly common place in drag racing.

Olf

11,978 posts

248 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
Two major problems with this. Fire (check out some of the fireballs when it all goes wrong) and cars would emerge from the shelter and therefore a dry track onto a damp/slippy track and pear shapes would follow.
no they wouldn't- not if the shutdown area was covered too.

............as I stated in my original post.
Did your eyes miss the bit about fire?
I don't think fire is a major issue as I was just thinking of the roof and not a fully enclosed tunnel. 50ft tall fireballs are not exactly common place in drag racing.
So why did you ask for an engineer if you know it all already?

BB-Q

Original Poster:

1,697 posts

240 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
captainzep said:
It would definitely cost £27.34 ex vat. No question.

Possibly more for the see-through guttering.




What is Santa-Pod?
seriously? The place to go in the UK to see the fastest motorsport on earth. 8000hp, 5g acceleration, 0-300mph in 440 yards (0-250 in half of that)in under 5 seconds, engines that register 4 on the Richter scale sound appealing at all?

Santa Pod

BB-Q

Original Poster:

1,697 posts

240 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Olf said:
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
Two major problems with this. Fire (check out some of the fireballs when it all goes wrong) and cars would emerge from the shelter and therefore a dry track onto a damp/slippy track and pear shapes would follow.
no they wouldn't- not if the shutdown area was covered too.

............as I stated in my original post.
Did your eyes miss the bit about fire?
I don't think fire is a major issue as I was just thinking of the roof and not a fully enclosed tunnel. 50ft tall fireballs are not exactly common place in drag racing.
So why did you ask for an engineer if you know it all already?
If you read my responses you'd see examples of "I'd imagine" & "I don't think", etc. That doesn't suggest to me that I know it all- I'm not a bloody woman!

captainzep

13,306 posts

222 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
BB-Q said:
captainzep said:
What is Santa-Pod?
seriously? quote]

No not seriously. I was trying to make my post sound more stupid than it already was. Which was lots.

Even though my car is front wheel drive, I'm aware of UK drag racing.

But thanks.

Olf

11,978 posts

248 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
Two major problems with this. Fire (check out some of the fireballs when it all goes wrong) and cars would emerge from the shelter and therefore a dry track onto a damp/slippy track and pear shapes would follow.
no they wouldn't- not if the shutdown area was covered too.

............as I stated in my original post.
Did your eyes miss the bit about fire?
I don't think fire is a major issue as I was just thinking of the roof and not a fully enclosed tunnel. 50ft tall fireballs are not exactly common place in drag racing.
So why did you ask for an engineer if you know it all already?
If you read my responses you'd see examples of "I'd imagine" & "I don't think", etc. That doesn't suggest to me that I know it all- I'm not a bloody woman!
Well take it from me - Fire is a big issue and your assertion about the fireballs not being common place is irrelevant. It can happen, it does happen and you'd have to design for it.

Mike400

1,026 posts

261 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Olf said:
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
BB-Q said:
Olf said:
Two major problems with this. Fire (check out some of the fireballs when it all goes wrong) and cars would emerge from the shelter and therefore a dry track onto a damp/slippy track and pear shapes would follow.
no they wouldn't- not if the shutdown area was covered too.

............as I stated in my original post.
Did your eyes miss the bit about fire?
I don't think fire is a major issue as I was just thinking of the roof and not a fully enclosed tunnel. 50ft tall fireballs are not exactly common place in drag racing.
So why did you ask for an engineer if you know it all already?
If you read my responses you'd see examples of "I'd imagine" & "I don't think", etc. That doesn't suggest to me that I know it all- I'm not a bloody woman!
Well take it from me - Fire is a big issue and your assertion about the fireballs not being common place is irrelevant. It can happen, it does happen and you'd have to design for it.
Install sprinklers??


No im not being serious

shirt

25,492 posts

231 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
the real answer is that the H&S brigade wouldn't allow it.

i used to go to see the tractor pulling sometimes as a kid. the sight and sound of a twin merlin-engined tractor chugging up the dirt was great fun, but was always in a muddy field against the backdrop of the typical english weather.

on eurosport it was a different matter. the septics were doing it in comfy indoor arena's, not giving a fig about the h&s 'risk' as they had designed to fire & ventilation systems to cope.

has anyone seen the bercy stadium in paris? superb place, can be flooded to allow sailing & windsurfing, grassed over for horse riding and tennis, and is also used for the karting masters and indoor supercross.

would we be allowed one in the uk? would we fk.

another factor would be that we can't even build a simple footy stadium for less than £750m. 1 wembley = 3 allianz stadiums = 4 beijin national stadiums.

BB-Q

Original Poster:

1,697 posts

240 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Ok, understood. I agree there could be H&S problems too. But I'm not talking about enclosing the drag strip in a building or stadium, I'm suggesting putting a shelter over the top of it. There would be totally unrestricted access at the ends and sides. Surely that would make a difference to the H&S bods? Think of it as a 3/4 mile bus shelter!

Or is there another possibility?