Silverstone Changes Layout for MotoGP

[dpbird90]

I don't think it's a repost:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73337

They're going to make the track go right at Abbey now, using some of the national circuit, which is a shame as I would have thought watching two MotoGP bikes side by side at full chat through Bridge corner (preferably from the top of the bridge) would be excellent.

[smiller]

For bikes, Abbey needs to be a full-chat, flat-stick left hander.

Anything else is just pretending.

[dpbird90]

smiller said:

For bikes, Abbey needs to be a full-chat, flat-stick left hander.

Anything else is just pretending.

Agreed, full chat through Abbey straight down through Bridge. That would sound fking great

[mattikake]

Man can they deform this once great circuit any more?

[Vette_1978]

Having never watched any bikes at Silverstone were there ever issues with Bridge? Not enough run off, slightly iffy maybe by modern standards? I'm a big TT fan so don't get me wrong, leave it as it is, but could MGP be a bit quick for Bridge?

[stifler]

Flat chat through abbey, then get rid of bridge brooklands and all that guff. Straight down to woodcote. Oh, hasn't that been done before?

Seriously though, if they put silverstone back to 1973 spec would you do a trackday there just because of woodcote corner?

[Rude-boy]

stifler said:

Flat chat through abbey, then get rid of bridge brooklands and all that guff. Straight down to woodcote. Oh, hasn't that been done before?

Seriously though, if they put silverstone back to 1973 spec would you do a trackday there just because of woodcote corner?

No, Mainly because I would be spending 3/4 of the day packing up and going home as they scrape a couple of numpties off the wall.

I've been going to Silverstone for well over 30 years and Woodcote, even in it's current form, is something even a diehard fan can never fully appreciate until they have driven it. It looks like nothing really, until your going 100mph+ through it and begin to appreciate just how deceptively easy it looks from trackside and just how much of a corner it really is!

[stifler]

Rude-boy said:

stifler said:

Flat chat through abbey, then get rid of bridge brooklands and all that guff. Straight down to woodcote. Oh, hasn't that been done before?

Seriously though, if they put silverstone back to 1973 spec would you do a trackday there just because of woodcote corner?

No, Mainly because I would be spending 3/4 of the day packing up and going home as they scrape a couple of numpties off the wall.

I've been going to Silverstone for well over 30 years and Woodcote, even in it's current form, is something even a diehard fan can never fully appreciate until they have driven it. It looks like nothing really, until your going 100mph+ through it and begin to appreciate just how deceptively easy it looks from trackside and just how much of a corner it really is!

I agree that there would be accidents. Teflon coating the wall could speed up track down time.

It's the same as Castle Combe. I would pay more for a go on the old circuit.

[Rude-boy]

Even in it's current guise Coombe is somewhere you don't even have to try to really hurt yourself.

Just had a look at the suggested layout, I like it, a lot. Not sure you could use it for cars though without some major works (especially after the incident with the school cars last year) but it would be fantastic to have a full field of G20's, or even better GT's, going round there. You'd wouldn't even have to add an extra camera as you'd just relocate the Bridge one to the position along the International track and get the Becketts one to double up.

[stifler]

Rude-boy said:

the incident with the school cars last year

Care to expand on that? I haven't heard what happened.

[Rude-boy]

stifler said:

Rude-boy said:

the incident with the school cars last year

Care to expand on that? I haven't heard what happened.

I can't recall all the details so rather than post anything incorrect up I'll wait to see if anyone can link to the original story. It was in the Club section of Autosport at some time last year (possibly very late 07 but i doubt it).

The main thing I recall was that it appeared a bit of a mountain out of a molehill arising from a freak incident.

[anonymous-user]

stifler said:

Rude-boy said:

stifler said:

Flat chat through abbey, then get rid of bridge brooklands and all that guff. Straight down to woodcote. Oh, hasn't that been done before?

Seriously though, if they put silverstone back to 1973 spec would you do a trackday there just because of woodcote corner?

No, Mainly because I would be spending 3/4 of the day packing up and going home as they scrape a couple of numpties off the wall.

I've been going to Silverstone for well over 30 years and Woodcote, even in it's current form, is something even a diehard fan can never fully appreciate until they have driven it. It looks like nothing really, until your going 100mph+ through it and begin to appreciate just how deceptively easy it looks from trackside and just how much of a corner it really is!

I agree that there would be accidents. Teflon coating the wall could speed up track down time.

It's the same as Castle Combe. I would pay more for a go on the old circuit.

combe is actually better now. having spectated there for twenty years and driven round both iterations, when you are pushing its better in the new configuration.
why? because you slow down for the chicanes at old paddock so you need to get back on the gas for tower and camp and that means being VERY brave on the brakes at the entry to said corners as well as the chicanes. the run form quarry to tower was great but the chicanes do add a bit of spice to the lap. its harder on the car and the driver and absolute power is not the be al land end all it once was... though it still helps!

have to say though, motogp at silverstone is just wrong rahter brands or even oulton park. silverstone is just too wide and lacks sufficient elevation change for most of the lap.

[DeadMeat_UK]

mattikake said:

Man can they deform this once great circuit any more?

This is in addition to the current layout. It's just an extra configuration option to save scraping bits of biker off the wall who probably quite rightly want to reduce their chances of breading it while entertaining us.

[Rude-boy]

DeadMeat_UK said:

mattikake said:

Man can they deform this once great circuit any more?

This is in addition to the current layout. It's just an extra configuration option to save scraping bits of biker off the wall who probably quite rightly want to reduce their chances of breading it while entertaining us.

I wonder though how different the speed will be with them approaching Becketts from Abbey, vs the speed they would have approached Bridge from Club. Can't be that much slower and there wouldn't be that much more room to roll before you hit something rather solid.

[smiller]

DeadMeat_UK said:

This is in addition to the current layout. It's just an extra configuration option to save scraping bits of biker off the wall who probably quite rightly want to reduce their chances of breading it while entertaining us.

What an interesting, considered, and informative opinion.

[Jemco Andy]

Rude-boy said:

stifler said:

Rude-boy said:

the incident with the school cars last year

Care to expand on that? I haven't heard what happened.

I can't recall all the details so rather than post anything incorrect up I'll wait to see if anyone can link to the original story. It was in the Club section of Autosport at some time last year (possibly very late 07 but i doubt it).

The main thing I recall was that it appeared a bit of a mountain out of a molehill arising from a freak incident.

I believe there was a track day/drive experience happening on the South Circuit, and a historic (Neil Cunningham driving ??) went straight on at Becketts (due to an incident), rather than turn right down the straight on the National circuit.
It's the freak incidents that are the worse, that's the problem, because all normal circumstances are usually covered.

[ph123]

Rude-boy said:

stifler said:

Flat chat through abbey, then get rid of bridge brooklands and all that guff. Straight down to woodcote. Oh, hasn't that been done before?

Seriously though, if they put silverstone back to 1973 spec would you do a trackday there just because of woodcote corner?

No, Mainly because I would be spending 3/4 of the day packing up and going home as they scrape a couple of numpties off the wall.

I've been going to Silverstone for well over 30 years and Woodcote, even in it's current form, is something even a diehard fan can never fully appreciate until they have driven it. It looks like nothing really, until your going 100mph+ through it and begin to appreciate just how deceptively easy it looks from trackside and just how much of a corner it really is!

...especially in the extremely rare event of it raining at Silverstone. Hardly ever happens, I know but
and when it does just after the apex at woodcote, water congregates to run across the road ...

[Rude-boy]

ph123 said:

Rude-boy said:

stifler said:

Flat chat through abbey, then get rid of bridge brooklands and all that guff. Straight down to woodcote. Oh, hasn't that been done before?

Seriously though, if they put silverstone back to 1973 spec would you do a trackday there just because of woodcote corner?

No, Mainly because I would be spending 3/4 of the day packing up and going home as they scrape a couple of numpties off the wall.

I've been going to Silverstone for well over 30 years and Woodcote, even in it's current form, is something even a diehard fan can never fully appreciate until they have driven it. It looks like nothing really, until your going 100mph+ through it and begin to appreciate just how deceptively easy it looks from trackside and just how much of a corner it really is!

...especially in the extremely rare event of it raining at Silverstone. Hardly ever happens, I know but
and when it does just after the apex at woodcote, water congregates to run across the road ...

Almost as much fun as the river that runs through the apex at the bottom of Cascades at Oulton, but at least there you've got 200m of grass to collect your thoughts

[Rude-boy]

Jemco Andy said:

I believe there was a track day/drive experience happening on the South Circuit, and a historic (Neil Cunningham driving ??) went straight on at Becketts (due to an incident), rather than turn right down the straight on the National circuit.
It's the freak incidents that are the worse, that's the problem, because all normal circumstances are usually covered.

That's about what I remember, but I couldn't recall if Neil was the do'er or the done

[Nic Jones]

Rude-boy said:

ph123 said:

Rude-boy said:

stifler said:

Flat chat through abbey, then get rid of bridge brooklands and all that guff. Straight down to woodcote. Oh, hasn't that been done before?

Seriously though, if they put silverstone back to 1973 spec would you do a trackday there just because of woodcote corner?

No, Mainly because I would be spending 3/4 of the day packing up and going home as they scrape a couple of numpties off the wall.

I've been going to Silverstone for well over 30 years and Woodcote, even in it's current form, is something even a diehard fan can never fully appreciate until they have driven it. It looks like nothing really, until your going 100mph+ through it and begin to appreciate just how deceptively easy it looks from trackside and just how much of a corner it really is!

...especially in the extremely rare event of it raining at Silverstone. Hardly ever happens, I know but
and when it does just after the apex at woodcote, water congregates to run across the road ...

Almost as much fun as the river that runs through the apex at the bottom of Cascades at Oulton, but at least there you've got 200m of grass to collect your thoughts

Or at the bottom of Paddock Hill bend at Brands...