Before all the venues disappear...

[Robmarriott]

I've been seeing a lot of stuff on Car Youtube recently, particularly in the states, where people are making noise about venues being threatened with closure from housing developments and it's made me think a bit closer to home.

In a relatively short period of time and entirely off the top of my head, I've seen the closure of Alwalton, Angmering, Arena Essex, Belle Vue, Birmingham Wheels, Wimbledon, Rockingham, Shakespeare County Raceway and York Raceway and the Donington Grand Prix collection.

Then there's all the places constantly given stricter and stricter noise regulations and the ever present threat of new housing developments close to existing venues, Santa Pod, for example (or Rockingham, or in the USA, Bradenton, Greenville-Pickens...).

So my aim for this year, rather than going on a holiday abroad, is to see as much of what's left in the UK as possible, before everything is closed forever.

I've been pretty fortunate that I've been to a lot of places already;

Alwalton (RIP)
Bedford Autodrome
Brafield
Brands Hatch
Cadwell Park
Castle Combe
Donington Park
Foxhall
Goodwood
Mallory Park
Mildenhall
Oulton Park
Rockingham (RIP)
Santa Pod
Silverstone
Skegness
Snetterton

But I've never been to a hillclimb, or a BRISCA F1 event, or Rallycross, or Speedway, never stood in a forest in the rain listening to a mk2 Escort in the distance. Then there's the one off events like the Brighton Speed Trials, VHRA on Pendine Sands, plus the museums I've not found time to visit. So much still to see and it would be a shame to miss them before they're gone.

Edited by Robmarriott on Tuesday 3rd January 12:30

[Robmarriott]

Oneball said:

Another one to add; the ‘other’ form of hillclimbing

I wanted to go to the Arette 'Impossible' Hill Climb in France but it was the week before I was there! Where's the UK equivalent held?

[Robmarriott]

I’m no fan of Silverstone as a spectator and haven’t really bothered with endurance racing of any type over the years but this year with the HyperCar entries, WEC is something I probably would have gone to see.

[Robmarriott]

I think the closest we’ll ever get to a new circuit has happened with Circuit of Wales. There won’t be another in my opinion.

I’m in two minds about airfields, I can see when they’re sold off. Big flat open spaces, roads leading up to them, often not anywhere near existing populations, they’re ideal for building a load of houses without upsetting many locals. But at the same time I feel a certain sense of loss that the heritage vanishes with the development. I don’t think anyone would be able to build a circuit on one these days, MSV struggle with noise regulation at Bedford and there’s no big settlements close to it really.

[Robmarriott]

If a reasonably busy drag strip is sold off for housing, there’s little hope of anyone throwing some tarmac down on an old airfield and making it work.

[Robmarriott]

(Or a manufacturer backed test facility, or a major research facility which also hosted huge car shows in the 90s/00s)





That’s my point in this thread, I don’t feel like any of them are safe.

[Robmarriott]

BEP said:

That said we’ve two completely new venues this year for our next event but they’ll be strictly none spectator.

Well if you need anyone to ‘help’, don’t hesitate to ask

[Robmarriott]

ChevronB19 said:

Croft has come very close to closing several times over the years.

In fact it sort of did in the 90’s, but reopened with a different layout (and a good one at that).

I’d recommend going. As a driver it’s a great circuit, and as a spectator it’s got the largest view of the majority of the circuit.

I honestly don’t know how I’ve never been to Croft, it’s at the top of the list for the year.

[Robmarriott]

coppice said:

I must admit that we can be our own worst enemies at times. I have seen appalling , dangerous driving at the exit of cars and coffee meetings and once endured being stuck in a queue for Japfest while I was en route to another event at the circuit. It is 7am Sunday , so why is it clever to bounce your GTR off the rev limiter and playing banging tunes while stationary outside private homes? FFS .

I grew up 3 miles away from Santa Pod and even as an enthusiast car guy, it drives me mad how people behave en route.

[Robmarriott]

pablo said:

OP needs to investigate the world of trials too, following the Exeter or Lands End trial is great fun and the atmosphere on Simms Hill is brilliant.

Hillclimbing venues like Shelsley and Prescott aren’t going anyway but there is no better place to be on a summers day.

Places are disappearing as noise regulations get tighter and housing is built on previously designated brown/green belt land but visiting venues and experiencing all things motorsport is a great idea. This is a great book and worth buying, you’ll find a few local wherever you are and some long forgotten sites UK Motorsport Explorer

I got that book a while ago and a recent revisit was part of the reason I posted this thread.

Not sure about trials but I’ll have a look. A hillclimb is a definite though.

[Robmarriott]

BananaFama said:

I noticed Op you haven't been to Lydden Hill or Rallycross .
I have completely lost touch with world RX over the last few years so I Googled it .

World RX is returning to Lydden and some others of the traditional venues ,the venue in Belgium ,at Mettet is back too after Spa had it for a couple of years .

I would get down to Lydden this year before it gets dropped again for some silly £££ reason .
I also went to Mettet 3 times ,it's a good little venue and popular with the Belgians .

I’m supposed to be working the weekend it’s at Lydden but being able to kill two birds with one stone, I might swap my shift.

[Robmarriott]

Got a couple of things booked but so far they’re all at places I’ve already been to! The problem is I work alternate Saturdays and a lot of the good stuff falls on the weekends I’m in!

Doorslammers at Santa Pod in May which my one SP event a year since the prices went up post Covid.

Rally Day at Castle Combe in July

Quick60 (a sprint event) at Mallory in August.

Edited by Robmarriott on Monday 16th January 11:33

[Robmarriott]

LukeBrown66 said:

Hoping Quick 60 is a bit better this year, was OK last year but less fans, and the quailty was lacking somewhat, but the top end stuff was staggering. Mallory is lovely though.

It’s been a long time since I was there (PPC in the park 2010!) it’s really cheap, and relatively close so I think it’s worth a shot.

[Robmarriott]

Shame they don’t appear to have a calendar of events on their website yet

[Robmarriott]

Robmarriott said:

Got a couple of things booked but so far they’re all at places I’ve already been to! The problem is I work alternate Saturdays and a lot of the good stuff falls on the weekends I’m in!

Doorslammers at Santa Pod in May which my one SP event a year since the prices went up post Covid.

Rally Day at Castle Combe in July

Quick60 (a sprint event) at Mallory in August.

Decided not to bother with Quick60 because it clashes with a CTCRC meeting at Croft which includes the SuperTouring class, plus I’ve been to Mallory but not Croft. Fortunately I hadn’t booked the ticket.

I really hope it’s worth the 7 hour round trip!

[Robmarriott]

Another event on the list for the year, even though I’ve been already. Britcar + CTCRC at Silverstone this weekend. £17!

I’ve given up on the idea of Anglesey. I’ve emailed them 3 times asking if they have any spectator friendly events this year as there’s nothing on their website at all. Not a peep.

Also booked the BTCC at Knockhill for the day after I’m at Croft. That’s going to be a rough weekend!

[Robmarriott]

Well, most of the stuff listed on their website is track days and there’s no information about whether any old random guy can show up and watch, so I emailed them asking. It’s a long way to go to be turned away at the gate.

[Robmarriott]

As I said at the start of the thread, if people don’t go, the places close. For me, the price I’m willing to pay depends on the event.

£17 is very cheap IMO for a day out with a variety of formulae putting on a good show.

I’m happy paying £38 for the BTCC at Knockhill and £16 to see Super Tourers at Croft.

I’m less happy about £27 for Santa Pod but that’s mainly because it’s on my doorstep and I’d like to go to more events. The one I’ve picked isn’t even the big one, that’s £38 (or £49 on the gate).

[Robmarriott]

bumskins said:

Good point, i'll be at Croft because it's local and the club running the event is in-line with my interests, but £38 to drive to the arse end of the country to watch a bunch of cars that sound like wet farts, seeing how far they can cut the track and who they can punt off to gain a position? Different strokes - I won't even watch the highlights on ITV4.

Drag racing is an odd one, I find driving in a straight line boring regardless of speed, so never have understood what attracts people to compete or spectate. Straights are the boring bits between the corners

I love drag racing for the engineering and the fact that you can sit on the bank at SP in the sun all day with a picnic and see every bit of action. It’s like being at the beach but with fast cars to watch rather than the sea! The paddock is open all day too which isn’t the norm for motorsport in my experience. Again though I grew up nearby and you like what you’re familiar with, right?

BTCC at Knockhill was a balanced choice. I like the BTCC and watch it on TV, I’ve never been to Knockhill and it’s a long way to go for a club meeting (for example) so a big event is the obvious choice.

Like you say, different strokes!

Edited by Robmarriott on Tuesday 21st March 11:11

[Robmarriott]

liner33 said:

They have upped the price up significantly for racers, was shocked at the entry prices nowadays but have to say I don't think the event prices are too bad, the next big meet is £33 for the Sunday and £104 for the full 4 day weekend and that includes camping etc , the Main Event isn't £50 either its £38 which is about 1/2 of what a premiership football match is , represents pretty decent VFM imo , its a lot cheaper than the Goodwood Revival for example

They have ‘early bird’ pricing at £38 but if you leave it too late it’s £49, plus a £3 booking fee per ticket either way.

It’s way too expensive for me to go regularly now but as a one (or few) off, I’m happy to pick and choose the good events and not have to feel the guilt of not contributing to a great venue when it’s gone.

As for Goodwood, I went once and won’t again. It was way too expensive to enjoy and I felt as out of place as a bikini model in a convent.