Save Brighton Speed Trials

[King Arthur]

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE BRIGHTON SPEED TRIALS

UK’s longest running motor sport event under threat

www.savebrightonspeedtrials.com



Brighton, 23 December 2013: Calling all motorsport fans, we need your support to help save the Brighton Speed Trials. The Speed Trials is the longest running motorsport event in the UK and has become a world-famous action packed sprint. It is under threat by Brighton and Hove Council who want to refuse permission and block the event taking place on the seafront.

But you can help by signing our petition; either visit www.savebrightonspeedtrials.com or go directly to the petition which is on the Brighton and Hove Council web site and sign it now: http://tinyurl.com/qjtbmub. Don’t delay; the council will be making a decision on 23 January 2014!

The Speed Trials has been running in Brighton since 1905 and is one of the highlights of the seafront entertainment calendar. Thousands of people come down for an entertaining fun-packed day out for the whole family to watch some of the UK’s best race cars and motor bikes compete along Madeira Drive. Over two hundred cars and motor bikes line up to take a timed run including road cars, race cars and drag bikes who compete to win the fastest in their class. A top six run-off to find the fastest car and bike brings the day to a dramatic close.

Brighton and Hove Council is planning to block permission for this annual event so we need your help. As well as signing our petition you can support the campaign by circulating the link to the petition to friends and family, FaceBook contacts and Twitter followers.

The Brighton Speed Trials is organised by Brighton and Hove Motor Club; the club’s Tony Watts said: “We are appealing to motorsport fans, local residents and everyone who enjoys a family day out at the seaside to help us save this historic event. The loss of the Brighton Speed Trials will be the end of an era for Brighton with over 100 years of history and entertainment in the area gone.”

The end of the Speed Trials will also have a financial impact on tourism and trade for retailers and businesses in the area as it brings thousands of visitors to Brighton.

Updates will be posted to Twitter, follow us: @SaveBST

Please like our page on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/savebrightonspeedtrials

[skeee]

As someone who used to visit Brighton regularly as a child I have of course signed the petition.

[Rob29]

Originally Posted by skeee

As someone who used to visit Brighton regularly as a child I have of course signed the petition.

Me too I remember reading about the 50 th aniversary speed trials in one of my first Autosports 1955.Went several times in next 30 yearsDefinitely something worth preserving along with the Volks Electric railway-hope no one wants to scrap that

[Stephen H]

Do they not understand what they have, they should be promoting it, not trying to ban it.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Stephen H

Do they not understand what they have, they should be promoting it, not trying to ban it.

The problem is that the greenies have taken over Brighton and greenies hate cars don't they.

[Stephen H]

They might not understand cars, but hopefully they understand history, and that "long standing events" are an important part of the town.

I've seen towns invent events to try and promote their town, eg a sedan chair race, that when the news crew turned up to cover it, they went away as soon as they realised the event had no history.

The French seem so good at promoting their local events.

I don't know how much notice the Cllr's will take of a petition, but the larger it is, the more of a factor it has to be in their decision.

[Lanky]

Does anyone know why they are proposing to refuse permission?

[Rob29]

Originally Posted by Lanky

Does anyone know why they are proposing to refuse permission?

See threads on historic forums-seems problem is state of the road near the finish line-there was a fatal accident at the last event.

[ss_collins]

Why then does the organising club not offer to resurface those sections, this is what 7oaks did at Crystal Palace.

[chunder]

I couldn't agree more

Give the peace crips lot an opportunity and they will always take it, but if someone was killed, there should be an investigation and something done.

If the area needs resurfacing and the work is only going to affect the speed trial then it might be a tall order as why should you resurface an area at a cost for a one off event, if it makes the area safer for everyone, then it should be pushed through

[Clive Brown]

Surely this nonsense?

Madeira Drive is a Highway, and as such Brighton and Hove Council has a legal duty under the Highways Act 1980 to keep the road in repair.

[Rob29]

Originally Posted by Clive Brown

Surely this nonsense?

Madeira Drive is a Highway, and as such Brighton and Hove Council has a legal duty under the Highways Act 1980 to keep the road in repair.

Not sure that is in fact the case? As I understand it Madiera Drive was built for the speed trials and only other purpose is access to the beach and premises since located thereon? If it was a public highway then a special act of parliament would be needed to close it for racing vv'Birmingham? Certainly is the councils property and their job to keep it in good repair like Crystal Palace which is a public park?

[kimbo]

Don't know the exact legal terminology, but as far as I know Madiera Drive is not a public right of way (as a normal road would be), which is why it doesn't need an act of parliament to close it, as previously stated.
It is currently in a shockingly bad state, various utility co's having had a pop at digging it up and iirc there are traffic calming islands normally installed which I guess are removed for the trials.
Also a few years ago Southern Water dug a bloomin' great tunnel along the length of the road which is used as an overflow for the stormwater outfall to prevent sewage being discharged into the 'oggin. Now I'm not saying that this HAS caused any problems, but I seem to recall a similar sized hole causing Big Ben to tilt not so long ago!!
Whatever the cause of the road surface, the fact is that as a road with a 30mph speed limit, it (just about) functions. At 130mph though............

Kim

[Lanky]

I was wondering whether it was linked in any way to the complete closure of the arches all along Madeira Drive which have been condemned as structurally unsound?

[King Arthur]

Our petition has just passed the 12,000 mark which is absolutely amazing. Thank you to everybody. The meeting is on Thursday this week. We are very cautiously hopeful that we may get to run for 3 years which as you know is a long time in politics. Again thank you everybody and if there is anybody out there who has not signed it then please do so. I will report back with the outcome after Thursdays meeting

[Tim Falce]

Just seen on FB that they are going ahead, I have no more info than that, sorry.

[King Arthur]

This afternoon it was unanimously agreed that the Brighton Speed Trials should be given the go ahead for the next 3 years. Even the greens who were originally minded to not accept the application changed their mind and voted in favour of it's be given permission to proceed

Thank you to everybody who supported us including the 12,400 people who signed the e petition

Tony Watts

[johngee]

I and many others, are very grateful for all your efforts and congratulations on a successful outcome, particularly in an area not noted for a friendly attitude to motoring.

[M Greenslade]

Indeed good news......

Bladders..