Get motorsport back at Crystal Palace

[ss_collins]

Sevenoaks and district motor club has been trying in desperation to get Crystal Palace back to hold an annual historic sprint event for a number of years - to no avail due to the stone wall that is Bromley Council.

There is now a public consultation going on that could see our sport permanently banished from the venue. We need to act and voice our desire to see an annual two day sprint in the park.

Today I have had a council type tell me that because the paths are now narrower and corners tighter it is too dangerous... He refused to accept that actually this made them far safer!

Also he claimed to have had advice that said it was too dangerous from a health and safety point of view - but he did not consult the MSA!!!

We will need a petition I suspect so I will shortly be asking you all to help out - we could well get the venue back if we get enough people to sign up. I am going to the park to see the consultation information on Sunday then on to the Museum to talk to the foundation to gain thier support. If anyone cares to join me feel free.

WE MUST ACT TO SAVE OUR SPORT!

[Steve Wilkinson]

I suspect the council have already made up their collective minds that nasty, noisy, smelly motor racing isn't their thing.

They will not be swayed by logic as they are elected officials who have been put there by less than 30% of the populous of the area.

What will sway them is the prospect of making money out of the event.

Sevenoaks & District Motor Club are well versed about getting in at top venues (Cadwell Park and Snetterton) and if they can strike the same deal with Bromley Council that they have with MSV then it could just happen.

Mind you we are talking about local councillors who must be of deminished mental apptitude to want to do the job to start with.

Keep us posted on the petition which I will gladly sign.

[Neptune]

Although it might not carry any weight with the council, I'd be happy to sign it from Ohio USA.

Roger

[ss_collins]

If we get enough people to sign up then the council will have to take notice - otherwise the media will savage them

[Gary Critcher]

count me in, too!

[macca]

And me - I went to the 1999 event and it was superb.

Just wish I'd taken the opportunity to walk the course in the late '70s when it was intact but disused.

Paul M

[Vitesse]

Where do I sign, Sam?

[ss_collins]

I'll post a link here soon - probably early next week.

If we get enough people to sign up - and voice thier opinion to the right people then I'm sure we can get the sprint back.

I'm finding out what the correct e-mail / postal address is on sunday - then I will ask everyone to fill in an online petition and also send an e-mail or letter to the consultation. If enough people say the same thing then they cannot ignore us.

I'm also going to ask the nice chaps at MN to help out.

[Rob29]

Me too-first place I saw motor racing or any sport for that matter.Was a Bromley ratepayer 1976-80!

[Andrew Kitson]

I'll sign too.
Went to the F2 meetings and a few clubbies there - sensational.

[Alan Raine]

It would great to see the Palace up and running again. It was the only place I could get to easily from Hertfordshire when I was a kid in the 60's. The Railway Station even went straight into the circuit spectator area.

Have happy memories of the place. The first time I ever saw Gerry Marshall and I became hooked on the brilliant 1 litre F3's.

Would have loved to race there myself but it closed well before I started.

It always seemed to have problems with the Council. Nothing changes.

Happy to sign a petition.

[HiRich]

I presume this is related to the latest plan to redevelop the park? Whether or not now is the right time to bring the sport back to the Palace, in whatever form, it would be ignorant and churlish to prevent it ever returning. You will certainly have my support. The idea of an historic festival in the heart of London has huge appeal. Until then I would suggest.

1) Set up a website to explain the proposals from both sides. Allow people to make up their own minds. Do not come across as some sort of reverse NIMBY. Stick to the specific facts (like that H&S claim). Then publicise the heck out of it - the MSA, the interested clubs and owners associations, the specialist press and the regional & national press (which newspapers sponsored meetings in period?).

2) I would consider preparing an outline business case for an historic festival as a 'foot-in-the-door'. Contact Goodwood and Aintree for assistance with the numbers. I reckon 70,000 visitors over two days is easily achievable if the capacity exists at the venue, with huge spend across the borough and city on trains, hotels. It might pay to compare this with the value of a match at Selhurst Park, or the ****poor performance of the Athletics centre.

3) When you launch the petition, be very careful how you phrase the proposition. It needs to be clear, pragmatic, and bulletproof. You might want to post a draft here for comment before it goes live.

[Gerry Taylor]

Reading this, brings to mind the same problem we are having up here in Birmingham. We are attempting to get SPEEDWAY back at Perry Barr Stadium, after a twenty year lay-off. The Council are being very bloody minded, and have decided they don't want this smelly noisy, nasty sport in there lovely City (?) It's been very hard, and after many letters, and meetings the Guy behind the move to get the sport back there Brian Buck had the application turned down last Thursday. I must say that Brian is the mainstay in the move to bring it back, but Mr Tony Mole is the Promoter, willing to put quite a lot of money behind the project. In the vote,the Council had four for the application and four against. The Chairman of the Council committee had the casting vote, and he voted AGAINST it. It was uneceremoniously denied. So, now were back to a re-application, and it all begins again. It's hard work, it's time consuming, and as soon as you mention engines, and crowds, they close ranks, and reach for the decibel meters. I wish everyone connected with the idea all the very best, stick with it! Gerry.

[ss_collins]

Rich point 2 is a bit irrelevant because we ran a historic fstival event there from 1997 - 2000 - we did not attract figure near 70,000 and would not want to go the goodwood route, this event must stay casual and relaxed. There is already plenty on line and in print. But good comments none the less. We already have support from local groups and the Crystal Palace Foundation.

see www.sevenoaksmotorclub.com for more info - or images here
http://www.sevenoaksmotorclub.com/ga...ce00/Page.html

[HiRich]

Originally Posted by Gerry Taylor

The Chairman of the Council committee had the casting vote, and he voted AGAINST it.

On a more encouraging note, I recently heard there was a similar situation when Lord March applied to hold the Revival. Fortunately the holder of the final vote, who was unsure whether the idea had merit, sought advice from a friend who was interested in this historic racing malarkey. The rest, as they say, is history.

SS, take your point (though you should still have a business plan and impact assessment, whatever scale you go for). Also, those members within the district should seek to consult with their councillors and MPs who may not be aware of the action, nor the pressure in favour of holding an event (and make sure the members are well briefed). There has been a recent incident near me (relating to Fulham Football Club) where key elected personnel were not told - they were not impressed when they found out.

[Al Weyman]

Hey get Tony Blair involved he seems to like the idea of a London GP and that will be far more disruptive!

I did my last race as a spannerman in the employ of Roger Nathan at the Palace way back in the 60's, mind you the memories were not that good because the new BMW engined Costin Nathan GT blew an oil hose and consequently a brand new engine. I never installed the engine on that occassions incidently although as the youngest member of the team I am sure I got blamed behind my back!

Oh and I will sign of course and enter given the chance!

[ss_collins]

Rich my point is that these things are already in existence!

However I did have a lot of positive feed back at the weekend - the feeling seems to be as long as the event is withing the heritage of the park then its fine.

[John Turner]

You'd think they would be happy to support recognition of their historic past and to promote the location; it's only going to be once a year, so no real noise pollution issues either.

[MGDavid]

>>>withing the heritage of the park
===do you mean within the curtilage of the park?

[Alan Raine]

They did'nt have spell check in those days!!!

[John Turner]

Ah, but it might mean the heritage of the events that were held, historically within the curtilage of the track. Anyway, I'm sure we knew what was meant, so can we stick to topic on this, please!

[Heebeegeetee]

Hi guys,

This thread has got me thinking about that cracking piece of film the Beeb showed, in a '100 Great Sporting Moments' series.

Anyone remember that? I can recall it was dear old Gerry in the Viva, but who was driving the Camaro and Escort? Was it John Fitzpatrick in the Escort, and was it an RS1600?

And wonder of wonders, is the film posted up on the internet anywhere?

[Alan Raine]

It might have been Brian Muir in the Wiggens Teape Camaro.

[Alan Raine]

I remember the 100 Great Sporting Moments film but can't remember the drivers. John Fitzpatrick in the Broadspeed Escorts was doing a real David & Golaith act with with the American Muscle Cars at the time. Very nimble Euro Chassis against the Yank Tanks! Seat of the pants stuff!

[johnw]

The Escort RS1600 was driven by Mike Crabtree, and the Camaro by Martin Thomas.