thruxton sold - Page 2

SILVERS95 · 28 Apr 2002, 15:49 (Ref:272505)

Thats a good point . But they do need to get their other tracks up to scratch before thinking of buying Thruxton.

Nissan · 29 Apr 2002, 17:45 (Ref:273472)

They would still be better than Rockingham !!!!!!!!!!!

Paul Rayner · 29 Apr 2002, 17:51 (Ref:273481)

What's wrong with Rockingham?

paulzinho · 29 Apr 2002, 19:39 (Ref:273570)

The track surface keeps having problems. It should be sorted soon though.

AndyF · 29 Apr 2002, 21:45 (Ref:273698)

Still haven't seen any evidence of this buy-out yet - seems to just be a rumour, unless anyone can add anything?

Piglet · 7 May 2002, 22:02 (Ref:279813)

There was a Competitions Commission (can't remember exactly what they are called...) report into Octagon's agreement to Lease Silverstone from the BRDC. The Commission raised a number of "issues" (one of which was the "lack of clarity" about the relationship between Octagon & BMP!), but ultimately decided that currently they did not believe that Octagon controlling Silverstone would have a detrimental effect on Motorsport in the UK. If I recall correctly they have recommended that the OFT look at the costing & availability of track days and have recommended a further review of the Octagon/Silverstone situation in five years.

If Octagon were to try to add another circuit to their collection I would imagine it would require another investigation into their dominant position.

The report was available on the internet at the time (circa 12 months ago) and makes quite interesting reading if you're into that kind of thing!

AndyF · 15 May 2002, 21:01 (Ref:287582)

Just bringing this back up again.....

Anyone have an update on the Thruxton issue if anything is happening?!

**Stephen Green** · 16 May 2002, 07:18 (Ref:287782)

No, but I'll be seeing Trevor Jackson of BARC at Brands over the weekend so I'll try to remember to ask ok Andy

AndyF · 16 May 2002, 08:23 (Ref:287811)

Quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Green
No, but I'll be seeing Trevor Jackson of BARC at Brands over the weekend so I'll try to remember to ask ok Andy

Trever Jackson - top bloke, used to be my Geography teacher at school! See him now and then at Thruxton as Cheif Marshalls - I think he's involved with the racing school there now.

**Stephen Green** · 16 May 2002, 09:23 (Ref:287854)

Shall I pass your regards?

Chris Y · 16 May 2002, 10:28 (Ref:287909)

I've heard a rumour that the sale of Thruxton is a 'done deal', but you might be hard pressed to find anyone who will talk about it.. I'll be interested to find out for sure.

**Stephen Green** · 16 May 2002, 10:47 (Ref:287922)

Any idea who to Chris? Not Octagon I trust.

Chris Y · 16 May 2002, 15:02 (Ref:288129)

Yes, the very same...

Sato san · 20 May 2002, 15:32 (Ref:290512)

i think there might be alot of people who dont think this is a good idea .

Jonny Apex · 20 May 2002, 17:53 (Ref:290656)

I didn't think the BARC owned Thruxton. I thought the owner - certainly of the land it is on - was the airfield.

Anyway, whatever, Stephen - did you talk to yer man Trevor?

**Stephen Green** · 20 May 2002, 18:02 (Ref:290666)

I must be honest and tell you that I forgot. It was a rather busy weekend at Brands Hatch and we were desperately short of marshals and so I didn't get a great deal of time to natter. I will ask Trevor the next time I see him...honest!

Peter Scillitoe · 20 May 2002, 21:21 (Ref:290846)

I really cannot believe that Octagon would want to buy Thruxton. Reasons:

(a) I understand that Octagon's US owners are not doing too well financially post 11 September.
(b) Budgets at Brands Hatch appear currently to be non-existent, staff cuts, etc. Some say this is due to all the money Octagon are having to throw at the dreaded Silverstone.
(c) Rumour has it that the racing and rally schools are not doing too well at the moment.
(d) Thruxton is limited in the number of meetings it can run, and I doubt it can be developed further as a racing circuit, so what is in it for Octagon.
(e) The Competition Commission report might well be re-opened post any Octagon purchase of Thruxton.

But, stranger things have happened.......................

**Stephen Green** · 20 May 2002, 21:28 (Ref:290855)

The same thoughts crossed my mind Peter, but you never know these days?

Dan Friel · 21 May 2002, 07:22 (Ref:291138)

I realy can't understand the attraction of anyone wanting to buy Thruxton. No-one (even BARC) would be able to make any race day money out of it..

AndyF · 21 May 2002, 12:49 (Ref:291407)

The BRSCC have really upgraded Castle Combe recently, and that has very restricted running times too!

Dan Friel · 21 May 2002, 15:45 (Ref:291619)

It also has crowds of 15,000....

NotLordPercy · 22 May 2002, 11:14 (Ref:292407)

Only TOCA meetings and motor bikes attract any reasonable crowds to Thruxton despite being fairly close to large towns both north and south. Perhaps for these meetings they may break even, but I would think there are large losses as crowds are very sparse.

Combe is user friendly to race drivers, marshals and spectators....something that Thruxton struggles to achieve.
Hence the crowds at Combe, even for clubbies there are spectators already claiming places to watch at 8.30am!

The owners of Combe appear to take notice of what spectators want both for excitement and creature comforts; entrance money is put back into the circuit facilities and everyone can see the improvements over past 5 years especially.
The centre of Thruxton is now dominated by industrial units ,grandstands are very cold even in summer and over half the circuit is unavailable to spectators. Out the back, marshals have little idea of race progress in an event of any length.

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