Donington this weekend - Is it on? - It is NOW! - And there's more!

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by simon drabble

I think a lot of Donington's problems have been that DVL have been somewhat tardy in putting their hands up on anything... whether that is deliberate or simply chronic management only they know but this has a horrible element of predictablility to it

Exactly! The best way to kill rumour, speculation, conspiracy theories & so on is to state the facts of the situation, unpalatable though those facts may be.

[FMS]

Does anyone know for sure if it IS yellow flags or not ?


I am thinking of going, but am wondering if the competitor attendance is going to suffer making it less worthwhile to attend?

For info, I am particularly interested in the pre 78 and post 78 GP cars.

[terence]

No they dont,it is all supposition.

[Steven Humphrey]

I've been following all the different Donington threads on here for the last few weeks (I marshalled at the HSCC meeting at the start of April). There's been a lot of speculation and rumours flying around but the sad thing is, most of them have been true. Human nature will make us all speculate, especially when there's a total lack of facts from the involved parties. Only last week Simon Gillet was on the radio saying everything is fine and going to plan only for the news that they were being sued for lack of rent payments to be announced the next day! Doesn't fill you with much confidence.

All us marshals and competitors want is to know, with plenty of warning, is that the event we've volunteered for/paid to take part in is going to happen. My marshalling year has been planned since Christmas so I'd imagine competitors are planning that far in advance, maybe sooner. So to be told only days before an event that it's been moved/cancelled is a pain in the backside, to say the least! So without solid facts from the circuit (I won't say organising clubs because I think they're as much in the dark as the rest of us) people will start to second guess what is happening. And to be honest, has anyone actually taken any of the posts on here as gospel? It's just good old fashioned gossip really!!

[Fay]

Does anyone know whether the pictures in this weeks Autosport are old pictures taken when they started the tunnel or current pictures showing the state of the circuit?

[stroller]

Originally Posted by Fay

Does anyone know whether the pictures in this weeks Autosport are old pictures taken when they started the tunnel or current pictures showing the state of the circuit?

I'd say old photos.

Looks like first phase of concrete work for tunnel construction.

Wouldn't have time to dig out & get back to that from how it had been left

Read somewhere (another thread ?) that to rectify the situation (and get it licenced) they would have to provide at least 25 metres of runoff on the outside of the Circuit and 10 metres on the inside.

Still sounds like a lot of earth to move & make good

[Zola]

I had a friend visit the circuit yesterday who told me nothing had been done to alter the circuit from when we were there two weeks ago - gossip is the contractors haven't been paid either.....

The likelihood of my race happening this weekend looks grim....

[Zola]

sorry meant next weekend.... oops

[Al Weyman]

I would relax guys I really cannot see this happening especially after reading the Bernie Saves British GP post in the Marshals forum. It all seems to make sense now reading that.

[Dave 455]

No more meetings at donny for a long time !

Alan Gow : -

An e-mail circulated by BTCC director Alan Gow to competitors broke the news, revealing:

'We have just been advised by Donington Park that they will have to cancel our event (and all other four-wheel events for the foreseeable future) due to ongoing issues regarding the work required to obtain their track licences. It is anticipated that this will be publicly announced within the next few hours.

[JimW]

Originally Posted by stroller

I'd say old photos.

Looks like first phase of concrete work for tunnel construction.

Wouldn't have time to dig out & get back to that from how it had been left

Read somewhere (another thread ?) that to rectify the situation (and get it licenced) they would have to provide at least 25 metres of runoff on the outside of the Circuit and 10 metres on the inside.

Still sounds like a lot of earth to move & make good

Yes, those photos are of work over the last autumn/winter to make the tunnel as it now is.

And I think you have got your inside and outsides mixed up. If you say 10 outside and 25 inside, then those figures correspond (roughly) to what was there before the tunnel was dug.

Regards

Jim

[Zola]

Not good..... I'm sure that other racers attending the Masters event will agree - alot of expense and time already put in to get our cars ready for this event...

[terence]

Think I'll wait to hear from Masters first before I draw any conclusions.

[terence]

Just heard that Gillet has secured a banking job with RBS.

[Dave 455]

Story on crash.net : -

http://www.crash.net/btcc/news/14615...to_follow.html

[Dave 455]

Toca are now saying the BTCC weekend is back on, unless Donington cancel it.
The BSB round will run on May 22-25 according to Donington, the contractors will have finsihed work by the end of May 21st.

[Al Weyman]

I really cannot see it happening I am so sorry to say. I was disappointed when I see our calender that Donny was not include this year but obviously now i am glad it was not, we (CTCRC) have an historic meeting the following weekend at Silverstone National and I am certain sure there will be places on the grid if anyone is interested in a run out, not as good as Donny of course but there will be a drivers and their guests barby. :-)

[Dave 455]

Donington have confirmed the circuit will be safe for bikes by May 21st (2 days before British Superbike Meeting starts!

http://www.donington-park.co.uk/busi...ws?news_id=633

[terence]

Hmmmm,bit of a U turn by some then? Glad I kept my hotel booking for next week open!

[Dave 455]

It's all very confusing this, all BTCC drivers and teams and Barc were told by Toca it was off, then all drivers and teams told it's back on, maybe they will let the marshals know tommorow it's back on hopefuly!
It's about time donington had another meeting anyway!
Maybe Alan Gow's e-mail was designed to pressure Donington into action and we will be fully back in business for the masters!
I do think there needs to be official conformation ASAP by tommorow P.M, it's so difficult for marshals, teams and drivers not knowing 100%, especially when hotels etc are booked and plans are made!

[grantp]

I presume Max Clifford is watching and learning about generating publicity in adversity from this saga.

Good grief, will it never end - one way or the other ... ?

[johngee]

The following statement was issued by Alan Gow at 17.32 today

Further to my previous correspondence, I am pleased (and relieved) to advise that our event at Donington Park has not been postponed!

Donington Park have informed me that today's earlier fear of needing to postpone the event has now largely dissipated - i.e. they are now confident that the work required for their track licence will be completed in time for our event and, in fact, for the event on the weekend preceding ours.
Obviously it is preferable and to everyone's benefit that we do our utmost to keep the Donington event on our schedule, on the original date. A huge amount of effort is being expended by Donington Park to get the work completed and they have now increased and accelerated this effort even further to ensure our event takes place - and I am also now more confident than ever that this will be achieved.

This has been a very intensive and trying time for everyone involved. My previous correspondence was sent to you as a warning of the likelihood of Donington having to postpone our event..... so I'm sure that you will now be pleased to learn that this is not the case.



Kind regards,
Alan J. Gow
BTCC Series Director & Administrator

I'm sure everybody involved has been on tenterhooks for the past few weeks, none more so than the Masters team - it's been a very trying time for them.
This is not the time for recriminations and I hope everyone will now get behind the meeting and make it the success it was always planned to be.

See you there I hope

[terence]

I have a feeling it will be John.It certainly should be as recognition of Chris's and The Teams effort's!!!

[Peter Mallett]

Excellent news.

[simon drabble]

Originally Posted by terence bower

I have a feeling it will be John.It certainly should be as recognition of Chris's and The Teams effort's!!!

said the unbiased Masters course car driver!!!!!

Although I am not competing I am pleased to see that Masters get their meeting as there would have been no winners if it had been cancelled. No pun intended!