Donington is Dead - Long live Donington [merged]

[skentellytubby]

I could be very wrong, but I just dont see it closing down permanently. Its got a good catchment area and I'm sure it can make money.

Ok maybe it could be used for housing or something but in the current climate that looks a riskier financial proposition than using it for its intended purpose.

As an MOD dumping ground I would think that it was almost brownfield in some places = expensive to develop unless you were going to turn it into a commercial development (believe me - I work in this area and we've not had any work of any value for nearly 18 months because of it!)

Digging it up and preparing it for residential or commercial development would cost a whole lot more than repairing it and who would give them the financial backing to do something of that magnitude right now?

Of course, the Wheatcrofts could just leave a valuable asset to sit and rot.....

But why bother, its easier to invest in it and do something with it even if means a few small steps first (clubbie stuff, track days etc) before reclaiming its spot behind the likes of Silverstone and Brands.

[Mr Don]

I really feel for DH and all the workers at DP. It is just awful for them, I hope and pray that something concrete can be put in place soon for their sakes. It is my local track and I am really sad about it's loss and hope it can be put right soon.

If there is some hope of racing at DP, I hope the administrators let us know soon so that clubs, drivers and marshals don't make alternative arrangements. Volunteers once lost are hard to replace, making a hard job harder.

I hope it can be brought back soon. I for one will be trackside.

[Leroy Boyce]

I've been following this thread very closely over the past few weeks.

I too am deeply concerned about the future of DP, so I've been looking into a "Save Donington" parade.

I am contacting car clubs and racing forums about a show of support for the circuit by turning up in numbers to the car park. I figured if enough people turn up demonstrating how important the circuit is, it would justify to the people involved that it must be repaired.

I know this is a naive pipe-dream, but a ball has started rolling, and it was all I could think of. After all, all I am is a skint classic/historic/vintage racing enthusiast, with no contacts, who considers DP his second home.

If anyone is interested, I've set up an email account:

savedonington@live.co.uk

The proposed date for the "parade" is 7th March. I figured, if a positive decision was to have been made by then, then it would've rendered it unecessary - let's hope!

Please show your support, by dropping me a mail.

Cheers.

EDIT:

I have has some negative comments regarding this idea, so I figured a better "starting place" might be to email me your messages of support, which I will compile and send off.

Then, the next step would be the parade.

Cheers.

[terence]

Quite why you should have had negative response's to this I have no idea and as to being naive,why should it be? This sort of thing should be on the net in big green lights!! Excellent idea and well done.

[Mr Don]

This is a great idea
I am sure there are a lot of people out there who would support it, then if you are sure you have a good number of people who will turn up including a few motor racing celebrities and dignatories if possible, get the press and TV along too.
You need marshals in orange kit. A few drivers in fire-proofs. A few fast cars.

This is a great idea
Something people who are skint can do or join in with.
Raising the profile of the level of support will be part of the solution to getting the funding to get the track back online.
Well Don

[Leroy Boyce]

Thanks for the kind words.

I must admit I was surprised by the negative comments (and there were a few), but it's kind of made me more determined.

I have a short-list of people I want to contact regarding the parade. I've already posted on the Lotus-owner's forum, the classic mini forum and piston heads. I'm going to contact VSCC, HSCC and CSCC, and a few drivers/riders who have won at the circuit. I also intend to contact the local press/TV station.

If I am allowed to be a bit sentimental here... Donington is my favourte place on Earth, and I've always dreamed of having a son, and us both enjoying watching some classic race cars going round the circuit. In October my wife gave birth to our first child - a boy!

Now, the thought of us never going to DP keeps me awake at night...

[RCMADD]

i can show up in my probans, as i live 20 mins on my ped.

[JohnD]

Leroy,
Good idea - don't forget to post on the marshal's own forum here, to ask if they will come. I was going to suggest posting to the British Motorsport Marshals' Club (http://www.marshals.co.uk/), but it appears to be a broken link. Anyone here know what has happened to the BMMC?

John

[mattt]

i would guess that the website is having difficulties atm

[Leroy Boyce]

If anyone is a member of any other forums, please do cut and paste any posts you see fit, but please do make sure you include the email address:

savedonington@live.co.uk

Thanks again for your support!

[Mr Don]

BMMC working well at
http://www.marshals.co.uk/
for me. Must be a technical hitch

I use it all the time. Just the place to advertise this event

[skentellytubby]

Good for you Leroy, if you need any help in any way count me in. I'll post to your email address also

[andy97]

Originally Posted by skentellytubby

I could be very wrong, but I just dont see it closing down permanently. Its got a good catchment area and I'm sure it can make money.

Ok maybe it could be used for housing or something but in the current climate that looks a riskier financial proposition than using it for its intended purpose.

As an MOD dumping ground I would think that it was almost brownfield in some places = expensive to develop unless you were going to turn it into a commercial development (believe me - I work in this area and we've not had any work of any value for nearly 18 months because of it!)

Digging it up and preparing it for residential or commercial development would cost a whole lot more than repairing it and who would give them the financial backing to do something of that magnitude right now?

Of course, the Wheatcrofts could just leave a valuable asset to sit and rot.....

But why bother, its easier to invest in it and do something with it even if means a few small steps first (clubbie stuff, track days etc) before reclaiming its spot behind the likes of Silverstone and Brands.

People keep going on about Donington's potential as a housing or industrial development. I'm afraid I just don't see it due to the airport next door. I am involved in some development work near airports and to get planning permission for houses and industrial units near the end of runways is very difficult. In fact, if Donington had never existed, I doubt you'd get planning permission for that nowadays either.

Doningtons future is probably only as a motor sport/ leisure venue as it has been for the last few years, or possibly as car parking for the airport. I can't see it being used for housing etc.

[old man]

Quite right Andy97, the circuit pre-dates the airfield I think, was it a WW2 base?

I agree with Leroy's Donington Rally idea and will support if not elsewhere, we need to show the Wheatcrof family that enthusiasts care, it is, afterall, one of the few major tracks for Northern enthusiasts. We need to get some press reports of the plan if possible, which local motor club could back it?

[skentellytubby]

Originally Posted by andy97

People keep going on about Donington's potential as a housing or industrial development. I'm afraid I just don't see it due to the airport next door. I am involved in some development work near airports and to get planning permission for houses and industrial units near the end of runways is very difficult. In fact, if Donington had never existed, I doubt you'd get planning permission for that nowadays either.

Doningtons future is probably only as a motor sport/ leisure venue as it has been for the last few years, or possibly as car parking for the airport. I can't see it being used for housing etc.

Good point, you'd never get planning permission. PPG24 comes to mind (noise)...!???

[Al Weyman]

May be right, at the end of Heathrow's runways as i recollect is acres and acres of cabbage fields for the emergency landing scenario and this is prime southern land within the M25 corridor that would be worth literally billions if could be built on.

[SFurness]

Hi All,

On the subject of the parade/car meeting would we be able to gain access to the public car parking areas ?

If a parking area could be agreed it could become quite an event. Durring the summer there is a monthly meet of all sorts of classic and exotic cars over near Melton Mowbray (12 miles away), they turn up in their hundreds.

As March 7th is Sunday there may well be a market on which would mean the public areas are open.

I can put the idea to the local Jaguar Drivers Club and if there is parking local racers could trailer the cars down (Andy ?)

Who can arrange for the sun to shine ?

Steve

[RCMADD]

Originally Posted by SFurness

Hi All,
As March 7th is Sunday there may well be a market on which would mean the public areas are open.
Who can arrange for the sun to shine ?
Steve

the market has a seperate entrance.

as far as the sun thats down to god himself.

[VIVA GT]

This parade idea may well work. It'll certaily show how many people would like to see Donington Park circuit saved.
Anyone else remember the 'Save Mallory' campaign in the 80's when the circuit was going to be closed down (rumoured to have been bought by Tom Wheatcroft himself to be turned into housing!).
Stickers and public meetings as I recall...

[Leroy Boyce]

I have had some interest from a local newspaper! A "racing personality" had also been mentioned. Very early days, but the ball has started rolling!

They suggested I set up a Facebook page too, so here it is, please add yourself:

http://www.facebook.com/editalbum.ph....1445660548..1

[andy97]

There is a "midlands breakfast club" for classic car enthusiasts that meets one sunday a month at RAF Cosford Museum. Maybe they could be encouraged to hold a one-off meeting at Donington Park as part of the idea. If there normal meet is on the same day, maybe they could come to Donington in convoy fresh from Cosford, its only about 40 minutes away.

I understand that the Grand Prix Collection is now open again - I'll check tomorrow - so it would be quite legitimate to turn up on mass to visit the museum.

Of course, what Donington really needs is some form of demonstration that once it's reopened as a functioning race circuit again, the crowds will come to visit (and pay to get in) race meetings!

[grantp]

Local motor sport personality Ron Haslam had been using Donington for years for his racing school. I believe he has had to move to Silverstone for 2010 but I would guess he would be happier to operate closer to home.

[Mr Don]

If there is going to be a Rally, this is the sort of name we need onside and present if possible.

[KA]

Originally Posted by skentellytubby

Good point, you'd never get planning permission. PPG24 comes to mind (noise)...!???

I'm guessing it wouldn't just be noise issues that might make it hard to get planning permission for residential development- I can't imagine North-West Leicestershire District Council will have forgotten the events of 8th Jan 1989 in a hurry either....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kegworth_air_disaster

Could well be a similar scenario to those acres of cabbage fields near Heathrow that Al mentioned

[grantp]

There is also this.

http://aviation-safety.net/database/...?id=19870118-0


My early morning flight to Amsterdam was operated by a Viscount the following day, the F27 being a little bent.

It took half the flying time (breakfast was not as leisurely as usual) and was about the only plane to land in the fog at Schipol that morning.

However the flying time gain was all lost when the ground crew turned up with the steps for an F27. No one had told then of the change of aircraft.

It took them about 40 mins to find some steps that would just about work with the Viscount and another 10 minutes to de-ice them (partially) before they would let us off to catch the bus to the terminal.

Happy days.

None of this silly 'early check in and no liquids' rigmarole. Full cooked breakfast (quite good) and a mini bottle (or two) of Champagne. Liqueur with the coffee if you wanted it. Complimentary newspaper and duty free at sensible prices.

How times have changed.