Donington is Dead - Long live Donington [merged]

[JimW]

Originally Posted by mickey29

. . . A well meaning fan/driver lead charity-a-thon will leave us with a poor circuit in need of updating AND STILL NO MONEY TO DO IT.

Donington is a moneypit and it will require far more money than a whip round will provide.

I agree. What we need is a business to make Donington a commercial sucess.

If it is not a commercial sucess, then it will not continue as a motorsport venue. Simples.

Regards

Jim

[White flag man]

If there is no track to run on, then there is no business.
Surely Donington need to get that sorted first, before they can look into any businees ventures. I agree though, once that happens then they do need a business plan.

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by White flag man

If there is no track to run on, then there is no business.
Surely Donington need to get that sorted first, before they can look into any businees ventures. I agree though, once that happens then they do need a business plan.

The business plan has to include getting the track into a usable state - you have to start from the status quo, not some theoretical situation. No point in incurring the considerable expense of rectifying the track on the off-chance that somebody may be interested in the lease.

[mickey29]

Originally Posted by White flag man

If there is no track to run on, then there is no business.

And there, sadly is the point.

Quite simply there isn't a business worth anything. It needs a skilled, experienced longterm investor.

Obviously there isn't such a beast or the venue would have been snapped up a long time ago.

[mickey29]

Some news...

Today's motorsport news reports BARC chasing a deal but they are waiting to hear back from Kevin & co. Are the Wheatcrofts dragging their heels waiting for a better offer or are they merely innefficient? Palmer said he had had no further contact from Donington after early talks. This leaves limited options.

It boils ...down to the fact (from what can be read in MSN) that it is now Kevin Wheatcroft holding things up.

Alan Gow of the BTCC is positive that the BTCC meeting will go ahead, although he says (quoting from page 4, Motorsport News 28/4/10) "I would rather things had started happening already, but I am confident that the track will be ready for our races. There's plenty of time for the circuit to be brought up to standard"

[Woolley]

Ach, no problem. It's not like BTCC actually need most of the track or listen to any observers reports, and a few trenches for them to dodge should make it even more like a video game...

[diddy100]

Originally Posted by Woolley

Ach, no problem. It's not like BTCC actually need most of the track or listen to any observers reports, and a few trenches for them to dodge should make it even more like a video game...

Andrew Jordan will have a better chance of victory with his Rallycross experience - leave the circuit as it is for the BTCC

[Al Weyman]

I would like to see BARC take it on only at a good deal price though. I think it would be more healthy than letting MSV have another track in their portfolio and good for competition (in both senses of the word).

[graeme]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Ihan letting MSV have another track in their portfolio

Although BARC already have four circuits themselves, the same as MSV...

[AndyS]

BARC runs nearly as many as MSV and I personally prefer the MSV circuits and the way they present them. BARC tend to lean more towards club racing as well, so that may be that for international racing at Donnington. Having said maybe the BARC see it as an opportunity to take their operations to the next level and compete for international events with the BRDC and MSV. As I've previously said my guess is the administration and legal process are whats holding things up, these thing do not resolve themselves quickly. In my experience Administrators have a habit of moving at a snails pace. It's also possible they are talking to other parties as well.

[Al Weyman]

If you count Bedford MSV infact have 5 so it maintains the status quo and as I am only interested in club racing would suit me fine.

[johngee]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

If you count Bedford MSV infact have 5 so it maintains the status quo and as I am only interested in club racing would suit me fine.

I don't want to 'nit pick' Al, but Bedford doesn't have an MSA track licence, so it's not really within our sphere of interest.
I just want somebody to repair the damage and get Donington up and running again, whether it's for club, national or international events.

[Piglet]

Originally Posted by AndyS

BARC runs nearly as many as MSV and I personally prefer the MSV circuits and the way they present them. BARC tend to lean more towards club racing as well, so that may be that for international racing at Donnington. Having said maybe the BARC see it as an opportunity to take their operations to the next level and compete for international events with the BRDC and MSV. As I've previously said my guess is the administration and legal process are whats holding things up, these thing do not resolve themselves quickly. In my experience Administrators have a habit of moving at a snails pace. It's also possible they are talking to other parties as well.

I suspect BARC would take issue with your suggestion that they don't run international events!

The BRDC now run very little - if anything.

[Mr Don]

Just annouced on the Save DP face book

PRESS RELEASE: 29th APRIL 2010

DONINGTON PARK RACE TRACK

RE-OPENING PLANS

The Plans to re-open the new improved Donington Park Race Track are progressing well.

The Project advisors, led by ex Aggregate Industries Director Philip Barltrop and Duncan Green of Pick Everard Consulting Engineers, have met John Symes of the MSA, and we are currently finalising plans and costings for the works to repair the damage done in and around the Race Track at Donington Park.

We are confident that the new improved Race Track can be re-opened, subject to obtaining the necessary Racing Licences, during August 2010.

Donington Park Race Director, Robert Fearnall, is working on an appropriate Race Programme for 2010 which we will announce as soon as possible.

The re-opening of Donington Park will ensure that the Circuit is once again available for National and International Motor Sport.


Kevin Wheatcroft

[Piglet]

If that happens, it would be very good news.

[Greem]

That's brilliant news. Brilliant. Just what I needed whilst sat on my arse down under

[White flag man]

Great news indeed.

[The STIG]

I don't think BARC will take on Donington without losing one of their existing circuits. Financially, the Croft Saga cost a lot to sort out, and it still isn't really sorted now. Has the club recovered from it enough to buy a new circuit?

[Mike Bell]

Masters have just announced that they will be hosting the first event at re-opened circuit (Big Historic Festival) 3-5th Sept, so fingers crossed! (They have now officially postponed their June event which was to be held there!)

No suggestion as to who has taken on the rebuild, though.

[The STIG]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Masters have just announced that they will be hosting the first event at re-opened circuit (Big Historic Festival) 3-5th Sept

Err... I thought it was BARC's truck meet that weekend?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by The STIG

Err... I thought it was BARC's truck meet that weekend?

Definitely says 3 day Historic Meeting 3,4,5th Sept. This quote copied from email-

Kevin Wheatcroft, circuit owner, said: “The plans to re-open the new improved Donington Park are progressing well … we are confident that the new race track can be re-opened for testing, subject to obtaining the necessary licences, during August 2010; and we will be hosting the Masters Historic Festival on the first weekend of September”.

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by Piglet

I suspect BARC would take issue with your suggestion that they don't run international events!

The BRDC now run very little - if anything.

Apologies if I've got my wires crossed, but by the BRDC I was meaning Silverstone appreciate there's been all sorts of changes there though in the management structures. By BARC running international events, I was meaning at any of their venues as in visiting European or World Championships. Appreciate that they may be involved in running events though.

[The STIG]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Definitely says 3 day Historic Meeting 3,4,5th Sept. This quote copied from email-

Kevin Wheatcroft, circuit owner, said: “The plans to re-open the new improved Donington Park are progressing well … we are confident that the new race track can be re-opened for testing, subject to obtaining the necessary licences, during August 2010; and we will be hosting the Masters Historic Festival on the first weekend of September”.

Okay... something has gone wrong - it appears that they've got a double booking as BARC's calendar definately says 4th/5th September is a truck race meeting. Someone's got their wires crossed somewhere - and that could be me!

[AndyS]

Great news

[gary396]

Originally Posted by The STIG

I don't think BARC will take on Donington without losing one of their existing circuits. Financially, the Croft Saga cost a lot to sort out, and it still isn't really sorted now. Has the club recovered from it enough to buy a new circuit?

This is the bit that concerns me. On the one hand I was pleased to see that BARC might be taking on Donington. But I wondered at what cost to my local circuit - Croft, i.e. would they cut and run from there owing to the fact that it can't be developed?