Circuits for Sale, Octagon sells out!

[eclectic]

What's this I hear, a general sell out by Octagon... Why can't the clubs band together and buy up a circuit of two, I'm all for the VSCC getting together to buy Oulton Park!

Can anyone confirm the rumour.... Let's go for it and get control of some of the venues into the hands of the Clubs who need them and have a general renaissance for Club racing in Britain.

Lets go for it!!

[Geoff]

Octagon announced a couple of weeks ago that they were 'considering' selling, rumours have been circulating that Bernie was purchasing for a quid/dollar (he'd probably argue the difference!) but it all seems to have died down.

There is another thread in trackside relating to 'BH being sold for housing' which has plenty of speculation within.

The only dead cert, is that Octagon have gone to the trouble of publicly stating that they would 'consider' selling, but such a statement indicates that they're desperate to get out.

All very interesting to watch.....

[paulzinho]

This belongs in Trackside forum.

[Asp]

I despair. I don't know if this is the Beeb being about 4 months behind, or brand new news and they're not sellng again! Either way, on BBC Ceefax today it came up that they're investing in Oulton (about £1.3mill) Brands (again over £1mill) and Cadwell (£150,000).

Anyone at all know what they're on? :confused:

[Chris Y]

Love the way they spend *so* much on Cadwell

[Andrew Kitson]

Yes, I also received those press releases today about their spending on the various circuits. £4m on Silv and the other figures quoted above. They are also spending on Snett - on a new entrance road from the new A11 dual carriageway. No more bumpy runway into the circuit.

[eclectic]

Yes, but if they are for sale now as rumoured or in the future, why on earth don't the Clubs get together and buy one? Sure there is risk involved, but the current risk is that we will soon not have affordable circuits to go racing on. Octagon, despite the current state of their finances, are trying to make money out of the Motorsport Industry, the Clubs only have to draw even. Indeed as organisers of SPORTS they might even obtain charitable status and not have to pay taxes and rates!!!

[vaughan jones]

With regard to Snetterton I think you will find that Ministry of Transport, as in Government, tax payer money have paid for the road improvements in the area of the previous circuit gates,people live near there ,people have businesses on sites near there. I can believe not that any owner of the circuit/operator of the site have ever spent a single penny on the road in to .the site, the access on to the circuit is a concrete runway, built in the second world war, as in 50 years ago.

[Andrew Kitson]

Vaughan, the access 'was' the old Runway. There is now a brand new road that is built in the field to the left of it as you drive in. Octagon have paid for it.The runway part will be solely for the market in future.The other improvement is a new toilet block on the outside of Russell. I have also heard that the old commentators tower opposite the pits will soon be coming down and replaced, due to the fact that the structure is cladded with asbestos, deemed hazardous in today's world.

[Sato san]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
There is now a brand new road that is built in the field to the left of it as you drive in. Octagon have paid for it.The runway part will be solely for the market in future.

when was that built then Andrew ?......

i didnt get up to Snetterton last year , and i hadnt heard about them doing that .....it will save the paying customers a fortune in damaged car shocks though !

[Craig]

No! I used to enjoy the charge along the old runway...! Seem to recall outbraking a couple of drivers into the ticket booths in the past...

[bella]

before doing your suspension in on the bumps...

[Les]

only one thing I don't like - you can't get to the truckers cafe easily and they do an excellent breakfast.

[vaughan jones]

The road in not service yet,i didnt see it on thursday when i drove in the circuit, i drove down the concrete road thro gates and two pay booths, over the bridge, in the paddock

[rdjones]

Just seen this on Autosport.com, it looks as if Interpublic wants to get rid of Octagon Motorsports. For more take a look at http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=22179&s=54

[Lee Janotta]

Now, the _smart_ thing would be for British racers, marshalls and fans to form a co-op, led by some rich, charismatic ex-driver like Damon Hill or Nigel Mansell, pool their resources, and buy Octagon's race track assets.

In the long run, it'd lower entry fees, prevent unfavorable modification or plowing under of the circuits... It worked for the city of Green Bay, where the city's football team, the Packers, is owned by thousands of residents. They've won loads of championships, and there's no chance of the team ever moving.

[bella]

yes but where does the maintenance finance come from? the sad fact is that british motorsport is a loss making industry at the moment and some large company has to be willing to weather the storm.

i somehow doubt these suggested british megastars would have the money to bring the tracks up to scratch.

[Mackmot]

I like the way everyone wants lower entry fees but they want people to spend loads of money on the tracks. Its a bit hypocritical dont you think.

[Lee Janotta]

Indeed, that's why I suggest that if it's not really something that can be run for a profit, economics dictates that either it should be allowed to collapse, or if it's really important, the community needs to see that it's properly supported. You can't expect the government to come in and run motorsport (nor would you want them to!), but if you run it knowing that you're going to take a loss on the deal, and accept that, then you can make it work.

I'm not expecting that Nigel or Damon would pony up the dosh to make it happen, but they'd be lending credibility and visibility to any such effort.

You really can't expect a for-profit company like Octagon to keep flushing money with no hope of a return on investment. Capitalism just doesn't work that way.

Now, if everyone who cares about motorsport in Britain were to make a small personal contribution, those small contributions would form a very substantial total which could certainly cover maintanence, operating costs and some improvements!

[eclectic]

Hear Hear! Some of the richer clubs could ask their members to offer £1000 bonds as a loan no interest paid. But with entry fees free up to a certain level either as spectators or competitors. where's the return? Why stability and not having to pay fees out of taxed income. Also the sense of wellbeing that comes from an altruistic action.

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
Now, if everyone who cares about motorsport in Britain were to make a small personal contribution, those small contributions would form a very substantial total which could certainly cover maintanence, operating costs and some improvements!

Nice thought, but.......

Many of the people who really care about motor sport in Britain are already making a personal contribution, in many cases a large one. To ask for more would be a classic case of flogging a willing horse.

Wish I knew the answer!

[TimD]

The answer? Keep on dragging your non-racing buddies through the gates. We need more enthusiasts at grass roots. That's the only way to make it work.

Y'know, when I moved to near Silverstone, someone asked me why I'd do that for the sake of one weekend a year - he had no conception that the circuit was used for anything but one Grand Prix weekend, once a year. That's the level of understanding that's out there.

No, coax and cajole people to come along with you. Choose a warm sunny day, make sure it's an event where there's a bar open at the circuit, and wait for adrenaline to take its course. I once noted with immense satisfaction a race-meeting newbie seeing a gridful of Lola and McLaren GT cars slamming through Copse, and uttering "now THAT's sexy". He's been back again more than once since.

This is the only way we're going to keep our circuits - by getting more people to share in them with us.

[Piglet]

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
Now, if everyone who cares about motorsport in Britain were to make a small personal contribution, those small contributions would form a very substantial total which could certainly cover maintanence, operating costs and some improvements!

Octagon Motorsports made a reported loss of £12 million last year! The contracted investment into Silverstone each year runs I'm sure to a couple of million quid minimum.

If you know people with money like that to invest who aren't worried about profit perhaps you'd pass me their phone numbers!!

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

If Octagon Motorsports sell up I take it thats it for the season tickets?

Is there any chance that a company like clearchannel would want to buy the tracks or possiblity of a new "Brands Hatch Leisure Group" style company forming? I can't see that a company would want all due to the money that could be lost.

[Piglet]

Originally posted by Sim_Da_BTCC_Man
If Octagon Motorsports sell up I take it thats it for the season tickets?

It would probably depend on the terms of any deal done. If the whole lot was sold in one go the new owner might well have to honour the tickets. The problem probably comes if the company's assets are split.