Save Donnington

[johnhannam]

You probably have heard that the Donninton Circuit is in a mess after the firm that was preparing the circuit for Formula One. The firm went bakrupt and the the circuit is in danger of being redeveloped for housing. i enclose details of the Save Donnington campaign event http://www.savedonington.co.uk/
See details of a major event on March 7th.

Regards,
John

[mike.perry]

I blame Ecclestone for conning them into wasting money trying to develop it into an F1 circuit. It was never going to happen.
They have now ruined Silverstone by messing up Abbey Curve where all the action is on wet races.

[bmcecosse]

Why on earth would we want to 'save Donington' (not Donninton)? They tried to steal the GP - and it was obviously NEVER going to succeed. Because of them - Britain very nearly LOST it's GP. Let it go to housing I say - serves it right.

[Dean]

Why on earth would we want to 'save Donnington' (not Donninton)? They tried to steal the GP - and it was obviously NEVER going to succeed. Because of them - Britain very nearly LOST it's GP. Let it go to housing I say - serves it right.

And loose yet another sporting facility to housing!

[bmcecosse]

We nearly lost the Grand Prix altogether because of them - they seem determined to mess things up - so yes - let it go. Was never the best of places anyway.

[billlobban]

Personally I'm in favour of 'Donington'. I'm fed up with developers ruining the country for short term profit. Locally we have spent the last 5 years opposing an absentee landowner's plans to desicrate an beautiful woodland area - and LOST even though we are in the heart of a national park.
We lost Brooklands (before my time), Donington is under threat - is anywhere safe

[Kevin]

Well I thought that the Wheatcroft family that actually own the site took back the lease from the failed developers after they defaulted, and I dont remember seeing a housing estate being mentioned.
They do have other types of motorsport there as well (well they would do if the track was in one piece) so I am puzzled why they are not pulling together, Touring Cars, Moto GP etc.

[Blaketon]

Donington is part of our motor racing heritage. Whatever the pros and cons of F1 politics (And they are the real evil), they have nothing to do with that. I first visited Donnington in 1976, when the museum had opened but the track was still disused. I had heard the legendary tales of the GPs prior to the Second World War and was very keen to see this historic track reopened (As I would like to see Brooklands reopened but that's near to impossible).

From a spectators point of view, Donington is a more interesting circuit than Silverstone, as (Like Brands Hatch) it is more of a natural "Theatre". Donington could have been a bit wider for modern GP racing (I noticed this when I went there for the European GP in 1993, though I had not noticed it when I had been there for 1000K WSC events) but still that European GP of 1993 provided a very memorable demonstration by Ayrton Senna of how to drive in the wet. I should also like to have seen the original Melbourne loop incorporated, though I realise that the speeds to and from it would have been colossal.

If it does go ahead, at least Tom Wheatcroft won’t be there to see it. Its ironic that he was a builder and also ironic that one lot of debt ridden occupants will be replaced by another (Haven’t we already got enough monotonous housing estates?).

[autolycus]

I'd be delighted if Donington never hosted another major motor race. Until all types of racing impose sensible maximum noise levels, tracks should be sited many miles from neighbours. Race and practice days are miserable here when the wind is in the wrong direction - and we're over 4 miles away as the crow flies.

Since there are so many artificial constraints on racing car design to limit speed and engine power, why not add noise level limits to the list? Few other industries are allowed to make as much noise as they like for "fun" - why should motor racing be the exception?

Kevin

[Kevin]

(As I would like to see Brooklands reopened but that's near to impossible).

Couldn't agree with your more but the housing estate and industrial estates would have to be demolished to reinstate the track so no chance of that unfortunately.

[Dean]

Race and practice days are miserable here when the wind is in the wrong direction - and we're over 4 miles away as the crow flies.
Kevin

Kevin, did you not notice this before you bought the house? House prices reflect what is in the vicinity, such as airports etc. I am a speedway fan and get fed up to the high teeth, of people moving next door to a track that has been there for nigh on 80 years. They complain venomously and the stadium gets closed down and built on, house prices go up, so they sell up and move to the next noisy neighbour. If something noisy was there before you, then that surely is your own misjudgment?

[PSL184]

I would have thought East Mids Airport would have been much more noisy than Donington Park ??

[Blaketon]

I would have thought East Mids Airport would have been much more noisy than Donington Park ??

I'm sure it would too and the airport is going all the time. Someone said that houses have now been built next to the Grand Prix loop at Brands Hatch and so it now cannot be used more than a couple of times a year. I wouldn't say so much if these circuits were built after the houses but if its pre existing, surely you go into your purchase with open eyes.

My aunt and uncle lived in Sheen up until the early 1970s. They were in the flight path for Heathrow. The aeroplanes were quite low and going over at all times. The house pre dated the airport so maybe the original owners might have had cause to complain (Had they still been living there) but I'm sure even they would have been told "Hard luck". I suppose more people want to jet off to the Sun than watch motor sport.

I am sure that if someone complained about the noise (Let alone other disturbances) from a football (Or rugby) match, their protests would also be ignored.

[mike.perry]

Don't you folks remember the last National Rally at Donnington? It was great when the racing paused, you could then hear the aircraft taking off. Trying to hold a conversation was out of the question.
Kevin's point about living near the circuit is like the people who move next to a church and then complain about the bell ringing

[bmcecosse]

We have a similar problem at Bo'ness Steam Railway. New houses were built quite near the station - the heritage steam railway was featured in the advertising - people bought the houses, and now - complaints that we whistle and make smoke! Firemen are now cautioned to NOT make smoke when leaving the station - which makes life jolly difficult because we need to get the fire going hard for the steep climb that's half a mile ahead up the track!

[autolycus]

Kevin, did you not notice this before you bought the house?

When we bought this house Donington was a little track that mainly ran club events. Like buying a house next to house near a craft shop that then gets permission for a joinery business - except that the joinery business would have stringent noise controls both at the planning and environmental nuisance levels. Which other businesses make no attempt to mitigate noise nuisance?

I would have thought East Mids Airport would have been much more noisy than Donington Park ??

Oddly, no. No matter what the weather, we cannot hear aircraft landing or taking off. The takeoff flight paths are fairly carefully controlled, and don't overfly us, and they're hardly wellying it when they come in to land. Kegworth is unpleasant as they land, because they are very low, and there's the unspoken risk that someone will flush the bog or turn the wrong engine off again. Helicopters are a bit of a pain, but at least they don't go on for an hour or two at a time. Aircraft are also getting quieter. Are racing cars?

Kevin's point about living near the circuit is like the people who move next to a church and then complain aboout the bell ringing

Most churches with bells pre-date all the local residents, and it's rare for the bells to be rung all day. And few church bells are loud enough to be annoying at 4+ miles.

Simple question: why can't racing cars have efficient silencers? They have plenty of other constraints, and they'd all have to abide by the same rules.

Kevin

[PSL184]

All points noted and as I live very close to Mallory Park I can understand what you are saying, however, isn't part of the appeal of motorsport in the noise (ie general atmosphesre?) I certainly wouldn't want Mallory to close down.....

[Dean]

Which other businesses make no attempt to mitigate noise nuisance?

With my sport yes, there are strict rules regarding noise levels. In fact the sport I follow, is now quieter in decibels than dual carriageway traffic. This wasn't the case 30 years ago though. The stadium I attend is next to a dual carriageway, this is noisy from 7:00am to 8:00pm five to six days per week every week. Local residents still complain it "blights their life" when the bikes are heard intermittently for 29 evenings of the year for 2 hours.

The only thing we have going for us is:
1) Strangely enough, most residents claim not to hear the dual carriageway.
2) They have complained to the council that their evening has been ruined because of noisy racing, when in fact there was no racing taking part.

[Mogwai]

With my sport yes, there are strict rules regarding noise levels. In fact the sport I follow, is now quieter in decibels than dual carriageway traffic. This wasn't the case 30 years ago though. The stadium I attend is next to a dual carriageway, this is noisy from 7:00am to 8:00pm five to six days per week every week. Local residents still complain it "blights their life" when the bikes are heard intermittently for 29 evenings of the year for 2 hours.

The only thing we have going for us is:
1) Strangely enough, most residents claim not to hear the dual carriageway.
2) They have complained to the council that their evening has been ruined because of noisy racing, when in fact there was no racing taking part.

same thing happened at a grasstrack circuit near to me. the people who complained lived the other side of a busy motorway

[bmcecosse]

Join the club and get in there Marshalling autolycus! You won't notice the noise - and you will have a great day with a ringside view!!