Save Donnington

[Blaketon]

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?

That must have been a long time ago!! Donington hosted Grand Prix before Silverstone was even an airfield. Even before it was reopened, it was always Tom Wheatcroft's aim to host a Grand Prix once more. Long before that took place in 1993, Donington was hosting some pretty major events.

[Alec]

Hello all,

I have to agree that Donington should be saved, particularly after all the effort that went into rebuilding it by Tom Wheatcroft. It is a superb circuit and although I've seen some good racing at Silverstone (even the FI races have more going for them at Silverstone than many of the new fancy tracks favoured by Mr. Eccleston), Donington is more interesting and similar to Oulton Park, another great circuit.

There are noise limitations at motor racing circuits, and all cars are monitored before being allowed on to the circuit to check compliance of whatever limit is applicable. I can't believe that four miles away would cause serious annoyance?

Alec

[HarryMango]

There is absolutly no danger of Donington Park becoming a housing estate. On 7 March Kevin Wheatcroft is to announce who will take over the running of events there - highly likely to be one of the well established major motor racing clubs. Some racing is hoped for this year if possible - definately next season.

On the 7 March there is planned to be a very large classic gathering & autojumble - which should be a good event.

See you there?

Rog

[Kevin]

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.

Come on Mike it wasnt that bad in the beer tent when the touring cars stopped as long as you didnt mind shouting

[Kevin]

That must have been a long time ago!! Donington hosted Grand Prix before Silverstone was even an airfield. Even before it was reopened, it was always Tom Wheatcroft's aim to host a Grand Prix once more. Long before that took place in 1993, Donington was hosting some pretty major events.

Although they did have their first gran prix in 1935 it was interuped by WW11 and the reason for the building of Siverstone which had its first race in 1948 was
Silverstone was opened as a World War Two airfield in 1943. Once the war had ended in 1945 Britain was left with a number of redundant airfields but without a major race track Donington Park was still a military vehicle storage depot, Brooklands had been sold off, Crystal Palace was in a state of disrepair and Brands Hatch was still under-developed. And Donnington didn't host another race until 1977 so the best part of 40 years with no racing.

[moggydriver62]

I allways thought that the noise from the Parliament,was loud rude and exsesive.
Thats why I left,but I might come back,if it could be turned into a race track.
moggy driver 62.

[IaininTenbury]

I work on the other side of the valley from Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb and can hear the commentry and cars going up the hill pretty well on race days when the wind is right. Personally I think its brilliant, and normally an excuse to finish work early and pop down for a look!
I understand they are limited to a certain number of events a year due to noise and local residents though. Now if there was a rule that you have tobe a motorsport enthusaist to live within a certain radius of a venue everyone woudl be happy......

[Blaketon]

I've been to Shelsley, both as a spectator and as a driver. Years back, the non road cars did not have to be silenced, apart from in the paddock. They used to have removable silencers, which the start marshals took off and which you collected after the run. Drivers would spin the wheels in the pre start area (To warm up the slicks) and come to the line. I can still remember the sound of a DFV changing as the silencer came off.......those were the days .

Now they have noise limits (I think its only stuff like F1 and perhaps Sport Prototypes - Le Mans stuff that is exempt from noise limits these days). I remember my Jedi was one decibel within the limit. I was a bit concerned but the scrutineer said "It's within the limit, don't worry".

At Prescott, they had a problem with someone from Gotherington, who moved in and then started moaning about hillclimbs (6 per year) at Prescott, which had been going since 1938 (Unlike Donington, Prescott reopened after the war). I believe he has since moved on, no doubt believing that he owns the area surrounding his new home . The Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway (http://www.gwsr.com/) passes between Prescott and Gotherington. I wonder if he moaned about that too .

By the way, one of the meetings at Prescott is the Vintage Sports Car Club event (They have one at Shelsley too and also at other venues), which is really worth a look. See http://www.vscc.co.uk/vsccweb/