(Off Topic) - British GP back at Brands Hatch! Woohoo!

I've just noticed that Bernie has announced that the British GP is to go to Brands Hatch from 2002 to 2007. At last, the GP returns to a circuit with character! Apparently, the BRDC chose not to renew their contract. Dunno how this affects the BHL take-over bid for Silverstone though, and if the GP would go back to Silverstone if BHL does get the track. Mike West 3DNow! UK: www.3dnow.freeserve.co.uk

This is a disaster. They'll butcher and ruin the Brands that we know and love today, just to bring it upto F1 standard. :o( Silverstone is much better suited to F1. It's been the host of the GP since 1987(?) so really it should stay. I don't think the local residents at Brands Hatch will put up with all that noise either. There seems to be a bunch of lowlifes who live around that area... Rob "...and I've got to stop, because I've got a lump in my throat!" ~Murray Walker "82.4% of statistics are made up on the spot" ~Vic Reeves "When the segulls follow the trawler, it is because the expect fish to be thrown for them." ~Eric Cantona

If this is actually true, I weep for Brands Hatch. By the time Bernie gets done with the track it will be just another sterile, characterless clone. All the corners will be altered into 2nd gear yawners or will be preceeded by chicanes, and you can say goodbye to those wonderful elevation changes that contribute so much to the track as it is now. I hope I'm just being cyincal, but I rather suspect I'm not far off the mark. ----------------------------- -Chris- | Two wheels are better | |Proud owner of a 1998 ZX-9R| ----------------------------- --== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==-- ---Share what you know. Learn what you don't.---

I disagree there, I think it's the best thing for the British GP. Bringing Brands up to a proper safety standard is long overdue. Silverstone is by far the worst track on the calendar IMO. Boring landscape, no overtaking opportunities, butchered by silly chicanes and twists - no thanks. I've been there three times for F1, and each time I vowed I'd never go back. The "facilities" for spectators are awful, and having had to pay 70 for a ticket I sort of hope for rather more than a) parking my ***on a hill of dirt for six hours to get a reasonable position for watching the race, b) walk around then have to stand on dirt behind a sea of people and see nothing, or pay the same extortionate amount again and get a proper seat. It's _far_ better to stay at home and watch on TV than go to Silverstone. Cheers! John

On Fri, 14 May 1999 13:02:05 +0100, "Mike West"

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>I've just noticed that Bernie has announced that the British GP is to go to >Brands Hatch from 2002 to 2007. >At last, the GP returns to a circuit with character! >Apparently, the BRDC chose not to renew their contract. Dunno how this >affects the BHL take-over bid for Silverstone though, and if the GP would go >back to Silverstone if BHL does get the track. >Mike West

Yes, interesting news. Brands Hatch is definitely in the older class of awe inspiring non-mickey mouse F1 tracks. However, it appears they are going to redo the track before the first race... I'd expect some mickey-mouse infield/stadium type stuff to be done, sadly. All that said, I don't think Silverstone is a bad track in modern F1... I have always seen it as one of the better courses in modern F1... so as happy I am to see Brands Hatch on the schedule, I'm sad to see Silverstone go. I can't imaging why the BRDC chose not to renew the contract. Why would they do such a thing??? (ignorant Yank here... ). As for the going back to Silverstone... the article I read said it's a six year exclusive deal... and Brands Hatch is spending $30 million USD for renovation... I highly doubt Bernie could/would take that away before the six years is up. Maybe he's ulitmately planning 2 English soil GP's in his grand scheme of world domination?? Ecclestone is such a little circus clown (rich clown at that)... almost nothing he does suprises me anymore :( -=Hammer remove the x fer reply

Agreed! Uh-huh.... The track is boring. I *am* going to the race this year (along with Barcelona and Spa, heehee!) but I can't wait for the race to get back to Brands. Maybe I'm slightly influenced by the fact that the track is right on my doorstep, but it's just so much better for drivers and spectators alike. I went to Brands last month for the BOSS Formula racing and sat in the stand at Paddock. Seeing those cars hurtling down and then up the hill to Druids and also come flying out on to the pit-straight was really something. Silverstone may have the space and facilities in place but Brands has character and is a much more suitable venue for F1 IMHO. I'd want the British GP there for the same reasons Papy wanted Rouen in GPL as opposed to Le Mans Bugatti :-) -- Cheers! Graeme Nash http://www.bromley-fc.co.uk ICQ# 11257824 ________________________________________________________________________________ "Sorry, my eyes were on screensaver" (Calvin & Hobbes)

In an interview on tv tonight, Nichols Foulston stated that the indy part of the circuit would remain as it is now, and that some of the rest of the track would be re-alligned to make it a faster circuit. Mark

Ahem. Firstly, I live 3 miles from Brands, and don't consider myself a low-life! cheers! According to Autosport, the elevation of Brands will stay, as the sweep down into paddock and touches like that are what makes Brands. Apparently a new pits/media complex is to be built between Surtees and Hawthorne (the long straight on the GP section, as it leaves the indy). They'll probably have to increase run offs and do something to stop so many cars slamming into the wall at Surtees (the bit in between the two gp/indy junctions). Oh, and replace those old bridges to cope with the pit traffic. I don't think the circuit itself will really change much at all. Just my opinion though. Mike West 3DNow! UK: www.3dnow.freeserve.co.uk

low-life! cheers!<< Heh, heh... oops sorry :) Rob "...and I've got to stop, because I've got a lump in my throat!" ~Murray Walker "82.4% of statistics are made up on the spot" ~Vic Reeves "When the segulls follow the trawler, it is because the expect fish to be thrown for them." ~Eric Cantona

Read on an F1 site today that Bernie said that he didn't care where the new promoter ran the GP. Seems the owner at Brands Hatch is trying (tried?) to buy Silverstone, but was voted down by the group that owns it. She intended to run at Silverstone. This is a disaster. They'll butcher and ruin the Brands that we know and love today, just to bring it upto F1 standard. :o( Silverstone is much better suited to F1. It's been the host of the GP since 1987(?) so really it should stay. I don't think the local residents at Brands Hatch will put up with all that noise either. There seems to be a bunch of lowlifes who live around that area... Rob "...and I've got to stop, because I've got a lump in my throat!" ~Murray Walker "82.4% of statistics are made up on the spot" ~Vic Reeves "When the segulls follow the trawler, it is because the expect fish to be thrown for them." ~Eric Cantona

How about a temp. course through London? Run through the disaster of Canary Wharf, a big Dukes of Hazzard-style whoop-de-whoop over Tower Bridge (with bridge partially raised, of course) and then scream up alongside the Thames? er, . . .perhaps not

I agree, it's all political and hyped speculation. I would like to think there is absolutely no chance whatsoever of F1 returning to Brands. The thought of the spectators being moved back and the *** of catch fencing all around the circuit almost brings me to tears! Mike.

speaking of UK road courses - is the Birmingham Super Prix still held?? Last time i heard anything about it was *ages* ago, but then i am horribly out of touch with things non F1 Please don't let them butcher Brands! -- Mike Buckley Cotswold Pig Development Co Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1472 371591 Fax: +44 (0)1472 371208 http://www.toastyhamster.freeserve.co.uk

>speaking of UK road courses - is the Birmingham Super Prix still held?? >Last time i heard anything about it was *ages* ago, but then i am >horribly out of touch with things non F1 The Birmingham Super Prix took 15 years to plan but lasted just 5, in 1986-90, as rounds of the International F3000 championship. The winners were: 1986 Luis Perez Sala (remember him?) 1987 Stefano Modena (remember him?) 1988 Roberto Moreno (remember him?) 1989 Jean Alesi (remem.. oh never mind) 1990 Eric van de Poele (remember him?) So no: it isn't still held. http://members.xoom.com/IanHill http://members.tripod.com/~IanHill http://home.crosswinds.net/members/~ianhill Now updated with Monaco GP results!

It also held a round of the BTCC - we went one year because the wife's boss was driving (Sean Walker - remember him ? No, neither do I). John

the company i was working for at the time entered a bright orange porsche in the endurance race, the boss of said company went on to be marketing director for Pacific GP, I distinctly remember seeing him on Grandstand saying how they were going to get top 6 in first year :) -- Mike Buckley Cotswold Pig Development Co Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1472 371591 Fax: +44 (0)1472 371208 http://www.toastyhamster.freeserve.co.uk

I also read on Atlas F1 (http://www.atlasf1.com/news/1280.htm) that the French Grand Prix will be returning to the Paul Ricard circuit in 2002. It seems that Bernie Ecclestone now owns the track.

>I also read on Atlas F1 (http://www.atlasf1.com/news/1280.htm) that the French >Grand Prix will be returning to the Paul Ricard circuit in 2002. It seems that >Bernie Ecclestone now owns the track. bernie has owned that track for some time now. Z. Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

Autosport today printed a diagram of the proposed track layout. I can't post it as I don't have a scanner but here's the jist of it... The Indy Circuit section will remain virtually the same, in fact Paddock will be sped up slightly as it will be widened. Surtees, the left hander leading on to the GP loop, will be slowed to a 90-degree turn. At the other end of the straight Hawthorn will also be slowed but should give a good passing opportunity. Westfield will become a superfast double-apex right hander and lead into a flat-out right-left sweep on to the back straight. The entry to Clearways will sadly be slowed by a chicane but overall the track is looking good. Certainly not an A1-Ring.... -- Cheers! Graeme Nash http://www.karisma1.demon.co.uk ICQ# 11257824 ________________________________________________________________________________ "Sorry, my eyes were on screensaver" (Calvin & Hobbes)

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> >Please don't let them butcher Brands! > Autosport today printed a diagram of the proposed track layout. I can't > post it as I don't have a scanner but here's the jist of it... > The Indy Circuit section will remain virtually the same, in fact Paddock > will be sped up slightly as it will be widened. Surtees, the left hander > leading on to the GP loop, will be slowed to a 90-degree turn. At the > other end of the straight Hawthorn will also be slowed but should give a > good passing opportunity. Westfield will become a superfast double-apex > right hander and lead into a flat-out right-left sweep on to the back > straight. > The entry to Clearways will sadly be slowed by a chicane but overall the > track is looking good. Certainly not an A1-Ring.... > -- > Cheers! > Graeme Nash

they have a pic at their website at: http://www.autosportmag.com/images/store/1999/may/brands.jpeg as well. I'm now officially against the British Grand Prix moving to Brands Hatch, they' ruin that entire awesome section in the forest, no more Dingle-Dell! At least I have the proper track to enjoy in Superbike :-) -- Arne Martin

ARGH!! What are the FIA doing?? Not Brands as well!! we should organize against track molesting!!! :( Matt

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>>they have a pic at their website at: >>http://www.autosportmag.com/images/store/1999/may/brands.jpeg >>as well. I'm now officially against the British Grand Prix moving to >>Brands Hatch, they' ruin that entire awesome section in the forest, no >>more Dingle-Dell! >>At least I have the proper track to enjoy in Superbike :-) >>-- >>Arne Martin >ARGH!! What are the FIA doing?? Not Brands as well!! >we should organize against track molesting!!!

agreed, what a mess - i can't understand why people want it moving to Brands, it's going to make it just another circuit - it'll lose all its character! Silverstone might not be very good but even thats been dumbed down in the past few years :( -- Mike Buckley Cotswold Pig Development Co Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1472 371591 Fax: +44 (0)1472 371208 http://www.toastyhamster.freeserve.co.uk