British GP to be held at Donington - Page 67

Steven Humphrey · 25 Nov 2009, 13:44 (Ref:2589020)

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreversideways

Just read Gillett's comments on the Autosport Website. The man is raving mad, Walter Mitty had a better sense of reality than Gillett.

Apparently it will only cost £40 million to get the track in shape for a 2010 GP then another £50 million to complete the work for 2011. Erm, wasn't it all going to cost £135 million a month ago?

Eddie_harasym · 25 Nov 2009, 16:20 (Ref:2589078)

Maybe thats excluding things like the 'Clubhouse' and all the hospitality suites.

Its probably just for the new pits and media complex, plus all the bare minimum bits to run the race.

Things like the hospitality buildings in my mind should be sold off private anyway.

old man · 25 Nov 2009, 16:28 (Ref:2589081)

He's trying to talk up the offer price from the bidders, I rather think this is another case of more optimism than realism

Steven Humphrey · 25 Nov 2009, 16:35 (Ref:2589088)

TBH, I do not believe a word that comes out of that man anymore.

jab · 25 Nov 2009, 16:45 (Ref:2589094)

I didn't believe much of what he said to start with

JeremySmith · 26 Nov 2009, 03:51 (Ref:2589371)

Acid trip....

Tim the Grey · 26 Nov 2009, 09:04 (Ref:2589495)

Acid Bath...

Greem · 26 Nov 2009, 09:43 (Ref:2589531)

Quote:

Originally Posted by old man

He's trying to talk up the offer price from the bidders, I rather think this is another case of more optimism than realism

Unfortunately this is a legal obligation on (at the very least) the administrator himself, and by extension on the company's management. Imagine how much stronger the creditors would feel if at the time the company is in administration the incumbent management went in the press saying "Oh yeah, it was a crappy idea to start with, it never had legs, we were only doing it for a laugh".

They've got to talk it up, or liquidation is a certainty. It's almost a certainty anyway but anything (legal) that they can do to stave that off has to be done.

I agree though, it's delusional.

Gerryc · 26 Nov 2009, 09:48 (Ref:2589533)

Hopefully the deal to hold the GP at Silverstone will be finalised very soon so that everyone's mind (except those, like Gillett, who have lost theirs) can concentrate on how to get Donington back into a race circuit. At the moment it is a housing estate in waiting - what is needed is someone (Palmer?) to put in enough money to ensure its future as a circuit!

Greem · 26 Nov 2009, 09:55 (Ref:2589535)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerryc

At the moment it is a housing estate in waiting

I don't think NWLDC or DCC would give planning permission for houses there - as far as I'm aware it's just too close to the airport for comfort (and safety). It's more likely to end up being swallowed as a runway extension or business park...

Either way that's not an outcome I'd like to see.

Marbot · 27 Nov 2009, 10:20 (Ref:2590028)

Bernie is apparently not the slightest bit interested in buying or running Donington.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=39610

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/...buy-donington/

p261brm · 27 Nov 2009, 11:35 (Ref:2590073)

[QUOTE=Marbot;2590028]Bernie is apparently not the slightest bit interested in buying or running Donington.

He's busy just being his usual self, a first class Rodney

p261brm · 27 Nov 2009, 11:47 (Ref:2590078)

http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...D=352899&FS=F1

December the 9th dateline for Silverstone now, same day as I have laser treatment on my right eye, perhaps then I can see more clearly what the hell the lot of them are up to.

Gerryc · 27 Nov 2009, 15:10 (Ref:2590221)

Quote:

Originally Posted by p261brm

http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...D=352899&FS=F1

December the 9th dateline for Silverstone now, same day as I have laser treatment on my right eye, perhaps then I can see more clearly what the hell the lot of them are up to.

I don't think seeing clearly will help trying to work out what is going on here. You need the ability to knit fog and make tea with a chocolate teapot to stand a chance - just being able to see, hear and think clearly will be useless

Marbot · 9 Dec 2009, 13:17 (Ref:2596652)

Three bidders for Donington rescue?

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=39657

duke_toaster · 9 Dec 2009, 17:40 (Ref:2596790)

MSV must be one of them, surely.

jab · 9 Dec 2009, 17:49 (Ref:2596797)

I wonder if one (or maybe more) would be an entrepreneur like Branson or someone like that. There's a great opportunity for someone like him to come in, buy the circuit, do it up and brand it as their own - Virgin Racing racing at Virgin Raceway? Or Red Bull - they've tried once already with the A1-Ring, but the eco-nutters have slowed them down, so how about another famous circuit?

**Peter Mallett** · 9 Dec 2009, 18:22 (Ref:2596819)

hopefully.

nea · 9 Dec 2009, 19:29 (Ref:2596850)

I would be happy if someone like that bought it and they can put up as much branding as they like, but I would hate to see it become "Virgin Raceway" or something similar. It's Donington Park and it always will be. I still call Sears Point by it's right and proper name.

jab · 10 Dec 2009, 01:43 (Ref:2597064)

Well, yeah. Ideally I'd like to see an official name like that of Laguna Seca, which is officially the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

A similar thing has been discussed for Silverstone, actually. Or so they say

**bjohnsonsmith** · 12 Dec 2009, 02:52 (Ref:2598306)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jab

Well, yeah. Ideally I'd like to see an official name like that of Laguna Seca, which is officially the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

A similar thing has been discussed for Silverstone, actually. Or so they say

Laguna Seca literally means dry lake in Spanish. Laguna Seca Ranch used to be in the area hence the tracks name. The track belongs to Monterey County and is run by the Parks dept. and Mazda sponsor it.

Marbot · 24 Dec 2009, 16:50 (Ref:2604713)

And now the bad news.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=39718

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80674

**bjohnsonsmith** · 24 Dec 2009, 17:04 (Ref:2604716)

I know it's the season of peace on earth and goodwill to all men but someone deserves to get their ass kicked over this one.

JimW · 24 Dec 2009, 17:54 (Ref:2604741)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbot

And now the bad news.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=39718

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80674

On the contrary, that's not bad news, it's excellent news.

It marks the end of DVLL and gives the Wheatcroft family the opportunity to lease the track to someone else. Sure they won't get any of the back rent they are owned from DVLL but then, they won't have any of the debts which DVLL doubtless still has.

Come on, who has a couple of million to invest now as a Christmas present for club motorsport? Back on the track by mid-year and no nonsense about the Grand Prix. Thin year in 2010 and back as a fine national and international venue in 2011. Re-employ all the people who made the track run and not the GP fantasists.

Regards

Jim

Ted bennett · 24 Dec 2009, 17:55 (Ref:2604742)

I am not that suprised that they have been unable to find a buyer for the lease, 150 years is a long term and my understanding is that it wasn't cheap. I can only hope that one of the interested buyers can do a deal with Wheatcroft and Son on more amenable terms and restore the circuit for national level racing at least.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
British F3 Donington	META4	National & International Single Seaters	79	15 May 2007 21:58
British GP to Donington?	PaulSands	Formula One	18	6 Aug 2003 20:44
British GP at Donington in 2002?	Andy H	Trackside	6	31 Aug 2000 21:58