They're heavily involved in bids for ONE OFF events like the Olympics and the Football World cup, why not try and keep an event that brings in money EVERY YEAR?

Then is the task of the organisers to convince the Government, but as I said, if the event is so profitable they shouldn't have any problems to attract private investors.

Can't they just cut the crap now and give it to Silervstone.

Yes, maybe the Govt shouldn't give money out, but when they can pour billions into Tennis and olympics it makes a mockery

More like trying to gee up Donkey! Difficult to predict Bernie's motive. Don't forget the big picture which is that there is a BRDC vote on Tuesday which could see control of Silverstone given to a Middle Eastern wealth fund - just the kind of big pockets Bernie would want behind the British GP (so he can ramp up the fee)...

And Silverstone haven't....

Why haven't they updated the place to the 21st century yet? Are you suggesting that they are not as competent as they should?

When was the last time you was at Silverstone?

BE: "I'm hoping Donington... do all the things they must do. And if they can't, we will come back to Silverstone."

my evil wish

Silverstone: "FO Bernie"

motoGP should have stayed at DP. F1 at Silverstone. Right now it looks both will be at Silverstone (eventually)?

Also, the poll allows one to vote for both Silverstone and DP. A Badoer level mistake.

Never, I've only seen the place on TV. Have they completely rebuilt the paddock for instance, because it looked absolutely pathetic for a F1 circuit. If they have done that (not words, acts), I'll eat my words

Done. I was using the garages a couple of weeks ago, there's nowt wrong with them.

True. But as I pointed out in the other thread Bernie will most probably be keen not to be seen favouring Donington ahead of Tuesday's BRDC vote on whether to give the directors power to hand Silverstone over to a Middle Eastern wealth fund - that is what Bernie is surely really after.

Why do you think that a middle eastern wealth fund will invest in silverstone? what knowledge do you have of this? how do you know that there will be a board meeting on tuesday?

Who are you to seem so convinced? Do you work at silverstone or are you a member of the BRDC?

You can Personal message me if you don't want to publicise it

I'd prefer Silverstone, ultimately I'm not bothered as long as I can get my ticket in time with a good coach that won't be held up for 3 hours getting in...

I got the letter about this along with all the other members a few weeks ago. Here is the relevant snippet from Robert's pearls of wisdom:

"Further to my letters of 5 June and 14 July 2009, please find eclosed the formal notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting which will take place at 2.00pm on 25 August 2009, in the Jimmy Brown Centre, Silverstone.

I would specificaly like to draw your attention to the following points:

a) the first Resolution empowers the Board, on behalf of the Club, to grant a lease or leases of the whole Silverstone site. The second Resolution empowers the Board to permit Silverstone Estates Ltd to enter into arrangements which must be consistent with the first Resolution"

I got a detailed Q&A about the plan earlier this week too (would take me a long time to type it all in!) following the reports last weekend of the Middle East fund taking over:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/120813...-at-Silverstone

Is this line in the article correct? Is the circuit owned by the members or by the club?

AFAIK the circuit is owned by the Club which is in turn owned by the members so this is presumably why the article states that

No wonder Bernie is so pissed at not being allowed to join. What is the membership fee? If they are getting a stake in the circuit as part of the membership then you would expect a very high fee.

Heh. Bernie's anger is directed at a bigger financial issue - the lower sum which is paid by us every year to host the race in contrast to his fellows in the East. However if the vote on Tuesday goes in favour of the directors then Bernie is one step nearer to getting more.

The old arena of my village is OK for high school matches, but we couldn't celebrate a NBA match there. Formula One is not the same as amateurish races or even any other professional competition.

Seems to have managed quite happily for the last 20 years and I've never actually seen complaints from any of the teams.

The fact that they have managed during the last 20 years doesn't mean that they will be able to managge during the NEXT 20 years without accomplishing major changes. Problem is that they seem to be stuck in the past and resorting to traditions and history as the main reason to why the British GP should be hold there.

Look without having being there, as you admitted yourself, you have not that capacity to comment.

So, in your opinion, where should the British GP be held then?

You seem quite certain that Silverstone isn't up to standard so where else should the race be held?

I'm not against Silverstone holding the British GP as I'm not against Donington, what I can't understand is all the negativism towards making Silverstone a state of the art, 21st century circuit. I only want it to improve, that's all, are you against improvements?

Given that I think F1 is a dreary waste of time and effort considering they go round and round relying on pitstops to pass one another - state of the art pit facilities are the least of F1's problems right now.

Especially as refuelling will be gone from next year meaning that a pitbox big enough for four tyres and a pair of jacks is all that's required.

How many F1 paddocks have you seen then?

I'd love a comparison.

What negativism?

The plans are in place.

Then it wouldn't be a tradegy if the British GP doesn't take place there until they finish (for that they will have to start first) with those big improvements they have prepared for the place. The same thing happened with the Belgian GP and Spa is back on the calendar.

Voted today and agreed to consider outside investment.

Indeed. It has been a crazy day and I think that we will soon see some retaliation about the decision since not all members agree with this.

For Fun Here: Brands Hatch.

Then tough! A lot of the members are old, stuck in their way, backward thinking people. The venue absolutely needs to be given this commercial control to move forwards and both retain (win back) the F1 grand prix and also attract the other top motorsport and non-motorsport events across the world. None of that would be possible without outside investment. The facilities while ok, and up to a decent standard, are a long way short of the best and now desperately need updating. The plans that are in place are incredible and the venue will be second to none when done.

As above though, without the investment that won't happen.

Bring on the arabs!!

What is wrong with the Silverstone Pit?

They work and are as good as Ring,Spa etc and if you want to make them bigger add to the rear.

Most of the new Bernie inspired circuits are crap with the exception of Istanbul and looking at it the other day Abu Dhabi.

This striving for flash,Victoria Beckham type architecture is beyond me.It has nothing to do with the actual racing.Racing owes something to its history as that gives measurements to what has gone on before

Why government money for a sport that very few participate in and I have no problem with the tax /lottery input into mainstream participation sports.

Very little dosh is put into tennis so why Silverstone.Spa has spent nothing for the actual punter just making it more homogenised environment for Bernie and his circuis.

Perhaps F1 should cater solely for the TV viewer and leave the rest of us to get on with the real motorsport at grassroots level.

This story has a long way to run as the people behind Donington are no pushovers as Bernie and his mate Tom will find out.

Let's assume for a moment that the racing will be good regardless of what you do to it. And that the facilities that matter - pit garages, equipment, etc. - will be of the highest standard.

Now, would you prefer that racing to take place at a circuit with buildings that are some of the best-looking in the world, or with buildings that are less attractive than your averge Tesco's?

Nothing wrong with the architecture at Silverstone ,it does a job.Its motor racing ,not a play on who can spend the most on grotesque structures.Much better than the vulgar crap at most of the new circuits.Wait till Abu Dhabi is complete!Over the top is not an apt description.
Whats the deal,its got to be televisual or whatever they call it?Rubbish!

Providing that the Pits are clean, light and airy for the comfort of the mechanics, I doubt that the average race fan gives a stuff whether they look like Nissan Huts.

It is only the corporate hangers-on and floozies that worry about these things. Oh, and the ones who jump on the warts band wagon.

Even on the TV coverage, just how long do they focus on the aesthetics of the buildings structure and form?

I would rather see improvements to facilities for the ticket paying fans, but, having said that, I am not adverse to having a pee behind a tree or sommat.

When ever did Bernie do anything for the normal paying public?
Post 90 is the one I understand and agree with.

The ,I will moan about Silverstone,ah,but I have never been there.defeats me.

As a matter of interest where are you based and if its UK why have you not bothered to go to the GP and if you do not go how does the infrastructure effect you?

Silverstone is one of the last classics F1 circuits, I hope it stays in calendar. I also hope it is not ruined with too heavy renovation, no glass towers needed there, but of cource construction modernisation is needed to make the spectator's experience better.

Prior to the improvements to the roads infrastructure, I was based about 2 1/2 -3 hours away.

Now I am only about 55 minutes away.

Also, I am old enough to have seen Silverstone evolve from its humble beginnings (as an airfield) to what it is now.

So you have been?

I used to go but am not that interested these days.

I am a miserable old fart can't stand this F1 package stuff.

Back when we had a GP and the best in British domestic racing it was three days fun but no more.

The Festival a month later is so much better to see cars and good racing.

Try The Sports car race in September.Old and new racers.

Bloody hell, we share the same birth date, separated by only one year. Young man....

They are:

and they don't look like Nissan huts.


As for the decision yesterday, good on Damon for getting this through, the circuit and dare I say it the BRDC need it.

Bernie IS a Member