Paul3446

Quote:
"Give me a spot in a far away bit of forest any day (with my three legged stool for a touch of luxury ). "


Reminds me of when I went to Spa for the bike GP (1990 I think) and found a little spot at Blanchimont just before the Bus Stop and sat there on my own, I barely saw another spectator all day, the Grandstands were probably packed, but I had my own little space and a plastic stool and my Peanut Butter sandwiches.

Spoon

Paul3446 is definitely angling for the sympathy vote here. Maybe a group whip round for a stool, some peanut butter and a tarpaulin anyone.

Paul3446

Those Peanut Butter sandwiches produced some interesting stools too, I can tell you!!!

PeteBrant

Sorry do you have to be an armchair fan to want to have some comfort and a great view when you go and see a GP, rahter than sit under a tarpaulin?


I''ve been to plenty of GPs, and I guarantee you, when I have taken the kids, they wanted comfort, convenience and entertainment, like most people would - If I had made them sit in the pouring rain under a sheet of plastic at 5am I would have never got them to another one again.

stilover

Not at the moment, no. Once £100 Million or so is spent on it, and it'll be completely different.

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

I want great racing and am not in the least bit bothered about facilities, honestly! It's all about the track for me.

I've done the VIP corporate hospitality thing and whilst it felt good sitting in the VIP box quaffing free champers and munching on fee nibbles, my view of the race was somewhat restricted by all the suits & handbags who kept standing in my way with their backs to both the telly and the track whilst the race was on. As far as I'm concerned the less of these types that go to races the better for me I've even sat in the Ferrarri motorhome in the paddock and watched the start of the race having just brushed past Michael Schumacher on his way back from his pre-race wee Even then I wandered up to Copse and stood watching the rest of the race with the riff-raff because it was better.

But on a more realistic note I realise that it's a business and it must go the way in which it is to continue to run as a business. Shame really.

It's quite amusing seeing all the gorgeous ladies with their high heels and neatly quoiffured hair stepping through muddy puddles and dodging showers whilst I stand there looking anything but gorgeous in my boots and waterproofs

Spoon

Ah but that's what makes a real woman.

RobinSherwood

Took the words out of my mouth.

I have visited every GP circuit in Europe (and many of the smaller circuits in Europe as well) and compared to most of them Silverstone fares pretty well in terms of facilities and standard of up-keep. Anyone who thinks otherwise IMHO believes what they read and hasn't actually visited these places.

When I went to the Italian GP at Monza in 2001 the facilities where laughable and the crowd control just plain dangerous.

Silverstone may not be perfect but it certainly doesn't deserve a lot of the criticism it gets.

I am sad the GP appears to be leaving Silverstone however modern F1 cars going through the Craner Curves should be quite a sight.

Paul3446

Quote:
"Sorry do you have to be an armchair fan to want to have some comfort and a great view when you go and see a GP, rahter than sit under a tarpaulin? "

Oh dear, this appears to be going over your head.

Paul3446

Quote:
"modern F1 cars going through the Craner Curves should be quite a sight. "

Quite possibly, but Donington is a flowing set of curves that will offer next to no overtaking chances.

Would they even get into top gear anywhere?

stilover

They're revamping the track, facilities, the lot.

Give them chance before slagging them off.

As I said earlier. Bernie wouldn't have given them a contract without thinking they can pull it off.

PeteBrant

Why is is it such an impossbility for you to talk about something without being either sarcastic or abusive?

Paul3446

Quote:
"Sorry do you have to be an armchair fan to want to have some comfort and a great view when you go and see a GP, rahter than sit under a tarpaulin? "

And this wasn't sarcastic I suppose?

PeteBrant

No, It was a light hearted comment hence the laugh and the great big smiley face in the post.

It seems you simply cannot have a different point of view with someone. You consistantly have to "roll your eyes" or come out with some abusive or sarcastic comment.

It's not as if its now and then, its every single time you don't agree with someone, whoever it is and whatever it's about!

Paul3446

Oh Petey Petey Pete, you are accusing me of disagreeing with everyone!

The only person I disagree with normally on here is you and your sidekick Martin, me and everyone else get along just fine.

Not sure you can say the same yourself though!

PeteBrant

No, that's not what I said, now is it.
Tel's already had an example of your special brand of sarcasm in the global warming thread today, and I've seen you do it to anyone that doesn't agree with you. I seem to remember LisaWRX commenting on you addiction to Rolly eyes and sarcasm.

Still it make no odds to me, you carry on, I just wasn't going to let you do it to me again without pulling you for it.

Paul3446

Well I'm flattered that you are taking such an interest in me Pete, a little bit disturbed as well though!

Me and Telboy have had a perfectly civil debate on the Global Warming thread, there's been no animosity as far as I can see. I did notice you desperately trying to have your say on there as well though.

Do you get a notification every time I post, or are you just constantly watching every thread on here?

PeteBrant

:sigh: ok Paul, whatever, hopefully the message will sink in and you'll try and behave a little more constructivley in future.

Apologies to Scoob for the thread derail.

Paul3446

This isn't school you know Pete! What are you going to do, give me 50 lines?

Paul3446

BTW, the point in which the thread was derailed was when you accused me of sarcasm.

PeteBrant

Which is why I apologised to Scoob, I'm not sure of the point you are trying to make?

Paul3446

That you derailed the thread of course, struggling to keep up today are we?

Especially that you were the one with the first sarcastic comment.

Anyway, why don't we stop now, no more, let's end it here.

Iain Young

Except that they haven't got the money, the planning permission, or the road infrastructure. Doesn't look too promising to me. Look how long it takes to build anything in this country (Millenium Dome, Wembley, Olympic facilities etc - all over budget and behind schedule).

Yes he would. He has publically stated that if Donnington cannot finish the circuit to his satisfaction within the next two years, then he will cancel the British GP altogether and sell the slot on the calendar to a rival country. On top of that, Donnington would have to pay him two years fees in compensation.

Bernie is only in this for the money, and if he thinks he can make more by having the GP in another country, he will. Who cares what the fans want...

Shark Man

Why not provide decent debate to the forum instead of acting like a...

Correct this:

w4nk3r


Feel free to give a tit-for-tat infraction

Paul3446

Quote:
Originally Posted by stilover
They're revamping the track, facilities, the lot.



Are they actually changing the layout of the track then? I'd be surprised if they alter the first part, perhaps they'll do something about the Melbourne Loop, which is just a cr*ppy little add on to get it long enough to host a bike GP.

stilover

The Millenuim Dome & the Olympics are Government funded, so over budgeting was inevitable. Wembley? Couldn't make their mind up if it had to included an Athletics track or not, so redesigned the staduim several times.

In the private sector things run slighty differently. I work in Industrial Roofing/Cladding and deal with this type of development all the time. If basic Architects drawing have been done for the new Pit garages, hospitality area's etc you are talking a very short time frame to get from foundations to finished building. As long as funds are in place of course.

If Donington have funds in place, then 2 years is a piece of cake. If construction starts this time next year, they'll have time to spare.

stilover

They have to widen the whole thing for a start. Interview with the Donington fellow on ITV over the weekend said just that. Also they have to lengthen the track for lap times.

Maybe they can hire the Canadian Pikeys to lay some Tarmac down for them.

Iain Young

Yep, they need to make the track at least half a mile longer apparently.

That's the point. They haven't got funding, and even if they get it, and make the track all nice and pretty, the road network surrounding it is very unlikely to be able to cope.

Paul3446

I wonder if they'll take the track down through the old campsite after the chicane?

I've always thought that would make the track flow a lot better.

Funkii Munkii

They're reported to have £100m, that should just about cover upgrading the public roads into the place, realistically they need £600m + imho.

It's about time Bernie gave something back to the sport, he has milked it for all it's worth for many years, time to give some back.

I spent the day with Force India during the testing period at Silverstone a couple of weeks back and even at the back of the grid the money slooshing about is obscene, that said the Force India set up was very impressive and you really can see where the money goes, very interesting stuff, can't imagine the funds Ferrari have.

In this sport money talks and bullsh!t walks.