Race Track in Cornwall/Devon
Discussion
Sorry not been around much of late for various reasons but someone contacted me about this and thought would post in here to see if we can help make it actually turn into something:
https://www.facebook.com/Track4sw
apologies if it's already been posted but didn't come up with anything in a search.
https://www.facebook.com/Track4sw
apologies if it's already been posted but didn't come up with anything in a search.
The 2 big problems for any circuit are access and noise. For the noise, it needs to be isolated, but that means access is poor (even Silversone is pretty grotty still 
). Mansell's plans were doomed from the start, the lanes around there are completely unsuited to the sort of transporters and trucks that his proposed development would have attracted.
The best place would probably be somewhere in North Devon or South Somerset, just off the M5. Sadly this is all prime developer land for the Bristol and Exeter commute. Anywhere else usually has a scattering of very nice very expensive houses (often second homes) so no chance.
Just look at Mallory Park. Considering it has been operating since before the complainers moved there, you'd think anyone with common sense would have taken the Isle of Man approach ("the races have been going 95 years, when you've been here that long THEN you can complain").
So I agree, great idea, but never going to happen without government support.
). Mansell's plans were doomed from the start, the lanes around there are completely unsuited to the sort of transporters and trucks that his proposed development would have attracted.The best place would probably be somewhere in North Devon or South Somerset, just off the M5. Sadly this is all prime developer land for the Bristol and Exeter commute. Anywhere else usually has a scattering of very nice very expensive houses (often second homes) so no chance.
Just look at Mallory Park. Considering it has been operating since before the complainers moved there, you'd think anyone with common sense would have taken the Isle of Man approach ("the races have been going 95 years, when you've been here that long THEN you can complain").
So I agree, great idea, but never going to happen without government support.
I'd love it too
But didnt BRDC just sell Silverstone for £10m.... now bear in mind it cost £30m just to build the wing building & pits complex.
Tracks do not make money, events do however. But the cost of the track is generally prohibitive.
Your best bet would be if one of the F1 companies built a track that the public could use as well.
I will add my "like" tho
But didnt BRDC just sell Silverstone for £10m.... now bear in mind it cost £30m just to build the wing building & pits complex.
Tracks do not make money, events do however. But the cost of the track is generally prohibitive.
Your best bet would be if one of the F1 companies built a track that the public could use as well.
I will add my "like" tho
TDIfurby said:
I know for Cornish types it might be a fair trek but with Castle Combe only 90 minutes away, it's not much of a drive for most of the SW.
200 miles from me - but that's the problem, anyone travelling south to Castle Coombe will have to continue another 200miles to a Cornish circuit.Perranporth is for sale but the locals complain about the noise the gliders make!!
The only chance of anything would be a public roads race on the proviso it brings people & money to the area but until the law changes this won't happen, again Falmouth has history of being the last place motorbike races were held on the highway in the mainland.
If noise is the main issue than surely it can be put on an old airfield as the noise from racing would be far less than that of a commercial airport. Albeit for longer periods of time in one session. Plymouth springs to mind as an example.
Been up to Castle Coombe and it is quite a trek to be honest. At least this would possibly give us another alternative different place within reasonable travelling distance. If someone has the energy and wants to put in the effort to try and obtain a circuit then I would have thought we could at least support them even if we were to be sceptical of the likelihood of it actually materialising (which to the credit of some people. or maybe all that have posted, they have done so already).
Been up to Castle Coombe and it is quite a trek to be honest. At least this would possibly give us another alternative different place within reasonable travelling distance. If someone has the energy and wants to put in the effort to try and obtain a circuit then I would have thought we could at least support them even if we were to be sceptical of the likelihood of it actually materialising (which to the credit of some people. or maybe all that have posted, they have done so already).
andylaurence said:
There might not be circuits in Cornwall, but there's quite a few hillclimbs in the area.
On the bike side, there's nothing like it used to be, could do 20 events a year without leaving the area.Admittedly there's more on the car side now but it really isn't the same as circuit racing.
I would thought the way forward is to work with the likes of solar farms - this land can't really be used for farming now, why not make it multi use for energy, competition, vehicle/driver testing as well as hard standing for other shows & events, even park & ride parking.
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