RE: Ecclestone Eyes Octagon?

RE: Ecclestone Eyes Octagon?

Sunday 12th January 2003

Ecclestone Eyes Octagon?

Is yet another takeover of our major race circuits in the offing?


Author
Discussion

jamesc

Original Poster:

2,820 posts

291 months

Monday 13th January 2003
quotequote all
This is serious! Good bye club racing and track days. Oh well there is always Spain!

James

StevieBee

13,581 posts

262 months

Monday 13th January 2003
quotequote all
I sort of share your sentiment James!

Why is it that countless companies have failed to realise the potential that Brands offers? From a driver's perspective it's one of the few remaining driver's circuit and it's hard to think of a better circuit from a spectator's point of view.

Imagine if they could build a grandstand that stretched from the bridge just before Clearways right round to the top of Druids?

As for access - sell of most of the fields and build a great big multi-storey and run timed exits. Stick a slip road dirctly onto the M20 and Robert's your Mother's Brother!

There is the small mater of cost but I do think this can be overcome if the owners can think beyond F1. A Grand Prix should be the icing on the cake - not the critical factor it seems to be at present.

Let us hope that Bernie does what he does best and build upon what we've got - not build on what we've got with a big Sainsbury's! Brands is after all his "local" circuit.

As long as he starts serving a decent pint of Adnams in the Kentagon, then he gets my vote!

hansgerd

1,274 posts

291 months

Monday 13th January 2003
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You're right... thankfully Spa is out of his mind. So, if you can cope with a smoke advert ban then get your boat and cross the channel... I'll see you there. Seriously Bernie, get your hands off Octagon.

scuffham

20,887 posts

281 months

Saturday 25th January 2003
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I would not assume that this is bad news.

Almost anybody would be better than the current setup.

The yanks paid well over the odds for BHL, and even with them charging silly money for just about everything, they still made a massive loss, they massivly over-estimated the value of the market.

Considering Octagon were trying to sell off land for building, the idea of Berni buying them lock-stock and barrel seems like a positive thing.

If he has, and is content for it to be able to run with only a small profit (on paper), then it could well be a positive thing.

Simon (S)

jamesc

Original Poster:

2,820 posts

291 months

Saturday 25th January 2003
quotequote all
Hi Simon,

Good to hear from you. Bernie only seems to think about lining his own pockets; look what he has done to Spa. You are right about Octogan and the way they have run Brands Hatch is a disgrace.

James