Night Races

mikebrown70 · 3 Feb 2002, 20:17 (Ref:209821)

Are there going to be any night races in this years championsip?

nicker less · 3 Feb 2002, 20:21 (Ref:209825)

no, too expensive

AndyF · 3 Feb 2002, 22:14 (Ref:209843)

It's a shame, because Snetterton always worked well as a night race. I would love to see the Brands Indy Circuit run at night!!

**Craig** · 3 Feb 2002, 22:21 (Ref:209852)

The only circuits it'd work at would be Snett and Silverstone. I was surprised they got away with it at Silverstone but I guess the local economy is built around motorsport so they are a little more forgiving! Expect it back in a couple of years is what I've been told... and I really hope they're right!

Mind you, if you like night racing, there's the Willhire 8hr race at Snett this year, and an 'evening race' at Donny for the Minis!

Radisichrox · 5 Feb 2002, 23:16 (Ref:210901)

The reason they've never done a night race at Brands Hatch indy is because the length of the circuit. It's too short. I liked it when the Super Tourers did that only night race at Silverstone at the end of the year.

Carrie · 6 Feb 2002, 06:29 (Ref:210984)

I think you'll also find restrictions at Brands due to how close it is to residential areas. I've never heard any mention of the track being too short as a reason for not holding a night race there, that seems a pretty implausable reason.
I'd guess Craig is probably correct in saying that Silverstone gets away with having night races because the residents are more understanding than those near to other circuits. Just look at Oulton Park which has a 6pm (or is it 6:30) curfew imposed by local byelaw.
As for the original question, the answer was summed up very nicely by nicker less, too expensive. The night races might be great fun as far as the fans are concerned and they do create an unsurpassed atmosphere, however, if one of the aims of the new BTCC regs was to cut costs then it made sense to drop the night races.

Paul Rayner · 6 Feb 2002, 12:00 (Ref:211037)

I personally think that when the BTCC gains in popularity again a night race a year will probably become commercially viable again. It might be good to move it around the country, to keep up interest, and I think it's important that it's either in the middle of summer (July/August) for the weather, or at the end of the season, for the atmosphere.

There are some circuits it could never happen at due to noise restrictions though.
They are:
Oulton Park, Croft, Rockingham, Brands (I think), Thruxton, Castle Combe.

As far as I know, all those circuits have restrictions as to when they can race. I was so disappointed when I found out that it couldn't happen at Rockingham, but we're restricted to Snetterton, Silverstone, Knockhill and possibly Donington.

**touringlegend** · 6 Feb 2002, 14:29 (Ref:211104)

Knockhill would be a good track for a night race. The only neighbours are farmers, and there is only one farm right next to it.

WoodyTJ · 6 Feb 2002, 19:00 (Ref:211222)

It is a shame - Snetterton has been so much fun the past 3 years - and i'm sure all the drivers enjoyed the different challenge!

Its going to be missed!

SILVERS95 · 11 Feb 2002, 19:55 (Ref:214198)

it was certainly a shame with weather at Snetterton for the night race last year...

and as far as Silverstone goes...we went to the night race there last year as well , and on the qualifing night we went to the Royal oak Pub in the village.....and you could only just hear the cars going round in the distance on their qualifing runs , so i cant see that the locals could have complained that much anyway.

kristof14 · 11 Feb 2002, 20:29 (Ref:214224)

it'll never happen at oulton

they're only allowed to exceed a certain noise level as long as the local residents agree. that means they'll never agree to a night race. i remember reading an article in Max Power aaaaages ago about people taking their saxos to oulton. one of the cars wasn't allowed to go round because it exceeded the agreed noise level!

nicker less · 11 Feb 2002, 20:41 (Ref:214233)

The '99 Snetterton race produced superb action. As did the 2000 Silverstone meeting.
But for me the novalty of it avaporated, this year.

**bella** · 11 Feb 2002, 20:43 (Ref:214235)

snetterton's going to be useless without night racing, it's a hole in the daylight, and losing the night race makes ppl even less willing to do that godawful a11 journey.

brands had a night race in the btcc at the end of last season

Les · 11 Feb 2002, 22:18 (Ref:214275)

hopefully the duelling of the A11 will improve things this year.

Carrie · 11 Feb 2002, 23:14 (Ref:214306)

I don't think it'll take much to get used to Snetterton with racing in daylight again, after all, it's not so long since we were there for BTCC racing in the day.

I could well imagine that Touringlegend's idea of a night race at Knockhill would be a logistical nightmare. No public camping at the circuit itself and I could well imagine people getting arsey with having to wait for the park and ride buses at night.

Eddie_harasym · 12 Feb 2002, 10:32 (Ref:214445)

Yep would like to see it return, and would be good at Donno, though may interfere with the planes.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
BTCC Night races	mike_slh	Touring Car Racing	6	2 Mar 2005 07:47
night races - yay or nay	Hapul	Australasian Touring Cars.	23	3 Jul 2004 10:55
Night Races	StuiE	Australasian Touring Cars.	12	9 Jun 2002 09:28
Night Races?	Spiddy-Spid	National & International Single Seaters	6	15 Apr 2002 05:43
Night Races	racer69	Australasian Touring Cars.	2	10 Jul 2001 17:00