Bernie whingeing about Silverstone again

[chillibowl]

i can imagine the outcry and its correct. responsible governments have a duty to all of its citizens and while sports provide important boost to the economy and all that jazz, govs should being building more schools hospitals etc. agreed 110% on that.

in fact i should have not have brought up the role of gov in this, as my main point was that in a nation with a such a strong tradition of motorsports, setting the standard should be the natural position. rather the position as i understand it is its BE is doing this and not doing enough and thats not right imo.

really i just find it strange of where the bar is being set and the one person saying that it should be raised is the same person who is being blamed for it.

[flashing]

As I think everyone understands it's currently impossible for a private promoter to run a GP and break even let alone make a profit.

According to the SMH the following numbers have just been tabled in the Victoria State Parliament:

"Melbourne's Formula One Grand Prix ran at a $34.6 million loss, a report tabled in the Victorian parliament on Wednesday shows."

snip:

"The grand prix report, one of about 130 tabled in state parliament on Wednesday, shows revenue decreased from $47.5 million in 2006 to $43.4 million this year.

The event cost more than $78 million to run, with the Victorian government picking up the tab for the shortfall.

The losses were attributed to dwindling ticket sales and sponsorship revenue."

Eventually even governments may tire of lining Bernie's pockets, but not just yet.

[JimW]

The idea of my money being put in to support F1 is repugnant to me. I can just about stomach the changes to the roads around Silverstone as part of the public infrastructure which, arguably, needed upgrading. Bluntly the circuit is just fine for the racing and I don't care whether the teams want another 20 acres of space or the media want anything else at all.

F1 should have to live with it, pay for it or go elsewhere. There is so much money sloshing around in F1 and being wasted compared to real motorsport that they can readily pay for what they feel is necessary. So F1 to pay for the pits and paddock development and the BRDC to maintain the track and spectator areas?

There may be a case for very modest public funding of the grass roots elements of the sport, but even there, I'm not convinced.

Regards

Jim

[foreversideways]

Can't disagree with you there Jim.
I was at a McLaren test at Silverstone a couple of years ago and they appeared to be operating with no difficulty, in two garages.

[Sodemo]

Monza is no better than Silverstone in terms of paddock and pit facilities.

The irony is that I believe that it was Tilke who did the redesign of Silverstone in 1991 and also re-profiled Abbey and Copse and Stowe in 1994 - (I think!).

[dj choc ice]

Originally Posted by foreversideways

You can not imagine the outcry in the UK if the government were to support Formula 1. There would be the usual, how many hospitals could have been built with the money etc etc. There is zero chance of UK government support from any of the parties. However we must remember that it is BE who sets the charges and as this is a private business the GP,s will go to the highest bidders. That is always going to be Governments.

dont forget the green peace lot and david cameron's whole fluffybunny "oooohhhhh lets all be green and ride bikes and recycle everything and crap in soil bins to help the enviroment" seriosuly, it wont happen any time soon.

[Sodemo]

I think the Labour government would try to stay as far away from Bernie and F1 as they can. They already had a run in with F1 back in 1997 when Bernie gave them a £1 million pound donation, (which I believe Labour actually had to pay back) so I think they would be keen to avoid any contact at all.

[dj choc ice]

too true, but if formula 1 were to become involved with the government then formula 1 would become a whole lot worse, very slow, very boring and very 'correct' not too mention green peace would have a field day as pretty much the majority of the countries population has a sheep like mentality in that they will bend over and submit to the greenies who scaremonger people with lies and pretty much distortion that the world will go down the plughole, and with it everything will either drown to death, starve or be killed to death by some plague or tornado.

but back on topic and i hope silverstone wont change too much, afterall its personally my favorite race track in the world alongside spa-franconchamps, monza, interlagos, circuit de la sarthe and road atlanta.
silverstone is a good balance at the moment, apart from the huge amount of fencing around the track you can still get close to the action, not like somewere like istanbul were you need binoculars because youre so far away from the track.

what developments are planned for silverstone anyways?, one thing i heard was 'light residential development' which practically made me want to vomit my supper of ben and jerrys ice cream down my tshirt and into my crotch area.

[jab]

Well, that's part of the plan. There's also going to be industrial development, and a new pit and paddock area, either situated where the current pits are or maybe between Club and Abbey

[f1manoz]

I'll be very surprised if Silverstone is ever replaced on the calendar. Bernie just likes to have a whinge and get the owners to pull their finger out and do something.

While there will likely always be a British GP, perhaps one day it may move away from Silverstone, but there are simply no suitable alternatives.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by f1manoz

While there will likely always be a British GP, perhaps one day it may move away from Silverstone, but there are simply no suitable alternatives.

A redeveloped Rockingham? Would need some money chucked in to it but it is redevelopable.

[jab]

Rockingham is fine as it is. Apart from the fact that it's right next to a bunch of grumpy people who don't like the noise

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by jab

Rockingham is fine as it is.

Could get a grade 1 licence? Isn't it a little bit on the narrow side ...

[jab]

Well, I meant the facilities...

But that's not really the point. It'll never host F1. IIRC there was enough fuss over the Minardi demo run

[JeremySmith]

If Bernie Ecclestone is that that concerned about the facilities at Silverstone not being quite shiny enough, why does he not dip his hand into his own pot of gold and offer to pay for some of the upgrades?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

If Bernie Ecclestone is that that concerned about the facilities at Silverstone not being quite shiny enough, why does he not dip his hand into his own pot of gold and offer to pay for some of the upgrades?

Pay for upgrades on behalf of someone else, or move elsewhere?

I know which I'd choose.

Seriously, Bernie has campaigned for better facilities/tracks around the world. Only by highlighting areas for improvement will things change.

[Ralf's Girl]

I think you mean "Bernie has campaigned for more money around the world"...

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Ralf's Girl

I think you mean "Bernie has campaigned for more money around the world"...

And don't we all want more money into F1, provided it is spent wisely.

[Ralf's Girl]

I think there's plenty of money in F1 already, much of which is wasted. I don't think Bernie's priority is the quality of the circuit/racing at the circuit so much as it's how much money they'll give him to stage a race.

[crmalcolm]

Of course. His number 1 priority will always be furthering his own cause. That's how he got to be where he is today.
I just wonder a little bit, with his continued complaints about the state of Silverstone how he feels improvements to Silverstone will benefit himself. They'd obviously benefit F1, where's the Bernie Bonus??

[Clive]

Surprising there's been no mention here of the poor conditions marshals have to endure at the 'home of British Mortorsport'. No weatherproof shelters to stand when its ****ing down, or to sit in while waiting for the next race (sometimes an hour if the GP). The banks are treacherous in places with the number of potholes, the observers posts are worse than many sentryboxes and several are in the wrong positions. I could go on but the point is made. Many areas if you look closely are sadly looking at best tired and in need of repair, even a coat of paint would improve things. Nothing has been done in this respect in many years despite several pounds being spent on the circuit. Even the new plans make no mention of improving the lot of the volunteer workforce who enable the racing to take place! (or did I miss that bit?)

[crmalcolm]

Perhaps if the volunteers didn't volunteer for a season then things would get done.

All credit must be given to marshals etc. as always, sometimes they are too well-mannered and should go for a spot of Bernie-style whingeing.

[Sodemo]

I just remember the best Bernie moment ever was seeing him on the grid at Indy 2005, 10min before the green flag lap his arms were going up in the air, spinning around on his feet, it was such a joy to see this man in a flutter...

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by Clive

Surprising there's been no mention here of the poor conditions marshals have to endure at the 'home of British Mortorsport'. No weatherproof shelters to stand when its ****ing down, or to sit in while waiting for the next race (sometimes an hour if the GP). The banks are treacherous in places with the number of potholes, the observers posts are worse than many sentryboxes and several are in the wrong positions. I could go on but the point is made. Many areas if you look closely are sadly looking at best tired and in need of repair, even a coat of paint would improve things. Nothing has been done in this respect in many years despite several pounds being spent on the circuit. Even the new plans make no mention of improving the lot of the volunteer workforce who enable the racing to take place! (or did I miss that bit?)

Excellent points Clive! Without you chaps and the ladies included we would not have races at all. I am sure that when Silverstone is upgraded your concerns will be addressed..

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

I am sure that when Silverstone is upgraded your concerns will be addressed..

They should have a "Portaloo" at the very least.