BTCC to go Forth

Andy Metcalf · 16 Aug 2005, 16:26 (Ref:1383792)

Scotland’s world famous Forth Road Bridge will collect an extra few pounds in cash at its toll booths when it greets cars and drivers from Britain’s biggest motor racing series – the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – as they arrive for their next race meeting at the Knockhill circuit in Fife on Sunday 28 August.

Full article available here: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72758

**Craig** · 16 Aug 2005, 16:34 (Ref:1383801)

Perhaps they can get a few passing motorists to beef up the grid?

**touringlegend** · 16 Aug 2005, 16:41 (Ref:1383810)

That'll be nice but will anybody be able to spectate at it ? To me an event in George Square in Glasgow or the Royal Mile in Edinburgh would have promoted the BTCC far more.

Kicking-back · 16 Aug 2005, 16:54 (Ref:1383823)

Touringlegend - I think the main aim is to get some good publicity shots for TV - having spoken to Fife Police I don't think they'd be too happy about people trying to spectate - the aim is to get the bridge back open to traffic in as short a time as possible.

**touringlegend** · 16 Aug 2005, 17:11 (Ref:1383847)

You have PM K-B.

I know people won't be able to spectate, it's more a question of is it the best place. Wouldn't the Royal Mile / the Castle do just as good a job in publicity terms. I think you understand my point though.

Kicking-back · 16 Aug 2005, 17:26 (Ref:1383858)

Yes, I do - I think with the Edinburgh Festival in full swing you'd find there's no way they could logistically do a BTCC demo in the city centre.

However, doing it through central Dunfermline might have been sensible.

**touringlegend** · 16 Aug 2005, 17:47 (Ref:1383872)

Forgot about the festival there..

Jonny Apex · 17 Aug 2005, 15:56 (Ref:1384759)

Maybe it's just not possible to do it everywhere we, the fans, would like because the local councils might have said no or it might be too much of a stretch on the teams logistics/capabilities. You have to think of them as well. I would also imagine that finding the right road/infrastructure to run such an event safely can be quite tricky.

The Bridge idea sounds like something different and novel so good on them. I read in Motorsport News recently that they're also looking at an event in Milton Keynes to promote the Silverstone weekend.

**touringlegend** · 17 Aug 2005, 18:46 (Ref:1384892)

Don't get me wrong, I have to congratulate TOCA this year for actually promoting the series in the way they are, the event in Newcastle would attract a few punters to Croft no doubt.

Graham Goodwin · 18 Aug 2005, 14:46 (Ref:1385586)

Hopefully they'll reel in their usual excesses or somebody will get punted off into the Firth of Forth!

Alfa Fan · 18 Aug 2005, 14:49 (Ref:1385587)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

Hopefully they'll reel in their usual excesses or somebody will get punted off into the Firth of Forth!

If that happened, and no-one was hurt - what a publicity stunt that could be

Kicking-back · 18 Aug 2005, 15:29 (Ref:1385611)

Have you seen the bridge, Alfa Fan?

It would be a guaranteed death.

mark_l · 18 Aug 2005, 15:34 (Ref:1385612)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Yes, I do - I think with the Edinburgh Festival in full swing you'd find there's no way they could logistically do a BTCC demo in the city centre.

However, doing it through central Dunfermline might have been sensible.

Dunfermline High Street would'nt work, its so narrow, bumpy. A blast through The Glen might be interesting.

Alfa Fan · 18 Aug 2005, 15:46 (Ref:1385618)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Have you seen the bridge, Alfa Fan?

It would be a guaranteed death.

Been accross it. I'm not sure it would be fatal, so long as they got out in time. btw, I neither want, or expect, to find out.

Craner Curves · 19 Aug 2005, 14:59 (Ref:1386426)

Erm.......very rarely do people survive plunging into water from such heights.

nickyf1 · 19 Aug 2005, 17:32 (Ref:1386509)

Quote:

Originally Posted by touringlegend

That'll be nice but will anybody be able to spectate at it ? To me an event in George Square in Glasgow or the Royal Mile in Edinburgh would have promoted the BTCC far more.

or the science centre part of glasgow?

Kicking-back · 25 Aug 2005, 16:26 (Ref:1391137)

Here they are:

**touringlegend** · 25 Aug 2005, 19:50 (Ref:1391277)

Very nice, hope they paid the charges

rdjones · 25 Aug 2005, 19:54 (Ref:1391281)

If you look on offical BTCC website there is a picture of James Pickford paying his £1.

**touringlegend** · 25 Aug 2005, 20:11 (Ref:1391294)

Yep, but he appears to be heading away from the bridge

Will need to keep an eye on the local news tomorrow night, see if this is mentioned. Bound to be since it probably caused havoc on the roads!

Hope it draws in a few punters to Knockhill this weekend, the circuit's certainly been pushing with the TV ads!

redshoes · 25 Aug 2005, 20:31 (Ref:1391316)

It's a LHD car. Maybe he paid the toll and drove across in reverse.

Kicking-back · 25 Aug 2005, 20:45 (Ref:1391330)

There's a simple explanation for the toll picture - it was the only way to get the bridge in the background, since the tolls are all northbound and the cars were going north!

**touringlegend** · 25 Aug 2005, 21:18 (Ref:1391367)

I did realise the car was LHD...

**touringlegend** · 26 Aug 2005, 10:40 (Ref:1391706)

The picture of James Pickford paying the toll made today's Scottish Sun.

Jonny Apex · 26 Aug 2005, 12:30 (Ref:1391793)

Quote:

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Bound to be since it probably caused havoc on the roads!

Hope it draws in a few punters to Knockhill this weekend, the circuit's certainly been pushing with the TV ads!

You'd be surprised - it was only closed northbound for about 5mins and probably added an extra 100 vehicles to what was already quite a slow moving queue so really didn't affect it at all. Bear in mind the traffic heading soutbound at one point earlier in the day - after rush hour - was three miles, without any interference from the BTCC boys. A slick show.

Agreed, this sort of thing can do wonders for pre-event publicity. Well done on Knockhill for being a proactive circuit in that area.

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