The Save Donington Parade

MESS on Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:52 pm

I'm guessing that most of you petrolheads will already have your names down for this via other car clubs, but I'm putting it on here for those who haven't:

Hi all,

SELOC gate-crasher here.

I'm a regular attendee of Donington Park, and at the moment, the future looks very bleak indeed. This whole messy saga is literally keeping me awake at night, as I adore the place.

I've had an idea - allow me to C&P...

SAVE DONINGTON Parade

Sunday 7th March

I'm, personally, devastated about this whole situation at Donington Park. It is my favourite circuit, and I look forward to attending several times every year.

Since Simon Gillett got his greasy hands on the venue, I've been dreading the worst. After digging the track up, rendering it unsuitable for racing and running up massive debts, it seems this week it has happened. All the staff have been laid off, and the future is very uncertain for this wonderful, historic circuit.

I've been wracking my brains, wondering what a skint bloke, with no contacts could possibly do about this situation, and I came up with an idea...

If several dozen (even, dare-I-say-it hundreds of) Lotus-owning enthusiasts were to turn up at the circuit, it would send out a strong message.

What about if other forums/marques were contacted too, and the local TV station and newspapers?

We could demonstrate the affection the public has for the circuit, and also that it should remain the best (or, one of) national/club circuits in Britain.

This would, surely, reassure the Wheatcroft family/local council/potential investors that Donington Park not only has a fine history, but also a strong future too.

I'm aiming for a weekend in early March, as the weather should better, the days are getting longer, and there should be no clashes on the events calendar.

What I need is know is there are a good few like-minded enthusiasts out there who are prepared to sacrifice a day from their busy schedule and take a pleasant drive to the Midlands.

(Just for the record, there is also a darn-fine collection of historic racing cars, should anyone wish for a second reason to make the trip!)

If you would be able to attend, please send an email to

savedonington@live.co.uk

and let's see what we can achieve...

Cheers,

Leroy Boyce.

If anyone is a member of any other forums, please do cut and paste any posts you see fit, but please do make sure you include the email address:

savedonington@live.co.uk

I'm collecting names for the parade, and messages of support to keep the circuit for racing.

Thanks again for your support!
Leroy

I have had some interest from a local newspaper! A "racing personality" had also been mentioned. Very early days, but the ball has started rolling!

They suggested I set up a Facebook page too, so here it is, please add yourself:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=265230290785

Thanks,
Leroy

Hope to see you's there,
Elaine&Richard J.

OSR on Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:36 pm

Not sure if I can make the parade but sent out a lot of invites on facebook to drum up some more support. It'll be a travesty if it gets built over.

RICK on Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:56 pm

There isn't many Scamps that have or are going to use the place. Lotus owners should use their own forum.
I bet you that the Lotus forum, haven't put anything about all the green lanes that have closed? SORRY but no support from me.
This is a SCAMP FORUM about Scamps and members, if we aren't too careful this forum will be full of stuff not related to Scamps.

Mk3rob on Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:06 pm

What ever you think of Donnington, it will always be 3rd behind Silverstone (BRCC) and Brands Hatch.
Silverstone struggles to get serious backing so Donn never had a chance.

MESS on Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:13 pm

RICK wrote:There isn't many Scamps that have or are going to use the place. Lotus owners should use their own forum.
I bet you that the Lotus forum, haven't put anything about all the green lanes that have closed? SORRY but no support from me.
This is a SCAMP FORUM about Scamps and members, if we aren't too careful this forum will be full of stuff not related to Scamps.

For god sake, it's not just a Lotus thing, Rick!

I simply copied and pasted it from the Lotus site.

If you bother to read it properly, you'll see that it's for ALL motoring enthusiasts!

Sick of the preaching!
E.

P.S Quite a few Lotus owners also have 4x4's Wink

RICK on Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:16 pm

perhaps they will turn it to a off-road site then we will support them...won't we members?

MESS on Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:18 pm

Mk3rob wrote:What ever you think of Donnington, it will always be 3rd behind Silverstone (BRCC) and Brands Hatch.
Silverstone struggles to get serious backing so Donn never had a chance.

But Donington has rapidly changing gradients....

E.

MESS on Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:19 pm

RICK wrote:perhaps they will turn it to a off-road site then we will support them...won't we members?

How very childish..... I'm almost embarrassed for you!

Going back to the kitchen now, where us wimmin belong,
E.

Mk3rob on Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:27 pm

Elaine its called subsidence

Jono on Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:09 pm

RICK wrote:perhaps they will turn it to a off-road site then we will support them...won't we members?

Whilst this may come as a bit of a shock to some... there are Scamp owners who have more than one "hobby". I, for one, have fond memories of Donnington...right up to the point I high-sided my bike at Redgate...

.....and think it would be a shame to lose such a famous circuit..however, I think it's pretty much inevitable now....too late to save it... the Locals always complained about it.. I remember being noise tested ... just as some heavy jet powered it's way into the sky....

Martin & Nettie on Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:26 pm

When I was a young man i.e. before I got married the first time round I was courting my 1st wife in London and she was born in Sydnam Hill a stones throw from Crystal Palace which was a racing circuit many years ago:

Crystal Palace racing first started in 1927 when motorcycles raced around the pathways of the Park. In 1953, the Crystal Palace Circuit was opened for motor racing and, until 1973, was used by such greats as Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham and many others.

From 1997-2000, once a year, part of the track was re-opened for a two-day 'sprint' meet organised by the Sevenoaks and District Motor Club. The event attracted entries from all over the country and was invariably over-subscribed, resulting in 'special interest' cars be given priority. On two occasions, the one-off Courier-Cadillac was one such entrant, gaining much spectator interest and enthusiasm.

Parts of the track are still clearly visible but, due to the close proximity of residential areas, the sound of highly-tuned exhausts would seem to have fallen silent for the last time.

Perhaps Donnington will disappear like Crystal Palace and Brooklands.

PS Why is there a picture of an Ostrich on Jono's Facebook profile page

minislapper on Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:09 pm

I'm a bit gob smacked at some of the comments on this thread.

I don't own a Lotus, I don't even own a Scamp, I've never been green laning or off-roading but I do love Donington. And shock horror, we're not even members. Are we going to be banished from the forum? scratch

I've spent many a happy time there and we've even paraded around the track in our mini. We did the (now broken) World Record attempt at Donny a few years ago. Gray's done a single seater event there too.

Surely, we all drive cars and no matter what they are, this cause is for all motoring fans?

SUMB on Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:20 pm

Maybe you should have posted this in the General section of the forum Elaine, that area has always been stated as open for any topic.

As a non Lotus owner I will be very sad to see the loss of such an historic racing circuit. Pre war it was a Grand Prix circuit and was a lot longer than now. It may not be as glamorous as Silverstone or Brands Hatch but it is none the less part of this countries great racing heritage. It is unfortunate that the lease holder held such unacheivable ideas as to hold the British GP there with the loss of the Moto GP, British Super Bikes and World Super Bikes to name but three world class events held there.

Also I can't see the forum being hijacked as we have good moderators keeping a watchfull eye on who is allowed to join us and post on here. I really don't like to see our members being so closed minded about other members points of veiw, it doesn't really portray a good public image to people just cruising through.

MESS on Tue Jan 05, 2010 6:16 am

SUMB wrote:Maybe you should have posted this in the General section of the forum Elaine, that area has always been stated as open for any topic.

I was going to, but it is an event that folks on here are welcome to attend....... Just like the karting thread, but with more of a cause.

Totally with you on what you're saying about the folks who are just cruising through Chaz. I've been a member on various club forums for well over 10yrs, but never one as cult like as this. Maybe it's just the luddite effect?

Hoping for snow on the way to work,
Elaine.

TRR Motorsport on Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:42 am

Donington Parish Council is one of the wealthiest in England as it is lucky to get a share of the taxes from East Midlands Airport and Donning race circuit.

Everytime the Parish Council whinged like flop about the noise from the circuit Tom Wheatcroft would say "OK I'll shut the circuit" and unsuprisingly the Parish Council backed down everytime.

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