Octagon/BHL's future (merge)

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Originally posted by Craig Antill
Maybe I'm being too cynical but could the goverment's promised 'aid' to the motorsports industry could involve them letting Brands go?

With this bloody government I wouldnt be suprised. The "who cares about the public, we don't, lets all hail Mr Blair" tactics aren't going to get labour a third term, I tell you that!

[A. C. E. motors]

Can someone confirm that the trees around Brands cannot be cut down to extend the circuit? But they can be chopped to build houses. How does that compute?

[brandsman]

Craig, thanks for the links. Sorry to make you search for them, I thought you had them to hand. I have to say, whether Brands survives or not may be a moot point. With all the congestion that is bound to accompany the building of 130'000 homes, no one will be able to get to Brands Hatch anyway! As far as building in the "south" midlands goes, the M1 is already a car park from Luton to the M25 during rush hour(s). I am truly saddened by all of this news. As I say, I seen the blight first hand, and Kent will always be 'home'.

Is there anyone who knows Brands' status re: brownfields, etc. Also what is the tax situation for the circuit. Surely a tax exemption would go a long way to making the circuit viable as a going concern. Perhaps the only bright spot in this is that John Prescott is (I believe) a member of the board at BAR and so perhaps has a soft spot for the sport (or am I being naive?).

[Craig]

Hate to say it but I think you're being naive.

[brandsman]

Originally posted by Craig Antill
Hate to say it but I think you're being naive.

Yeah, thought I probably was.

[Rob29]

Originally posted by A. C. E. motors
Can someone confirm that the trees around Brands cannot be cut down to extend the circuit? But they can be chopped to build houses. How does that compute?

AFAIK the trees are protected as ancient woodland.However with the present government who knows? Don't think there were any plans to extend the circuit,only build a new pits complex where the woods are.

[Craig]

Given the goverment are behind, at least they've put their 'full support' behind, these plans I don't expect a few old trees would be reason to stop development of the site if it were to fall into the hands of Barretts or Persimmons.

[Piglet]

The trees would probably be a bonus to a housebuilder, they would probably add value to a nice exclusive estate.

[Andrew Kitson]

Originally posted by brandsman
Perhaps the only bright spot in this is that John Prescott is (I believe) a member of the board at BAR and so perhaps has a soft spot for the sport (or am I being naive?).

It's not John Prescott but Kenneth Clarke from the opposition party. Pity really, if he was in the Labour party he might have some influence over the government funding issues. Ken Clarke can usually be seen at the British GP weekend swanning around the F1 paddock.

[brandsman]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
It's not John Prescott but Kenneth Clarke from the opposition party. Pity really, if he was in the Labour party he might have some influence over the government funding issues. Ken Clarke can usually be seen at the British GP weekend swanning around the F1 paddock.

Yes, of course. I new it was one of those politicians. They all look alike to me. (What can you expect from a Yank? )

[Stephen Green]

In fact it was John Prescott who insisted on the public enquiry when Brands wanted to alter the track to host the British GP, so it may come back to blow up in his face!

[PaulSands]

yeah but you're forgetting that these f*****s are made of Teflon

[goforit500]

Snett is flat but it presents an awesome challenge to race on....Very, very fast, heavy braking and a couple of buttock clenching corners each lap - Great for driving tho fairly **** for spectating

[PaulSands]

I suppose that's a whole other debate...just who is motor racing supposed to be for...drivers or spectators?
I'm not going to go there though

[cos]

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns11609.html

A bid for Brands Hatch

It is being reported in England that a $50m bid is being prepared for Brands Hatch and the other Brands Hatch circuits involving former Grand Prix driver Peter Gethin and property magnate Larry Lipman, who is the chief executive of a company called Bizspace plc, a firm which specialises in providing office space for small companies. Bizspace owns and operates 15 different centres across Britain, featuring a total of 700 units and 1.35m sq.ft of workspace and it is thought that the organisatioon would use part of the brands facility to house small businesses while leaving the racing circuit intact. Gethin currently runs a high performance driving school at the old Goodwood circuit near Chichester.

[PenelopePitstop]

This one sounds like it might make sense, but it only seems to cover Brands Hatch circut, not all the BHLG circuts

[jonathanc]

50m would be a good price as I reckon 70m is way overpriced. Hope it happens as we need to keep the four tracks intact.

With any luck they will have seen the various threads on here and use them as inspiration. There is so much more that could be made from the tracks without ripping off the racers and spectators alike.

Logical thinking rather than blinkered bulldozing is required )

[Craig]

PP, read again:

a $50m bid is being prepared for Brands Hatch and the other Brands Hatch circuits

Sounds promising. Just don't go getting your hopes up guys.

[chezza]

Lets hope this goes through...keep them all together.

Will that include silverstone because that wasn't on the original list that was up for sale?!

[Craig]

Silverstone is not for sale - it's owned by the BRDC. The Silverstone lease might be available seperately though. However I hope that this circuit is seperated from the other four as it does tend to suck in all the funds that would otherwise be spent on the others...

[Piglet]

Originally posted by Craig Antill
Silverstone is not for sale - it's owned by the BRDC. The Silverstone lease might be available seperately though.

You are right on the ownership Craig, but...the rights to run the GP are owned by BHCL (or whatever they are now called!), and as I understand it are part of the car boot sale. I would think that it is commercially sensible to attempt to sell the lease and rights together. I guess there is every chance that they may sell them to a seperate bidder to the rest of the circuits.

[Craig]

You may, of course, be correct on that Piglet but, if the agents are attempting to maximise return on the sale I'd have thought they'd be marketing the lease as a seperate sale. I mean what use would that be to Bovis or Persimmon?

[Andrew Kitson]

Persimmon? You mean the sponsors of our favourite touring car team last year Craig!

[Craig]

hmmm... no comment on that!

[Piglet]

My thought process is that there is not much point in owning the rights to run a grand prix (that also REQUIRES you to run a grand prix) if you don't have a circuit to run it on (I think BHL found that out!). Or in buying a lease to Silverstone that requires you to invest massively without having the payback of the GP.

I think whatever happens with the rest of the circuits the lease and the rights will be marketed together. Perhaps this makes your wish that the rest of the circuits will be sold separately to any GP/Silverstone deal more likely which might prevent the black hole scenario that you referred to before.