Motorsport as a religion, Noise and Nimbys

[Alfaholic]

Motorsport as religion - how about a new Lord's prayer then...

Our Father, who art in Brands Hatch,
Birley be thy name.
Thy trophy come,
thy wins be done,
on Saturday as they are on Sunday
Give us this day our daily revs.
And forgive us our decibels,
as we forgive those who protest against us.
And lead us not into oblivion,
but deliver us from nimbys.
For thine is the (West) Kingsdown, the power and the glory. For ever and ever.
Vroom Vroom

[TIMELORD]

Hallelujah!

[mountainstar]

I remember the club I belong to in NZ had to help buy up 7 properties to stop people from whining about noise.

Or you can do what a company I work for did. People were whining about the noise they make at the track so they bought 900 acres elsewhere and are building their own private track. Problem solved and the locals don't have our business anymore.

[Steven Humphrey]

Or just send them all earplugs?

[noiles]

This nutter got his deeply held environmental beliefs to be considered by the court as the same as religious beliefs. Therefore he's entitled to the same protections as religions have. From the article:

In a significant decision today , a judge found Nicholson's views on the environment were so deeply held that they were entitled to the same protection as religious convictions

I put it to anyone that my views on motorsport are so deeply held as to be entitled to the same protection as a religion.

The difference between him and me is that this guy has managed to convince a judge. So we need to find a test case to contest. When a circuit is next challenged we need to stand up for it. A number of us need to attend and give our view, citing this nutter as precedence and convince a judge that we're to be afforded the same treatment.

Once the judge acknowledges that we're entitled to religious protection we can claim any interference with our right to practice our religion at a circuit is in direct violation of the the human rights act 1998:

Article 9 - Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

Now article 9 is a qualified right in as much as (2) contains the text:

Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

It could be argued - and probably would be argued - that by practicing our religion we are infringing on the rights and freedoms of others, ie noise pollution etc. However I can't see how this is any different to the happy clappy church down the road clogging up the road with the faithful after a service. They all seem to spend an hour wandering about the place in a daze, crossing the road without looking and stopping to double and triple park while saying goodbyes. And no one's calling for their house of worship to be banned.

Given that situation we could probably call on Article 14:

Article 14 - Prohibition of Discrimination

The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.

Note that you can't discriminate on religion there. So if it's good enough for the church down the road so it would be for our circuit, er, church.

The Human Rights Act 1998 allows us to seek redress for our grievances in the UK courts so we can theoretically resolve this on home shores with a minimum of expense and fuss. However, should we not achieve satisfaction here we can always choose to pursue the matter in Strasbourg at the European Courts. More expensive, more hassle, exactly what the 1998 law here was designed to avoid. But it's possible. And with the recent triumph of common sense over nimby-ism that saved Spa in Belgium, this isn't an issue that's just affecting the UK. It's European as well.

I guess what I'm saying is that we have options. It just depends on interpretation. And convincing the person whose interpretation counts in each case. Which could be simple or could be hard. I'm not a lawyer. Just a national b license holder (as of Jan 2010 when my shiny new licence is valid) who would hate to see our religion hobbled.

Is anyone here a lawyer? Can we try this next time a circuit is challenged? Is there a glaringly obvious flaw in my logic that I can't see?

[Al Weyman]

Al, I'm now confused, I thought you were a greenie after reading this thread.
I've even bought you a pair of sandals for Christmas.

No that was against tiny little women buzzing around in huge 4x4's who would never use them to tow or go offroad but think they are good protection for their little kids and sod everyone else who may only be able to afford to ferry their kids in a little Fiesta who would presumably come off far worse in a collision.

[SWCRacing]

Unfortunately, as proved by Croft and other cases, there is not a defence of "moving to a nuisance".

However.....

Now you're getting it!!

Use the Law to our favour!! Join the Church of Motorsport!!

[ascarmarshal]

Originally Posted by Alfaholic

Motorsport as religion - how about a new Lord's prayer then...

Our Father, who art in Brands Hatch,
Birley be thy name.
Thy trophy come,
thy wins be done,
on Saturday as they are on Sunday
Give us this day our daily revs.
And forgive us our decibels,
as we forgive those who protest against us.
And lead us not into oblivion,
but deliver us from nimbys.
For thine is the (West) Kingsdown, the power and the glory. For ever and ever.
Vroom Vroom

Brillant

Has been passed on to the West Kingsdown Rector who likes a good laugh

[Gerryc]

I kept these from a previous thread. They are not my own work - all credit to the original posters

We Marshals, who art on post
Hallowed be our deeds
Our yellows come, our will be done
On track, as it is in training.
Give us this day,a decent race
and forgive us our rude gestures,
as we shall forgive those who fail to wave to us.
Lead us not into reporting and
deliver us from the stewards enquiry.
For ours are the green bits, the gravel traps and the armco
for ever,until curfew
Amen



We the Marshals,
Who art on post
Hallowed be our deeds;
Your yellows come, do as you're told;
On track, as it is in training.
Give us this day,a decent race
And refraim from rude gestures,
As we shall forgive those who fail to wave to us.
Lead us not into rabbit holes
But instead towards toilets
For yours is the grey bit;
And don't you forget it;
For ever, til curfew
NOW RACE!!!



We drivers, now mainly skint
Hallowed be our entries
Our time on track, we all want back
at Brands, like it was at Lydden
Give us this day, the good scrutineer
And forgive us our small misdemeanours
as we shall forgive those who manhandle us over the bank.
For ours is the diving, the weaving and the shunting
For this week at least
Amen

[diddy100]

it also appears we have some people giving out the tel number of the local council environment health dept for people to ring as soon as they hear noise from Snet to complain - irrespective of the level - perhaps they should also ring the MOD and USAF with all the jets and Apache 'copters trying to knock the chimney pots of our houses and Network rail for noise of the local trains etc etc etc - isn't it great living in the countryside !

[markjtaylor]

As long as we all live, there will be action groups like this, usually based on self interest. Surely our cars, now being noise checked, are in some cases rather sterile, from a noise perspictive, allready.
In agreement with an earlier post regards Nimbey's. I live near a small aerodrome, its been there for donkeys years, bought my house in last ten years, We get helicopters and light planes flying over us, so what!
Don't let the meddling Bast***s beat us and ruin our freedom & enjoyment when it comes to race circuits.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by noiles

The Human Rights Act 1998 allows us to seek redress for our grievances in the UK courts so we can theoretically resolve this on home shores with a minimum of expense and fuss. However, should we not achieve satisfaction here we can always choose to pursue the matter in Strasbourg at the European Courts. More expensive, more hassle, exactly what the 1998 law here was designed to avoid. But it's possible. And with the recent triumph of common sense over nimby-ism that saved Spa in Belgium, this isn't an issue that's just affecting the UK. It's European as well.

I guess what I'm saying is that we have options. It just depends on interpretation. And convincing the person whose interpretation counts in each case. Which could be simple or could be hard. I'm not a lawyer. Just a national b license holder (as of Jan 2010 when my shiny new licence is valid) who would hate to see our religion hobbled.

Is anyone here a lawyer? Can we try this next time a circuit is challenged? Is there a glaringly obvious flaw in my logic that I can't see?

I am not a lawyer, however what about a circuit owner going for right of peaceful enjoyment of possessions? There may or may not be case law against it.

[noiles]

Define peaceful in terms of decibels though. That where I see that falling down. But certainly worth a shot.

[ascarmarshal]

Th ambiant noise at Brands when nothing is on the circuit is between 55 and 60 dBa

[Al Weyman]

Ever slepted overnight in the paddock, the motorway is very noisy especially if raining.