Motor racing on public roads

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Fri 11 Jul 2014 16:49
Motor racing on public roads - Snakey

Reading this www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28261960 article made me laugh a bit. We're one of the most car hating nations as far as goverments and local authorities go yet we want to be a centre for motorsport?

A touch ironic, althought perhaps the thought of all the parking fines is getting the councils all frothed up with excitement over a big motorsport event in their area!

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Fri 11 Jul 2014 17:05
Motor racing on public roads - RT

It's enshrined somewhere in UK law that motor racing on public roads in England is not permitted - when Birmingham wanted to hold the Superprix meetings on closed roads, it needed a specific Act of Parliament to allow it.

Yes - Birmingham Council made a fortune out of parking charges and penalty tickets as the city centre car parks were normally free on Sundays but chargeable for the event!

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Fri 11 Jul 2014 18:11
Motor racing on public roads - bathtub tom

Perhaps something to do with the new formula E series that's supposed to be racing in London next year?

Could re-open some wonderful old hill climbs that were held on public roads.

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Fri 11 Jul 2014 19:58
Motor racing on public roads - Sofa Spud

I don't understand where the government is coming from on this. I can't imagine there'd be much public support for closing roads just so petrolheads can play on them. On the other hand I can imagine there'd be a lot of public opposition.

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Fri 11 Jul 2014 20:18
Motor racing on public roads - bathtub tom

I don't understand where the government is coming from on this. I can't imagine there'd be much public support for closing roads just so petrolheads can play on them. On the other hand I can imagine there'd be a lot of public opposition.

You mean like there was for the Tour de France?

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Fri 11 Jul 2014 23:55
Motor racing on public roads - Sofa Spud

I don't understand where the government is coming from on this. I can't imagine there'd be much public support for closing roads just so petrolheads can play on them. On the other hand I can imagine there'd be a lot of public opposition.

You mean like there was for the Tour de France?

That's different. I was imaging the scenario where local councils might be hiring out 'our' roads here, there and everywhere to car clubs for their exclusive use.

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Tue 15 Jul 2014 14:32
Motor racing on public roads - Gibbo_Wirral

That's different. I was imaging the scenario where local councils might be hiring out 'our' roads here, there and everywhere to car clubs for their exclusive use.

Like this?

news.bbc.co.uk/local/liverpool/hi/front_page/newsi...m

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Tue 15 Jul 2014 15:29
Motor racing on public roads - bathtub tom

That's reminded me, there's the Brighton speed trials and are the New Brighton stages still held on Wirral?

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Tue 15 Jul 2014 15:50
Motor racing on public roads - YG2007

Whats the problem. Its only like closing a few roads for a carnival, a union protest, tour de France or a marathon. It the road circuit is thought about properly in terms of time of the year, roads closed, location of event etc then its doable

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Fri 11 Jul 2014 23:05
Motor racing on public roads - jgrahampo

I was 15 years old and at the superprix in the mid 80's I really looked forward to it but if I remember rightly it was a complete washout

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Sat 12 Jul 2014 01:58
Motor racing on public roads - Auristocrat

The Birmingham Superprix was held annually for a period of five years from 1986 to 1990 inclusive. 1986 suffered from torrential downpours, whereas the other four events all experienced sunny weather.

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Sat 12 Jul 2014 21:30
Motor racing on public roads - coopshere
I am a fan of most motor sports but could never fathom the reasoning behind racing an F1 car around a street circuit. It also seems ironic in the UK when most councils and the Government are intent on cutting pollution and traffic in city centres. But then F1 is a sport for the rich and the famous and I suppose certain ministers would like to be seen rubbing shoulders with those types.
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Sat 12 Jul 2014 21:55
Motor racing on public roads - Bolt

Could be interesting with the state of our roads,or are they going to resurface the roads?

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Mon 14 Jul 2014 16:14
Motor racing on public roads - Andrew-T

Could be interesting with the state of our roads,or are they going to resurface the roads?

If 'they' can do it for the Tour (and mow all the verges) I'm sure they would for other things which will pay.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 00:10
Motor racing on public roads - Smileyman

There has been talk about a road race in central London or perhaps at the Olympic Park, so this would make such an event easier to organise ... London GP with the finishing line in front of Buckingham Palace? Sure to be popular.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 09:32
Motor racing on public roads - RT

There has been talk about a road race in central London or perhaps at the Olympic Park, so this would make such an event easier to organise ... London GP with the finishing line in front of Buckingham Palace? Sure to be popular.

The only racing you'll see in front of Buck House will be the horsey kind.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 13:39
Motor racing on public roads - Wackyracer

I seem to remember they had a 'one off' event in London before.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 20:46
Motor racing on public roads - Engineer Andy

I seem to remember they had a 'one off' event in London before.

A few years ago the F1 teams were allowed just before the British GP to 'burn up' along thr roads around Oxford St. They couldn't go that fast as it was very heavily barriered off barely wider than the cars themsleves.

Bit of a noisy waste of time if you ask me.

Can't wait for one of the F1 cars to have a 'big off' and plough into some up-market shop at 180mph (or maybe do the same after hitting one of numerous potholes and taking off). That would really go down well.

Wouldn't be a good idea on the dual carriageways and motorways either - I can just see (assuming they don't get caught in traffic) some a-h*le rep in a M3 or Audi S4 etc running them off the road into the armco barriers 'cos he was late for his afternoon appointment in Slough!

Why move away from a great track like Silvertone? Sure, we could do with holding the European GP here as well from time-to-time, but that's what the other circuits are for. Most of them bearly get by as it is.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 21:57
Motor racing on public roads - RT

I agree - F1 wouldn't race at Monaco if it was newly introduced.

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Tue 15 Jul 2014 14:34
Motor racing on public roads - Gibbo_Wirral

I agree - F1 wouldn't race at Monaco if it was newly introduced.

But they do have other street circuits - Valencia, Singapore, Detroit, and the unfinished Port Imperial.

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Sun 13 Jul 2014 14:06
Motor racing on public roads - Smileyman

Nay (sorry!) - I thought the London Marathon had it's finishing line there?

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