British Racing Drivers’ [Fight] Club
Fight on!
And in this corner wearing British Racing Green trucks is the British Racing Drivers Club Rebels.
Fighting out of the “neutral” corner and wearing the multi-colors of the British Pound Sterling is Silverstone developer St Modwen Properties.
Your referee for the bout is Britains own, and BDRC President, Sir Jackie Stewart. Ringside reporter is the Daily Telegraph..
Curtains twitching at Club, neighbours arguing over the fence at Abbey. Unhinged politicos running into the traffic down the Hangar Straight circa 2003 might be the least of it if plans to revamp Silverstone are given the green light next week.One of the many radical ideas under consideration in redevelopment proposals submitted to Silverstone’s owners, the British Racing Drivers’ Club, include the building of residential homes on the 800-acre site in Northamptonshire.
Though details of specific housing plots have yet to emerge, amendments to the current track layout would be required to facilitate any new builds. This would mean the removal of corners at Club, Abbey and Bridge. Not surprisingly, the more conservative members of the BRDC were left dumbstruck by the radical nature of the facelift proposed by developer St Modwen Properties. Members are to convene at Silverstone next Wednesday to sanction the St Modwen initiative. The BRDC board are seeking approval of heads of agreement negotiated with the developer ahead of a formal vote in April.
It should be noted Sir Jackie is far from a neutral referee, he recommended St Modwen as the developer of choice in late January.
Stewart believes the future of Silverstone, and the British Grand Prix, is dependent on the transformation into a “modern, multi-faceted facility.”
Some BRDC board members, led by former British F3 champion Harry Stiller, are vehemently opposed to the change. And as a traditionalist I have to side with the dissenters that stand in opposition. Although any housing added would be nothing more than rich boys toys - and priced in the stratosphere - I have little problem with that part of the proposal. But if it requires the loss of Club, Abby and Bridge corners it will strip much of the “personality” of the circuit away. It would require a sharp right hander before Club and a straight shot all the way to Priory.
To put it British slang terms, Harry Stiller and company needs to “beat seven shades of shit out of someone”. And as much as I hate to say it, the first victim should be the outgoing BRDC President Sir Jackie Stewart. He recommended the developer and is backing the reconstruction as a ‘going away present” to the BRDC as one of his last acts before giving up his position as President.
I’m betting the idea gets a firm thumbs down which will put the British Grand Prix back in the “jeopardy” column for the ‘07 F1 season.
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