v8ian
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,765
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May 10, 2018 18:47:38 GMT
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Copied from Rods n Sods
shakey
for those that have been wondering this is from facebook today
It is with regret that I now have to inform the UK drag racing community that after 44 years as an operational drag strip there will be no more racing activities taking place at Long Marston Airfield’s Shakespeare County Raceway. The owners of Long Marston Airfield along with the raceway’s track marshals/officials/staff would like to thank everyone who over the years has supported the track since its very first national drag meet in 1973. Furthermore we would like to wish all the racers and fans every success for the future”.
If anyone (racers, crews and supporters) still have caravans or trailers stored on site can we respectively ask that these be removed from the airfield’s caravan storage compound by the end of the May. Removal of caravan’s can be made during any week day between the hours of 9.00 am and 6.00 pm or Saturday’s between 9.00 am to 1.00pm. The airfield is closed on Sunday’s. Prior arrangement and pick up details must be made before hand by calling Kenny on 07595 412482 or myself on 07595 411079.
It’s been a pleasure knowing everyone in my twelve or so years looking after the raceway’s interests, calling the races over the pa and organising some great events. See you somewhere at a strip of tarmac real soon.
And as an AfterNote, You may not be aware that Drag Racing has been stopped at North Weald Too, by ONE local OBJECTION!!!!!!!,
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Last Edit: May 10, 2018 19:17:15 GMT by v8ian
Atmo V8 Power . No slicks , No gas + No bits missing . Doing it in style.
Austin A35van, very different------- but still doing it in style, going to be a funmoble
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May 10, 2018 18:56:17 GMT
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😡
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GJUK
Part of things
Posts: 238 
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May 10, 2018 22:28:29 GMT
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Houses make more money than home built v8s.
Shame, nice place to hang out but very dated. Like they knew this day was coming, for about 40 years.
...There must be a multi billionaire on this site that wants to open a drag strip?
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So what does that mean for the future of drag racing in the UK? How many tracks remain?
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v8ian
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,765
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Tracks in the UK, Santapod, York, and an occasional one in Cornwall, less occasional than North Weald.
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Atmo V8 Power . No slicks , No gas + No bits missing . Doing it in style.
Austin A35van, very different------- but still doing it in style, going to be a funmoble
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Houses make more money than home built v8s. Shame, nice place to hang out but very dated. Like they knew this day was coming, for about 40 years. ...There must be a multi billionaire on this site that wants to open a drag strip? Dated!!!! Aren’t they all? When did you last go to Pod? I spent pretty much the entire 80’s there & it’s probably worse now than it was then. The facilities are dreadful. |
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MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,963
Club RR Member Number: 29
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Not just drag racing, remember the post about track days at Lyneham being cancelled because the local MP listened to a few NIMBYs and got them stopped. Still haven't heard back from the MP, he's actually my MP as well.
The only drag racing I've ever been to was way back when they had racing at Blackbushe for a little while.
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1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
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Sad news. A victim of the UK's massive housing shortage unfortunately. York's dragstrip has been saved by the skin of its teeth although I think they are still raising funds to build facilities and such.
I had heard Rockingham Speedway has or are going to have a dragstrip but I don't know if it's a full 1/4 mile.
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A pox on all the NIMBYs. Especially the ones who buy a house near a stadium, a race track, or an airport that has been there for generations and then curse word about noise. Should they not think about that before buying?
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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Maybe some UK clubs could crowd fund buying some land and opening their own? I certainly hope it's something that we can do here in Cornwall.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,714
Club RR Member Number: 34
Member is Online
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Drag racing on a sportsman level died at least 25 years ago over here. I'm surprised we have any strips at all anymore.
don't for one minute think it's just nimbyism that killed it off either. One of the major reasons it's died is its own governing bodies. As soon as it became about how much money you got over and above everything else, people started to move to other forms of grassroots Motorsport where you could actually be competitive (and have a lot more fun) on a far more meagre budget.
Yeah it's sad venues like this are shutting, but they're dinosaurs who's answer was to pretend it wasn't all going to the wall rather than try to move with the times and give people what they wanted.
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Sad but inevitable. I only went to SCR/ Avon Park a few times and enjoyed myself, but the place was clearly run on a shoestring, (like the whole of British drag racing in fact). Even in The 'States, where it's a mainstream sport and drag racers are household names, tracks are being replaced with housing.
I wonder what's happened to the equipment from SCR, particularly the digital display scoreboards?Could they be offered to York, or have they got them now? It's been a few years since I was last there.
I don't know anything about the North Weald situation but if it really was one objection that lead to the closure then it makes me wonder who it was that objected. and do they have friends in high places. More likely that was the final straw in a history of complaints. Let's be honest now we all know what happens at some car events. not so much the racing itself but some of the drivers entering, and especially, leaving drive like prats when excess testosterone combines with a heavy right foot.
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vanpeebles
Part of things
I am eastbound in pursuit of a white Lamborghini, this is not a recording.
Posts: 978
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May 11, 2018 11:26:06 GMT
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If you listen to most retail park car parks on a night, it sounds like drag racing is alive and well in the UK?  |
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voodoo57
Club Retro Rides Member
That's not 2 metres! come a little...Closer!
Posts: 2,758
Club RR Member Number: 137
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May 11, 2018 11:46:48 GMT
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And i was laughed at on another forum when i mentioned closure about a year ago. the reason the pod is such a tip, especially in regards to entrance/exit and toilet and washing facilities is because they can charge what they want, save on facility upgrades knowing that people will still go to watch drag racing because basically.... the pod is all there is? if they didn't, then the things previously spoken about would not have to be improved or spoken about?  i doubt there will be any drag strips built in the near future, but rest assured, millions more houses will be built on many other areas where a drag strip could be built! Why they didn't pay to improve Shakespeare and keep that going i will never know? |
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May 11, 2018 11:47:34 GMT
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It is indeed sad news as I have raced at several tracks since the 1970's and 'yes' the facilities were basic and did not improve very much over the years, but the economics of drag racing meant that few people ever made any significant money (rain-offs how many times???)
I would like to thank all the Marshals and helpers who have given so much of their time and enthusiasm at those dragstrips over the past 30+ years. Many Happy Memories!
Phil Herrick
(Muscle Sprout(JM, JCA and DCA), Vicious Trait (ECA) , Super Sprite V8 (Street Rover) and Super B (Pro Rover)
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May 11, 2018 14:26:29 GMT
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And i was laughed at on another forum when i mentioned closure about a year ago. the reason the pod is such a tip, especially in regards to entrance/exit and toilet and washing facilities is because they can charge what they want, save on facility upgrades knowing that people will still go to watch drag racing because basically.... the pod is all there is? if they didn't, then the things previously spoken about would not have to be improved or spoken about? i doubt there will be any drag strips built in the near future, but rest assured, millions more houses will be built on many other areas where a drag strip could be built! Why they didn't pay to improve Shakespeare and keep that going i will never know? the pod has a new concrete strip, costing upwards of 1 million. |
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voodoo57
Club Retro Rides Member
That's not 2 metres! come a little...Closer!
Posts: 2,758
Club RR Member Number: 137
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May 11, 2018 15:13:27 GMT
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And the rest of the venue? i must admit, i have not been for a few years, but how long has the pod been there? how much money has been made? and i can say for def' is that the winning cars that are paid for races etc... only get a few quid for their time and effort, so you know it's not being shoved in that direction. of course the track has to be maintained and repaired, if it didn't then no-one would go, but it wouldn't hurt to spend some £ on the other aspects/areas of the venue that need an upgrade.
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May 11, 2018 16:44:20 GMT
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Does Santa Pod not put on music concerts etc as well as the many drag days and car shows ? They must make a tidy amount each year so should invest in some infastructure.
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May 11, 2018 16:46:32 GMT
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skinnylew
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,546
Club RR Member Number: 11
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May 13, 2018 21:38:56 GMT
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Not that I've been for years but the pod did always strike me as a 'run in a field in the middle of nowhere on a shoe string' type venue. Poor facilities and infrastructure, and all quite dated.
Still as said most of the remaining areas where drag racing could take place are old airfields and being sold for housing as it isn't green belt land and is easily accessible and workable.
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Ax GTi Turbo