True state of Donington Park track revealed

sad times for all the good/bad points about donny who allowed this to happen
the whole area infields etc are fooked a giant mud heap
the track well this has been ripped to bits,
and the winter we just had prob means the whole track is no good

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On the track itself, where Ayrton Senna sped to victory in the rain 17 years ago, 14 separate ditches – 100m or so apart – cut down into the earth.

The bits of broken track are remnants of the failed bid to bring Formula One's British Grand Prix to Castle Donington, which collapsed late last year after the leaseholder went under owing millions.

Among the dirt stands Kevin Wheatcroft, track owner, quietly surveying what is left of the circuit built up by his father,Tom, who died in October.

He describes what has been done by Simon Gillett, chief executive of leaseholder Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd, as "borderline vandalism".

They ripped up the outfield to make way for an unfinished loop; dug into the track for archaeological surveys and left the place in "a complete mess" after running out of cash.

I went up there last month and although I always regarded the place as a toilet anyway it really is heartbreaking to see this spiritual home of motorcycle racing so close to my home so utterly devastated.

Gillett swore that he'd never touch Craners but just butchered the rest of the circuit stubbornly refusing to accept that the funds were never there. It's a terrible shame, because the proposed alterations looked very promising with the removal of the 'bolt on' Melbourne loop section, which in my opinion ruined the racing.

I can see Donington being redeveloped eventually - when a second terminal at East Midlands Airport is built at Coppice.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Mar 13 2010, 07:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I went up there last month and although I always regarded the place as a toilet anyway it really is heartbreaking to see this spiritual home of motorcycle racing so close to my home so utterly devastated.

Gillett swore that he'd never touch Craners but just butchered the rest of the circuit stubbornly refusing to accept that the funds were never there. It's a terrible shame, because the proposed alterations looked very promising with the removal of the 'bolt on' Melbourne loop section, which in my opinion ruined the racing.

I can see Donington being redeveloped eventually - when a second terminal at East Midlands Airport is built at Coppice.
I think this will happen, very sad.

sorry to hear about that guys. must suck big time

Love the new avi, Arib!!

That is so sad to see and a disgrace, that gillet guy should be thrown into that new tunnel he built with a big lump of concrete tied round his ankles.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Mar 13 2010, 07:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I can see Donington being redeveloped eventually - when a second terminal at East Midlands Airport is built at Coppice.

If Kevin Wheatcroft keeps to his word, this is not going to happen.
I went to the Save Donington rally a couple of weeks ago. Kevin wheatcroft stood on stage and vowed that racing would return.
He said he had been contacted by various developers since the lease went back to him, but he had no intention of letting that happen & turned all offers for the land down.
The track will be brought back into use, but the Wheatcroft family have been in negotiations for an investor to take over the day-to-day running of the circuit. This list of investors has been whittled down from around 25 to 3 over the last few months. He said each of these 3 were on a similar par with each other, and whoever could complete all the necessarry legalities first would be the one he would proceed with. He also siad that he hoped even a few of the later scheduled events would still take place at the circuit and that bike and car racing would make a return next season. he also wanted to get Motogp back in the future, calling Donington it's spiritual home.

Obviously all this could have been spin, but the Save Donington rally was organised by a racing fan and was attended by racing fans. He didnt need to get personally involved, but he did. He put the Wheatcroft name behind the rally aswell as the time and resources of the circuit staff. He stood on stage and gave an interview infront of everyone. I really cant see he would do any of that and say the things he said, if he wasnt going to do his upmost to see them through.

Theres hope for Donington yet. Im sure of it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SprogTheDog @ Mar 15 2010, 11:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If Kevin Wheatcroft keeps to his word, this is not going to happen.
I went to the Save Donington rally a couple of weeks ago. Kevin wheatcroft stood on stage and vowed that racing would return.
He said he had been contacted by various developers since the lease went back to him, but he had no intention of letting that happen & turned all offers for the land down.
The track will be brought back into use, but the Wheatcroft family have been in negotiations for an investor to take over the day-to-day running of the circuit. This list of investors has been whittled down from around 25 to 3 over the last few months. He said each of these 3 were on a similar par with each other, and whoever could complete all the necessarry legalities first would be the one he would proceed with. He also siad that he hoped even a few of the later scheduled events would still take place at the circuit and that bike and car racing would make a return next season. he also wanted to get Motogp back in the future, calling Donington it's spiritual home.

Obviously all this could have been spin, but the Save Donington rally was organised by a racing fan and was attended by racing fans. He didnt need to get personally involved, but he did. He put the Wheatcroft name behind the rally aswell as the time and resources of the circuit staff. He stood on stage and gave an interview infront of everyone. I really cant see he would do any of that and say the things he said, if he wasnt going to do his upmost to see them through.

Theres hope for Donington yet. Im sure of it.
I hope you right mate but im sure i saw east Midlands airport was on the Baa list of airports wanting to expand. Because now Donnington park is derelict it could get a compulsory purchase order.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (chopperman @ Mar 15 2010, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I hope you right mate but im sure i saw east Midlands airport was on the Baa list of airports wanting to expand. Because now Donnington park is derelict it could get a compulsory purchase order.

Compulsary purchase orders are undertaken by local authorities, one reason is for regeneration. So yes in theory this could happen. But the local authority wont put one into effect, just because another company wants the land. East Midlands Airport is owned by the Manchester Airports Group, not the local authority. Donington is still under the control of the Wheatcroft family and while there is still the intention of returning the track into use, Leicester county council slapping a compulsary purchase order on it would be a little extreme to say the least.
Having a purchase order is not the end of it all anyway. There are many legal hurdles before things are settled. They could not just do it.

Im not being a smart arse, I'm an architect and sadly know about such dull things.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SprogTheDog @ Mar 15 2010, 12:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Compulsary purchase orders are undertaken by local authorities, one reason is for regeneration. So yes in theory this could happen. But the local authority wont put one into effect, just because another company wants the land. East Midlands Airport is owned by the Manchester Airports Group, not the local authority. Donington is still under the control of the Wheatcroft family and while there is still the intention of returning the track into use, Leicester county council slapping a compulsary purchase order on it would be a little extreme to say the least.
Having a purchase order is not the end of it all anyway. There are many legal hurdles before things are settled. They could not just do it.

Im not being a smart arse, I'm an architect and sadly know about such dull things.
Well i hope you right mate

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (chopperman @ Mar 15 2010, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Well i hope you right mate
Me too matey. Donington never had much in the way of facilities, but the circuit itself was great.
Even Melbourne saw some great moments. It was only a year ago I was screaming for Rossi to pick his bike up at Foggys and enjoying watching Stoner getting lapped. Now the place looks like a building site.

r.i.p Donny

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Mar 15 2010, 12:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> r.i.p Donny
Think positive xx CURVE xx, think positive !!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SprogTheDog @ Mar 15 2010, 12:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Compulsary purchase orders are undertaken by local authorities, one reason is for regeneration. So yes in theory this could happen. But the local authority wont put one into effect, just because another company wants the land. East Midlands Airport is owned by the Manchester Airports Group, not the local authority. Donington is still under the control of the Wheatcroft family and while there is still the intention of returning the track into use, Leicester county council slapping a compulsary purchase order on it would be a little extreme to say the least.
Having a purchase order is not the end of it all anyway. There are many legal hurdles before things are settled. They could not just do it.

Im not being a smart arse, I'm an architect and sadly know about such dull things.

Sadley I'm thinking along the lines that if enough palms are greased with the appropriate amount of cash, almost anything can happen, in this day and age, long gone are the days were a mans word was his bond and a handshake made the deal. As we have seen over the past few months politicians are not to be trusted.
As it is I think Donny got stiched up first they lose the GP but they gain the F1 if certain improvments are made, then when they are at the point of no return with the work, they lose F1.
I couldn't believe the state of the place when we went up there last year, we walked through that tunnel shown in the fisrt part of that video, that water must be about 20 feet deep!
I went to watch the last GP there I didn't think, at the time, it would be the last time I went there.

But we shall see....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bonnielass @ Mar 15 2010, 01:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Sadley I'm thinking along the lines that if enough palms are greased with the appropriate amount of cash, almost anything can happen, in this day and age, long gone are the days were a mans word was his bond and a handshake made the deal. As we have seen over the past few months politicians are not to be trusted.


But we shall see....
done deal just look at the layout runway 3 even
9071:donny_park.jpg]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Mar 15 2010, 02:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>done deal just look at the layout runway 3 even
9071:donny_park.jpg]
Am I missing something? Whats on that plan that would jepodize the circuit?

nothing sprog its just a prime site for the airport to expand maybe one day
hopefully that's a long long way away

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Mar 15 2010, 03:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>nothing sprog its just a prime site for the airport to expand maybe one day
hopefully that's a long long way away
Got me worried there mate. Thought I had missed something.

Jeez Pigeon jst viewed the state of Donnington that you posted. Its a downright disgrace whats been done to it I fear we may have lost a great track forever unless donnington finds some new investment. Its a great shame because its the first track I ever visited & will always have a special place in my heart. P.S. thanks for the pointers, most helpfull, cheers.