Donnington....

[Brynmor]

Now this is probably old ground as i'm aware of the F1 cock up etc however....went there today as was on way back from Center Parcs.
I hasten to add i've not been there since 2001, first shock the entrance has moved....to me it always used to feel special turning in but now it's rather lacklustre going in past a portakabin.
Into museum, and it looked in a mess,considering there is such a big meeting this weekend you'd expect the displays to be ok, but lots of gaps....trophies hidden behind other vehicles and no sign of any visual moving footage etc???

So decided to leave the good lady in the cafe and pop down to the paddock with the little lad, firstly the roads I used to know are now pot holed gravel and there is a plant hire firm where I used to camp????
Got to paddock entrance and the (can only describe him as an ape) tells me it's too dangerous to go into the paddock !! I politely said that seems odd as there's no actual racing on and any other meeting you can...he then gets rather aggressive (in front of my 4 year old) and threatens to bring down more security!!!!!

We wander to car , little lad none too happy and head home after collecting the wife.

I had many great memories of the track and indeed contributed to the Senna / Fangio memorial but what an utter utter dump of a place it is now.....it makes me so glad I have Oulton Park on the doorstep.

Apologies for the rant but they are really simple things they could do and appear disinterested...

[surfblue63]

Lucky you didn't see the infield then!

Unfortunately Donnington was the victim of a failed coup to get the British GP which went sour after a lot of damage had been done. Luckily the owners managed to get the track open, but I guess they are finding it hard to get funds to put the place back to what it was.
I've been a couple of time recently and the facilities might be lacking, but the racing is still good, and thats what counts. Just imagine if the GP thing had been a success, the track would have changed beyond all recognition.

[Brynmor]

For sure the racing is part of it, but in the modern world when parting with your hard earned you'd want it to feel something special.....it's literally paint and gravel that would cover most of my concerns along with a customer service course for their team of 'security'...a museum without piped sound of the cars in action or rolling VT of the same....in the great scheme they are relatively low cost quick wins

Her wifeyness who knows nothing really of Motorsport was amazed at the state of the place considering the heritage that it has....

[Pete]

Doni was NEVER gonna get F1 , that was just Bernie's ruse to pressure Silverstone into getting it's act together after years of resistance to modernisation. The state of Donington is a good illustration of the way the British do many things in life, on the bloody cheap ! Football grounds used to be the same until all the foreign investors arrived, many still are complete dumps. Sad but true.

[Broadspeed]

Pete, you must be getting as old as me the amount of moaning you are doing. But you are right and its all true. I just keep it bottled . Must start publishing, it makes you feel better.

[ChrisB]

With Simon Gillett's past he should never have been allowed near the place.

It was ridiculous to suggest that Formula 1 could ever go to a venue with such poor local infrastructure and no funding behind it.

[pad4]

maybe they should "RING" it, put some turnstiles in, 10 quid for a lap, open 7 days a week

its a real shame to see all this heritage going to pot

pd

[mab01uk]

B & W period photos via link below of the Donnington Mini 20th Birthday Extravaganza back in 1979, one of the first major Mini events I attended with Ray Holmans 'Mini Cooper Club'....
http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/in ... pic=163767

[Pete]

Pete, you must be getting as old as me the amount of moaning you are doing. But you are right and its all true. I just keep it bottled . Must start publishing, it makes you feel better.

This is nothing new Mike, I've been a grumpy old bastard all my life !

[Pete]

I thought for a minute they were giving away Alan Hansen as a prize for the Mini quiz !

[guru_1071]

I thought for a minute they were giving away Alan Hansen as a prize for the Mini quiz !

1st prize, one night with alan hanson

2nd prize, two nights with alan hanson

3rd prize, keep him

[Brynmor]

Pete, you must be getting as old as me the amount of moaning you are doing. But you are right and its all true. I just keep it bottled . Must start publishing, it makes you feel better.

This is nothing new Mike, I've been a grumpy old bastard all my life !

That's two of us then.... though i've always said what I thought rather than what people want to hear....some people get me others well urmm don't

That does look like Alan Hansen doesn't it...could be a good 'before they were famous shot'

[Pete]

Gp C action........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3ViYJOnQJU