Save Spa Franchorchamps!

  • Thread starter Thread starter brainfade
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Even if the track is closed down, isn't 2026 a bit too far away?
 
Dam these whinging whining pansys killing off our hallowed turf, if this was to happen say to Wembley, Lords or Eden Park (hosts of the 2011 world cup) there would be public outcry its utter BS
 
The more I think about it, the more incensed I become. There have been so many memorable moments at Spa. It would be a massive blow to lose this circuit.

I've been reminiscing quite a bit today.. thinking of all the great races Spa has held over the years... and trying to decide on my favorite moment. It's so hard to just pick out one, but I think my favorite would have to be Steve Soper's narrow victory in 24hr race back in 1992. Driving a BMW E30 M3 for Team Bigazzi, Soper just out nudged a Schnitzer backed E30 M3 driven by Eric van de Poele. He passes him on the last lap and wins by less than one second! Imagine racing for a whole day and having the finish be that close!

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/....htm?ref=2e73a79d-d6b1-4880-b9ad-9bc5016b05b2

I would hate to think that we won't be able to enjoy more moments like this in the future. :(
 
It was originally all public roads, then only partially when they built the short circuit and now i don't think it is at all, although some locals may still use it for access.

Spa is in the middle of nowhere in a dense forrest, only the tiny 'ribbon' villages could possibly be within ear shot of it. I bet it's NIMBY's with their second homes who are the ones that are complaining. They're probably lawyers too, so they know they're way around the legal system enough for a few voices to be able to make a big impact.
 
88c-v Racer
one of the reasons that i hate people that use the legal system for their own (usually monetary) gain



that sounds like the petition is to close the circuit. is that really what it is or just a bad translation?
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Bad translation, heres the sight in english : http://www.defendonsfrancorchamps.be/petition-track-circuit-racing-track-spa-francorchamps.html

I've been reminiscing quite a bit today.. thinking of all the great races Spa has held over the years... and trying to decide on my favorite moment. It's so hard to just pick out one, but I think my favorite would have to be Steve Soper's narrow victory in 24hr race back in 1992. Driving a BMW E30 M3 for Team Bigazzi, Soper just out nudged a Schnitzer backed E30 M3 driven by Eric van de Poele. He passes him on the last lap and wins by less than one second! Imagine racing for a whole day and having the finish be that close!
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I was there as a child! :D
 
PJ-FFL
Who would live near a race track if they hate the racing? Why should the government care, they chose to move there and whatever problems they have relating to the circuit, that's their problem.
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Because there is nowhere else to go. Before you call Belgians stupid to move there, I'd ask you to go on a holiday to Belgium and see how dense the population is. People have no other choices than to build their houses near the racing track. I too have a problem with people complaining about the noise after they build their homes in that area, but those are the problems many countres have to deal with.

It's the same with the airport in Brussels, Zaventem. Each year people complain about the noise the airport creates at night, but an airport is far more important to a country's economy than a racing track is.

Hun200kmh
That's a Bernie-related problem. And if I have to choose between Bernie and Spa, I go for Spa.
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Not really, the prices the circuit organization have to charge pretty much depends on how little or big the profit gains or losses are. Since Spa isn't giving any profit, in fact, it seems to be a money pit as of lately, they have to charge so much money to minimize the damage.

brainfade
I have a friend who is an estate agent near Kent, and he tells me they know fullwell theres a track there, they just simply say 'we'll just take them to court so we can put a stop to that, not like anyone watches cars going round in circles'

Its a mix of ignorance, arrogance, idiotic governents/councils, urban sprawling, greedy real estate people and the wrong people in charge of tracks. I won't be surprised if we lose another high profile circuit to this kind of nonsense.
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You can't stop population from spreading. If a track has to move for the growing population of a country, then so be it. Formula 1 is spending more time in the East as it is in Europe anyway, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if the European events have to make way for the Eastern events because they prove alot more profit.

I really don't care what'll happen to Spa honestly. Formula 1 has lost much of what it used to be for me, so watching an F1 race at Spa just isn't the same as it was 10 years ago. Outside of F1, I think the only events that are somewhat of a large size and reputation is the 24h of Spa event and the Le Mans series races...
 
Bram Turismo
You can't stop population from spreading. If a track has to move for the growing population of a country, then so be it. Formula 1 is spending more time in the East as it is in Europe anyway, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if the European events have to make way for the Eastern events because they prove alot more profit.
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It's short sighted to think that races in the East will ever replace F1's core European support base. They may draw crowds at the moment, but it will be a short-lived thing. There's no history of motorsport in these countries, the majority of them have no motor industry to promote anyway. It's a novelty to them now, but like all novelties, it will wear thin soon enough and the locals just won't give a **** about it anymore. Crowds will thin and financial support will obviously follow. 20 years from now we'll be reading articles on how the desert has swallowed up these circuits once again, and photos of decrepit structures that were once massive grandstands will be just about visible above the sand dunes.

Bernie is 79 now. In a decades time he'll either be no longer with us, or he'll be senile. Either way he'll no longer be in control of F1's destiny. He knows this, so none of his recent actions has had any long-term goals. He won't care what direction F1 is heading, as long as it makes him money now. This is why he's been pursuing emerging economies money, rather than shoring up what already exists and has history with the sport.

F1 needs to have a strong presence in Europe to survive and that presence needs to be at the classic circuits if you want to guarantee a solid fan base of 'live' supporters. Nobody wants to travel to Istanbul to watch a race.
 
Hmm, I don't know, I suppose we're just going to have to wait till Ecclestone expires lol.
 
Bram Turismo
I'm expecting Spa-Francorchamps to disappear from the F1 calendar anyway. Spa costs the Belgian government just too much money. The whole re-infrastructure of the circuit came with a big price tag, and even though F1 tickets can cost up to 300 euros each, the government loses much money on the circuit. It's a beautiful circuit, yes, but I would not hesitate to close it myself if it were only costing me money and not giving me any kind of profits.
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I should think more races and events would help pay for the upgrade. To pay the money and then make sure you don't get anything back, by closing it down is a sure way to get booted out of office.

It's a part of the motorsport history, we show true homage to.
Signed.
 
Signed (long before this thread was posted.;))
 
I signed, racing at Spa should not end because some a-hole doesn't like the fact they live close to the track.
 
Holy hell. This is my most cherished course in the world. Signed, for sure.

Man.. :(
 
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