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Post by NS-R on Nov 20, 2002 8:05:58 GMT
Heard from a couple of 'rumour mill' sources on the internet that it is rumoured that Knockhill may get the July BTCC meeting - don't quote me as I've only heard about it in forums - best place to check for decent rumours and facts is Autosport magazine (nothing on intanet site yet).
Fingers crossed...
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Post by Mike Hogg on Nov 20, 2002 8:18:58 GMT
A couple of people on the "other" board (back after another period of downtime) have indicated that it may get the June date (Barry Sime included)... Not really bothered either way - I'll have either of the dates!
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Post by Catriona on Nov 20, 2002 9:06:49 GMT
Sounds like the chances are good if there's rumours about both dates, anyway... fingers crossed! From the sounds of things, Rockingham are in financial trouble just now, so that may well explain all the rumours about us getting the round after all - they may be deciding to just concentrate on the CART, rather than trying to introduce the BTCC, which'll cost them money, of course. Hope that's how it's working, anyway - I want Rockingham to keep the CART race, seeing as it's currently the only European round, but I'd prefer it if they didn't steal our BTCC round!
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Post by speedyV on Nov 20, 2002 18:30:59 GMT
I think Rockingham is in very deep muck. Several million pounds spent and they can only pull 50,000 for a CART event, probably 8-10,000 for ASCAR and even less for all the club meetings. Doesn't really add up to a good investment - even if the BTCC get a round, the close proximity to other races (eg. Silverstone) will never attract the huge crowds that the facility is capable of. Therefore by default, Knockhill will probably get a June/July date, and it would make sense if it was just before/after Croft
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Post by NS-R on Nov 20, 2002 18:38:58 GMT
Let's hope so. The only thing though is that most people are saying the the "TBC" dates are between Croft, Rockingham and Knockhill - that is not strictly true. There is also the possibility that the likes of Thruxton could get a second meeting like it used to do...
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Post by Blair on Nov 22, 2002 14:28:26 GMT
Quoting from this weeks Autosport:
Knockhill hopes raised
Knockhill boss Derek Butcher believes his circuit is now likely to secure one of the two remaining dates on next year's British Touring Car Championship Calendar. At a board meeting of series rights holder British Motorsport Promoters, it was agreed last week that circuits which hosted races this year can bid for 2003 rounds.
That means Knockhill and Croft now have the advantage over newcomer Rockingham in securing one of the vacant BTCC dates, which are on June 22 and July 13.
Butcher said: "there's been open discussion and a commonality of understanding and I fully expect to be given a fair opportunity when we meet again in the first week of December"
BTCC boss Richard West had hinted that Knockhill was the most likely venue to miss out. Butcher added: "I would suggest that his [West's] comments were highly speculative and self-opinionated."
Fingers crossed folks.
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Post by speedyV on Nov 22, 2002 19:25:45 GMT
:eek: Might not have been the wisest thing to say.........
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Post by Catriona on Nov 22, 2002 20:25:39 GMT
Yeah, I thought that maybe wasn't too tactful when it isn't actually confirmed yet! Unless he knows something we don't about what's going to happen?
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Post by Mike Hogg on Nov 23, 2002 15:07:04 GMT
Go Derek! West is a bit of (a lot of?) a business man - no passion for the sport in anything he does, it all has to be commercially viable.... which I can understand up to a point but the point of this is the sport and excitement not the money and till receipts. Look at F1 - it may be successful but it's soul-less and dull. Everyone will see West for what he is when the 2004 calendar is released and it has 8 rounds at Brands Hatch... :rolleyes:
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Post by Blair on Nov 24, 2002 22:02:41 GMT
I've heard from some folks (one of whom was going to run a team in this years BTCC) what Richard is like to some folk.
I know money is ultra important these days, especially in motorsport, but seemingly West took the issue to another level. If you didn't have so much cash - more than the entry fees then it was no no to you - ever wondered why the Lexus's were never run this year..
Allegedly...
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Post by Mike Hogg on Dec 4, 2002 17:20:56 GMT
Looks like the rumours have all come to nothing then... wonder if we'll ever see Touring Cars north of the border again? Seems that a new track or a total Knockhill facelift will be required to have it back at any point now... :s
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Post by Blair on Dec 4, 2002 17:21:04 GMT
well, autosport.com has the 2003 BTCC calendar, no prizes for guessing who's not on it.
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Post by speedyV on Dec 4, 2002 18:14:23 GMT
:mad::mad::mad::banghead::banghead:
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Post by Catriona on Dec 4, 2002 18:42:18 GMT
Your sig says it all, Speedy :angryfire::angryfire::mad::mad::banghead::banghead::blackeye::blackeye::cry::cry:
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Post by NS-R on Dec 4, 2002 19:49:01 GMT
Not happy - no Superbike either.
So that will be the GT's, the Club meetings and erm, er....
As I've said before, what is the point in buying a season ticket now then??
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