22/07/2008
NEWS STORY
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Two weeks ago, inclement weather helped create a classic race at Silverstone. Today, an entirely different kind of storm is brewing over the Northamptonshire track.
Following the news that Silverstone has lost the British Grand Prix to Donington, the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) appears to be in crisis, with its Board facing a vote of confidence.
With the GP contract lost, there is little likelihood of the planned redevelopment being approved by South Northamptonshire District Council - one councillor telling a Pitpass source that the enablement brief "will be dead in the water now that the contract has gone elsewhere", meaning that the millions spent by the club were for nothing.
The BRDC membership was already divided over the whole issue of the Grand Prix and the ambitious redevelopment plans aimed at retaining it, now that the contract has been lost, and millions wasted, there is serious talk of mutiny, with many members feeling "totally exasperated". A situation certainly not helped by the BRDC Board's failing to issue a statement to members since the Donington announcement was made over two weeks ago.
The Property Advisory Group, which is drawn from highly experienced members in the property sector, recently made a statement to the membership claiming that the Board had acted against their original recommendations. There is now sufficient evidence that the membership will take matters into their own hands and call for the Board to stand aside.
John Fitzpatrick, a past Director of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) and Silverstone Circuits Ltd, who was also the Club's membership Secretary for many years, recently e-mailed the membership in order to sample its views as to what should now be done and announcing an "anonymous" poll on the club's website.
The questions are as follows:
Announcing the poll, Fitzpatrick wrote:
"After your Board has failed to retain the British Grand Prix post 2009, which in turn now seriously seems to effect the Club's ability to get the enablement brief approved by the SNDC without a GP contract, in short, this will mean that, in spite of the member's mandate for the Board not to enter into any high risk strategy with an open cheque book, they have totally ignored that mandate and forged ahead regardless of the shareholders/member's wishes at a likely enormous cost. Without the brief approved, they cannot now look at any uplift in land value nor will they be able to sell any land in an effort to do so, especially in a depressed commercial market place. It seems now that the whole process will have been a dreadful waste of time at a very high final cost. It also points to the fact that the past 18 months have been ill spent and the Board has surely lost any further credibility or the right to your further trust in them. It should be now clear that change is necessary. Their silence is indicative of their inability as to knowing what to say to members.
"I have received a great number of e-mails and telephone calls from members who read the forum but who are hesitant to post indicting their lack of faith in the Board and suggesting that they should resign. This hesitancy seems to stem from the Board's recent spate of persecuting members who have dared to speak out in public. It has therefore been proposed to run a poll on the members' forum to gauge the level of opinion on the present situation. It should produce a fair sample of the member's views and will help in deciding the way forward for the Club. It will certainly indicate to you the way in which your fellow members are thinking and help all members to decide on the future for the Club."
As we said, stormy times ahead at Silverstone.