Mark Durrant Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Today I received the following email from Barry Guess of the Sutton & Cheam Motor Club 'Please be advised that it is with regret that I have to advise you of the cancellation of the 2007 Chieftain and Scorpion Sprints at Longcross following the decision of QinetiQ Management to withdraw the venue from ALL motor sport use. This decision was confirmed this afternoon at a meeting between myself (as MSA Liaison Officer), Ian Davis (MSA) and the appropriate management at QinetiQ Farnborough. The withdrawl is also effective immediately for all remaining motor club bookings for rallies (Craven MC / Sutton & Cheam MC / Rally Britannia / Bexley LCC / Oxford MC) and Sprint bookings (London Irish MC). This situation is subject to an on-going discussion although it should be stressed that QinetiQ have stressed that they are unlikely to reverse their decision. Should there be any favourable development over the next few days then I will advise you accordingly. I would ask that any queries or communications regarding this matter are directed toward me in the first instance.' Barry Guess MSA Liaison Officer Very disappointing end for a challenging a unique venue....one I am unlikely to forget Mark D Comp Sec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Sorry to hear the news mark ☹️ Shame it's too short notice to get anything else planned 🙆🏻 Dannyboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon.Rogers1 Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 But it does take some pressure off the schedule early in the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Flatters Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Any reasons in particular Mark? Please don't tell me it was NIMBYs complaining about noise *arrowright*Harry Flatters *arrowright* AKA Steve Mell - Surrey AO and Su77on Se7ener Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Kipper Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 I heard that it was to protect the rhododendrons 😬 Kipper Fun is not a straight line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardO Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 Not impressed. At least the FDMC sprints are on MOD land, so not likely to be affected - but losing Longcross means there's nothing very challenging that's local to me ☹️ R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 This sprint venue has been under threat for about a decade. Long before the L7 club sprinted there, Sutton & Cheam MC always put an advisory in the regs that it could be the last event ever held there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted February 27, 2007 Author Share Posted February 27, 2007 I am not aware of the reason why all motorsport events have been cancelled and I will update you all as soon as further information is received. Mark D Comp Sec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil.cavanagh Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 what a shame. Not only was longcross very conveniently local to me, but also a great venue. The Snake is dead. Long live the snake... ☹️ ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon.Rogers1 Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 And I was going to show Adrian that I wasn't a wuss over the jump this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Williams Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 Easy to say that now Simon Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewenm Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 Apparently there was a death there a few weeks ago. see here Project BUMBLEBEE lives on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil.cavanagh Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 I'm surprised we hadn't heard anything about the death...google shows nothing either. My guess is this is the first step in a plan to turn the land into a new 'luxury' housing estate.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irrelevant Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 My guess is this is the first step in a plan to turn the land into a new 'luxury' housing estate.... Don't think so . .. the current boss of Qinetic (who rent the land & don't want to build any houses) has decided not to allow Motorsport. When that boss goes, the next one may be more inclined to allow sprints - it's not as though it's not used for fast cars. It's a test track afterall - McLaren shakedown test all their roadcars there, and I can only assume, will continue to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilsjuke Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 On the 18th of Feb after the Emerald Stage Rally at Longcross, One of the clearing up team suffered a fall following a heart attack and was taken to hospital. Les sadly passed away on Tuesday the 20th. here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted February 28, 2007 Author Share Posted February 28, 2007 Lets not speculate on a public forum as to the reasons why all motorsport events have been cancelled and I will post an update as soon as I received this from the MSA Liason Officer. Mark D Comp Sec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilsjuke Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 We could speculate lots of reasons . But the Death at Longcross postings are not how Les should be rembered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted February 28, 2007 Author Share Posted February 28, 2007 We could speculate lots of reasons . But the Death at Longcross postings are not how Les should be rembered I agree Mark D Comp Sec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewenm Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 His death sounds unrelated to where it happened. Sadly heart attacks can happen to anyone, anywhere and at any time. I hope it isn't linked in anyway to the closure decision as that would be no way to remember anyone in the motorsport world. Will there be an official L7CGB response to the closure? Perhaps a letter to the relevant management expressing disappointment at the decision and hopes that the venue can return to use in the future. I haven't driven there myself but it sounds like it was a great venue and I was looking forward to sprinting there this year. Project BUMBLEBEE lives on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil.cavanagh Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Sounds like a good idea Ewen. I'm also wondering why discussion on it is so sensitive? Maybe if Qinetiq (spelling!) saw how many people on all the car forums were affected by their decision they would re-consider? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted February 28, 2007 Author Share Posted February 28, 2007 At present the negotiations are being handled by the MSA Liason Officer and I have offered him the support of the club. Mark D Comp Sec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewenm Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Project BUMBLEBEE lives on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmar Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 bummer news ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozz Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Redevelopment of the site? Bozz McLaren Orange and Black 1.6SS 6 Speed here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irrelevant Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 I do not think it's redevelopment . . .. there was talk of building a big Supermarket there but I don't think they could get planning as the land has some kind of status that complicated matters. Much of the land along there is common land IIRC. Any major development would need a new motorway junction as beefing up the local roads is, for some reason, not a realistic option. New motorway junctions on the M3 are not cheap. So, hopefully, Longcross will not disappear from the sprint calendar forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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