East London GP Circuit

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Killarney Racer
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East London GP Circuit

Post by Killarney Racer » Tue 17 Jun 2008, 16:00

Has anyone heard a story about the GP circuit being turned into a residential area? If true then this is madness and should be stopped!

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zahistorics
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Re: East London GP Circuit

Post by zahistorics » Wed 18 Jun 2008, 00:37

Where did you hear that? I have Mike Fosythe's number somewhere if you want to ask him - he's a local there.

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72XYGT
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Re: East London GP Circuit

Post by 72XYGT » Wed 18 Jun 2008, 19:42

The surrounding area is already in the process of being built up. Further south is the new Daimler Chrysler complex which houses all the OE suppliers. Its a matter of time for the track to be completely built close.
Another thing is that the contract with the local municipality is also nearing the expiry date or may have expired already, so there is a strong possibility that the track could be closed!

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Fairlane 500
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Re: East London GP Circuit

Post by Fairlane 500 » Wed 18 Jun 2008, 23:50

This would be a great tradgedy. If you remember a few years back the same threat hung over Killarney and it has already happened to Roy Hesketh.

It seems to me that as time goes on nothing is sacred no matter what historic traditions or events have taken place. Look around you. Grand Central, Gunners Circle, Grovenor Circuit and Paarden Eiland to name a few, have gone. East London has been under threat before and when public roads are being used, it spells danger. The municipalties don't give a damn.

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Hi-Fi
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Re: East London GP Circuit

Post by Hi-Fi » Thu 19 Jun 2008, 13:20

If this happens it will just be yet another idiotic blunder that seems to be the norm nowadays in this place. History should be kept. It's the same with the demolishing of old buildings. It's the same with historic race tracks and East London goes back before the war. Imagine if none of us on this site had no interest in classics, be they V8's or not. We wouldn't be talking to each other.

At least Fairmont GT might be able to sleep at night! :)

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FairmontGT
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Re: East London GP Circuit

Post by FairmontGT » Thu 19 Jun 2008, 13:39

South Africans dont have a big need to preserve the past - Im not sure why. For instance here in potchefstroom the whole main street and old town area has been demolished and replaced over the last few decades. It couldve looked as nice as Stellenbosch or other similar old towns if the historic part of the town was preserved. I saw old photos of about 50 years ago of Potchefstroom and it was fantastic - I was really stunned that it all was lost.

Is there some action group out there for the preservation of our historical sites?
Yes we did build muscle cars in RSA!!!!
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Killarney Racer
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Re: East London GP Circuit

Post by Killarney Racer » Thu 19 Jun 2008, 13:58

I think the problem is "who's history is it?" In Cape Town there are buildings dating back to the 1700's which are in dire need of restoration work, the most recent one in the papers being Tokai Manor House. Unfortunately with our past, it seems these buildings have no connection with the current government and therefore they become "too expensive" to maintain.

Now if it were some Zulu cultural site or a burial site of slaves......well that is a different story. Sorry if I sound political, that fact of the matter is that this topic (I dont mean this discussion) is political............ :!:

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FairmontGT
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Re: East London GP Circuit

Post by FairmontGT » Thu 19 Jun 2008, 14:01

The demolision (I dont know how to spell it) of the historic buildings in Potch all happened long before the apartheid government came to an end. So it would be unfair to lay it at the feet of the new government. The phonomenon has been going on for a very long time.
Yes we did build muscle cars in RSA!!!!
http://www.africanmusclecars.com

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henryk
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Re: East London GP Circuit

Post by henryk » Thu 19 Jun 2008, 15:57

The beauty about the East London G P circuit is that it has remained unchanged for decades. The way it looks today is the way it looked 50 years ago.

No corporate bomas, no fancy office blocks, same rickety pit complex, everything has remained. A real classic circuit for us classic car lovers.

It has remained simple, uncluttered and still frighteningly fast, just the way we like it.

Last time I was there the was considerable Mercedes Benz presence. Even on the road leading into the circuit there was a sign reading "Mercedes Benz Grand Prix Circuit.". As a big player in the local economy one would think Mercedes would be able to do something to preserve the circuit.


And now Mr Bricknell probably also would not be able to help.
Escort's Forever !

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Hi-Fi
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Re: East London GP Circuit

Post by Hi-Fi » Thu 19 Jun 2008, 16:33

I think you're right, Fairmont. Look what went on in Pretoria and the way they demolished whole blocks of tremendous old colonial buildings there in the city centre. I have to agree though that nowadays things that we hold dear don't mean very much to the majority. Thank goodness the renovators moved in to the Malay Quarter on the side of Signal Hill and a lot of those places are still standing.

Back to East London. Spot on Henry. If Aldo Scribante could have been bought by Terry Moss and Zwartkops by Du Toit, then surely someone like Vernon Bricknell could buy East London and make it into a business venture. The problem though is, as Fairlane 500 points out, the use of part of the circuit as public roads. If a person bought the place they would have to build a re-route of roads at their own cost to keep the municipality happy.

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