[Greg G]

Apparently the powers that be are shutting "the barn" at Santa Pod.... how much more of this Health and Saftey crap are we meant to roll over and swallow?

what POSSIBLE harm can come to anyone standing in the barn LOOKING at cars about to make there runs? (think about this bit before you answer...)

Oh, dont tell me.... no doubt its too close.... too smoggy? ... no.. hold on Ive sussed it!! ..... its Co2 emmissions!!!... THATs what this is all about ... its no doubt a government incentive to cut my emmissions....

larfin my arse off!!

seriously though .. if this rumours true... then wheres all this leading too ? ... hopefully NOT the end ... of the finish line....

[dave-r]

Well. I have to say that the view from there (looking down the length of the strip from behind the start line) is a great place to stand and watch the cars drive away from you.
I always spend an hour or two watching from there.

But you are also standing behind the cars as they do burnouts. There are ALWAYS stones stuck to the slicks when you roll onto the start of the track. The slicks pick tons of gravel up on their way down the fire-up road.
So the possibility of a stone, tyre or lump of tarmack hiting you in the eye is actually quite large.

Also rubber smoke and the chemical tyre grip cannot do your lungs any favours. Anything oil based can give you cancer.

And lets not even talk about standing behind the jet cars....

So I can see why they are doing this.

I rember when they used to have corrogated iron at the back of the barn. That got blown out by the Jet and Rocket cars. What it they had hit anyone or their cars?

Plus that rough building has been stood there for getting on for 40 years. How structually strong can it be now?

It is sad I know because I like standing there but I would hate to think how I would feel if I put someones eye out while I myself were doing a burnout.

Anyway. the best view is from the tower gantry over the track. Just go up there and talk to Martin on the PA system. Tell him I sent you up there to annoy him.

[Greg G]

Thanks for the reply....

Points taken Dave, and now ive calmed a little (lol!) I agree in principle... but what I find hard to swallow is that as you say - its been there for over 30 years...and as far as Im aware...no ones been hurt. watching from this point on the track. I know we live in a world of ever increasing "no win no fee mentality ... but shutting it I think isnt the answer.... maybe Modding it would be a step forward for all concerned... I agree with the ever increasing power of vehicles that its possibly only a matter of time - and with last years tragic track linked fatality - probably a matter of course .
But Im sure that anyone will agree that the first time you stood there ... it sent a shiver down your spine as you felt you were "right in " with the action!

I really hope a sensible solution is adopted rather than the all too easy close and forget one.

.....now I feel a whole lot better ... and this post cost no where nears as much as my combined medication and councilling fees ....lol!!

[dave-r]

The more I think about it the more I will miss it too.
Remember when they used to have the bikes burning out right against the front of it? Me and my mate jumped over and helped a few bikes with there burnouts once. i think it was some sort of rolling road deal? I can't remember now. I think they took them out in the early 80s.

Also if it rained it was the best place to stand to keep dry!

Any idea what they are putting in it's place? A sound wall like at Avon?

[Greg G]

havent heard anything other than the closure rumour..... but having given it a bit of thought ... it wouldnt be that hard to raise the base... football ground style making it say 6/8ft higher at its lowest point .;..im sure a whip round at the gate at major events would help out ...combined maybe with a sponsership thing like the pulkka pies "lane" etc... especially taking into account modern materials and advances in building techniques...

ah well ... looks like we are just gonna have to wait and see..

[Tim]

Best memory of that barn I have is watching two blokes in black motorcycle leathers and helmets, stood with double icecreams held aloft while the jet car did it's start line thing. They looked like they'd been flambeyed.

I would have thought standing behind the startline was one of the safest places to watch a drag race from start to finish? I've seen some nasty looking clips from the States where Top Fuel engines have grenaded at half track, with chunks of metal firing off in every direction, and several where the rear wheel/ tyre has been launched skyward into the camping area after impacting the guardrails at 300mph. If I was worried about such things, somewhere behind the startline is where I'd take my chances.

That said, swallowing lungfuls of tyresmoke for an entire day is not something I'd subject my kids to.

I'll be sad to see the barn go.

[dave-r]

I don't know if you know this Tim but there was a old guy killed at the top end of the track last year. Hit by an engine part. His first time at the strip I think and was there with his son.

I expect all this is due to H&S investigating the whole place. You can't argue with them.

[Tim]

I didn't know Dave, that's very sad.

Makes some of my remarks above look a bit insensitive, but they certainly weren't intended to be.

I almost mentioned the top end of the track. I've stood more or less at the finish line a few times when some of the quicker classes have been running. The forces generated when some of those cars come thundering past is astounding. Every time I tell myself "This time I won't duck". I always do.

I can understand why Santa Pod has come under scrutiny now though. Presumably the removal of the barn won't be the only change we'll see?

[Neil]

the full story;

Santa Pod ordered to close Barn.
14th March: Santa Pod Raceway has reluctantly announced
that the legendary Barn is to close after the FIA Main Event.
The popular spectator area behind the start line is to be
removed and replaced with a wall at the insistence of Bedford
Borough Council Health and Safety officials.
"Bedford Borough Council Health and Safety told us that noone
can stand behind a car which is ready to launch", SPR's
Track Manager David Lloyd-Jones told Eurodragster.com. "As
a trade-off, however, we have been granted permission for a
permanent three thousand-seat grandstand to replace the
existing stand which only seats one thousand. Until then we
will add another fifteen hundred temporary seats as we did
last season to see us up to the FIA Main Event. The Barn will
be replaced by a wall in accordance with the Health and
Safety instructions and spectators and vehicles will still be
able to pass behind the area as at present."
©Eurodragster.com
David added that he realised that the Barn's demise would
also deprive spectators of somewhere to shelter should it
rain. "We are looking to put some cover over the catering
area", he said.

[Tony The Don]

the full story;

Santa Pod ordered to close Barn.
14th March: Santa Pod Raceway has reluctantly announced
that the legendary Barn is to close after the FIA Main Event.
The popular spectator area behind the start line is to be
removed and replaced with a wall at the insistence of Bedford
Borough Council Health and Safety officials.
"Bedford Borough Council Health and Safety told us that noone
can stand behind a car which is ready to launch", SPR's
Track Manager David Lloyd-Jones told Eurodragster.com. "As
a trade-off, however, we have been granted permission for a
permanent three thousand-seat grandstand to replace the
existing stand which only seats one thousand. Until then we
will add another fifteen hundred temporary seats as we did
last season to see us up to the FIA Main Event. The Barn will
be replaced by a wall in accordance with the Health and
Safety instructions and spectators and vehicles will still be
able to pass behind the area as at present."
©Eurodragster.com
David added that he realised that the Barn's demise would
also deprive spectators of somewhere to shelter should it
rain. "We are looking to put some cover over the catering
area", he said.

Probably the right thing to do, but as has been said, it will be sadly missed

Those intended improvements should help soften the blow