Brighton Speed Trials under threat

[Allan L]

British members will not be the only ones who know of the Brighton Speed Trials, held since 1905 on the Madeira Drive on Brighton's seafront. Originally a straightish standing kilometre, as speeds increased in modern times, the timed distance has been reduced as the stopping distance was not great and the running of cars and bikes in pairs has been discontinued.

In their infinite wisdom, Brighton & Hove City Council are seeking to ban the Brighton Speed Trials from 2014.

Britain's first Green Party council, which is of course behind this piece of potential vandalism to the heritage of motor sport, meets in late January to determine the issue.

A petition to the council which has been opened by Brighton & Hove Motor Club, the organising club, is here:
http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?Id=410&TPID=11223159&

You have to register to sign it, but you don't have to live in Brighton - or even in the UK which is fine as I know people visit the event from overseas.
3323 people have signed this ePetition by now, but more are needed and the result may still be disappointing.

Happy Chrismas and Merry New Year

[Carnut]

What a tragedy if it goes.
Political parties simply should not be allowed to dictate things of public interest like this purely for their own party political idealistic ends.

If it was up to me it wouldn't be the Speed Trials which were banned, it would be the Green Party..

Count me in!

[Djetset]

Thank you for highlighting this serious situation Allan L.  I have now signed the e-petition, and have encouraged a group of like-minded friends to do the same.

[Allan L]

11456 people have signed by now.

It seems the Brighton & Hove Council is citing Health & Safety considerations which would be different if they were employing the competitors to put on a show for them. As it is, motor sport, like other hazardous pastimes, is participated in voluntarily at the participant's risk and the family of the sidecar passenger who was killed at Brighton in 2012 (and whose death is cited by the Council as evidence) have made it clear that they still believe that.

The Madeira Drive, where the Speed Trials are held, was built for that purpose and is a private road owned by the Council which is why it can be closed and used for motor sport, unlike public highways in the UK.