Signatures 317 total
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1
Name: Anonymous on Mar 20, 2007Comments: The safest motor sport in the world!!!Flag
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Name: Matt Rayner on Mar 20, 2007Comments:Flag
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Name: Gill Luke on Mar 20, 2007Comments: I have attended Santa Pod many times to both watch and participate in drag racing. I have never worried about any safety issues and enjoyed the view from "the barn" many times.Flag
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Name: Damien Luke on Mar 20, 2007Comments:Flag
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Name: Phil Sweeney on Mar 21, 2007Comments: The barn is part of Santa Pods history, if there is a danger being in there, then display a sign advising this and let people decide for themselves.Flag
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Name: Holly Donisthorpe on Mar 21, 2007Comments: Pod will never be the same with a wall there plus the alternative for a grandstand to be put up is all very well but once you've paid for your ticket you dont want to have to pay out for grandstand seats at main events. Also its not the same feelin as standin behind a car and watching a launch.Flag
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7
Name: Paul Etasse on Mar 21, 2007Comments: Health and Safety culture gone mad. The Barn is a totally safe and enjoyable place to watch the racing from. It would be a great loss to Santa Pod and drag racing in general.Flag
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Name: Russ Eley on Mar 21, 2007Comments: having spent my whole adult life and most of my teenage years as a spectator at santa pod raceway in my opinion there is only one place to stand and appreciate how fast these cars are and just how much skill is needed to control these monsters closing the barn would be a crying shame and i no i speak for thousends of other spectators out there thanks RussFlag
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Name: Anonymous on Mar 21, 2007Comments: This is a piece of history. Please stop inrerferring with our sport.Flag
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Name: Nigel Burch on Mar 21, 2007Comments: Its all getting ridiculous!Flag
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Name: Tom Atkinson on Mar 21, 2007Comments:Flag
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Name: Dave McCallan on Mar 21, 2007Comments: Spectator since 1984 (7 years old). Barn is the best seat in the house.Flag
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Name: Martin Britton on Mar 21, 2007Comments: Do not remove the barn, its one of the best places to watch and get a unique veiw of whats going on, all at safe distances. Martin.Flag
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Name: Chris Amy on Mar 21, 2007Comments: Save the barn!!Flag
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Name: Iain Malcolm on Mar 21, 2007Comments: The "Barn" gives spectators a unique view of drag racing found probably no where else. Put up a toughened safety glass screen and health and safety issues are solved!Flag
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Name: Iain Malcolm on Mar 21, 2007Comments: The "Barn" gives spectators a unique view of drag racing found probably no where else. Put up a toughened safety glass screen and health and safety issues are solved!Flag
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17
Name: Anonymous on Mar 21, 2007Comments: Lobby the Bedfordshire County Council. Here is the number 01234 267 422 and ask for Health and Safety.Flag
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18
Name: Karl McNally on Mar 21, 2007Comments: As a Santa Pod regular of 41 years I must take issue over this ridiculous order from Bedford council. Why the barn There are far more dangerous places for spectators, as anyone who has seen a fuel engine hydraulic on the start line will agree. In all my years there I know of only 1 serious incident involving a spectator and that was at the top end. We all know that any motor sport is inherently dangerous and accept that fact. So should Bedford council.Flag
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Name: Chris Smith on Mar 22, 2007Comments: Keep Off Our Barn. Its HerritageFlag
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Name: Martin Canto on Mar 22, 2007Comments: Bedford Council are reacting to a non-existant risk. In addition they are depriving Santa Pod of a very useful rain shelter. Finally , they are causing antagonism, which in many cases will be felt by local people, by displaying a 'nanny state' attitude.Flag
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Name: Tony Deluca on Mar 22, 2007Comments: why not get the council to stand in the barn and let them see the jet car run. i bet the decision was made by a jobs worth Tony D ( alien crew member)Flag
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Name: Neil Bathard on Mar 22, 2007Comments: If the health & safety insist on trying to instigate laws for h & s issues we will not be do any form of sport at all. This country always instills these laws while other countries take years to implement if at all. Santapod has one of the best safety records in this country. This is local government trying to enforce their wishes in the hope to close this venue and build housing instead.Flag
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Name: Jamie Dyks on Mar 22, 2007Comments:Flag
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Name: Emma Smith on Mar 22, 2007Comments: Keep the Barn !!Flag
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Name: Al Platt on Mar 22, 2007Comments: MORE PC EXCREMENT FROM THE ELECTED INTELLIGENTLY CHALLENGED!!!!!!!!Flag
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Name: Adrian Cowper on Mar 22, 2007Comments: The barn offers spectators a rare perspective of racing down the track from behind the startline.Flag
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Name: KEITH BOWERS on Mar 22, 2007Comments: PLEASE DONT PULL THE BARN DOWN ITS PART OF THE PODFlag
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Name: Paul Martinek on Mar 22, 2007Comments:Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Mar 22, 2007Comments: Save Our BarnFlag
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Name: Mark Flavell on Mar 22, 2007Comments: Sorry but your trapped in the past. This is a great opportunity to push forward in the development of the Start-line area. The 'Barn looks & is '60' this is 2007 lets move forward.Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Mar 22, 2007Comments: save it!!!!!!!Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Mar 22, 2007Comments:Flag
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Name: Ron Clark on Mar 22, 2007Comments: It might help the cause if the Health & Safety Executive were approached from an angle that requires them to explain their motives and their reasoning One aspect stands head and shoulders above else. There are only three places a spectator can observe a race car. In front, at the side and from behind. Obviously the first option is not only highly dangerous, it is also impossible at any drag race. The second option is also dangerous in that every vehicle contains rotational parts that will eject sideways with great force upon failure. Given that is where H & SE now want 100% of spectators to be placed, despite the fatal incident at Santa Pod last year, they appear to be in need of educating over issues of a miriad of failures including clutches, drive trains, superchargers, engines and worst of all errant vehicles out of control, all of which have caused injuries and deaths at drag races all over the world. It therefore leaves option three as the safest and most practical place in which to view a drag race. In the history of the barn, there have been instances where spectators have received minor injury from startline incidents, such as blasts that have moved articles such debris, dust and stones. Be careful here because one place it is not advisable to stand in relation to a jet car is behind it. Turbine failure on the start line could prove fatal to those in the barn. Having said that the simple solution is to clear the barn prior to a jet car run. In every other respect you are quite right in believing that no race car or bike has ever reversed back into the barn by accident and given that there is some 40 yards the chances are far less then a part flying into the crowd standing adjacent to the track. However I'm not entirely convinced by the tepid reason given by Santa Pod itself in relation to people congregating in the barn when it rains. Unless drag races are now held in the rain, there is no reason not to allow spectators to stand in the barn whilst there is no racing. Clearly there is a reason for H & SE making this odd and less safe decision. No doubt the H & SE made investigation into last year's fatal and perhaps they need to be seen to be doing 'something' even if that inadevertedly makes watching drag racing at Santa Pod somewhat marginally less safe than before, because for all their titles and qualification the H & SE know less about drag race safety than many currentl within the sport. What concerns me is the fact that Santa Pod seem less than bothered about losing the safest place to view drag racing. Having gaining permission to erect a new stand which presumably spectators will pay to use, one wonders whether a trade off has not been negotiated. For many years, 30 or more at least, Santa Pod has been denied planning permission on many requests to improve facilities, now suddenly they are granted a new opportunity to do so and to create more income, whilst H & SE appear to have tightened up on 'safety'. If that is true then your petition is probably doomed to fail as the body you are trying to help has already taken steps to work against your wishes. But with all that said, please do not lose sight of the fact that the safest place to view a race car is from behind. That should be the only issue the H & SE should be concerned with. If they don't understand that then they should not be ruling on any aspect of drag racing. Ron Clark First race 12 June 1966. Race control NDRC 1974 - 77. Race director and promoter at Long Marston 1974 - 78. Drag journalist 1974 - 1994. Editor 1992- 1993 Crew member 1975 - 78. Promotor of Pro Comp Classic Long Marston 1991. All of which brought me face to face with many safety issues appertaining to drag racing.Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Mar 22, 2007Comments: Although I am willing to sign the petition as I will be very saddened to lose the Barn after so many enjoyable hours spent there I fear that petitions in this case will be a waste of time.....A better argument for its retention needs to be put forward.....IT IS dangerous in the Barn....It is only good luck that has prevented someone from losing an eye from flying grit so far and the continued allowance of letting people stand behind the jet car has been a stupidity that has gone for far too long....We can all argue that we go at our own risk but that won't cut any ice with the authorities who have enormous power when safety issues are being addressed (way above what any petition can hope to countermand)....I believe it is the jet car (as well as the unfortunate accident at last year's Euro Finals) that have precipitated the current situation.....I think the only way that the Barn might be saved is for a convincing argument that the safety issues can be addressed sensibly....regarding the jets (& rockets) a safety shield is put in place for those runs.(when Sammy Miller was over here a lorry with a shield was used)....or alternatively the Barn is emptied....There should be some obvious signage pointing out the dangers of being in the Barn and certainly a recommendation that safety eye-ware is worn by anyone in there......Thankyou for making an effort to save the Barn but ignoring the safety issues and putting your faith in a petition is not the way to go.Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Mar 22, 2007Comments: Although I am willing to sign the petition as I will be very saddened to lose the Barn after so many enjoyable hours spent there I fear that petitions in this case will be a waste of time.....A better argument for its retention needs to be put forward.....IT IS dangerous in the Barn....It is only good luck that has prevented someone from losing an eye from flying grit so far and the continued allowance of letting people stand behind the jet car has been a stupidity that has gone for far too long....We can all argue that we go at our own risk but that won't cut any ice with the authorities who have enormous power when safety issues are being addressed (way above what any petition can hope to countermand)....I believe it is the jet car (as well as the unfortunate accident at last year's Euro Finals) that have precipitated the current situation.....I think the only way that the Barn might be saved is for a convincing argument that the safety issues can be addressed sensibly....regarding the jets (& rockets) a safety shield is put in place for those runs.(when Sammy Miller was over here a lorry with a shield was used)....or alternatively the Barn is emptied....There should be some obvious signage pointing out the dangers of being in the Barn and certainly a recommendation that safety eye-ware is worn by anyone in there......Thankyou for making an effort to save the Barn but ignoring the safety issues and putting your faith in a petition (especially one that has to be paid for!)is not the way to go.Flag
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Name: Alan Currans on Mar 22, 2007Comments: I have been spectating from the barn since it was built, I would be very sorry to see it go as it provides a unique vantage point for both spectating and photography.Flag
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Name: Ian Yarham on Mar 22, 2007Comments: This is a part of history. Do the risk assesment based on historic fact not speculation - no one has EVER been hurt in the barn. Hasn't anyone considered just putting Lexan sheeting up to give even safer viewing. This is the ONLY pro track where people get this close to the real action!Flag
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Name: L Dolan on Mar 22, 2007Comments: Thanks for the support and comments everyone. It seems common knowledge that it's a great (and safe!) viewpoint, one of the Pods assets and the decision & reasoning to wall it off from the public beggars belief.Flag
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Name: Richard Whelan on Mar 22, 2007Comments: This is a very good view point where i have heard of no injuries. Do not close the barn.Flag
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Name: Duncan Hollingworth on Mar 22, 2007Comments: I have attended racing at Santa Pod for the last 32 years and have enjoyed the unique experience of watching from within the Barn without incident. I feel this would be a huge loss to Drag Racing in this country if the proposed closure goes ahead.Flag
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Name: David Miller on Mar 22, 2007Comments: you want to close all of santa pod its a gay sportFlag
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Name: Steve Porter on Mar 22, 2007Comments:Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Mar 22, 2007Comments:Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Mar 22, 2007Comments: Have been using the barn since 1976 it is unique ! any chance of leaving it up and putting the wall in front of it with shatterproof windows in making it a bit higher and calling it race control ! it would make a bit more room down the side then !Flag
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Name: Julie Smith on Mar 22, 2007Comments:Flag
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Name: Anonymous on Mar 22, 2007Comments: Have been using the barn since 1976 it is unique ! any chance of leaving it up and putting the wall in front of it with shatterproof windows in making it a bit higher and calling it race control ! it would make a bit more room down the side then !Flag
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Name: Mike Smith on Mar 22, 2007Comments:Flag
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Name: Sean Bowe on Mar 22, 2007Comments: Come on man, 41 years of fun in the Barn, how many people have been injured IN the Barn Oh yeah, not many! Oh, how many people have been injured Track Side, think of Roger George back in September! They should be making the crowds further away Track Side, who cares about standing behind, it's up to us where we stand to watch this awesome sport, come on!!!!!!!Flag
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Name: Stefani Robinson on Mar 22, 2007Comments: I feel that there arnt many places apart from the bank that are free to watch racing from. Especially now that you can't watch from the racers stand anymore. Adding another Stand is great however unless this is free to spectators it wouldnt be an even replacement I think taking away the barn would be a big mistake. Surely there is a way of keeping the barn but maybe implementing something else to keep the Bedford Council happy.Flag
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Name: Markb on Mar 22, 2007Comments: the barn must stayFlag