This is not exactly sim-related news but very worth mentioning as the future of one of the world’s finest race tracks is in jeopardy.
Local residents are threatening the existence of Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium’s Grand Prix venue, with their noise complaints. Even though Spa has hosted racing since 1921, noise seems to be an issue all of a sudden as the residents have managed to get a court decision in their favor.
It’s time for the motorsport community to speak up and voice support for this great track. Featuring the legendary Eau Rouge corner, Spa is one of the very few race tracks have managed to save their historical flair despite modern developments. Over 21.000 people have already joined the petition and you can too – It’s free and easy.
Panchito
October 31st, 2009 at 05:44
They have all my support
GPF1-Laurent81
October 31st, 2009 at 08:17
THANKS
Klaas Jan
October 31st, 2009 at 08:36
f**k those tree huggers…
ForzaBarca88
October 31st, 2009 at 10:10
OH WTF over my dead body!
gtrNL
October 31st, 2009 at 10:37
Signed, of course
Jack_NL
October 31st, 2009 at 11:01
Its time to hang those tree lovers in their so beloved trees!
killing all motorsport that is there for Years!
they are trying so hard here in NL to get some Karttracks,
Zandvoort, TT Assen closed or new Kart tracks not even build anymore
come on Belgium Government SHOW SOME BALLS !
petition signed
DeDios
October 31st, 2009 at 11:14
SIGNED!
f0xx
October 31st, 2009 at 12:00
LOL hilarious, but these “local residents” dont have a f*cking clue what Spa is and means in the racing world? Why are they complaining? Is it because of the night races? Seriously ^^
I think they forgot being a race driver is also a Profession ^^
SIGNED!
senicegy
October 31st, 2009 at 12:32
I bet these complainers moved in already near the circuit,they should have know about the noise when building a house near the circuit.
I love the sound of screaming racecars passing nearby,annyone of the complainers swapping with my house?
Signed ofcource.
F1Racer
October 31st, 2009 at 13:31
Hmm, this isn’t about tree-hugger but people complaining about noise.
But screw’em its one weekend out of a year, you don’t like it, then MOVE ! Let a race fan move in.
Off to sign this for sure.
Mitos
October 31st, 2009 at 13:33
I don`t want repetition of the situation with A1-Ring… European tracks are brilliants of the world of motorsport & Spa is one of the largest brilliant in this placer…
DeDios
October 31st, 2009 at 13:37
haha +1
commodore
October 31st, 2009 at 13:39
The people complaining are retards and so are people who think this is about the environment.
Sensekhmet
October 31st, 2009 at 15:04
It’s even better in Poznan. The track was built in the 70s near an airport on a stretch of military owned wilderness. Now, suddenly it’s sorrounded by housing and of course there’s a lot of whining because of the noise. WTF? The track was here first, besides a jet airliner makes a lot more noise than a cup spec GT3 Porsche. And the airport itself dates back to the time when German Zeppelins were based there.
ermax18
October 31st, 2009 at 15:19
This is happening everywhere. Someone gets proper zoning to put a track in the middle of no where. Then years later someone builds a home near the track like a idiot, knowing the track is there and has been forever and then tries to demand the track shut down. Such BS.
stabiz
October 31st, 2009 at 15:32
Signed!
F1Racer
October 31st, 2009 at 17:19
Yep I agree.
But dont get me started on this housing thing. Over population man. Otherwise why move or even build near an airport or a racetrack ?
We need a population cull. Obese over-eaters first to go as this solves the food shortage at the same time ;) – and cuts down the population of USA by about 70%
Sky
October 31st, 2009 at 17:36
Don’t let yourselfs be fooled, like in many other racetrack places, thats all about real estate. Sensekhmet mentioned Poznan track and airport, those “complains” are there because these people are being told by the the real estate companies that if they make the track disappear, their houses will be worth a lot more. And of course, the real estate agencies are interested in the terrain that the track occupies, because since its now a urban area, it is much more lucrative to build houses there now, than it was when that was just the middle of nowehere.
paupau
October 31st, 2009 at 17:56
We have a saying in my country “the way you lay your bed is the way your going to sleep” I guess that applies well onto this circumstances. Spa was there before the houses were build, if this is the case. Nobody forced those people to move that close to a race track. Being stupid or just greedy i suppose
commodore
October 31st, 2009 at 17:57
I agree with your solution :D
felipe
October 31st, 2009 at 18:10
do you know where I find this track? the guy stopped updating in rfactorcentral about his work but Im pretty sure its out! Anyone??
UncleChuckle
October 31st, 2009 at 19:48
These people need to be legal to hunt and kill. Seriously. WTF DID YOU MOVE NEXT DOOR TO A RACE TRACK FOR THEN? I mean if it’s built AFTER you move in, fair play, but Spa, Monza, both have had this bullshit AND THE CIRCUITS HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE BEFORE THESE IDIOTS WERE BORN.
God I hate these people. Truly HATE them. “Oh, I am not a fan of this, therefore despite me moving next door to it, it must go.” SCREW YOU! You don’t move next door to an airport then expect them to close the airport down. Well, you don’t unless you’re an idiot.
F1Racer: Fuck off. Obesity is bullshit. It’s a far more complex issue than overeating and pricks like you don’t help matters. I barely eat a fucking thing and I am. Yet I know people scrawny as fucking rakes who eat twice what I do. Hating fat people is the last allowed prejudice. I bet you’re a racist too.
UncleChuckle
October 31st, 2009 at 19:50
Oh yeah, and WHAT food shortage? I seem to recall the grocery stores around here all have full shelves.
Quit talking out your ass.
carbonfibre
October 31st, 2009 at 20:18
Wow, that was aggressive.
Like all these sorts of stories, they are usually greatly over-exaggerated. The only thing that will shut down race course or likewise is lack of funding.
F1Racer
October 31st, 2009 at 21:44
A slight over-reaction there. It seems I touched a nerve and an over-sensitive person such has yourself saw fit to lash out.
Normally I would have apologised for offending you, but after that outburst, you more deserve a punch in the face. You are an insulting and bitter sad individual. Every post you make here is doom and gloom and negative criticism.
I think to most people it was clear that it was nothing more than a bit of edgy humour really.
I don’t hate overweight people, I have friends who are overweight and I don’t judge them at all. I see them for the person they are, not what they look like. What’s on the inside counts. So I feel you are pre-judging me and doing so because you are sensitive on the issue and seemingly took me literally as if I was deadly serious. That’s worrying.
I don’t see how racism has a connection but no, I’m not racist either. In fact I don’t have any prejudices that I know of.
However, when it comes to obesity, I do have opinions on this subject and the huge portions of food that is dished out in America which is full of excessive consumption and is very wasteful when it comes to food. But thats a whole other story.
What food shortage ? Really ? I’m stunned by such an ignorant question. As long as your stores and fridge is full there’s no problem right ?
I assume you are in America because the world seems to end at the US shoreline for a lot of people there.
Your grocery stores being full does not depict a picture of global food production. There always plenty of chickens and beefburgers because they are artificlly fattened up and the whole process is accelerated to keep us all fed. Chickens have a 48 day lifespan which is half was it was a decade or so ago.
What food shortage ? One third of the planet is starving. Yet at the same time America continues to consume food excessively and serve unnecessarily huge portions a lot of which is wasted.
What food shortage ? The planet is edgeing very close to food unsustainability. Do you know what that is ? That is when the population grows to such a level that the Earth cannot grow or produce enough food on a daily basis to feed everyone.
Water is going the same way. Educate yourself because you ask stupid questions like that.
Also the next time you have a pop at me like that I won’t be giving you a diplomatic reply. That response of yours was well out of order. Maybe once you calm down and get of your high horse you`ll see that.
GeraArg
October 31st, 2009 at 22:31
Done
jcchaconjr
October 31st, 2009 at 22:52
Signed! It would be a crying shame to shut down one of the true “signature” tracks of the world. Did anyone not tell these people that there was a racetrack nearby when they purchased their home?
I wonder if they also realize the impact that it would have on the local economy without an annual F1 race there?!
delaney1970
November 1st, 2009 at 04:14
If you are fat then don’t eat so much and do some exercise. It’s really that simple.
I love McDonalds and Burger King. It’s junk, but it’s nice junk as long as you only eat it once a week. I don’t care if the greenies say it’s killing the rainforest and the polar bears, they are all insane.
People who move near to a racetrack and then complain about the noise should be shot in the back of the head.
Crowbar
November 1st, 2009 at 07:36
Easy big fellow , I’m a big fat bastard and it’s simply because I put in more food than I burn off, it is that simple but fuck its hard to stop eating good food. I hate being a fat bastard but it’s my choice because i choose to put more food in my fat gobb than i need to. I feel tired and shit and sweat like a dirty dog, and adjust my sweaty nut sack every couple of minutes, always feel too tired to exercice because i eat junk food It’s a viscious circle , by choice of course. Don’t make excuses for being a fat bastard and don’t blame other reasons for it just have a cup off cement and harden the fuck up.
ForzaBarca88
November 1st, 2009 at 08:40
*awkwardness*
Sensekhmet
November 1st, 2009 at 09:01
Yep, same here. The food is just too good to pass up and excercise makes you sweaty and uncomfortable: besides, a fat person looks silly excercising. I also have a pretty good excuse, my racing seat fits my fat ass *just* right, if I were to lose weight it would become too big for me.
Speaking of Poznan track, there was a protest last year, problem was it happened at the time of a final run of the extremely competetive and fun to watch crash fest that Kia Picanto Cup is. Who the **** paid any attention to the protesters at such a moment: I don’t know. Maybe the guys who ran the C5R earlier? Or the driver of that F3000 car? That one was so ‘quiet’ it actually made my diaphragm vibrate (no joke!) every time it passed my flag post.
Cypher09
November 1st, 2009 at 18:15
Signed. Sounds like Bridgehampton all over again.
ScHiRoCk
November 1st, 2009 at 19:03
This pisses me so off!
Never there was a problem and now suddenly…
It’s the same with Zolder (strict soundregulations)
Why?
Because the people (mostly very rich) bought a house that’s in a distance of 200m of the circuit, im sorry but you knew that there was a circuit and THEY should adjust!
These kind of people deserve a punch in the face
Raikku
November 1st, 2009 at 19:37
Nuke ‘em!
triple_a
November 1st, 2009 at 19:51
Signed.
My points are:
- Spa was already there, it couldn’t have come as a surprise to the residents
- Spa has historical value and needs to be protected
- I really like the track in NFS: Shift
F1Racer
November 1st, 2009 at 20:59
Yeah the only time people should be able to complain about the noise at Spa is your neighbours at 3:00am when you’re racing on it and you have your speakers up way loud
Zenitchik
November 1st, 2009 at 23:30
I really hope that someone over there is clever enough to point out to these people, that they actually have the freedom to move!
MrcL
November 2nd, 2009 at 01:47
First off. Indeed, it’s real estate in some cases-and probably more than some. By laws of possibilities, there’s always bound to be a minority of people annoyed by an event like that. But when there’s enough people who supposedly are “annoyed” by that event, and have the numbers to move legally, then it’s a little more fishy than a bunch of people going “TURN IT DOWN, I CAN’T WATCH GREY’S ANATOMY”.
Let’s take the 24h of Le Mans for instance. Once a year, for a few days, they close entire highways and divert traffic, and make a hell of a lot of noise. But there hasn’t been a single instance of a group of people nagging. The cool part is, they all love it. There are even people around there who lived through the 1955 Le Mans tragedy. Sure they found it appalling, but generations since then have been bred to love the sport.
Be it people actually bothered by noise, or people looking to make a profit, it always seems way too heartless, ignorant, hard-headed, and just plain dumb to deny a venue, or any sort of pleasure, from a multitude of people enjoying a favourite activity. Sometimes i might be in a utopian state of mind, but sometimes I just don’t get how money-or possibly some sort of annoyance-can move people and laws so easily.
On a lighter, less wall-of-text note. I couldn’t help noticing this line.
Nothing personal F1Racer, I don’t mean to offend you, It just always brings a giggle when i see a line like this.
“I don’t hate Mexicans, I’ve got friends who are Mexicans”
captain_underpants
November 2nd, 2009 at 03:16
To be fair, according to the website, they’ve got a pretty full schedule of racing at the track.
Also, after 6.2 seconds of searching, I found this page. http://www.historic-motor-racing-news.eu/2009/10/defend-spa-francorchamps/
It seems to fill in a few gaps in the story, although if the residents aren’t the ones complaining, who is?
Nevertheless, seems to me, all that needs to happen is for the track organisers to do an environmental impact study that satisfies the council, as per the terms of their license.
Might pay to have another look at these alleged ‘complaints’ and who made them, too.