Motor Circuit Champion Speaks Out
Motor circuit champion Doug Harris is a man on a mission: to save our race tracks.
He has co-founded a campaigning website – SaveMotorsport.com – with fellow motorsport enthusiast Mervyn Rundle as part of a concerted effort to stop the closure of more motor circuits in the UK and Ireland because of noise complaints.
The former motorcycle racer was one of about 80 delegates attending the Institute of Acoustics Motorsport Noise meeting at Silverstone Circuit, on Thursday March 18.
The conference was organised because of the increasing number of motorsport venues across a wide spectrum, from diversifying farmers’ motocross tracks to high profile permanent circuits, affected by court judgements over their noise impact during the past few years.
Just last year the Court of Appeal granted damages and an injunction to claimants who complained about noise levels from Croft Circuit. The court also restricted the number of days that noisy activities could be held at the former airfield.
Doug was “so annoyed” about seeing motorsport facilities like Croft “being persecuted” that he publicised the issue on Facebook, attracting 17,000 supporters within a few months.
Motorsport is part of a “great British heritage” and just as parts of the countryside are designated as “areas of outstanding beauty”, “circuits which serve catchment areas of millions should be afforded protection as ‘facilities of outstanding public importance’,” said Doug, who competed in his first motorcycle race at Croft in 1979, continuing until injury forced him out of the British 600cc championship in his late 30s.
Presenters at the Institute Of Acoustics meeting discussed motorsport noise, giving examples of current “best practice” at some UK venues and also the position of event and circuit operators.
The one-day conference examined the issues and looked at what can be done to reduce the impact on spectators’ enjoyment and aural safety as well as people whose standard of living is affected by such activities. It also detailed what is being done by governing bodies and local government and considered the position of the organisers of such events.
Experts included: Andy Watson, Alan Blissett, Dr Mike Fillery, Mike Southcombe, Mike Stigwood, Chris Beale, David Trew, Mike Bullen and Ed Clarke.
