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Rising costs getting out of hand

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2026 5:43 pm
by grabla
Does anyone else agree that circuit hire costs for sprints are getting out of hand.
Mallory Park in June, £430 per driver.
Snetterton in August, £395 and that's for the 100 circuit not the full outer circuit, which is in use the same weekend.

How can other venues charge 'reasonable rates', c.£310 for a weekend for Anglesey, and yet others seem out to make a killing. Or is it the club's looking to make a profit?

Remember we don't get hookups or even photographers at Mallory or Snetterton.

We need a price cap!

Re: Rising costs getting out of hand

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 9:31 am
by Steve W
The trouble with venues such as Mallory Park, Cadwell Park & Snetterton is that when a club tries to hire the circuit the price is the same for a club looking to run a sprint as it is for clubs running race meetings. This is not a new issue, it's been going on for decades.

The circuits expect the same return from a day's hire no matter what sort of event is being run. They are after all a business.

Forget the race circuits, competitors should be looking to support the grass roots clubs struggling to keep traditional venues open.

Re: Rising costs getting out of hand

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 3:49 pm
by Rats
"Forget the race circuits, competitors should be looking to support the grass roots clubs struggling to keep traditional venues open."
For that to happen we need to include theses venues in BSC/Leaders championship as we did years ago (seem to think this has been mentioned before)

Re: Rising costs getting out of hand

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 10:22 pm
by robevery1971
As a person just getting into sprints, the impact of circuits I find a bit sad.

But I can only presume it is because airfields and other venues are just very hard to get hold of and the work that has to be done to secure insurance and safety and licences is long and arduous these days, it is easier with circuits. I will say I think MSUK do sod all to try and secure venues, something they ought to doing a lot more for grass roots stuff like this, they only seem to be pushing autosolos and the like which they seem obsessed with, not sprints which are a great entry level sport.

The series I am planning to run has 5 visits to Goodwood ffs, 180 quid a pop, not bad, but 80 more than Curborough which for me is closer and less stress on the car. But Mallory for that money is a joke, it is about 5 corners, very few facilities, lovely place and all that but to be dearer than Snetterton is pathetic I am afraid. I guess they are just trying milk the cow as they get tiny grids for most other car stuff there. I guess we can now see why.

Re: Rising costs getting out of hand

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2026 1:20 pm
by Benbonfield
Rats wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2026 3:49 pm "Forget the race circuits, competitors should be looking to support the grass roots clubs struggling to keep traditional venues open."
For that to happen we need to include theses venues in BSC/Leaders championship as we did years ago (seem to think this has been mentioned before)
I’d like to see places like Llandow and Curborough in the championship but being honest it’s never going to happen. When you look at the BSC class sometimes it’s not even 10% of the entry list. Looking at it this way the majority of people would have entered the event anyway and the BSC is almost a tag on class. I don’t mean to diminish the BSC as it is a well established championship with many great champions. I know at some venues this doesn’t apply and BSC makes up a bigger chunk upto maybe 20%.
Running at these more club style events may encourage more people into the championship.
I know it’s difficult to keep a calendar that visits everywhere.
I said previously if BSC or the event organisers could tie up with something like a ford fest or a jap fest being held at the same venue maybe they could reduce the costs as you would be bringing in people for the show and people through the gates.

Re: Rising costs getting out of hand

Posted: Fri May 01, 2026 8:58 am
by Steve W
Benbonfield wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 1:20 pm
I’d like to see places like Llandow and Curborough in the championship but being honest it’s never going to happen. When you look at the BSC class sometimes it’s not even 10% of the entry list. Looking at it this way the majority of people would have entered the event anyway and the BSC is almost a tag on class. I don’t mean to diminish the BSC as it is a well established championship with many great champions. I know at some venues this doesn’t apply and BSC makes up a bigger chunk upto maybe 20%.
Running at these more club style events may encourage more people into the championship.
I know it’s difficult to keep a calendar that visits everywhere.
I said previously if BSC or the event organisers could tie up with something like a ford fest or a jap fest being held at the same venue maybe they could reduce the costs as you would be bringing in people for the show and people through the gates.
Let me address the points Ben raised.

1) Llandow was in the championship but there were issues with getting a date to fit into the BSC schedule.
2) Curborough also featured for many years but the club that ran the BSC events decided to cut the number of laps from 2 to 1. At the same time we had the option to replace one day at Curborough with two at Ty Croes (now known as Anglesey Racing Circuit). The BSC committee held a competitors meeting and they voted with a massive majority to drop Curborough.
3) The BSC committee tried several ways to increase participation but there appeared to be a slowly diminishing uptake. The championship moved from a mainly old airforce track to club venues and then onto circuits. Venues like Kames, 3 Sisters & Aintree all fell by the wayside due to various issues. Costs also paid a big part. The venues that could only offer a single day also fell out of favour as competitors wanted better value for money if the were travelling hundreds of miles to a venue. In 2026 there are only three One Day events in the championship (Cadwell Park, Lydden hill & Castle Combe).
4) The BSC also ran events in conjunction with the British Kart Championship. Running events at Cadwell Park, Mallory Park & Silverstone. These events were on a percentage share of track time so we were unable to run competitors from other championships. This would also apply to Ford or Jap Fest.

I would also point out that the BSC does hold rounds in England (9), Wales (8), Scotland (2) & Northern Ireland (2). Which does see the championship travelling wider than the BHC and therefore being more available to club competitors around the country.

Re: Rising costs getting out of hand

Posted: Fri May 01, 2026 12:37 pm
by Benbonfield
Steve W wrote: Fri May 01, 2026 8:58 am
Let me address the points Ben raised.

1) Llandow was in the championship but there were issues with getting a date to fit into the BSC schedule.
2) Curborough also featured for many years but the club that ran the BSC events decided to cut the number of laps from 2 to 1. At the same time we had the option to replace one day at Curborough with two at Ty Croes (now known as Anglesey Racing Circuit). The BSC committee held a competitors meeting and they voted with a massive majority to drop Curborough.
3) The BSC committee tried several ways to increase participation but there appeared to be a slowly diminishing uptake. The championship moved from a mainly old airforce track to club venues and then onto circuits. Venues like Kames, 3 Sisters & Aintree all fell by the wayside due to various issues. Costs also paid a big part. The venues that could only offer a single day also fell out of favour as competitors wanted better value for money if the were travelling hundreds of miles to a venue. In 2026 there are only three One Day events in the championship (Cadwell Park, Lydden hill & Castle Combe).
4) The BSC also ran events in conjunction with the British Kart Championship. Running events at Cadwell Park, Mallory Park & Silverstone. These events were on a percentage share of track time so we were unable to run competitors from other championships. This would also apply to Ford or Jap Fest.

I would also point out that the BSC does hold rounds in England (9), Wales (8), Scotland (2) & Northern Ireland (2). Which does see the championship travelling wider than the BHC and therefore being more available to club competitors around the country.
Thank you for addressing my points.
So my question is with such a wide spread why is the championship have so low entries? Is that all the reasons people walked away and what is the plan to bring new people in?
The BSC should be absolutely thriving in reality as everything is there in regards to what it offers.
Cost does play a part, there is no doubt and I’m not a fan of the single day events but I would happily pay the costs and potentially put up with a single day meeting if I knew I was going to be in amongst 30-40 championship contenders all fighting it out for a top 12 slot.
We plan on bringing the DSP back for a run at the BSC but I don’t want to be back out in it for fan service or nostalgia. I’m happy to admit my 3rd in a British run off in the Jedi only happened as no one else came out for the run off it’s sad but it’s true.
BSC sadly hasn’t had the coverage that the BHC has had over the last few years that Hillclimbtv previously provided and it’s a shame as it has the same great short form content setup of shorter flat out runs so something is always happening. I get that it would be incredibly difficult to implement something like what Rich has done over the years at circuits due to the sheer size and cost. It would have been easier at the smaller venues like aintree, Curborough and Llandow but as you said it’s something the BSC has stepped away from.
Who wouldn’t want to see Duncan’s Norma or the Mygale cars going flat out, the British number one on the limit. The more eyes on the sport the better. The short format is there it’s what younger generations are engaging with. What is the future plans? What is being done to grow the championship not just next year but 5 years down the line?

Re: Rising costs getting out of hand

Posted: Sat May 02, 2026 10:05 am
by Steve W
Benbonfield wrote: Fri May 01, 2026 12:37 pm
Thank you for addressing my points.
So my question is with such a wide spread why is the championship have so low entries? Is that all the reasons people walked away and what is the plan to bring new people in?
The BSC should be absolutely thriving in reality as everything is there in regards to what it offers.
Cost does play a part, there is no doubt and I’m not a fan of the single day events but I would happily pay the costs and potentially put up with a single day meeting if I knew I was going to be in amongst 30-40 championship contenders all fighting it out for a top 12 slot.
We plan on bringing the DSP back for a run at the BSC but I don’t want to be back out in it for fan service or nostalgia. I’m happy to admit my 3rd in a British run off in the Jedi only happened as no one else came out for the run off it’s sad but it’s true.
BSC sadly hasn’t had the coverage that the BHC has had over the last few years that Hillclimbtv previously provided and it’s a shame as it has the same great short form content setup of shorter flat out runs so something is always happening. I get that it would be incredibly difficult to implement something like what Rich has done over the years at circuits due to the sheer size and cost. It would have been easier at the smaller venues like aintree, Curborough and Llandow but as you said it’s something the BSC has stepped away from.
Who wouldn’t want to see Duncan’s Norma or the Mygale cars going flat out, the British number one on the limit. The more eyes on the sport the better. The short format is there it’s what younger generations are engaging with. What is the future plans? What is being done to grow the championship not just next year but 5 years down the line?
Ben, as I am no longer associated with the organisation of the BSC and haven't been since 2014 all I could do is answer the questions applicable to changes such as why the BSC doesn't use Curborough etc. Therefore, I cannot answer you new set of questions.

Re: Rising costs getting out of hand

Posted: Sat May 02, 2026 2:07 pm
by robevery1971
In all honesty as a fairly new person to speed events, sprints could almost be behind closed doors, there is little to no spectator interest.

Hillclimbs are set usually in more amenable places, nicer surroundings, and it is just an easier sport to watch as a result.

Yes live coverage has really pushed the sport into a new arena recently, but that is stopping, so it might start to deteriorate again.

If you had a similar sort of idea in sprints it could possible increase interest, but I think the two sports appeal to very different bases and always have really

Re: Rising costs getting out of hand

Posted: Sun May 03, 2026 9:14 am
by Steve W
robevery1971 wrote: Sat May 02, 2026 2:07 pm In all honesty as a fairly new person to speed events, sprints could almost be behind closed doors, there is little to no spectator interest.

Hillclimbs are set usually in more amenable places, nicer surroundings, and it is just an easier sport to watch as a result.

Yes live coverage has really pushed the sport into a new arena recently, but that is stopping, so it might start to deteriorate again.

If you had a similar sort of idea in sprints it could possible increase interest, but I think the two sports appeal to very different bases and always have really
1) In all the events in the BSC IF there is an entry fee neoither the organising club nor the BSC get any cut of the gate money. Therefore it does not pay for either to advertise the events for spectators.
2)I would argue that Cadwell Park, Anglesey Race Coircuit, Knockhill & Castle Combe are all "more amenable" than most hillclimb venues. The only downside is that the spectators a a tad further away from the track.
3) with no income from gate receipts and only sponsorship money to rely on the additional cost of a LIVE STREAM for BSC events is economically out of the question.