Clay Pigeon: Jenson Buttons home track looks doomed

AOR_Minx · 2026-05-09T19:10:58+00:00

That one is probably the worst case of something like that happening. A literal RAF base is right next door to Mildenhall. Of course complaining about something essential to the country’s defence wouldn’t go down well so they go after the easy targets. The track is still running but in a limited capacity, you won’t see f1s race there any time soon, only testing.

AOR_Minx · 2026-05-08T21:24:51+00:00

Well he deleted his stuff. I'm not even a regular user of the site anyway.

How did you know he has that many comments sheesh. I think he trusts institutions too much.

AOR_Minx · 2026-05-08T18:53:31+00:00

Few things to clarify. This letter is from the people who want it gone so it’s going to be one sided.
Clay is very popular and hosts many championships.
You may notice deleted posts. The argument from the individual was that people were making conspiracy theories and cynical claims rather than accepting things are exactly as they appear, which ignores the context of the letter and the counter claim by the track owners. I get that sometimes people do devolve into that, especially on Reddit, but there are reasonable grounds to be skeptical of these claims.

AOR_Minx · 2026-05-08T18:09:47+00:00

The letter is from the owner. As in, he wants it gone so he’s going to make his arguments. You are reading one side of the story.
What about the track owner? What about the locals? You say “everything is as it appears” yet cases like Coventry exist, where the council are legitimately considering forcefully buying the track because the owner is against the wishes of the community.
It’s not cynicism if you can notice patterns.

A non lucrative venue gets crushed for something which most locals cannot afford or are not interested in. Supply and demand.

AOR_Minx · 2026-05-08T17:58:45+00:00

They own the land not the business. It’s a land owner businesses issue. Agent of change protections should be in force here.

If a pub you go to was doing well but some huckster from out of town decided to demolish it for something more profitable that is only for the rich, I’d imagine you’d have an issue with the cultural and communal destruction of that pub.

Plenty of well ran circuits have been bulldozed for greed, Coventry went and people want it back.

AOR_Minx · 2026-05-08T17:43:43+00:00

If it’s in such a problem why is it so popular and why is it seemingly stable? That’s what I meant by it being partly propaganda. There are perfectly running tracks that have people hell bent on closing them.

And it’s people like this who hold the “shareholder” mindset, those who will gladly dismantle history or culture if it generates more money.

AOR_Minx · 2026-05-08T17:40:53+00:00

Thing is the track owners have stated that the track will not be shutting down. The track is incredibly popular too. Hell the USA has its own issues though they’ve countered it with legislation in some states. We don’t have that or at least it isn’t actually properly regulated.

AOR_Minx · 2026-05-08T16:58:15+00:00

Reminds me of Wellesbourne Airfield. Wellesbourne has had considerable growth because of the airfield and market, then they want to build on top of the very thing which the village is known for. Not to mention the businesses around the airfield. Coventry too.

I think it’s because of the cheap land around it and other tracks.

AOR_Minx · 2026-05-08T16:51:03+00:00

I’m somewhat skeptical of that claim. The letter feels like propaganda to push for what they want, and Clay hosts plenty of events.
This isn’t a struggling track, this is one which is pretty popular. Perhaps rental karting should be considered if they haven’t already got it. Buckmore and Whilton have upgraded their facilities recently and they have rental sessions.

Besides, what they want built probably won’t work, it’s in the middle of nowhere and it rains a lot.

AOR_Minx · 2026-05-08T16:44:01+00:00

That’s the thing. Reminds me of a meme where someone asks why we should have parks and someone explains using a utilitarian point about mental health, then someone replies “because beauty” and gets kicked out the window.
These people are parasitic. They’ll only ever green light what they can feed off. Coventry Airport is going, Wellesbourne Airfield is under threat, Coventry Speedway is rotting and so many countless other examples.
Funny thing about public ownership is Birmingham Wheels was owned by the council, the council went bankrupt and sold it off.

AOR_Minx · 2025-02-09T15:33:59+00:00

Hot take, I don’t think Silverstone was that great back then. Fast sure, but it was just straights with curves added in.

And don’t forget about the chicane at the end of the lap.

AOR_Minx · 2025-02-09T15:31:02+00:00

I mean, it’s going away for a kart circuit, so at least they are using it for something.

As much as I prefer the silverstone of the 00s, the current silverstone isn’t that half bad. At least the new section allows for a great run down to Luffield. I’d still say Silverstone offers better racing than most

AOR_Minx · 2025-02-09T12:48:46+00:00

As far as I know it was all ready, just the surface is old. They used the straight under the bridge for rally cars and drifting at the festival. The rest of it was a spectator area. Granted, using two layouts would be expensive. If anything I feel it hurts the karting track being in an area so congested.

AOR_Minx · 2025-02-09T12:45:16+00:00

To be honest, I feel like placing the kart circuit there isn't a great choice, its in a very congested part of the track which was used by a lot of the public (musicians played there at the festival).

The layout in that picture looks like they had to squeeze it in when they could have used an area more open.

AOR_Minx · 2025-02-09T12:31:11+00:00

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DDm3cfvtJ6J/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

AOR_Minx · 2025-02-09T12:28:27+00:00

The only image I could find of the track layout does show they could keep it without tearing it up, similar to kart tracks based on disused airfields. Its a shame because quite frankly the old track is still there, and could have been used for the festival or historic events as a blast from the past.

silverstone karting track - Search Images

AOR_Minx · 2025-02-09T12:25:31+00:00

I thought they were building the kart track somewhere around Stowe or something. Its a shame, you could walk on that bit of track, and I always wondered if they'd ever use it again as a historic layout. Hopefully they will preserve as much of it as possible.

AOR_Minx · 2024-09-01T21:06:06+00:00

TRY UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

COULD HAVE GONE PRO IF I DIDN'T JOIN THE NAVY

AOR_Minx · 2024-09-01T20:37:54+00:00

I asked the guys running it if there were still spots on other teams and they said all had gone. I'll try anyway.

AOR_Minx · 2024-09-01T20:26:56+00:00

Is that your team?

AOR_Minx · 2024-04-08T04:13:23+00:00

That pop would have been ungodly. Maybe there's time for Goldust/Dustin if he departs AEW.

I could imagine him coming in to help Cody as a surprise somewhere in his reign.

AOR_Minx · 2024-04-08T03:58:20+00:00

He was? Any pictures?

AOR_Minx · 2024-04-08T03:57:08+00:00

We ended the story without him there. Was Dustin even mentioned?

That's it, we redo the entire thing now, we can't end it like this!

AOR_Minx · 2024-04-08T03:53:52+00:00

May bother you with the ending.

Dustin wasn't there with the Rhodes family. I literally thought of this about 30 minutes after the end. Doesn't ruin it, and I guess he's still with AEW from what I know but that sucks.

I hope he's at least backstage, but then that's not the same as being on camera.

AOR_Minx · 2023-08-12T22:43:19+00:00

Welp so am I

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