Thinking Big in the U.K.
Published:
August 12, 2010
In September, Silverstone race
track, northwest of London, will
open the world’s first R/C model,
slot-car and virtual racing destination,
called Moto Arena.
If you’re not familiar with
Silverstone, it’s as familiar to residents
of the United Kingdom as
Indianapolis Motor Speedway is
to Americans. It hosts Formula 1
and motorcycle races, and attracts
thousands of motorsports enthusiasts
each year.
Attractions will include a
world-class outdoor R/C competition
track; the world’s largest
permanent indoor R/C track; plus
off-road tracks for trucks and tanks
and a dedicated heli flying area. It
will also boast the world’s largest
8-lane slot-car racing track (For
more info, visit www.moto-arena.
co.uk/about).
Visitors will be able to rent R/C
vehicles at the facility. On-site
instructors will be available to
teach how to operate the vehicles.
I’m not sure who footed the
bill for this project, but it’s obviously
someone who thinks there’s
money to be made doing it. In
addition to it being open to the
public, it’s also selling memberships
for anywhere from $115 to
about $950 per year.
Now, can you imagine something
like that at Indy? Or Daytona
or Talladega? I certainly can. Can
you imagine the number of people
who might be exposed to these
hobbies for the first time?
Maybe we can get someone to
think big here, too. And soon. |