The purpose of this study is to investigate ways in which motor sport events could contribute to the overall tourism product of the Trossachs. The study has been commissioned by Stirling Council and Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley.

The study is based on the proposal that the Trossachs and Callander could become a centre for motor sport activities in Scotland, based on the idea of running a range of events in the area which would attract national and international interest. The main event would be a speed, rally or historical meeting running through the Dukes Pass.

Between 1992 and 1997, efforts were made to build an international standard motor racing circuit in Central Scotland at Forrestburn Reservoir just north of Junction 5 on the M8 Glasgow to Edinburgh motorway. The proposal attracted support and derision in equal measure. The choice of site ensured that the circuit would have a distinctive Scottish character and created the opportunity to build a circuit in the tradition of Spa-Francorchamps, Rheims or Clermont-Ferrand where landscape and track could work together to create a distinctive sense of place – fitting for a national venue. Only the speed hillclimb was built and opened in 1993, becoming a popular and well used motor sport venue run by Monklands Sporting Car Club. This is a collection of some of the drawings of the project showing the development of the idea through various configurations.

The plan shown below was the original scheme proposed by Monklands District Council.

The second plan below is a greatly enlarged proposal with a club circuit and associated development intended to help finance the project.

The plan below originates from early 1996 and shows a larger more flexible arrangement of circuits but with a greater land take and more associated development.

The next plan dating from mid 1996 was a stripped down, more compact proposal with less associated development and smaller facility buildings.

In late 1996 the track round the reservoir was abandoned in favour of building to the north on more stable ground.

Finally in 1997, this northern plan was developed with a longer circuit, more associated development and corporate facilities. It was this plan – shown below – that was granted planning permission.

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of and produce outline proposals for the development of a personal watercraft and APV centre to be located at a former opencast coal site at Piperhill near Ochiltree in Ayrshire. The main areas of work involved identifying and quantifying the likely market for the venture, devising a layout and scale of development to maximise the viability of the project, preparing an indicative business plan and assessing the likely economic and social impacts of the project.

As many older circuits become increasingly unsuitable for environmental, planning and safety reasons, there is a need for a new generation of tracks which offer improved access and environmental fit as well as better spectator and safety facilities. It is likely that these circuits will be developed on vacant or derelict land situated well away from built up areas yet with good transport connections.

The majority of motor racing circuits are not attractive places but the best circuits, which are enjoyed by drivers and spectators alike, are those which have had their shape and character dictated by local geography, landscape and in some cases, by townscape.

For decades, top class motor racing was conducted on the great public roads of Europe – circuits composed of everyday roadways simply closed for race weekends. Nearly all of the great circuits such as Spa-Francorchamps, Rheims, the Piccolo Madonie course for the Targa Florio, Monaco and Clermont-Ferrand were evolved in this way. When racing on public roads became less acceptable, the growth in artificial autodrome courses produced many unattractive and ill-sited circuits. However the best of these facilities were those that respected and blended with the character of the local landscape such as the Nurburgring in the Eifel Mountains, Monza in its parkland setting near Milan and Zandvoort in the sand dunes of Holland.

In the UK, many circuits developed on perimeter airfield tracks and half of the circuits currently in use today were built on these flat and featureless sites. Of the other circuits, only Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Mallory Park and more recently, Donington were developed on areas where existing landscape could be worked with and today these are the UK’s most interesting and attractive circuits for drivers and spectators.

We have been involved in the development of motor sport facilities throughout the UK including a speed hill climb tracks , two international standard circuit proposals, a club circuit proposal near Skelmersdale and an oval race track proposal on the banks of the River Thames in Essex. We have also carried out tourism based motor sport studies for public agencies in Ayrshire and the Scottish Borders.

The practice can bring together the full range of experience and professional skills required to develop these facilities including site searches and appraisal, masterplanning, traffic impact analysis, noise assessment, ecological profiling, environmental assessment, circuit and facility design, costing, engineering and landscape architecture.

A study for Scottish Borders Enterprise in association with Mackay Consultants of Inverness. This work examined the feasibility of proposals for a visitor attraction based on the heritage of Scottish motor sport in and around Duns. The principal part of the proposal was for a new museum based around the Jim Clark Room but other proposals included the re-use of Charterhall Circuit the expansion of the Jim Clark Trail and other interpretive work.

Enterprise Ayrshire commissioned this study which looked at the contribution motor sport could make to the tourism effort in Ayrshire. The study examined motor sport in the Scottish context and at the ability of particular events to attract visitor numbers.

Recommendations were made for the support of events and facilities which at very little cost could attract an additional 45,000 visitors to Ayrshire each year.

The images were taken at the Daily Record Race Meeting at Turnberry Airfield in 1952. The top image shows the start of the main race. Mike Hawthorn is driving a Thinwall Special on pole No 54. The winner was Reg Parnell (BRM No 53), 2nd was Ken Wharton (BRM No 52) and in 3rd place was Ron Flockhart (ERA No 48). The bottom image shows Mike Hawthorn receiving his trophy in the centre of the picture. (both images and information courtesy of Bill Henderson, Photographer).

Proposals for the development of a 2.6 mile international standard circuit and associated industrial development on vacant land and former runways at Teesside International Airport. Designing an interesting track with reasonable viewing and shelter for spectators is difficult on airfield sites but this layout overcomes many of these problems and works well with existing landscape features. The proposal included a 1.6 mile club circuit, a kart facility and rallycross course

Design and implementation of a 1030m hill climb track as part of a proposed international motor racing complex near Kirk o’ Shotts in Central Scotland. The project was the first purpose built hill climb track in the United Kingdom to be completed since Brooklands in the 1930s. The track was designed to merge with the landscape of the area and looks ‘as if it had always been there’. The hill climb has developed into a popular and successful venue.

Monklands Sporting Car Club manage the site and organise events there and there are some short video clips on YouTube of various competitors on the track. Here is an example: