Ducatisti Forum - View Single Post - So u wanted to know what all the fuss was about

**Alan-Phil Bevan Trackdays** · 23 Jul 08, 10:38 PM

Found this - from 1991 - When they had F1 testing.

Paul Seaby recalls his time testing with Benetton at Pembrey: "There's an incident we always referred to as 'Elephant Safety'. This occurred on a trip down to Pembrey in about 1991 for a quick test. On arrival at the circuit we had noticed a painted cloth banner on the main gate protesting against noise from the circuit but we thought nothing of it.
"We fired up and ran round for the day and started our nightly strip of the car for inspection and service when two gentlemen arrived wearing 'high viz' vests proclaiming in a Welsh accent that they were from "Pembrey Council Elephant Safety" Department.
"It soon became apparent that they were from the Health and Safety Dept but the guy's strong accennt and the fact he grunted after every sentence, made us all crack up laughing and we had to ask him to repeat where he was from over and over again. Then it got better as he started to ask 'tick box' questions about the car.
"He asked us if the car was a modified vehicle, whether it had a standard exhaust system and does it conform to silencing regulations? We replied, "well it is an F1 car!" and started asking him questions. 'If we're too noisy and the residents complain, how come there are RAF jets low flying over the area constantly?' His reply was (in a whisper) 'officially they don't exist so they don't count as a noise pollutant'. At this we again cracked up.
We then broached the subject of the protester and his reply was that he was a local that didn't like the noise and was making the council do something about it to which he added 'It's a bit embarrassing really because if we have to prosecute the circuit it is us that own it, so we'll have to take ourselves to court!' This comment was the crowning glory!"

23 Jul 08, 10:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
Alan-Phil Bevan Trackdays L-plates Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 85 Alan-Phil Bevan Trackdays's Gallery	Seems it's not a new problem.... Found this - from 1991 - When they had F1 testing. Paul Seaby recalls his time testing with Benetton at Pembrey: "There's an incident we always referred to as 'Elephant Safety'. This occurred on a trip down to Pembrey in about 1991 for a quick test. On arrival at the circuit we had noticed a painted cloth banner on the main gate protesting against noise from the circuit but we thought nothing of it. "We fired up and ran round for the day and started our nightly strip of the car for inspection and service when two gentlemen arrived wearing 'high viz' vests proclaiming in a Welsh accent that they were from "Pembrey Council Elephant Safety" Department. "It soon became apparent that they were from the Health and Safety Dept but the guy's strong accennt and the fact he grunted after every sentence, made us all crack up laughing and we had to ask him to repeat where he was from over and over again. Then it got better as he started to ask 'tick box' questions about the car. "He asked us if the car was a modified vehicle, whether it had a standard exhaust system and does it conform to silencing regulations? We replied, "well it is an F1 car!" and started asking him questions. 'If we're too noisy and the residents complain, how come there are RAF jets low flying over the area constantly?' His reply was (in a whisper) 'officially they don't exist so they don't count as a noise pollutant'. At this we again cracked up. We then broached the subject of the protester and his reply was that he was a local that didn't like the noise and was making the council do something about it to which he added 'It's a bit embarrassing really because if we have to prosecute the circuit it is us that own it, so we'll have to take ourselves to court!' This comment was the crowning glory!"