2024: BTCC chat & discussion

[coppice]

DanielSan said:

Quite a lot of the BTCC fan base is at best, odd, and at worst utterly moronic. The vast majority regularly call out for certain drivers to be in cars because they have no idea tbat the whole grid are paying to be there not paid to race.

Some are a PITA . They descend by the thousand on Croft and regulars like me wonder about the locals among them- 'where the hell are you the rest of the year? ' . They will insist on bringing their idiotic gazebos so they can ruin everyone else's view and a significant number are full on tribal in their support .or dislike of a driver .

Snob ? Of course I am ...

[Scooobydont]

coppice said:

Some are a PITA . They descend by the thousand on Croft and regulars like me wonder about the locals among them- 'where the hell are you the rest of the year? ' . They will insist on bringing their idiotic gazebos so they can ruin everyone else's view and a significant number are full on tribal in their support .or dislike of a driver .

Snob ? Of course I am ...

'where the hell are you the rest of the year? I find myself saying that as well. There is excellent racing to be seen outwith BTCC at Croft (other venues too!) but you can literally have the hill to yourself at any other time, a 750MC weekend for example is fantastic.

Not that I am complaining, well maybe I am?

Sorry to derail the thread.

[Milkyway]

Sebring440 said:

Milkyway said:

As I see it...

BRITISH
Touring
Car
CHAMPIONSHIP

Please explain what this is supposed to mean?

Touring... Not many tourers being represented now.
Car... Yes, but so highly redesigned & modified that any connections to it's origins has been lost.

I'm an old fart... but personally, I think that the series should return to it's roots.
(In the modern day sense).

Edited by Milkyway on Friday 23 February 09:01

[Sebring440]

Milkyway said:

Touring... Not many tourers being represented now.

What do you mean by "tourer" exactly? Tourer used to mean a convertible, but them BMW started using "touring" to mean an estate car (or station wagon).

I've always thought that "touring car" in a motor racing context meant an ordinary saloon car, usually a four door. But it could be a 5-door hatch as well. Growing up in Australia, touring car racing was in my blood, and it was mandatory that you supported one of the "big three", even in primary school. So they were mostly 4-doors, but the Chargers were 2-doors. Still a touring car though.

So with that definition, I'd say that the current batch of cars that race in the BTCC are certainly "touring cars".

Milkyway said:

I'm an old fart... but personally, I think that the series should return to it's roots.

Have you seen TCR?

[Catweazle]

Sebring440 said:

Milkyway said:

Touring... Not many tourers being represented now.

What do you mean by "tourer" exactly? Tourer used to mean a convertible, but them BMW started using "touring" to mean an estate car (or station wagon).

I've always thought that "touring car" in a motor racing context meant an ordinary saloon car, usually a four door. But it could be a 5-door hatch as well. Growing up in Australia, touring car racing was in my blood, and it was mandatory that you supported one of the "big three", even in primary school. So they were mostly 4-doors, but the Chargers were 2-doors. Still a touring car though.

So with that definition, I'd say that the current batch of cars that race in the BTCC are certainly "touring cars".

Well, it used to be the British Saloon Car Championship.

[freedman]

Look at all of those cars in the 70/80s championships

Capri
RS500
Toyota
Mazda MX7
Golf GTI
Audi 80

Etc all 2/3 door

[LucyP]

People are wondering why Nick Halstead is being criticised on social media? He finished last year with minus 5 points. The people criticising him would have beaten him last year, had they entered BTCC but not started any races. They would have scored 0 points. 5 more than him! Surely some criticism is to be expected?

People are also wondering where the specators are for all the club racing at Croft. It takes a dedicated fan to sit there alone in the grandstand, open to the elements, on a freezing cold day, pouring with rain, watching a grid of old Fiestas race.

It's no different from Silverstone. F1 tickets sell out at crazy prices, almost immediately, but a club race?

When - You've Never Heard of The Town (average crowd 2 old men and a dog) suddenly are in the FA cup Quarter Finals against Manchester United - average crowd - 20,000.

[Milkyway]

Nick Halstead has gone backing from RAZOR... The manufacturer of the crazy karts.
Apparently the livery is going to really stand out
( He is calling his Hyundai... Crazy kart XXXL).

Edited by Milkyway on Friday 23 February 16:31

[GlobalRacer]

LucyP said:

People are wondering why Nick Halstead is being criticised on social media? He finished last year with minus 5 points. The people criticising him would have beaten him last year, had they entered BTCC but not started any races. They would have scored 0 points. 5 more than him! Surely some criticism is to be expected?

He scored 10 points last year. He ended up on minus points because of the team exceeding the engine allocation for his car twice which led to a deduction of 15 points.

The people criticising could do with learning how points work in the BTCC.

[coppice]

Who bloody cares ? Racing would be all the poorer without back markers . Or does the fevered BTCC fanbase think that all must have prizes ?

[Milkyway]

coppice said:

Who bloody cares ? Racing would be all the poorer without back markers . Or does the fevered BTCC fanbase think that all must have prizes ?

At least they have the Jack Sears Trophy to fight for.
( And that holds some prestige).

[Milkyway]

Speculation that Adam Smalley might be looking at the BTCC... announcing his 2024 plans this week.

Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 27th February 15:52

[Sebring440]

Milkyway said:

Speculation that Adam Smalley might be looking at the BTCC... announcing his 2024 plans this week.

I'm assuming he's going into GT racing this year.

[Milkyway]

Sebring440 said:

Milkyway said:

Speculation that Adam Smalley might be looking at the BTCC... announcing his 2024 plans this week.

I'm assuming he's going into GT racing this year.

If he took the BMW or Toyota seat... 'Huffy' could have the other one.

[Sebring440]

Milkyway said:

If he took the BMW or Toyota seat... 'Huffy' could have the other one.

It was Huff's main sponsor that recently announced (Feb 16) a "partnership" with Speedworks. Read into that what you will.

[Milkyway]

Their plus one maybe. :scratchchin :

[On-Rails]

Sebring440 said:

I'm assuming he's going into GT racing this year.

He’s the leading contender for the WSR seat, but there’s been a few hurdles to over come.

[Sebring440]

On-Rails said:

Sebring440 said:

I'm assuming he's going into GT racing this year.

He’s the leading contender for the WSR seat, but there’s been a few hurdles to over come.

I don't think he's the leading contender now!

[acer12]

I may end up eating my words and I hope that I am wrong, but does anyone else feel that Huff is just a little overrated and all the excitement around his return is going to disappoint. Based on his form of the last 10 years, I really don't expect him being anywhere near title winning positions no matter what car he is in.

Similar journey to Chilton expect Huff is a vastly superior driver (but that itself is not saying a huge amount when the compare is Chilton) but always felt his WTCC title had a lot to do with Yvan's bad luck that year.

[On-Rails]

Sebring440 said:

I don't think he's the leading contender now!

Yep, conflict of sponsors proved too much to overcome obviously. Shame as I think he would have gone well in that car.