Not so Fun Cup. Idiot decides to drive on to the live track.

Not so Fun Cup. Idiot decides to drive on to the live track.

Author
Discussion

Graham

16,368 posts

285 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
woof said:
I'm going to say something controversial (not like me at all)

I think there would be better PR / worth more to the series/BRSCC/Brands Hatch that they got this kid down to the circuit. Got him marshaling for a weekend. And maybe even take him out in a racecar and show him what a real driver is.
Get the Sun & media to cover that and maybe tie it in with some young driver awareness program.

A bit of education wouldn't go a miss here.
I was saying something very similar to someone yesterday, and that there should be some road safety element as well

Graham

16,368 posts

285 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
And if he doesnt seem to be taking it seriously as hes in the paddock give him a good shoeing lol

MartinDB

120 posts

264 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
woof said:
I'm going to say something controversial (not like me at all)

I think there would be better PR / worth more to the series/BRSCC/Brands Hatch that they got this kid down to the circuit. Got him marshaling for a weekend...
What have us marshals done to upset you? The only time I'd want him on post with me is when I want to know whether a foam or powder extinguisher is best for removing teeth.

37chevy

3,280 posts

157 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
MartinDB said:
What have us marshals done to upset you? The only time I'd want him on post with me is when I want to know whether a foam or powder extinguisher is best for removing teeth.
Here here, I wouldn't want to be lumbered with the little sh!t either.... Make him do some community service at brands like litter picking or scrubbing the numerous pre race poos off the toilets...pay back his dues then put an article in the sun showing him doing it. It shows kids life bites back if you break the rules and to think of the concequences of your actions

Edited by 37chevy on Monday 23 June 22:34

Dave Brand

928 posts

269 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
woof said:
Got him marshaling for a weekend.
No way. Marshalling must not be seen as a punishment.

I'd refuse to have such an idiot on my post.

woof

8,456 posts

278 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
I think it's short sighted - punishment isn't always the best option.

The kid hasn't got any money, so suing him isn't going to do anyone any good apart from the solicitors taking the instructions.

Be a bit more openminded and maybe, just maybe some good could come out of it.

He really sees and understands what he did was dangerous and reckless. In starts to appreciate the work and time that goes into racing. He starts supporting club level racing - tells his mates about it. A road safety program gets a bit of support. Public perception that those racing people are making a bit of difference and are generally good eggs.

Anyway - I wasn't racing that day. If I had I would probably be still pissed off about it but I think I would be able to see that this would be the best route.

Just my thoughts




gaxor

331 posts

254 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
bmwguy said:
The police must charge the idiot with "dangerous driving".

RTA says:

"A person who drives a mechanically propelled vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place is guilty of an offence."

"A person is to be regarded as driving dangerously for the purposes of sections 1 and 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 if:

the way he/she drives falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver, and it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving in that way would be dangerous"

Clearly what he did falls within the definition of dangerous. A race track is definitely a public place for RTA purposes. People have been prosecuted for driving while disqualified when they compete in races while having been banned from driving on the road. If the race track wasn't public, racing while disqualified would not be an offence.

I hope the magistrates hand him a lengthy ban and huge fine.
You sure?
I don't think a race circuit is a public place. I have never been asked to produce a driving licence in 10 years of racing, and surely race cars would require an MOT and Road Fund Licence as well.

AndyAlfa18

52 posts

126 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
woof said:
Anyway - I wasn't racing that day. If I had I would probably be still pissed off about it but I think I would be able to see that this would be the best route.
Unfortunately not a view shared by the many I know who were racing there that day. Time does seem to dilute the seriousness of the 'crime' and I'm not sure what the appropriate sanctions should be, but I quite sure that letting the idiot trackside is not how I'd like to see him treated.

Agree it's a difficult one.

anonymous-user

55 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
gaxor said:
bmwguy said:
The police must charge the idiot with "dangerous driving".

RTA says:

"A person who drives a mechanically propelled vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place is guilty of an offence."

"A person is to be regarded as driving dangerously for the purposes of sections 1 and 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 if:

the way he/she drives falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver, and it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving in that way would be dangerous"

Clearly what he did falls within the definition of dangerous. A race track is definitely a public place for RTA purposes. People have been prosecuted for driving while disqualified when they compete in races while having been banned from driving on the road. If the race track wasn't public, racing while disqualified would not be an offence.

I hope the magistrates hand him a lengthy ban and huge fine.
You sure?
I don't think a race circuit is a public place. I have never been asked to produce a driving licence in 10 years of racing, and surely race cars would require an MOT and Road Fund Licence as well.
Everywhere is a public place as far as the law is concerned, which is why holding an MSA licence and competing at an MSA permit sanctioned event protects you from prosecution. You should read the Blue Book.

D 6.1.3. The Road Traffic Act 1991 includes regulations
which make dangerous or careless driving in a public
place an offence. Section 13A of that act provides for
the Motor Vehicles (Off Road Events) Regulations 1995
and the issue of an MSA Permit exempts competitors
from the appropriate sections of the Act (Sections
1, 2 & 3) whilst driving within the rules of the
competition.

Also, if you lose your road licence you will lose your race licence automatically, so if you hold an MSA licence the checks and measures are already in place for ensuing you have a road licence. The only time that isn't the case is if the driver is under 17 such as in Ginetta juniors, and they have special measures in place to cover that situation.

The lad should be prosecuted using the current laws in place. If people want to put in place some form of rehabilitation post prosecution then that's fine, but he still needs to be processed properly and receive a proper punishment first.


Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 24th June 21:13

Dan Friel

3,639 posts

279 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
jsf said:
Also, if you lose your road licence you will lose your race licence automatically, so if you hold an MSA licence the checks and measures are already in place for ensuing you have a road licence. The only time that isn't the case is if the driver is under 17 such as in Ginetta juniors, and they have special measures in place to cover that situation.


Edited by jsf on Tuesday 24th June 21:13
That's interesting, where in the Blue Book does it say any of that?

AWRacing

1,713 posts

226 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Dan Friel said:
jsf said:
Also, if you lose your road licence you will lose your race licence automatically, so if you hold an MSA licence the checks and measures are already in place for ensuing you have a road licence. The only time that isn't the case is if the driver is under 17 such as in Ginetta juniors, and they have special measures in place to cover that situation.


Edited by jsf on Tuesday 24th June 21:13
That's interesting, where in the Blue Book does it say any of that?
Think you need to reread the blue book as that hasnt been the case for many years now, you only lose your race licence if you lose you road licence through serious crimes like drink driving etc. if you lose your licence through speeding you can keep your race licence.

anonymous-user

55 months

Tuesday 24th June 2014
quotequote all
Just checked, it's only rally licences now that are lost due to a driving ban.

Other point is the main one though regarding the RTA.

jfxr242

37 posts

197 months

Tinohead

639 posts

210 months

Wednesday 25th June 2014
quotequote all
jfxr242 said:
If I'm reading that right, Horse Bellend got banned the day after this happened from every racecourse in the country, for life? Why hasn't the Polo Bellend had the same treatment already from the MSA?

gaxor

331 posts

254 months

Wednesday 25th June 2014
quotequote all
jsf said:
gaxor said:
bmwguy said:
The police must charge the idiot with "dangerous driving".

RTA says:

"A person who drives a mechanically propelled vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place is guilty of an offence."

"A person is to be regarded as driving dangerously for the purposes of sections 1 and 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 if:

the way he/she drives falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver, and it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving in that way would be dangerous"

Clearly what he did falls within the definition of dangerous. A race track is definitely a public place for RTA purposes. People have been prosecuted for driving while disqualified when they compete in races while having been banned from driving on the road. If the race track wasn't public, racing while disqualified would not be an offence.

I hope the magistrates hand him a lengthy ban and huge fine.
You sure?
I don't think a race circuit is a public place. I have never been asked to produce a driving licence in 10 years of racing, and surely race cars would require an MOT and Road Fund Licence as well.
Everywhere is a public place as far as the law is concerned, which is why holding an MSA licence and competing at an MSA permit sanctioned event protects you from prosecution. You should read the Blue Book.

D 6.1.3. The Road Traffic Act 1991 includes regulations
which make dangerous or careless driving in a public
place an offence. Section 13A of that act provides for
the Motor Vehicles (Off Road Events) Regulations 1995
and the issue of an MSA Permit exempts competitors
from the appropriate sections of the Act (Sections
1, 2 & 3) whilst driving within the rules of the
competition.

Also, if you lose your road licence you will lose your race licence automatically, so if you hold an MSA licence the checks and measures are already in place for ensuing you have a road licence. The only time that isn't the case is if the driver is under 17 such as in Ginetta juniors, and they have special measures in place to cover that situation.

The lad should be prosecuted using the current laws in place. If people want to put in place some form of rehabilitation post prosecution then that's fine, but he still needs to be processed properly and receive a proper punishment first.


Edited by jsf on Tuesday 24th June 21:13
Genuinely didn't know that. I stand corrected

bmwguy

131 posts

168 months

Wednesday 25th June 2014
quotequote all
So we have established that the moron was driving dangerously in a public place and was not covered by the exemption of participating in an authorised MSA event. (He had no competition licence, hadn't signed on, and the car hadn't been scrutineered ). When are Kent police going to get their act together and charge him with dangerous driving?

wessexrfc

4,326 posts

187 months

Wednesday 25th June 2014
quotequote all
bmwguy said:
So we have established that the moron was driving dangerously in a public place and was not covered by the exemption of participating in an authorised MSA event. (He had no competition licence, hadn't signed on, and the car hadn't been scrutineered ). When are Kent police going to get their act together and charge him with dangerous driving?
Case is currently being put together.

thunderbelmont

2,982 posts

225 months

Friday 27th June 2014
quotequote all
Glad to hear it - and one so water tight that there is no way out.

I'm sure the good Dr will want this miscreant set to rights!

tenpenceshort

32,880 posts

218 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
quotequote all
I doubt a private track is a Public Place in the meaning required by the RTA. Nor is it a road. Then you would probably have issues proving the driving fell far below as per the requirements of the offence. I doubt simply being on the track would be sufficient.

Racing Rod

1,353 posts

268 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
quotequote all
I think we will soon get some news on what the police intend charging this chap with, I'm not fully in the loop but gather that they are considering several options that as yet have not been made public. Reading between the lines, it would appear that the police are definitely intent on making an example of this "live for the day" hatchling so that others with an intelligence/IQ quota in line with their shoe size are not tempted to do something similar.

I have been involved in several discussions for the purpose of obtaining my views as a Fun Cup competitor regarding taking civil action against this individual and I know that this is now being considered by lawyers that represent motorsport organisations and authorities at the highest level. Statement have been submitted that show how the race event was ruined that range from costs for the day to costs for the entire event as in real terms, this nutcase ruined not only the race event but also all the preparation that went into it. My own sums would indicate that the claim at the lowest level would exceed £100,000 and at the highest level exceeds £220,000.

It is hoped that the case will be a class action claim that will include the Fun Cup series owners, the teams, the race track owners, the organisation club or clubs and the regulation authority that governs all UK motorsport, this would be a formidable line up if agreement between all parties can be achieved. There has also been substantial support from a vast number of other motorsport groups ranging from individual competitors to motorsport enthusiasts covering all aspects of our sport.

Many of use believe that we must take this action if we are to be seen as acting in a responsible manner to protect our sport from those who would see it's demise as an environmental victory and of course stop this type of idiotic behaviour being repeated by the simple minded idiots that think that such things are clever and worthy of praise from fellow morons.