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neilrallying
Original Poster
200 posts
92 months
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Well here is a funny one for you.
After completing testing of the Murtaya rally car we decided to enter James Harrison into a circuit race at Brands Hatch in the rally car to see how he would get on.
Having been invited to run the car in the All Nippon Challenge earlier in the year (a series which as the name suggests is based around Japanese machinery with an invitation class for Japanese powered kit cars) we duly placed and entry for the season finale at Brands on the 8th November.
Our entry was rejected - and the following is a direct quote from the series organiser;-
"I have had my consultations with the committee and the view is that we should not let you run with us - they suspect you would dominate / win the event and steal their thunder"
So without even getting to the start line they have judged that the Murtaya rally car is too fast to race against purpose built circuit cars!
Anyone ever heard of anything as crazy as this? A car with no competition provenance being not allowed to run because the organisers think that it will be too fast?
NY.
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singlecoil
14,928 posts
115 months
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It would seem that the original mistake was made when they issued the invitation. If they think that your car will indeed outclass the opposition then they should have framed the rules to exclude it and not invited you in the first place.
Flattering but annoying.
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JakeR
3,302 posts
138 months
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Get some T shirts made up
Get a car round the top gear test track (even unofficial)
Great Marketing!!
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bigbadbikercats
507 posts
77 months
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JakeR]Get some T shirts made up[footnote]Edited by JakeR on Thursday 23 October 12:55[/footnote said: Been done before when the SCCA (IIRC) banned the Lotus 7 for being "too fast to race".  -- JG
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Furyous
9,348 posts
90 months
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Would they not even allow you to run outside the results ? At least it would give you a peformance indicator if nothing else.
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Advertisement
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Furyblade_Lee
3,064 posts
93 months
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Get him to do a few lap times at Brands, then send them a letter stating, "yeah, you were right"
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jasemac
261 posts
55 months
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Re above post "you were right" great reply love it.
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Mr2Mike
9,474 posts
124 months
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JakeR said: Great Marketing!! Absolutely, what a fantastic accolade! Disappointing not to get the car out on the track of course, but you need to make the most of the situation!
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LotusNova
512 posts
86 months
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Nice one Neil.  Best marketing I've seen in ages - make the most of it.
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neilrallying
Original Poster
200 posts
92 months
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Thanks for all the positive messages guys, we thought that there was probably some marketing to come out of it as well! Went for a quick first play in a full spec competition car this afternoon, only an initial shakedown though. The car is great fun and is going to be a superb toy and I believe that it will be very competitive in almost any area of competition that the owner decides to take it into. Clip of the quick test run here;- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VR1__GXbwE8Trouble is you never want to go back to pushing a mouse after having 5 minutes of fun! NY.
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Snapper7
869 posts
128 months
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Caterham have had this problem a number of times, The Germans at the Ring got them stopped from racing. Mazda in a USA endurance race tried to have Caterham disqualified because the 7 was kicking @rse big time and they said the car wasn't road legal because the brake lights were not working. It turned out that when the Caterham team was question by the race officials they said that their cornering abilities were such that the were not using the brakes. The official didn't believe this so it was agree that from the next driver change they would have to apply the brakes just after passing the race officials on the main straight on every lap.
They still won the race by a long shot, but it just goes to prove that some of the big boys just can't take a kicking from the small boys.
I think that you will find that Caterham have used the to fast to race line already.
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andy-xr
8,415 posts
73 months
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neilrallying said: Right, between us. You speeded that tape up a bit when it was downloaded?
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neilrallying
Original Poster
200 posts
92 months
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No, at actual speed. Happy to demonstrate it to you if you come to the factory!
NY.
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Furyblade_Lee
3,064 posts
93 months
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Neil, why do you not enter the car into the time attack series? That will get you massive jap exposure. You would probobly need at least 500 bhp though in a 1-ton car to be compettetive!
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crofty1984
9,876 posts
73 months
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neilrallying said: No, at actual speed. Happy to demonstrate it to you if you come to the factory!
NY. Cue 40 PH members turning up at the factory this weekend! Good luck with it, looks like it'll be fantastic. I'd have one, only I don't have ay time, money, space and I live in the wrong country
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andy-xr
8,415 posts
73 months
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neilrallying said: No, at actual speed. Happy to demonstrate it to you if you come to the factory!
NY. The speed of gear change on that video would be equal to my wallet emptying if I drove your car
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rhinochopig
16,050 posts
67 months
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You're in good company though. Grp B was classed as "Too Fast to Race". Mind you, I guess your Murtaya isn't actually that far from the spirit of the old Grp B cars. When you do race it, please put some more video up. 
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neilrallying
Original Poster
200 posts
92 months
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Hi all,
Well following being banned from one series and the publicity that has surrounded it we have been approved to race in the 2009 Britcar Championship which is fantastic news.
This was confirmed with the organisers this morning and we will now be working on getting the right deal in place for our number 1 driver James Harrison for next years programme. James is a terrific driver who at just 18 years old has already won in Ginetta's, Radicals and Britcar. We think he has a fantastic future and are delighted to have him in one of our cars for next year.
Thanks again for all the messages of support on this one, I look forward to keeping you all posted on our progress, and doubtless the ups and downs, from a first season in endurance racing.
Neil.
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andy-xr
8,415 posts
73 months
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Neil, let us know the schedule when you have it. If I cant buy a car off you just yet, least I can do is some cheering on
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qdos
675 posts
79 months
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Excellent news Neil good luck! I look forward to you driving slow enough to give them a chance
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