TVR Racing - Your thoughts please
Discussion
I'm trying to gauge the feelings and consensus of TVR owners and enthusiasts with regard to their interest (or lack of) in spectating (or even taking part in) the TVR Challenge race series. The reason I ask is that not that long ago (2009/10), the series regularly attracted a not insignificant number of TVR loving spectators. I remember the grass bank overlooking Cascades at Oulton Park being full of TVR cars watching the racing. These last couple of years, we are lucky if we see a small handful of TVR owners/enthusiasts at each meeting, and they appear to be the same lovely people each time! I'm wondering why this is.
Are the newer (perhaps younger) breed of TVR owners oblivious to TVR's racing heritage? Have they no knowledge of the Dunlop TVR Challenge, or recollection of the TVR Championship and the fact that the Tuscan Challenge was the largest and most exciting single make race series in its time? Are there too many other conflicting TVR events in the calendar? Surely, congregating at a TVR race meeting is far more exciting than standing around the car park of some country house admiring each others peckers, isn't it? The lack of support the race series and its drivers garner from the TVR massive is very frustrating and I would like to know whether this is the fault of the race series not promoting itself effectively enough, the TVRCC not promoting the series well enough (although we have wonderful coverage and race reports in Sprint), the RO's not placing it high enough on their individual club calendars, or simply just a general apathy within the TVR community in recent years.
The current race series has four classes, all racing at the same time. Sagaris bodied, fully aero'd up GT cars with AJP or LS7 thunder and flames, original Tuscan Challenge race cars with either race AJP or Rover V8 lumps, Jason Clegg's stunning S6 Tuscan, sexy Griff's, unbelievably fast and competitive Chimaera's (including one being driven by a former professional NASCAR driver), and last but not least (the little train that could).... the wonderful Tasmin wedges! We always extend a warm welcome to visitors wishing to look at and talk about the cars in the drivers paddock and/or pit garages (organisers allowing), so please come along and introduce yourselves. We'd love to see you.
Your thoughts and/or suggestions are greatly appreciated, either on here or discreetly by PM to me directly. Many thanks.
P.S. A huge, warm thanks to those who DO make the effort and show their support at the race tracks. It is so greatly appreciated. You know who you are
Are the newer (perhaps younger) breed of TVR owners oblivious to TVR's racing heritage? Have they no knowledge of the Dunlop TVR Challenge, or recollection of the TVR Championship and the fact that the Tuscan Challenge was the largest and most exciting single make race series in its time? Are there too many other conflicting TVR events in the calendar? Surely, congregating at a TVR race meeting is far more exciting than standing around the car park of some country house admiring each others peckers, isn't it? The lack of support the race series and its drivers garner from the TVR massive is very frustrating and I would like to know whether this is the fault of the race series not promoting itself effectively enough, the TVRCC not promoting the series well enough (although we have wonderful coverage and race reports in Sprint), the RO's not placing it high enough on their individual club calendars, or simply just a general apathy within the TVR community in recent years.
The current race series has four classes, all racing at the same time. Sagaris bodied, fully aero'd up GT cars with AJP or LS7 thunder and flames, original Tuscan Challenge race cars with either race AJP or Rover V8 lumps, Jason Clegg's stunning S6 Tuscan, sexy Griff's, unbelievably fast and competitive Chimaera's (including one being driven by a former professional NASCAR driver), and last but not least (the little train that could).... the wonderful Tasmin wedges! We always extend a warm welcome to visitors wishing to look at and talk about the cars in the drivers paddock and/or pit garages (organisers allowing), so please come along and introduce yourselves. We'd love to see you.
Your thoughts and/or suggestions are greatly appreciated, either on here or discreetly by PM to me directly. Many thanks.
P.S. A huge, warm thanks to those who DO make the effort and show their support at the race tracks. It is so greatly appreciated. You know who you are
phillpot said:
Could you give us a brief run down of what an "average" race day would consist of? How many races, how many laps, other types of car sharing that meeting etc.
Are they generally practice Saturday, race Sunday?
A guide to ticket prices? I don't expect to be allowed into the pits but does an entry ticket normally give admission to the paddock? Are Grandstands free at this level of racing?
I appreciate I could probably answer all these questions with a bit of "Googling" but if you can answer "off the top of your head" and bring all the answers together in one place that would be very helpful
Race meetings are usually made up of:Are they generally practice Saturday, race Sunday?
A guide to ticket prices? I don't expect to be allowed into the pits but does an entry ticket normally give admission to the paddock? Are Grandstands free at this level of racing?
I appreciate I could probably answer all these questions with a bit of "Googling" but if you can answer "off the top of your head" and bring all the answers together in one place that would be very helpful
1x 20min Qually and 1x 20min Race 1 on the Saturday.
1x 20min Race 2 on the Sunday.
I appreciate that at some meetings there can be a long wait between Qualifying and Race 1, but this time is filled with other racing on the same card. There may be 8 or 9 other championships on the race card, they usually include:
Formula Ford 1600cc Championship
Formula Jedi (you just have to see these)
Fun Cup (VW Beetle silhouetted race cars - very quick and no holds barred)
Porsche Championship
MX5 Championship
Alfa Romeo Championship
Caterham Academy
Ford XR Challenge
Fiesta Championship
Mighty Mini's
I believe ticket prices are circa £15 for the day.
Granstand seats are usually available at no additional charge. I know Silverstone and Snetterton are usually free.
Anglesey tends to be really exciting racing on a truly wonderful racetrack. Every year in August we have a Triple Header (qualifying and 3 races). Great camping, entertainment in the bar till the early hours and racing within an epic backdrop.
The Dunlop TVR Challenge championship is affiliated with the BRSCC (British Racing and Sports Car Club). Details of all the types of series, calendar of events, prices etc. can be found at: www.brscc.co.uk
Although not fully confirmed yet, this years race dates are:
Rockingham Raceway - May 16-17th
Snetterton - June 27-28th
Anglesey - Aug 8-9th
Donington, Silverstone or Mallory Park - Sept date TBC
Oulton Park - Oct 17th
In addition to the above, TVR's will be competing in several series within the CSCC (Classic Sports Car Club) including Modern Classics, Future Classics, New Millennium Series and Swinging Sixties. Even more exciting, a number of the TVR drivers and cars will be racing the worlds favourite F1 GP racetrack at Spa Francorchamps this year at the Spa Summer Classic June 26-28th.
Finally, there are at present a number of fully prepared, race ready TVR racecars available for anybody wishing to give racing a go. These include bespoke "built to order" race Chimaera's by STR8SIX www.str8six.co.uk and CWR (Classic World Racing), www.classicworldracing.co.uk plus a selection of Tuscan Challenge and Tasmin race cars.
Edited by YRRunner on Thursday 29th January 18:06
Drumroll said:
The other side is why should you be concerned how many people turn up to watch TVR's race. The gate money goes to the circuits, so even if an event gets 15,000 spectators the cost of your entry won't go down.
Correct, that's why it has nothing to do with trying to reduce the costs of race entry. Most of us would just appreciate seeing banks of TVR's and their owners cheering us on. It's a spectator sport after all and as I said previously, it has to be better entertainment than meeting at a country house for a boring Kodak moment. Admittedly, the more spectators come to watch, the bigger our exposure, and this could ultimately lead to getting some TV coverage. TV coverage could lead to securing new sponsors, which would inevitably help us fund our racing. It would also keep brand TVR in the public eye. You only need to look as far as Fun Cup to see how well it can be done and how strong a following it has now. Granted, they do have the advantage of stupendous race support and really attractive hospitality, on a par with Maserati Trofeo!TVRMs said:
You will also know what the average starting grid was for the last few years, and its well documented, and it's along time since it was near 15 never mind 20.....
Not sure that's entirely factual or fair John. We had some marvellous grids last year, some of the strongest in a long time. Drivers, longer in tooth than I, were telling me what an improvement it is now compared to the 10 or 12 car grids they recollect a few years ago. Were it not for losing Graham and Dave early in the season with big off's, Andy Race and Mike Saunders on enforced sabbaticals between race cars, we would have had close on 20 starters on the grid at most meetings in 2014. Edited by TVRMs on Saturday 31st January 22:00
I'm compelled to agree with Dave here. Perhaps there are too many garage queen "racecars" that belong on the track with us, instead of spewing negative rhetoric
Graham said:
thats one of the reasons for picking mallory, they have new circuit management who are keen to promote the circuit, so easier to deal with than the corporate MSV, BARC and BRSS run most of the other circuits. anglesey and Coombe are independent but we're not going to coombe and Angelsey is a great circuit but people would complain its off the edge of the known earth
Anglesey would be kick ass as its a triple header over 2 days so plenty of racing, the camping areas are plentiful and offer great views, plus there is an all night bar and disco for those who really want to wig out in the evening. Stalls could be set up in any one of numerous paddocks, or even the infield hairpin bit that's closed off. There's basic food in the restaurant or great food in a couple of nearby pubs. It's a great place to all meet and camp overnight, watch some great racing at an epic circuit and be able to hang out over a weekend instead of just a day at a country house. It's a stunning place with wonderful scenery and great roads (the old bill are few and far between too for those of you who have never been. Crikey, I sound like a rep for the Anglesey Tourist Board 
Spectators can even have a karaoke off with Boss Racings Rob (he's a crooning legend).Gassing Station | TVR Events & Meetings | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff