Your Grid Sizes this year ?

[thunderbelmont]

jellison said:

Chap in my championship does all the rounds (most UK tracks bar croft, and thruxton) and commute for each from Lockerbie;) - Race a Griff200 Beast.

Mind No way I would do that!!

Croft and Knockhill would make a good championship if round alternated through the season, if up North or Suothern Scotland.

The Castle Combe series is so "bad" that there used to be a few guys commute down from Fife for every race!

To me, racing is about enjoying what you do. If you don't enjoy it, don't do it. And the CC "own account" championships have a big following both in terms of competitors (who do other championships as well in many cases), and from punters who flock there in their thousands to see them.

Back in the 1990's when I raced in Super Road Saloons, there were a couple of guys who only raced at Lydden or Brands. It was a rare event to see them travel long distance to Snetterton.

I'm getting picky in my old age! Though much of that is due to financial and time constraints. I can't afford four days to do something like Pembrey for a clubbie meeting, and I feel that other people are in the same boat, hence grid sizes dropping in some respects.

However, I hear that the 2CV's are in rude health again, with their grid size up this year.

All of this talk of Caterhams, and their new "fill in the gap" series will dilute their following in my opinion, which will lead to their grids dwindling in their other classes. They would do better, as has been said, promoting their "thinner" class to get more into it, and dispel the gossip that keeps people from upgrading to it. I hear that there are people spending what I call silly money on that series - upwards of £80-90K for a season in running costs alone.

Too much to rant about. Back later!

[SimonY]

thunderbelmont said:

All of this talk of Caterhams, and their new "fill in the gap" series will dilute their following in my opinion, which will lead to their grids dwindling in their other classes. They would do better, as has been said, promoting their "thinner" class to get more into it, and dispel the gossip that keeps people from upgrading to it. I hear that there are people spending what I call silly money on that series - upwards of £80-90K for a season in running costs alone.

Caterham would like the grid sizes in Roadsports to dwindle a little (with the excess moving up), 43 is too many! It leads to a three race format which is too much for one day, and grids of 38 on circuits like Combe is too many. Much better if they could have 25 in all series imo.

By the way those running costs are rubbish, you could quarter that and still have a very generous budget for the UK Superlights. And while that is not cheap club racing finding something comparably quick and of similar standing for the same money is very difficult.

Edited by SimonY on Monday 23 June 10:29

[jellison]

SimonY said:

thunderbelmont said:

All of this talk of Caterhams, and their new "fill in the gap" series will dilute their following in my opinion, which will lead to their grids dwindling in their other classes. They would do better, as has been said, promoting their "thinner" class to get more into it, and dispel the gossip that keeps people from upgrading to it. I hear that there are people spending what I call silly money on that series - upwards of £80-90K for a season in running costs alone.

Caterham would like the grid sizes in Roadsports to dwindle a little (with the excess moving up), 43 is too many! It leads to a three race format which is too much for one day, and grids of 38 on circuits like Combe is too many. Much better if they could have 25 in all series imo.

By the way those running costs are rubbish, you could quarter that and still have a very generous budget for the UK Superlights. And while that is not cheap club racing try finding something comparably quick and of similar standing for the same money.

You could run (easily a Proper fire breathing Monster)in many series for alot less than 1/4 of the cost we are talking here (unless those number include the car).

Not sure about alot here but one make series bore the tits off me. Variety is the Spice and all that.....

[SimonY]

jellison said:

Not sure about alot here but one make series bore the tits off me. Variety is the Spice and all that.....

As an engineer I would like to build/prepare my own car for a series with a much more free set of regs and more variety, I can definitely see the attraction. But imo the good one make series provide easily the most exciting racing for the spectator; watching the racing in the Tuscans and Superlights at Combe in 2003 is the direct reason that we started racing in the first place.

[jellison]

SimonY said:

jellison said:

Not sure about alot here but one make series bore the tits off me. Variety is the Spice and all that.....

As an engineer I would like to build/prepare my own car for a series with a much more free set of regs and more variety, I can definitely see the attraction. But imo the good one make series provide easily the most exciting racing for the spectator; watching the racing in the Tuscans and Superlights at Combe in 2003 is the direct reason that we started racing in the first place.

I am contradicting myself here - but I agree with the Tuscan when they ahd big grids in the early 2000's b4 it went tits up (nothing last forever), and same for the Caterhams.

One make are best when REALL Fast other wise I prefer missed field races (I love Miglias - but they are all built my the owners to strict rules instead just buying a car and racing it - which to my way of thinking is a bit of a cop out).

[sfaulds]

thunderbelmont said:

and dispel the gossip that keeps people from upgrading to it. I hear that there are people spending what I call silly money on that series - upwards of £80-90K for a season in running costs alone.

And the ironic post of the day award goes to....

[dreamer75]

Caterham racing is all well and good if your car fits into the grad/mega/super/roadsport series - mine is an old Roadsport A (c.130bhp, 6 spd, LSD etc.) and it's hard to find anywhere to race.

750MC pulled their Caterham classes and specifically exclude Caterhams from their kitcar classes, SEMSEC have classes but the class is open so it includes cars up to 1.8 which can have a lot more power than me, and other than that I'm struggling to find anywhere to race it

There are a couple of newer race series which I'm investigating for next year, but it's nto easy. Other option is to sell up / convert to grad spec.

[h_____]

You know you want to! :-)

[ALEC FRANCIS]

What about an endurance series for caterhams, two 50 min races like britcar or 2 hr races with a small drybreak unit two fit existing tanks, Tucker would look at it I am sure, it could be part of the Bricar weekend, now that would be good.

[andy97]

ALEC FRANCIS said:

What about an endurance series for caterhams, two 50 min races like britcar or 2 hr races with a small drybreak unit two fit existing tanks, Tucker would look at it I am sure, it could be part of the Bricar weekend, now that would be good.

There used to be something similar run by the Jaguar Car Club, or similar, the Goldarts 100 I think it was called. It died out 3 or 4 years ago presumably due to lack of interest but it always seemed like a good idea to have a mini endurance series for Locaterfields, Atoms, and similar such cars. I have suggested something similar for the Britcar club on their forum but no takers.

[jellison]

andy97 said:

ALEC FRANCIS said:

What about an endurance series for caterhams, two 50 min races like britcar or 2 hr races with a small drybreak unit two fit existing tanks, Tucker would look at it I am sure, it could be part of the Bricar weekend, now that would be good.

There used to be something similar run by the Jaguar Car Club, or similar, the Goldarts 100 I think it was called. It died out 3 or 4 years ago presumably due to lack of interest but it always seemed like a good idea to have a mini endurance series for Locaterfields, Atoms, and similar such cars. I have suggested something similar for the Britcar club on their forum but no takers.

God I remember these Jag 100 km or 40 min things a Knightmare for the punter and racers to endure, when the rest of the races were half or less than this length - it was time to go to th bar or tinker with the car. Jag club events alway remind me of Old Banger racing events;)

[KJR]

For anyone interested details of last weekends Scottish Motor Racing Club meeting at Knockhill. A standard club meeting with no visiting rounds.

6 Practices and 14 Races as follows:

2 x XR2 - full grid of 20+ and 4 xSTs.

3 x Minis (BMW) - 18 cars, with Robin Liddell of Daytona Prototype fame in the celebrity car.

3 x Legends - 24 cars.

2 x Formula Ford - 18 Cars.

2 x Classic Sports and Saloons - 4 Porsches, numerous Lotus, Alfas, Ford Escorts, Capri, Datsun 240, TVR 3000M.

2 x Sports and Saloons - 2 x 500bhp Ford Focus, 2 x 500bhp Ford Escorts, Lamborghini Gallardo, 2 x Porsche 997, Marcos Mantis, Ex BTCC Honda Civic, numerous Caterham/Westfields and a few "others".

Seven red flags in total for various reasons.

Grids are bigger than a few years ago and some fairly exotic machines.

For anyone interested photos, not mine, can be found here.

Edited to add that we had a BMW X6 as a course car. Never knew they existed, what an ugly car .

Edited by KJR on Wednesday 2nd July 10:25

Edited by KJR on Wednesday 2nd July 10:46

[custardtart]

dreamer75 said:

Caterham racing is all well and good if your car fits into the grad/mega/super/roadsport series - mine is an old Roadsport A (c.130bhp, 6 spd, LSD etc.) and it's hard to find anywhere to race.

750MC pulled their Caterham classes and specifically exclude Caterhams from their kitcar classes, SEMSEC have classes but the class is open so it includes cars up to 1.8 which can have a lot more power than me, and other than that I'm struggling to find anywhere to race it

There are a couple of newer race series which I'm investigating for next year, but it's nto easy. Other option is to sell up / convert to grad spec.

Yeah it's a shame the Kit Cars which I race in doesn't allow caterhams, we never have full grids with only 15 at Brands recently so I don't understand why they do this

[jellison]

custardtart said:

dreamer75 said:

Caterham racing is all well and good if your car fits into the grad/mega/super/roadsport series - mine is an old Roadsport A (c.130bhp, 6 spd, LSD etc.) and it's hard to find anywhere to race.

750MC pulled their Caterham classes and specifically exclude Caterhams from their kitcar classes, SEMSEC have classes but the class is open so it includes cars up to 1.8 which can have a lot more power than me, and other than that I'm struggling to find anywhere to race it

There are a couple of newer race series which I'm investigating for next year, but it's nto easy. Other option is to sell up / convert to grad spec.

Yeah it's a shame the Kit Cars which I race in doesn't allow caterhams, we never have full grids with only 15 at Brands recently so I don't understand why they do this

You could ask them?

[ALEC FRANCIS]

The JCC closed because lack of funds, when caterhams were allowed to race, they became the dominant car over saloons and destroyed the racing then they let radicals in which dominated the caterhams and destroyed it altogether, caterham endurance will work if it is made pure.

[andy97]

ALEC FRANCIS said:

The JCC closed because lack of funds, when caterhams were allowed to race, they became the dominant car over saloons and destroyed the racing then they let radicals in which dominated the caterhams and destroyed it altogether, caterham endurance will work if it is made pure.

I think that cars like Westfields, Ariel Atom, Brooke Kensington, Chevron B1 etc should also be eligible to allow the widest possible participation. No bike engined cars, though.

[ALEC FRANCIS]

Andy97 the cars need to be set into no more than 3 classes, with a set of fixed rules and easy to police.

[andy97]

ALEC FRANCIS said:

Andy97 the cars need to be set into no more than 3 classes, with a set of fixed rules and easy to police.

No problem with that but the clsses don't have to be marque specific, indeed their ar numerous different variants of Caterham. Britcar uses Power to Weight ratios in its other classes, no reason why that should not apply to a Britcar Locaterfield etc series.

[custardtart]

jellison said:

custardtart said:

dreamer75 said:

Caterham racing is all well and good if your car fits into the grad/mega/super/roadsport series - mine is an old Roadsport A (c.130bhp, 6 spd, LSD etc.) and it's hard to find anywhere to race.

750MC pulled their Caterham classes and specifically exclude Caterhams from their kitcar classes, SEMSEC have classes but the class is open so it includes cars up to 1.8 which can have a lot more power than me, and other than that I'm struggling to find anywhere to race it

There are a couple of newer race series which I'm investigating for next year, but it's nto easy. Other option is to sell up / convert to grad spec.

Yeah it's a shame the Kit Cars which I race in doesn't allow caterhams, we never have full grids with only 15 at Brands recently so I don't understand why they do this

You could ask them?

I have, I know why I just don't understand it

[thunderbelmont]

sfaulds said:

thunderbelmont said:

and dispel the gossip that keeps people from upgrading to it. I hear that there are people spending what I call silly money on that series - upwards of £80-90K for a season in running costs alone.

And the ironic post of the day award goes to....

In this context "I hear" means I know who, but I am not willing to share to protect the accused.