Wednesday 6th June 2007

Evening racing in the summer

Powernights series now accepting race entries

---

Classic Escorts are on the bill...

Race entries for the new Thursday evening motor racing series ‘Powernights’ are now being accepted.

The first ‘Powernights’ event will be staged at Silverstone on Thursday 2nd August with the second at Donington Park on Thursday 9th August, and the third at Silverstone on Thursday 30th August.  

Each of the events will be open to the public from 5pm following a full day of testing and qualifying.  The eight race event will begin at 6pm, with a post race awards ceremony, paddock BBQ and entertainment open to all spectators and competitors, marshals and officials.

The categories are:

• Invitation Minis - All Classic & New (BMW) race Minis
• Invitation Caterhams - All Roadsports & Superlights race cars
• Invitation Saloons - Ford Saloons, Alfa Romeo, VW Cup & BMW up to 2 litres
• Invitation Ginettas - All Ginetta Championship Cars
• Invitation Hatchbacks - Ford Fiestas, XR, Fiat Uno/Punto, MG ZR race cars
• Invitation Classic Saloons - Masters Top Hat Saloons & Other Classic Groups TBA
• Invitation Porsche - All Porsche Club, Open Championship and 924 race cars        
• Invitation Mazda MX5 - All Mazda MX5 race cars
• Invitation Sports 2000 - All Sports 2000 race cars
• Invitation Radicals - All Biduro & Enduro race cars
• Invitation Formula Ford - All Formula Ford race cars

Interest from other suitable race groups will be considered...

As are the Caterhams

Racing at 'Powernights' will be by invitation only for cars that fall into the categories above. A total of 4 race groups will feature with double-header races at each event. The events are not rounds of any other championship or series.

Each race is run to a ‘10 minute plus 1 lap’ format with the second of each double-header race run in reverse finishing order to the first race results.Some races may run a pursuit-start format to equalize performance difference.

 The entry fee for the day is £250 (up to 30^th June and £300 after) per race car and each entry receives:

• 9am to 3.30pm testing in sessions plus a qualifying session and two 10 minute plus one lap races
• Pit garage allocation to early entrants
• Six team personnel passes, a paddock vehicle pass and a competitor car park pass.
• Four copies of the event souvenir programme.
• Six event public adult entry tickets for friends/family, valued at £15 each (Extra at special rate).
• Two post race evening BBQ Vouchers (Extra at special rate)
• Two race number panels.

Porsche 924s will also be on the grid

Each event will have a 60 minute dedicated programme shown on Motors TV and a £4,000 minimum prize fund. Motorsport News and Motors TV have been confirmed as event media partners and Scalextric will be the first series sponsor.

For Race entry to any of the ‘Powernights’ events download the entry pack from the BRSCC website www.brscc.co.uk or contact Motion Works on 01327 856 024 or via [e-mail]

More info:

www.powernights.com

[FWDRacer]

So you have a day off work (days pay?) in order to compete in the evening and satiate the general publics desire to watch motorsport.....

Remind me what the weekends are for again

[cuesoundofdampfirework]

[macsport]

FWDRacer said:

So you have a day off work (days pay?) in order to compete in the evening and satiate the general publics desire to watch motorsport.....

Remind me what the weekends are for again

[cuesoundofdampfirework]

FWDRacer

POWERnights wont suit everyone who races but there are a lot of drivers who do test during the week.

At POWERnights a driver can do the general test and then have a qualifying session plus two races for £250. On top of that there is a TV deal and prize money for each race.

This is a new idea aimed at providing a package that appeals to drivers and brings in spectators to watch. Some of these spectators will be new to motorsport, who may then come and watch at the weekend events.

Jeff

Jeff Carter
Press & PR Manager
Motion Works UK Limited

[teamHOLDENracing]

FWDRacer said:

So you have a day off work (days pay?) in order to compete in the evening and satiate the general publics desire to watch motorsport.....

Remind me what the weekends are for again

[cuesoundofdampfirework]

I considered this an opportunity to test for the normal fee with a couple of races thrown in for free in the evening and an opportunity to win my fee back.

Since almost every test is held on a weekday, I struggle to see how this is anything other than a positive...

[stockhatcher]

yup sounds ace!

i've often thought that club racing should move to week days if it meant the entry fees are cheaper. i mean £250 for a days testing and a race.... good value

any chance of a 750mc stock hatch class?

[GarrettMacD]

stockhatcher said:

yup sounds ace!
i mean £250 for a days testing and a race.... good value

And TV coverage. And loads of free tickets. And free grub. And a decent prize pot so you *could* have a free day of testing and racing. Sounds like a bloody good idea!

[andy97]

It certainly sounds like something worth exploring - I just hope that there is some promotion beforehand in the local media in order to try to get the spector numbers up.

I may be interested in the invitation hatch backs event at Donington but I am also hoping to be out at Oulton on sat 11th Aug.

[pugster]

Personally i think it's a great idea and fully intend attending the Donington event as a spectator.

Looks like a great programme and the short format of each race looks like it could provide close racing.

Having attended races for longer than i care to remember it has become apparent (to me at least) that spectator numbers have dwindled over the years at club level race meets.

I guess there are a number of relevant factors behind this so the option of being able to go and watch some racing on a "work night" is appealing.
I hope it has the potential to draw in people who could not normally attend race meetings due to the 24/7 world we now live in.

Best wishes for the success of this and hope it can be established as a regular part of the calendar during the summer months.

P.S Any idea of what the gate prices are likely to be?

[macsport]

pugster said:

P.S Any idea of what the gate prices are likely to be?

Prices are here - http://www.powernights.com/visitors.htm

Jeff

[FWDRacer]

GarrettMacD said:

stockhatcher said:

yup sounds ace!
i mean £250 for a days testing and a race.... good value

And TV coverage. And loads of free tickets. And free grub. And a decent prize pot so you *could* have a free day of testing and racing. Sounds like a bloody good idea!

....Offset by the loss of earnings if you contract....

.....or lose a days annual leave if you are staff....

Perhaps it will appeal to those people that race, who don't have to work for a living, eh?

[andy97]

Lets face it most people have to work for a living but some can be more flexible than others. There are plenty of people who do go testing mid week & so this may appeal to them. I hardly ever test but nevertheless weekends are also precious for family time so there is always some form of conflict on my time. Oh and lets see, a "normal" race entry fee costs c£180-200 for 30-40 mins track time, this looks like costing £250-300 for (possibly) 2 - 3 hours track time (my guess based on not a lot of info!).

Sure, there's loss of earnings to consider but you've got to take holiday time sometime! It won't appeal to all but lets not knock the concept, at least they are trying to do something different to attract racers on to the grid and punters through the door.

[teamHOLDENracing]

FWDRacer said:

GarrettMacD said:

stockhatcher said:

yup sounds ace!
i mean £250 for a days testing and a race.... good value

And TV coverage. And loads of free tickets. And free grub. And a decent prize pot so you *could* have a free day of testing and racing. Sounds like a bloody good idea!

....Offset by the loss of earnings if you contract....

.....or lose a days annual leave if you are staff....

Perhaps it will appeal to those people that race, who don't have to work for a living, eh?

This will appeal to people who test. Since virtually all tests are on week days, they would be taking the day off work anyway.

Personally I am happy to use some of my annual leave to do something I love.

If its not for you leave the 'roll eyes' smilies alone and just don't do it.

[stockhatcher]

FWDRacer said:

....Offset by the loss of earnings if you contract....

if you're on contractors rates you can well afford to take a day off

[Atom120]

FWDRacer said:

.....or lose a days annual leave if you are staff....

Perhaps it will appeal to those people that race, who don't have to work for a living, eh?

Which is precisely why you get given annual leave - so you can take days off! Understand? I guess probably not...

Any idea which configuration of Silverstone they'll be running - GP, International, or National? I've got a Ginetta, and could be tempted to take a day off work and give the first round a go...

[macsport]

Atom120 said:

Any idea which configuration of Silverstone they'll be running - GP, International, or National? I've got a Ginetta, and could be tempted to take a day off work and give the first round a go...

Atom120

The circuit that will be used at Silverstone will be the National Circuit.

Check out the details available here - http://www.motion-works.co.uk/assets/2007_POWERnig...

If you've got any further questions please do not hesitate to ask. The series webiste is up and running at www.powernights.com and race entry packs are available at www.brscc.co.uk

Jeff

[macsport]

stockhatcher said:

any chance of a 750mc stock hatch class?

Certainly, if we can attract enough competitors to form a grid.

The 750MC have been approached but if you'd like to spread the word Stockhatcher then we can supply invitations and further info.

Jeff

[stockhatcher]

macsport said:

stockhatcher said:

any chance of a 750mc stock hatch class?

Certainly, if we can attract enough competitors to form a grid.

The 750MC have been approached but if you'd like to spread the word Stockhatcher then we can supply invitations and further info.

Jeff

how many do you need?

[ginettajoe]

For Race entry to any of the ‘Powernights’ events download the entry pack from the BRSCC website www.brscc.co.uk or contact Motion Works on 01327 856 024 or via [e-mail]


Has anyone tried to download an entry from the BRSCC website, ..... The system will be available at the end of April!! Nearly half way through June, ... Some things never change!!! It could of course mean April 2008!!!

[macsport]

stockhatcher said:

macsport said:

stockhatcher said:

any chance of a 750mc stock hatch class?

Certainly, if we can attract enough competitors to form a grid.

The 750MC have been approached but if you'd like to spread the word Stockhatcher then we can supply invitations and further info.

Jeff

how many do you need?

25 guarantees a slot on a PN event

[macsport]

ginettajoe said:

Has anyone tried to download an entry from the BRSCC website, ..... The system will be available at the end of April!! Nearly half way through June, ... Some things never change!!! It could of course mean April 2008!!!

ginettajoe

I've just tried the link on the BRSCC website and it works for me. On the BRSCC homepage, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Powernights logo. If you are still having problems email me am#nd I'll let the BRSCC know and send you an entry pack by return.

Jeff

[ginettajoe]

macsport said:

ginettajoe said:

Has anyone tried to download an entry from the BRSCC website, ..... The system will be available at the end of April!! Nearly half way through June, ... Some things never change!!! It could of course mean April 2008!!!

ginettajoe

I've just tried the link on the BRSCC website and it works for me. On the BRSCC homepage, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Powernights logo. If you are still having problems email me am#nd I'll let the BRSCC know and send you an entry pack by return.

Jeff

Hi Jeff, I'll try that, thanks ....... I tried clicking on the link!!