Thursday 26th August 2004

CruiseSport

Govt tries to round up the cruisers

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60,000 new-look motorsport competitors and spectators will be created by 2008, based on an innovative project that aims to encourage modified car enthusiasts to test out their limits on the circuits, not on the streets.

A new "CruiseSport" company formed by the British Racing & Sports Car Club (BRSCC) - has received £350,000 from the Government Motorsport Unit to develop a ‘street modified motorsport' programme to attract young people whose activities have previously been criticised as anti-social.

CruiseSport will appeal to the growing number of young people whose major leisure interest is customising and showing cars. ‘Cruisers' currently congregate in groups in public places, which can bring them into conflict with police and residents.

Vicki Squirrell, manager of CruiseSport said, "It is fashion-conscious motorsport dedicated to the youth market and modified cars, which provides circuit-based activities while retaining street credibility. We will be organising legal and safe events at appropriate venues located throughout the UK for these people to meet and interact, this will remove their activities from public roads and other unsuitable locations".

"We aim to improve the public opinion of such groups locally and nationally through interaction with authorities such as councils and police."

CruiseSport Ltd will provide a centralised agency under the control of the Motor Sports Association (the governing body of motor sport in the UK) for ensuring that venues meet safety standards required, applying for permits, insurance, and legally arranging convoys to events as well as monitoring the modified car scene through its membership.

MSA Chief Executive Colin Hilton said: "We welcome this initiative to create a new element alongside existing motor sports. We are actively working together with all parties to attract new people to motor sport and as the governing body our overriding responsibility is to ensure that the events are safe and well managed."

Motorsport Development Board member Robert Fearnall said, "CruiseSport will ultimately provide a new, interesting and inexpensive form of motorsport for the youth of today which is not traditionally catered for within motorsport. It will provide a concentrated market for car manufactures and the booming accessories and modifications industry."

The next CruiseSport event will take place at Donington Park, Leicestershire on Saturday 25th September. See www.CruiseSport.com for more information.

[crankedup]

Cannot fail IMHO.

[dinkel]

Max Power, great PH topic I'll pass thank you . . .


This is what it's all about is it . . .

[DustyC]

Surely they modify their cars for looks and not performance though.

I had better get a Caterham quicker before the prices go up!

[racefan_uk]

Why would prices of Caterhams go up if its a Max Power type series?

[DustyC]

Because they'll all get hooked on track racing and look for the best machine for the job!

[lanciachris]

Excellent idea. Round them all up, bit of 'scrutineering' carried out by BiB, result : cars impounded, more chavs off the roads.

[ChrisO]

I actually think this is a good idea - once upon a time I was a "cruiser" and there are loads of genuine people who just like to modify their cars for both performance and looks (each to their own etc). At least this will allow these people to pursue their interest with greater police control, whilst keeping the chav element away from the public roads.

[rutthenut]

As a member of BRSCC, I've seen info about their cruise/show/sound-off type events already. I think a fair number of the [racing] competitors find it a bit abhorrent that the BRSCC are doing this, but there is money and attendance in it...

Funny thing is, the noise levels generated by the ICE in this cars is way, way, way above that permitted from the exhausts and engines of competing race cars.

Wish the Govt would put money into other motor clubs for the interest of those minorities out there (!) that enjoy circuit racing, sprinting, rallying etc. You know, 'real motorsport', not the baked-bean-can exhaust crowd :-(

[shadowninja]

This may well work. People are going to attend, but then again there are already lots of these type of events up and down the country. Unless they run it every Friday, Saturday and Sunday plus other days of the week in every major city it won't cure the cruise 'problem', though.

In fact, it just sounds like a pointless gesture to make Tony Bliar look cool, ie buying votes.

>> Edited by shadowninja on Thursday 26th August 12:18

[julianhj]

Brilliant idea IMHO. MSA approved track events for maxxers might teach them how to use their cars properly, show them initially just how little they may know about car control (and just how pear-shaped it can get - with the safety of large run-offs), and provide a vent to kerb their desire to rag it through suburbia. Will also hopefully wean them off 'all show and no go' stboxes and into proper sports cars.

Whilst I've never had a desire for neons, three-spoke alloys and other 'refinements' I can see where a lot of these kids are coming from. They just need to be shown a guiding light to lead them to the nirvana that is a respect and devotion to proper sports cars. Might boost PH numbers too (given time and correct encouragement).

[neil.b]

I got talked into going to the first one at Castle Donnington by an acquaintance who took his Tiger kit car with the intention of running it in the drag comp (he never did in the end though, ho hum). Just went along to see what it was all about.

Have to say, though it lacked some organization (like a rough idea of what was happening where and when), I actually think its a really good idea. A really positive solution to a social probelm, which is a refreshing change.

It was £5 to get in and i think £30 to go on the drag strip (they ran under the Dunlop bridge) with as many goes as you like, which is not a bad price compared to other strips and the surface is 100 times better than most. Might go next time and have a crack myself.

And the drifting was good fun to watch.

[RB Will]

not sure I can see this working myself as a lot of these cars wont pass noise tests. Are there really that many of them interested in racing though as I never see that many at the race meeting I go to. think it might be the cruising they like and not have to worry about being spanked on a track where they will have the risk of being shown up. May be an ego problem I dunno. Of course the other thing is they are driving these cars as they can aford nothing better not because they dont want anything better, so is it free admission to the track or are they going to have to pay like all us other trackday people / racers (I should have looked at the website first I suppose) if so are they going to be able to afford it or would the money be better spent on neons and keeping their street cred intact.

[bigjimmy]

dinkel said:

Max Power, great PH topic I'll pass thank you . . . This is what it's all about is it . . .

Well why even bother with the post!!!

Go and read your F1 1997 annual!

[dinkel]

Sorry, but this is really out of MY world . . .


About the anual . . . Schumi did not have this. Ah, the adds!
Lots of titties and racegames and chrome and titties.


How can one race with all the bling onboard?

Edit to say:
www.hotglowneon.com/index2.htm
Will look nice on the corporate Golf . . . I'm off to Donnington Park!

>> Edited by dinkel on Thursday 26th August 13:21

[tuscansix]

dinkel said:

That's no car.... That's a spacestation

>> Edited by tuscansix on Thursday 26th August 13:30

[davefiddes]

Knockhill have been running these sort of style of events for the past few years. They've grown their Hot Hatch run-what-ya-brung track days to include drag strip competition up the main straight (a 1:6 incline or something???!), drifting competitions round the tri-oval at the hairpin and ICE sound off competitions. They also have Miss Hot Tub competitions which is probably great for the target market but really gives KH and more regular trackday and race goers a bad reputation...

They seem to attract huge crowds of several thousand sometimes 10-15k for the big events I think. It certainly can't be a bad thing getting folk to come to the race circuit and it definitely subsidises the proper racing.

[hornet]

Akin to how drag racing became an official sport really. If it gets people out of retail parks and multi storeys and down to a track then why not? Does seem strange that HM Gov want to plough cash into this when there are already plenty of sprints, trials and RWYB events that could do much the same thing. Don't suppose they have enough bling factor though.

Look at how "import" racing has exploded into the US drag racing scene. Ok, so some of it is a bit "Fast & Furious", but there are some amazing cars running in the various series over there, and I think it's starting to take off over here too. The Japanese Performance Show at SPR in October will see the debut of a dedicated Japanese racing series, which is a good thing if you ask me. I want to see some of these mental power Skylines, Supras and Evos tearing up the track. I also want to see how the current tuning scene impacts on drag racing in the future.

[Pulsatingstar]

neil.b said:

And the drifting was good fun to watch.

Thats my drift team. We dont like the thing really, but it gets us free use of the Melbourne Loop to ourself so can put up with it.

I was at one last weekend and its totally not my thing but free use of track for us makes it worth it

[jamesc]

£350K of taxpayers money!!! A complete waste! Just like the money they gave Glew for Formula Woman! At least the BRDC seem to be putting their own money into karting and a couple of decent F3 drivers. If the government really want to do something for motorsport then VAT relief and help small teams with incentives.

[nisman]

I think it’s worthwhile. It looks as though the money’s spread over at least three years so it’s not that outrageous. Think of the cost of policing their antics or of clearing up a big accident

The events do have some track action as well as maxed up cars so it should get the kids off the road and encourage them that speed matters – once they can afford the insurance – and they’ll already be signed up members of a club so they’ll get their thrills on the track

It links back to a government motorsport website www.gmuweb.com that has some interesting stuff on it. Seems money’s going into careers, the sport and businesses. They’ve spent £1 million so far and £2 million more’s going into the business. There are some big names behind it too – including David Richards (Prodrive & BAR) - so they should know what they're doing