Big changes to MSA licences - Medicals

[Kraken]

Why are you replacing the seat? Unless I've missed it the only rule change I've seen recently regarding seats was to actually extend the life of them for the events where a seat actually has an expiry date. They also extended the life of most harnesses at the same time.

The extinguisher thing was always a recommendation which I was surprised that many people weren't following given the cost and risk of having a extinguisher that didn't work. I always serviced mine every two years without fail.

[megamaniac]

Spa race,FIA regs unfortunately.
I have always had my extinguisher done by local firm that does my work ones ,now they need to be returned including nozzles to the manufacturer or their agent.

[Steve H]

It looks like drops/oceans to me, I’m not convinced that the average 50/60 year old should be lining up on the grid without a medical but that’s a different issue.

[BertBert]

Steve H said:

It looks like drops/oceans to me, I’m not convinced that the average 50/60 year old should be lining up on the grid without a medical but that’s a different issue.

How dare you, I'm perfectly fit!
But it does seem an odd thing to do.
Bert

[BertBert]

megamaniac said:

Spa race,FIA regs unfortunately.
I have always had my extinguisher done by local firm that does my work ones ,now they need to be returned including nozzles to the manufacturer or their agent.

I really don't like the licence going up, but £50 extra for an international race at spa can't make the difference, surely?
Bert

[Steve H]

BertBert said:

How dare you, I'm perfectly fit!
But it does seem an odd thing to do.
Bert

Clearly you are not the average 50/60 year old .

[megamaniac]

BertBert said:

megamaniac said:

Spa race,FIA regs unfortunately.
I have always had my extinguisher done by local firm that does my work ones ,now they need to be returned including nozzles to the manufacturer or their agent.

I really don't like the licence going up, but £50 extra for an international race at spa can't make the difference, surely?
Bert

It's the combination of all of it that makes next years race look like costing over £3000 ,unfortunately I can think of better things to spend the money on .

[mk1coopers]

Got my renewal through this morning too, going to have a long hard think about it before committing, I only use it a couple of times a year now so the cost increase is quite substantial, that and the feeling that the licence has now been degraded (by renaming it, not actually degrading it) has left a bit of a bitter taste, I always used to do my medical (when I got to the point of needing one, (I've have had a licence for 25 years now) in February as it would then be valid for two licence renewals, now I'll end up paying out more each year.

Can't see how this will help, maybe it's time to not renew.....

Edited by mk1coopers on Sunday 24th November 12:43

[ChrisW.]

ginettajoe said:

So who carries out the eye test, how thorough is it, and that would obviously govern whether there was a cost? The eye test included in the previous medical only determined how many of the characters on the wall chart you could read!!

When I had my eye test the doc said that all it proved was that I needed glasses !

The costs of racing are so high that if the medical / licence fee is a problem, there won't be much chance of any significant racing ... surely it's this cost which is the cause of the reduced numbers. That and the increasing number of direct contact incidents in what is supposed to be a non-contact sport ...
I believe they are conveniently called Racing Incidents in which both parties pay their own costs ... ?

[ginettajoe]

ChrisW. said:

ginettajoe said:

So who carries out the eye test, how thorough is it, and that would obviously govern whether there was a cost? The eye test included in the previous medical only determined how many of the characters on the wall chart you could read!!

When I had my eye test the doc said that all it proved was that I needed glasses !

The costs of racing are so high that if the medical / licence fee is a problem, there won't be much chance of any significant racing ... surely it's this cost which is the cause of the reduced numbers. That and the increasing number of direct contact incidents in what is supposed to be a non-contact sport ...
I believe they are conveniently called Racing Incidents in which both parties pay their own costs ... ?

Chris, I don't think it is the amount that the licence has increased by, but the manner in which it has been done! MSUK have been concerned about falling licence applications, hence removing the necessity for the medical, but immediately creating a 50% increase in the cost of the licence to line their own pocket!!! Have the operating costs to MSUK gone up by a significant amount. or not??? I doubt it, because inflation has been at a very low level as I'm sure you are aware! So the "Spiv" (MSUK) has given with one hand, but taken more back with the other hand, basically to line it's own pocket!!
All I can say is that I feel it is an insult to any licence holder, new or existing, who possesses a modicum of intelligence! They obviously consider that we are as stupid as they are!!

[Kraken]

ginettajoe said:

Chris, I don't think it is the amount that the licence has increased by, but the manner in which it has been done! MSUK have been concerned about falling licence applications, hence removing the necessity for the medical, but immediately creating a 50% increase in the cost of the licence to line their own pocket!!! Have the operating costs to MSUK gone up by a significant amount. or not??? I doubt it, because inflation has been at a very low level as I'm sure you are aware! So the "Spiv" (MSUK) has given with one hand, but taken more back with the other hand, basically to line it's own pocket!!
All I can say is that I feel it is an insult to any licence holder, new or existing, who possesses a modicum of intelligence! They obviously consider that we are as stupid as they are!!

Comments like "to line their own pockets" don't really help do they? Where's your proof that they are pocketing the money for their own benefit?

Do you realise that licenses for officials are now free, starter packs are now free, the free starter licences come with all the benefits and discounts of the paid for licenses etc etc?

You might want to read this - https://www.motorsportuk.org/2020-licence-restruct... - but of course with an attitude like yours you're going to think it's all a pack of lies and an investment strategy is a euphemism for an offshore bank account.

[ginettajoe]

Kraken said:

ginettajoe said:

Chris, I don't think it is the amount that the licence has increased by, but the manner in which it has been done! MSUK have been concerned about falling licence applications, hence removing the necessity for the medical, but immediately creating a 50% increase in the cost of the licence to line their own pocket!!! Have the operating costs to MSUK gone up by a significant amount. or not??? I doubt it, because inflation has been at a very low level as I'm sure you are aware! So the "Spiv" (MSUK) has given with one hand, but taken more back with the other hand, basically to line it's own pocket!!
All I can say is that I feel it is an insult to any licence holder, new or existing, who possesses a modicum of intelligence! They obviously consider that we are as stupid as they are!!

Comments like "to line their own pockets" don't really help do they? Where's your proof that they are pocketing the money for their own benefit?

Do you realise that licenses for officials are now free, starter packs are now free, the free starter licences come with all the benefits and discounts of the paid for licenses etc etc?

You might want to read this - https://www.motorsportuk.org/2020-licence-restruct... - but of course with an attitude like yours you're going to think it's all a pack of lies and an investment strategy is a euphemism for an offshore bank account.

You are the only person I know that is putting up any form of defence, and talking about many, many people that are of the same opinion as myself!! So we must all be wrong, Oh, and of course, you are right!! Obviously a "remainer"!!!!!!

[Steve H]

Getting huffy about how something is done doesn’t alter the fact that it’s an insignificant cost relative to a seasons racing and it ignores the inconvenient truth that the annual licence fees are one of the main incomes that allow our sport to continue.

A hundred quid or a hundred and fifty, the difference wouldn’t cover a weeks worth of Oulton Park breakfasts .

[BertBert]

ginettajoe said:

You are the only person I know that is putting up any form of defence, and talking about many, many people that are of the same opinion as myself!! So we must all be wrong, Oh, and of course, you are right!! Obviously a "remainer"!!!!!!

So if they've come up with a plan to change things, what's the alternative? You can either be even handed and see if they can make a difference or just be super negative and closed minded about it. Or perhaps come up with a better idea?

Bert

[ginettajoe]

Steve H said:

Getting huffy about how something is done doesn’t alter the fact that it’s an insignificant cost relative to a seasons racing and it ignores the inconvenient truth that the annual licence fees are one of the main incomes that allow our sport to continue.

A hundred quid or a hundred and fifty, the difference wouldn’t cover a weeks worth of Oulton Park breakfasts .

So if race entries increased by 50%, Trackday costs increased by 50%, Circuit hire increased by 50% that would be different would it??? So next year, after everyone has rolled over and accepted it, and the licence cost goes up by 50%, which would be a £75 increase, that would be fine would it??? Remove the blinkers, re-insert brain, and when you have a bit more experience, then begin to spout!!!

On the subject of Oulton Park, the chief Instructor there is of the same opinion as myself, in that he will not renew his licence unless he has any intention of doing a race later in the year, which he may, or may not do!! I am in exactly the same situation, in thinking that if I don't race, I will save myself £150, and because I won't need a medical, if I choose to enter a race, I can renew my licence a couple of days prior to the meeting!! Several other people have said exactly the same, so I wonder what percentage of licence holders will withhold their money, which reduces the MSUK income!!

Edited by ginettajoe on Sunday 24th November 23:34

[ginettajoe]

BertBert said:

ginettajoe said:

You are the only person I know that is putting up any form of defence, and talking about many, many people that are of the same opinion as myself!! So we must all be wrong, Oh, and of course, you are right!! Obviously a "remainer"!!!!!!

So if they've come up with a plan to change things, what's the alternative? You can either be even handed and see if they can make a difference or just be super negative and closed minded about it. Or perhaps come up with a better idea?

Bert

Had MSUK consulted the current and log standing licence holders to come up with suggestions on how to reduce costs, so that it encouraged them to maintain their licences, and more importantly, encourage more applicants, I know for a fact that there would have been a far more constructive system that encouraged that to happen! Of course, those suggestions would have been unlikely to include MSUK having far more money supporting their bank account!!

[ginettajoe]

Obviously, there aren’t many that share the opinion of the “liberal” posters on here!!

[Steve H]

ginettajoe said:

So if race entries increased by 50%, Trackday costs increased by 50%, Circuit hire increased by 50% that would be different would it??? So next year, after everyone has rolled over and accepted it, and the licence cost goes up by 50%, which would be a £75 increase, that would be fine would it??? Remove the blinkers, re-insert brain, and when you have a bit more experience, then begin to spout!!!

Fairly obviously it would be different, a single race entry costs more than double the licence fee . The entry fees for the championship I ran in last year must have totalled around £5k, a 50% increase would have cost a lot more than fifty quid.

I won that championship BTW so I think I’m doing ok now on the experience front .

ginettajoe said:

On the subject of Oulton Park, the chief Instructor there is of the same opinion as myself, in that he will not renew his licence unless he has any intention of doing a race later in the year, which he may, or may not do!! I am in exactly the same situation, in thinking that if I don't race, I will save myself £150, and because I won't need a medical, if I choose to enter a race, I can renew my licence a couple of days prior to the meeting!! Several other people have said exactly the same, so I wonder what percentage of licence holders will withhold their money, which reduces the MSUK income!!

Edited by ginettajoe on Sunday 24th November 23:34

Renewing and not racing seems like pretty poor value at either price, sounds like the changes have done you both a favour.

[Oilchange]

I renewed my licence for this year on the off chance I’d race, won’t do that again. Unless a great racing op jumps up and bites me on the arse, I’m sidelined by this move. I wonder how many others will do this.

[Kraken]

ginettajoe said:

You are the only person I know that is putting up any form of defence, and talking about many, many people that are of the same opinion as myself!! So we must all be wrong, Oh, and of course, you are right!! Obviously a "remainer"!!!!!!

You might want to try some other forums/groups then. There are definitely other people of my opinion. Also there are 30,000 license holders in the UK. 1,800 have signed the petition regarding the increase.

I never said I was "right". Just that you were making statements with no facts to back them up and frankly libellous statements at that.