Brands - why so many no shows?
Discussion
Towards the end of the season a lot of people lose their momentum, especially if they have had a couple of bad results along the way. This year`s "novel" scheme to allocate 7 rounds in a random fashion rather than allow people to compete in all the rounds and drop scores was always going to result in low grids towards the end of the season. Were dropped scores to be allowed, (as was promised and is being promised again for next year) then more teams would have been in contention for class / outright wins and the grids would have been fuller as a result.
Well done to all the winners.
For what it`s worth in 2008:
Firm up the rules & regs nice and early.
Keep them simple.
Enforce them.
Take money up front for all the rounds as a package for teams who want to compete for the championship and wish to guarantee entry. Sell any remaining spaces on a per race basis for those teams happy to take a chance. The more dropped scores you allow the closer to the wire the championship will go and the further into the season good grid sizes will remain.
Cars will always break down during testing, if there is a potential victory at the end of the tunnel then you`ll find a way to get the car out the next day, as per the Top Cat boys this weekend (was it a 4.00am finish !).
Henry
Well done to all the winners.
For what it`s worth in 2008:
Firm up the rules & regs nice and early.
Keep them simple.
Enforce them.
Take money up front for all the rounds as a package for teams who want to compete for the championship and wish to guarantee entry. Sell any remaining spaces on a per race basis for those teams happy to take a chance. The more dropped scores you allow the closer to the wire the championship will go and the further into the season good grid sizes will remain.
Cars will always break down during testing, if there is a potential victory at the end of the tunnel then you`ll find a way to get the car out the next day, as per the Top Cat boys this weekend (was it a 4.00am finish !).
Henry
I would imagine that the reason for so many no-shows is the insane schedule of one race immediately after another, giving teams around three days to re-prep their cars. Bearing in mind that even for British GT teams this would be a pretty tall order, to expect little teams (many part time) to turn long-distance racecars round in such a timescale is just stupid. Any problems, rebuilds or accident damage cannot be sorted in three days.
The calender is somewhat awry when the championship ends in mid August - BGT has only just passed the half way point, yet Britcar has just sort of stopped. Eight meetings since the end of March, with one abroad, is much too tight compared to any other series. BGT has had five meetings, BTCS four, LMS three, etc. Britcar could comfortably continue into October, just like most other series.
All rather strange.
The calender is somewhat awry when the championship ends in mid August - BGT has only just passed the half way point, yet Britcar has just sort of stopped. Eight meetings since the end of March, with one abroad, is much too tight compared to any other series. BGT has had five meetings, BTCS four, LMS three, etc. Britcar could comfortably continue into October, just like most other series.
All rather strange.
Racing twice in a week is stretching resources I agree, and I agree with Henry's points re drop scores, but I am sure as always the EERC will look at the calendar/championship for 2008 and make suitable amendments. What we shouldn't forget is that we have had a terrific trip to Spa for a fantastic 4 hour night race and have supported the A1 GP race weekend - both dates were cast in stone (as are the Dunlop G&B dates) and so are nothing to do with the EERC. It was just great to be there.
What short memories some have, its been a good 1st year of the championship (how long as BGT been going?).
However, your comparisons with the BGT season bear little relevance. Britcar started 2 weeks earlier, and then has regular races throughout the spring/summer - which as part time teams we want. We crave regular action. BGT has a 5 week and a 6 week break during the summer, why spend the best part of the year sitting on your backsides or doing DIY - I would rather be out there racing (along with a few BGT teams who joined us at Spa & Donington who also craved regular racing!).
The mid August finish is essential to enable us "part time" teams (Rollcentre, Eclipse, Chad, Adam Sharpe, Duller, Tischner, Top Cat, Moore International, Geoff Steel etc etc) to then prepare for the highlight of the season (for many), the 24 Hours in early September. After which there is still an night race scheduled at Brands for October - after the end of the BGT season?!
What short memories some have, its been a good 1st year of the championship (how long as BGT been going?).
However, your comparisons with the BGT season bear little relevance. Britcar started 2 weeks earlier, and then has regular races throughout the spring/summer - which as part time teams we want. We crave regular action. BGT has a 5 week and a 6 week break during the summer, why spend the best part of the year sitting on your backsides or doing DIY - I would rather be out there racing (along with a few BGT teams who joined us at Spa & Donington who also craved regular racing!).
The mid August finish is essential to enable us "part time" teams (Rollcentre, Eclipse, Chad, Adam Sharpe, Duller, Tischner, Top Cat, Moore International, Geoff Steel etc etc) to then prepare for the highlight of the season (for many), the 24 Hours in early September. After which there is still an night race scheduled at Brands for October - after the end of the BGT season?!
Jemco Andy said:
The mid August finish is essential to enable us "part time" teams (Rollcentre, Eclipse, Chad, Adam Sharpe, Duller, Tischner, Top Cat, Moore International, Geoff Steel etc etc) to then prepare for the highlight of the season (for many), the 24 Hours in early September. After which there is still an night race scheduled at Brands for October - after the end of the BGT season?!
Oh come on, you've chosen the bigger teams as your examples (including two of my regular teams)! I help out Don Norchi's Volvo occasionally, as Piers and Mel are friends of mine, so I'm well aware of how small some outfits are. I wasn't being critical or sneering at small teams, just realistic.I know the night race will happen (we might do it with our old TVR), but that might have been a better time for a championship finale than having it one week after the previous race.
Anyway, I only paid for a five minute argument, rather than the full half hour, so that's all from me.
I agree with Henry. Britcar is always going to cost a lot of money and for some, once the Championship is lost they will go and play eleswhere. When we signed up we could drop our 2 lowest scores. Based on this we decided to do the Championship. With a car like ours we were always going to have at least 2 DNFs so the "rules" as published seemed quite fair. Imagine my surprise when it was all changed at the last minute and we were allocated 7 scoring rounds. Frankly, had it not been for sponsors I would have pulled out then.
Britcar has rules - the MSA insists on them. The problem this year is that they have been completly ignored and the scrutineers have done nothing to police them. The power to weight measurements are a farce(who truely knows their CdA?)and even minor rules are ignored. I would be happy if the class structure allowed a free for all in the top class - its what they have anyway - and at least we would know what we are up against. As it is we have the worst of both worlds. Some teams try and abide by the regulations and others blatently ignore them. How about oversize dump churns being openly used to refuel? Dump churns should be the correct size so no one can even think more fuel than allowed is being added. I have pointed this out to EERC officials and they have simply turned a blind eye. Its a real shame as this kind of behaviour can only hurt the championship in the future and I do not want that to happen. Its reasons like these that cause small grids and eventual cancellation of the championship. Please dont let it come to this.
On the upside the EERC have done an good job with organising their own meetings, and running a championship. I, for one, congratulate them on that. Now, however, they need someone that understands the nuts and bolts and can run a proper championship. If they employ someone to do this I will come back in 2008. If not, I cant see many reasons to be there!
Anyway, I do congratulate all the winners - you have done an excellent job - and I hope I can return next year!
Cheers,
Richard.
Britcar has rules - the MSA insists on them. The problem this year is that they have been completly ignored and the scrutineers have done nothing to police them. The power to weight measurements are a farce(who truely knows their CdA?)and even minor rules are ignored. I would be happy if the class structure allowed a free for all in the top class - its what they have anyway - and at least we would know what we are up against. As it is we have the worst of both worlds. Some teams try and abide by the regulations and others blatently ignore them. How about oversize dump churns being openly used to refuel? Dump churns should be the correct size so no one can even think more fuel than allowed is being added. I have pointed this out to EERC officials and they have simply turned a blind eye. Its a real shame as this kind of behaviour can only hurt the championship in the future and I do not want that to happen. Its reasons like these that cause small grids and eventual cancellation of the championship. Please dont let it come to this.
On the upside the EERC have done an good job with organising their own meetings, and running a championship. I, for one, congratulate them on that. Now, however, they need someone that understands the nuts and bolts and can run a proper championship. If they employ someone to do this I will come back in 2008. If not, I cant see many reasons to be there!
Anyway, I do congratulate all the winners - you have done an excellent job - and I hope I can return next year!
Cheers,
Richard.
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