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Post by RocketRacer on Apr 29, 2003 11:44:20 GMT
yes it's good to be racing at the F3/GT's this year as i gives us a change to race for the scottish cup once more .(not that i will win it But you never know)
the racing is always good from where i am. "HaHa!"
sunday was good even with the bad luck i had, (race report say's it all) but the car is flying so it's the drivers turn to step up a gear i think.
really good to hear you like the racing Nick.
i don't see much of the XR's with so many races in the day. most of the guys working out of ali's garage go and watch the XR's when there car's are being fix by ali and his team of workers he now has,and they really do enjoy them the way they talk about it.
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Post by NS-R on Apr 29, 2003 11:52:01 GMT
For me, the Legends and XR's are very similar from a spectating point of view in that both series have pretty much identical cars fighting for position - great entertainment.
You guys are fortunate in that the Legends get better promotion than we do. It's quite surprising how the XR's are never promoted by the SMRC/Knockhill since they have been the mainstay of the club for seven years...
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Post by Mike Hogg on Apr 29, 2003 15:06:11 GMT
anyway havn't you sat in a legends car before now KF i thought you would have . if not that will have to be sorted out at the F3/GT's then. we are only racing sunday so saturday should not be busy so come along and find me and have a chat and a "wee" seat in my car if you want .( mind you lady's first KF). as for Ali running about well that is Ali always on the go. could maybe sort that one out to? for you. hears a thought find me saturday morning and we can find out when the legends are having their grid "DRAW" as we do and you two can come along with me to that one. (F3/GT weekend) and you will see most of the drivers up close. maybe speak to a few as well. Strangely enough, never sat in a Legend yet - quite fancy a go though... I promise I won't hit the ignition and drive off!! ;D Sat in Nick's XR2 once and had a look around it - wouldn't mind doing the same with a Legend. As for going to the drivers draw that sounds pretty interesting - sounds like something to try.  |
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Post by Mike Hogg on Apr 29, 2003 15:08:58 GMT
For me, the Legends and XR's are very similar from a spectating point of view in that both series have pretty much identical cars fighting for position - great entertainment. Exactly - as myself and GR have said a number of times, those two series are far and away the best out there as far as actual racing entertainment is concerned - the Legends get some good coverage but the XR2s are criminally ignored for some reason... it can't help that the minis have stolen all the limelight! |
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Post by Catriona on Apr 29, 2003 15:39:44 GMT
it can't help that the minis have stolen all the limelight! On the subject of Minis, for those who didn't see them at the track, here's a picture of one of the stickers the Burnbrae cars were all carrying on Sunday - the funniest thing being that this particular one was on the back of a road-going mini! Someone out there has an evil sense of humour...   |
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Post by NS-R on Apr 29, 2003 15:46:23 GMT
oooh - controversial! We'll have all the Mini boys kicking off now...  |
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Post by Catriona on Apr 29, 2003 15:48:09 GMT
Controversial...but funny |
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Post by Dave on Apr 29, 2003 15:50:06 GMT
Im not sure if the porsche does the flames because its highly tuned, extra fuel on overun to cool the clyinders or if its a turbo it will be antilag!  John Muir sounded like a gear box and he just cruised as it was busted and lost gears, he did speed up when he realised Tim had been in a accident but slowed down again cause he had been lapped by Kevin and the Westfield! John Muir / Porsche was a highlight of the day along with Nick/Ian and the DB7 having a bit fun powersliding out the hairpin (did it for me ) Dave. |
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Post by davefiddes on Apr 29, 2003 21:02:53 GMT
Controversial...but funny  Love it!  Was reading Wheelspin at the weekend...apparently "some wag" had covered the word "Motor" with a banner saying "Mini" on the club Portacabin by race control at the previous meeting. Didn't see it sadly  Allegedly. Im not sure if the porsche does the flames because its highly tuned, extra fuel on overun to cool the clyinders or if its a turbo it will be antilag! It'll be the anti-lag. As far as I can remember the GT2 Porsches didn't flame quite as much at Le Mans in 99 when I was there (but not been since  ) as they did in the FIA GT series and ALMS when I went to see them. Guess it must be a leaner mapping they use at Le Mans to make the fuel last.... There is another, legitimate, cause of flames out the back... I've heard tales from a guy with a road going Ultima fitted with Racelogic traction control. His car has a carb rather than EFI (like most Ultimas - mine included) so the only way to do TC is to cut the spark. Apparently when he wishes to terrorise the people behind him at the traffic lights he sets the TC control box to 20% slip and then nails it....which causes him to disappear into the distance in a cloud of black smoke accompanied by loud bangs and a lovely sequence of 6' flames!  Very irresponsible on the road...but you have to admire the audacity of the guy! Figures. I hope boxes are cheap for those things...though there aren't many that'll take 400+ bhp that you could call cheap. Cruising around for a few laps will have ensured that it was foobar. You guys are fortunate in that the Legends get better promotion than we do. It's quite surprising how the XR's are never promoted by the SMRC/Knockhill since they have been the mainstay of the club for seven years... Hmm. The XRs got lots of plugging by the club and KH back in the beginning... Waverley Press XR, this that and the next thing. Do the XRs need much promotion? Perhaps they aren't quite the image that the club/KH want to project...on the surface the Fiesta XR2 is a helluva an old car but the New Mini is shiny and new and easier to promote...(just my hypothesis - not my opinion) We all know that the XRs produce some of the best racing anywhere - Joe Public may take some convincing these days I suspect? Also, money talks. The various stakeholders in the Mini series have to keep talking it up and promoting it otherwise they are going to look silly. There's a heck of a lot of high profile sponsors on the Mini series... Though I have to admit I still haven't a clue what Stewart Milne Group does. If folk come for the Mini's they'll stay for everyone else... |
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Post by Catriona on Apr 29, 2003 21:35:10 GMT
Hmm... that's a good point - the XR2s are getting quite old now, so I guess they're not really the cutting edge of racing technology any more... but they're still the best racing out there (Legends are very close, but don't quite have the grid sizes yet  ), and also the most accessible to the average fan who wants to start out racing, so it'd definitely be nice to see more promotion. Although having said that, it's the only series I've noticed that has event sponsors for the vast majority of its events (thanks to Colin Robertson, according to Wheelspin  ), plus with Nick's site, and this place having so many XR2 drivers, it probably comes out pretty well on the webfront, too  |
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Post by NS-R on Apr 30, 2003 7:04:40 GMT
Dave, I totally agree with your comments - let's face it the latest MKII XR2 was manufacutred in 1989! However, any promotion done by the SMRC comes from the clubs funds. As far as I'm concerned (and other drivers that I have spoken to), any promotion for an SMRC event should promote ALL the SMRC series - not just the Mini's. My only criticism with KH is that they send out flyers for the HH days etc but there is very little promotion for the race meetings, bike included. I have spoken to people at the meetings who only knew that there was a race meeting on by stumbling across my website or this one... Nick www.ns-r.co.uk |
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Post by jfin on Apr 30, 2003 8:30:08 GMT
I've been in London on business hence the delay in posting.
My weekend started with some changes having been made to the car, new springs, shockers and an exhaust. The exhaust which ICR fitted was a competition exhaust and I could feel the car had slightly more power which was good. However the springs and shockers had made the car handle a bit differently and Saturday was spent getting used to the feel of it. By the end of the testing session I still wasn't entirely happy with the car.
Sunday morning qualifying was strange for me, I don't think my head was right. Maybe it because I hadn't been happy with the way the car was handling and maybe because it was difficult to tell how much grip the track had but I just could not get anything like a decent lap in and then just as I thought that I had to go for it anyway, the chequered flag came out and the session was over. Result was 22nd on grid and an unhappy Johnny Boy. Well done Nick on your 2nd place!
By the time the race came about I was more focused and, for once, got a decent start making up 3 places in the dash to duffus. Heading through duffus the carnage ahead forced me to break hard and Al Hart got back past me round the outside at MacIntyres. I got stuck behind Al for a good few laps and although we both got past one car I could not find a way past until Al ran very wide at MacIntyres. I then managed to get a gap behind me and focused in on closing down Norm. I seemed to be catching Norm and then came across Nick's car carelessly parked in the middle of the track with him still in it. I did think think that my chance to catch Norm had gone as I suspected that the race might be red flagged but I was hoping for the pace car flag to be shown until they moved Nick's car which would allow me to close down on Norm and the guys ahead of him. I could not believe that until the end of the race we all kept on flying past NIck's car with only yellow flags to warn us (we know why now though). As Nick has said, it was lucky that in the first lap or so, no one pulled out at the exit to Clarks to overtake someone and ram Nick head on (exit speed there is about 75mph, so it would have made a bit of a mess). Anyway, eventually caught Norm at the hairpin with a couple of laps to go and dragged past him up the straight. Whilst I was on the outisde of Duffus it was my corner and we both gave each other room, although to make sure Norm didn't nip past me again I took a very tight line at MacIntyres which resulted in a slow exit for me and Norm giving the back of my car a little kiss. I think he might have lifted off then as I seemed to open up a gap going through the chicane and on the way up to Clarks. I didn't have any chance of catching the guys in front so the last couple of laps were just making sure I didn't fall off. Finished 13th on the road, 9 places ahead of my grid slot, and promoted to 12th when ColinR was excluded.
Reasonably happy with the way the race ended up. Some more points and no damage.
New car should be ready for the next race.
On the subject of promoting specific series etc, I asked KevinP to raise a point at the SMRC agm. The answer was as follows : "The club has no intention of stopping XR2s afterall 50 drivers raced them in 2002. Promotion is usually spread to encourage classes that are not strong or are starting up. If you have some ideas for XR2s lets hear them".So let's hear your ideas - I will happily take them to the committee.
On the subject of an away round, I also asked Kevin to raise a point on this. The answer was as follows : "Away rounds - other clubs were contacted and were not interested or had no space. They were interested in new classes hence Legends and Minis get one race each at Croft but at different meetings. Chris Edwards needs to be pressed now to start the search for 2004." If the view is that we want an away round next year, (I would say yes, please!) then we need to start working on that NOW.
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Post by NS-R on Apr 30, 2003 8:43:36 GMT
Good result John - shame you qualified well down but you got a good finish anyway...
I am interested to see if anything comes out of what happened regarding the loss of contact with a marshalling post - I'm sure the MSA would have something to say about it...
Would it be possible to set up a short meeting with Chris Edwards at the next meeting, say on the Saturday morning? It would be a good opportunity to discuss and ideas or suggestions...
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Post by jfin on Apr 30, 2003 12:32:29 GMT
I will speak to ChrisE over the course of the next week or so and try and get something fixed up.
Perhaps we should start a new thread on here for promotional ideas we could come up with prior to meeting with the smrc ?
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Post by RocketRacer on Apr 30, 2003 16:16:52 GMT
Strangely enough, never sat in a Legend yet - quite fancy a go though... I promise I won't hit the ignition and drive off!!  Sat in Nick's XR2 once and had a look around it - wouldn't mind doing the same with a Legend. As for going to the drivers draw that sounds pretty interesting - sounds like something to try. That's OK with me KF you will just have to find me on sat morning and we should be able to sort that out for yourself and GR . As for the drivers DRAW that too is easy to sort out too. this gets done at every meeting before the racing starts, but if you go and watch it just lets you see what goes on behind the scenes "so to speak". (it's about the only time that all the driver come together other than at race time). so speak to you then. |
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