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Post by JamesHerriot on Jun 3, 2003 0:14:38 GMT
The suggestion that the guest mini is available to any of the drivers who have a car that can`t be fixed in time seems strange as the officials were all set to take the mini off Jillian on sunday until it was pointed out to them that McCaig had not qualified in the guest car so was therefore not entitled to race it !
Also, there was nothing wrong with his brakes , it was obvious he really over did it with the late braking and like elvis pointed out he locked his wheels up long before the impact.
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Post by stuntdriver on Jun 3, 2003 8:57:20 GMT
Has any one heard of ABS? Surely it is almost impossible for these cars to lock up with the ABS fuse in, and if you ask the officials and listen to the chat in the paddock McCaig's fuse was in and he had a burst brake hose.
If the celebrity car is not available to drivers then why was Crocker allowed to use it two meetings ago when his gearbox failed in the first race?
I think maybe some people should get their facts straight before jumping the gun. We can all comment from the sidelines as spectators.
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Post by NS-R on Jun 3, 2003 9:36:18 GMT
All the mini drivers have now received a bulletin (after the weekend) stating that no one will be able to use the celebrity car in future - well apart from the celebrity of course!. It also states that the car used for qualifying must be the one used during the event - that also counts for the hill climbs and rally. Nick www.ns-r.co.uk |
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Post by Catriona on Jun 3, 2003 12:30:39 GMT
Good that that's been cleared up now - it was geting a bit confusing! Just realising in all the Mini talk we've not actually said a lot about the rest of the racing... well for those who weren't there, he's a quick rundown on how our board drivers did: First of all, we all know that Nick finally managed to get a finish, in 6th place after Colin Robertson's DQ, which is a heck of an improvement on the last couple of races! From the looks of things, he'll be on for a few top 5's now he's actually worked out how to reach that chequered flag, so good going there  John's new car was out for the first time this weekend (complete with a *very* bright yellow interior  ), and seemed to be running pretty well for a while... till towards the end I realised I hadn't seen it for a while. When me and KF wandered round to the ICR area at the end of the day, we found a three-wheeler parked up, complete with rather major fuel leak, so it seems the new car didn't have the best of starts  Norm seemed to be running well this time out, as he kept up with the midfield battle for just about the entire race - unfortunately he ended up with yet another 16th place finish, but he's getting closer to the other drivers in the midfield all the time Derek was also having a good race, as it looks like he's got his car sorted out to run fairly well at last - he was ahead of several other drivers all through the race, and actually finished it this time  I see from his profile that Barry Holmes has just joined us, and although I didn't see a lot of him, the sound his car was making for a few laps, and the fact that it definitely didn't reach the finish, suggests that he was having some problems  Team Moon River was conspicuous by its absence, sadly... I seem to remember Ian saying a few weeks back that he couldn't make it this time, but where was Neil?  Onto the Legends, and Gary was another missing person, with no sign of him at the track  Lance and Alasdair were both there, though, and both were well in the thick of the action, especially Lance, who seems to specialise in crazy moves under braking at the hairpin (they actually work, too)!  Alasdair got to start the final from pole, which must've been pretty exciting for him, even if it's not really the place anyone wants to start a Legends final from Missed the Scottish FFord race, but from all I heard, Alan won it quite easily Not sure how Duncan went, and sadly he wasn't in the Northern FFord race, so I never actually got to see him out on track. Alan won that one by miles, though - it reached the stage where there wasn't much point in watching him, because all the action was about half a lap behind him!  Think that's about everyone... not sure if Claire Luti still reads this forum, but sadly she never made the start of the Saloons and Sportscars race, as she was having some trouble withthe Metro. Seems a few people from the board weren't out racing this time, but those who were all seemed to have a good day, except John, that is - got the feeling all he's got out of it is a smaller bank balance  |
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Post by davefiddes on Jun 3, 2003 18:12:32 GMT
Since nobody has mentioned it. Thought that it was great to see all of the Crossles out. They're quite nippy little cars...and don't have motorcycle engines! They don't half run close to the ground though...they all seemed to be bottoming out through Duffus. Great to see Colin Gallie and Jillian Butcher out for the first time in ages. Would somebody give these guys a decent regular drive? They deserve more than driving desks IMHO.... Though I'm not offering my Ultima What did anyone else think of the Alfa race? Pretty good I though though the Autoitalia race could have done with another 20 cars... I got the impression that the grids were usually a lot bigger. KH isn't so far north is it? |
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Post by mcgarrett on Jun 3, 2003 20:17:22 GMT
We can all comment from the sidelines as spectators. We can? Great stuff! I'll start... I'm with Dave on this one - I thought the Autoitalia and Alfa races were pretty good stuff - lots of good battles going on there. Also as has been mentioned the FFs were on top form. It sounds like the hairpin is the place to be for watching the minis battle it out - I'll have to try and get down there next time, and if the weather is anything like it was this weekend the shade would probably do me good. I still don't know why they referred to it as Anglo-Irish 'though. Shurely shome mishtake - tripartite more like. |
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Post by Mike Hogg on Jun 3, 2003 20:33:34 GMT
Hmmm, many talking points....
The hairpin is definitely the place to watch the minis - theres been absolute carnage there in the last two meetings as well as racing that is starting to pick up a bit. The brake failure explanation for MaCaig's incident seems slightly dubious given that the tyre marks did indeed stretch 100 yards down to the hairpin and across the kerbing... but then I dunno how brakes work in reality - could have been any number of explanations I guess.
Well done to Nick on getting into the 64s bracket - it's been a long time coming! Shame the race didn't g quite so well but there are points on the board now and things can only get better! Well done to Lance too on the daring Legends races. Shame we were missing a few drivers this weekend, hopefully they'll all be back in 3 weeks.
The visiting stuff added some extra interest but the best racing was in the SMRC classes as predicted. Good Alfa races though, and the Crossles always come back each year - think they like it here!
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Post by JapaneseElvis on Jun 3, 2003 21:40:12 GMT
Has any one heard of ABS? Surely it is almost impossible for these cars to lock up with the ABS fuse in, and if you ask the officials and listen to the chat in the paddock McCaig's fuse was in and he had a burst brake hose. I think maybe some people should get their facts straight before jumping the gun. We can all comment from the sidelines as spectators. The cars are now allowed to run without the ABS connected. The fact is that McCaig over-comitted himself and late braked, locking up and stuffing it. Ask any accident investigator what the primary excuse that a driver (assuming he survives) gives following an RTA - brake failure. How many brake failures actually occur? - almost none. If you get yoour facts straight and check the RACMSA Blue Book (that means the rules under which motor sport is governed in this country) you'll see that you can't race a car which you didn't qualify in. Finally, don't assume that we all "comment from the sidelines as spectators". That may well describe you, but you would be ill advised to make this assumption about us all. |
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Post by JamesHerriot on Jun 4, 2003 0:15:57 GMT
Like KF says , many points raised, heres another one, has anyone borrowed the celebrity mini before without qualifying in it and if so does this mean that any points they may have gathered are now going to be taken off them ?
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Post by Catriona on Jun 4, 2003 7:29:10 GMT
I'm pretty sure it was borrowed on the April 27th meeting... seem to recall there was some very slow person in it who I've never heard of, who got replaced by Findlay Crocker (?) for the second race. Have to say I was under the impression that that was just a part of the Mini series - ie that if a driver's car became unusable through no fault of their own, they would be allowed to take over the celebrity car. Certainly at one point on Sunday myself and KF were in the ICR area when Alan Keith came along saying something to the mechanics about taking the celebrity car, so we thought that he'd be using it in the second race this time out... when he didn't, we just assumed it was because there were too many drivers wanting one car, rather than because it wasn't allowed  |
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Post by Racemania on Jun 4, 2003 8:49:54 GMT
Just home and found some time to put in my 2P's worth. So the minis have created controversy over crash damaged cars and a Celebrity Car everyone wants to grab when it suits them? Sorry if I don't seem sympathetic but in Legends were just given a sledge hammer and told to straighten it.. Swiftly changing the subject, it was quite a good race day for me but where was Gary? 75 conspicuous by his absence. Qualifying turned in my fastest lap yet so happy with my setup, then drew 7 for first heat. After the start there were cars flying in all directions and banging into each other for most of the 1st lap. I found myself with no grip and starting to lose place after place ended up 17th. Spent a frantic time before next heat straightening out front bumper and fixing blown cooling fan. Heat 2 started on 8th managed to avoid all the various happenings and although I still had no grip had a place swapping race with Steve Reynolds for 3 laps but when I passed him for the third time out of the hairpin he pulled off and went home so managed to finish 13th. Imagine my thoughts when the Final grid positions are given out and I have Pole for my second final since starting with the pack! Also I’m surrounded by Burnett Motorsport James alongside, John and Robert row 2. Yet again too slow off the mark so John through to the lead next I have Derek on my tail and he was past into Clark. Think I managed another lap before some others passed me into Clark this time two nose to tail so I couldn’t get over to get back on the inside. More doing the same at the hairpin ended up with a place swapping fight with Colin Atkinson towards the end was waiting for him out braking me into the hairpin when it turned out to be Malcolm with Ray stuck together, Colin followed them and five of us hit duffus roughly at the same time Malcolm lost it and James went over the top so race stopped, my final place 12th and best yet. Malcolm’s car looked back together to take home but I think James’s will require some attention but at least no one hurt which is the main thing. Lot of politics behind the scene on Sunday - thankful to be a new boy if anyone my age can say that! Phil Cooper the British Legends concessionaire up to Scotland to promise more support and publicity for us. The old cynics in the paddock say it’s only because a new contract starts next year and it’s a last ditch attempt to retain it, so make of that what you will. Me I am just enjoying racing Legends - boy are they fun and who knows with all this experience I’m getting of Final pole starts one day I might get it right. Yeah I hear what you’re all thinking!!! But I have to have my dreams.  |
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Post by NS-R on Jun 4, 2003 9:01:58 GMT
Racemania - well done on your best ever finish - sounds like you had a good weekend out there. You'll soon be up at the front mxing it with the more experienced guys - it just comes with practice... Cheers, Nick www.ns-r.co.uk |
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Post by stuntdriver on Jun 4, 2003 9:42:02 GMT
The cars are now allowed to run without the ABS connected. The fact is that McCaig over-comitted himself and late braked, locking up and stuffing it. Ask any accident investigator what the primary excuse that a driver (assuming he survives) gives following an RTA - brake failure. How many brake failures actually occur? - almost none. If you get yoour facts straight and check the RACMSA Blue Book (that means the rules under which motor sport is governed in this country) you'll see that you can't race a car which you didn't qualify in. The cars are allowed to run with the ABS disconnected now. What I am saying though is that if you actually speak to the officials who investigated the incident you will find that McCaig did have his ABS fuse in and that his brake hose had burst - I believe the scrutineers have now issued a bulletin on the subject with measures to avoid the hoses bursting in future - there were another two cars in the race who suffered the same problem. Having done some investigating on the subject of the celebrity car the FACT is that the celebrity car was available to any driver whose car was knackered providing there is not more than one car in the same boat - this did happen at the April 27th meeting with Crocker - if there is more than one car in the same boat then either no-one gets it or they draw names out of a hat. I do believe however that as of last weekend the celebrity car will no not be available to anyone - whether or not that is to do with the blue book rule I don't know. |
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Post by NS-R on Jun 4, 2003 9:57:01 GMT
As DaveFiddes says, the Crossles were good to watch as well. We were stood at Clark's in the morning's race and they were battling through there. One lost it on the exit but somehow the others managed to miss him. Does anyone know what cars are involved in the Northern GT's which will be joining us on June 22nd? Dave - are you planning to come out in the S & S with your Ultima later in the year? Nick www.ns-r.co.uk |
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marc
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Post by marc on Jun 4, 2003 12:03:40 GMT
With reference to the problem of the brake hoses bursting on the minis, it also appeared that smiths car had burst brake hoses after the first race. We have solved this problem on our car (Ronnie Klos') simply by ensuring there is just enough hose to allow full steering lock, thn by placing a cable tie aroung the hose, to stop it being pulled through the hole in the damper.
The other point many of you seem to make is about the use of the celebrity car, at the first race meeting of the year ronnie wrecked the white mini, we were never offered the use of celebrity car at any point, we were under the illusion that the driver of the celeb car ofered finlay the use of the celeb car and finlay didn't count for championship points.
Don't know if many of you noticed but the white mini Robin Drysdale was racing was Ronnie's mini which was wrecked at the first meeting!
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