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Post by XR2 Baz on Oct 20, 2003 11:49:27 GMT
Talking of single seaters I was dissapointed not to see Scotland having a Formula Libre type race ( dominated by Tommy Reid in Ingliston Days ) after all there are a lot of differing single seaters ex F1,2 & 3s in Hill Climb events. You know Racemania, I remember asking the self same question when I was about 15. I got the same answer then from various people, and over the years have found out these reasons to be true. Like just about anything in motorsport, it's about money. There are some cracking cars in hillclimbing and sprinting, but the speed discipline requires a very different car to racing. To race and sprint the same car would require two different gearboxes, two seperate sets of tyres and twice as many weekends in the year!! There were 17 sprints this year alone and a lot of the guys I know were feeling stretched to make them all. Still, I can't help agreeing, it would be nice to see some of these cars race. I'd particularly like to see the OMS's and similar bike engined single seaters in a race. I've been reliably informed that in the sprints at Knockhill they hit 150mph approaching the hairpin and turn in sub-50sec lap times! Baz
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Post by NS-R on Oct 20, 2003 13:42:40 GMT
I can only speak for the XR2's but Racemania is correct - there are some disgruntled drivers in our championship, myself included. For me, rather than slating the SMRC, we need to work together to improve all our classes. John Findlay put out a questionairre off his own back to all the XR2 drivers with various questions regarding how the club is run, highlights and lowlights and what we want to see in the future etc etc. The main thing that came out of it is that most drivers were satisfied with how the club was run but we would like to see "away" rounds as in previous years and a more spread out season - John - if I'm wrong, please correct me. There was some very good constructive feedback which John is going to present to the committee. The problem with the dates is that the BTCC & Co. mess around changing their dates and these events are obviously more important to Knockhill. We get the dates that are left. Granted, they should be spread out more evenly but there may be good reasons behind the chosen dates outwith the SMRC's control. On the subject of attendences, well they are always going to be small crowds when the events aren't advertised. The previous meeting was fairly busy but there was a lot of advertising for the MG's. Why can't the SMRC distribute flyers like Knockhill do with the HH days? It wouldn't cost much and it could always be done once as an experiment to see if it works... Another point worth mentioning is that there is a committee meeting usually in November where drivers can come along and air any grievancies or any suggestions. I couldn't make it last year, but I went along the year before and some very good ideas came about. I seem to remember that someone suggested that the XR2 points scoring system be used in other classes as it worked well and also the renumbering of the top 20 cars to help spectators - good ideas that wouldn't have come about otherwise. If you don't attend, you have missed your opportunity to have your say so you can't really moan about any issues that weren't mentioned... JamesHerriot - that would be a good time to try to sort out the marker posts/white lines issue. I can understand where you are coming from in a single seater - it's hard enough in a Fiesta! One other point I would like to make though is that although I know there are a lot of costs involved in arranging a meeting, £140 for 15 minutes qualifying and a 15 lap race seems a bit excessive. The SMRC will argue that entry fee are higher down south but at least they get to race at more than one circuit.... Regards, Nick www.ns-r.co.ukPS Stop falling out with each other!
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Post by Catriona on Oct 20, 2003 14:01:20 GMT
PS Stop falling out with each other! Agreed there - I can't say a lot to the rest of it, as obviously I'm not involved in the racing and don't know much about the politics of it all, but you'll all do better if you discuss this calmly Btw, you may also want to bear in mind that there are several "guests" reading this forum most days, and no-one knows who they are (I can get their IP addresses, but that gives me no clue to their identity) If any of them happen to be high up in the SMRC, then the more radical ideas might not do your case much good... I doubt anyone there would be happy to see people wanting them replaced, when they've no doubt put a lot of time and effort into running the races. I don't say that the SMRC are perfect, as some things, like the chicane-cutting issue, seem a little inconsistent and could use some work, but I will say that they've improved a lot in the time I've been watching the races here. Anyone remember the XR2 race at the end of last year where the Moon River cars got sent off the grid at the start, because they "hadn't qualified"? And then the race got redflagged on lap 1 to let them back in, because someone had only listed the first 24 cars on the grid, instead of 26? At the time, it didn't really come as much of a surprise, as there had been a lot of silly glitches and problems all year... this year I've seen very little of that, though, and I feel that the races are very professionally run, in the main. They're improving, and constructive criticism will help, I'm sure, but lets try and keep it constructive, rather than destructive
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Post by dagman16 on Oct 25, 2003 1:39:58 GMT
Hi folks... I have just joined this webgroup and would like to add my bit to some of the points raised... I would have thought the best time to air any problems with SMRC regarding race schedules would be at the club AGM, usually in February. I am often there but very little is raised in this regard. Regarding the big gap in race meetings this summer, I was of the impression that this when we should have had the BTCC mob but they opted for Rockingham.... Good news is that next year, we have them back! Regarding folk hitting the floppies at the chicane... well, I am one of the track marshals there who replaces them after some of you knock them out.... sorry, but we're told to do it!! We only had one left intact after the October meeting... Stuart Thorburn was floppy champ with 2 direct hits... I guess it was revenge for him attacking the marshal's post in practice... The post was partially destroyed by an errant XR2 earlier in the day... Who says we have an easy life!? Most of the marshals look forward to the XR2s and Legends best as we know we usually get a good race... as well as some work to do!! We're also looking forward to playing with the Legends on November 8th! Looking forward to 2004 already.... seems a long way off.. Regards to all David
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Post by jfin on Nov 20, 2003 19:30:53 GMT
I am hoping to make it along to the next SMRC committee meeting so will try and pick up some of the points made here as well as those from the questionnaire responses.
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Post by jfin on Feb 26, 2004 14:40:18 GMT
For a variety of reasons I never did go along to a committee meeting but instead had a couple of longish phone chats with Chris Edwards. Chris is always willing to listen and in my opinion tries to take on board any constructive ideas put to him although its not always possible. Its probably too late now to go to the SMRC under the banner of giving them the feedback from the questionnaire.
The race schedule that has been put together for this year, coupled with the just announced away double header, I think has gone a fair bit of the way in answering a lot of concerns that the XR2 boys had when I surveyed them last year. Before the first meeting I will refresh my mind with what the XR2 drivers said and take it from there, chatting again with Chris if need be. I might also draft another questionnaire to get up to date feedback.
Ali, I should be at the March 7 test day - assuming my car has been put back together by then. We never did manage meet up and I'm happy to chat with you at any time then or at some other time when we are both at the Hill if you still want to.
JF
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