Knockhill Racing Club - 30th Oct

[Dave]

First car race of Knockhill Racing Club on 30th Oct.

The bike racing seems to be going well - pretty popular.

£150 for qual and 2 races sounds good.

Opinions?

[awsponsor]

Goodbye SMRC?

[Dave]

Possibly? Surely it would be hard to compete financially - Knockhill club won't have to pay much to hire circuit.

Surely it's not that simple though or MSV would have done it down South a long time ago.

[flagmonkey]

MSVR do mainly run on "home" circuits with a few forays elsewhere www.msvracing.co.uk/cars/calendar.aspx

Also did Castle Combe not also recently fall out of love with BRSCC and start doing their own thing with Castel Combe Racing Club?

[Catriona]

I'm confused - why is there a need for a 2nd organising club in Scotland? I'd gathered the Knockhill club was for bikes, hadn't realised they were doing cars too, and not really sure that a country with only one track really needs two organising bodies! Hopefully they can coexist well enough anyway, since the SMRC has done a damn good job over the past few years, I hope that can continue for a long time.

[flagmonkey]

Suggestion it is a precursor to KMSC running the Speedfair meeting (which SMRC apparently were not too keen on doing this year?).

Club Chairman Stuart Gray said: “There has been no reason to activate the car side of the club, until now. The SMRC will continue to run their successful championship days at Knockhill, but after a recent meeting between the Circuit and the Scottish Motor Racing Club, it has been decided that the KMSC would take over the popular SpeedFair event next summer. In order for us to do this, the KMSC must hold a Trophy meeting to satisfy the requirements of the governing body this year, hence the October 30th event”

Taken from www.knockhill.com/wordpress/2011/09/knockhill-motor-sports-club-to-run-its-first-car-race-meeting/

Call me a cynic...

[norm]

This all seems very strange!

Does anyone know how the marshaling is being arranged at this meeting? Has an "invitation" gone out to those that would normally marshal at the SMRC meetings?

[dagman16]

Yes, Norm.

Us marshals who normally man/woman the SMRC meetings have been handed out forms to complete if we want to participate in this event.

David

[norm]

Thanks David.

It is hard not to be a bit of a conspiracy theorist about this! I do sort of believe that Knockhill needs to have club level car racing for its own credibility, but equally I don't think Knockhill make much money from SMRC weekends (or certainly have other options that would make as much money). There is also the strange thing about SMRC meetings never getting much publicity so never having a huge crowd - I think I remember someone once saying that this was because Knockhill keep the gate receipts so there was no incentive for the SMRC to publicise the meetings?

Time will tell if anything is going on under the surface!

[dagman16]

I think Knockhill makes most of its money from Corporate Days and the Experiences. I understand SMRC pays Knockhill a hire fee for the track on race days which is quite a lot so they will get income that way.
The lack of publicity for club meetings is a shame but one of the Knockhill directors told me a while ago that for every £100 they spent advertising, it got 1 body through the gates although I don't know how they worked that out!!
I know that the Minis and Classics that ran at the Touring Car meeting were very popular with the spectators so maybe that might encourage some back to the club meetings?
Whatever happens, am sure us little orange pixies will still be there to cast a beady eye on the racers out there!
David

[aland]

would assume that these prices are what the smrc pays minus a bit for the marshalling corporate-entertainment.knockhill.com/corporate-venue-hire.php it is a catch 22 for the club as they want more speccys but why should they pay to advertise as KH gets the ticket revenue. I hope that this isnt the end for the smrc as they have built a stonking series but either way as marshals we will support knockhill

[Dave]

Turns out I have a supercar experience on that day so can't make it.

Would Knockhill Club and Knockhill Race Circuit be too many eggs in one basket?

[derwent]

I think the issue is that SMRC are a not for profit organisation while KH and KRC are. Thus the officials and marshals at a SMRC meeting give their time and skill for free but surely if they do the same for KRC then they need paid?
Presumably the Clerks of Course etc will be the same as there are only a few in Scotland and they are all leading lights in the SMRC. Thus why would they not run the Classic SF under SMRC if they are then going to do it under KRC for KH?

[foxymarshal]

My understanding is that the main reason they are having a 'car' meeting, SMRC do not want to do the speedfair in 2012. In order for the speedfair to happen, Knockhill have to prove to MSA that they have both access to 'licenced or graded msa marshals' and can run a car event
That means people, like me, David Alan , et al , who spend their free time and i emphasise the word FREE time would be required to go up and marshal at this event, even tho, the Knockhill staff marshal at more events over a year than any marshals i know.

Now, here is a question for you all. for those who have attended the speed fair over that last few years.... Who was actually entertained this year ?
Yes?
No ?
I know as a marshal, i was not. was suppose to be a day of less races, track demonstations and aerobatics from the bi plane. but we actually managed to have a shorted lunch break that usual and were on track for longer. never got to look round paddock etc. getting big stars like Sir Jackie ( who's fee was paid for by RBS - thanks Mr Goodwin) or Sir Stirling Moss ( fee about £10k ) is bloody expensive, so you need it to be bank rolled. I really hope this is not another situation like what happened to KDMC and I actually asked Stuart Gray. To say he went grey when i asked was an understatement. I have also spoken to friends who are not racers or marshals but the knockhill season ticket holder, and they wrote and complained about the speedfair, due to lack of entertainment etc.
What is there to say that the 2012 speedfair will be any better ?
I have not decided if i am going to be able to marshal it due to my winter pursuits kicking in.
guess we will see what happens with KHMC and SMRC etc etc. but just to remind everyone , The people who marshal do it for free and hopefully we wont be dragged into any political crap

[aland]

agree 110% with your post foxy, possibly one of the best on here in a long time, to us marshalling is a love of motorsport, it is blinking expensive hobby as apart from petrol (for me a 160 mile round trip) we have to buy our own kit and to give examples; ovies £60, boots £40, gloves £5 it might not sound much but when you add it up it costs a lot but we dont mind as being part of the racing plus our friends in orange make it worthwhile

I dont want to be involved in politics so really hope that KHMC and SMRC can work together

as for speedfair, that was a nightmare of a day, we got a earlier finish and longer lunch at BTCC !!!