BTRDA Rallycross Round 1

[AlamakiRX]

To date a great entry list of 74 cars has entered for Round 1 of the BTRDA Championship at Lydden on May 8th

Heading towards the 85-90 car mark

Some new drivers, new cars, new categories.

https://clubmansrallycross.weebly.co...dden-hill.html

[BertMk2]

Excellent stuff, good to see healthy looking grids

[AlamakiRX]

Great entry list for Round 1 at Lydden Hill next Saturday

Over 80 cars and lots of new cars and drivers!

https://clubmansrallycross.weebly.co...of_2nd_may.pdf

[Hickey]

The new 4x4 mini class has seen a much better uptake than expected. Or are these the old minis? Shame no spectators allowed just yet!

[MissClarrpz]

The Mini 4x4s will be in clubman 4x4 class of BTRDA. None of them are ready yet but they should be done for the 1st BRX round. As far as I know only 4 are being built right now.

But Mini class is going great, as is BTRDA overall. This will be the most rx cars that have taken part in an event since the RX split (even if a few cars drop out). They keep going from strength to strength even now.

[Hickey]

Ah so these are the 2wd variety. Makes more sense. Bit surprised they have their own class though as I thought BTRDA was all about fewer classes and all racing together, the old fashioned way.

[hoffman66]

I would imagine the team involved have come to some agreement.

It is silly though, we need less classes not more, and less silly, one off cars, there has been far too much of that recently. Especially in the UK,

I mean, imagine the thought of both series running together, would that be so crazy?

Of course not, it used to happen.

[AlamakiRX]

The BTRDA Championship ONLY has 6 categories, which is minimal and offers a place for all cars and budgets

The 'classes' just sit within the categories for points perspective! They don't actually race in classes.

The championship offers the drivers the chance to not only race for the category championship but also the class on and overall championship, thus meaning more drivers get rewarded for their efforts.

Hope this clarifies for all above!

[MissClarrpz]

Hahaha. BTRDA just got a 7th class (or category) with Modified but clubman 4x4 only have 3 rounds and can share the grid with production 4x4 as they did in the past so it will likely run as if there were 6.

I actually quite like the BTRDA class and subclass format. Plus they're going to get about the same number of cars as BRX with half the classes. It means the racing isn't spread out. BRX should drop down to 8 classes imo.

And with merging BTRDA and BRX again. I just don't get it. Both championships have pretty full grids and if they combine it'll just mean that cars will have to be reserves entrants and not get to race. Also some drivers like running both series for 12+ rounds in total, rather than just 6-8.

And correct me if I'm wrong AlamakiRX but I think BTRDA would rather do their own thing than join brx

[AlamakiRX]

Originally Posted by MissClarrpz

Hahaha. BTRDA just got a 7th class (or category) with Modified but clubman 4x4 only have 3 rounds and can share the grid with production 4x4 as they did in the past so it will likely run as if there were 6.

I actually quite like the BTRDA class and subclass format. Plus they're going to get about the same number of cars as BRX with half the classes. It means the racing isn't spread out. BRX should drop down to 8 classes imo.

And with merging BTRDA and BRX again. I just don't get it. Both championships have pretty full grids and if they combine it'll just mean that cars will have to be reserves entrants and not get to race. Also some drivers like running both series for 12+ rounds in total, rather than just 6-8.

And correct me if I'm wrong AlamakiRX but I think BTRDA would rather do their own thing than join brx

Absolutely the BTRDA Champs is happy running its own championship as is the BRX running their championship. Both cater for 2 different markets, the BRX is National level with higher costs and Supercars, BTRDA is entry level and both championships have their own distinctive categories, very few inter-match between each other!

A joint event/championship is impossible, btrda has 7 categories, many of whom aren't compliant in BRX and in BRX they have 12 many of which aren't compliant in BTRDA. So an event with 19 classes would be impossible. Plus this year btrda has 100 championship registrations with very few doing BRX this would mean 100 btrda entries and 60/70 BRX this could never be run in 1 day! or event 2 days with full running for both championships and formats are different with BRX with Semi and finals and BTRDA with traditional d,c,b,a finals.

The 2 championships work very well independently and are thriving on it.

[hoffman66]

Without wishing to preach to the converted, of which there are two clearly here.

The market is rallycross, not two different series, it is ludicrous and has been since the early 00's that the split happened, and it only serves to dilute the sport. Imagine if you will what it could be with Ireland on board aswell... Or maybe just stick your head in the sand at Lydden or Blyton and look nowhere beyond that.

Making the classes different is a decision to make drivers choose either or, it has been going on in short oval racing for years and is a desperate attempt to bolster numbers and isolate drivers in one series. That is not what rallycross is about or fair.

There USED to be about 4 classes overall, even less before that, that is all we need, making stuff up to suit yourself is not thriving, it is just pandering to a customer.

[SnoodyMcFlude]

I'm not sure that thriving is the word many would use.

[crossfades]

As an outsider I find it astonishing how there are so many classes and how some of them got low numbers. Then I read the other day how different classes would compete against each other but under their respective class for the championship, which makes it odd. Especially if the classes are fairly on par.

To me it seems as if the ambition is to have every car there is as a class or to allow for as many cars as possible by jamming in some obscure car in an already existing class. Like for example when Lites were allowed in Supercars, the Projekt E cars this year and Belgian/Nordic supernationals in the British divisions.

[USRallycross]

Credit to BTRDA for such a healthy entry list. You do so much work to promote your championship and all your drivers.

There is a difference between the two championships as has been pointed out. It is not simply pandering but it is allowing people to race what they have. Even if circuits could cater to 150 entry lists you would likely lose 50 or so entrants if you merged. Why? well if we all remember to when the BRC was cancelled in the mid 90's as competitors rebuilt it (Dermot and Helmut buying their own champagne) it boomed and then the BRC wanted to be more 'professional' and gradually kicked out the people they need previously. Minicross - yep 24 cars that were desperately needed for several years and then we were booted out. Stock Hatch weren't pretty enough despite offering great racing and cheapest way in.

So we need a strong BRC and a strong BTRDA. There will be some cross over but allows more people to experience and enjoy rallycross.

Scandinavia has Folk Race and not everyone is in NordicRX. Belgium used to run the clubman events on a Saturday unique from the National series. So while I haven't run in the UK for a few years, I congratulate the BTRDA team from afar and the new 5 Nations team who seem to be building a strong series as well.

[crossfades]

If it was a response to me I just have a hard time figuring out all the classes, not the different championships. When I meant championships it was for the different classes, not the two actual divisions of BRX and BTRDX. But I never knew why there two, which also boggled my mind a little.

Nordic is meant as an international series relying heavily on its Swedish base and interest for the sport, although with specialised international classes like Crosscar and speedcar, Lites, Supercars and now a 2WD meant to attract any sort of 2WD. But it has little to do with actual Nordic rallycross and could be seen more as a competitor to ERX.

In reality, there are more national and regional championships you can take part in which is at a clubman level and with different classes not found in Nordic. Nordic more or less got classes you don't see nationally.

[silver bullet]

I really don't know why people make such a big deal over the fact we have multiple classes and two championships. I t has always been the case.
In fact if you go back to the late 80's & early 90's there were umpteen championships.
RAC British Championship
BRDA Northern Regional Championship
BRDA Southern Regional Championship
BTRDA Clubmans Championship
Croft Challenge
and probably a couple more
Some meetings were rounds of multiple championships, and some just single ones.

As for classes.....
Formula A
Formula B
Formula C
Colway Tyres A
Colway Tryes B
Nova Challenge

Move into the mid 90's and we got
Showroom
Supercar
Modified
Modified 1600
Showroom 1400
Colway Tyres
Colway Tyres 1600
Production Rallycross
Minicross



Ignore the sub classes for now and lets just concentrate on the races, and on Saturday you will see an 80+ car entry over 6 catagories, with average 8 car grids for the heats and 10 car grids for the finals.
Even in the sports heyday that would still have been classed as a good meeting.

And so what if there are quite a few sub classes, the drivers pay a lot of money to race at an event.
So what if more of them go away with something shiny for the mantlepiece, and to smile at when they get home. Back in the day entry fees were a lot less and there was prize money.

This year fingers crossed there will be nine rallycross meetings in the UK I would expect to see entries averaging between 70 & 80 cars.
In the current climate that is not to be sniffed at.
Looking back is fine but lets not do it through rose tinted glasses, things were not always hunky dory even in the glory years.

[hoffman66]

I will always be of the belief that having one very strong series is better than two at half strength, those with vested interest will always say grids are big etc etc, but that is nonsense, that only really means the events can go ahead, it doesn't mean they are any good, when I have watched BTRDA, it is always empty, races are often spread out, this can happen in any series, but it leaves me cold I am afraid. It is for drivers ONLY really, and that's fine I guess but that is not really what rallycross was and should be about.

When you have two series competing for entries, it is never a good thing, sadly as you can see here, those involved are quite happy, and the only people that suffer are fans and to some extent drivers as they play in a very small pond. And often are happy to stay at a very low level winning than pushing on.

I long for a series where we race everywhere, Ireland, Blyton, Lydden, Belgian and Holland, Silverstone, Croft, all together, big grids, stable classes not 15 for everyone, it's just more sensible all round.

Sadly you are preaching to those that have no common sense and have a vested interest, it is like this in most motorsport, look at hisotrics for instance

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Well tbf motorsport is first and foremost about the drivers and that should always be the consideration.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by SnoodyMcFlude

Well tbf motorsport is first and foremost about the drivers and that should always be the consideration.

Certainly at club level this is the case.

Originally Posted by hoffman66

I will always be of the belief that having one very strong series is better than two at half strength, those with vested interest will always say grids are big etc etc, but that is nonsense, that only really means the events can go ahead, it doesn't mean they are any good, when I have watched BTRDA, it is always empty, races are often spread out, this can happen in any series, but it leaves me cold I am afraid.

Realistically there are too many cars/drivers for a combined meeting. Cars can be built that fit into both championships so drivers have flexibility to pick and choose if they want to. As long as both championships have healthy entries I fail to see a problem.

It has to be said that I enjoyed the BTRDA meeting at Lydden last year and the winter meetings too - the racing was good across the board and ultimately that's what I go to watch. If it's not working for you that's fair enough (I find watching bikes does nothing for me - so I don't do it).

Originally Posted by hoffman66

When you have two series competing for entries, it is never a good thing, sadly as you can see here, those involved are quite happy, and the only people that suffer are fans and to some extent drivers as they play in a very small pond. And often are happy to stay at a very low level winning than pushing on.

If you've got 2 series competing for drivers then surely that encourages the series to provide what the drivers want? That should be good for the sport as it keeps drivers happy and is more likely to bring in new drivers.

As for "happy to stay at a very low level winning than pushing on" - these drivers are competing for fun (often on very tight budgets). Where are they supposed to be 'pushing on' to? It's not like they're going to be making a career out of rallycross. I think your expectations may be a bit high here - it's a clubmans sport for all but a very few.

[tbtstt]

Few pictures from the first round at Lydden:











Few more here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/229616...57719219648567

If anyone wants to see more!

[crossfades]

Nice pics as always.

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Originally Posted by crossfades

Nice pics as always.

This.

[S griffin]

Great pictures, classic action from Lydden

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by crossfades

Nice pics as always.

Originally Posted by SnoodyMcFlude

This.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by S griffin

Great pictures, classic action from Lydden

There was some decent racing in some of the classes. The Modified class was a bit sparse (not sure why there weren't just added to the Super Modified/BMW class?) and there is a lot of disparity in the Production 4x4 field. Classic class was great though, huge variety and some really well turned out cars. I love that Chevette!