360MRC, next time (2011) - Discussion re Car Eligibility etc

[terence]

Sam,thats not the old Bev Fawlkes car,is it?

[SAMD]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Sam,thats not the old Bev Fawlkes car,is it?

Funny you should say that Terence! its not.

Although it no longer has the earth pin from a plugtop rattleing around on top of its (one) inlet valve (per cylinder)

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Cliff Ryan

Hi Terry, yes you are right, so over the 3500cc by a tad!

Just invert it 5.3 >>> 3.5. No problem ....

FWIW - a few weeks ago I was at the Morgan meeting at Mallory and the somewhat curtailed (curfewed) last race of the day had all sorts of off mixes in it but boy was it active and sort of 'equalised' throughout the field.

OK, it was a sprint not an endurance race but none the less the eclectic mix seemed to work well.

So, it occurs to me that survival of an endurance event could be a great leveller compared to the performance differentials of the sprint races. To some extent this year's race supports such a view.

So, there is the challenge for next year's contestants. Tortoise and hare stuff. Leave it quite open. Offer competitive classes to give everyone who wants a pot a chance to collect one and use it as a building block for future refinement of the regulations.

If an equalizer is required how about fuel stop fill limits so that the thirstier cars have to stop more often? Or would then disadvantage some of the less quick runners as well?

There must be a challenge out there that will appeal to a broad section of the racing fraternity who enjoy racing for the sake of racing but still like to retain some kudos for a class win or a fastest lap in class. Or simply finishing ....

[johngee]

Originally Posted by grantp

So, it occurs to me that survival of an endurance event could be a great leveller compared to the performance differentials of the sprint races. To some extent this year's race supports such a view.

So, there is the challenge for next year's contestants. Tortoise and hare stuff. Leave it quite open. Offer competitive classes to give everyone who wants a pot a chance to collect one and use it as a building block for future refinement of the regulations.

There must be a challenge out there that will appeal to a broad section of the racing fraternity who enjoy racing for the sake of racing but still like to retain some kudos for a class win or a fastest lap in class. Or simply finishing ....

The voice of sanity!

[grantp]

Originally Posted by SAMD

Funny you should say that Terence! its not.

Although it no longer has the earth pin from a plugtop rattleing around on top of its (one) inlet valve (per cylinder)

Did you hire the services of the lady who seems to have a metallic attraction - as reported in the press this past week?

It was odd to see the collection of metallic objects apparently attracted to her upper chest region. I'm sure some of them are supposed to be made from metals that are not magnetic. So i'm sure she could have help with your earth connector - probably even if it was plastic ...

[Mike Sheraton]

Well done to the whole team for creating such a great event and I think it will grow even bigger over the next few years and hope it continues for even longer to come, i CANNOT WAIT untill next year (providing our BMW is still eligible) even so i would still go and watch!!!
im watching a the 1988 willhire video as we speak just seen my dad!

[Cliff Ryan]

Originally Posted by grantp

Just invert it 5.3 >>> 3.5. No problem ...

So, it occurs to me that survival of an endurance event could be a great leveller compared to the performance differentials of the sprint races. To some extent this year's race supports such a view.

So, there is the challenge for next year's contestants. Tortoise and hare stuff. Leave it quite open. Offer competitive classes to give everyone who wants a pot a chance to collect one and use it as a building block for future refinement of the regulations.

If an equalizer is required how about fuel stop fill limits so that the thirstier cars have to stop more often? Or would then disadvantage some of the less quick runners as well?

There must be a challenge out there that will appeal to a broad section of the racing fraternity who enjoy racing for the sake of racing but still like to retain some kudos for a class win or a fastest lap in class. Or simply finishing ....

So have the eligibility quite open with and let the racing sort it out.

[johngee]

Originally Posted by Cliff Ryan

So have the eligibility quite open with and let the racing sort it out.

Another voice of sanity!

[MGDavid]

just got off the phone, very educational. Going to look at a car Saturday, potentially for next year. Not an MG, not a saloon and it doesn't say GT on the V5 but it is one. When do you want the entry fee first instalment?

[johngee]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

Not an MG, not a saloon and it doesn't say GT on the V5 but it is one.

Is this a quiz and what's the prize?

[grantp]

Originally Posted by johngee

The voice of sanity!

Well thank you John.

I was following the 2CV race over the weekend and thought the apparent spirit amongst the competitors, despite some having numerous problems and incidents, was remarkable.

Quite how Basingstoke College did not abandon after the first 6 hours or so I will never know.

OK, it's a different sort of racing and in theory all the teams are equalised by the spec car regulations () but no retirements after 24 hours is something special.

(That said the front runners seemed remarkably trouble free - most unlike proper 2CV enduro racing. I thought at least 4 engine changes were mandatory ..... No protests so far?)

If the concern is that certain specialist cars might dominate than find a way to to prevent it. For example don't allow any cars that have completed more than 3 hours of the Spa 6 hours. That might mean that a few cars struggling for reliability would use the race as a test for Spa (or wherever) which should be good for numbers, competition and the spectacle but balanced by the need for the owners to make them reliable enough to win. Or de-tune them so helping to level the playing field a little.

Now I appreciate that there might be a few reliable midfield and rear end runners at Spa who might wish to compete and would not welcome such an idea and I would understand that and hope that they could be accomodated anyway - but you get the gist of the idea I'm sure.

It reads as though people want a fun event along with their endurance challenge. Having established that it should be possible build on that concept when pitching for next year's entries. (Unless the racing world is a lot more fickle than I think it is ....)

[MartinSmith]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

just got off the phone, very educational. Going to look at a car Saturday, potentially for next year. Not an MG, not a saloon and it doesn't say GT on the V5 but it is one. When do you want the entry fee first instalment?

Love the fact that you are that keen....but we wont take your money just yet!

[Mike Sheraton]

Actualy, I would follow that same note, wouldnt mind paying the entry fee early to prove that this isn't just an empty 10/10ths promise

[terence]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

just got off the phone, very educational. Going to look at a car Saturday, potentially for next year. Not an MG, not a saloon and it doesn't say GT on the V5 but it is one. When do you want the entry fee first instalment?

Hope its got a roof !

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Hope its got a roof !

predicting rain next time then?
(yes it has..)

[midgetman]

It has, and it's tall enough for a 6'2" 10/10ther. What's more, we're going to pick up a spares car tonight so we'll have enough parts to rival our Unipart Montego stockist status

Or if the one I'm collecting is good enough you'll have TWO entries from Team Mont Blanc.

What is it? If I tell you I'm going to have to kill you....

[John Turner]

Ok, I see some hints from a couple of pages back that we should bring this discussion to a close to allow the committee to consider all the views expressed here, so I now do so with thanks to you all for your constructive input.