Double Headers, who needs them.

[Al Weyman]

The MSA fee is payable once, no matter how many races you compete in

Tell me Wooley, why is it then that the BARC for example and I am not picking them out especially as I think they are pretty good, will let you do a second race for a hundred quid (fair enough) but only in the same car as I have two cars I could can race and I am sure I could talk a mate into using his transporter and my trailer to get them both to the track on occassions. At least that way if the car fails in the first race or practise we get a second bite.

[GordonG]

I guess the best you can do Al is make your views known to your club. I know my club (750) has asked (informally or formally) what drivers would prefer and done their best to please as many people as possible as much of the time as possible.

For our formula, I know the weight of opinion was to have more one day DHs, with a couple of 2 day DHs for the added social craic of having everyone around on the saturday night. Given that many of the racers are in London and the SE, Pembrey or Oulton for a 20 minute race is a bit far. Doing the same journey, burning the same fuel, taking (for a 1 dayer) the same time away from family, work or other commitments for 2 races makes more sense to many drivers.

As for a 1 day DH penalising reliabilty problems - preparation and reliability are part of racing, and I personally take the view that it's worth an extra few hours prep for a DH to make sure everything is going to last through both races. You might also find that driiving standards are a bit better in the first race of a DH given that there's limited time to fix any dings before the second race.

I also appreciate a smattering of single headers in our formula - a more relaxed pace of day, a bit more time for socialising in the paddock. But I do get grief from the other half for "coming all this way for a 20 f**king minute f**king race" (she's a charmer, my other half).

So, moderation in all things then...

G

[Al Weyman]

I just think on the entry form there should be option to do just one round if you so desire and for the normal single round fee, not too much to ask for surely. A lot of people may work on a Saturday so may not be able to do both rounds, its all about getting cars out on to the track isn't it and maybe this is just one of the reasons its all slowed down a bit, 300 quid in one hit for a double header is a lot of money to justify.

[GordonG]

Sorry Al, a good point and one I did mean to mention in my last post - perhaps if you speak nicely to your club they would do as you suggest.

However,

a) if it's a 2 day DH you'd presumably have to do the first race (Saturday) as the practice is on that day (unless you can join another practice on Sunday and are happy to start from the back of the grid), and
b) from the club's PoV that would mean a reduction in revenue, which they could not hope to replace - if they have a full grid in race 1, they will have a full grid -1 and less revenue for race 2 though they will have the same cost for track hire etc.

On point b, if many people took up your suggestion it could have a significant impact on the club;s finances. OTOH, if a lot of drivers think that way then they should perhaps consider not doing (as many) DHs.

Another way of looking at it is if they do not have full grids, and if you really would not enter for both races, then they could be increasing their revenue by taking up your suggestion.

G

[Al Weyman]

The double header I did at Pembrey last year had two practice sessions, it would have made no difference whatsoever whether I turned up on the Saturday or the Sunday as I saw it apart from the scrutineering as I am not sure if they were scurtineering on the Sunday or not.