Kirkstown 3/04/04

Bata Fada · 5 Apr 2004, 13:01 (Ref:930998)

Did anybody witness the absolutely terrible driving standards in the main 1600 race at kirkstown the weekend. I was shocked to see that certain drivers were using the cars in front of them as battering rams. It was terrible. Poor Neville Symth had his car wrecked. This was only one incident. Mathew Gilmore was cartwheeled in the air on the first lap, another one for a rebuild there too. To add to the disgust, the clerk of the course did absolutely nothing in regard to the incidents and those responsible were let away with it.

It surprises me that this type of driving standard, which is all too common at kirkstown, is allowed continue.

Any comments from anybody!

JohnMiller · 5 Apr 2004, 13:04 (Ref:931006)

I thought Matt Gilmore had retired?

Redracer77 · 5 Apr 2004, 13:09 (Ref:931014)

I did as well!!

Ian Sowman · 5 Apr 2004, 13:12 (Ref:931018)

I had heard from Richard Tannahill that he thought Gilmore was back out, but hadn't had this independently confirmed. I'm sure all will become clear when Richard Young sends me his copy for the website!

Athgoe Racing · 5 Apr 2004, 17:43 (Ref:931301)

Bata Fada i had a good talk with the clerk of the course and it seems to me that this driving standard is expected to go hand in hand with F.Ford racing. The accident's are getting too big and too frequent at Kirkistown but nothing will change until someone is badly injured or killed.
I also had a good talk with the marshalls and they are so busy dealing with flags and attending to crashed cars, so they do not see the dangerous driving standards and so can not report fully on them.
If we had 3 observers at the key points on the track and let the marshalls do their job which i have to say they are excellent at performing. This would then give the clerk of the course the info to deal with the dangerous driving and give the correct punishment.

Redracer77 · 5 Apr 2004, 17:44 (Ref:931302)

How bad is your car Athgoe??

Athgoe Racing · 5 Apr 2004, 17:48 (Ref:931306)

Rear right corner(wishbones, rods, CV's, Drive shaft, Upright, Exhaust etc,etc,etc)

Athgoe Racing · 5 Apr 2004, 17:55 (Ref:931316)

It was a pitty coz it was looking good on pole running second in race with gilmore and edgar out a nice way to start the year until lap 4.

Redracer77 · 5 Apr 2004, 18:05 (Ref:931330)

Does that mean you will not be out for the KOK event this month?

Athgoe Racing · 5 Apr 2004, 18:47 (Ref:931382)

No KOK for me this year to busy in work ill see you all at the FFF at brands and the WHT at silverstone.

SCOBER11 · 5 Apr 2004, 20:37 (Ref:931513)

Who was the wally who went off in qualifying in pre87 on his own????

As regards driving standards i think what happened on sat during the race was just over excitement.As we all know ff1600 is very competitive and very close and the law of averages would suggest contact is inevitable at some stage .I also think drivers should step back for a minute and realise that were all in a CLUB formula,we all have too go to work on a monday morning.

Athgoe racings suggestion about observers is a good one in my opinion,we have them at the start so why not at accident blackspots...

Well done to the the marshall's who were at Matt Gilmores side almost immediately,as a member of the rollover club at turn one last year I know how great it is to see an orangesuit when your upside down with full fuel tanks..

Redracer77 · 5 Apr 2004, 20:40 (Ref:931517)

anyone got any images from the race? Sounds like a mad one...

Dunzer · 5 Apr 2004, 20:58 (Ref:931537)

Bad luck Neville after all the good work in qualifying. I was out in Vees and for both races there were lots of tangles just after the start at Colonial corner. Thankfully nobody was injured. In the Vee heat I was taken out at the same corner by a bloke who obviously left his brain at home.So yes I agree that some day somebody is going to get seriously hurt.I looked at Gilmore's car afterwards and couldn't believe how much of the roll hoop was ground away.

Dunzer · 5 Apr 2004, 21:03 (Ref:931543)

Scober11, are you referring to the blue Crossle that lost it at the hairpin?

SCOBER11 · 5 Apr 2004, 21:14 (Ref:931557)

Yeah, the blue crossle......got the crashes on video...makes for spectacular viewing

Dunzer · 5 Apr 2004, 21:50 (Ref:931602)

Yes I saw him lose it....can't remember his name though.I heard afterwards that he supposedly braked while running on the white line and this sent him into a spin. I reckoned he just outbraked himself

SCOBER11 · 6 Apr 2004, 18:05 (Ref:932567)

A new white line was painted for the rallycross boys and with the the damp conditions it can be slippy....2 sessions of vee's beforehand wouldn't make things any easier....