Ok first meeting there today for the public.
http://www.mkrctc.org.uk/cms2/index....&catid=55:2010
Reality was very different. I am sure that the issues are teething problems and Grant (the MD of Moto Arena) did apologise but...
Doors didnt open till 8.30 although practice was due at 8. (most drivers therefore arrived at 7.30), 60 drivers waiting outside and spoken to by the MA track manager / BRCA Official like we were irrelevant to him and the meeting wasnt a great start.
Obviously this got the day off to a bad start and I felt sorry for the Milton Keynes committee who were stood outside with us! To me it showed an absolute lack of respect from MA and I'm not sure who the BRCA Official was who barked health and safety at us but maybe in future it is better left to a club official.
His comment that there weren't many smiling faces was correct. there weren't!
On to the racing and MK ran a smooth meeting, keeping to time and respecting when genuine delays meant it was better to delay a heat / final a few moments. I dont think anyone minds when that happens and it shows that the club want every driver to have a good day.
Prizes / Trophies. Ma had committed to prizes which were understoood to be Ferrari and Porsche based. They actually gave an entry ticket to the "grand opening" of MA. As an event promoted as " special race meeting with loads of prizes open to all racers." that is a piss take. At £10 entry for a meet you expect to have trophies for the podium, and prizes if advertised (and a podium!).
As a venue it was superb, the track is good (apparently it is a minimum of 3m at every point) and smooth (watch out for the bump at the end of the straight, caught a few out!). The facilities are clean, the coffee is fresh (£1.50 a cup) and the burgers cooked to order (£5 with chips).
Upstairs the simulators are well worth a go. As the slowest driver in our group I'm not sure they were accurate
, but well worth the £8 for the full cars and even better value at £4 for the "half an F1" modules.
So great venue, good facilities, but work on your PR and keep to your word. It may be a communication issue but it needs resolving.