Nationals preferential entries?

[jimmy]

The UK National series is possibly the worlds highest quality series for 10th off road buggies - fantastic organisation and great quality drivers like Cragg, Bradby, Ellis, Tricky, John Price - the list goes on .

Since I've been doing Nationals (2003 I think I did my first) the series has definitely grown quite a lot - to the point that I've only managed to get straight into 2 races (both 4WD), and my wife has only managed to get into one of six events she applied for.
I think for this weekends National I was reserve 25 or so, meaning at least 155 people had applied to race. Great success.

Being the premiere series, and indeed only series which tours the UKs best tracks, there is a great deal of talent and preference is given to the best driver grades - a rule which makes some allowance to keep the series at the top.


Swiftly on to my point - there is a long reserve list at Nationals already, mostly lower drivers who were not good enough to get straight in. Almost everyone has the opportunity to qualify well in regional races and get a good driver grade - which would get them into Nationals.
If anyone remembers the 2005 National at Bury Metro, we had a couple of top International drivers turn up and race, Steenari and Amezcua - these guys simply wouldn't stand a chance of ever racing over here again now.
Similarly, top drivers like Andy Moore and Craig Drescher are capable of A final at the World Championships but can't even get into the National series (Because their off road driver grades are not high enough).

Having top drivers like Moore and Drescher, but also visiting International drivers, would be a big boost in my opinion to the quality and profile of the series. At the moment it won't happen, and the system that is currently in place works well to make it a fair system for gaining National places - but I personally think there could / should be a way for some (possibly a small number, pre-defined) of top drivers that normally wouldn't be able to get in, to some how jump the queue.

Fair enough - I have failed to get an entry to most Nationals this year, and it's been a bit crap to be honest. So I know how it feels. And there are certainly drivers reading this that would get pushed out of the series if a handful of queue-jumpers were allowed places - But I still like the idea and think it would add to the event.



So -what do people think? would it even be possible or fair? Could 5 (lets say) places be 'put aside' for possible top drivers, and who'd decide who qualifies for those places? Does a world champion touring car driver qualify, does a world Champion in Mardaves qualify?
And being a points series - do we really want 'guest' drivers throwing spanners in the works?


Discuss:

[telboy]

I think it is a good idea and a bad idea. it would be nice to see the like of some of the worlds top drivers race, but it would also stop people that have race hard to get there, from getting an entry.

Maybe an 'exhibition' heat or something like that would be better, and make it for a certain round of the series so that people know when it is going to be.

But it would be nice to see them race.

Maybe a yearly one off invitaional organised by the brca.?

[jimmy]

Currently there isn't one BIG race for the top drivers - only the F2 and lower drivers. The best drivers have to make do with the euros or some American races (cactus) or the bi-annual Worlds.
It would be cool to have a 2 day BRCA Invitational, with the top National and International drivers invited - then open entry for the rest of the places.
It would work better than allowing the drivers into the National series - but as that's the only race(s) currently available, that's what I focused on.

[GRIFF55]

I rather the sound of that idea, a big one off seasonal invitational would also get the non entered drivers as spectators. Big marque bar and that would be a cracking weekend!!

[Lee Martin]

im looking to do something like this at CML Raceway!

[Chris Doughty]

I think the term you are looking for Jimmy is 'wildcard' entrys.

I like the idea. 5 reserved places for wildcard drivers, if no wildcards want in the reserve drivers are called up a week or so in advance.

the 'limit' should be set at 125 (for 2WD) for entry to the event with 5 reserved for wildcard or reserve (as long as wildcard entrys were closed and reserves given plenty of notice)

this happens quite a lot in other forms of motorsport, things like superbikes, supermoto etc... 'local' hero's get entry to the 'world' event at their track etc... they normally do quite well

[loose]

Yeah a one internationsl/invitational is a good idea, but I dont think queue jumping in a National is fair. I'm new to things but the impression I get is there aren't that many races annually, and a lot of people really look forward to an opportunity to race. Take their chance away to allow a few top guys a place and your making your hobby/sport elitist. These guys get plenty of racing in all over the world, whereas Joe Bloggs works his nuts off all year and maybe gets the chance to race at a decent level only 4 or 5 times.

I can see your point, its good to see high profile racers, I just think you'd have to be careful not to be unfair or alienate the real people that keep the scene going.

Power to the common man yeah. Right on baby!

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by jimmy

The UK National series is possibly the worlds highest quality series for 10th off road buggies - fantastic organisation and great quality drivers like Cragg, Bradby, Ellis, Tricky, John Price - the list goes on .
Discuss:

You been at the Vodka again Jimmy?

[jimmy]

Yes, for sure john!
Wildcard! that's the word I was looking for, hehe.

[loose]

Originally Posted by DoughtyUK.net

this happens quite a lot in other forms of motorsport, things like superbikes, supermoto etc... 'local' hero's get entry to the 'world' event at their track etc... they normally do quite well

Yeah its a great idea when its a local hero getting a wildcard pop at the big boys, not so hot when the local are getting pushed out of their event to give the wildcard to some hero just passing through.

[TRF_Tastic]

Why not give the top drivers 5 wildcard places, but on the proviso that the wildcards do not score points for the series.

[Chris Doughty]

it would not work you would have to remove them from the finals sorting.

if a wildcard made the A but was removed from the points, the guy who is BQ has no shot of 'improving' on his points because he can't race in the A (where he would have been without the wildcard in there)

[jimmy]

Or just allow them to score points

[ashleyb4]

Also as there would be a few extra people the people racing the bottom five people would be on the researve list making the researve list longer and these people dont really support british racing by racing at regionals or going to all the naionals. So it would stop drivers who do want to race at all of them doing so.

Hope that made sence lol im tired.

A

[ashleyb4]

And jimmy who is that on the bike in your avanter???

A

[jimmy]

Thats me on my bike, lol.
Supporting british racing means turning up, and there are people who could do a lot for the sport if they were allowed to compete. It could create interest and make the sport grow even more. The fact that lower drivers (like me and you ash) would find it even harder to get in is a shame, but I'd rather race with a bunch of top drivers than 130 jimmys - that would be a bit pants to watch..

[ashleyb4]

Oh what bike have you got???

yea another possablitly is to add another heat because then it will allow the top people to race and people like me and you jimmy.

A

[jimmy]

Well, not neceserally - since as the series continues to grow, adding even more great drivers (albeit in a limited / guest way) would likely draw in yet more racers (growing the sport is the idea anyway) and push us even further down the list!
It's fine and dandy wanting it to remain possible for us all to race, but that view isn't compatible with wanting the sport (10th off road) to get bigger.

That photo is a few years ago before I hurt my back, it's a santacruz super8.

[ashleyb4]

Thats one nice bike. Im more of a cross country person myself Ive got a Giant XTC but your bike is alot nicer than mine. I want it.

Originally Posted by jimmy

That photo is a few years ago before I hurt my back, it's a santacruz super8.

[jimmy]

Sold it a long time ago, I couldn't ride anymore without my back hurting - I still have my mongoose bmx (that I hurt my back on) and my Kona Kula tho.