Suggestion for next years nationals

[sldmodels]

I'm suggesting this now as it would need time to organise for next year, or at least for the following year, enough time to debate it.

The past 2 seasons there's been problems with venues, and people complaining that they have to travel too far. At the last AGM I went to (not last year's, but the year before) in 1/10th TC, the possible venues we're voted on in the sections (I think they we're submitted at the same time as the proposals). There we're about 10 or 12 clubs that put in for a round, with only 5 being succesfull, but it was put to the vote. Now that ended with most of the tracks being more in the south of the country, but no one entering could then claim to be unhappy with the decision if they didn't turn up to vote.

I don't know whether this would be an option for next season, or the earliest it could be tried would be the following season, but I do think it's at least worth talking over.

[peetbee]

I dont see why some thing along those lines couldn't be organised, clubs have to apply by a deadline anyway.
although, if something was proposed and voted on at the agm which would impact the venues, then the decisions may be affected whilst the clubs are contacted.

(ps dont forget that there were a lot less venues applying this year)
(pps I have no influence over how the section is run)

[Matisse]

It seems to me that 10th tc have the luxury of more applicants than there are rounds.

the last two years, we have had the opposite.

we'd be more than happy to take the series to venues across the nation, but for that to happen they have to apply and that means registering interest by submitting an application form.

[sldmodels]

Originally Posted by Matisse

It seems to me that 10th tc have the luxury of more applicants than there are rounds.

the last two years, we have had the opposite.

we'd be more than happy to take the series to venues across the nation, but for that to happen they have to apply and that means registering interest by submitting an application form.

I understand that, but there's also been people complaining that there's nothing near them, well if they could see where had applied and vote, then there's no reason to complain about it, more chance that people will try to encourage their local club to put in for a round.

[Jonesy]

The 1/10th Off Road Committee have several rounds of voting and are usually sucessful in having rounds spread out around the country, it's a great process that they use and it works for all.

We'd be happy to adopt this idea or a similar one in terms of voting for which clubs get rounds but it does all come down to clubs applying. We'd love to have 12 clubs apply and we'd love to be in a position to turn down 6 clubs but this year saw only 2 clubs officially apply and complete the necessary paperwork before the deadline.

We're fortunate that we have 6 clubs that are willing to host rounds for us this year. This year we ended up 'pushing' clubs after the deadline had passed, next year I plan to be all over them earlier!!

[Matisse]

Originally Posted by sldmodels

I understand that, but there's also been people complaining that there's nothing near them, well if they could see where had applied and vote, then there's no reason to complain about it, more chance that people will try to encourage their local club to put in for a round.

if we have less clubs apply than rounds, we don't need to have a vote.

if we have more clubs apply then rounds, we can vote. simple.

form the record, the incumbent and previous committees have worked hard to try to get clubs from all over the country to apply, but we can;t make them, they have to want to host an event.

[Jonesy]

I fully agree with you Sarah and we truly would love to be in a position to vote. I travel the country with the 1/10th Off Road circuit and I'd love to do the same with the Micros but as Mat said we haven't got the clubs applying. At the minute the clubs that have sucessfully applied is where the hot-bed of Micro racing is so in one respect we should still get a healthy series in terms of numbers but we do miss out on the more Northern and Southern drivers.

As I said earlier next year we will be pushing clubs from the off but ultimetly if they want to host a round they need to apply, we can't force them to do it

Let's hope we are in a position to vote, 20 clubs applying would be good but I don't think we'll get that.

[c0sie]

As has been mentioned above, we have never had more than the required numbers of clubs apply for the rounds available.

At the closing date this year we had only 2 clubs apply for a round of this season's Nationals out of 6 potential spaces.

The reason that the deadline is after the EGM is twofold:

firstly if 8 clubs goto the EGM and then we vote in some rules that would mean that some of the clubs are unable to then apply it is a wasted journey for them to come and put forwards their clubs (such as track dimension rules etc)

secondly if 50 people travelled to the EGM (haha) to vote for their prefered rounds on the day to find only 2 clubs had applied for 6 rounds they would probably be very disappointed.

The Committee does the best that it can with the available resources. I know its annoying for certain regions of the UK who do not have a close National but I personally dont see how voting on the day would make any difference?

Every single year since the conception of the section and National Series the Committee have had to chase venues.

The problem we do have is the lack of clubs applying. Every year we see so many posts saying that "this club" and "that club" are going to apply, but they dont.

With regards to Essex/London/etc, over the past 4 years we have been to Bury St.Edmonds who I believe no longer race micros, High Wycombe who's venue is too small for our current rules, Silverstone who had to cancel to do the Moto Arena issue and Essex who were only able to apply for a round this year that clashed with the most popular venue from the last 2 years (Dudley).

In the meantime Dudley, Swansea, Broughton, Caldicot and Hereford have all (eventually!) applied to host another round this year and obviously Telford have taken over the round 2 spot because they contacted the Committee to enquire as to applying for the empty round.

Basically, to recap, this could very well happen if we ever had the luxury of more applicants than spaces, but in the 4 years that we have been running we have never even had enough applicants for rounds, let alone more applicants than rounds.

[teamorsum96]

why not at a skate park or on a snooker table lol

[c0sie]

Indoor bowling green?

They have an indoor bowling green at Leominster. id love to go there and abuse their astro

[sldmodels]

I fully understand all the points made, and I know some of my posts sound like I'm criticising, sorry, that's just how I tend to phrase things. Personally, I don't think we need as long a straight as the rules say as you should alter the car to suit the track and not the track to suit the car, but maybe those people that complain that there's nothing in their area could encourage their club to submit an entry and give us more than enough choice for next season.

[c0sie]

Completely agree Sarah!
The track size rules are something I will be looking at over the course of this year's series to see if they need tweaking to allow some smaller, but competent, clubs to apply in 2012,and agree with your other point about drivers getting clubs to apply.
The committee are very proactive and want to travel! If we get applicants next year from further afield we will do all we can to go to those regions but we also have some western based clubs that have been here since the start that we need to keep on board.

I do hope that next year I am travelling to somewhere london based, and somewhere easterly too, we shall just have to see whether any potential rule changes allow more clubs to apply

[sldmodels]

OMG! we actually aggree on something! lol

I think the question that really needs asking, is when we visisted Leighton Buzzard, Wycombe, Macclesfield when it was there, they wouldn't qualify under the current rules, but the question is, did we have fun, and isn't that the whole point.

I'd vote to scrap the track length rule, or at least change the wording so preference is given to those clubs first, but allowing the other clubs afterwards, like the 107% rule in F1.

[c0sie]

It's an interesting debate. We ran 10 car heats and finals at UKMicroX this year on a 22m long track and it was busy, but then we have also ran 10 car heats at Leighton and Wycombe.

Our cars are easily as fast as 10th's nowadays and I don't think people mind that fact but if we can tweak and fettle rules to help growth of the section then so be it.

Rest assured though that it is something we have already been discussing and something that we will be looking in for next year's EGM!